William H. Feagin
Chief of Police of Americus
submitted by John D. Feagin, Sr.
My g. grandfather, William H. Feagin b. 28 August 1857 in Americus, fell in love with Eugenia Cameron b. 9 October 1873, daughter of Henry C. Cameron and Laura Follensdore, while Eugenia was still a girl. He actually waited for her to grow up so he could marry her.
She made him quit drinking, attend church, and generally walk a straight path. William H. Feagin was loved in his community and was elected to be Chief of Police of Americus, Georgia in which office he served until his death in 1913. He was also once elected Sheriff of Sumter County, Georgia during the 1890's.
William Feagin had a brother, John Thomas Feagin, called "Uncle Tom". John Thomas is buried in the Lawson family plot in Americus. William also had a sister, Jennie Feagin Lawson, who is also buried in the Lawson plot.
William was a staunch Mason and member of Woodsmen of the World. His father (also named William H. Feagin) owned slaves and he kept some on at the family farm after emancipation. One of the former slaves that stayed on was named Rufus Feagin.
There was also a family store near the family house on Church Street in Americus.
There was, at one time, a picture of William H. Feagin hanging in the Americus, Georgia City Hall.
He was very close to his family and loved his children a great deal. He was a large burley type of person, with dark hair and a large mustache. He was friends with Willis P. McArthur who was a member of the Americus Fire Department.
William "Bill" H. Feagin died of colon cancer at age 55 in Americus, Georgia. He didn't leave much to his widow who had to raise the children by sewing, running a flower stand, selling pecans and doing other such things. She left for Tampa, Florida in 1922 due to Cordelia, her daughter, having Malaria.
He is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery. His tombstone reads: "None knew him but to love him, none named him but to praise".
This information came from my great grandaunt, Cordelia Feagin Tucker in the 1970's.