USA > Georgia > Georgia's public men 1902-1904 > Part 10
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Few counties in the State have ever shown such remarkable advancement as has Colquitt within the last ten years. The Norman Institute, a new educational institution at Obe. in that county, is the gift to the people of one of the Nor- man family, and it is rapidly becoming one of the most important educational centers in that section.
Mr. Newton was united in marriage to Miss Arliffe Barber, of Colquitt county, on September 30, 1889, and they have four interesting children- Thomas and Willie and Elvie and Julia. His residence is at Moultrie.
Mr. Newton was Sheriff of Colquitt county three years, Clerk of the Supe- rior Court for six years and Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners for four years. Duing the present session he is serving on the following committees: General Agriculture. Hygiene and Sanitation, Internal In- provements, Pensions.
HON. J. A. KENDRICK.
J 1 AMES ALBERT KENDRICK,
Representative from the county of Taliaferro, was born in Sharon, Taliaferro J county, on December 13, 1858 and counties to reside in the place of his birth. His parents were Rob. ert T., and Frances Kendrick who were honored and respected resi- dents of the county for many years.
Mr. Kendrick was married at Union Point. Georgia, March 21, 1883, to Miss Addie Moore. daugh- ter of Dr. W. A. Moore, a promi- nent physician of Milledgeville. and they have five children, Harold. Moore, Louise. Cleo, Kathleen.
Mr. Kendrick is by occupation a merchant, having begun business in 1880. with a capital of only $250.00. which by judicious management and rare business foresight he has increased from time to time until at present he is considered one of the most substantial citizens of his county. He is also Vice-President of the Bank of Crawfordville.
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The political history of Mr. Kendrick may be told in a few words, as he has been too busy to engage in the pursuit of public office. He served as Mayor of Sharon in 1897 and has also been a member of the Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues of Taliaferro County. By appoint- ment of the Speaker. he is serving on these committees : Banks and Banking : University of Georgia and its Branches ; Western and Atlantic Railroad.
HON. T. J. M. KELLY.
T HOMAS J. M. KELLY, of Gibson, Glascock County. is serving his third term in the lower House.
Ile was born at Gibson. April 15. 1855. His father was Geo. W. Kelly, a prominent planter of Glas- cock.
Dr. Kelly was married October 1. 1884, to Miss Mollie S. Logue. Five children have been born to them-Lillian, Thomas, Louis, Harry and Fred.
Dr. Kelly is a practicing physi- cian. He is also a large dealer in live stock. He is one of the most prominent men in his town and county, and politically, is one of the leaders in the famous Tenth Congressional District.
Dr. Kelly has taken quite a prominent stand in the house. He is a forceful debater, and has introduced quite a number of important measures.
One strong characteristic of Dr. Kelly's term of service in the house is his unswerving devotion to the cause of ballot reform. He has been a close -tudent of this question. Before coming to the Legislature he had thoroughly informed himself concerning the practical workings of the Australian Ballot System in the States which have adopted it. During the last session he intro- duced a bill providing for the use of the system in the elections of Georgia. After a hard fight the bill was defeated. Early in the present session he
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introduced the same measure. So strong a fight has Dr. Kelly waged for the measure. it easily passed the House this year. The measure which Dr. Kelly has so ably championed will prove the solution of an important question which has long vexed the State.
Dr. Kelley is Chairman of the Committee on Asylum for the Blind and is a member of Corporations. Education, Georgia State Sanitarium, Hygiene and Sanitation. Labor and Labor Statistics and Special Judiciary.
HON. W. A. BUCHANNON.
W ILLIAM AUGUSTUS BUCHANNON. Represen- tative from Early county, is still a resident of the place of his birth. having been born at Blakely. July 8. 1849. His par- ents were James and Eunice Buch- annon, his father having been a resident of Jasper County before moving to Early and represented Jasper in the Secession Convention. He was a Whig in politics and took a leading part in the public life of the day. James Buchannon and Mrs. Eunice McCulloch were mar- ried at Fort Gaines. Georgia, Au- gust 16. 1835. by Judge Grigsby E. Thomas, the distinguished judge of the Superior Courts of what is now known as the Pataula Circuit.
W. A. Buchannon was married in Talbot county on the 23rd day of May, 18:2, to Miss Anna Bruce of that county, and there has been born to them one child. Hill Bruce Buchannon. He is by occupation a stock dealer and farmer. and is highly successful in his chosen lines.
A prominent place in the political life of Early County has been occupied by Mr. Buchannon for many years. He served six consecutive terms as treasurer of the county, retiring from the office in 1898 with a splendid record as a careful and painstaking custodian of the county's finances. He
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has also been a member of the Town Council of Blakely for several terms and rendered the town splendid service as a municipal official. He has always been a staunch democrat and his election to the present House was a deserved tribute on the part of his county to his worth and ability.
By appointment of the Speaker, Mr. Buchannon is serving on the commit- tees on Banks and Banking : Internal Improvement : Wild Lands.
HON. J. C. FLANIGAN,
J AMES CICERO FLANIGAN, Representative from Gwinnett county, is a native of that county, having been born near Au- burn October 25. 18:1. His parents were J. N. and Caroline Flanigan. who were highly respected residents of that county. Mr. Flanigan war reared on the farm and had his full share of the experience with work that falls to the lot of nearly every country boy. After attending the public schools of the neighborhood, Mr. Flanigan attended Mercer Uni- versity. from which excellent insti- tution he graduated in 1898. While at Mercer he took great interest in the work of the literary societies of that institution, those incubators of orators which have made Mercer famous throughout the length and breadth of the land. There is no better training for public life than that afforded by the literary debating societies of our Southern colleges. Mr. Flanigan represented Mereer in the debate with the University of Georgia in 1898 and his speech was very effective and con- tributed in large measure to the victory won by his institution.
After graduating from Mercer, Mr. Flanigan entered educational work as president of Perry-Rainey College at Auburn, which position he held for two years and filled most acceptably. Leaving educational work. he entered the newspaper field as editor of the Lawrenceville News-Herald. His work in this capacity was most successful, and he remained with that paper two
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years. At present he is editor of the Gwinnett Journal, which is also pub- lished at Lawrenceville.
Mr. Flanigan was nominated for the Legislature after a very exciting con- test. He is serving on the committees on Railroads and Ways and Means, is chairman of the Committee on Journals and vice-chairman of Committee on Public Printing.
HON, R. E. BROWN.
R OBERT EDWIN BROWN. Representative from Hous- ton County, is a resident of Fort Valley, in which charm- ing little city he was born on the 5th of August, 1875. His parents were S. B. Brown and Mrs. Susie Persons Brown, both members of influential families in that seetion.
Mr. Brown was married to Miss Coralie Scruggs of Fort Valley, Au- gust 29, 1900. They have no ehil- dren.
After attending the public schools of Fort Valley, Mr. Brown entered the University of Georgia at AAthens. where he took a leading part in the activities of college life. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He took a high stand in his class and was active in society work. He graduated at the University with the class of 1892, taking the degree of A. B.
After leaving his Alma Mater, Mr. Brown returned to his home at Fort Valley and entered upon the study of law. He was admitted to the bar April 1. 1899 after having stood the examination prescribed by the State Board of Examiners. this being the first examination held under the new law.
Mr. Brown has since been engaged in the successful practice of his profes- sion in Fort Valley. and is considered one of the leading men among the younger attorneys in that section. This is his first venture in politics, but he led
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his ticket by a handsome majority, although he was the youngest man in the race. He has been appointed by the Speaker to service on the following committees : Special Judiciary : State of the Republie.
HON. J. B. ROUNTREE.
J 1
OSEPH B. ROUNTREE, one of the three Representatives from Thomas county, is a native of Emanuel county, Georgia, having been born there January 3, 1861.
Hle comes from a family whose members have always been success- ful and sturdy tiller- of the soil, and honest, patriotie citizens. Like so many of the younger sons of the old county of Emanuel. Mr. Rountree decided to seek his fortune in the newer sections of the State, and re- moved to Thomas county, settling at Barwick. He is engaged in mercan- tile business at that place, as well as having large agricultural interests in that section, which has made such rapid strides in that industry in recent years.
Mr. Rountree was married at Wrightville, Ga., May 1. 1884, and has an interesting family of eight children-Lois, Clyde, Lota, Claude, Carl, Lena, Dean and J. B., Jr.
The subject of this sketch is another of those who have devoted their time and attention to business, instead of secking the seemingly empty honors of political battle. He has given his own affairs close attention and been sue- cessful in his chosen oeeupation. Until two years ago he had never sought office, but was prevailed upon by his people to take the office of Commissioner of Roads and Revenues of Thomas county. and in that capacity gave the affairs of the people the same close and undivided attention which had char- aeterized his work in his own interests.
He is serving on the committees on Appropriations. General Agriculture, Pensions.
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HON. W. S. WEST.
W ILLIAM S. WEST. Repre- sentative from Lowndes county, has had consider- able experience in the General As- sembly. having served with signal ability in both branches. Mr. West is a resident of Valdosta. He is one of the leading lawyer- of that sec- tion of the State. Besides his pro- fessional duties, he has extensive business interests in South Georgia and Florida.
For a number of years Mr. West has been prominently identified with the lumber and naval stores busi- ness and has accumulated a comfort- able fortune. He has large holdings in timbered lands and is connected with a number of leading commercial and industrial enterprises. He is a splendid business man. possessing rare judgment and foresight, and his advice is eagerly sought on all matters of an important business nature coming before the Legislature: he being recognized as one of the ablest and most expe- rienced members of that body.
Mr. West was born in Marion county, Georgia, on August 23. 1849. Soon after his birth his father moved to Brooks (then Lowndes county) and settled near the town of Quitman, where they resided until 1863, when they moved to Madison county, Florida. Col. West received his early education in the common schools of Quitman. Ga., and of Madison county, Florida, and in 1880 graduated at Mercer University, Macon, with the degree of A. B.
In 1882 he took a commercial course at the commercial college of the Ken- tucky University at Lexington. While at Mercer he graduated in law, and in 1883 he settled in Valdosta to practice his profession. Practically all of his means had been exhausted in securing an education, so it may be said he began the struggle of life penniless. While he adopted the law as his profes- sion. at the same time he devoted considerable attention to other pursuits, and in the course of time amassed a fortune which runs up into six figures. He is now the owner of several large sawmills and tram roads in South Georgia and
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Florida. His magnificent $25.000 residence in Valdosta is one of the hand- somest in the State.
Besides one term in the Senate-1898-9-Mr. West has represented Lowndes county in the lower house during the year- 1892-3-4-5-6-2. With the excep- tion of the years 1900-01. when he declined to again stand for the lower house. he has represented the people of Lowndes in one branch or the other of the General Assembly for ten consecutive years. His present term will com- plete ten years' legislative service for his people. during all of which time he has represented them with marked fidelity and to their entire satisfaction, as is shown by the fact that he has never been defeated for office. He is greatly interested in educational matters, and has labored incessantly for needed re- forms in the common school system of Georgia. He has served on the State School Book Commission appointed by Governor Atkinson, and has also been chairman of the House Committee on Education. He is a staunch advocate of uniformity in text-books. and labored untiringly for the passage of such a measure at this session.
HON. C, J. WELLBORN, Jr.
C ARLTON JUAN WELLBORN. Jr .. Representative from Union county. was born at Blairsville. in that county, September 2, 1869, and has resided there continuously since. He is the oldest living son of Hon. C. J. Wellborn, the present State Librarian. Mr. Wellborn. Jr .. is a graduate of the North Georgia Agricultural College at Dahlonega. and also of the law department of the University of Georgia at Ath- ens, from which latter institution he received his degree in 1889.
In 1890 Mr. Wellborn was mar- ried to Miss Loulie Griffies of Sparta. Ga., and they have an inter- e-ting family of five children. The first appearance of Mr. Wellborn in publie life was as Assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives under Hon. John T. Boifeuillet during the
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session of 1898 and 1899. After returning to his home and resuming the practice of his profession he was ealled upon by his party to make the raee for the House against the candidate of the combined Republican and Populist forces, which he did successfully, being elected to the House for the session of 1900 and 1901. The same contest was repeated in Union this year : Mr. Well- born being opposed by the fusion element and again being successful over the combined opposition.
By appointment of the Speaker. Mr. Wellborn is serving on the following committees : Georgia State Sanitarium, General Judiciary, and chairman of the Committee on Enrollment.
HON. L. C. MORTON,
L UTHER COLYER MORTON. Representative from Jones County, is a native of that county and was born at James, on January 16, 1875, the son of William Troup Morton and Mat- tie Emer-on Morton. He is by oc- cupation a farmer and was married on October 28. 1897, to Miss Rosa Lee James. They have three chil- dren. Rosa Lucile, Thelma Kather- ine and Ruby.
Mr. Morton comes from a family whose name has been blazoned high on the annals of the republic. The founder of the family in this coun- try came from Ireland in 1212 and settled at Boston, Mass. Oliver P Morton, the famous Hoosier statesman and Levi P. Morton of New York were descendants of this man, as was also Jesse Morton. an immediate ances- tor of the subject of this sketch. Jesse Morton came from Boston and located at Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, and in 1812 moved to Georgia, fixing his residence at the place now known as Morton's Station on the Macon and Northern Railroad in JJones County. His family consisted of Silas Morton, who settled in Sereven county; Davis M., who moved to the
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same county ; O. H. M., who remained in Jones: Lemnel B., who was the progenitor of a large family in Stewart county; Thomas M., who moved to Meridian, Mississippi and Ezra M., who located in Philadelphia, Pensylvania. The Mortons are a long lived race, many of them living to be eighty-five and ninety years of age. The father of L. C. Morton was for many years Chair- man of the Democratic Executive Committee of Jones and led the party battles.
Mr. Morton is serving on the Committee on the Georgia State Sanitarium, one of the most important committees of the House.
HON, J. R. SHANNON.
OHN RICHARD SHANNON. Representative of Monroe County, is a resident of Cab- aniss, in that county, where he was born on August 16, 1866. He is by profession a physician and also follows agricultural pursuits. Hle is unmarried. The parents of Dr. Shannon were Dr. John Shan- non and Mrs. Rachael J. Shannon. Dr. John Shannon came from Ire- land and settled in Monroe County, where he practiced medicine until his death at the age of sixty-five. He represented his county in the Constitutional Convention which Constitutional Convention of 1877, and was also a member of the Leg- islature at one time.
Dr. John R. Shannon graduated from the University of Georgia with the degree of A. B. and afterwards attended a medical college in Atlanta, and also the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He taught school at Cabaniss for several years and has also served as member of the Board of Education of Monroe County, being twice elected to the presidency of that body.
Among the distinguished relatives of Dr. Shannon is James Shannon. LL.D., who was a professor in the University of Georgia and afterwards
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President of the University of Louisiana and the University of Kentucky. dying while Chancellor of the University of Missouri. Richard D. Shannon. LE. D .. was State School Commissioner of Missouri.
Dr. Shannon has been appointed to serve on the following committees : Counties and County Matters, of which he is Chairman: Appropriations : Hygiene and Sanitation : Penitentiary : Railroads: University of Georgia and its Branches.
HON. G. W. ADAMS.
G EORGE W. ADAMS. Repre- sentative from Putnam coun- try, is a resident of Eatonton. where he is editor and publisher of the Eatonton Messenger. a weekly newspaper of great influence in that section of the State. Mr. Adams has been in control of the paper for fifteen years and has had a great deal of experience in newspaper work. For three years he did editorial work on the Savannah Morning News, but returned to Eatonton on account of the illness of his wife, who was Miss Annie Reid McNeel before her mar- riage to Mr. Adams. She died after their removal to Eatonton.
Mr. Adams has not been an office- seeker, but has served two terms as mayor of Eatonton, and has also been chairman of the County Executive Committee of Putnam and alternate Pres- idential elector on the Cleveland and Stevenson ticket.
He was elected to the House in 1898 and soon established a reputation as a careful and able legislator. He took great interest in the work of the House and was especially concerned in the efforts to secure a lower tax rate, to protect land-owners from damage by the setting on fire of timber lands. to prohibit the importation into the State of diseased fruit trees, and to reg- ulate the selection of text-books for the public schools of the State. Ile also took a prominent part in the school legislation of that session and was a
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member of special committees that examined the geological bureau and the steward's department of the State Sanitarium.
In the present House Mr. Adams is taking an active and prominent part. He is chairman of the Committee on Temperance and is vice-chairman of the Committee on Education. He is also serving on the Committee on the Georgia State Sanitarium.
HON. MORGAN RAWLS.
M ORGAN RAWLS. Representa- tive from Effingham, is the oldest member of the House in point of service. and has had a long and distinguished career in the public affairs of his State. Born in Bulloch county. Georgia. he remain- ed there until he reached manhood. He was married in Effingham county and has lived there since 1856, his residence being at Guyton, where he has engaged in profitable agricul- ture when not occupied in the public service.
Mr. Rawls served in the Confed- erate army throughout the war as Captain, and afterwards Lieutenant- Colonel of the Fifty-fourth regiment of Georgia infantry. Ile was badly wounded in the trenches around Atlanta July 22, 1864.
Mr. Rawl'> first appearance in politics was as an opponent of secession. and he was defeated by a small majority. While serving in the army he was elected to the Legislature and represented his county while absent on leave. returning to his command at the close of the session. His service in the Legislature has included the year 1863, 1864, 1865. 1868. 1869. 1820. 18:1, 1886. 1881, 1888. 1889. 1896, 1892, 1898, 1899. 1900, 1901, and he is a member of the present House for the years 1902-3. He was a member of the State Convention in 1865. and also of the convention which nominated Gov- ernor Alexander H. Stephens.
Mr. Rawls was elected to the Forty-third Congress and served part of the
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term in the House of Representatives, but was unseated on a contest in favor of his Republican opponent, according to the practice of that party at that time. He also served as assistant elerk of the House of Representatives at Washington for ten years when the House was in the hands of the Demo- crats. Mr. Rawls has spent a lifetime in the faithful service of his State, and is highly honored aud revered throughout its borders. His words in the House are listened to with great attention by his colleagues. and his expe- rienee makes him of great value to them. He is serving on the following committees: Blind Asylum. Penitentiary. He is also chairman of the Com- mittee on Auditing.
HON. D. M. BUCHAN.
D AVID M. BUCHAN, Repre- sentative from Dodge coun- ty, was born in Pulaski county, Ga .. June 19. 1848. His father was Dr. J. M. Buchan, a well-known physician of that coun- ty. Dr. Buchan, the subject of this sketch. was married September. 180, to Miss Nancy J. Lancaster, and eleven children have been born to them-Helen, Joseph, Jas. W .. Naomi. Susan. Georgia, P. M., Ethel, Nancy A., William H., and Thos. F.
Dr. Buchan has practiced his profession in Dodge county for a number of years and has always b. en a staunch adherent of Demo- cratic principles. His first political office was the mayoralty of Eastman, and , since that time he has served as County School Commissioner, and also as a member of the Board of Education of his county. His residence is at Gress- ton. Dr. Buchan's committee appointments for the present session are: Corporations, County and County Matters. Hygiene and Sanitation, Manu- factures.
Dr. Buchan has seen a wonderful change in the appearance and importance of the section in which he resides. In his early years the counties immediately contiguous to the county of his birth were sparsely inhabited and unimportant
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from an agricultural standpoint. In the remarkable development of that section. which has been brought about within the past few years, Dr. Buchan nas taken an important part. Liberal and progressive, he has at all times shown an active interest in the material and educational advancement of his county.
HON. R. S. HENDRY.
R OBERT STEELE HENDRY, Representative from Liberty county, is a native of that county. where he was born February 21. 1851. His father and mother were upright Christian people of that county. and early inculcated those characteristics into the subject of this sketch. At the close of the Civil War he was left the only sup- port of his mother and sisters. and nobly did he fulfill the duties incum- bent upon him.
He has always been an industri- ous. economical and honest citizen, foremost in church and Sunday school work, and has held the re- spect and esteem of his neighbors. At the age of 25 he was appointed Justice of the Peace, holding the position seven years with an enviable record. February 12, 1814, Mr. Hendry was married to Miss Laura Martin. They have two children. Ola and Loyd.
Mr. Hendry is the ranking First Lieutenant of cavalry, Georgia State Troops, and has been prominent in the military life of his county, whose famous "Liberty Troop" has been noted for many years.
Mr. Hendry has never been a politician, but this year was solicited by the people of his county to make the race for the House. For several years a negro had represented Liberty, and this year the people wanted a can- didate who could poll the full strength. So. Mr. Hendry was nominated, and at the election defeated his negro opponent by a good majority. He received a warm welcome into the House and has been an active member. Mr. Hendry is a member of the following committees: Immigration. Internal Improve- ments, Wild Lands.
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