DANIEL HERRIN 1810 - 1870 (Extracted from Huxford's Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, Vol. II)
Daniel Herrin was born in 1810 in Wayne County (now Brantley) a son of Heron (or Herron) Herrin and his wife, Ann, early settlers of Wayne County. He was married twice. His first wife by whom there were three children was Mehala, dau. of William and Elizabeth Kelly of Wayne County They were married August 17, 1833. She died soon after the birth of their third child, and Mr. Herrin married on January 8, 1838, Miss. Jemima Ammons. She was born in 1818 in this state and was a daughter of William Ammons. By her fifteen children were born. In the following list of Mr. Herrin's children, the first three were by the first wife, the remainder by the second marriage, viz:
1. William Riley *CSA,* b. July 10, 1834, m. Emma M. S. Delispine, Feb. 1, 1855.
2. Mary E., b. Aug. 9, 1835, m. John C. Highsmith, Nov. 16, 1854.
3. Herrin "Jeff" *CSA,* b. June 9, 1836, m. Jane Head, Mar. 2, 1858.
4. Jane, b. Sep. 28, 1838, m. William Douglas, Dec. 30, 1860.
5. James H. *CSA,* b. Dec. 23, 1839, m. Martha E. Lewis, Dec. 14, 1865.
6. John Daniel *CSA,* b. July 27, 1841, died single in C.S. Army
7. Louisa, b. Sept. 26, 1842, m. Ransom C. Gainey
8. Henry Levi *CSA,* b. Jan. 20, 1844, m. Nancy Corbitt, dau. of James.
9. Owen Perry *CSA,* b. Apr. 18, 1845, m. Mary E. King, Oct. 4, 1866.
10. Aaron *CSA,* b. Apr. 3, 1846, m. Easter Minchew, dau. of Jacob.
11. Martha Jane, b. Nov. 29, 1847, m. James D. Crawford, son of Reubin.
12. Olive (twin), b. Oct. 16, 1850, m. Alfred L. Henderson, son of John S.
13. Moses Turner "Mose" (twin), b. Oct. 16, 1850, m. 1st Belle Pearson, m. 2nd Mary Elizabeth Cason.
14. Telitha, b. Dec. 30, 1851, m. Colquitt Davis.
15. Sampson Wayne C., b. May 9, 1854, m. 1st Martha Raybon; 2nd Kate Kelly.
16. Aziah, b. Jan. 8, 1856, died in infancy.
17. Sherrod F. L., b. Sept. 4, 1859, m. Frances Victoria Highsmith, dau. of Isaac Hampton Highsmith.
18. Emily Melissia, b. Jan. 7. 1860, m. David Warren Highsmith.
Mr. and Mrs. Herrin had seven sons in the Confederate Army, viz., William R., Herrin "Jeff", James H., John D., Henry L., Owen, and Aaron. Of these John D. and Herrin "Jeff" were killed in battle.
John Daniel Herrin enlisted as Private in Company D, 26 Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, July 29, 1861, at Satilla, Georgia; was killed in battle, May 10, 1864. Herrin Herrin (Nickname "Jeff") enlisted in same Company at Brunswick, Oct. 9, 1861; was wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., May 3, 1863, and killed in battle August 17, 1864.
CENSUS REFERENCE: 1840, Ware; 1850, 1860 Wayne
(Information Assembled by Thomas Earl Cleland from Huxford's Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia Vol II, and South Georgia Rebels by Alton J. Murray)
During the Civil War period, the land now identified as Brantley County was a pioneer country. It was a time when most families relied on a farm for a living. Every member of a family has a responsibility on a farm, and the number of sons influences the number of acres that can be worked. Seven work hands were stripped from the farm of Daniel Herrin during the Civil War; only five of them returned. Herrin Herrin and his younger brother, John Daniel, died on the battle field. There is no greater sacrifice for a county than one's life.
In the April and May, 1995, editions of the "ARMADILLO TRACKS" published by The Brantley County Historical and Preservation Society, Inc., we recognized JAMES ROBINSON as a father, unparalleled in the number of sons lost in the Civil War. James had five sons involved, with three being killed.
Daniel Herrin was born in 1810 in old Wayne County, now Brantley, the son of Heron Herrin. All total, Daniel fathered 18 children, three by his first wife, Mehala Kelly, and 15 with his second wife. With the death of Mehala after the birth of their third child, Daniel married Jemima Ammons, daughter of William Ammons.
Perhaps you would recognize the names of Daniels surviving sons, William Riley who married Emma M. Delispine; James H. married Martha E. Lewis; Henry Levi married Nancy Corbitt; Owen married Mary E. King; Aaron married Easter Minchew; Moses married Belle Pearson; S. Wayne married (1st) Martha Raybon, (2nd) Kate Kelly; and Sherod F. who married Victoria Highsmith.
Daniel's daughters, Mary E. married John C. Highsmith; Jane married William Douglas; Louisa married Ransom C. Gainey; Martha married James Crawford; Olive married Alfred L. Henderson; Telitha married Colquitt Davis; and Malissie married David Warren Highsmith. The following is a synopsis of Herrin "Jeff" and John Daniel Herrin's death in the Civil War:
a. John Daniel Herrin enlisted as private in Company "D", 26th Georgia Regiment on July 29, 1861, and was killed in the battle of Spotsylvania, Va. on May 10, 1864. After the Battle of the Wilderness, C.S.A. General John B. Gordon describes his march to Spotsylvania Court-House. On the morning of the 8th May, I was placed in command of the division, consisting of three brigades; Pegram's (Virginia), Johnston's (North Carolina), and Gordon's Georgia Brigade which included the 26th Georgia Regiment...On the afternoon of the 10th, I received orders to move my division rapidly from the left of our lines to the support of Rodes' division which was being heavily assaulted. Gordon's brigade (with John Daniel included) was ordered forward and the enemy was driven back with considerable losses, and our lines were re-established. The loss in these two brigades were light. There were six known casualties in the 26th Georgia Regiment; John Daniel Herrin was one of those six; a life sacrificed for the Confederate cause.
b. Herrin Herrin (nickname "Jeff") enlisted in the same company at Brunswick on Oct. 9, 1861. He was wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., on May 3, 1863, and was killed in battle on August 17, 1864. A "named battle" can not be identified with the death of Herrin Herrin. The 26th Georgia Regiment had gone back into the Shenandoah Valley, crossing the Shenandoah River on July 18th, 1864, with the Yankees in pursuit. After taking their positions, General Gordon reversed his strategy and advanced toward the Federals, driving them back in great confusion, killing and wounding many of them. From this time until the end of July, through the entire month of August, and more than half of September 1864, the 26th Georgia Regiment, under the command of General Early, pursued every point of the Shenandoah Valley with scarcely a day of rest; skirmishing, fighting, rushing here and there to meet and drive back cavalry raids. It was during these battles that Herrin Herrin "Jeff" gave his life.