USA > Georgia > Georgia's public men 1902-1904 > Part 17
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the rank of commissioned officer, the lowest in grade being a captain and the highest a major-general. His is a military family, and none of the dis- tinguished families of South Carolina has better right to be proud of its military career.
Judge Gary was admitted to the bar in Columbia. In 1875 he moved to Augusta, where he has since resided and where he has been one of the leaders of the splendid bar of that city. In 1882 he was elected to the House of Representatives from Richmond County. At the outset of his legislative career he exhibited the splendid characteristics which have made him one of the leading citizens of Richmond County and one of the ablest members of the House in recent years. After a long absence he was again elected to the House in 1900 and again made a splendid record. He was the author of the Soldiers' Home bill at that session, and after untiring effort secured the passage of the measure which made practicable this great charity. As a recognition of his great efforts in behalf of the Sol- diers' Home he was presented with a gold medal by the organization of Confederate veterans, and a life-size picture of Judge Gary was hung on the walls of the building which was later destroyed by fire.
In 1893 Judge Gary was appointed United States district attorney for the Southern district of Georgia, and in that capacity was an extremely able and efficient official. He has been for a number of years connected with some of Augusta's most important enterprises. among them the Sibley and the Enterprise mills. He has had a splendid practice and his election to the bench was a deserved tribute from the people who had known him so long. He was elected, October 1st. to succeed Judge E. L. Brinson and his term will continue for four years from January 1, 1903.
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MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
CONGRESSMAN L. F. LIVINGSTON.
L EONIDAS FELIX LIV- INGSTON, member of Congress from the Fifth district of Georgia, is one of the most remarkable men whose name appears among these sketches. As plain as an old shoe, readily ap- proached by the weak as well as the strong, there is no man that stands to-day nearer the hearts of the masses of the people of Georgia thian Leonidas Felix Livingston, Demo- crat.
Col. Livingston resides at Cov- ington. Newton county, where he was born April 3, 1842, of Scotch- Irish extraction. His grandfather emigrated to this country from the North of Ireland and served under General Washington during the war of the revolution. Young Livingston was educated in the common schools of Newton County for a farmer, grew up to be a fariner, and has always lived on a farm. This fact, taken in conjunction with his sturdy family qualities, accounts, probably, for the wonderful energy and strong robust constitution which has stood him in good stead in fighting life's battles.
From August, 1861 to May, 1865 he was a private soldier in the army of the Confederacy. And judging by his vivacious manner and cordial hand- grasp "he killed as many of them as they did of him." He's no quitter. So long as there was anything doing he kept fighting, and not until Lee and Johnson said the word did the man behind the gun again become the man behind the mule.
Colonel Livingston's earnestness of purpose and ability to grasp the public
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questions of the day received an early recognition at the hands of his people, and he was elected for two terms in the House of Representatives and one term in the State Senate. He gave special attention to the Agri- cultural interests and as a consequence, he was selected chairman of the Committee of Agriculture in both House and Senate. Furthermore, for eleven years he was Vice-President of the Georgia State Agricultural Society, from which position he was elevated to the presidency of the society, in which capicity he served four years.
He was President of the Georgia State Alliance for three terms, but re- signed when elected to Congress. He has been a prominent figure in Georgia politics for many years, and the idea uppermost in his mind was to advance the farming interests of his State and section, which is the basis of wealth in the South. On this line, he was elected to the 52d, 53d, 54th, 55th. 56th, 57th and re-elected to the 58th Congress.
He was placed on the Appropriation Committee, one of the most im- portant in the House, by Speaker Charles F. Crisp. where he has served uninterruptedly ever since. He has performed, in this commanding posit- ion yeoman service, not only for the city of Atlanta, but for the State of Georgia, in securing liberal appropriations for the public works under con- struction in Georgia. Notably among them might be mentioned the ap- propriations for the improvement of the harbor and river at Savannah, the Altamaha and Brunswick, the inland passage of the Chattahoochee, the splen- did public buildings of the State, and the location of the Federal prison at Atlanta. There is no more useful or influential member in Congress than Livingston from Georgia.
CONGRESSMAN R. E. LESTER.
R UFUS EZEKIEL LESTER, the subject of this sketch, has the honor of representing in Congress the First district of Georgia, which con- tains Savannah, one of the most flourishing and progressive cities in the South, and. with one exception, is the most important lumber, naval stores and cotton port on the globe. That he has been earnest and faithful in attending to the arduous task of looking after the vast interests of his constituency entrusted to his care and discretion is attested by the number of times he has been accorded the honor of being returned to his seat in the counsels of the nation.
He was born in Burke county, Georgia, December 12, 1837; graduated at Mercer University in 1857 : admitted to the bar in Savannah, and commenced the practice of law in 1859. He entered the military service of the Confed- erate States in 1861 and remained in the service till the end of the war.
After the cessation of hostilities he resumed the practice of law. He was
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State Senator from the First Senatorial district of Georgia, 1879-1889, and was president of that body during the last three years of his service. He was mayor of Savannah from January, 1883, to January. 1889.
Col. Lester was elevated to his position in Congress and served in the 51st, 52nd, 53rd. 54th. 55th. 56th and 57th Congresses, receiving 1,612 votes to 4,095 for William R. Leake, his Republican opponent. He has just re- ceived the flattering compliment of being re-elected to his seat in the 58th Congress without opposition.
Col. Lester is a life-long Democrat, following closely the teachings of Jef- ferson in his views on the forms of constitutional government in America. He is a ripe scholar and a trained parliamentarian whose usefulness is greatly appreciated by his costituents.
CONGRESSMAN J. W. MADDOX.
T J' OHN W. MADDOX. Rep- sentative in Congress from the Seventh district of Geor- gia, is one of the men of marked ability who compose Georgia's rep- resentation in the councils of the nation at Washington. He repre- sents our highest ideals of real man- hood : he stands always for the true, the noble, the good. Of a broad, discriminating mind, whether on the bench. in the discharge of his offi- cial duties at the nation's capital or in the private walks of life. he has been animated with but one purpose, and that is the fulfillment of the im- portant trusts that have been com- mitted to his care.
John W. Maddox was born June 3, 1848, in Chattooga county, Georgia. and received a common school education. At the age of fifteen while yet a boy. he enlisted in the service of the Confederate Government and served as a private to the end of the war.
After the cessation of hostilities he returned to Summerville in his native State, where he read law and was admitted to practice in 1822. He was clected Mayor of Summerville the same year and was successively elected County Commissioner in 1828. and to the State Legislature in October 1880.
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He received the endorsement of his constituents. was re-elected in 1882 and in 1884. he was elected to represent the 42d senatorial district.
He was elected Judge of the Superior Court of the Rome Circuit in Nov- ember, 1886, and was re-elected November. 1890. He resigned from the bench September 1. 1892. and accepted the Democratie nomination for Con- gress.
He was triumphantly elected and has sustained himself with marked ability in the seats formerly occupied by such able men as General P. M. B. Young. Clements, and W. H. Felton. He served in the 53d. 54th. 55th and 56th Congress and has just been re-elected to the 58th. He is on some of the most important committees in that body where his active mind and profound ability show to good advantage.
Judge Maddox combines the practice of law with the pursuit of agri- culture. He is largely interested in the cultivation of peaches in which he is very successful. He practiced law in Summerville until called to the bench. when he moved to Rome January 1. 1890. where he now resides.
It is seldom we are called upon to record in these sketches a career more distinguished for its high attainments or which has met with so marked an approval at the hands of his constituents. Judge Maddox is a gentleman of great culture and affability of manner. He is now in the best of health and spirits, and is jubilant over the flattering industrial outlook of his moun- tain home and its environments. He is well grounded in the affection of his people, who confidently look forward to long years of usefulness at his post.
CONGRESSMAN F. C. TATE.
F ARISH CARTER TATE represents the Ninth distriet of Georgia in the Congress of the United States. He was born as Jasper. Pickens county. Georgia, November 20th, 1856. He still resides in the town of his nativity.
Mr. Tate was educated in the common schools of Piekens, and afterwards graduated at the North Georgia Agricultural College. Dahlonega, Georgia. In 1880 he was admitted to the bar, and has since continued in the active and successful practice of his profession.
The political career of the popular member from the Ninth began with liis service in the House of Representatives of his native State. He was a member of this body for three consecutive terms and made a reputation as an able legislator. During his service in the Honse he served as chairman of the General Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Tate was elected to the Fifty-third Congress, and has been succes- sively honored with re-election since that time.
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CONGRESSMAN W. C. ADAMSON.
W ILLIAM CHARLES AD- AMSON is a member of Congress from the Fourth distriet, which he has repre- sented faithfully and efficiently for the past six years.
First impressions are generally the strongest, and one can not fail to be struek with the open, frank nature of the man, on meeting Judge Adamson, and readily understands the secret of his success in winning friends. He is a gentleman of fine, dignified presence and a clear un- derstanding.
William Charles Adamson, of Carrollton, was born at Bowdon. Ga., August 13, 1854, and was the son of John W. Adamson and Mary A. MeDaniel. He spent his youth alter- nately in working on the farm and in hauling goods and cotton between At- lanta and Bowdon. He took a collegiate course at Bowdon College, graduating therefrom with the degree of A. B. in 1874 The degree of A. M. was eon- ferred upon him a few years later by the same institution. He read law in the office of Sampson W. Harris, Esq., and was admitted to the bar in October. 1876. He has resided at Carrollton, Ga., ever since. praetieing in the Circuit and Supreme Courts of the State and the Federal Courts.
He was Judge of the City Court of Carrollton from 1885 to 1889, and was attorney for the city of Carrollton for a number of years. He was presiden- tial elector in 1892.
He was elevated to a seat in Congress to represent the famous Fourth dis- trict. which is one of the most prominent for mineral and agricultural wealth and is bristling with industrial activity and progress, having had that distinetion conferred upon him at the sessions of the 55th, 56th and 57th Congresses, at which last he received 7,234 votes to 2.238 polled for W. H. Freeman, his Republican opponent. He has just been re-elected to the 58th Congress without opposition.
On the 29th of January. 1885, he was united in marriage to Minna Reese, and the fruits of that union were three children-Charles, Reese and Emie. He is very democratic in his tastes and takes an active interest in the
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pleasures of home life. He is a high-minded. public-spirited citizen, and takes broad views on national questions. The people of the Fourth district are fortunate in having so able and efficient a representative to guard their important interests at the nation's capital.
CONGRESSMAN J. M. GRIGGS.
AMES MATTHEWS GRIGGS, who represents the Second district of Georgia in the national House of Representa- tives. was born in LaGrange, Troup county, Georgia, March 29, 1861. His parents were Augustus F. and Mrs. Elizabeth Mathews Griggs. He studied law after gaining his liter- ary education and was admitted to the bar. Judge Griggs located in Dawson, where he has resided a number of years, and established a splendid law practice in that section of the State.
In 1888 he was elected Solicitor- General of the Pataula circuit, in which capacity he served for four He is an able prosecuting attorney,
years with marked ability and success. and his career as Solicitor-General made him a wide reputation. He was elected Judge of the Pataula circuit in 1893, and presided over the courts of the circuit with great judicial ability. His record as a judicial officer was a splendid one, and he obtained a strong hold upon the esteem and affection of the people of the circuit.
Judge Griggs was elected a Representative in the Fifty-fifth Congress at the election in 1896, and has been re-elected at each successive election. Dur- ing his term of service in the House'he has made a reputation as a leader, and is one of the strongest men in the Democratic ranks. He has held a number of important committee appointments, and has stood high in the councils of the party.
Judge Griggs was elected chairman of the Democratic Congressional Cam- paign Committee and served in that capacity during the recent campaign. His
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work in this connection was favorably commented upon by the leading news- papers throughout the country, and has greatly increased his hold upon the regard of the members of the party. His management of the campaign showed his masteriy ability in this line and marked him for future honors at the hands of his party associates.
As a political speaker. Judge Griggs has few equals in the whole country, and has frequently made aggressive campaigns in the debatable districts in other States which have resulted in the advancement of his party. He is widely known in Georgia by reason of his distinguished public service and his frequent appearance on the stump in the campaigns of several years ago. He is one of the most popular men in the State, genial and magnetic in tempera- ment. a gifted raconteur and a lawyer of great skill and ability.
Judge Griggs was married July 14. 1886. to Miss Theodosia Stewart. They have three children-Vernal, Stewart and Augusta. His home is at Dawson.
CONGRESSMAN E. B. LEWIS.
H ON. ELIJAH B. LEWIS was born in Dooly county, Geor- gia, March 22, 1854, and while a boy attended school in the piney woods of that county. When still a boy his father placed him be- hind the counter in his country store, and his growth was alternated with mercantile work and attendance on the country school near by. When 12 years old his father sent him to Montezuma. Ga .. to look after his interest in an enterprise established at that place. After two years work as clerk and representing his fath- er's interest he was made his partner in the mercantile and banking honses under the firm name of John F. Lewis & Son, and has continued to make Montezuma his home, where he has interests and is president of banks, mercantile and manufacturing enter- prises in that city.
Mr. Lewis has always been a Democrat, taking more or less interest in politics, but until 1894 his only interest was the welfare of his party and pro-
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inotion of his friends. Ile has ever been true to his friends. That year he was elected to the State Senate, and while serving his district there ex-Speaker Crisp, who was then representing the Third district in Congress, made it known that he would not again be a candidate.
Mr. Lewis' friends urged upon him that it was the opportune time and that he should make the race for Congress, which he did. and was elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress. and was re-elected and served in the Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh. and recently elected to the Fifty-eighth Congress without oppo- sition.
Mr. Lewis is representing a splendid district, having for his predecessors only two Congressmen since the war besides himself: the two distinguished gentlemen. Hon. Charles F. Crisp. ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, and that gallant old soldier and statesman, Phil Cook.
Mr. Lewis loves his political party, and at all times feels the deepest interest in its welfare. standing for pure, noble and practical principles that will be for the upbuilding, not only of his people, but of our great country.
Mr. Lewis takes a deep interest in the educational and financial advance- ment of all Georgia, and especially of his district that he has the honor of representing and of his home people.
CONGRESSMAN W. M. HOWARD.
W V ILLIAM MARCELLUS HOWARD, of the Eighth Congressional Distriet of Georgia, was born at Berwick City, Louisiana. Decem- ber 6. 1857. He is of Georgia parentage. however, and has spent the greater part of his life at Lexington. Oglethorpe county.
Mr. Howard is an alumnus of the University of Georgia. After grad- uating from that institution he studied law and began the practice in Feb- ruary, 1880. After practicing for several years with splendid success he was elected solicitor-general of the Northern circuit in 1884. . In the capac- ity of a prosecuting attorney Mr. Howard established a record which extended throughout the State. He filled the position with marked ability for three terms of four years each. He was first elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress, and has since been re-elected without serions opposition. He is one of the most popular men in the entire State, and in his own district his position is practically impregnable.
Mr. Howard resides in a county which has furnished the State with many distinguished sons. He is fitted by natural ability and training to worthily uphold the traditions of his district, and his enthusiastic constituents fervently claim that other and greater honors are in store for him.
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CONGRESSMAN W. G. BRANTLEY.
W ILLIAM GORDON BRANTLEY, Represen- tative of the Eleventh district of Georgia in the Congress of the United States, is one of the most brilliant men in the House of Representatives. Mr. Brantley was born at Blackshear, Pierce county, September 18, 1860, the son of Ben- jamin D. Brantley and Janet Me- Rae Brantley. His father was a pioneer merchant of that section and established a magnificent business, which is now being conducted by his sons. The Blackshear Manufac- turing Company is composed of the sons of Mr. B. D. Brantley, and does a very large business in the manu- facture of cotton oil and fertilizers. It is also a large handler of sea island cotton and does a large volume of business.
Hon. William G. Brantley was educated at the Blackshear Academy, and later spent two years at the University of Georgia. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. practicing his profession with marked success. In 1884-3 he represented Pierce county in the House of Representatives, and in 1886-7 was a member of the Senate from the Third district.
Mr. Brantley was elected Solicitor-General of the Brunswick eireuit in 1888 and held this position nearly eight years. During his term of service he made a reputation as one of the ablest attorneys in the entire State. He is generally regarded as the best lawyer in his seetion, and has had a splendid practice for a number of years.
On June 18. 1896. before the expiration of his term as Solieitor-General. he was nominated by acclamation to the Fifty-fifth Congress to succeed Hon. Henry G. Turner, who declined a renomination. No other name was pre- sented to the convention, and Mr. Brantley was elected. Succeeding the ablest man who has represented Georgia in Washington in many years, Mr. Brantley has most worthily filled the office. He was re-elected to the Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh and Fifty-eighth Congresses without opposition in the ranks of the party. He is an eloquent speaker and a profound student, and is con- eeded to be one of the strongest men in the Georgia delegation. He has been
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frequently heard from upon the floor of the House and his speeches have at- tracted wide attention. A speech delivered by Mr. Brantley upon the Phil- ippine question was pronounced by the San Francisco Examiner to be the most noteworthy utterance upon that issue during the entire session.
Mr. Brantley is a man of great personal magnetism and his hold upon the people of his district is very great. He is personally acquainted with the majority of his constituents. and they are one and all proud of him. There is none of the pettiness of the politician about the genial young Representative from the Eleventh. and he possesses the ability of the statesman rather than the finesse of the manipulator. Hle is destined to win success in any field into which he may enter in future, and there are great honors in store for him.
Mr. Brantley was first married to Miss Jessie Kate Westbrook, who died, leaving three children-W. G. Jr .. Jessie Kate and Marguerite. In Jan- uary, 1900. Mr. Brantley married Miss Mary George Linn, of Birmingham, Ala. ITis residence is at Brunswick.
CONGRESSMAN T. W. HARDWICK.
T HOMAS WILLIAM HARD- WICK, Representative from the Tenth district to the Fifty-eighth Congress, will be the youngest member of the Georgia delegation and one of the youngest . in the House. Mr. Hardwick was born in Thomasville, Ga., December 9, 1872, the son of Robert W. and Mrs. Z. S. (Matthews) Hardwick. He is a direct descendant in the pa- ternal line of the famous Hard- wicke family of England.
Mr. Hardwick received his edu- cation at Mercer University. After completing his college course he read law and was admitted to the bar in Sandersville. In 1895 he was ap- pointed Solicitor of the County Court of Washington, and held the position for two years. The next year he was elected to the House from Washington and served two years. He was a leader in the House during his membership in that body, and took a prominent part in the legislation of the time. Mr.
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Hardwick is an advocate of negro disfranchisement, and was the author of a bill to that effect while in the House, which failed of passage. He was chair- man of the Committee on Military Affairs during the session of 1898-9.
In the heated political campaigns in the Tenth district Mr. Hardwick has taken a prominent part ever since attaining his majority, and served several terms as chairman of the campaign committee of his county. At the opening of the recent campaign Mr. Hardwick announced his candidacy for Congress in opposition to Hon. William H. Fleming, the present able incumbent.
His many friends throughout the State in political circles were of the honest opinion that the brainy young citizen of Sandersville was premature in his search for Congressional honors. His opponent was an exceedigly able man with the advantage of service and situation in the most important county in the district. The question of negro disfranchisement was made the issue and the campaign was fought on this line. Few warmer campaigns within the ranks of the party have ever been waged in the State. Mr. Hardwick had made a reputation as a brilliant speaker and his speeches in several joint debates were the features of the campaign. Mr. Hardwick won a decisive victory in the primary and was elected in November without opposition. His race is the marvel of the political year and marked a new phase in the politics of the State.
Mr. Hardwick resides in Sandersville, Washington county. where he has an extensive law practice. He was married at Tennille, Ga., April 25, 1894, to Miss Maude Perkins. daughter of Hon. G. W. Perkin -. now of Augusta. They have one child. Mary Hardwick. aged five years. Mr. Hardwick has a strong hold upon the people of his county and is extremely popular throughout the district. His friends confidently predict that he will make a splendid record in Congress.
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