My Genealogy Hound

Leonard A. Waldrop, sheriff and collector, Toledo, Ark. Mr. Waldrop, the popular sheriff and collector of Cleveland County, though born in Chattooga County, Ga., in 1839, has resided here since 1869, and the confidence which the people have in him is therefore intelligently placed, for they have had every opportunity to judge of his character and qualifications. His parents, Hiram G. and Nellie (Pitts) Waldrop, were both natives of South Carolina, the father born in 1805 and the mother about 1810. They were wedded in their native State, and in 1837 moved to Georgia, where Mrs. Waldrop died about 1849. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Waldrop was married twice afterward, and about 1867 came to Calhoun County, Ark., where his last wife died. He then came to Cleveland County and resided with his son, Leonard A., until his death, which occurred in 1876. He served a short time in the Confederate army, and was a well-to-do farmer until after the war. He was a member of the Methodist Church for many years. The paternal grandfather, Golden Waldrop, was of Irish descent, and died in South Carolina. The maternal grandfather, Asa Pitts, who went from South Carolina to Georgia, where he died, was a successful agriculturist. Leonard A. Waldrop, the sixth of nine children born to his parents, like the average country boy, assisted on the farm and attended the common country school until grown. The principal part of his education was received, however, by studying nights, after the war. He was married in 1859 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Carmicael, who was born in South Carolina, but who is now living in Georgia. Mrs. Waldrop was born in the last-named State, but died in Bradley County, Ark., in 1870. She became the mother of five children, four now living. Mr. Waldrop’s second marriage was in 1871 to Mrs. Sallie Crane, daughter of J. Word, born in South Carolina. Her parents both died in Cleveland County, Ark. To Mr. Waldrop’s second marriage were born six children—four sons and two daughters. In 1861 Mr. Waldrop enlisted in Company D, Nineteenth Georgia Infantry, was in the Virginia army, and held nearly all the offices. In 1863 he was made captain, which position he held until the close of the war. He was in nearly every leading engagement in which the Virginia army took part, was also sent South and assisted in the siege of Charleston, S. C, and Ocean Pond, Fla. He was in Stonewall Jackson’s command until after the death of that general, and was then with Gen. Lee. After the second Manassas fight he was left sick, was captured, but after a few days succeeded in making his escape and joined his command. He was wounded five or six times during the war, and at the time of the surrender was in Georgia. From there he went home, and in 1869 came to what is now Cleveland County, settled near New Edinburg, where he now has a good farm of 200 acres, with sixty-five acres under cultivation. He settled and improved three farms near there. He served a short time as justice of the peace, and in 1886 was elected sheriff and collector of Cleveland County, and re-elected in 1888 by a largely increased majority. During Mr. Waldrop’s administration occurred the only capital conviction and execution in the history of the county—that of Hugh Blackman, for murder, in 1888. In politics he is a Democrat, but was formerly a Whig, and his first presidential vote was cast for President Fillmore in 1856, when but seventeen years of age. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a charter member of Kingsland Lodge, organized by Mr. Waldrop and a few others, and is also a member of Kingsland Chapter, filling the second office in the Chapter, and is junior warden in Blue Lodge.