Moseley and other visionary leaders had waged a hard fought, nine-year campaign,begun in 1916, to wrest Fort Valley, Byron, and Powersville from Houston County and to form a new county named “Peach” after its thriving peach industry. Their hopes were realized on Nov. 7, 1924, when Georgia voters passed a constitutional amendment to make Peach County the 161st and last Georgia county to be created. The vote was 77,052 to 31,211. The approved referendum called for annexing 151 square miles from Houston and Macon Counties to create the County of Peach with Fort Valley as its County Seat. This ended a contentious and sometimes heated struggle between neighboring communities who resisted the move, particularly Perry, the Houston County seat, which had the most to lose.

In 1925, the second floor of Slappey’s Opera House (later the Peach Theater, and now the remodeled Austin Theater) on Main Street was used as the county courthouse. It was here that Judge Moseley set up his first office. There he not only conducted county business but probated wills and held court on judicial matters not addressed by the Superior Court.

In 1936, he spearheaded the building of the first county courthouse. To provide needed library space, he constructed an annex at the rear of the courthouse. The Thomas Public Library operated there until it burned in 1969.

For 20 progressive years, Judge Moseley, a former Byron Mayor, single-handedly managed the affairs of the county, from 1925 until his retirement in 1945, a span of five consecutive terms. On Moseley’s grave in the Byron cemetery are the endearing words of this epitaph: “A man of righteousness, honor, justice, and charity.”

Two ordinaries succeeded Judge Moseley, first Bernard A. Young (father of Marshall and Allen Young) followed by Julian F. Jones (father of Julian Jones Jr. and Janice Jones Fuller). During Jones’ tenure, a legislative act, dated March 10, 1964, eliminated the Ordinary “county manager” position and created an elective board of three commissioners to govern the county.
 
In November 1964, Millard Moseley’s son, Martin H. “Toon” Moseley Sr., a former Byron City Councilman, was elected to the commission post representing Byron and north Peach County. “Toon” began his first term in January 1965 and was reelected to a second term beginning in 1969. Midway during his second term, a heart condition forced him into retirement. In 1997, “Toon” was honored by the state legislature. House Resolution 507 commended Moseley as an “outstanding citizen whose life and work have helped to make this state a better place to live.” He was also named an “Honorary Kentucky Colonel” by the Governor of Kentucky. Both “Toon” and his father loved the church, being life long members of the Byron Methodist Church. Both men espoused Christian ideals and, even though a natural rivalry existed between Byron and Fort Valley, they rose above it and were loved and admired by all citizens throughout the county.

This legacy of county management has been continued into the third generation in the person of Martin H. MoseleyJr. He is the grandson of Judge Millard Moseley and the son of “Toon” Moseley. Martin began his service on the Peach County Commission in June of 2004, when appointed to fill an unexpired term. In December 2006, he was elected outright to Commission Post Four, which includes Byron and northern Fort Valley. At the board’s January 2009 meeting, his fellow commissioners nominated and unanimously elected Martin commission chairman. Facing Martin Moseley and his fellow commissioners is the daunting task of providing services for a county population exceeding 25,000 citizens and managing an annual operating budget of $15 million.

Martin Mosley Jr. and his family live outside Byron on the Moseley Farm that has been in the family since 1897 and is on the registry of Georgia Centennial Farms. He and his wife, the former Teresa Williams of McRae, have two children: Martin H. III (Trey) 19, and Katlyn, 12. Also living on the family farm is Martin’s mother, Frances Stallworth Moseley.

Since an acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree, we know that Peach County is in capable hands with Martin Moseley Jr. at the helm of county management. He will continue the legacy of outstanding leadership, astute governance, and responsiveness to all citizens that was the distinguishing trademark of his grandfather and father before him. Martin H. Moseley, Sr.


By Billy Powell
Reprinted From The Leader Tribune