USA > Georgia > Georgia's public men 1902-1904 > Part 2
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After the war Mr. Wright devoted himself to cotton planting for three years in Jefferson County. His health failed and. in 1868, he took charge
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of a farm in Columbia County. He lived there until 18:4. Then he removed to Atlanta and accepted a position in the office of W. L. Gold- smith. at that time Comptroller-General of Georgia. When impeachment proceedings were instituted against Comptroller Goldsmith, Governor Col- quitt named Mr. Wright to fill the vacancy. He was, in October. 1880. elected to the office of Comptroller-General. At every succeeding election he has been re-elected, without opposition. The first president of the Con- federate Veterans' Association of Fulton County, he declined re-election after serving one term. He is now an aide on the staff of John B. Gordon, the Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans.
In October, 1871. he married Miss Nellie Carter, daughter of J. B. Carter, of Augusta. He was married again to Mrs. Mary Sledge, nee Miss Mary Cox, daughter of Judge A. E. Cox, of LaGrange, Georgia. on November 19, 1885. His children are A. R., Philip. Nellie and Annie Wright.
Ambrose Ransom Wright, the father of Mr. Wright, was born in Louis- ville. Georgia. in 1826. When about seventeen he married Mary Hubbell Savage. He became a lawyer and, after praetieing in the Louisville Cir- euit until 1860, he removed to Augusta. There he organized the Third Georgia Infantry. He was made its eolonel. In June, 1862, he was pro- moted to brigadier-general .. He eommanded a brigade until November, 1864. Then he was made a major-general. He was assigned to duty on the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas, remaining there until the surrender. In September, 1862, General Wright was wounded at Sharpsburg, Virginia. At the elose of the war he resumed his law practice at Augusta. but later . bought an interest in the Augusta Chronicle. He was made editor-in-ehief. He was holding that position at the time of his death, in Deeember, 1872. .A short time before he had been elected to Congress.
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WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
W ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- SON, the chief clerk in the Comptroller-General's office, was born on the twenty- first of March, 1843, at Lumpkin, in the good old county of Stewart. His parents were Burwell K. Harri. son and Eliza Woodson Harrison, nee Robertson. After attending an old field school for several years, he was thoroughly grounded in the branches of an academical educa- tion. Being a bright boy and hard student, he attracted the attention of distinguished and influential men. In 1858, when only fifteen years of age he was appointed to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, by the late Judge Martin J. Crawford, at that time the Representa- tive in Congress from the old Second ( Columbus) District.
Two years later he resigned his position as midshipman, and in 1861 entered the Confederate army as lieutenant in the Bartow Guards, Company E. Thir- ty-first Georgia Infantry. He was one of the youngest and most gallant lien- tenants who ever drew a sword. He served with great credit under Generals 1. R. Lawton, John B. Gordon and Clement A. Evans. He was promoted to the captainey of the same company in December, 1862, and served until the surrender, at which time he was a prisoner of war at Ft. Delaware. He was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 29, 1862, and in the fight at Monocacy, Maryland, on July 9, 1864. but in neither instance, seriously.
Returning home he was honored by his fellow citizens by election to the clerkship of the superior court of Stewart County. After filling this position acceptably from 1866 to 1869, he was elected a representative in the General Assembly and served during 1828-1879. In 1883 he was made secretary of the executive department, which position he held until 1894. He was ap- pointed chief clerk in the Comptroller-General's Office in 1896, and has dis-
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charged the duties of that responsible position with faithfulness and credit to the present time.
Mr. Harrison enjoys the peculiar distinction of having never sought an office.
On May 4, 1869, he was married to Miss Clara Rebecca Rockwell at Lump- kin. Georgia. His interesting family consists of four children, namely : Henry C., William B., Gertrude R. (now Mrs. Horace Collingsworth). and Thomas G. Harrison.
Mr. Harrison is an exceptionally interesting man. As a soldier, he was one of the bravest : as an official, highly competent and popular ; as a racon- teur, one of the best in Georgia ; as a man, true as steel. He deserves the devotion of his host of friends.
He springs from that remarkable family of Harrisons, who were conspic- uous in England during the days of Oliver Cromwell. His great grand- parents were Virginians, and related to that great and good man. General William IL. Harrison, whose name the subject of this sketch bears.
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COM'R OF AGRICULTURE O. B. STEVENS.
BAADIAH Benjamin Stevens, Georgia's Commissioner of Agri- culture, is a native of Randolph County. Near the little town of Benevolence, in the fourth militia district of that county. he was born on the first day of August, 1842. It can be truthfully said that Mr. Stevens is a man "of the people, by the people, for the people." From farmer's boy to Commissioner of Agriculture of the greatest State in the South, he has always and at all times been close to the people, and many have attributed his wonderful success in the political field to this fact. However that may be. it can not be said of Mr. Stevens, as it has been said of many public men. that their attachment for the people is simulated. The truth is. it comes of inheritance as well as from long and continuous association with the producers.
Mr. Stevens' parents were plain people, but they were not shiftless, and from them he not only inherited a fine intellect and habits of industry. but was given such opportunities for improving his mind as the meagre advantages of a pioneer section afforded. It requires more seed to make a showing on some kinds of soil than on others, but in this instance such as were sown in the mind of this Randolph County farmer boy found fertile ground. He secured the rudiments, and to a mind such as his this was enough on which to build up a store of knowledge. In 1856, Terrell County was formed. parts of Randolph and Lee being taken for that purpose, and it was soon after this that Mr. Stevens' citizenship and connection with the history of Terrell County began, although many have erroneously written that he was born and reared in Terrell. To the little village of Dover Mr. Stevens' parents moved at the beginning of the war. and there he pursued his career on the farm : till later the opportunity to clerk in a country store came to him. and there he began to acquire a knowledge of business. It has been said of Mr. Stevens that with one exception everything that he was and is can be traced to its source. For instance, we know how he received his education (to which he added through observation and subsequent study) ; we know why he is a farmer and a good one (because he learned it between the plow handles) : and we know how and when he acquired his splendid business training. But nobody knows how or why he became "the best politician in Georgia." as he is often called. Some say it is simply due to his ability to get close to the people -- the fact that he understands them, and they
O. B. STEVENS, COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.
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understand him. But if politicians, like poets, are born, not made, Mr. Stevens undoubtedly brought his qualities of political leadership into the world with him. He has been a leader in politics almost since the day he entered it. U'p to the early eighties Mr. Stevens had seemed to care nothing for politics, being content to pursue his calling of planter and warehouse- man. in both of which he was eminently successful. In the warehouse business, of course, he came in direct touch with the farmers, and he had no trouble in winning their esteem and confidence. Indeed. he became the adviser of most of them and the financial reliance of many-in those days when banks were few and interest charges high.
In 1884, opinion seemed to turn upon "Tobe" Stevens, as everyone called him. as a man who would make a safe and energetic legislator. He was elected and served with distinct credit to himself and section. He was re-elected and served two more terms, 1886-82. And thus began Mr. Stevens' polit- ical career. From that time on he has been a political leader in his State and section. It has been said that "more heads will pop out when Tobe Stevens shakes the bush than for any man in Georgia." Thorough organi- zation, attention to detail and absolute faithfulness to his friends has been the secret of his wonderful success in politics.
In 1896. Mr. Stevens was again called to public life, being chosen Senator from the Eleventh Senatorial District. He served two years acceptably.
When his senatorial term ended, he became a candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture. His opponent was Hon. R. T. Nesbitt, of Cobb County. who had filled the office of Commissioner for several terms. Mr. Stev- ens made one of the most remarkable fights ever made in Georgia, and won by a magnificent majority.
Mr. Stevens thoroughly understands the needs of the farmer and, without detracting one jota from the work of his predecessors in this important office. it can be safely stated that the management of the Agricultural Department under the present incumbent has been characterized by progressiveness, intel- ligence and splendid executive and business ability. That he has enhanced the general efficiency of the Department of Agriculture can not be denied.
Under Commissioner Stevens. "Georgia, Historical and Industrial," a large and handsomely illustrated volume, was issued by the department of agriculture in 1901. It was issued in obedience to "the growing demand for information concerning the industrial resources and possibilities of Georgia, as shown by inquiries almost daily received, not only from the State. but also from every section of the Union."
In one of the recent "Monthly Talks" of the department of agriculture. Mr. Stevens said of this book, through a desire to give credit to those who assisted him in its compilation :
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"In conducting this talk may I be pardoned for alluding once more to our new book? I say our, for not only did I work unremittingly to secure the necessary information, but Mr. R. F. Wright, my indefatigable assistant. and Professor J. T. Derry, the well-known Georgia writer. worked diligently and carefully upon its preparation."
This book is unquestionably the most complete, specifie and comprehensive compilation of its kind ever published about Georgia.
It is not surprising that the people, in recognition of the superior qualifi- eations of Mr. Stevens for the position which he holds-and the fine dis- eernment which he has shown in the general management of the department of agriculture-re-elected him overwhelmingly in 1902.
Mr. Stevens is pre-eminently a practical man. He conducts his depart- ment along the same lines which made his business as planter and ware- houseman successful. He is earnest, thoughtful, courteous, full of resources. His public eareer stamps him as one of the best-equipped men in the State for usefulness in public station. He is to-day a wonderfully popular public man. He is still in the prime of life, and the possibility is strong that the near future holds for him loftier honors than those which. by sheer foree of strong common sense and sleepless energy. he has worthily won and mod- estly wears.
On the sixteenth of October. 1861, Mr. Stevens married Miss Julia A. Lofton, the daughter of James B. Lofton. a prominent merehant of Terrell County. The union was blessed with seven children, six of whom are living. They are Mrs. Frank Nasworthy (deceased). William J. Stevens. Mrs. M. J. Yoenians. of Dawson: Mrs. M. J. Janes, of Griffin : O. B. Stevens, Jr .; Miss Ella C. Stevens, Robert L. Stevens.
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ROBERT FRANKLIN WRIGHT.
R OBERT FRANKLIN WRIGIIT, the Assistant Commissioner of Agricul- ture, was born on the seven- teenth of March, 1850. in Newton County. His parents were Frank- lin and Salina Wright. When the subject of this sketch was fifteen, his father removed from the paternal farm in Newton to the classic town of Oxford in order to give his chil- dren the benefit of its fine educa- tional advantages. Robert Frank- lin graduated at the noted Method- ist College there in 1872. He be- came principal of the high school at Lawrenceville. In November, 1878, Mr. Wright was married to Miss Janie Tate at Elberton. Ga. The union was blessed with five children : three sons, and two daughters, F. T., O. T., Robert and Misses Norma and Thelma Wright. Removing to Elbert County in 1880, Mr. Wright took charge of the Elberton High School. He was principal four years. He re- signed this position and entered commercial life, becoming a prominent factor in the upbuilding of that progressive town.
In 1890, Mr. Wright was made an official of the State Penitentiary by Gov- ernor Northen. His administration was characterized by reforms in Georgia's prison system, looking to State supervision of misdemeanor convicts. During Governor Atkinson's administration, after making personal inspection of the convicts, Mr. Wright made his famous report urging the placing of misde- meanor convicts under State supervision. The Governor at once transmitted this document to the Legislature. The suggested reform was adopted.
When. in 1898, Colonel O. B. Stevens opposed Colonel R. T. Nesbitt for Commissioner of Agriculture. Mr. Wright strongly supported Mr. Stevens. The latter was elected and Mr. Wright was immediately made Assistant Com- missioner. He has filled the position since his appointment with ability, earn- estness and zeal.
Mr. Wright is still in love with farming. Devoted to the routine of his
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office, active in promoting the farming interests of Georgia, he is at the same time a successful farmer on his own hook.
Not only is the Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture a practical farmer, but he is a splendid business man as well, and is thoroughly familiar with all the routine of the department's work. He has rendered Commissioner Stevens invaluable assistance and much of the success of the Department of Agricul- ture for the past four years is due to his faithful and indefatigable services. He is at all times wide-awake and fully alive to everything that pertains to the agricultural and material interests of Georgia. It is no flattery of Col. Wright to say that he is commonly regarded as Commissioner Steven's logical successor, whenever the latter sces fit to give up the important work to which he has so faithfully and efficiently devoted the past four years of his life. It would. indeed. be fortunate for Georgia to be able to continue this de- partment in such efficient hands.
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ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN C. HART.
OHIN C. HART. the Attorney-General of Georgia, is a man of whom any State would be proud. He does not belong to that class of public men who spring up in a day, shine, for a brief moment, dazzling the multitude,-then fade away like meteors, leaving in their train naught but useless, struggling trails of vanishing. pale fire. But to that other class of public servants, who, beginning life with a fixed purpose, rise by steady. patient, intelligent effort until the substantial heights of public usefulness have been scaled : heights whose foun- dation is laid in thoroughness and continuous, solid toil.
Mr. Hart has done the State substantial service and. if all good signs do not fail. his recent elevation to the Attorney-Generalship by unanimous popular consent is but the prelude to a fresh career which will be replete with still larger, lasting benefits to Georgia. Such a career is certain if the measure of his usefulness, his mental poise, his judicial merit, his calm conrage and high integrity, both at the bar and on the bench, are sound standards of advance judgment.
Mr. Hart was born in the good old county of Greene, in 1854, and still lives on the old homestead where as a boy he developed usefulness about the farm, and during his spare hours drank his first draughts of wisdom at the feet of the pedagogues of the old field school.
By the way, how will the State ever adequately discharge its heavy indebt- edness to the memory of the dear old field school teachers who, in the past, tauglit so many young men how to climb toward greatness and goodness in her service?
After careful preparation, young Hart entered the University of Georgia in 1843. There his genial manners and fund of humor soon made him a great favorite with students and faculty, to say nothing of the kindly regard which his fine social qualities and entertaining conversation won him among the fair sex.
He was an attentive student, taking a good stand in his classes, but his hobby, if such an evenly balanced student ever had, was his fondness for debate. He attended regularly the meetings of the old Demosthenian Society, and, after thorough investigation of the subject. always took part in the discussions. The result was that he not only ranked among the best debaters at the University. but easily bore off the Junior medal for excel- lence in discussion.
JOHN C. HART, ATTORNEY GENERAL.
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Upon leaving college, in 1825, he studied law, and a year later was admitted to the bar. He began the practice in his home county of Greene and steadily won his way to a large clientele. He was wedded to his profession, eschewing politics for many years.
But in 1884 he entered public life, about the same time as Governor Terrell, his predecessor in the office of Attorney-General. Mr. Hart's fellow citizens, appreciating his energy in legal acumen, broad mind and sterling worth. elected him as their representative in the General Assembly. He served during 1884-85, and was again chosen representative, serving in 1888-89. Hle made an excellent legislator, leaving his impress upon the records of the State.
In 188; he was united in marriage to Miss Irene Horton. a charming lady of Augusta, Georgia. The happy union was blessed with five children, three boys and two girls.
In 1894 Mr. Hart was called to the bench. In that year he was elected by the Legislature to the judgeship of the Ocmulgee Circuit. For eight years he filled that high office with distinguished ability.
In the early part of 1902, at the solicitation of admiring friends, he resigned from the bench and entered the field for Attorney-General. There was no race. His record was before the public. They had pronounced it good. They sealed the verdict by electing him, without opposition. to the exalted office which his natural ability, acquirements and long training so eminently fit him to adorn. He was chosen Attorney-General of Georgia by one of the most complimentary votes ever given a public official.
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SCHOOL COM'R WILLIAM B. MERRITT.
P ROF. W. B. MERRITT, State School Commissioner, is a native Georgian. Ile was born in Marion County, June 15, 1865. He is the son of the late W. B. Merritt. who graduated with honor at Emory College and was noted as a man of culture and learning. Mr. Merritt's first teacher was his father. Ile at- tended the common schools of his section, at one time walking four miles to the village high school. He studied, also, at the high school of Friend- ship, Georgia, and at Weston, Georgia.
For several years he served "apprenticeship" on his father's farm. There he enjoyed fine advantages for "nature study" and manual training. He now owns that farm and directs the farming operations thereon.
He entered Emory College in 1883, and having completed the full A. B. Course in that institution, graduated with distinction in 1885. He paid the expenses of his college course.
In the fall of 1885, he began his career as a teacher as assistant to Prof. C. E. Grubbs. Ile was next in charge of a school at Ellaville, Georgia, and then at Richland. He was afterward made principal of the high school at Zebulon and, later, at Montezuma. Ile then became principal of the high school at Columbus, Georgia, filling the position satisfactorily four years. He was re-elected for the fifth year, but being offered the superintendeney of the schools of Valdosta he accepted the place. When- ever Mr. Merritt changed places he did so with a view to promotion. Ile has been superintendent of the Valdosta city schools seven years and a half, and in connection with this has been County School Commissioner two and one-half years.
In 1895 Mr. Merritt married Miss Katie Pope, the daughter of the late Judge J. S. Pope, of Zebulon. IIe was called, in 1896, to the secretaryship of the Georgia Educational Association, and for two years discharged its duties with great efficiency.
Mr. Merritt has taken special interest, as County School Commissioner, in establishing school libraries and in encouraging patrons to supplement the public school term with two or more of private school. In a majority of the schools of Lowndes County. these and other progressive steps have been taken with gratifying snecess.
Mr. Merritt has also been inch in demand as instructor of Teachers'
W. B. MERRITT. STATE SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
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Institutes and speaker at educational rallies. While teaching in Pike County, in 1889, he organized one of the first Teachers' Institutes ever held in Georgia.
The late Governor W. Y. Atkinson made him a member of the Text Book Commission, which was appointed to investigate the important subject of text book uniformity in the public schools of Georgia.
The Commission made an elaborate report to the Legislature which dem- onstrated how well its labors were performed.
Since leaving college. Mr. Merritt has devoted his life to teaching, first in the country schools. then in the high schools. His remarkable success as an educator has been exemplified not only by swift promotion but the pronounced satisfaction which his efforts have given the authorities.
He is a progressive educator, his thorough equipment for his life work having been systematically secured in actual school experience.
The announcement of his candidacy for State School Commissioner, in 1902, was cordially received by leading men all over the State. He made a quick but extended tour and impressed the people as a sincere, practical. thoroughly experienced educator, and a man of sterling worth and great force of character.
The result was that Dr. G. R. Glenn, who for s. veral terms had been State School Commissioner, was defeated by a heavy majority.
Those who know Prof. Merritt and have watched his splendid career. pre- dict that his administration of the Department of Education will be one of the most successful in the State's history.
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ADJ. GEN'L JAMES W. ROBERTSON.
C' OLONEL JAMES W. ROBERTSON, the Adjutant-General of Georgia, was born in Augusta, Georgia. August 12th, 1830. After graduating at the South Carolina Military Academy in 1850, he pursued the profession of civil engineering two years. On May 18th. 1852. he was united in marriage to Miss Annie Park, of Greene county, the wedding taking place at Marietta, where. at that time, she resided. Their only child is Mrs. Howard C. Correll. of Marietta. In 1852, Colonel Robertson was elected commandant of the Georgia Military Institute at Marietta. At the end of two years he resigned this position to take up civil engineering again.
After devoting several years to his profession. he was chosen in 1858. superintendent of the Military Academy of LaGrange. Alabama, a school to which the State gave one beneficiary from each senatorial district.
Colonel Robertson won distinction in the war between the States.
It was in April, 1862, after the battle of Shiloh, that nine companies of soldiers were sent to LaGrange. From that point the regiment went to Corinth. Mississippi, as the Federals were marching on LaGrange in force. Colonel Robertson was elected colonel of this regiment on the day before it entered Corinth. He was assigned to Breckenridge's division with a regi- nient. He was engaged in the battles around Vicksburg. Mississippi. and in the battle of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In his report of the battle of Baton Ronge General Breckenridge used this language: "Colonel Thompson being seriously wounded in the charge the command devolved upon Colonel J. W. Robertson of the Fifty-fifth Alabama, whose conduet fully justified the confidence of his troops."
Colonel Robertson, some time after, was transferred to the engineer corps. He was ordered to Mobile, Alabama. and placed in charge of the defenses of the lower bay. In 1863 he was transferred to Charleston, South Carolina. In 1864 he was sent to Florida and given charge of the fortifications of that State. He remained there until the end of the war.
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