Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 103

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294

USA > Georgia > Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I > Part 103

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DR. WILLIAM SIMPSON ARMSTRONG, physician and surgeon, Atlanta, Ga., was born on his father's plantation in Wilkes county, Ga., Oct. 9, 1838. He was brought up on the old homestead until he was seventeen, receiving his

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education in the private school taught by R. M. Wright, in Washington, Ga. When at a later date Prof. Wright took charge of the academy in Washington, Ga., young Armstrong continued his studies under him. Having completed his studies under Prof. Wright, he commenced to study medicine at Washington, Ga., under Dr. J. H. Lane. He left his preceptor in 1857 and took a course of lectures in the medical college of Georgia, Augusta, and then went to the university of the city of New York, where he graduated in the medical department in 1859. Then he returned to Washington, Ga., and began the practice of medicine, remaining there until the spring of 1861, when, the war breaking out, he enlisted in the Irwin guards, organized in Wilkes county, Ga., at that time. He was mustered into service as a private, and as the Irwin guards and other companies met in Atlanta June 9, 1861, and were merged into the Ninth Georgia infantry, he served subsequently as a member of that regiment, and went with it to the valley of Virginia, where he remained until ordered to join Beauregard, whose command he reached at Manassas, July 21, 1861, the day of the great battle fought at that point. He was at Manassas until March of the following year, when his company, which was still composed of members of the old Irwin guard, was made an artillery company and transferred to Gen. Pendleton's artillery corps. That same month they were sent to Richmond and there drilled in artillery maneuvers. Soon after reaching Richmond, and at the earnest solicitation of his friends, he went before the board of medical examiners, passed his examination, and was appointed surgeon, and assigned to the Second Georgia hospital in Richmond. There he served till the battle of Sharpsburg was fought, when he was ordered to report to Winchester, Va., at which place he was appointed to take charge of the Taylor hospital. Later he was appointed to supervise all the hospitals at that point- some five or six in number. He remained at Winchester until December, 1862, when he reported again to Richmond, and was assigned to duty examining conscripts at Montgomery, Ala., where he remained about two months, and was then transferred to Mobile in the same state. At the latter city he was assigned to hospital duty, and served until the evacuation in March, 1865, when he placed his patients on board a vessel and carried them to Columbus, Miss., surrendering there somewhat later. Returning to Wilkes county, Ga., he remained there until Nov. 28, 1865, and then removed to Atlanta, where he commenced the practice of medicine, which he has carried on ever since. In 1866 he was elected demon- strator of anatomy in the Atlanta Medical college. A year later he went to Europe, studying in London and Paris, widening his field of observation and coming in contact with the greatest physicians of those countries. Upon his return he was elected professor of anatomy in the Atlanta Medical college, and has held that chair ever since, except an interval of several years, when he resigned his chair. In 1890 clinical surgery was added to the chair of anatomy, and Dr. Armstrong since then has been professor of anatomy and clinical surgery. Dr. Armstrong is a member of the Medical Society of the State of Georgia, and of the Atlanta Society of Medicine, the American Medical, and surgeon to the Grady hospital. He is well known in the medical world, having contributed numerous articles to the "Atlanta Medical and Surgical" and other leading medical maga- zines. While a resident of Mobile, Ala., he affiliated with the F. & A. M., but has not since been in active membership. He is also a member of the Second Baptist church. In 1869 Dr. Armstrong was married to Miss Myra Grant, daughter of Col. L. P. Grant, who died in Atlanta in 1893. Mr. Grant was the owner of what is now known as Grant park, in Atlanta, but with princely munifi- cence donated it to the municipality. Dr. Armstrong has two children: Laura L. and William B. Dr. Armstrong served as president of the Atlanta city health

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board fourteen years in succession, resigning in January, 1893. His father was Francis Cavoisieur Armstrong, born in Savannah, Ga., in 1800, who went with his parents to Wilkes county, Ga., in 1812, leaving Savannah at the time of the British invasion. The father was a planter and died in 1876. His wife was Frances Amanda Simpson, a native of Georgia, and in their family were four children: William S., the subject of this sketch; Victoria, wife of Frank Slaton, Wilkes county, Ga., who lives on the farm occupied by her mother's ancestors when they emigrated to Georgia from Maryland before the revolution; Alice, unmarried; James, who lives on the old homestead in Wilkes county. The grandfather was James Armstrong, who was born in Hempstead, N. Y., married there, and was the father of two children. His wife dying he removed to Savan- nah, Ga., with his family, and there married the widow Butler, and through her Dr. Armstrong is descended. James Armstrong located subsequently in Wilkes county, Ga., and died there in 1836. He was a planter and a Baptist minister. His father with twenty others was killed by Indians in New York state while they were attending divine service in a small church. James Armstrong was born after this sad accident, and was brought up in Hempstead, N. Y., by a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Joseph Barbour. Dr. Armstrong is highly esteemed in social as well as professional circles, having gained and retained the respect of the entire community.

OL. REUBEN ARNOLD, one of the most talented lawyers of Atlanta, is

a native of Greeneville, Tenn. Born on Aug. 7, 1833, he was reared in this town until fifteen years old. In the fall of 1848 he entered the university of Tennessee, whence he graduated in 1851. He then began the study of law with his father, Gen. Thomas D. Arnold, a member of congress from the first district. His father fought throughout the war of 1812 and was appointed brigadier-gen1- eral of the East Tennessee militia. Mr. Reuben Arnold was admitted to the bar in 1854, and located at Greeneville, Tenn., where he prosecuted his profession until the opening of the war. In 1861 he organized the Twenty-nintil Tennessee infantry, and was elected lieutenant-colonel, and acted in this capacity while doing active service, except during the interval between the battle of Fishing Creek in January, 1862, and the battle of Shiloh in April, 1862. For these four months he commanded the regiment. From May, 1862, to May, 1863, he was unable to accompany his command on account of illness and was compelled to leave it. When health and vigor were fully regained he took his seat in the Ten- nessee legislature, to which he had been overwhelmingly elected, and conse- quently never rejoined his regiment. In May of 1863 he enlisted in the partisan rangers, an independent company commanded by his brother, John Q. Arnold. He entered and continued a private until the close of the conflict. Col. Arnold participated in the following battles: Rock Castle, Ky., Eastport, Tenn., Shiloh, Farmington, Tenn., Fishing Creek, and innumerable skirmishes and minor engagements. After leaving his comrades he tramped to North Carolina and made a crop on a farm in Rutherford county, remaining there until November, 1865. and then removed to Atlanta, Ga. Having received a full pardon from President Johnson, who was an intimate friend of his father, he began the prac- tice of law. He formed a co-partnership with Col. E. N. Broyles, and later was associated with his brother, Frank. At present the firm consists of himself and his two sons. During the year 1867 he held the office of city attorney of Atlanta. He is a Knight Templar, Mason, Red Man, and affiliates with the Episcopal church. Col. Arnold was married in 1863, while the war was in progress, to Virginia, a daughter of the late Col. Wm. M. Lowry. She died in 1879, leaving I-45

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six children, as follows: Vernon, Reuben R., Lowry P., Virginia, Thomas B., and Daisy. Col. Arnold is a practitioner of the old, fast-fading type. He pos- sesses a just conception of the lofty principles and aims of his high calling and never stoops to a low or contemptible action. He believes in construing the law in its true, common-sense light, and raising it to the loftiest plane, above reproach and ignoble slander. He is minutely acquainted with all departments of the law-a well-developed, symmetrical disciple of Blackstone and Chitty. His suc- cess in managing difficult and sometimes desperate murder cases has been phe- nomenal. At cross-questioning he is adroit and cunning, and before the jury almost irresistible. Humor and pathos are alike at his command. As a popular man, an eloquent speaker, and a logical, convincing lawyer Col. Arnold is without a superior.

HENRY MURRELL ATKINSON. One of the most successful of Atlanta's younger financiers is Mr. Henry Murrell Atkinson. Mr. Atkinson is a native of New England, and was born in Brookline, Mass., on Nov. 13, 1862. His father, George Atkinson, was a man of distinguished talent, and belonged to one of the oldest and best families of New England. Theodore Atkinson, his progenitor, scven generations removed, was a native of Bury, Lancastershire, England. He came to this country in 1634, among the earlier pioneers of the New England coast, settling in Boston, Mass. Mr. Atkinson's great-grandfather, Amos Atkin- son, was a minute man in the historic battles of Concord and Lexington, taking a gallant part in the opening struggle of the American revolution. He afterward served in the patriot army as an officer in the Seventeenth Massachusetts regiment, one of the first raised. The maiden name of Mr. Atkinson's mother was Elizabeth Staigg. She was born in Yorkshire, England, and belonged to one of the best families of that cultured section. Her brother was a celebrated portrait painter and many fine portraits were painted by him. In addition to these works of art he executed quite a large number of fine miniatures. The union between George Atkinson, the father of the subject of this sketch, and Elizabeth Staigg occurred at Newport, R. I. Mr. Atkinson received his primary education from the private schools of Boston. These have always ranked among the best in the United States. After leaving the Boston schools Mr. Atkinson became a student of Harvard university, leaving that institution in 1882. For three years he was. engaged in the cattle business in the west, after which he came to Atlanta, believing that here he could find a better opening than at any other point in the south. He had not been a resident of Atlanta long before he acquired the spirit of enthusi- astic devotion to his adopted city. For three years after coming to Atlanta he was connected with Messrs. S. M. Inman & Co. in the cotton business. In 1889 Mr. Atkinson organized and established the Southern Banking and Trust com- pany, with a capital stock of $300,000, of which he became the vice-president. At this time he was only twenty-seven years of age. Subsequently, in 1890, he assumed the duties of president, and managed the entire business of the bank. Under his superior financial management this institution became one of the strongest and most prosperous banking enterprises in the city. Recently this bank consolidated its deposit business with the Atlanta Trust and Banking com- pany, and the combination has produced one of the strongest monetary institu- tions in the south, the Southern Banking and Trust company continuing as a trust company with $300,000 capital. Two years after organizing the bank of which he became president, Mr. Atkinson, in 1891, organized the Georgia Electric Light company, of which he was made the president. In this way Mr. Atkinson has rendered valuable service to Atlanta by placing her in the front rank of those

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cities using electricity for illuminating purposes, as well as for transportation and manufacturing motive power. As a progressive and enterprising business inan, promoting the material growth and welfare of the city, Mr. Atkinson has been a valuable addition to Atlanta's citizenship. It is entirely safe to say that no young man has ever come to Atlanta, like Mr. Atkinson, a comparative stranger, and, within the brief space of only ten years, produced such an indelible impress upon the community. He has not only demonstrated the brilliant enter- prise of a promoter, but the sober judgment of a wise manager and safe coun- sellor. Mr. Atkinson, by reason of his influential business connections in New England, has been the means of bringing large sums of money to Atlanta. His influence has been constantly exerted in an effort to bring northern and eastern enterprises to this city, and he has succeeded in this endeavor to such an extent as to make Atlanta deeply indebted to him. Though Mr. Atkinson has never sought political preferment or self-aggrandizement of any kind, he has always been a careful student of politics, especially in their bearing upon the business and financial situation. He is a close and watchful observer, and nothing escapes his attention. In view of the success already achieved in Atlanta by this brilliant young scion of New England it is safe to predict that his future will be one of splendid revelation. Mr. Atkinson is a member of the leading clubs of the city, notably of the Capital City and the Commercial, and is also a member of the Reform and the Harvard clubs of New York city. Mr. Atkinson was married in April, 1888, to Miss May Peters, a daughter of Mr. Richard Peters, who was a member of the engineering corps that located and superintended the construc- tion of the Georgia railway. He was a pioneer resident of this city; the origin- ator and builder of the first street railway, and among the foremost in every enterprise calculated to advance Atlanta's prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson have two children. Mr. Atkinson, as agent for eastern money lenders, represents $2,500,000 capital invested in the south. In addition to his management of the Southern Banking and Trust company, he is president of the Georgia Electric Light company, vice-president of the Atlanta Trust and Banking company, pres- ident of the Tripod Paint company, and director in several other associations.

HENRY L. ATWATER, formerly president of the Southern Mutual Building and Loan association, and an energetic, reliable and respected citizen, was born in New Haven, Conn., in the year 1833, and lived there until twenty-five years of age. In this city he received his education, passed the days when manhood is molding into symmetry, and undertook the fundamental labors of his self- delegated vocation. At the age of seventeen he commenced to learn the craft of carriage-making in the factory of his father, John S. Atwater, and three years later was placed in entire charge of an important and responsible department. In 1859 the family migrated from their home on the eastern coast of America to Columbus, Miss., and there established a carriage factory and repository under the firm name of John S. Atwater & Sons, which they continued in active opera- tion until 1876. During the war Henry managed the business exclusively, manufacturing ambulances, equipments and vehicles of every description for the Confederate army. His brother enlisted in Gen. Joe Wheeler's cavalry, a company of which was organized in that locality. In 1876 Henry left the fac- tory in Columbus and went to Memphis, Tenn., to accept the agency of the Milburn Wagon company. He remained for two years, and in 1878 came to Atlanta to establish a branch house for the same wagon company, and acted as their agent in this city until 1886. He then transferred his connection to the Standard Wagon company, and served their interests for three years. About

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1889 he and other influential gentlemen formulated and organized the Southern Mutual Building and Loan association. In 1890 Mr. Atwater was elected presi- dent, occupied this office until July, 1894, and since then has held the vice- presidency, having the co-operation and good-will of all associated with him. He was also one of the directors of the State Savings bank. Mr. Atwater was united in marriage on Oct. 5, 1857, to Delia V., daughter of Julius Tyler, of New Haven, Conn. He takes a laudable and unswerving interest in aiding religious endeavor. He is a member of the Methodist church and treasurer of the St. John's Methodist church of Atlanta. He united with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Red Men. Mr. Atwater is indefatigable and earnest in all he undertakes. He is possessed of a genial disposition and singularly pleasing manners. He heartily endorses public spirit, thrift and industry and has been a cogent factor in Atlanta's rapid development.

JAMES BOZEMAN BAIRD, a prominent medical practitioner of Atlanta, Ga., was born Jan. 5, 1849, in Columbus, Ga. He was reared and received his early education in that city on the banks of the Chattahoochee river. He exhibited remarkable precocity in his primary studies and advanced from grade to grade in the common schools with wonderful rapidity. At the age of fifteen years, though hardly able to carry a musket, he enlisted in the Confederate army in 1864, and served irregularly until the surrender. During the first four years of reconstruction he was engaged in various mercantile employments, devoting his leisure hours at night to the study of medicine. In 1869 he was enrolled in the Bellevue Hospital Medical college of New York city, and was graduated after a two years' course of diligent application. Having moved to Atlanta in 1868 he returned after obtaining his diploma, in the spring of 1871, to pursue the active practice of his profession. In acquiring the knowledge of his chosen science Dr. Baird's advancement has been phenomenal, covering a wide scope and em- bracing many branches. He is a member of the State Medical association, the Atlanta Society of Medicine, the American Medical association, the Atlanta Ob- stetrical society, member of the regular medical examining board of the state of Georgia and other medical organizations, has served as secretary and orator of the State Medical association and secretary of the health board of Atlanta. The last position he occupied for seventeen years-a splendid testimonial of the confidence reposed in his superior ability. Dr. Baird for several years was lec- turer on physiology and nervous diseases and performed many operations in surgery in the Atlanta Medical college. Subsequently he filled the chair of prin- ciples and practice of medicine in the Southern Medical college of Atlanta. His talents have not been confined to practice alone, but he has written numerous articles that commanded widespread interest in different medical journals of the country. Dr. Baird was married in 1879 to Elizabeth, daughter of Gen. L. J. Gartrell, who was a member of both the Confederate and national congress, as representative from Georgia. Dr. Baird's father was Dr. John B. Baird, a native of Charleston, S. C., born in 1806. He graduated when twenty-four years old at the Charleston Medical college, moved to Columbus, Ga., a few years later, practiced there for fully forty years and came to Atlanta in 1868, where he con- tinued practice a year or two, and died in 1871. His wife was Mary L. Bozeman, a native of Scottsboro, Ga. Dr. Baird's grandfather was Capt. James R. Baird, who fought in the war of 1812, and is buried in Charleston, S. C. Dr. Baird is highly esteemed for his long experience and extensive learning, and has fre- quently been requested by the state to pass judgment on the sanity of criminals.

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His testimony is clear, concise and convincing, spoken with a candor and precision that leave no doubt as to the logical deduction of its conclusions.

JAMES JETHRO BARNES, present sheriff of Fulton county, Ga., was born in Fayette county (now known as Clayton) on April 10, 1840. He resided in this locality until nineteen years old, attending school in the adjoining town of Jonesboro. In 1859 he accompanied his parents to Bowdon, Ga., and there entered Bowdon college. In June, 1861, he left the recitation room for the camp and bivouac. At the first approach of war he enlisted as a private in Cobb's legion and served as such in that command throughout the conflict. At South Mountain, Md., Mr. Barnes received a painful gun-shot wound, being shot through the left knee and was captured and held prisoner for three months. On recovering he immediately rejoined the army, but after an examination the lead- ing surgeons pronounced him totally unfit for field service and he was given light duties in a hospital at Richmond, Va. This indolent, inactive, routine life proved of great annoyance to his restless, patriotic spirit. He refused to stay, and eluding the vigilant watch of those in charge availed himself of a favorable opportunity and made his escape, and by much exertion reached his command about one week before the battle of Gettysburg, in which he participated. He then destroyed the discharge he had received before this battle, which granted a furlough on the grounds of physical disability, because of his reluctance to leave the army, and remained with his company until the same was captured at the close of the last campaign. At Cold Harbor, Drewry's Bluff, Petersburg and in many other minor engagements Mr. Barnes conducted himself in a fearless, dar- ing manner that elicited the praise of his comrades. When the surrender

betokened peace and union, he was furnished transportation from Newport News to Savannah, and walked from there to Waynesboro, Ga., and there received additional transportation to Augusta, Ga., and on to Atlanta. From this city he returned to Carroll county and found his father bankrupt, having lost everything. Thinking a more encouraging business outlook could be found in Atlanta he came back and worked three months for his board alone, and afterwards secured a position with Peter Lynch, who kept then, as now, a general store at 95 White- hall street, at seventy-five dollars per month. He worked in this establishment for nine months, and on leaving Mr. Lynch entered into partnership with W. M. Middlebrook, the style of the firm being Middlebrook & Barnes, which continued through the year 1872. Early in 1873 he went into the wholesale produce and commission business. This is still operating in his name. In 1879 Mr. Barnes was elected to the city council and served two years as representative of the First ward. In 1891 he was made deputy sheriff under J. W. Morrow, and during 1893 was placed in the office of sheriff, and re-elected in the fall of 1894. Mr. Barnes was married in 1868 to Miss Cornelia V., daughter of John T. Hall of Atlanta. They have a pleasant family, consisting of three sons and one daughter, as follows: William H., Mary H., James J., Jr., and John S. Mr. Barnes is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the encampment. He belongs to the camp of United Confed- erate Veterans of Fulton county and rejoices in a reunion where, with friends and old messmates, he recounts the glories and hardships and humor of camp- life. Mr. Barnes is a sturdy supporter of right and honor, and believes that only useful, capable and honest men should hold public office.

DAVID A. BEATTIE, president of the board of education of Atlanta, Ga., is a native of Argyle, Washington Co., N. Y., having been born May 19, 1833. Until twenty years of age he resided in the place of his nativity, studying in the

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common schools and academy of Argyle, Hebron, and showing an aptitude for educational training that promised a future of rich returns. During 1853 he came south, located in Henry county, Ga., and for the succeeding five years taught school in Henry, Fayette and Newton counties. With a hope of increased financial prosperity he went to La Grange, Tenn., entered the mercantile business, and conducted the same with profit for several years. He was compelled to suspend when the hostilities of war became imminent, and thereupon engaged in general trading, which continued until the close of the civil conflict. Then Mr. Beattie returned to Georgia, settled in Atlanta, interested himself in the live stock business, and now follows that occupation. He was one of the initial promoters of the Union Stockyards Dairy and Manufacturing company, and held the presi- dency for one year. He was one of the original stockholders in the Capital City Land and Improvement company, and when this combine was succeeded by the Capital City bank, Mr. Beattie was chosen a director. He has been a dis- tinguished factor in Atlanta's growth and improvement since the war. In the city council his efforts met with a hearty co-operation, and numerous improvements were completed. He served as a member of this body in 1873, again in 1875-76, 1881-82, 1885-86, and 1893-94, and is now the honored presiding officer of the board of education, having been elected to this board four separate times. His work for the developing of the public school system has been effectual and continued, and gathering for him friends and admirers by the score. Mr. Beattie belongs to the Presbyterian church, was superintendent of the Sunday school for a number of years, and after holding the office of deacon for many years, was elected elder, and fills that responsible position with a devout religious enthusiasm. Mr. Beattie was married, on August 30, 1860, in Newton county, Ga., to Mary Letitia, daughter of Alfred Livingston. Her father is still living at the age of ninety-two years. To this marriage were born seven children: John L., William D., Etta L., Edward B., James T., David L. and Nellie M. Mr. Beattie's father was John Beattie, born in the state of New York, and an officer in the war of 1812. His mother's maiden name was Hannah Lytle. His grandfather was a native of north Ireland, who emigrated to New York in his early manhood, and by thrift and perseverance made a record that posterity will envy.

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Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. I, Part 103

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1294

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1294