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 112

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 112

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DR. JOHN WESLEY DUNCAN was born on a plantation in Union county, Ga., Sept. 29, 1842, and resided there until he reached his majority, attending the schools of the county and the academy in Clay county, N. C., where he was pursuing his studies when the war began. In 1865 Dr. Duncan, having finished his academic course, came to Forsyth county, Ga., and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. E. M. Bacon. He attended the Atlanta Medical college two years, graduating in 1868. After practicing for a time in western North Carolina he went to Philadelphia, east Tennessee, where he quickly established an enviable professional reputation and resided for thirteen years. In 1883 he located in Atlanta and has since then practiced there. He is a member of the State Medical association and ex-president of the Atlanta Society of Medicine. He is well known in the journalistic world, having contributed many able and comprehensive articles to the magazines devoted to the medical profession. Two of the papers he has delivered have been highly complimented, one on the subject "Of Dysentery," which he read before the State Medical association, convened at Athens in 1883, and the other on "Typho-Malarial Fever," which was also read before that body at its meeting in Columbus nine years later. Dr. Duncan is a member of Gate City lodge N. 3, F. & A. M., and when a resident of Philadelphia, east Tennessee, served as W. M. of Philadelphia lodge No. 426. He is also enrolled as a Knight of Pythias in Adolph Brant lodge of Atlanta, and has been medical examiner to that fraternity since 1888. He is also associate medical examiner to the Knights of Honor. He is a member and steward of Grace Methodist Episcopal church in Atlanta. Dr. Duncan was first married in western North Carolina, Oct. 1, 1868, to Mary M., daughter of Watson Curtis, and they had six children. He was married again Sept. 16, 1885, to Minnie E., daughter

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of Dr. A. Ellis, Milton county, Ga., and to his last marriage have been born six children-three boys and three girls. Dr. Duncan's father was David Newton Duncan, a native of Burke county, N. C., who was born in 1806 and came to Georgia thirty years later, locating in Union county, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1879. He married Nancy Gillespie and they had five children, of whom four grew up and three now survive: William Rufus of Union county, Ga .; Dr. John Wesley; Dr. Moses C., Madisonville, Tenn., who graduated at the Atlanta Medical college in 1873, was afterward at Bellevue Hospital Medical college, and now enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Duncan's grand- father, Charles Duncan, was a Virginian by birth, who migrated to North Caro- lina in his early manhood and there married. In later years he came to Union county, Ga., where he lived until his death, which occurred during the war, in his ninety-first year. The emigrant ancestor was a Scotchman, the sturdy integrity and fixity of purpose of that race being still notable traits of the family character. Dr. John Wesley Duncan is a great favorite socially and professionally.

DR. JOHN G. EARNEST, one of Atlanta's leading practitioners, is a native of Tennessee, who was born in Greene county in that state on May 16, 1842. His father was a merchant in the little village of Rheatown. Here he spent his early boyhood, remaining on the plantation until he was eleven years old. Leav- ing the parental homestead he entered the military school at Newport, Tenn., taught by Maj. W. F. Bouldin. He remained at this school, however, for only ten months, leaving it for Clear Spring academy. After one year's tuition at the academy he entered Rotherwood seminary at Kingsport, Tenn. In the fall of 1857 he entered Emory and Henry college, in Washington county, Va. At this institution he made rapid progress and acquired a broad and liberal culture in the arts and sciences. During his senior year and just a few months prior to the time of graduation the war broke out. Leaving college he' returned to his home in Tennessee and shortly afterward enlisted in the Confederate service. He became a private in Company K, Sixtieth Tennessee regiment, and served in the ranks until Jan. 1, 1863. By reason of his courage on the field, and his skill in mili- tary tactics, he was made second lieutenant of his company and afterward first lieutenant. He held this rank until the close of the war. Lieut. Earnest was characterized throughout his career as a soldier by a true military bearing, and a courage that never faltered. Among the engagements in which he participated1 were the following: Coffeeville, Grenada, Baker's creek and Vicksburg. At the latter siege he was captured July 4, 1863, and sent home on parole for almost a year. In June, 1864, he rejoined the army and served in east Tennessee and southwest Virginia until the close of hostilities, taking part in the battles of Morristown, Russelville and numerous smaller skirmishes. He was fortunate enough to survive the war without being wounded; but two horses were shot from under him. He never missed a battle in which his regiment was engaged. After the war the young lieutenant came to Georgia, residing for a short while with an intimate friend in Baker county. In July, 1865, he returned to his native state and entered vigorously upon the study of medicine at Mad- isonville, Tenn. Having selected the practice of medicine as the means of earn- ing a livelihood, he determined to give himself up exclusively to the labors of that profession. He first conceived the idea of being a physician during the war, and managed, in a rather broken and disconnected way, to carry on his studies in camp. In the fall of 1865 he entered Jefferson Medical college of Philadelphia, one of the leading institutions of the country, graduating in the following year. For six months he served as interne in the Lying-in hospital of Philadelphia,

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after which he returned to Tennessee, locating at Morristown. Six months later he moved to Mossy Creek, in the same state, remaining there until the spring of 1874. From the beginning of his professional career Dr. Earnest enjoyed a good practice. Possessed of a genial disposition and a strong personal magnet- ism, he found little difficulty in winning the confidence of his patrons. After leaving Mossy Creek he came to Georgia, locating at Newnan, in Coweta county. Here he remained for seven years in the enjoyment of a large practice as the leading physician of that section. Coming to Atlanta in 1881, Dr. Earnest has since been a resident of that city. He is recognized as a skillful practitioner and stands among the leading members of his profession, in a city that enjoys the reputation of being one of the chief medical centers of the south. Dr. Earnest is a member of the State Medical association, and also of the Southern Surgical and Gynecological association. He belongs to the Atlanta Society of Medicine, and holds the position of gynecologist to the Grady hospital. He is the physician for the Jennie D. Inman orphanage, the Hebrew Orphans' home, and is medical examiner for the Union Central Life Insurance company of Cincinnati. He has been a frequent contributor to current medical literature and the discussions of the medical societies. Dr. Earnest belongs to several fraternal organizations, and is a Knight Templar. He is an elder in the First Presbyterian church, and is a man of conspicuous and exalted piety. Dr. Earnest was married in 1868 to Miss Martha A. Hoffett, the daughter of Mr. W. H. Hoffett, of Tennessee, and several children have been the result of this union. Nicholas W. Earnest, the father of Dr. Earnest, was born in Tennessee. His wife's maiden name was Martha Cannon. They had three children, one son and two daughters. Peter Earnest, the grandfather of Dr. Earnest, was a man of strong character and commanding influence in his day and generation.

CAPT. W. D. ELLIS, lawyer, Atlanta, Fulton Co., Ga., has attained his dis- tinction at the bar by reason of the high character and commanding qualifi- cations which he has brought to the practice of his chosen profession. He is not a native of this state, but was born in the neighboring commonwealth of South Carolina, in Beaufort district, on Aug. 17, 1844. Until his thirteenth year he lived on the plantation owned by his father, Dr. William D. Ellis, near Allen- dale, S. C., and enjoyed the sunny, invigorating life of the open fields. His education on the farm was conducted by private tutors, and his acquisition of knowledge was both tenacious and rapid. Leaving the plantation he entered the military school at Aiken, S. C., remaining there for three years. The commence- ment of the war between the states found him a beardless boy in years, but possessing all the qualifications of the soldier in military discipline and patriotic impulse. In 1861 he joined the Pickens rangers, organized in Aiken, S. C., and with his comrades was shortly afterward assigned to Col. William E. Martin's cavalry regiment. In this regiment the subject of our sketch served as a private until February, 1862, when the regiment disbanded. He then joined the Eleventh South Carolina regiment of infantry, commanded by his uncle, Col. D. H. Ellis. He was assigned to a position on his uncle's staff as a non-commissioned officer, but was soon elected second lieutenant of Company B of that regiment and served in this capacity for.about a year. The regiment was subsequently attached to Gen. Johnson Haygood's brigade, and took part in the defense of Charleston, Fort Sumter, and the general defenses of the city. The next experience of the young soldier was in Virginia, and here for quite awhile he was in full command of the company. Among the battles in which he participated were: Pocotaligo, S. C., a number of skirmishes on James island, the siege of Charleston, Olustee,

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Fla., Cedar Run, Swift creek, Va., Drewry's bluff, second Cold Harbor, Fort Harrison, siege of Petersburg, battle of Weldon railroad, and Fort Fisher. Capt. Ellis was made a prisoner of war at the last-named place and was sent to the old capitol prison, in Washington city. He was subsequently removed to Fort Dela- ware, and was released in June, 1865. A slight wound received at Petersburg disabled him for a few days but failed to impair his courage. On his release from prison he returned to Aiken, S. C., and began to teach school. At the same time he devoted himself assiduously to the study of law and was admitted to the prac- tice by the supreme court of South Carolina in 1868. He continued to teach, however, until 1870, doing such little professional work as chanced to fall his way. He came to Atlanta after giving up his school and, in order to acquire a start, he gave up his profession for a while and entered the journalistic field as a means for raising money. For two years he divided his time between the "Intelligencer," the "Constitution" and the "Herald," after which he returned to the practice of his profession. In a short time he formed a legal partnership with Judge William T. Newman, which continued for three years and was then dissolved. In 1873 he entered into a partnership with Col. John Milledge, but this, in a like manner, was dissolved in 1880, Capt. Ellis receiving the appoint- ment as solicitor of the city court of Atlanta. He filled the position with marked ability, but declined a reappointment in order to resume the general practice. In 1886 he renewed his partnership with Judge Newman, but the appointment of the latter in 1887 as judge of the Federal court for the northern district of Georgia necessitated a dissolution of the firm. In 1888 the present partnership was formed, Mr. James R. Gray, a distinguished member of the bar, being the legal associate of Capt. Ellis. W. D. Ellis, Jr., was admitted into the firm in 1894. In 1884-85 Capt. Ellis represented Fulton county in the state legislature. He was a member of various committees, among them the general judiciary, cor- porations, military, manufactures and education. He was chairman of the com- mittee on internal improvements, and vice-chairman of the committee on cor- porations. Capt. Ellis was the author of the bill creating the Stone Mountain circuit, and was very active in devising plans by which to erect the new capitol building. Capt. Ellis was a member of the city council in 1878, and was placed at the head of the legal department. Judge Newman, his law partner, at the same time occupied the position of city attorney, and together they formulated much of the legislation that has brought about the prosperous condition of the city to-day. Capt. Ellis is a loyal member of the order of Knights of Pythias, and is past chancellor of Capital City lodge, No. 33. He is also a consistent mem- ber of the Baptist church of Atlanta. In 1868 Capt. Ellis was united in marriage to Miss Prioleau, daughter of Samuel Prioleau, and great-great-granddaughter of Elias Prioleau, the leader of the Huguenot colony in South Carolina. Six children have blessed this happy union, four sons and two daughters. The names of the children are as follows: William D., Jr., Phoebe, Prioleau, Harry H., Frampton E., and Hallie. The home life of Capt. Ellis is an ideal one. He is fond of his family, and is in turn beloved by his fond household. The maternal great-grandfather of Capt. Ellis was Col. A. Hawks Hay, a native of New York state, and a soldier in the revolution. His paternal great-grandfather was also a revolutionary soldier, and was born in the state of Virginia. The father of Capt. Ellis died in 1855, at the early age of thirty-four years, in the midst of a successful professional career. The law firm of which Capt. Ellis is a member does a large business, and probably represents as many corporations and as much capital as any other firm in the state. A high sense of honor has always

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inspired the conduct of Capt. Ellis at the bar, and his professional career has always been above reproach.

CAPT. JAS. W. ENGLISH stands among the conspicuous figures of the in- comparable pluck and courage of Atlanta citizenship. He was one of the originators of the Cotton States and International exposition; he is chairman of the executive committee, a member of the board of police commissioners, president of the American Trust and Banking company, one of the largest financial institutions of the city; president of the Chattahoochee Brick company, one of the largest industrial enterprises of the south; a member of the board of education of Atlanta's public school system, and is largely interested in many other industrial institutions which play no small part in the general development of Atlanta and its section. Capt. English was born October 28, 1837, in the parish of Orleans, state of Louisiana, and was left a penniless orphan at the age of thirteen ; he came to Georgia in 1852, and located at Griffin, where he remained until the breaking out of the civil war in 1861, when he enlisted as a private in the Confederate service. His company was ordered to Virginia on the 18th of April, 1861, where it was consolidated with one from Columbus and two from Macon, Ga., forming what was known throughout the war as the Second Georgia battalion. Capt. English remained with the army of northern Virginia, serving with the Second Georgia battalion, Gen. A. R. Wright's brigade. It is said of him by his old comrades that he was only absent thirty days from active service in the field during the entire war. Gen. Lee surrendered him at Appomattox, on the 9th of April, 1865, with the rest of those faithful followers who had borne the brunt of the entire struggle from beginning to end, and on that ever-memorable day, when he began his weary march toward home, the same conditions environed him as confronted every other Confederate soldier that was present at the surrender-poverty in abundance, and poor prospects. It was then he came to Atlanta, making it his home May 14, 1865. He was united in marriage with Miss Emily Alexander, of Griffin, Ga., on July 26, 1866. Their family consists of five children : James W., Jr .; Harry L., Edward, Emily and Jennie. Theirs, indeed, is a happy home. Capt. English entered the service of the city as a member of the general council in 1887, and for the two succeeding years was the chairman of the finance committee of that body, his work in that capacity for the good of the city being marvelous. He found the city's finances in woeful shape, weighted down with a ruinous financial system, with a floating debt of over $500,000, bearing interest at from 12 to 24 per cent. per annum. He went to work to remedy the situation, and by a bold and honest effort placed the debt upon a basis of payment that was easy, satisfactory and safe, and reduced the rate of interest on said debt to 7 per cent. His work along that line is still remembered to-day in graceful acknowledgment by the older citizens. It was also while a member of that body that the present state constitution was adopted. Among other questions submitted to the people of the state, was the permanent location of the state capital, Milledgeville and Atlanta being competitors for that honor. The preponderance of sentiment and the press of the state seemed to be very largely in favor of Milledgeville. When this fact was fully realized by the mayor and council of Atlanta, they requested Capt. English to take charge of Atlanta's interests, which he reluctantly consented to do, realizing that it was leading a forlorn hope, and the great responsibility that would rest upon such a committee. He called together a number of Atlanta's public- spirited citizens; they organized a committee and elected him their chairman; they soon perfected a thorough organization of their friends throughout the entire state, and without a single penny of the city's money appropriated for the

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purpose of the work, they succeeded in carrying the election favoring Atlanta for the permanent capital by a majority of over 46,000 votes. The only cam- paign fund, for postage and various incidental expenses of such a campaign, was raised by his appeals to the people of Atlanta for individual subscriptions. This was perhaps the most important work he has ever done for Atlanta, the result being the permanent location and erection of the present magnificent state capitol building in that city. Capt. English retired from public service in 1879, for two years, when he was again called to renew his services to the city as mayor, in 1881-82. This was at a time when Atlanta was about to take her first long step to greatness, it being the year when the first cotton exposition was held, an era that stands pre-eminently replete with renewed energy, life and industry in the history of the town that Sherman burned. While mayor he inaugurated the splendid system of street and sewer improvements that has been carried on to the present degree of excellency. He established the present fire department, changing from the old volunteer service to the paid service; he purchased for the city the real estate and fire apparatus of the volunteer department, consisting of the three department houses, two on Broad and one on Washington street, which proved to be a splendid investment for the city; he established the present fire, signal and telegraph system. It was during his administration that the Georgia Pacific railroad was built, and to his personal efforts is due much of the credit for the successful culmination of the scheme to open up the great coal fields of Alabama advantageously to Atlanta. The city had subscribed and lost $300,000 in their efforts to secure the building of that road. It had been graded only a few miles from the city when the movement failed, and the roadbed and charter were sold to pay debts, and purchased by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad com- pany, no doubt for the purpose of destroying competition, and without any intention of building the road. Capt. English and Mr. Anthony Murphey went to New York, by appointment, to confer with the board of directors of that company, and after twenty days of hard and persistent work succeeded in getting an option from them on that property, and placing it in the hands of others who were able, willing and did build it from Atlanta to Birmingham, Ala., and eventually to Greenville, Miss., passing through the great Alabama coal fields. The com- pletion of that road has added very largely to the wealth and population of Atlanta, in one item alone, viz., the reduction on the price of coal, which was formerly from $4 to $6 per ton for steam purposes, whereas now it can be purchased in any quantity at from $1.65 to $2.00 per ton. It was also during his administration that the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia railroad was built, leading southwardly to Macon and northwardly to Rome. These two railroad properties have added many millions of dollars to Atlanta, and thousands of good citizens to her present population. The Cotton exposition of 1881 was a great boom to the city, infusing new life and prosperity to all the arteries of trade and commerce. As mayor of the city, he contributed his full share to the success of that enterprise and the entertainment of the many visitors, and when the exposition ended, with the help of a few friends, he converted the old exposition buildings and grounds into an immense cotton manufactory, which is now one of the strongest manufacturing enterprises in that region of the south. He has always been enthusiastic in encouraging manufactories of every kind, believing it was the surest and safest foundation on which to build a city, thus furnishing abundant and remunerative employment for all the city's population that are willing to work. His work for the promotion of morality was striking and most noteworthy, and he is perhaps better known to-day for his achievements in breaking up gambling, which was rampant in Atlanta, than for any other specific work while

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mayor. With his usual determination, he gave orders to the police department to invade every gambling house in the city, seize their implements, by force, if need be, take it to the public square and burn it. He prosecuted the lawless ones. They carried their cases to the supreme court, without avail, Mayor English's warfare on them being thoroughly approved of by all the tribunals. Speaking of his career as mayor, the Atlanta "Constitution," at the close of his term, Jan. 1, 1883, editorially remarked: "It is seldom that any officer retires from a trust so universally honored and esteemed as does Mayor English, this morning. The two years of his rule have been the most prosperous the city ever knew-much of which is due to the fact that he has been the best mayor within her memory. In every sense his regime has been successful. He has put under control, at last, a lawless element that has heretofore defied city officials. He has restricted gambling to a few secret corners, if he has not driven it out altogether. In a financial sense, the result has been quite as happy. The English administration closes its year without having one dollar of debt or a single bill payable. it leaves a sinking fund of $95,000, where it found only $40,000 two years ago. It has reduced the bonded debt $9,000. It has spent $101,200 on permanent invest- ments, such as $53,000 on pumps, $28,000 on fire department, and $10,000 for a new school house. It has spent $70,000 on streets, besides a levy of $60,000 on citizens, against $40,000 a year ago. It has maintained every department well.

It may be claimed that Mayor English has had the two best years to work. We grant that, and claim for him that the man and the occasion met. He leaves office without a blot on his name or a stain on his record, and will have the confidence and affection of his people." In March, 1893, Capt. English was once more called to the public service by being elected a member of the board of police commis- sioners, without his solicitation or knowledge. Here he continued his good work, building up the morality of the city, and has continued to serve on that board up to the present time. The benefits of his work for the police department have been marked and considerable. He secured the present telegraph system, and was largely instrumental in securing the appropriation and building the present station house and police barracks. In October, 1893, he offered to resign from that board, but the mayor and general council petitioned him to remain in the work he had so long and faithfully pursued, and he consented. The good people of Atlanta will always appreciate his efforts to keep the police force out of local politics. If there is one thing that characterizes Capt. English as a useful citizen more than any other, it is his public-spiritedness. He has been identified with all charitable work that is started or maintained for the good of Atlanta. He was one of the promoters of the Young Men's Christian association, which was established as the result of the first meeting held at his residence; an original promoter and subscriber to the Georgia School of Technology; a promoter of the Grady hospital, of which he was a trustee until his son succeeded him, upon his resignation; a pioneer promoter of the Confederate soldiers' home, and an early advocate and supporter of the Young Men's library. Capt. English is an untiring worker for the upbuilding of Atlanta's best interests and the protection of her people from the vices of the day. But few men in few cities can be rightfully credited with having accomplished more good results than he has for Atlanta, and the people, rich and poor alike, hold him in high esteem.

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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 112

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