Jacob (Jake) Hutchings

Born a slave in 1831 in Virginia, Jake eventually became the property of R.H. Hutchings of Jones County, Georgia. He was a skilled stone mason, cutting much of the stone in the county, including the granite in this retaining wall. These blocks originally formed the walls of the first county jail in nearby Clinton. Jake was a tall man of great strength, polite and well respected. He was elected as the first black state representative for Jones County in 1868. Jake died on June 9th, 1909.

Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.

Original page, with additional info, here.

Photo credit: Ken Moser.