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 141

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 141

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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church. He was united in marriage in 1874 to Miss Carrie V. Rawson, daughter of Mr. Edward E. Rawson, of Atlanta. As a lawyer, a jurist, a citizen and a man, Judge Westmoreland has always commanded the affectionate esteem and confidence of the community.

MR. GEORGE WESTMORELAND, the youngest brother of Judge Thomas P. Westmoreland, is a distinguished young member of the Atlanta bar. He was born in Greeneville county, S. C., and received his preliminary education from the schools of that county. At the age of sixteen he entered a drug store in the town of Greeneville, and served in the capacity of a clerk for eight years. During this time his ambition was not allowed to pine in despondency. He managed to pre- pare himself for college by studying one night and reciting the next, at the same time acquiring a thorough knowledge of the principles of bookkeeping. He left the drug store in 1875, having kept the books of his employer for six years in addition to his other work, thus saving enough money to defray his college expenses. Entering Firman university at Greeneville, S. C., he applied himself with diligence to his books for two years, after which he began to read law in the office of Earle & Wells. By a special act of the legislature he was admitted to the bar, after a brief preparatory course of fifteen months, the law of the state requiring twenty-four. He was examined in open court by Capt. George E. Wells, Solicitor J. S. Cawthorn and Judge Joseph N. Noston, who pronounced the young applicant brilliantly qualified to engage in the practice of his profession. He was at once taken into partnership by his preceptors, the new firm being that of Earle, Wells & Westmoreland. This partnership continued until 1880, when Capt. Earle moved to Washington city. The subject of this sketch remained in Greeneville, S. C., until 1891, when he came to Atlanta, leaving the second best practice in Greeneville. During the last year of his residence in that city he and his partner, H. J. Haynsworth, realized the handsome sum of $10,000. Coming to Atlanta Mr. Westmoreland formed a partnership with Mr. L. B. Austin, of that city, which continued until Jan. 1, 1893, when he became a partner of Hon. John B. Goodwin, at that time mayor of the city. The subject of this sketch was for several years county attorney of Greeneville, S. C. He is a member of the Masonic brotherhood, and belongs to the Baptist church. Mr. Westmoreland was united in marriage Dec. 15, 1880, to Miss Eliviva T. Smith, daughter of the Rev. Julius C. Smith, of Greeneville, S. C., and granddaughter of the late Rev. Basil Manly, the great Baptist divine of Alabama, and president of the university of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. Four children have been the result of this happy union: Carrie, Sarah, Eliviva, and John L. The family is an interesting one, and the young barrister never fails to find at his home fireside a domestic remedy for all the cares and vexations of his profession. As a lawyer Mr. Westmoreland ranks among the best in the city, and his success at the bar is already defined and well assured.

DR. WILLIS F. WESTMORELAND, who enjoys one of the largest practices in Atlanta, is a native of Milner, Ga., where he was born July 23, 1864, his parents having been compelled to flee Atlanta because of the surrounding hostilities provoked by the civil war. Two or three months after his birth they returned to Atlanta, and there he received his early instruction that found ready access to his receptive faculties. In 1879 he entered the university of Georgetown, but remained only a few months, and came to Atlanta to commence the study of medicine under the guidance of his father. He attended a course of lectures in the Atlanta Medical college, graduating in 1884. During four or five succeeding years he passed several months of each year in New York and Philadelphia, per-

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fecting and rounding his knowledge in his favored science. In 1883 Dr. West- moreland was united in marriage to a daughter of the late eminent Judge O. A. Lochrane. They have two children: Elma L., and Willis F. Jr. Dr. Westmore- land's great ability is recognized far and wide. He is a member of the American Medical association; the Southern Surgical and Gynecological association; the Tri-State Medical society, of which he was president in 1894; the Mississippi Valley Medical association, and the Atlanta Academy of Medicine. He is a worshipper at the Episcopal church, and affiliates ardently with the secret organi- zations, belonging to the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows, the Elks, and the Knight Templar Masons. Dr. Westmoreland is an honorable, courageous man, who knows the minutest details of his profession, attends closely to his practice and has the respect of his co-laborers and the good will of all Atlanta. His father was Dr. Willis F. Westmoreland, the ablest and most skilled surgeon of his day. His influence was not bounded by state lines nor devoted entirely to pecuniary gain; for his patients came from all sections of the Union and when too poor to engage his services were gladly treated gratuitously. His power for good was superlative. Dr. Westmoreland inherits the profundity of his father.

JOHN CHARLES WHITNER was born in Edgefield county, S. C., not far. from Augusta, Ga., Sept. 23. 1831, the youngest of nine children. His father, Benjamin Franklin Whitner, was the eldest child of Joseph and Elizabeth Shackle- ford Whitner, both of whom lived and died near Pendleton, S. C. Josepli Whitner was a revolutionary soldier, entering the Continental army when quite young, and serving from the commencement till the close of the war of independence, a part of the time under the celebrated Gen. Marion. His father, John Joseph Whitner. who came to Charleston, S. C., about 1757, was a German by birth, and son of Josef Whitner, a man of position and wealth in that country. Elizabeth Shackle- ford Whitner, was the daughter of William Shackleford, of Halifax county, Va., who was a lieutenant in the revolutionary army and dicd at Dumfries, Va., in 1779. He was a son of Roger Shackleford, who emigrated from England to Hanover county, Va., in 1730. Benjamin Franklin Whitner was a man of fine attainments and remarkable intellectual ability. He graduated at the university of South Carolina, and entered immediately upon the practice of law, ranking with the ablest in that profession in his state. Hc was importuned to enter fully into politics, but declined further than to serve in the legislature, and for some years as state superintendent of internal improvements, conducted according to the states rights theory of that day. Hc gave up the law practice, and turning it over to his younger brother, Judge J. N. Whitner, who for years graced the bench of that state, embarked extensively in financial and commercial affairs. With a partner, he established a large business at Hamburg, opposite to, and then a rival of Augusta, Ga., and a branch at Charleston. In the course of time they owned and ran two steamboats, the "Pendleton" and the "Lowndes," regularly between Augusta and Charleston. Major John C. Whitner's mother was descended from the finest English ancestry. She was Eliza Ann Spann, the youngest child of Capt. James Spann, an officer of the revolutionary army, who married Mrs. Eliza- beth (Fox) Turner, widow of Capt. James Turner, killed by the Cunningham gang during the war. She was a daughter of James Fox of England, and sister of John Fox, the wealthy and aristocratic Englishman who lived and died near Augusta, Ga., both relations of the great English statesman of that namc. When John C. Whitner was but a small child, his parents removed to Florida, settling in Madison county. The Indian war soon became severe, and much trouble was experienced in this county, so that the home of Col. Whitner, father of John C.

JOHN C. WHITNER.

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Whitner, was visited by the savages who destroyed much property, including many valuable family relics, though fortunately the family was absent at the time. This caused another removal to a lovely place situated upon Lake Jackson, about eight miles from Tallahassee. Here Col. Whitner established an elegant and attractive home, known as Casa de Lago, not surpassed in its hospitalities and social pleasures by any home in the south. In Florida he also became a leading citizen, his warmth of heart causing him to be as devoted to principle as he was to good works. It was largely under his advocacy and careful blocking out, that the foundation of the free school system in that state was laid far back in the "forties," and subsequently, that the railroad system was established, which has since con- stituted the trunk lines running east and west. He was for years president of the Union bank, and leading financier even up to his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-five, in October, 1864. His services in behalf of the southern cause, and in aid of the families of the soldiers in the army, are still gratefully treasured up by the survivors of those times. From Tallahassee John C. Whitner came to the university of Georgia, entering that institution in 1850, and graduating in 1853. His room mate for three years was Gen. John B. Gordon, between whom and himself there was then formed and still exists, an intimacy and affection equal to that existing between brothers. Expecting to lead the life of a planter, Major Whitner, though taking a high stand generally in his class, followed his preference and strove mainly for the front rank as a writer. This he attained, he and the late Col. James D. Waddel leading the class in this line. He was made one of the editors of the "Georgia University Magazine," a monthly then conducted by each senior class, which attained its highest success and distinction during the manage- ment of the class of 1853. The month after graduating, Sept. 28, 1853, he married Miss Sarah Martha Cobb, youngest daughter of Col. John Addison and Sarah Robinson (Rootes) Cobb. They went immediately to his home on a plantation about eight miles south of Quincy, Fla. His father and mother, though the former was president of a bank in Tallahassee, lived with them a good deal of the time. In October, 1854, his mother died, and that determined him one year after to give up plantation life, and take his wife and child to live nearer her relations. So in December, 1855, relying proudly upon his own efforts, without calling upon his father and therefore with capital borrowed elsewhere, he bought a half interest in a general store at West Point, Ga., and took up residence just across the line in Chambers county, Ala. A few months after starting business, Mr. Whitner bought out his partner, and continued alone the remainder of his mercantile experience. He managed so well as to be able to return within a year and a half all the capital borrowed, and still to keep his business easily going. In the fall of 1856 he was appointed agent of the Georgia R. R. Bank of Augusta, and the next year was appointed agent also of the Farmers' & Exchange bank, of Charleston. S. C. These positions he filled successfully, making money for those banks and for himself. His home was a happy and hospitable one, seldom without friends and visitors. Yet his work was conducted with careful attention. Just before the war started, a representative of the majority stockholders of the Bank of Mont- gomery tendered him the cashiership thereof, the president having died, and Mr. Hannon, the cashier being promoted to the presidency. But the time seemed too threatening to authorize any change, and the matter was dropped, the bank itself being subsequently wiped out by the war. Secession became successful, the provisional government was constituted in Montgomery, and Hon. Jefferson Davis was elected president. When his cabinet was determined upon, a friend of Major Whitner, in a personal interview, presented to him from the secretary of the treasury the question of acceptance of the position of Confederate states

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treasurer. Doubtless those bank men in Charleston with and for whom Mr. Whitner had worked for years, had something to do with the offer. He hesitated as to his qualification for the position, and though urged by prominent friends to accept, finally declined. Major Whitner was appointed to a position upon the staff of Gen. Howell Cobb, and was with him in Virginia and North Carolina. His own health gave way, and thus continued for many years after the war. He was placed upon special duty, and in the fall of 1863 having had committed to him certain secret archives of the Confederate government, was stationed in Atlanta, subject to staff duties to any commanding general requiring his services. Judge John P. King, president of the Georgia R. R. and Banking company, urged him to take position in service of the bank department in Atlanta, as assistant to Judge W. W. Clayton, the agent. Under the circumstances, this could not at first be considered, but as the bank was overwhelmed as depository of Confederate government funds, Judge King had matters arranged for Major Whitner to give a portion of each day to the bank whilst in Atlanta. This position he satisfactorily filled until about June 1, 1864. Several patriotic gentlemen were advised by Major Whitner, who in turn was so advised by a superior officer, to buy one of the four daily papers published in Atlanta, and change it into a Davis administration paper. The other dailies were criticising President Davis because Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was retained in command of the army. Gen. Johnston complained about this to an officer, because as he said it was calculated to hurt the spirit of his troops. The paper purchased was the "Daily Register," which had refugeed from Knoxville. Major Whitner became a stockholder with others, the firm name adopted being Whitner, Brown & Co. To his surprise, he was made editor-in-chief, and cntered immediately upon the duties of the position, having to devote to his editorial duties the night and the few hours of the day that could be uscd. He was wise enough to impress into his service as patriotic assistants to meet special needs, such writers as Gen. William M. Brown, who was editor of the "Constitution," a paper published in Washington during Buchanan's administration, Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar, Gen. Howell Cobb, Charles H. Smith (Bill Arp) and other able writers. The paper in its first issue under the new firm turned completely round, and was welcomed as one of the warmest defenders of Mr. Davis and of Gen. Johnston. Gen. Johnston sent expressions of his high appreciation of the good service rendered, and President Davis wrote a prominent gentleman his apprecia- tion also. After a while, the paper was compelled to leave Atlanta and was after- ward published in Augusta, Ga. Major Whitner was put under orders, and was telegraphed to leave, which was done upon the last train that went out on the West Point road before Atlanta was evacuated. The Confederate archives were under his care, his orders coming direct from Richmond. Upon entering Alabama, another order came to move away, and not having any positive information as to danger, he found himself nearly within the folds of a large force of Federal cavalry, commanded by Gen. Rousseau. From this timc, Major Whitner's orders came more rapidly, and he was stationed at different times at Columbus and Augusta, Ga., and Columbia, S. C. The field of operation becoming so circumscribed, the Federals approaching from all sides, there was no place of safety where Major Whitner's family were willing to be left. So upon being ordered from Atlanta, his good wife accompanied him with five little ones. While privations were great at the best protected homes at that time, they were far worse to a family having to move from place to place, often in storms of rain and snow, besides being exposed to every kind of danger. At length when stationed in South Carolina, after Columbia was burned, orders came to return to Georgia, and accompanied by a guard he came on to Athens. The trust was of such value that Major Whitner

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wished no longer to risk its safety as had been done before. It occurred to him that the boxes and their contents should be placed in greater security. He had been often within sight of the enemy, frequently almost captured by them, so that for their safety till the war was decided one way or another, upon his own responsibility, he offered Rev. Dr. A. A. Lipscomb, chancellor of the university of Georgia, to commit to that institution these archives-as a present if the south failed-yet upon the condition, that the matter of storage should be kept a pro- found secret, and that the records should be surrendered to authorities over himself whenever demanded. The terms were accepted, and by Dr. Lipscomb's appointment they were carried about II o'clock one Sunday night to the campus, where the venerable chancellor and Professor Williams Rutherford were met, and the boxes carried into the library building, and deposited. Here they remained for several months. The surrender of armies soon came, first of Gen. Lee's, then of Gen. Johnston's, followed rapidly by the surrender of subordinate officers under these two generals. At the time, Major Whitner was under command of Gen. Howell Cobb. When the war closed Major Whitner was left practically penniless. His faith in the success of the south was strong and his calculations were based thereupon. Considering his obligations sacred for goods purchased in New York in the fall of 1860, he did all in his power to pay the same. He continued sending money to New York up to the last possible opportunity. He borrowed money upon honor for this purpose. At the end of the war these latter obligations were presented and fully met, sweeping away all property he had. There was some $25,000 due upon his store books, and these books were also turned over for the benefit of creditors. It was, therefore, no mere joke, which Major Whitner wrote to his old friend J. B. Bennett, manager of the Aetna Insurance company, Cincin- nati: "My inventory of earthly possessions is briefly this: One wife, five children, six chairs, two beds, one table, a few religious books and one cow." Under these circumstances, Major Whitner had to start life as it were entirely anew. He had risked all for the southern cause and lost all so far as worldly possessions and business were concerned. The change was a complete revolution, affecting every concern of life. One at this distance of time cannot even imagine a change so radical. Yet he determined to start again life's struggle, even though more bur- dened and less equipped than when ten years before he first left parental counsel and help, for his first struggle. Without going into details, a tender little incident may be related. With no money, in a country where there was nothing to buy, even if there had been money, at one meal every vestige of food was eaten by the hungry ones around him. A little daughter sitting nearest and not appreciating the circumstances, looked into his face and said most plaintively, "Please, just another little piece of bread, I am so hungry." The father rose scarce able to keep back the tears which sprang to his eyes as he walked away, and then as by inspiration, the thought filled his soul, "why not try a letter to the 'New York Herald!'" It was carefully written, and there being no mail facilities the express agent kindly deadheaded it to that paper. In return came a few words written by the elder Bennett himself, accepting the article, asking for another, and enclosing a crisp greenback. Though Major Whitner's success in this line was good, and flattering offers were made for the future, still he was bent, if possible, upon start- ing some permanent business. With this object he came to Atlanta in May, 1865, and soon entered upon a successful career. Major Whitner's insurance life began not long after he commenced business at West Point, Ga., somewhere about 1858. Mr. C. C. Hine, the distinguished insurance journalist of New York, then special agent of the Aetna Insurance company, in its western department, visited West Point and gave him that company. The business, though small in comparison

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to his other large affairs, was still very attractive, and he studied for the depths of its mysteries in every branch. Mr. Bennett being pleased with him, repeatedly wrote him on different subjects, and requested him to investigate and make a report upon cotton storage and cotton fires, which was satisfactorily. done. Even while stationed in Atlanta during the war, though expecting everything to be but temporary, companies found him out and forced themselves upon him. Of course many a wink was given during the hours detailed to the bank, and some policies then written having been practically renewed from year to year by him or his sons up to the present day. Upon coming to Atlanta after the war, several offers of business were made Major Whitner, and he accepted that of wholesale and retail drugs, which, however, after a trial was abandoned and insurance adopted as his sole occupation. It was not long before his agency led in insurance business in Atlanta, and after a little while he was appointed general agent of the Home Insurance company of New York. He afterward had the management of the southern department of the British America Insurance company, and then the Merchants' Insurance company of Newark, which he held for over twelve years. Other companies, as the Amazon of Cincinnati, and Hibernia of New Orleans were in his charge as long as they did general agency business. In 1889 he was appointed general agent of Girard Fire Insurance company of Philadelphia, which

is still under his management. He also has the general agency of Palatine Insur- ance company, of England, and of the Sun Mutual Insurance company of New Orleans. Thus Major Whitner it is seen is one of the oldest as he is one of the ablest of southern underwriters. As another has said age has touched him lightly and even not perceptibly, for erect and vigorous his commanding figure is con- spicuous at every gathering of importance in his section, and his clear ringing voice, ready command of language and wonderful power to simplify and make lucid all points for which he contends, carry an influence few possess, and make him one of the strongest of debaters. Major Whitner became a member of the. Presbyterian church in Athens, Ga., in January, 1853, during his senior year at college. His membership was afterward transferred to Quincy, Fla .; and still later in 1856 to West Point, Ga., where he was made a ruling elder. Moving subse- quently to Atlanta, Ga., he was made, in 1865, an elder in the Central Presbyterian church of that city, a position which he afterward resigned. He was for years a successful superintendent of the Sunday school of that church. Some years after- ward by invitation and without moving his membership, he accepted the superin- tendency of the Sunday school of Third Presbyterian (Moore Memorial) church, at a time when that church was in a greatly disturbed condition, amounting almost to a crisis in its existence, with its school entirely broken up. He first started up the Sunday school, then got the church to working harmoniously, and soon every- thing moved successfully along and a pastor was chosen. This position he also resigned because of failing health. Major Whitner is an unusually well posted Christian gentleman; takes a deep interest in all the work of the church; is a liberal contributor to all its enterprises; an active laborer in such work as he has the opportunity of engaging in; and is loved and trusted and honored by those who know him best. His home is one of the happiest upon earth. His wife who has been a loving companion, a helpmeet indeed. in every joy and sorrow and duty of life since their young days, is just the woman to make home peaceful and happy. As age moves along, truth and peace and piety blend their hearts more perfectly, and surrounded by loving children, they are truly growing old hand- somely together. They have been blessed with seven children, never losing one, and each voluntarily applying for church membership before passing twelve years of age. With children, children-in-law, and grandchildren, their house for years

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has been the home of a family of twenty-seven, with two little grandchildren sleeping at Westview cemetery. Major Whitner's maxim has been, as to home, to make it first a Christian home, and then with that to render it the happiest spot upon earth to every child, by affording enjoyment of every innocent pleasure within reach.

GRANT WILKINS. No citizen of Atlanta has displayed a greater spirit of enterprise or been more actively identified with the development of that city than Mr. Grant Wilkins. As the civil engineer in charge of the work of beautifying the grounds of the Cotton States and International exposition he has achieved perhaps the greatest success of his life and planted his reputation upon a secure and permanent foundation. The subject of this sketch was born in Liberty county, Ga., Feb. 20, 1843. This county, since the beginning of the revolutionary war, has been prolific of brainy and useful men, and is still the home of many of the oldest and best families of Georgia. The genealogy of the Wilkins family runs back to Archibald Wilkins, a native of England. His son, John Wilkins, came to this country in early manhood with the British troops and distinguished himself as a gallant officer in that great struggle which resulted so disastrously to England. His son, Hamilton Wilkins, located in Georgia at the beginning of the present century, and in the little town of Sunbury, on June 5, 1818, Joseph Campbell Wilkins, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born. During early life he followed the legal profession, but subsequently devoted himself to farming, and became quite a successful planter. His wife, Mary Elizabeth Grant, was the daughter of the late Daniel Grant, of North Carolina, in whose house, after his removal to this state, the first Methodist conference in Georgia was held. The subject of this sketch resided in Liberty county until 1860, receiving his primary education from the schools of that vicinity. After this he resided for short inter- vals in Clarke, Meriwether and Walker counties. In April, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the famous Troup artillery, organized at Athens, Ga., and served as such until after the battle of Sharpsburg. He then entered the signal service under Gen. McLaws and served in that division until after the battle of Lookout Mountain. Going thence to Richmond, Va., he was detailed in the war depart- ment and assigned to duty in the signal service. From Richmond he went to North Carolina, where he organized a signal corps for Gen. R. F. Hoke, and served under that officer until after the battle of Drewry's Bluff. He was then sent as a signal officer aboard the "Old Dominion" and later to the "Evelyn," the vessel which carried the last cargo of government cotton out of Wilmington, N. C., to Nassau. Still in the signal service, he next went to Galveston, Tex., and thence to Cuba, on board the "Evelyn," reaching Cuba just after the assassination of President Lincoln. From Cuba Mr. Wilkins next went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, entering the civil engineering corps of the government and remaining there until October, 1867. The subject of this sketch then came to Atlanta. His first acquaintance with the city was in 1860, but his stay at that time was quite brief. He went to work on the Georgia railroad and remained in the employ of that company until the latter part of 1868. He then went into business for himself as a civil engineer, making a specialty of constructing bridges. In this capacity he is still engaged. Mr. Wilkins in 1878 took charge, as general man- ager, of the old Atlanta rolling mill, and continued with the mill until its destruc- tion by fire in 1881. He then organized the firm of Wilkins, Post & Co. and built the extensive shops of that enterprising establishment, afterward owned by the Atlanta Bridge & Axle company, for which company he served as engineer until October, 1889. Since that time he has been engaged in the business of engineer-

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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 141

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