USA > Georgia > Georgia's public men 1902-1904 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
Mr. Singletary is serving on the following House committees : Blind Asylum. Counties and County Matters, Special Judiciary, and Western and Atlantic Railroad.
HON. J. FERRIS CANN.
J. + 1 FERRIS CANN, Representa- tive from Chatham County, is a native of Chatham County, where he was born Deeem- ber 11. 1868. He is the son of James F. and Anna S. Can. Be- fore her marriage his mother was Miss Anna S. Turner. Mr. Can is a descendant of distinguished Revolutionary ancestry and by right of birth is a member of the Sons of the Revolution.
After completing his literary education. Mr. Cann studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1888. Hle has since been engaged in the practice of the profession in Savannah, as a member of the firm of G. T. & J. F. Cann, and has made a good reputation and established a splendid practice at the bar.
Mr. Cann's first appearance in polities was as president of the Citizens' Chib of Savannah, the dominant organization in municipal politics there
196
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
for several years and one of the most important in the State. He was president of the Bryan and Stevenson Club during their campaign. In 1900 he represented the first district in the Senate and was regarded as one of the best posted and most influential members of that body. This year he was elected to the House by a good majority and at once took the rank to which his ability and experience entitled him. He is chairman of the Committee on Railroads and is also a member of a number of others. among them Amendments to Constitution. Appropriations, Education. General JJudiciary. Penitentiary.
Mr. Cann has been connected with the military forces of the State for eleven years. He served as captain of Company K. Second Georgia Regi- ment, during the Spanish-American was, and was also judge-advocate and provost marshal of the Fourth Army Corps. He is a major in the nnifom rank Knights of Pythias, and is also a member of several other fraternal organizations. He is prominent in the social life of Savannah and is a member of all the social chibs of the city. besides being commodore of the Savannah Yacht Club.
HON. FONDREN MITCHELL.
F ONDREN MITCHELL, Rep- resentative from Thomas county, is serving his third term in the House, and ever since his entrance in the body has been one of its foremost members. He was born in Thomasville. August 19. 1874. His father. Judge Rob- ert G. Mitchell, has been for years one of the leading attorneys of that section, and at the last election was elected to succeed Judge A. H. Ilansell on the bench of the South- ern Circuit.
After completing his education Mr. Mitchell taught in the public schools of Thomas county for sev eral years with marked snecess. Being desirous of entering the legal profession he attended the Law Depart- ment of the University of Georgia, from which he graduated in 1998, In
197
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
the same year he was elected to represent Thomas county in the House, and has been accorded a re-election twice. The only office held by Mr. Mitchell other than representative was the solicitorship of the county court of Thom- as, to which he was appointed by Governor Atkinson. He is one of the lead- ing young lawyers of that section of the State, and has established a good practice.
He is one of the most popular and influential members of the House, and rame near being elected speaker at the opening of the session.
HON. G. H. CARSWELL.
G EORGE HENRY CARS- WELL is one of the younger members of the lower House. Ile i- serving his first term as member from Wilkinson County. Irwinton is his home. It is here that he was born on October 21. 1821, his parents being Mathew J. and Ellen Carswell. His father is now dead.
Mr. Carswell has been prominent in the politics of his county. When ·ighteen years of age, he edited in a Acarloss and able manner. "The Ir- winton Bulletin." Since attaining hi- majority, he has held the posis tion of chairman of the Democratic Agentive committee of his county. Todoor of the city of Irwanton and judge of the county court. He resigned 1000 juder ship this summer to accept the nomination for Representative, which roe to him with the case of his other honor -.
He is a graduate of the law school at Mercer.
He will be heard on the floor in debates this session, and will no doubt -ustain the reputation as orator which has followed him from his home town. Mr. Car-well has recently become a benedict. having been married on November 26, to Mi -- Ethel Wood. of Irwinton. Mrs. Carswell is a daughter of Hon. J. S. Wood. a prominent physician of Irwinton.
Mr. Car-well is serving on the committee of General Judiciary, Georgia State Sanitarium. Penitentiary. Pension- Privileges of the Floor.
198
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
HON. E. K. OVERSTREET.
E DWARD KINCHLEY OVER- STREET, representative from Sereven county, is a member of one of the prominent families of that section of the State, and many of its members have held official po- sitions in county and State. He was born at Blank Creek, in Sereven county, March 18. 1873, and has spent his life in the county of his birth. Mr. Overstreet is married and has one child-E. K .. Jr.
Mr. Overstreet has been engaged in the practice of law in Sylvania for several years and has taken rank as one of the leading attorneys of that section. He was appointed Judge of the County Court of Screven in 1896, and held the position for five years, making a splendid rep- utation by his work in that capacity. He also served two years as mayor of the town of Sylvania.
Mr. Overstreet is well fitted to take a prominent part in the deliberations of the House. and early in the session took rank as one of the most promi- nent of the new members. He takes great interest in legislative matters and is an earnest worker on both the floor of the House and in the committee room.
Mr. Overstreet has been appointed to serviee on the following important committees : Appropriations. Counties and County Matters. General Judi- eiary, Special Judiciary, Temperance, University of Georgia and its Branches.
HON. C. M. CANDLER.
C ITARLES MURPHEY CANDLER. Representative from DeKalb County, was born at Decatur on March 17, 1858, and is the son of Hon. Milton A. Candler, who represented the Fifth district in the national House of Representatives. Hle is also the grandson of Charles Murphey, one of the distinguished statesmen of the ante-bellum period, he having represented his district in Congress several terms.
Mr. Candler graduated with the class of 1877 at the University of Geor- gia, and then took up the study of law, being admitted to the bar in
1
199
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
1879. Hle became a member of the firm of Candler. Thomson & Candler of Atlanta and continued in the practice of his profession until 1890, when he retired to take up active industrial work. He became associated with the Geo. W. Scott Manufacturing Co. as secretary and treasurer. and continued in that capacity several years, and is now secretary and treasurer of Geo. W. Scott Investment Company of Atlanta, owners of the Scottdale Mills; also, a director in and secretary and treasurer of the Century Building Co. of Atlanta. and of the Chestatee Pyrites Co. and of the N. P. Pratt Laboratory of Atlanta. Mr. Candler was married to Miss Mary S. Scott. of Decatur, and they have five children. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Candler's previous political career was as a member of the House in 1886 and 1887. and also for 1888-9, being chairman of the Committee on Education during his second term. During this session he is serving on various committees, among them being Journals. Public Property, Special Judiciary, University of Georgia and its Branches, and Ways and Means.
Mr. Candler is a cousin of ex-Governor Allen D. Candler and a nephew of Bishop Warren A. Candler and Justice John S. Candler. His father, Hon. M. A. Candler, was the eldest son of Hon. S. C. Candler, who was prominent in Georgia politics before the war.
HON. D. F. McCLATCHEY.
-
D. F. MCCLATCHEY, JR.,
was born in Marietta. Cobb county, Georgia., November 26, 1816. Hle is the eldest son of D. F. McClatchey, a prominent merchant of Marietta, and the late AAdelaide McClatchey. For several years he has been con- nected with the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, being manager of several exchanges and many miles 01 long-distance lines for his company.
He has served as reading clerk of the House of Representatives of Georgia since 1898, and was recently In this line of work he has few chosen for the ensuing term of two years. equals in any of the States of the Union.
Although only 26 years of age, he is serving his second term as Grand
200
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
Herald of the Grand Lodge of Georgia I. O. O. F. He is perhaps the youngest grand officer in the history of Georgia Odd Fellowship.
He is a member of the Cobb county Democratic Executive Committee and secretary of the Board of Trade of Marietta. He is a prominent member of the Methodist church and a Master Mason.
Mr. McClatchey is extremely popular at home, as is demonstrated by the fact that he is frequently called upon to fill positions of honor and trust. As secretary of the Board of Trade of Marietta he is always looking to the up- building of his native town.
HON. T. R. PENN.
T HOMAS R. PENN, Messen- ger of the House of Rep- resentatives, was born at Monticello, Jasper County. Geor- gia, fifty-eight years ago. Ile is the son of William C. and Salina Smith Pen. In early life Mr. Penn remained on his father's farm. In April, 1862, he entered the military service of the Confed- eracy as a private in the Glover Guards, Company G. 4th Georgia Regiment. Continuing in the in- fantry until February. 1864, he then volunteered in the navy to assist in the release of Confederate prisoners at Point Lookont. Immediately afterward he began pri- vateering under Admiral Semmes. His first cruise was on the gunboat Tallahassee, afterwards known as the Olustee. He saw continous service under Admiral Semmes until the general surrender of Confederate forces.
Mr. Penn married Miss Annie P. MeNair and to them have been born six children. Mand C., Henry W .. Howard M .. Martha S., Fitzhugh Lee and Thos. R., Jr.
After the war Mr. Penn followed agrienltural pursuits until 1869, when he was elected sheriff of Jasper County, in which capacity he served six years. After retiring from that office he again farmed until elected super- intendent of the public roads of the county. He served as messenger of the last House and was re-elected to the same position at the opening of the preesnt term. Mr. Penn is very popular among the members of the House and has many friends throughout the State.
диатратитры
209
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
THE JUDICIARY
SUPREME COURT.
S INCE the creation of the Supreme Court of Georgia, in 1846, that august tribunal has been graced by some of the most distinguished judicial names in the South, and has taken a deservedly high stand among the courts of last resort in the country.
For more than a hundred years Georgia has been rich in judicial minds of a high order, her bench and bar justly ranking in fame and usefulness with the best which her sister States could boast.
From this array of legal luminaries has been marshalled the men whose lights have shone from the highest court in the State.
The Supreme Court was organized in 1846 with Joseph Henry Lumpkin. of Athens, as Chief Justice. This beloved, distinguished, gifted and most learned jurist presided until 1866, when he was succeeded by Hiram Warner. of Green- ville, one of the strongest legal minds, and, perhaps, the most ruggedly austere Judge. Judge Warner, who literally battled his way up to the proudest judi- cial height in the State through iron fortune, was followed by Joseph E. Brown, O. A. Lochrane, James Jackson and Logan E. Bleckley, all of whom filled the lofty position with distinguished ability.
Among the men who won high reputation as associate justices may be men- tioned Eugenius A. Nisbet, Ebenezer Starnes, Henry L. Benning, Linton Stephens. Charles A. McDonald, Charles J. Jenkins, Richard F. Lyon, Iverson L. Harris, Martin J. Crawford, Samuel Hall and others.
Thomas J. Simmons, the present able and learned Chief Justice, succeeded Logan E. Bleckley in 1894. A year or so thereafter the number of associate justices was increased from two to five. The present associate justices are : Samuel Lumpkin, Andrew J. Cobb. William A. Little. William H. Fish and John S. Candler ; the latter having been elected in 1902 in place of Henry T. Lewis, resigned.
210
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
CHIEF JUSTICE T. J. SIMMONS.
1 N THE FRONT RANK of the illustrious representative men of the State of Georgia of the past half century stands Thomas J. Simmons, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
On the field, in the political arena, in the forum, and on the bench, he has placed the impress of his lofty ability. his wisdom, his energy, and his patriotism high upon the annals of the commonwealth, and the record of his usefulness is part and parcel of the history of Georgia.
The great and abiding reputation which he has made was not built upon adventitious aid, nor was it the outgrowth of favoring fortune, or the gift of powerful patronage-but was carved out by native ability, splendid self- reliance. and the sheer force of character which laughs at obstacles, scorns dependence upon fickle chance. but with stern serenity and steady integrity works out its own high and honorable purposes.
The career of Thomas J. Simmons furnishes a fine illustration of that true saying of the world's greatest dramatist. "Tis in ourselves that we are thus. or thus." In his case with "lowliness for young ambition's ladder, " he. by dint of honest effort and unflagging toil, did scale the topmost round.
Chief Justice Simmons was born in Crawford County, Georgia. June 25, 1831. His boyhood was passed upon a farm. He did not court the classic between college walls. but after receiving careful academic training applied himself to the study of the law. He was admitted to the bar in 1852. before he had attained his majority. Soon he took a high stand at the bar. He practiced law successfully until the outbreak of the great Civil War. At the first sound of the tocsin he enlisted as first lieutenant of the Crawford Grays, a company belonging to the famous Sixth Georgia Regiment. Later. for conspicuous gallantry as a soldier. he was promoted to the lieutenant-colo- neney of the Forty-fifth Georgia Regiment. and was afterwards made the colonel of that command.
After the war closed he removed to Macon. Ga .. and opened a law office, and -oo11 became a leading figure in the political affairs of the State. He was a prominent member of the Constitutional Convention of 1865. a body before which came the vexed and momentous questions growing out of the disjointed times following upon the heels of the war. In 1866 he was chosen to represent the people as State Senator from the Twenty-second district. His valuable services were rewarded by re-election to the upper house of the General As- sembly in 1821. and four years later. in 1825. he was called to the Presidency of the Senate.
He was elected a member of the great Constitutional Convention which as- sembled in Atlanta in 18:2. He was a leading spirit of that remarkable body
CHIEF JUSTICE T. J. SIMMONS.
212
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
of Georgians whose proceedings marked a new era in the political history of the State. In recognition of his ability, wisdom and great public virtue, he was made chairman of the Finance Committee. His services in that most responsible and important position were many and valuable. But the salient feature of his work as a member of the convention was this: He was the author of the great measure to sift out the illegal bonds of the State, and by this work saved Georgia more than $8,000,000. Two years after the conven- tion completed its labors, in 18:9. he was elected Judge of the Superior Court of the Macon circuit. He served the State ably, impartially, faithfully, in that office eight years, and in 1887 wa- rewarded by election as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. For seven years he adorned that high position, fully sustaining his great reputation as a jurist. And in 1894 was con- ferred upon him the crowning honor of the bench in Georgia-the Chief Justiceship of the Supreme Court of the State, a position which he has since most ably held. Judge Simmons married in 1857 Miss Pennie Hollis: in 1869 Mrs. Lucile Peek. and in 1889 Mrs. Renfroe.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SAMUEL LUMPKIN.
S AMUEL LUMPKIN, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, was born in Oglethorpe county. Georgia, December 12. 1×48. His great grandfather. John Lumpkin, founded a family of great distinction. His sons were: Wilson Lumpkin, Governor of Georgia. and also United States Senator from that State; Joseph Henry Lumpkin, the first Chief Justice of Georgia, and Samuel Lumpkin, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.
The father of Justice Lumpkin was Joseph Henry Lumpkin. Jr. He died at the age of 26. after he had attained high reputation as a lawyer. Young Samuel was left to the care of a noble, Christian mother, who was, before marriage. Sarah E. Johnson.
Justice Lumpkin was educated at the State University at Athens and Mercer College, Penfield, Ga. He graduated from the former in July, 1866, with first honor. After teaching school in Georgia in 1866, he taught school in Mississippi during 1867. In April, 1868. he was admitted to the bar at Lex- ington, Ga .. and began the practice of law at Elberton, Ga., with Col. Robert Ifester. Afterward he practiced with Col. C. T. Goode at Americus. Ga .. dur- ing 18:0-11. Returning to Lexington, his home. he was. in 1821, appointed Clerk of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly. In 1822 he
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SAMUEL LUMPKIN.
214
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
was appointed Solicitor-General of the Northern circuit by Governor Smith. He was reappointed to this office in 1823. Ile served as postmaster at Lex- ington in 1812, and was elected State Senator the same year. In 1884 he was elected by the Legislature Judge of the Superior Courts of the Northern cirenit. He was unanimously re-elected in 1888.
In 1890 he was elected AAssociate Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. He was re-elected at the end of his term without opposition. On January 1, 189%. he was made Presiding Justice of the Second Division of the Supreme Court, which position he still holds. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon JJudge Lumpkin by the Southwestern Baptist University of Jackson. Tenn .. in 1891.
Judge Lumpkin is the second of his family to be honored with a seat upon the Supreme bench of Georgia. The family has been distinguished in the annals of Georgia as lawyers, jurists and statesmen.
Judge Lumpkin was an able legislator. While State Senator he was on the Judiciary Committee. He was chairman of the Railroad Committee also, and was largely instrumental in creating the Georgia Railroad Commission.
AAs prosecuting officer and Judge, he sustained the high reputation which he had won at the bar. He dispatched business rapidly, and presided wisely and impartially. Few of his judgments were reversed by the Supreme Court. As Associate Justice in the highest tribunal in Georgia. he performs his duties with dignity and ability.
Judge Lumpkin was married October 12. 1828. at Lexington. Ga., to Miss Kate Richardson, daughter of Walker Richardson and grand-daughter of Col. A. M. Sanford, both of Alabama.
1
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE WM. A. LITTLE.
216
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE W. A. LITTLE.
W ILLIAM A. LITTLE, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, is one of the most distinguished men in the State. Since early manhood he has figured conspicuously in the mili- tary and civil history of Georgia. The people have repeatedly honored him with positions of high trust, and in not a single instance has he failed to meet the expectations of his hundreds of friends and admirers from the mountains to the sea. He is one of the ablest. most devoted, most useful men who have illustrated Georgia at the bar, in the forum, in the field, and in legislative halls.
Judge Little was born in the good old county of Talbot just sixty-three years ago, and it not too mneh to say that since young manhood every year of his active life has been fraught with valuable service to the State. He is the son of William G. Little and Martha A. Holt. On November 20, 1866, he led to the altar Miss Jennie Dozier, in Muscogee county, Georgia. Their only living child is the Hon. John D. Little, ex-Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives of Georgia, and one of the leading young publie men of the State. Judge Little is one of the best educated men in Georgia.
lle enjoyed exceptional advantages, which were properly improved, and the thoroughness of his early mental training has contributed to the facility, pre- cision and power with which he has performed the manifold duties of various public offices.
Ile was educated at a private school in Macon, Ga., the State University, Oglethorpe University, and Yale College. where he graduated in the law de- partment.
He entered the Confederate service in 1861 and served in the army until April, 1865. He filled the grades of private, sergeant-major, lieutenant, adju- tant and captain.
Returning home after the war. he entered upon the practice of law in Talbot county. In 1866 he was elected Solicitor of the County Court of Talbot county. Ile was appointed Solicitor-General of the Chattahoochee circuit by Governor Milton Smith in 1823. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1872. having been elected from the district composed of the counties of Muscogee, Marion and Chattahoochee. He took a prominent part in the deliberations of that body.
He was elected to the Legislature from Muscogee county in 1882 and served through 1888. In 1884 he was made Speaker of the House of Representatives
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE A. J. COBB.
218
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
of Georgia, and filled that position with distinguished ability through 1885- 6-1. He was appointed Attorney-General of Georgia in 1892, and rendered the State excellent service in that position. In 1896 President Cleveland ap- pointed him Assistant Attorney-General of the United States, in the Depart- meni of the Interior. to fill a vacancy.
He was elected Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1896 for a term of four years, under the amendment to the Constitution which pro- vided for additional Judges. And in October, 1900. he was re-elected for the term to expire January 1, 1907.
Judge Little is an ornament to the bench of the highest court in the Empire State of the South.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE A. J. COBB.
ANDREW JACKSON COBB, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, was born at Athens, Ga .. April 12, 1852. He is the son of the late Howell Cobb and Mary Ann Lamar. He was married to Miss Stark Campbell at Griffin, Ga .. March 3. 1880. The union was blessed with five children, namely: Jesse C. Cobb, Andrew J. Cobb, Jr., Sarah T. Cobb, Stark C. Cobb, and Howell Cobb. The wife of Judge Cobb died February 26. 1901.
Judge Cobb's father was one of the great men. not only of Georgia, but of the country. Indeed, no son of Georgia has ever won a wider fame. He filled a number of offices of trust and honor. and filled them all with marked dis- tinction. He was a lawyer of great ability. He was in early manhood Solic- itor-General. Later he became a member of the United States Congress and was made Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was afterward Gov- ernor of Georgia. He was a member of the Cabinet of President Buchanan, having been appointed Secretary of the Treasury by that distinguished states- man a short time before the Civil War. He was elected President of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, which held its sittings at Montgomery, Ala., early in the war. He was afterward a Major-General in the Confederate army and distinguished himself on the field.
The mother of Judge Cobb was a daughter of Colonel Zachariah Lamar of Milledgeville, who was the uncle of Mirabeau B. Lamar and L. Q. C. Lamar, both of whom won the highest distinction. the former having been one of the great figures in the Southwest during the trouble of this country with Mexico, and filling the position of President of Texas before her annexation to the
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE WM. H. FISH.
220
GEORGIA'S PUBLIC MEN.
Union; the latter winning a great career as United States Senator from Mississippi, Cabinet officer under Grover Cleveland, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Judge Cobb has shown himself entirely worthy of his illustrious ancestry. He is in truth "a chip of the old block," and. although yet a young man, has worthily won and modestly worn many honors.
When a very young man he entered the University of Georgia, and his course at that institution, where he was a shining light. marked him for future distinction. He graduated in 1876 with the degree of A. B., and in 1877 completed the law course, taking the degree of B. L. He was a leading mem- ber of the Phi Kappa Literary Society and ranked high as a debater. He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. There was no better beloved undergraduate or more duteous and conscientious student at the University than Andrew J. Cobb.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.