SEABORN A. RODDENBERY, M.D. , is one of the most important personages in the thriving village of Cairo, in the western part of Thomas County, Georgia., being a physician, merchant, planter, and since President Grant's administration, postmaster. George Roddenbury, his grandfather, came from North Carolina to Bulloch county, Georgia., many years ago. The Dr's parents, Robert and Vicey (Anderson) Roddenbery, came to Thomas county and settled in the northern part early in the 20's, where they raised ten children to maturity, of whom the following are living: Margaret, Mrs. Robert Tuggle, Thomas county; Nancy, Mrs. Nathaniel E. Turner, Thomas county; Georgia Ann, Mrs. W. B. Hamilton, Thomasville; and Seaborn A.., physician. The deceased are: Louisa, John K., Mary Ann, Elizabeth Jane and Sarah. Mr. Roddenbery was a planter and quite wealthy; he died in 1879 and Mrs. Roddenbery died in 1886. Seaborn A.Roddenbery was born in THOMAS county Feb 18, 1836. He studied medicine under Dr. Robert Bruce, Thomasville, and then attended lectures at Savannah, GA., paying his own expenses, graduating in 1860. Dr. Roddenbery then located near Cairo, but removed to the village in 1872, which has since been his home. July 31, 1862, the doctor was married in Decatur county, GA., to MARTHA A. BRASWELL, whose parents formerly lived in THOMAS county, where she was born and raised. To them were born ten children: Walter B., manager of his father's business in Cairo; Bertha, deceased; Cora L.., deceased; Robert S., Eufaula, ALA; Seaborn A.., teacher, Thomasville, GA; John W., deceased; Katie and Charles D. at home; and McIntyre and Blanche, twins, deceased. Dr. Roddenbery is a progressive citizen and is regarded as as important factor in all movements to promote the development of this section. He is a democrat, a member of the Baptist church, and a master Mason.
William Harden, Lewis Publishing Co.
1913 Ancestry.com Family & Local Histories
Dr. Seaborn A. RODDENBERY attained his early education in the rural school of Thomas county (GA). …entered Oglethorpe Medical College at Savannah, where he graduated M.D. in 1858. He then began practice in Decatur County, and engaged board and lodging in the home of Samuel BRASWELL, a planter living four miles northwest of the recent site of Cairo. He soon afterwards bought a tract of land at the "cross-roads," two miles from the present site of Cairo, and there built a log house. Into that humble shelter, he brought his bride, and it was in that home that Walter Blair Roddenberry and other of the children were born. Dr. Roddenbery built up a very large and successful practice in his vicinity and like all pioneer doctors he had to undergo the hardships of almost constant riding and driving across the country with few roads and with very inadequate accommodations for man or beast. This exposure and hard work undermined his health so that in 1870 he moved into Cairo and engaged in the merchandise business. … until his death in 1896. During the last year of the war, Dr. RODDENBERY was called out with the Georgia Militia.
Dr. RODDENBERY married Miss Martha America BRASWELL. She was born on the south side of Thomas county in 1837 and now (1913) resides at the old homestead with her son, Charles D. Her father was Samuel BRASWELL, who came North Carolina to Georgia, being one of the early settlers in Thomas county. In about 1845, he moved to Decatur county and bought land about four miles northwest of the present site of Cairo. In that locality, he spent the rest of his day. Dr. RODDENBERY and wife (Martha America BRASWELL) reared five sons and two daughters named Walter Blair, Bertha, Robert S., Seaborn A., (Jr.), John W., Charles D., and Kate. Bertha, now deceased, was first married to Dr. A. B. Coffman, and second to Charles W. Beale. Charles D. is a cigar manufacturer in Cairo. Robert S. is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Moultrie, Georgia. Seaborn A. Roddenberry, Jr., an attorney at Thomasville, is one of the prominent men in public life of Georgia, and is now representing his district in Congress for the third term.
Walter Blair Roddenbery as a boy attended school in Cairo, and was then sent to Prof. O. D. Scott's school in Thomasville, where he prepared for college. He entered the University of Virginia, and was a student there for two years. It was his intention to enter the law, but his father's ill health turned him aside from professional life, and he returned home to take charge of the store, a business to which he later succeeded. ...
Mr. (Walter) Roddenbery was married June 1, 1887 to Miss Maude Bostwick. She was born in Homer, Louisiana, a daughter of Elijah and Rebecca Scaife Bostwick. Her maternal grandfather was Rev. Jimison Scaife, a pioneer of the Methodist ministry in Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Roddenbery have four sons named Albert C., Julien B., Walter Blair Jr., and Frederick W. Mr. Roddenbery is a member of the Baptist church and his wife of the Methodist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Martha America Braswell is the daughter of Samuel Braswell & Sabra Brinson who are buried in the Lester Poulk Braswell Pearce Cemetery, Grady County, Georgia.
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