Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Two Governors From One Family

Nathan Deal was elected Governor of the great state of Georgia in 2010. Nathan is married to Sandra Dunagan Deal, daughter of George Jeter Dunagan, descended from William Andrew Dunagan/Jeter Andrew Dunagan/John Franklin Dunagan/Joseph Ellis Dunagan/Ezekiel Dunagan and Lydia Ann Brown. Nathan has had a long distinguished career, serving in the Georgia State Senate for many years, as did Joseph Ellis Dunagan,from 1825 to 1848. Nathan also served in the U. S. Congress, House of Representatives, from 1992 to 2010, resigning to run for governor.

L-R Mary Dunagan, Governor Nathan Deal, First Lady Sandra Dunagan Deal, Brad Dunagan


It turns out that there is one other Governor of Georgia from the Ezekiel Dunagan family lineage, former Governor Zell Miller. He is the great grandson of Lydia Dunagan Miller and James Miller. Lydia Dunagan was the daughter of Joseph Ellis Dunagan, the oldest son of Ezekiel Dunagan and Lydia Ann Brown. Zell is the author of several books and also served in the U. S. Senate before retiring to his home town of Young Harris, GA.

James Miller b. 10 Dec 1816, Hall County, GA, d. 27 Apr 1896, buried in Mossy Creek, White Co., GA.He married Lydia Dunagan b. 17 Feb 1827, Hall County, GA, d. 7 Apr 1891, also buried at Mossy Creek, White County, GA. I am not certain of who the parents of James Miller were but Lydia Dunagan was the oldest daughter of my 3rd. great grandparents, Joseph Ellis Dunagan and Lucinda Beall. Lucinda Beall was the daughter of Frederick Beall, a Brig General in the War of 1812. Lydia was named after her grandmother, Lydia Ann (Brown)Dunagan.

James and Lydia had several children but Zell Miller is descended from their child, William Jasper "Bud" Miller b. 7 Feb 1847, White County, GA. He married Jane Malinda Collins and they had a son, Stephen Grady Miller, the father of Zell Bryan Miller.

Stephen Grady Miller was married to Birdie Bryan. Zell Miller was born 24 Feb 1932, the same year his father died. Birdie never remarried and raised Zell and his siblings as a single mother.



Zell Miller

Miller served as Lieutenant Governor from 1975 to 1991, 79th Governor of Georgia from 1991 to 1999, and as United States Senator from 2000 to 2005. As Governor, he established the Hope Scholarship Program.

2 comments:

  1. Good job Brad! My records indicate that Zell Bryan Miller was born on 24 February 1932 and that his father died on 12 March 1932.

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  2. You might be interested in this too - Lucinda is the wife of Joseph Ellis and the Daughter of Frederick Beall - He was a Brig General in the War of 1812 - here is a link for more about General Frederick Beall - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=62034340

    Gen. Beall was born in Frederick County, Maryland in 1768 and died in Franklin County, Georgia in 1847. He was Clerk of Inferior Court, Franklin Co., Nov. 10, 1797-1825; Clerk, Court of Ordinary, Franklin Co., July 24, 1799-?, Justice of Peace, Franklin Co., 1799-1812; Major 2nd Bat.. Franklin Co., 1801-1802; Brig General, 2nd Brigade, Georgia Militia, 1810-1829, Fought in the War of 1812 from 1812-1814. He was the son of Thaddeus Beall. Married Marthe Peyton Beall 1792.

    Frederick Beall (son of Thaddeus Beall and Amelia Jane Beall) was born October 20, 1776 in Prince Georges County, MD, and died June 13, 1847 in Campbell County, GA. He married Martha Peyton Beall on 1792, daughter of Daniel Beall and Martha Peyton Whiting.

    Notes for Frederick Beall:

    He is buried 4 miles west of Carrollton, GA


    NOTES FROM WALTER BEALL OF WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA

    "Frederick was in Franklin County, Georgia as early as 1797 when he started
    serving two years as Clerk of Inferior Court. He was Clerk of Ordinary
    (Probate) Judge from 24 July 1799 to 1825, and Justice of the Peace from
    1799 to 1812. He was a Commissioner of Franklin County Academy and was
    appointed County Commissioner by the act of November 29, 1806, to erect
    Public Buildings in Carnesville.
    Frederick, Daniel, and Horace Beall all drew lots in the 1805 Land Lottery or land in Baldwin, Wilkinson, and Wayne Counties. Of the three, only Horace had a winning draw.
    Frederick was Major of the 2nd Battalion, Franklin County from 1801 to 1818, and was Brig. General of the 2nd Brigade, Georgia Militia from 1810 to 1829.

    He fought in the War of 1812 from 1812 to 1814. He is buried in the Beall Cemetery located south-east of where Plowshare Road crosses Buck Creek, which is between Carrollton and Mt. Zion, off Route 16."


    More About Frederick Beall and Martha Peyton Beall:
    Marriage: 1792



    Family links:
    Children:
    William Otho Beall (1795 - 1851)*

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