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 120

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 120

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JUDGE GEORGE HILLYER, onc of the south's most prominent lawyers, is a native of Athens, Ga., where he lived until he was twelve ycars old. He attended the primary schools of that city, amongst them one presided over by Dr. William H. Felton, so long a member of congress from the Seventh district of Georgia. At the age of thirteen young Hillyer was taken by his father to Walton county, where they lived on a farm near the county seat, Monroe, and the boy was prepared for

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college at the grammar school taught by Hon. W. W. Thomas, who for many years represented Coweta county in the state legislature. In 1850 Judge Hillyer entered Mercer university, then located at Penfield, Ga., but afterward moved to Macon; and graduated in July, 1854, ranking high in all his classes, especially in mathe- matics. Having brought his course of education to this successful issue he began the study of law with his father, Hon. Junius Hillyer, at Monroe, and in 1855 was admitted to the bar before Hon. James Jackson, then presiding over the Walton county superior court. Locating then in Monroe, Judge Hillyer practiced until the beginning of the war, for the first two years with his father, and afterward in partnership with Hon. Hope Hull. Answering the call he left his practice and organized the first company raised in Walton county, and was made its captain. His company was assigned to the Ninth Georgia regiment, and was known as Company C, or the Hillyer rifles. Capt. Hillyer served as captain of his company until October, 1863, and between that date and the surrender he served the state as auditor of the old Western & Atlantic railroad, and as major commanding a battalion of state troops. He participated in the battles of Dam No. I, in Virginia in 1862; Garnett's farm; Suffolk, Va .; Fredericksburg, Va., and at Gettysburg, where he lost killed, wounded or captured every man of his company but ten. He was also in the siege at Charleston, S. C. At the close of the war Judge Hillyer settled at Atlanta and resumed the practice of law, operating alone until 1867, when be associated with him his brother Henry, which partnership existed till 1892, when it was dissolved by agreement, and Mr. Hillyer allied himself with Blewett Lee, a son of general Stephen D. Lee. They practiced together for eighteen months, their contract being then abrogated by reason of Mr. Lee's being tendered a professorship in the Northwestern university of Chicago. Judge Hillyer then formed a partnership with Messrs. Hooper Alexander and W. W. Lambdin, the firm style now being Hillyer, Alexander & Lambdin. Born in 1835 Judge Hillyer entered the political arena at an early age, being in 1857 elected to the legislature from Walton county, and at that session served on the committees on general judiciary, finance and lunatic asylums. Receiving still further political preferment, he was in 1859 and 1860 chief clerk of the house of representatives, and, as related, in 1864-5 served his state as auditor of the Western & Atlantic railroad. Four years later he was one of three commissioners chosen by the legis- lature on a non-partisan basis-Judge Hillyer being the democratic member-to audit all claims against this railway company. This commission found that it had over 1,200 suits and claims to audit-the aggregate amount involved being nearly $2,000,000. The commissioners, however, managed to settle them all for about one-fifth of the sums claimed, and after the work was finished their conduct was indorsed in a special message to the legislature by Gov. James M. Smith, and later approved by that body. From 1870 to 1874 Judge Hillyer was a member of the state senate from the Thirty-fifth district, which embraced Fulton, Clayton and Cobb counties. It was during the sessions held at this time that the state was rehabilitated from the errors and oppression of reconstruction, and no man took a more active or more vigilant part than Senator Hillyer in the legislative good work of restoring the state to democratic supremacy and good government, and to the

recovering of that which had been lost by error and bad management of the state's finances, railways and other public works. In 1877 he was appointed judge of the superior court of Fulton county by Gov. A. H. Colquitt and was thereafter twice re-elected by the legislature to the same judicial position, on each occasion every vote being cast on his behalf. At the beginning of his third term as judge of the superior court he resigned, having determined to resume his practice, and two years later-in 1885-he was elected mayor of Atlanta by an overwhelming major-

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ity, the term of office extending over two years. In this connection it will be well to explain Judge Hillyer's former connection with the city's business and the prominent part he had formerly played in its municipal management. When the new charter of Atlanta was formulated by the citizens' committee of forty-nine, in 1874, during the administration of C. C. Hammond, then mayor, Judge Hillyer was one of the sub-committee on finance which originated and drafted the section of the new charter relating to the municipality's financial system, public credit and annual budget and exacting personal liability of the members of the city council. Under the old charter the council of Atlanta had been spending money for various purposes as the occasion arose, with little regard to the municipal income. The result was a yearly deficiency which went over from year to year and accumulated until it threatened the city with bankruptcy. Under the new charter, in the secur- ing of which Judge Hillyer took such an active, prominent part the members of the council are compelled to make up an annual budget, estimating the necessary outlay for all purposes for the coming year and then arrange to meet the expense. The new charter further provided that members of the city council should be per- sonally liable for all moneys expended by them over and above the amount pro- vided for in their annual budget. The effect of this clause in the charter was at once to renew and revive the sinking credit of the city and to increase the value of her bonds. This explains fully the significance of the words "personal liability" used above. Being a member of the state senate at the time of the new charter's formulation, Judge Hillyer was intrusted with the duty of introducing into that body a bill to secure its adoption. He had charge of this measure and through his efforts its passage by both houses was accomplished. The financial clauses of this bill are in Judge Hillyer's own handwriting; and the charters of many other places have been modeled after it. Since leaving the mayor's office in 1887 Judge Hillyer has been a member of the water commission of Atlanta and most of the time its president. He was at its head during almost the entire period in which Atlanta's magnificent system of waterworks was being built. In this great work he takes unbounded pride, having devoted much time and attention to secur- ing the full fruition of all the plans for supplying the city with water which were indorsed by the people. He has never undertaken the accomplishment of any project in which he did not succeed, and the universal verdict is that Atlanta got in her waterworks, costing $850,000, a plant which in other cities has usually cost twice as much or more. Judge Hillyer's life has been an unusually busy one. In addition to his successful transaction of the work noted, it is conceded that no public servant ever performed his duty with more fidelity and public appreciation than he did while a member of the commission which righted the Western & Atlantic railway. He was appointed in 1873 by Gov. Smith centennial commis- sioner from Georgia, and fulfilled the duties of that office for three years. For two decades he was a director of the Georgia railroad and banking company, retiring from the directorate and selling his stock in 1891. Going back to 1884 we find him serving in the national democratic convention, which nominated Grover Cleveland, as a delegate from the Fifth congressional district of Georgia. In that historic meeting he introduced the first and only "simon-pure" tariff-for-revenue- only resolution that was offered in open convention. He was again a delegate from the same district to the national convention of 1892. Looking back still farther he represented the old Sixth district of his state at the convention which met in Charleston in 1860. There he earnestly advocated the nomination of Howell Cobb for president. In social life he is very highly esteemed. He is a member of the masonic fraternity and of the Second Baptist church, with which he has been associated for the past forty years. Judge Hillyer was married June, I-52

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1867, to Miss Ellen, daughter of Hollis Cooley, Rome, Ga., and they have five children: Elizabeth, wife of Francis M. Coker, Jr., Atlanta; Minnie, wife of H. A. Cassin, cashier of the Georgia loan, savings and banking company; Marian, wife of Dr. Bernard Wolff of Atlanta; George, a graduate of the university of Georgia, Athens, at this writing a student of electrical engineering at Cornell; Ellen, unmarried. Judge George Hillyer's father was Junius Hillyer, a native of Wilkes county, Ga., who in turn was the son of Shaler Hillyer. The latter came to Georgia from Connecticut in 1796. Shaler Hillyer's father was Asa Hillver, a sur- geon in the continental army, who served through the whole war of the revolu- tion. The emigrant ancestor was John Hillyer, who came to New England about ten years after the landing of the Mayflower and settled at Granby, Conn., where he lived until his death, which occurred some twenty years later. Judge Hillyer's mother was Jane Watkins, daughter of Thomas Watkins. She was a lineal descendant of the early colonist of that name who came with Capt. John Smith and landed near Jamestown, Va., in 1620. One of George Hillyer's maternal uncles, after whom he is named, was George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; and another maternal uncle, of the generation younger, was Peter Early, who was governor of Georgia during the war period of 1812-1814. Junius Hillyer died in 1886 at the age of seventy-nine, and left three sons besides the subject of this sketch, Dr. E. Hillyer of Rome, Mr. Henry Hillyer named above, and Mr. Carlton Hillyer, auditor of the Georgia railroad at Augusta. Rev. John F. Hillyer, brother of Junius Hillyer, was a Baptist minister, active and faithful for nearly seventy years, who died in Texas when eighty-nine years old. Another brother of Rev. Dr. Shaler G. Hillyer, now residing in Atlanta. He also chose

the ministry as his profession and has served therein steadily for sixty-four years. Judge George Hillyer, subject of this sketch, the second son of Junius Hillyer, is one of the best known lawyers of the south. The points noted above indicate that he has enjoyed a remarkable career, of which the full fruition has been achieved through an indomitable will and the sturdiest of determinations to succeed.

JUDGE JAMES KOLLOCK HINES, of the law firm of Hines & Hale, was born on a farm in Burke county, Ga., Nov. 18, 1852. He remained hcre the first nine years of his life and spent his youth in Washington county, Ga. He attended the country schools located there, and by manual labor in connection with his studies acquired the robust constitution that adds vigor to manhood. He entered Emory college, at Oxford, Ga., during August, 1869, and after a record of close application graduated in 1872, with first honors and the degree of Arts Bachelor. From there he went to the law department of Harvard university in 1873, and when the course was completed returned to Georgia, locating in Savan- nah. In the "Forest City" he first undertook the study of law, continuing for four months of 1873, and then put out his "shingle" and prosecuted his profession until August, 1875, removing at that date to Sandersville, Ga. In this town he resided sixteen years and came thereafter to Atlanta. On January 23, 1877, Judge Hines was appointed solicitor-general of the middle judicial circuit of Georgia by Gov. Alfred H. Colquitt, retaining this office four years. In October, 1884, he was elected to the legislature from Washington county, and served one term. By the general assembly he was chosen judge of the middle judicial circuit in November, 1886, and presided on that bench for four years. Judge Hines is a steward in the First Methodist church of Atlanta, and a tireless worker for religious causes. He was married, first in January, 1879, to Belle, daughter of the late Col. Thomas Evans of South Carolina. She died in 1884, leaving two daughters. He was again married Dec. 28, 1885, to Cora L., daughter of the late Dr. William G.

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McBride of Washington county, Ga. By this last wife he has been blessed also with two daughters. Judge Hines had not taken a great interest in politics until the spring of 1894, when he was nominated by the populists to oppose the demo- cratic nominee for Georgia's gubernatorial chair. Although defeated, he ran an excellent race, that was lauded for the high plan on which his campaign was con- ‹lucted. He did not appeal to the prejudices of the people, but considered only public questions and national issues. His speeches resulted in making a large number of new and stanch friends. He is a gifted orator, and on the "stump" is invincible. The arguments as presented by him are comprehensible and plain and convincing. His father was Joseph H. Hines, a native of Georgia. He was a farmer, a lumberman, a brave soldier in the latter half of the civil war and at one time occupied a seat in the legislature as representative from Burke county. He died in October, 1871. His grandfather was Howell Hines, a native of North Carolina, and an extensive planter, who was, for a number of years, justice of the peace in Effingham county, Ga. His great-grandfather was David Hines, a Virginia gentleman who figured prominently in the revolutionary war. The Hines family is of Scotch-Presbyterian origin. The descendants emigrated to America from the north of Ireland. Judge Hines controls a large, extended practice. As a successful lawyer and courteous gentleman he is highly esteemed.

HON. JOSEPH HIRSCH is one of the most distinguished exponents of Geor- gia's Hebrew citizenship. Mr. Hirsch has accomplished more in behalf of true charity than any man in the state. He has not only given with a liberal hand to the enterprises of his own people, but in the illustration of the broadest public spirit, he has labored for the welfare of the whole community, including both Jew and Gentile. His magnificent contribution to the Grady hospital and his unremitting efforts in behalf of that institution have made it a lasting monument to his memory, and his services will be gratefully remembered as long as the Grady hospital con- tinues to perform its mission of charity. Though Mr. Hirsch has been identified with this country to such a marked extent as to suggest an American nativity, he is nevertheless of foreign birth. He was born in the German empire in 1845, and the entire period of his boyhood was spent under the flag of that country. His father was a very successful merchant, and the influence of parental example, as well as the instinct of heredity, had much to do with the character of Mr. Hirsch and with his subsequent career as a business man. Even at school his ideas were suggestive of the business aptitude that was destined to distinguish him in later life, and it was only by exercising the greatest amount of effort that he succeeded in fixing his mind upon his text books. Germany, at this time, though one of the foremost countries of Europe, was not by any means as attractive to the ambitious young man as the republic beyond the waters, and, after reaching the age of mature decision, Mr. Hirsch resolved to cast his lot in the new world. He believed that fortunes could be achieved with greater ease in America than in Germany, and accordingly in 1860, being still a mere lad, he purchased a ticket and embarked for the shores of this country. In due course of time he arrived in New York, only to find the country agitated and disturbed by the imminence of civil war. It was out of the question for him to return home, and he had no alternative but to face the perils of the situation. He remained in the north for only a short while. Coming directly to Georgia, he settled in the little town of Marietta, Ga., a cultured and enterprising center of business activity, and remained there for a while in the capacity of a clerk. Leaving Marietta he went to Acworth, a few miles to the north, where one of his older brothers was engaged in business. Here he remained for several months, but realizing that his business education was deficient, in respect

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to the peculiar methods of this country, he set out for Philadelphia, Penn., in order to perfect himself in bookkeeping. He entered one of the principal business colleges of that city, and after several months of diligent application, he left the college an accomplished bookkeeper. He first stopped at Wheeling, W. Va., but he was not satisfied with that place and he came on to Atlanta. He arrived in that city in 1867. It was then suffering from the ravages of Gen. Sherman and was lying prostrate in the dust and ashes. He recognized the fact, however, that Atlanta was destined to become the business center of the south, and for that reason he decided to cast his fortunes in that city. Under the firm name of M. & J. Hirsch he and his brother organized a clothing establishment, and continued to operate in that line of business until the firm was recognized as the leading wholesale and retail clothing establishment in the city. In 1878 the retail feature of the business was dropped and they entered the wholesale trade exclusively. The success of these sterling business men was achieved by the adoption and rigid enforcement of simple rules of faithful attention to business, and square, honest and open-handed methods in dealing with the large trade that came to them in the course of years. Mr. Hirsch first came into public notice as a friend of charity, at the beginning of the movement to erect a Hebrew orphans' home. In addition to a handsome sum of money, he gave to that enterprise the unstinted labor of a whole year. The success of this movement was no sooner assured than a similar enterprise was inaugurated for the erection of the Grady hospital. Mr. Hirsch had been a warm, personal friend of Mr. Grady, and no man in Atlanta was more anxious to per- petuate the fame and memory of that lamented Georgian than Mr. Hirsch. The proposition to erect a city hospital pleased Mr. Hirsch, and he decided to do all in his power to insure the success of this movement. Notwithstanding his contribu- tion to the Hebrew Orphans' home he donated a magnificent sum to the Grady hospital and gave the movement a splendid start. But his interest in the hospital did not cease with this monetary assistance. He became the life and center of the movement; he engineered the work, and devoted himself night and day to the success of this great enterprise. He was frequently dismayed by the outlook, but in spite of discouraging circumstances, the building was finally completed and dedicated to the cause of charity. The hospital has grown into one of the leading institutions of the south, and the fame of Mr. Hirsch has spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. A large crayon portrait of Mr. Hirsch is one of the ornaments of the public reception room of the Grady hospital. Among the distinguished men who have sounded the praises of Mr. Hirsch is Thomas Nelson Page, the brilliant author. In every part of the land the name of this good and useful citizen and friend of charity is mentioned with honor. Mr. Hirsch has always evinced a deep interest in the public schools of Atlanta, and for years has been an influential and active member of the board of education. He frequently visits the schools and is a great favorite with the teachers and children. Two or three years ago Mr. Hirsch was elected to a seat in the city council. He made a watchful servant of the people and espoused every movement that sought to pro- mote the welfare of the city. He served on various important committees, and such was the excellent record made by him in that body that recently, as a compli- ment to his ability, he was elected to a seat on the aldermanic board. In this. capacity Mr. Hirsch has continued to serve the city with marked zeal and fidelity .. He is chairman of the committee on sewers, and is also a member of the commit- tees on printing and schools. He is now interested in the erection of the Alabama street bridge, and proposes to agitate and urge the matter until the bridge is eventu- ally erected. Mr. Hirsch is fond of his home fireside and has an interesting family, composed of a wife and three children, as follows: Lala, wife of A. L. Weil, of

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Savannah; Jacob H., and Milton. Surrounded by these he forgets the cares and vexations of the business world, and is conscious only of the happiness that belongs to an ideal and loving household.

DR. ARTHUR G. HOBBS, a leading oculist and aurist of Atlanta, was born in the Blue Grass state of Kentucky, about forty years ago. His father, an ardent student of medicine, and a long experienced practitioner, desired that his son should assume the responsibilities of the same profession. From his earliest years he manifested an inclination for this science and that he should select it as his life mission seemed only natural. After completing his academic studies he entered Center college, and then went to the medical department of the Louisville university and after a three years' course, graduated with honors. His ambition was to finally confine himself to eye, ear and throat work when he had gained sufficient experience as a general practitioner, so he moved to Petersburg, Ind., about fifty miles from his old home, where he prosecuted a general practice for three or four years, when he went to New York to perfect his knowledge of the eye, throat and ear. While there he had valuable experience in the hospitals of the city, for being a close observer his information rapidly increased. He studied under the eminent physicians, Drs. Noyes, Agnew, Bosworth, Heitzman and Mittendorf. Dr. Hobbs came to Atlanta in 1881, a total stranger, unacquainted with any citizen of the state. His genial disposition and warm-hearted courtesy soon attracted friends, and a character that association appreciates retained them. He built up, in an incredibly short time, a large, lucrative practice, and ranks to-day with the leading physicians of the city. He was elected to the chair of the "eye, ear and throat" in the Southern Medical college of Atlanta. For ten years he served in this capacity and resigned only because his practice occupied his full time. He was respected and esteemed by the faculty and students. Dr. Hobbs was elected president of the American Rhinological association that met in Chicago during 1891, being the youngest of its presidents, and the only one from the south. He is a member of many organizations and societies composed of the ablest physicians of the country, and all will testify to his thorough capability and superior skill. Dr. Hobbs possesses literary talent in connection with his many mental inclinations. He frequently contributes articles to the foremost scientific publications of the day, and reads assiduously both current and classic literature. Leisure hours invariably find him in his spacious library.

In 1882 he was married to Lillie Hendricks, niece of Hon. Thomas A. Hen- dricks of Indianapolis, a sweet and charming lady who guides his home affairs with queenly grace and devotion. Dr. Hobbs rarely leaves his office to visit patients except in cases of consultation or to perform operations. Scores crowd his reception room daily and an idle moment during his office hours is a rare thing. He has amassed a competency from his energetic endeavors. Dr. Hobbs is one of the shining lights of the medical fraternity. His record in the past twelve years has hardly a duplicate.

JOSES BILLINGTON SANDERS HOLMES. At irregular intervals of time there appears in one or more of the fields of human thought and endeavor, individuals of conspicuously distinguishing characteristics-natural gifts of a high order; and, like most precious and highly prized gems, they come from localities and surroundings whence they were least looked for or expected. A moment's thought on the part of the intelligent reader will bring to mind scores of such instances. Joses B. S. Holmes, Atlanta, one of the most eminent physicians in Geor- gia, if not in the Union, is the son of Dr. J. B. S. and E. J. Holmes, of Early county,

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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 120

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