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 107

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 107

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

Col. Buck was a Grant presidential elector from Alabama in 1868, and a mem- ber from Georgia in the national republican conventions of 1880, 1884, 1888 and 1892. ' He has been the chairman of the state delegation in the last three co11- ventions. Since 1882 Col. Buck has been the chairman of the Georgia state central republican committee. He has been a director, secretary and treasurer of the Tecumseh Iron company, Cherokee county, Ala .; president of the Wilson Ridge Ore company, Calhoun county, Ala., and president of the South Atlanta Land company. Though Col. Buck has frequently been a target for his political enemies and many unkind things have been said of him by reason of his in- fluential connection with the dominant party in the gloomy years that followed the war, no aspersion has ever been cast upon his personal honor and no one has ever questioned his loyalty either to principle or to party. Atlanta is jealous of his citizenship and Georgia is proud to own him as her adopted son. Col. Buck was united in marriage to Miss Ellen B. Baker, daughter of Judge H. K. Baker, of Maine, in 1864. He is an attendant of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a member, and his home-life is that of a man who believes in doing all he can to make it a paradise on earth.

RUFUS BROWN BULLOCK, ex-governor of Georgia, Atlanta, was born in Bethlehem, Albany Co., New York, March 28, 1834. When he was six years old his parents moved to Albion, Orleans Co., New York, where his education was completed by graduation from Albion academy in 1850-of whose Alumni associa- tion he is now a member. Just at that time the electric telegraph was being constructed and operated through New York state. He became deeply interested in the House printing telegraph system, rapidly gained the mastery of the process, and although only seventeen years of age, took a leading position as an expert. Prescott's History of the Telegraph, and Reid's The Telegraph in America, give extensive flattering notices of him as an expert operator and organizer. It is said that he was the first operator able to read by sound. He was the inventor of the combination printing telegraph instrument, and was the electrician, operator and manager inaugurating the printing telegraph system in New York city, Buffalo, Rochester, Utica and Albany, New York; Springfield, Mass., and Phila- delphia, Penn. His special ability as an executive officer forced him to the front, and he was soon found in Philadelphia in charge of a rival line which broke down the monopoly and brought about a more general use of the telegraph in busi- ness and social intercourse. His persistency and untiring industry and energy and his wonderful ability as an organizer attracted the attention of the managers of the express service. His services were secured by Mr. Dinsmore, president of the Adams Express company, and in 1857 he was appointed assistant superin- tendent of the Adams Express company, to extend that service in the south, with headquarters at Augusta, Ga. Just prior to the late civil war the Southern Express company was organized with H. B. Plant as president and Mr. Bullock as secretary, and the new company purchased all of the Adams Express company's interests in the southern states. By reason of heavy domestic affliction and impaired health Mr. Plant was compelled to seek rest and relaxation in Europe; and Mr. Bullock, who was made trustee, secretary and superintendent on the organization of the company in 1860, was in the active control of its affairs. Under his direction telegraph lines were constructed on interior routes-primarily to promote the efficient management of that service; but when the regular telegraph lines along the coast were captured by the Federal forces, the interior lines estab- lished by his foresight, proved of inestimable value. It was over these wires that communication was maintained between President Davis and Generals Lee,

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Beauregard and Johnston and, also, it was over these same wires that the restraining order was telegraphed by Gen. Sherman from Greensborough, N. C., to the Federal forces which were marching to destroy Macon and Augusta. Under Superintendent Bullock's orders the Southern Express company's agents all over the south took charge of contributions of food and clothing for Gen. Lee's army, which were forwarded free and distributed to the persons to whom directed. Under an order of the war department he was appointed acting assistant quarter- master-general of the Confederate states army in charge of railroad transportation, with the rank of colonel-and as such was paroled at Appomattox in April, 1865. Gov. Bullock's war experience in the telegraph and express business seemed to have imbued him with the spirit of internal improvement-the main spring of his subsequent career. His first service after the war was looking to the welfare of Augusta and Georgia. The war left the south without currency. The land was left, and crops were in the ground, but there was no money with which to move the products. Commercial stagnation prevailed. Gov. Bullock went to New York, where he secured capital, and went thence to Washington city, where he obtained a charter, for a national bank which was soon organized in Augusta, of which he was made a director. Thus Augusta by having $500,000 in bank notes in circulation a few months after the surrender, gained a vantage ground which gave the boom that placed her in the front rank of southern industrial centers. Not long afterward he became president of the Macon & Augusta railway, and found its affairs were in such a state of prostration he could do nothing without money; so he again applied for aid to his moneyed friends in the north. But the antagonism between President Johnson and Congress as to the methods of reconstruction was so strong and bitter, that the prevailing sentiment was one of opposition to investments in the south. Said New York capitalists: "We prefer not to put our money into a country where there is no civil government. In fact, from one standpoint Georgia is not back into the Union. If you will go home and bring Georgia into the list of well ordered states within the Union, you can have all the money you want." This was the occasion of Gov. Bullock's embarking on the sea of politics. He allied himself with a number of progressive men-a constitutional convention was called and he took an active part in its proceedings. The controlling idea in his mind was to provide state aid to railways with a view to the speedy development of Georgia's resources. The new constitution (1868), embodying and vitalizing his idea by authorizing state aid; a broad, comprehen- sive and liberal policy in behalf of public schools; and other progressive lines of policy, was framed and afterward adopted by the people. Atlanta was made the · capital of the state, and he was elected governor, and a general assembly returned favorable to liberal, progressive legislation. The long and permanent strides Georgia has made are directly traceable to the enactments of that general assembly and Gov. Bullock's administration-an impetus was imparted which subsequent inertia, and attempted obstructive measures have been powerless to impede. Hundreds of miles of railway were very soon built, which, later, stimulated such enterprise in this direction as to advance Georgia to the front in the south. To the legislation of this period is largely due the building of the Georgia Air Line, Brunswick, Albany & Georgia Pacific and the rehabilitation of the Macon & Brunswick. Under his direction as governor and ex-officio president of the Western & Atlantic (state) railway, a scheme was inaugurated by which thirty- three railways in the south made a two-cents-a-mile prospecting rate over their lines which brought thousands south to "spy out the land," with a view to settle- ment and investment; and under it the famous press excursion in the summer of 1869 was projected. These two excursions did more than had ever been done

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

before to attract attention to the vast and varied wonderful resources of the south -- particularly of Georgia-the empire state of the south. In accordance with his recommendation the general assembly authorized the lease of the Western & Atlantic railway for twenty years-which being consummated brought into the state treasury $6,000,000-the road on the termination of the lease being in better condition and more valuable than when leased. Following out his wise and statesmanlike policy the road has again been leased-this time for $35,000 monthly rental, which in twenty years will give an income of $8,400,000. When at the ensuing election-1870-it was found that the general assembly would be over- whelmingly against him, he resigned. At this time, without just cause, he was probably the most hated of men. Two indictments were found against him-one for alleged conspiracy to defraud the state; the other for failure to account for certain bonds alleged to have been delivered by the city to the executive depart- ment. For seven years he announeed himself ready and vainly endeavored to have the cases tried. Meanwhile he was living in Atlanta, working for her interests, his general bearing and uniform courtesy and true manliness of char- acter breaking down the hate and animosity borne toward him and when at last the cases were tried Gov. Bullock was completely and triumphantly vindicated by a formal verdict of the jury; and to-day no citizen more fully enjoys the respect and confidence of the people who see and associate with him daily, and to whoni he is best known. A scrutinizing investigation conducted by those inimical to him, proved that instead of conspiring to defraud the state by the payment of money under his order to a "bogus corporation for imaginary cars," the corporation was a bona-fide enterprise, one of whose managers was the late Major Campbell Wallace, which actually delivered the most substantial cars and in excess of the money paid them. On trial of the other indictment for failure to account for certain bonds it was proven that they never reached the executive department, much less Gov. Bullock-but were passed directly from the mayor to Mr. H. I. Kimball, whose property they were, in payment for the old capitol building. For more than a score of years Gov. Bullock has been a very valuable and important actor in, and the promoter of every movement intended to advance the interests of Atlanta and of Georgia and the south. He was among the foremost and most prominent of those who conducted the exposition of 1871; still more active and influential for good in the International Cotton Exposition of 1881; and was one of the most efficient members of the committee conducting the arrangements for the great Cotton States and International Exposition, held this year (1895). He opposed the expulsion of the colored members from the general assembly, maintaining their right to hold office, and was sustained by the United States congress, under whose decision they were reseated and received their per diem. He was largely instrumental in building the Atlanta Cotton mill (the first) in the city, of which he was president and treasurer ten years, 1881-1891 -an enterprise which has been followed by two others of much larger capacity. He was for years a director in the chamber of commerce, and for two years recently its popular president; has been president of the Commercial club and vice-president of the Capital City club; and for four years was government director of the Union Pacific railway. Gov. Bullock was married in 1860, and has two sons and a daughter who were born in Augusta. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, of which he has been junior and senior warden, and is now a delegate-elect to the national convention of the church to be held in Minneapolis this fall.

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FULTON COUNTY SKETCHES.

MR. W. H. BURDEN. One of the most successful business men of Georgia, who has recently become identified with the Gate City of the south, is William H. Burden of the wholesale establishment of Coleman, Burden & Warthen com- pany. Mr. Burden is of Scotch descent and many of his sturdy characteristics have been derived from his Caledonian ancestry. His great-grandfather, Thomas Burden, emigrated to this country from Scotland in 1730 and settled in Caroline county, Va. He continued to reside at this place until 1770, when he moved to Newberry district, S. C. He subsequently figured in the war of the revolution. His son, William Burden, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Newberry district in 1771 and died in Twiggs county, Ga., in 1836, leaving four children, of whom Thomas L. Burden was the oldest. He was born in New- berry district on Jan. 25, 1809, the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the peasant poet of Scotland. On Feb. 6, 1834, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Barfield, the daughter of Richard and Sarah Barfield, of Jones county. Seven children resulted from this union. They were as follows: Nancy, the widow of Rev. John Jarrell, of Jones county; Sarah J., the wife of Richard Barfield, deceased; Wm. Henderson; Chapman, who was in Company F, Forty-fifth Geor- gia regiment, and killed at the battle of Manassas; Thomas J., living in Houston county, Ga .; Rhoda C., died at the age of eighteen years; Richard F., a merchant of Macon, Ga. William Henderson was the eldest son and third among the chil- dren in order of birth. He first saw the light of day in Jones county on May 26, 1839. The father of this large and promising household was a man of exceptional character. He exercised a strong influence over the community in which he lived, occupying many important positions, and died on Jan. 28, 1867, greatly beloved by all who knew him. His marriage with Sarah Barfield was a very fortunate alliance. This charming and cultivated lady was attractive not only in her manifold personal charms, but for the additional reason that she belonged to one of the oldest and most respectable families of the state. Young William's boyhood was passed amid the rural scenes of Jones county. As soon as he was old enough to attend school he began to apply himself with great diligence to his books, and divided his time between the school-room and the plantation. His opportunities for learning were not the best in the world, but he made the best use of them. His father was a great sufferer from rheumatism and this frequently compelled the lad to take the lead and give directions as to the man- agement of the farm. Though reared among the furrows, so to speak, the lad's ambition was not satisfied with his narrow lot. His restless spirit yearned for a broader field of activity and his ardent young fancy pictured to him as he toiled away at the plow the busy life of a city merchant. He read the newspapers and kept himself thoroughly posted on all the current happenings of the day. In the midst of these day dreams and preparation a messenger came to the farm bearing him a letter from a man whom he had never met. As the result of this correspondence he became a clerk in the house of Samuel Griswold, a wealthy manufacturer, who had come to Georgia from Connecticut, settling about four miles from the Burden farm. The duty of the young clerk was to manage the postoffice and look after various important matters connected with the factory. He remained in the service of Mr. Griswold for four years, and during that time enjoyed his absolute confidence in all matters pertaining to the business. Realiz- ing his need of a better education, he decided, after the expiration of this time, much to the regret of his employer, who offered to increase his salary, to give up his position. Accordingly in 1859 he matriculated as a student in Prof. Scud- der's academy at Midway. His progress in his studies was rapid and he soon ranked among the leading members of his class. Just at this time, however, a

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second surprise in the shape of a letter came to him from a business firm in New Orleans offering him a responsible clerkship at a splendid salary. The offer was such a handsome one that he felt constrained, under the advice of his teacher and his own good judgment, to alter his original plans and accept this flattering proposition. He was only twenty-one years of age at the time of set- ting out for New Orleans. He remained with the house until the spring of 1862 and then left for the front to encounter the hardships of a soldier's life. The martial spirit of New Orleans was very deeply stirred on account of the fact that Gen. Beauregard, who commanded in the battle of Fort Sumter, was a resi- dent of that city. The men for whom Mr. Burden worked, however, were of northern birth, though friendly in their attitude toward the south. Regarding it his duty, and having the welfare of his state and country at heart, in" 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Forty-fifth regiment, Georgia volunteers. Leaving the local troops at New Orleans, he set out for Virginia and joined the above regiment, commanded by Col. Thomas Hardeman. He remained at the front until the fall of Petersburg in 1865. Among the battles he participated in were: Mechanicsville, Cedar Run, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Petersburg. For quite a while he served on the staff of Gen. Thomas as a special aide to that officer. On his way home after the war the young soldier passed through Atlanta, then a heap of smoke and ashes, little dreaming that he would ever become one of the citizens and participate in the prosperity of its resurrection. After reaching home he applied for a position on the Central railroad and was made assistant treasurer of the road. This position he filled until 1869. He was then tendered a position in the house of Ross & Coleman, at Macon, Ga., becoming the bookkeeper and credit man of that estab- lishment. After two years in that position he was admitted into a part- nership, the firm's name being changed to Ross, Coleman & Co. In 1876 Mr. Ross withdrew, after which the business was continued by S. T. Coleman & Co. Two years later it was changed to Coleman, Burden & Co., and again in 1889 it was incorporated under the name of the Coleman & Burden company. In 1893 a new charter was obtained and the establishment has since been known by the mercantile name of the Coleman, Burden & Warthen company, the principal headquarters being in Atlanta. The house is one of the largest in the southern states, and the business is restricted entirely to the sale of boots and shoes. Mr. Burden is in charge of the financial affairs of the establishment, and under his able management the business has steadily grown each year. Mr. Burden was united in marriage Sept. 27, 1867, to Miss Sarah D. Barnes, of Clinton, Ga., a daughter of James G. and Susan Barnes. This union has been blessed with seven children, three sons and four daughters, viz .: Ida S., now Mrs. G. W. Coates; Annie M., died at the age of seventeen; William Chapman, now connected with the firm of his father; Pauline, wife of Mr. P. B. Murphey, cashier of the Newnan Banking company; Emmie May, Dudley H., Albert J. Their home life is a very happy one. Mr. Burden has never sought political honors nor cared for public office of any kind. He takes a deep interest, however, in all that concerns the welfare of the state and nation. Though rigid in the enforcement of all the rules pertaining to his large establishment, Mr. Burden is a kind-hearted and considerate man and is greatly beloved by all the clerks in his employ. He is a member of the First Methodist church of this city and believes strongly in the doctrines of that denomination. Atlanta is proud of the influence and prestige of this upright citizen.

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FULTON COUNTY SKETCHES.

COL. J. F. BURKE is perhaps the most distinguished military figure in the state. For many years the captain of the Gate city guard, one of the oldest military organizations in Atlanta, he extended the fame of that company into one of national reputation and earned for himself the distinction of commanding the crack com- pany of the south. Col. Burke is a native of the state of South Carolina. His extraction is Norman-Irish, and the martial spirit that dominates his life and char- acter is derived from his Norman ancestry. It was the Normans who introduced the tournament into England and the various exercises of the sword and lance belonging to the lists of chivalry. The original name of the family was Du Burgh. This, in course of time, was Anglicized into Burke. The American pioneer of this distinguished family emigrated from England to Pennsylvania in 1658. The family subsequently divided into branches, one settling in the state of Maryland and the other locating in South Carolina. Hon. Adams Burke, the chancellor of South Carolina during the revolution, was a member of this branch of the family. The subject of this sketch was a resident of South Carolina at the beginning of the late war. He had barely completed his studies and was still a mere youth at the time. He promptly enlisted, however, in the ranks of the First South Carolina regiment, and just eleven days after the withdrawal of that state from the union he went on duty on Morris island, in Charleston harbor. This place was subsequently the scene of one of the most terrific battles of the war. It was from this island that the first gun, in the hands of Maj. Stevens, who was then in command of the company, fired the opening salutatory of the struggle. On Jan. 9, 1861, the "Star of the West," a United States vessel, bearing troops, provisions and ammunition for Fort Sumter, made an effort to enter Charleston harbor. It was fired on, however, by the battery erected on Vinegar hill, and several lives were lost on board. The behavior of Col. Burke throughout the entire war was gallant and meritorious. In 1867 the United States government, by an act of congress, appor- tioned a large part of the public lands to the different states for educational pur- poses. Georgia, under this apportionment, received 243,000 acres. The manage- ment of the sale of this land was intrusted by the governor of the state to Col. Burke, who realized from its sale the sum of $250,000, which was paid into the state treasury. Col. Burke was united in marriage to Miss Cotting, the daughter of Judge David G. Cotting, at that time the secretary of state, in 1868. Since then he has resided in Atlanta without interruption. The command of the Gate city guard was offered to Col. Burke in 1877. 7. His first impulse was to decline this high compliment, but, after mature deliberation, he decided to accept it. Shortly after assuming the active command he conceived the idea of making an extensive tour of the United States in the interest of peace and reconciliation. The company was composed of Atlanta's flower, and every profession and pursuit was represented. The members of the company took eagerly to the suggestion of Col. Burke, and the trip was decided upon with great enthusiasm. The trip is known in the annals of the company as "The Tour of the Guard." It was made in the fall of 1879, and embraced the northern and eastern states of the union. From the hour of departure until the moment of arrival the trip was one continuous ovation. In every city the company was greeted by the populace, and public receptions were given to its members. Richmond, Washington, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Hart- ford, Boston, Lawrence and Poughkeepsie were among the places visited. In New York city the enthusiasm was so great that hundreds of people, including prominent business men, joined the procession and marched in rear of the guards. From housetops and windows handkerchiefs were waved in joyful salutation as the company passed along the streets under the banners of the Seventh regiment of New York. The patriotic mission of the company in undertaking this tour of the

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country is distinctly set forth in one of the eloquent speeches of Col. Burke, deliv- ered in the city of Boston. Said he: "It may be asked, why do we come here clothed in the trappings of war? I will tell you. Our garb is not unknown to you. You have seen it before. You have seen it in war; it is brought to you in peace. It recalls memories that are sacred to both of us. You do not ask us to bury these memories; we do not ask you to obliterate yours. There is not a vacant chair in our southern homes that has not its counterpart in northern households. We come to test the temper of our countrymen; to sound their patriotism and sacrifice their animosities on the altar of fraternal peace. Good will in our hearts and the national emblem in our hands is all we have to offer; will you accept them? (Cries of yes, yes, and cheers.) We come to shake your hands in fraternal greeting; we come to break bread with you, and to say to you in the words of Ruth to Naomi, 'Henceforth thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.'" The delivery of this speech was greeted with loud acclaim, and for several minutes the wildest enthusiasm prevailed. The tour of the guard occupied three weeks. Returning to Atlanta a warm reception awaited them at home. It was realized from the reports that came back to the city that a long step had been taken in the direction of reconstruction, and the credit for this better feeling of brotherhood was due to Col. Burke and to the members of his company. But Col. Burke was not satisfied with this accomplishment. He decided to put forth his efforts to secure the erection of a handsome building to be known as the Memorial armory, and to be commemorative of the trip. A large fair was projected, and the military organiza- tions of the state were invited to be guests of the city. Two hundred ladies agreed to contribute their influence and efforts to promote the success of the undertaking. The fair was a brilliant success. Military organizations came to the city, repre- senting the states of Alabama, Connecticut, South Carolina, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Georgia and Illinois. After a successful continuance of the fair for two weeks enough money was realize to purchase a lot and insure the success of the undertaking. Col. Burke resigned the command of the Gate city guard in 1883 to become the chief officer of the staff of Gov. Alex. H. Stephens. He occupied that position until the death of Gov. Stephens a few months later. Subsequently induced to accept the command of the guard for a second time, Col. Burke conceived the idea of making a tour of Europe, and to this end received flattering invitations and assurances of courtesy from France, Germany, Belgium and other European countries. A vessel was chartered and every preparation was made for the trip, when finally the consummation was defeated by official objection. England refused to allow the troops to land on her soil and the enterprise was abandoned. A graceful and ready speaker, Col. Burke has had abundant opportunities for entering public life, but he has never cared for such honors. In a quiet way, however, and in military circles, he has accom- plished a great deal in behalf of the city. He was one of the projectors of the first benevolent home ever organized in Atlanta, and fostered the enterprise from which the first $5,000 was realized for the building up of the Young Men's Library asso- ciation. His associates on the board of directors were Henry W. Grady, Julius L. Brown, Benjamin H. Hill, Jr., Marshall J. Clarke, and Henry Hillyer and others. Col. Burke is a practical church member. His example is that of a dignified, useful, conscientious citizen, successful in his undertakings, and in this light he is admired and respected by all classes in the community.

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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 107

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