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 142

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 142

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ing on his own responsibility. Mr. Wilkins is a member of the board of directors of the Cotton States and International exposition, and as chief of construction has drawn all the plans for the laying off of the grounds. Mr. Wilkins was the engi- neer of the Forsyth street bridge, and that structure is a monument to his skill and professional responsibility. Mr. Wilkins was married on Jan. 18, 1871, to Miss Julia S. Abercrombie, daughter of Dr. Charles T. Abercrombie, of Russell county, Ala. They have three children: Julia, John G. and Charles A., and the family is a bright and interesting one. Mr. Wilkins belongs to the masonic fra- ternity and is a consistent and useful member of the Episcopal church. He has never taken an active part in public affairs, but has never hesitated to serve the public in the capacity of a law-abiding and conscientious private citizen.

JAMES ETHELDRED WILLIAMS, retired merchant and ex-mayor of At- lanta, was born in East Tennessee, of North Carolina parentage, Jan. 16, 1826. His great-grandfather, James Williams, was married in Edgecombe county, N. C., about 1760. His grandfather, Matthew Williams, married Elizabeth, daughter of Elias and Sarah (Sugg) Fort, about 1788, and removed with his father-in-law's numerous family in 1791 from Edgecombe county, N. C., to Robertson county, Tenn., where the settlement was named Fort's Station. At this place, in 1793, was born William Fort Williams, the father of the subject of this sketch. At the age of nineteen, when war was declared with Great Britain, in 1812, he volunteered in the First Tennessee regiment, and served under Gen. Andrew Jackson until the close of the war. For the next three years, from 1815 to 1818, he was a farmer and trader, building flat boats near Clarksville, on the Cumberland river, loading them with country produce and floating down that and the Mississippi river to market at New Orleans. At that time this was quite a dangerous business, the country through which they were compelled to pass being infested with Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians, as well as lawless whites (Spaniards and Frenchmen) whose depredations were the terror of the rivers. In bad weather and at night when the boats could not run the traders would have to spar them out in the river and keep regular watch to prevent robbery. In 1818 he married Ann K., the youngest daughter of William and Mary Copeland, and purchased the old Cope- land homestead in Grainger county, East Tennessee, near Beans Station, forty miles east of Knoxville, on the great stage road from Washington city to New Orleans, where he died in 1840. Ten children were the fruit of this union: Cyn- thia Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Mary Catherine, James Etheldred, William Matthew, Cornelia, Catherine, Mary Lucretia, Thomas Humes, Lucy Jane and Samuel Cope- land, born in the order named from 1820 to 1840. Eight grew to manhood and womanhood and all had the advantages of good schools in the vicinity of their home. James Etheldred, after attending school in Knoxville, went to Holston college at New Market, Tenn. Leaving college in 1844, at the age of eighteen, he sold goods for his cousin, William Williams, at Rocky Springs, East Tennessee (the old country home of his uncle, Etheldred Williams), about two years. In 1846-47 he was in charge of the postoffice at Knoxville, Tenn., during the absence of the postmaster, Col. Samuel W. Bell, who went to Mexico with the United States army. Although only twenty years old when he assumed this very responsi- ble position-Knoxville being at that time one of the most important offices in the south-his discharge of its duties was in every way satisfactory to the public and the postoffice department. After the close of the Mexican war he engaged in busi- ness with his cousins, James and William Williams, wholesale grocers and steam- boat owners, he being most of the time on the Tennessee river, running from Knoxville to Decatur, Ala., until October, 1851, when the fame of Atlanta's busi-

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ness advantages caused him to leave Tennessee and cast his fortunes with the young Gate city. From 1851 to 1862 he was at the head of perhaps the largest house in the city, handling Tennessee and western produce on commission, num- bering among its consignees farmers and merchants of Tennessee and Kentucky mainly, whose confidence in fair and just treatment built up a great business. With characteristic enterprise he during this period built the Athenaeum, which from a theatrical point of view sustained the same relation to the Atlanta of that day that The Grand does to the Atlanta of to-day. This was only given up when in the progress of the war between the states the section of country whence the supplies came was evacuated by the southern army and passed within the Union lines. At this time, in 1862, after the retreat of the Confederate troops from Ten- nessee, when the general hospitals were moved to Atlanta, two associations were formed, known respectively as the Georgia and Tennessee Relief associations, which had charge of the receipt and distribution to the local and field hospitals of the large quantities of hospital supplies collected from all over the south. To these associations he gave not only his entire time and services, but the free use of his large warehouse on Decatur and Line (now Edgewood avenue) streets, between Peachtree and Pryor streets, and from that time until the surrender in 1865 his service was continuous. During the siege of Atlanta, although incapaci- tated for field and active duty, he rendered regular military service with the Atlanta fire department, which was mustered into the Confederate service in 1863, and which did post duty all the terrible weeks from July 20 to Sept. 1, 1864, while that city was being shelled by Sherman, and when his beloved home fell by the fortunes of war he left it with the rear guard of the Confederate army on the night of Sept. 1, 1864, and continued with the army until the final surrender in April, 1865. Always taking a strong personal interest in the welfare of Atlanta, he was enabled at various periods by his active efforts to assist in the accom- plishment of some of its greatest benefits. He served as a member of the city council as early as 1858 and again in 1862 and 1863. Having returned to the city immediately after the close of the war, he at once set about rebuilding the waste places, and by the support of many of the old citizens, who had also returned after being scattered by the evacuation, he was elected and installed mayor of the city. He was again elected in 1866, and his administration extended over three years, since no election was held in 1867, the military authorities at that time deeming the excitement of an election undesirable. The events of 1866-67 and 1868, the years embraced by his terms of office, were momentous for the fate of the Phoenix city. Reduced to ashes at the close of the war, over-run by the floating scum from two armies, and thronged by thousands of black as well as white pau- pers who had been fed here by the United States government at a time when that or starvation were the only possibilities, Atlanta needed men of strength and wisdom to guide the cause of affairs. In this task he was most fortunate in having as his co-workers and supporters in the city government such able and efficient men as Richard Peters, Thomas Castleberry, Weldon Mitchell, Edward E. Raw- son, George Terry, William Anderson, William B. Cox, Julius A. Hayden, Edward W. Holland and others, who were members of the council, as well as a most reliable and faithful police force headed by Col. Lovick P. Thomas, deceased, as city marshal, to whom much credit is due that never, during all these troublous times, was it necessary to ask the aid of the military authorities to quell disorder or preserve the peace. This was a very critical period in the history of the city and state, and fortunately for the city Mayor Williams proved equal to the extreme delicacy and the emergencies of the situation. He was thrown much into consul- tation with Gen. Meade and takes much pleasure in speaking of the pleasantness I-61

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of his personal and official intercourse with that distinguished military chieftain whom, he says, he found to be fair-minded and free from prejudice, and at all times and under all circumstances a courteous gentleman, and anxious and ready in his official position to do everything in his power or that was necessary to be done to preserve good order and promote peace and the welfare of law-abiding citizens. During his administration of the affairs of Atlanta, and largely through his instrumentality the original removal of the state capital from Milledgeville to this city was effected. When the constitutional convention of 1867 was in session a resolution was offered proposing to embrace in it the removal of the capital. He immediately called the city council together, which authorized a prop- osition to be made which was accepted by the convention securing the removal; and when the legislature mnet which was elected under the new constitution, after further negotiations the agreement was complied with. During the year 1868, hislast year in office, the building of two most important lines of railroad-perhaps the greatest factors in the city's growth-namely, the Atlanta & Charlotte Air Line and the Georgia Western (Atlanta to Birmingham, Ala.) were secured by sub- scriptions of $300,000 to each by the city, which were enthusiastically advocated by him and the immense benefits of which he has had the good fortune to live and see. From 1869 to 1880 Mr. Williams engaged in such general trading in grain, provisions, etc., as would employ his time and capital with fair promise of profitable returns. Since 1880 he has not been actively engaged in business, devoting his years to his family and home, residing at this time at the Terraces, the large and lovely residence which he built in 1866, then at the terminus of Forest avenue, now at the corner of this avenue and Fort street, the latter street, by the way, having been named in his honor by the city authorities, the name Fort being used because there was already a street bearing the name of Williams. Mr. Williams was married in 1852 to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Lovejoy, of Chattooga county, Ga., who is still living. Miss Lovejoy was of the same North Carolina stock as the Williams and Fort families, her ancestors, the Hintons and Bradfords, having come to Georgia from Carolina about the same time as his went to Ten- nessee. To them eight children were born, all of whom are living: William Fort, Etheldred, Thomas Humes, Jr., James Edward, Martha Lovejoy, Sarah Elizabeth, Cornelia Catherine and Samuel Copeland, Jr. Mr. Williams is a master Mason, past master of Fulton lodge, now a member of Georgia lodge, and affiliates with the Protestant Episcopal church, of which all his children are members. He is also a member of the Fulton County Confederate Veterans' association, and is now serving his third term as the honored president of the Pioneer Citizens' society of Atlanta. Mr. Williams is a man of progressive ideas, public spirited and large- hearted, and in the highest degree sympathetic. During the most trying portion of his mayoralty the city was sorely scourged with smallpox, when he was unremitting in his efforts to check its progress and alleviate the distresses of those afflicted. No citizen of Atlanta is held in higher esteem for public service faithfully and self- sacrificingly rendered and for unblemished business and private character.

GEORGE WINSHIP, manufacturer, was born in Clinton, Jones Co., Ga., Dec. 20, 1835. In this town he was prepared by literary training for his future career, and resided there until seventeen years of age, when he came to Atlanta with his father, Joseph Winship, who established a car manufactory, George aiding him in the enterprise. In 1854 he started a machine shop in connection with his former undertaking, and about 1856 he discovered that the latter was yielding more and better profits than the former, and consequently abandoned the car industry and devoted his whole attention to the machine shop. Here he has since

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labored and developed the small, obscure business into one of the greatest iron manufactories in the south. In the spring of 1862 he relinquished his pecuniary pursuit and enlisted in Cobb's legion of cavalry as a private, and served in this rank until the irritation of his wounds forced him to leave the army during the winter of 1864. He was engaged in many battles and skirmishes, and was several times the victim of Federal bullets, once near Harper's Ferry in 1862, and once in the neighborhood of Brandy station in August, 1863. In 1866 he returned to Atlanta, resumed his business, rebuilt the shops that Sherman's fire had destroyed and laid the foundation of his present fortune. Mr. Winship was married first in 1860 to Eugenia Speer of Fort Valley, Ga. She died in 1869, leaving two children: Mrs. Robert Taylor of Baltimore, Md .; and Mrs. J. H. Nunnally of Atlanta. Mr. Winship was married again in 1879 to Lula, daughter of Thomas J. Lane of Macon, Ga. They have two sons: George and Joseph. Mr. Winship is a thorough busi- ness man and in the commercial firmament is among the brightest lights. He is a director in the Atlanta Home Insurance company, the Trust company of Atlanta, the Merchants' bank, the Fidelity Banking and Trust company, the Atlanta Bank- ing company, and has served for six years on the board of water commissioners. He affiliates with the First Methodist church, and has been elected steward and trustee in that religious organization. Mr. Winship's father was a native of Mas- sachusetts and came to Georgia in 1820. Mr. Winship is a model citizen-quiet, reserved and dignified, his influence is widely disseminated.

DR. BERNARD WOLFF, one of the leading specialists of Atlanta, was born at River Bound, Prince Edward Co., Va., March 27, 1868. When he was but two years old his parents took him to Richmond and there he lived until he was thirteen, going to school at times, but soon the family again removed to Farm- ville, also in Virginia. At this place he attended school two years, and in 1882 went to Hampden-Sidney college-where he took an irregular course, completing it in 1886. In the autumn of that year he went to Charlottesville, Ga., where he matriculated in the medical department of the Virginia university and graduated in medicine there in 1888. Next fall he was appointed assistant demonstrator of anatomy in that institution and served in that capacity until April, 1889, when he went to New York and spent a year in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Then he served in Roosevelt and Chambers street hospitals and was for a time assistant resident physician in Williard-Parker hospital, the latter being devoted to contagious diseases. Next he served a year at the Vanderbilt clinic and after- ward became a private pupil of Dr. Geo. T. Elliott, the well-known dermatologist. In May, 1892, Dr. Wolff went to Europe, traveling through Germany and Eng- land and for some months was assistant to Dr. P. G. Unna, the leading derma- tologist of the world. He stayed with Dr. Unna until March of that year, and then journeyed to Paris, where he "walked" the hospitals of St. Louis with Besnier, Hallopeau, Fournier and Vidal. He left European shores in June, 1893, and reaching America again, located in Atlanta, where he now practices as a special- ist on skin diseases. He is also lecturer on this subject at the Southern Medical college. He is a member of the State Medical society, the Atlanta Society of Medi- cine, the New York County 'Medical association of New York, the Harlem Medical association of Harlem, N. Y., and he is also a fellow of the medical society of Vir- gina, and of the American Medical association. He is, in addition, a member of the National Scotch-Irish society, the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, of the Capital City club of Atlanta, and of the Presbyterian church. Dr. Wolff's father was Bernard B. Wolff, a native of Virginia, who was a planter, and died soon after the war. He was on Gen. Pendleton's staff in the Confederate service and held the

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rank of major. Dr. Wolff's grandfather was Christian D. Wolff, a native of Vir- ginia, and his maternal great-great-grandfather was Gen. William Campbell, who was a native of Augusta county, Virginia, and was the brigadier-general in the revo- lution who was in command at King's mountain. Dr. Wolff's father's ancestors came originally from Germany, the emigrant being John George Wolff, who came from the Palatinate to America in 1730. His mother's emigrant ancestor was Ephraim McDowell, who came to America from Londonderry, Ireland, in 1727. Dr. Wolff is the editor and proprietor of the "Southern Medical Record." He was married Oct. 18, 1894, to Marian Hillyer, daughter of Judge George Hillyer of Atlanta.

STEWART F. WOODSON. One of the most successful young business men of Georgia, whose talents have been employed in the promotion of Atlanta's mercantile interests, is Mr. Stewart F. Woodson. Pluck, energy and persever- ance have been the distinguishing characteristics of this enterprising young busi- ness man, and fron a beardless youth, beginning the struggle of life when only twelve years, he has risen, by virtue of these qualities, to his present high and influential position. As the president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Mr. Woodson has made an able and faithful officer and has presided over the delibera- tions of the body with grace, firmness and impartiality. Mr. Woodson's father, William D. Woodson, was a native of Virginia. He came to Georgia at a very early age and located at Macon. Here he remained for about ten years, engaged in mercantile pursuits, after which he removed to Thomaston, Ga., and estab- lished himself in business at that place. The war, however, prevented the realiza- tion of his business plans, and as soon as hostilities commenced he entered the Confederate army. He held the rank of captain and remained in the active service until he was killed at Jonesboro, Ga., in 1864. His surviving widow, whose maiden name was Martha Floyd, the daughter of Stewart Floyd, of Morgan county, was left with five children, three of whom are still living; Stewart F., the subject of this sketch; William D., and J. P. Woodson, all of Atlanta, Ga. Stew- art Floyd Woodson was born in Madison, Morgan Co., Ga., on Aug. 17, 1859. Here he received his primary instruction and remained in the prosecution of his studies until he reached his twelfth year. He was a strong, vigorous boy, and being ambitious to contribute to the support of his widowed mother and the little family of children dependent upon her, he decided to make a start at that tender age in the business world. Coming to Atlanta with his mother, he entered the establishment of Langston & Crane, wholesale grocers and cotton factors, and clerked for that firm until 1881. He was faithful and prompt in discharging his duties as a clerk, and his businesslike deportment soon attracted the attention of his employers. He acquired a thorough knowledge of the business, and by making a careful study of each day's work he mastered the details of the estab- lishment to such an extent as to make his services indispensible to the firm. In 188I he acquired a partnership interest in the business, and on the death of Maj. B. E. Crane, in 1885, the style of the firm was changed to that of Langston & Woodson. Mr. Woodson is the president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, to which position he was recently elected by the merchants of Atlanta composing that body. It is a position of honor and responsibility and requires from its occu- pant not only a varied amount of business experience, but the display of other needed qualifications, such as tact, patience, devotion to the public welfare and a tireless zeal in the performance of public duty. Mr. Woodson is also the presi- dent of the Wholesale Merchants' association, and is director in quite a number of local organizations. In 1891 Mr. Woodson was elected to a seat in the city

S. F. WOODSON.

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council, but on account of the pressure of business engagements he was forced to decline the honor thus conferred upon him. It has always been the rule of Mr. Woodson's life never to assume a greater burden than he could well carry, and hence it may be said of him as a business man that his promise to do a particular thing is always the pledge of its performance. He has also, in his business methods, demonstrated the truth of the old adage that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. By virtue of his position as the president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce it is necessary for him to keep thoroughly posted on all the developments of the business and financial world. It is needless to say that he is rarely found napping and that his business colleagues have unbounded confidence both in the reliability of his judgment and the correctness of his information. His views on the currency are sound and well matured. He takes very little interest in politics, from an active standpoint, but conscientiously performs his duty as a good citizen, and believes that upright and useful men only should occupy positions of trust and responsibility. Socially, Mr. Woodson is a man of engaging manners and is broadly sympathetic in his nature. He is full of the soulful good-humor that makes him a genial companion and the best of friends. His fondness for the latter is one of the distinguishing marks of his character, and no one can outdo him in his willingness to serve his friends or in the test to which his friendship may be put in their behalf. If the pros- pects of his career are fully realized, Mr. Woodson, without flattering his business record, is destined to become one of the strongest commercial pillars in Atlanta.

WILLIAM AMBROSE WRIGHT, comptroller-general of Georgia, was born in Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ga., once the capital of the state, Jan. 19, 1844. He was brought up and educated there, going to the noted school taught by the equally noted teacher, Prof. W. S. Lourey, who also educated Mr. Wright's father. In May, 1861, he left this school and enlisted in the Third Georgia regiment, organized and commanded by his father, Ambrose R. Wright. He was mustered in as a private and was sent to Norfolk, Va., where he remained a year and then went to Richmond. In August, 1862, when on a march from Richmond to Man- assas, Mr. Wright was promoted to be first lieutenant of artillery and ordnance officer of Wright's brigade, his father having been made brigadier. Lieut. Wright served as such officer until about Nov. 1, 1864, when he was assigned to post ord- nance duty at Augusta, Ga., remaining there until the surrender. He was in the seven days' fight around Richmond and Second Manassas, where he lost his right leg Aug. 30, 1862. He remained in a farm-house near by three weeks and then went home, staying there from Oct. 1, 1862, till April 1, 1863, when he rejoined his command at Fredericksburg, maimed as he was, and continued in active duty until June, 1863, taking part in the battle of Chancellorsville in May of that year. In June of this year, just after he had, in company with his father, Gen. Wright and staff, crossed the Potomac at Sharpsburg, he was captured by a band of New York scouts and carried to Gen. Tyler's headquarters just across the river from Harper's Ferry. He was first sent to Fort McHenry for two weeks, then to Fort Delaware on the coast, just below Philadelphia, and was kept there three weeks, was sent to Johnson's island, where he remained about ten months, and was then transferred in charge of a troop of sick and permanently disabled Confederate soldiers, some four to five hundred in number. On this journey Lieut. Wright was the only one of the party who could walk. A month later he was regularly exchanged and rejoined his command at Petersburg, where he was in several fights, the most notable one being the Crater. Subsequently he came home and was detailed on service-as before mentioned-at Augusta, having

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charge of ordnance supplies, equipments, etc., until the close of the war. After the surrender Mr. Wright engaged in cotton planting in Jefferson, his native county, in which business he continued three years. His health failing in 1868, he bought a farm in Columbia county, Ga., and grew cotton there until 1877, when he came to Atlanta and entered the office of the comptroller-general then holding office, Gen. W. L. Goldsmith, holding the position until September, 1879. Im- peachment proceedings being then instituted against Gen. Goldsmith, Mr. Wright was appointed by Gov. Colquitt to fill the vacancy. In October, 1880, he was elected to the office of comptroller-general, and has been re-chosen every succeed- ing election without opposition in his own party. He is a director in the South- ern Mutual Building & Loan association of Atlanta. He was the first president of the Fulton County Confederate Veterans' association, serving one term and declining re-election. He is now one of the aides on the staff of commander- in-chief of the Confederate veterans, Gen. John B. Gordon, United States senator from Georgia. He is a member of the Atlanta post, Confederate veterans. Mr. Wright was first married October, 1871, to Nellie, daughter of J. B. Carter, Augusta, Ga. They had three sons and two daughters. He was married again in November, 1880, to Mrs. Mary Sledge (nee Cox) daughter of Judge A. E. Cox, La Grange, Ga. Mr. Wright's father was Ambrose Ransom Wright, born in Louisville, Ga., in 1826, and married there to Mary Hubbell Savage when he was about seventeen. Ambrose Ransom Wright was a lawyer and practiced in the Louisville circuit until 1860, when he moved to Augusta, Ga., and there organ- ized the Third Georgia infantry. He was made its colonel and in June, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, commanding a brigade until No- vember, 1864, when he was still farther advanced to the rank of major-general and assigned to duty on the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas, where he was at the time of the surrender. Gen. Wright was wounded at Sharpsburg, Va., in September, 1862. After the war he returned to his legal practice in Augusta, Ga., and soon afterward, purchasing an interest in the "Augusta Chronicle," was editor- in-chief of that journal at the time of his death in December, 1872, which took place just after he had been elected to congress. Mr. Wright's grandfather was also named Ambrose Ransom Wright. He was born in Virginia and came with his parents to Georgia when a child. His great-grandfather was Ambrose Wright, a Virginian and a major in the war of 1812.

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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 142

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