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 131

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 131

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HON. HOWARD E. W. PALMER of Atlanta, Ga., has lead an active life, which is now at the beginning of its prime, with the promise of increasing usefulness. His ancestors on both sides came to Georgia from Virginia and the Carolinas. His paternal grandfather was Edmund Palmer, a planter of Burke county, Ga., and his grandmother was Jane Allen of Richmond county, in the same state. Prof. James E. Palmer, his father, was educated at Emory college, Oxford, Ga., and graduated with distinction. After his graduation he established a boarding school at his home in Burke county known as Grove Mount, and which some called "Rugby." After conducting this school awhile Prof. Palmer was elected to fill the chair of Latin in Emory college, in which he. displayed the abilities of a true educator until December, 1861, when his highly useful life was cut short by death, when he was only about thirty-three years of age. The mother of Judge Palmer was Mary M. Weaver of Greensboro, a descendant, in the paternal line from the Weavers and Daniels of North Carolina. Her connections, by blood and marriage, extended among the Mounger, Wingfield, Eve and Grimes families of Georgia, forming a very wide and influential relationship. His mother is still in life and graces the home of her son as a member of his family. Judge Palmer was born in Burke county, Ga., Oct. 19, 1854, but on the election of his father to the professorship of Latin in Emory college, the young family moved to Oxford, where the father died; and after this bereavement, Judge Palmer's boyhood was spent in Greensboro and Burke county, Ga. At Greensboro, when but a lad he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Greensboro "Herald." His education was secured in Emory college where he was graduated in the class of 1872, and afterward he taught school for two years. This was followed by his entering the law office of Judge P. B. Robinson as a law student, and his admission to the bar in the superior court at Greensboro during the September term, 1874, Judge George T. Bartlett being then the presiding judge. His first office and prac- tice as a lawyer was in Greensboro, where he was admitted, but in 1876 he moved to Waynesboro, Ga., and in 1877 was appointed when only about twenty-two years of age to the office of judge of the county court of Burke county by Gov. Colquitt. After discharging the duties of this honorable position nearly a year, he resigned in order to form a law partnership with his uncle, by marriage, Judge S. A. Corker, under the firm name of Corker & Palmer. His course of life was changed a few years later when, in 1883, he accepted the voluntary tender to him, by Gov. McDaniel, of the position of secretary of the executive department, and moved to Atlanta, where he has remained to this date. This important position was held for nearly five years, and terminated by his resignation and appointment as assistant United States district attorney for the northern district of Georgia, during the first administration of President Cleveland. This office, however, he resigned after holding it about a year, to accept a responsible and new position as the southern manager of the Thomson-Houston Electric company, which he held for several years. The electric business was then somewhat of a novelty, but Judge Palmer entered with his natural, enterprising spirit into the work, and to him is due the credit of a pioneer in establishing the electric system, which is now in such successful operation in Atlanta. The Edison company and the

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Thomson-Houston Electric company afterward combined and formed the General Electric company, which Judge Palmer represents in Atlanta as attorney. Having resigned the place of general manager to resume his profession, the firm of Palmer & Read was formed, and does a successful general practice. Judge Palmer, since his removal to Atlanta has been influentially interested in many business enterprises besides those above mentioned. He was among the earliest and most earnest advocates of the Cotton States and International Exposition. Without any solicitation on his part, he was unanimously elected to the position of director-general, when this important work was organized, but unfortunately, and unexpectedly, he was stricken with a serious and protracted illness-typhoid fever-which caused him to resign. He has, however, done very efficient work on several committees. Judge Palmer has been an active friend of general education and, in appreciation of that interest, he was elected the alumni trustee of his alma mater, Emory college. The present successful movement to endow a chair of history and political economy in that college, through the voluntary donations of alumni, was inspired by him, and he is practically at the head of the enterprise. Recently he was elected president of the Atlanta branch of the Alumni association, and may be relied on for intelligent activity in promoting the general interests of education as well as the particular welfare of his college. In his church relations he has confided to him the positions of superintendent of the Sunday school of the First Methodist church south, in Atlanta, and is also chairman of the board of stewards. He has a delightful home in the suburbs of Atlanta. Early in life he married Miss Emma Stone, daughter of Prof. G. W. W. Stone, who for nearly twenty-five years, and to the date of his death, was professor of mathematics in Emory college. Mrs. Palmer is the granddaughter of the distinguished and lovable Bishop William Capers, who, as is well known, devoted his great life with singular consecration and eminent ability to the Christian ministry. She is as earnest in church work as her husband, and is constantly found in association with others in active benevolence. Judge Palmer, now just past forty years of age, enjoys a fine physique and has strong vital force, which he employs in a great deal of hard work. He speaks forcibly, often eloquently. Cordial in manners, earnest in whatever he undertakes, with his equipment of natural abilities and educational attainments, he is destined to large success in life. In politics he is a democrat and always active in support of his party, but has never aspired to office.

DR. WILLIS B. PARKS was born on a farm in Forsyth county, Ga., in 1853, there grew up and received his early education. At the age of nineteen he entered the academy at Gainesville, Ga., remaining there two years, during one of which he studied medicine with Dr. Henry Long. In 1874 he went to the Georgia Military school, at Marietta, and a year later located at Neosho, Mo., where he took up educational work, pursued his studies and read medicine with Dr. J. W. Weens until 1878, when he returned to the state of his nativity and entered the Southern Medical college at Atlanta, graduating therefrom in 1881. He immediately began the practice of his profession which now so fully attests his skill and aptitude in and for it. Dr. Parks is a member of the Georgia State Medical association, the Atlanta Society of Medicine-having served as treasurer of the latter institution for two years-and holds the chair of diseases of children in the Atlanta polyclinic. He is medical examiner to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and surgeon to the Atlanta Gas company in addition to being retained by several large factory companies. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church (south). He was married in 1886 to Annie, daughter of Dr. S. E. White, Carrollton, Ga. They

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have one daughter, Sarah A. Dr. Parks' father was Rev. J. W. Parks, who was born in Franklin county, Ga., and died in 1889, aged sixty-seven years. His wife was Sarah F. Newton and they had eight children, six of whom are now living. Rev. J. W. Parks was a Methodist Episcopal clergyman and served as a captain in the war of 1812. His eldest son, W. A. Parks, also a clergyman, was chaplain to the Forty-third Georgia regulars, and his second son, Isaac G., was a soldier in Capt. Rufus Kolb's legion during the late war. Sarah F. Parks died in 1883. Dr. Willis B. Parks and his wife are great social favorites, an enviably successful future stretching out before them.

GEORGE W. PARROTT, president of the Capital City bank of Atlanta, Ga., was born on a farm in Jefferson county, Tenn., Jan 4, 1843. He lived on this farm until he was about fifteen years of age, going to school there one year. In 1858 he went to Knoxville, Tenn., and entered the East Tennessee & Virginia railway office as an office boy, remaining there until 1862, when at the age of nineteen he was made agent of the company at Knoxville, which position he held until 1863, when he came to Georgia and took service with Maj. Campbell Wallace as general agent of the East Tennessee & Georgia railway, with headquarters at Augusta, Ga., where he remained until the war closed. In July, 1865, Mr. Parrott began a small grocery business in Decatur street, Atlanta, in connection with C. I. Brown. This partnership was dissolved in 1866, Mr. Parrott continuing the business alone until a year later, when, with W. D. Fain, he organized a wholesale grocery business under the firm name of Fain & Parrott, which was continued until the fall of 1870. Then, Mr. Parrott's eyesight failing, he gave up business for three years and removed to his farm in Jefferson county, Tenn. In the autumn of 1873 he returned to Atlanta and engaged in the cotton trade with his two brothers, Theodore F. and Samuel F., until 1879, when they gave up the cotton-buying business, and Mr. Parrott associated himself with Dr. J. D. Turner and H. T. Inman in organizing the Atlanta Compress and Warehousing company, of which he was then made and is still the president. After this mercantile enterprise had been thoroughly organized he retired from its active management, and with J. W. English, A. B. Steele and W. B. Lowe, in 1885, organized the Chatta- hoochee Brick company, of which Mr. Parrott was also made, and still remains, the vice-president. In December, 1889, in company with J. J. West, W. B. Lowe, J. W. English and I. Cheeves, Mr. Parrott established the Parrott Lumber company at ' Richwood, Ga., of which he was made president. He still holds that position and is the principal stockholder. This lumber company was organized with but $50,000 capital and has continued to grow until now it has $200,000 of capital and employs 250 men. Its annual product is about 24,000,000 feet. In October the Capital City Land and Improvement company was converted into a bank, and Mr. Parrott was asked to take a directorship, which he did, and a year later was made vice-president. He is now president. In 1887 the Chat- tahoochee Brick company built the Columbus Southern railroad, from Columbus to Albany, Ga., the brick company being the principal owners. Mr. Parrott was made secretary and treasurer and still holds these offices. In 1881 after the exposition was held in Atlanta, Mr. Parrott, with twenty-four other associates, bought the exposition buildings, and afterward agreed to build on the land which was owned by the city, provided the municipal officers would grant them title to the realty, a cotton mill of 10,000 spindles. The city fathers agreed to do so and sold them the land. They erected the mill of 17,000 spindles, which is now in operation, employing 500 hands. Mr. Parrott has never taken any part in politics,

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belongs to no secret orders, but is a member of the Presbyterian church. He was married first in 1867 to Miss Fain, who died in 1876, leaving one son-George W. Parrott, now living. He was married again in 1881 to Miss Martin, daughter of the late Rev. J. H. Martin, for many years pastor of the first Presbyterian church of Atlanta.

W P. PATILLO was born on Jan. 27, 1837, in Harris county, Ga., the son of · John and Mary Patillo. He passed the first sixteen years of his life on a farm, entered Emory college when his age permitted, and was graduated from that institution in 1857. One year later he taught school in Alabama, removing there- after to Texas, was admitted to the Eastern Texas Conference of the Methodist church, and three years followed the calling of an itinerant preacher. In 1860 he was made assistant principal of the Fowler institute of Henderson, Texas. He resigned this position seeing that its requirements were incompatible with his other duties. Soon after he moved to Hickory Hill, Cass Co., assumed charge of a private school and remained there until the civil war began. When the call was made for volunteers, he enlisted in the Third Texas cavalry in June 1861, and in Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas and Indian Territory did valiant service for the cause. He was appointed chaplain of the regiment, but resigned just after the fall of Vicksburg and left the regiment at Jackson Miss, July 6, 1863. He returned to his home in Georgia, and was made pastor of a colored church in Athens, Ga. Just after the war the Methodist church was financially reduced to an enormous extent, and it was decided to withdraw a number of the regular pastoral charges. Mr. Patillo's was among those selected. With a dislike for idleness bred of energy, and with determined will he moved to Atlanta in January, 1866, and accepted the agency for the Southern Mutual Insurance company of Athens, of which his father-in-law was then secretary. Coming to a city that was just recovering from the ravages of war, and having to combat and oppose the large companies and corporations of the north, he found it difficult to overcome instantly the obstacles that confronted him. But with a never-failing heart and a persistency that not only anticipates but wins success he has pressed on and by a yearly increase in the volume of his business has widened its dimensions until to-day none is comparable to it. The Aetna and other fire insurance companies were added in 1868, and it has been estimated that Mr. Patillo controls one-fifth of the fire insurance of the city. W. F. Patillo, a nephew, was admitted as a partner in 1878. They represent the Southern Mutual, of Athens, Ga .; Georgia Home, of Columbus, Ga .; Home, of New York: Phoenix, of Hartford, Conn., and the Hamburg-Bremen, of Germany. For the last-named company they are general agents for the south. Mr. Patillo has achieved a remarkable success; one due wholly to dealing impartially with competitors, to perseverance and exceptional business ability. He is a gentleman of affable manners, engaging presence, and a friend to be cultivated. His religious inclinations have prompted him to a broad mission work in Atlanta, and large, liberal contributions to the cause of religion. The com- munity respects and feels toward him a gracious confidence.

WILLIAM H. PATTERSON, a successful broker of Atlanta, was born in Paulding county, Ga., in 1850, and has lived in various sections of both Ala- bama and his native state. In 1860 his father came to Atlanta, and here William re- ceived his education at the public schools of the city. That same year he began work in a brick yard owned by a Mr. Whaley, remaining there one year, and then in a grocery store owned by Mr. J. Pitts, and clerked for the same length of time. After leaving this position he was employed in a factory, located in Atlanta, and

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managed by the Confederate government, employed in the manufacture of gun caps. From the latter part of 1863 until July, 1864, he acted as salesman in a cigar store. In this month he was captured by General Sherman and taken to Nashville, Tenn., where he was held several months. After being released he remained in Nashville until July, 1865, and then returned to Atlanta to follow the occupation of newsboy and clerk for a year, after which he entered the office of John H. James, broker, banker, and continued in his employ for seven years. Resign- ing this position he became teller and general bookkeeper of the Citizen's Bank of Georgia (now defunct). In February, 1880, he was made cashier, and acted as such for fifteen months. In April, 1881, the bank failed. After this misfortune Mr. Patterson, having held since 1875 the office of treasurer of the Dade Coal company, proffered his resignation and was appointed superintendent of the iron mines and railroad controlled by this firm in Bartow county. A year later he returned, after severing connection with the coal company, and engaged in his present business. For several years Mr. Patterson was manager and treasurer of the Metropolitan Street Railroad company of Atlanta, which was purchased finally by the Consolidated company. In the latter company he was a director until 1894. From April, 1893, to September, 1894, he was manager for the Venable Bros. Stone company of Lithonia, Ga. Mr. Patterson is an ex-member of the city council of Atlanta, having served in that body as representative of the fourth ward during the term of 1879-1880. Throughout the term he was chairman of the finance commit- tee. When he became a member of the council the city was struggling under a floating debt of $400,000, paying 10 and 12 per cent. interest thereon. In the first year Mr. Patterson funded the loan at 6 per cent. He was in the legislature of the state during the years 1880 and 1881. Also a member of the finance committee Mr. Patterson was married in 1872 to

of the house, being third on the list.

Flora, daughter of Perino Brown, of Atlanta. They have five children, as follows: Eva, W. H., Jr., Dumont C., Ernest B. and Baxter H. Besides being a member of the Methodist church, he has received election to the stewardship, and is secretary of the board of stewards. Mr. Patterson gives much of his attention to real estate, and its relative worth. He is director and treasurer of the Atlanta Suburban Land company. He does an excellent business in his chosen line. He has the city's welfare at heart, and as his record in the municipal council attests, needs but the opportunity to display true loyalty.

GEORGE F. PAYNE, M. D., Ph. G., F. C. S., state chemist of Georgia, was born in the city of Macon, Ga., April 7, 1853, residing there and receiving a common school education and training in his father's drug store, until 1873, when he entered the School of Mines, Columbia College, of New York city, and took extensive special courses in all its branches of study during the years 1873 and 1874. At this institution he passed all the examinations with much success, making a specially high record in analytical chemistry and mathematics. In 1876 he was graduated from the New York College of Pharmacy after taking a two years' course. During 1876 he returned to his native city and immediately entered his father's well-known pharmacy which had then been in active operation for thirty-six years. He also opened a fine analytical chemical laboratory at the same time, which he operated with great success. In 1882 he assumed entire control of his father's business, becoming a partner, and in 1884, after the death of his father, became complete owner. In 1890 Dr. Payne was appointed state chemist of Georgia, which high scientific position he still holds. In 1891 he was appointed a member of the Georgia state board of pharmacy, a board of five members who examine all applicants who wish to obtain licenses to operate drug stores in the

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state. During his residence in New York, covering the period from 1873 to 1876, Dr. Payne attended medical lectures at the University of the City of New York, and also at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of that city On his return to Macon he continued the study of medicine, and in 1891 was graduated at the Atlanta Medical college. Since 1891 he has held the chair of materia medica and toxicology in the Atlanta College of Pharmacy, and since 1894 the chair of phar- macy in the Atlanta Medical college. At both these institutions he only lectures in the evenings after office hours at the capitol, being very conscientious in regard to letting anything interfere with his state work. Dr. Payne is a prom- inent member of the Georgia Pharmaceutical association, being elected first vice- president in 1894; is a member of the American Pharmaceutical association, an influential body of about 2,000 prominent pharmacists. He represented his state at the last decennial revision of the United States Pharmacoepia, which was accom- plished at Washington, D. C., in 1890. He is a life member of the Georgia State Agricultural society; a member of the Medical Association of Georgia; a mem- ber of the American Chemical society; a member of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, and a fellow of the London Chemical society. He is a member of the Episcopal church. In 1884 he married Anna Ruby Nichols, daugh- ter of Colonel J. H. Nichols, of Nacoochee, White Co., Ga. They have one child, a daughter, Gladys Nichols Payne. Dr. Payne's father was by birth a South Carolinian, who came to Georgia in 1840 and located in Macon, where he estab- lished the drug store mentioned above, where his son had his first chemical train- ing. He continued in this business until his death, in 1884, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was the first pharmacist licensed by the state of Georgia. During the late civil war he served as lieutenant in the Silver Greys, a company of men past military age, which was organized in Macon at that time, and in this position took an active part in the battles fought around that place. He married Emily H. Sims, a daughter of Frederick Sims, a prominent citizen of Georgia, who resided at the Indian agency on the Flint river, and at one time represented Crawford county in the legislature. He eventually removed to Macon, becoming one of the influential men of the place, serving in many honorable positions, that of postmaster and of mayor being among them. To the marriage of George Payne and Miss Sims were born five children, two of them boys, of whom Dr. Payne was the elder. Dr. Payne's paternal grandfather was William Rex Payne, one of the younger sons of a wealthy English family. These younger sons came to the United States to make a career for themselves, as all the property was entailed upon the eldest son. From these brothers sprang many of the Paynes of Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Caro- lina and Georgia. William Rex Payne settled in Charleston, S. C., and there married the widow of a German officer named Sharden-Weaver, the widow having fled from Germany to this country upon the death of her former husband, who was killed during the religious persecutions in Germany and France. She was one of the ladies who aided in the first establishment of the orphan asylum in Charleston. Dr. Payne's maternal grandparents were Frederick Sims and Kath- erine Wellborn, his great-grandparents were Copley Wellborn and Martha Cleve- land, his great-great-grandparents were Cleveland and Katherine Stone; his great- great-great-grandfather was Gen. Ben . Cleveland of revolutionary fame, who commanded the continental forces at the battle of King's Mountain, N. C. On the Sims side of the family his great-grandparents were John Sims and Mildred Wing- field; his great-great-grandparents were Thomas Wingfield and Elizabeth Terrell, and his great-great-great-grandparents were John Wingfield and Sarah Garland. The coat of arms of the family is an interesting one, with the motto "Fidelite est de Dicie."

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MR. J. CARROLL PAYNE. It has been observed of the Atlanta bar that it contains more of the younger element of the profession than any bar in the state. That niay be due to the fact that Atlanta is comparatively a young city, being only a little more than a half century old, but the talents and legal acquire- ments of her professional men place her in the front rank of American cities. Among the younger members of the profession in Atlanta, whose success at the bar has suggested the foregoing reflection, is Mr. J. Carroll Payne. Though Mr. Payne has resided in Atlanta for only ten years, he has thoroughly identified himself with the social and professional life of this city. The subject of this sketch is a native Virginian. He was born at Warrenton, in that state, on Sept. 24, 1856. His father, Rice W. Payne, was a lawyer of legal scholarship and of eminence in the profession. He was a native of Fauquier county, Va., and was a loyal citizen of that state until the time of his death. During the late war he was a captain in the Black Horse cavalry, and made a gallant Confederate officer. He afterward served under Gen. Longstreet with the rank of major, and remained in the field until peace was finally declared. Maj. Payne died in 1884. He was engaged in the practice of his profession before and after the war. Between the ages of fourteen and twenty the subject of this sketch, having received a good preliminary training, entered the Georgetown university, graduating from that institution in 1876, the year of the American centennial. Environment, and possibly inheritance, has contributed to form an ambitious desire in the heart of the young student to enter the practice of law. He took an interest in all the debates of the college, and manifested a decided preference for those studies that tended to develop his mind in that direction. Having reached a conclusion on this point he entered the university of Virginia, immediately after graduation and commenced the study of law at that institution. After a course of lectures at the law school of the university he decided to further equip himself for the practice of his profession by a course of legal studies, supplementary to those already prosecuted, at the university of Louisiana, at New Orleans. Graduating from this law school in 1878 he entered the law office of his uncle, Hon. Thomas J. Semmes, in the Crescent city, and remained with him in the general practice until 1885. Believing that a better field awaited him in the capital city of Georgia, he came to Atlanta in the fall of that year. The wisdom of his choice has been happily demonstrated by his marked success in the profession. Shortly after coming to Atlanta Mr. Payne formed a legal partnership with Mr. Alexander Hull, a bright and promising young member of the profession. This combination lasted for about two years and was then dissolved. In 1890 the present partner- ship was formed, the junior member of the firm being Mr. John L. Tye, whose sketch also appears in these memoirs. This firm has been interested in much of the litigation of Fulton and adjacent counties since the time of its organization. For two years they represented the Atlanta & Florida railroad and since 1890 the firm has been counsel for the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis railroad. Messrs. Payne & Tye also represent the Equitable Mortgage company of New York, the Atlanta Banking company, and the Atlanta Trust and Banking com- pany, in addition to various other local institutions and a large miscellaneous clientage. Mr. Payne has never courted political office and has never taken an active part in any local campaign, except in behalf of his immediate friends. He has been satisfied to merely discharge the duties of a good citizen and has steadily adhered to the practice of his profession, believing that the interests of his clients could be best served by devoting himself strictly to business. For the last two or three years the demands of his practice have been quite heavy and the time that might have been devoted by him to pleasure and recreation has been occupied

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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 131

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