W. H. MIZELL, CHARLTON SHERIFF FROM 1910 UNTIL 1932, DID HIS JOB THE HARD WAY.

            When he took over the Charlton County Sheriff's office, W. H. Mizell didn't know he would remain in the job until 1932. Mizell, a Charlton County native, was popular with the people of his county. His friends and relatives were spread through the entire county. He would have little trouble getting elected Sheriff.

            Charlton County then would see several new communities spring up. In St. George in 1910, the booming town in "The Bend" section in the south end of the county was growing and beginning its 6^th year since being founded by the Fitzgerald family from the mid-west.

            Homeland, then known as the "Colony Company" was a mere 4 years old and growing. By leaps and bounds. The community, a year earlier, had been incorporated as the City of Homeland.

            Sheriff Mizell took all the growth in stride, going about his duties in the ten-year-old Charlton County Courthouse with the ease of a veteran. Mizell became known as a friendly man, but one who could be stern when his job demanded. Frequently he had to travel by horseback in the early years of his terms. Prisoners would be moved by rail with Mizell accompanying them.

            In 1910, Mizell's first term, the town of Folkston had only sand streets, and one masonry building other than the courthouse; The Bank of Folkston, had recently opened its bank on the corner of First and Main Street. Liberty Banking Company of Hinesville owned the bank. Soon other buildings were to spring up; The Arnold Hotel, The Central House Hotel, and The McDonald House Hotel would line up on Folkston's Main Street, or as some called it then, Courthouse Street. The courthouse anchored the east end of the street.

            Mizell had to deal with some of the toughest criminals anywhere during his terms of office, from murderers to rum-runners in the later years. He continued to grow into his job, taking every change in stride.

            A handsome man, Mizell dressed the part. Usually wearing a black coat and tie, he continued to pile up friends. Colonel A. S. McQueen, in his History of Charlton County, complimented Mizell for the impeccable way in which he kept the county records for his office. Court cases were handled with dispatch, but then along came change.

            Charlton County, to fight the threat of rum-runners during the prohibition period, hired a motorcycle policeman, J. O. Sikes, to pursue the illegal traffic running liquor through the county along the Dixie Highway. Sikes made friends easily, and was good at his job. Sikes became a local hero in a shoot-out in Uptonville when he stopped a liquor car with his motorcycle chase. Two thugs got out of their car and began shooting at Sikes. Sikes ducked behind his motorcycle and returned fire. The two thugs were killed. That incident turned Sikes into a local hero. He had little trouble ousting Mizell from his Sheriff's job in 1932. But, the 22 years Mizell served as sheriff, were some of the most difficult in the history of the county. A tribute to a man dedicated to his job.