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. II, Part 46

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166

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. II > Part 46

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).

II-21

322

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

assembly, the father of this reform, the motor that started the effective movement, the genius which presided at the birth of reformatory legislation in the state of Georgia, will go down in history as the work of William H. Felton. His speech in the Georgia legislature when he defended his reformatory bill from the attacks of the opposition, and paid a public tribute to his honored wife for her co-opera- tion and patriotism, will be remembered by those who heard it as one of the greatest triumphs of forensic skill and withering invective ever recorded for its brilliancy and effect upon the crowded audience which had gathered in anticipa- tion of the event. Dr. Felton's record would be incomplete without mention of his gallant defense of the railroad conmission of Georgia, when its enemies proposed to destroy or emasculate the strong features that had commended it as a measure of public good. When the fight was over, Maj. Campbell Wallace, who had been its ruling spirit from its inception up to that time, approached the doctor, saying: "Sir, you have saved the railroad commission of Georgia." During its early years there was no measure more approved by the inasses- and certainly none more beneficial to the commerce and prosperity of the state- when it laid its restraining hand upon monopolies and syndicates, and regulated railroad tariffs and freights inside the limits of Georgia. Dr. Felton's devotion to the cause of education is also one of the marked features of his entire life. Acting upon his convictions that the state should place within the reach of every child of school age, without charge, the opportunity of acquiring both a common school and even higher education, he labored untiringly to accomplish this result, and while a member of the state legislature was a splendid champion of both the technological school and the normal school for girls. At this writing he is a trustee of the state university, and the institution has no warmer friend or more ardent supporter. At the close of this sketch it is proper to notice his present attitude towards the financial questions of the day, of which he remains an active factor. While a member of congress he was an effective partisan of the Bland- Allison bill, which looked to the remonetization of silver, and his views have undergone no change up to date. He believes the interests of the entire republic require the free coinage of silver and the issuance of treasury notes by the govern- ment. Last year, namely 1894, convinced that the people's party alone was committed to this policy, and that the democratic party was pledged to a single gold standard, which was destroying taxable values in Georgia at the rate of $50,000,000 per annum, he allowed his name to be placed before the populist convention, and despite the infirmities of age, he led their forces throughout a most heated campaign until the election in November, when his opponent was counted in by 1,500 majority. The methods used to defeat him were so mani- festly illegal, unfair and unconstitutional in his judgment that he and his supporters have taken the matter to a higher court to be adjudged by the incoming house of representatives. If he had been willing to subordinate these abiding opinions to the exigencies of party policy he might have held the highest political positions in the state; but it is a fact, well attested, that he would without hesitation abandon any party or faction which failed to avow his own platform of political principles. He was entirely willing to enter the democratic caucus while a member of congress to secure the organization of the house; but whenever that caucus attempted to control his vote on a legislative question he repudiated the caucus, adhering to whatever he believed to be the best legislation for the country. Independence of thought and independence of action, he believes to be the prerogative of an American citizen. His opinions are convictions; and he never fails to be earnest and ardent in his efforts to give them practical effect. As a debator he is vehement and impetuous, but logical always; presenting his well-arranged facts and illustrations with extraordinary impressiveness and force.

323

MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.

Progressive along all lines of thought, he never fails to be aggressive. He is a dangerous opponent to attack. His power for repellent denunciation is almost unparalleled. Gathering his argumentative points from every possible direction he marshals the whole into a battery that sweeps as it desolates. His numerous newspaper controversies with brilliant minds and strong thinkers on public questions would make a volume in theniselves of great value to younger men. Yet he is an exceedingly modest man in regard to himself, and makes no parade of his recognized usefulness. His public reputation is without suspicion and his private life without blemish. No man who knows his daily walk but holds him in high esteem, for honesty of purpose and probity of character, as a citizen and patriot. Perhaps he makes mistakes, but they are always honest mistakes; and those who know him best respect hin most for his unswerving devotion to his well-known beliefs and opinions, which he defends at all hazards-even to his own hurt. When he dies Georgia will have buried one of her most notable and praiseworthy sons, because of these marked and peculiar traits of public and private character. He is a most loyal Georgian; the good name and prosperity of the commonwealth are his boast and pride. If loyalty to duty and mother- land makes a good citizen, the subject of this sketch needs no higher encomium in these pages.

DR. JAMES CORBIN AVARY, one of Atlanta's popular physicians, was born May 9, 1856, in De Kalb county, Ga., at his father's country home. He was educated by private teachers, in the county schools, and at the old Decatur acad- emy, taking subsequently, at the age of twenty-one, a position in Avary's drug store in Atlanta and commencing the study of that profession, for which his present success proves him so well fitted. He continued his studies at the Southern Med- ical college, which he entered in 1880, and at the Atlanta Medical college, from which he was graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1882. Subsequently he pursued his medical studies still further, going for that purpose to Chicago and New York. Immediately after his graduation he began the practice of medicine in Atlanta, where he has met with marked success in his chosen specialty of surgery and gynecology. Among the professional offices which he has so sat- isfactorily filled may be mentioned city physician of the sixth ward, gynecologist at the Atlanta polyclinic and lecturer on gynecology at the Southern Medical col- lege. Dr. Avary is a member of the State Medical association and of Atlanta board of health. He was one of the founders of the Atlanta Society of Medi- cine and the Atlanta Obstetrical and Gynecological society. He is an able and impressive writer and an occasional contributor to the medical journals. A paper on State and Municipal Hygiene, which he read before the State Medical associa- tion at Americus in 1893, was most flatteringly received and attracted widespread attention at the time of its delivery and consequent publication. His father, Dr. James Corbin Avary, a native of Clumbia county, Ga., graduated in the famous class of 1843 at the old Augusta Medical college, and practiced his much-loved profession with marked success up to the time of his death, in Decatur in 1873. He was a member of the state legislature prior to 1860, doubtless being led on to try political life for a while by the example of his father, Judge Arch. Avary, who for many years was state senator from the old Avary home, county of Colum- bia. Judge Avary's father was Dr. John Avary, of Mecklenburg county, N. C. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Susan Frances Carr, daughter of Col. Thomas Dabney Carr of the war of 1812, and granddaughter of Col. Thomas Carr, a gallant officer of the revolutionary war. Col. Dabney Carr was the lineal

324

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

descendant of Gen. Nathaniel Bacon, who struck the first real blow against Brit- ish oppression in Virginia in the trying days of the colonial period. Dr. Avary is of English colonial blood on both paternal and maternal lines and has the records of his family history in an unbroken line back to the year 1000.

MILDRED RUTHERFORD is a native of Athens, Ga., where her father, Prof. Williams Rutherford, was for many years an honored member of the faculty of the university of Georgia. Miss Rutherford at a very early age gave promise of a brilliant literary career and her friends have not been disappointed in the outcome. She received an unusually thorough education from the best teachers and devoted most of her leisure time to the study of belles lettres. Athens has always been noted for the high literary tone of its society, and Miss Rutherford's rare talents and critical judgment were soon recognized. She took pleasure in imparting her knowledge to others, and was never happier than when engaged in discussing books and authors in a congenial circle. Naturally she was attracted to the profession in which her distinguished father had been so successful. As a teacher in the Atlanta Girls' high school and as principal of the Lucy Cobb insti- tute at Athens she placed herself in the front rank of Georgia's educators. Her well-known volume, entitled English Authors, and a more recent work, American Authors, have had a wide circulation and have won a place in public favor as valuable hand-books. In these books Miss Rutherford's wide range of reading, good taste and unerring judgment are plainly evident on every page. Few women in the south have made so notable a record, and it is safe to say that in a wider field her success would have been still more marked. It is expected that in the near future other volumes from her pen will emphasize the success which she has already achieved. Thus far her life has been calm and uneventful-her tri- umphs as an educator and an author being the milestones that mark her pro- gressive pathway. That she is a woman of genius, whose patient work has been of incalculable benefit to the rising generation of her native state, is the verdict of all Georgians who know anything of her history. But her fame is by no means confined to her native state. Throughout the south and in the great literary cen- ters of the country the name of Mildred Rutherford is a favorite one with all progressive educators and all lovers of good literature.

PROF. JOHN CHARLES WOODWARD, one of the most prominent young teachers in the state, is president of the Middle Georgia Military and Agricul- tural college at Milledgeville, and while he is one of the most capable educators of Georgia's youth, he is perhaps the youngest man holding so important a position with the state. He was born in Butts county, Ga., July 26, 1866. His father was a farmer of the old southern school who yet did not succumb to the misfortunes of war entirely, but with an energy born of desperation and good faith, added to his farm duties the care of a general store and also improved his opportunities for money making through his knowledge as a mechanic and practical carriage builder. Young Woodward, under the tuition of his excellent father, lived on a farm and did shop and farm work, acquiring considerable skill within the lines of his teaching. During part of the winter and the summer young Woodward at- tended the common schools of the country; he studied at noon and at night in not only the text books placed in his hands, but he reached out for all books that were available and eagerly read them, guided by no special thought except an insatiable thirst for reading. After a few years Mr. Woodward's father moved to the town of Griffin, Ga., to educate his children, two daughters and four sons. At eighteen years of age Charles prevailed upon his father to allow him to enter upon

325

MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.

a college course, and being desirous of military training, he sent him to the North Georgia Agricultural college at Dahlonega, the most prominent military college of the state. Prof. Woodward's course at Dahlonega was highly creditable. He was soon recognized as a hard student, diligent in everything and capable in all the branches of study. He won the Frank P. Rice Latin medal and wore it dur- ing his junior and senior years. He was the senior captain of the cadet battalion and one of the best trained officers in that excellent body of young men. He was graduated in 1888 with first honor among a class of brilliant young men, all of whom have distinguished themselves more or less in their lines of business. Immediately after he was graduated he studied law for a few months under Col. E. W. Hammond, of Griffin, Ga. He did not apply for admission to the bar, although there was fair promise for success in this professional field for a young man of Prof. Woodward's training and capability. He did better for himself and for the state by adopting teaching as a profession. During Mr. Woodward's col- lege course he spent the summer vacations teaching in the common schools of the state, thereby enabling him to pay a large part of his own expense while at college. In 1889 he accepted a position as teacher and commandant of cadets in Gaines- ville (Ga.) college; after one term, however, he resigned this place and accepted a position in Jackson institute at Jackson, Ga., in his native county. The next year he was tendered and accepted the vice-presidency of Gordon institute at Barnesville, Ga. Here, within a few months, after much effort on his own part, dealing with prejudice that was unfounded, he succeeded in organizing a military feature in the school, having secured from the school funds about $500 for this purpose. A volunteer corps of cadets was organized, which doubled its num- ber within one year. At the second commencement exercises after the battalion was formed they turned out 120 men, rank and file, with a full cadet band of thir- teen pieces. Mr. Woodward made a strong effort to secure a detail from the war department of an officer from the regular army to act as commandant. The detail was made, the benefit of his work accruing to the school being almost incalculable. After two years at Barnesville he accepted the presidency of the Middle Georgia Military and Agricultural college in 1892. This position he now holds, although he has had many tempting offers to go into various lines of busi- ness and to enjoy therein the advantages which his fine talents and searching knowledge of human nature that marked him so well as a teacher, would have a broader and perhaps a more lucrative field among men. For nearly two years, besides his presidential duties, he assumed the position of commandant of cadets. After considerable effort a detail was secured from the war department to act as commandant of cadets and in January, 1894, Lieut. A. B. Scott, United States army, was sent to Milledgeville to act in this capacity. Just when the college was entering upon a remarkable career of success a great calamity came upon them; the old capitol of Georgia, the college building, was burned. Prof. Wood- ward rallied the trustees, who stood mute and inactive in the presence of such a disaster; he gathered a few earnest citizens, and through the co-operation of Gov. W. J. Northen and other prominent men of the state he succeeded in having the insurance companies holding policies on the building replace it entirely. In the rebuilding of the old capitol opportunities were had to change the interior con- struction and arrange it better for college purposes than it had formerly been. Under Prof. Woodward's leadership the trustees and citizens of Milledgeville have built a four-story structure for the cadets' barracks, giving all modern conven- iences of light, heat and sanitation. In short, the school has become one of the leading military institutions of the state, and is fondly spoken of among its friends as the West Point of the south. A large part of the growth and advancement of

326

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

this noble institution is due to Prof. Woodward's personal magnetism and deter- mined effort to bring the very best advantages to the scholars intrusted to his care. At twenty-two years of age Prof. Woodward joined the Presbyterian church, and three years later became an elder therein. His life has been exemplary from his youth and he has always stood among his fellows as a tower of strength for the right. In December, 1891, he was married to Miss Lucile Castleberry, of Dawsonville, Ga., a graduate of the college at Gainesville and of the Lucy Cobb institute at Athens. Although their first son, Charles Price, died at six months of age, their second son, Douglas Castleberry, is now one year old and is a joy in their happy household. Prof. Woodward represents the great idea of youthful success; he has not stood back on account of his years, but has unhesitatingly asserted himself according to his ability, and he has won a position which is easily accorded to him among the prominent educators of the state. Modest and retiring in his disposition, enjoying to the utmost the seclusion of his study and the quiet of his school-room, he is yet ever planning new victories among circumstances that seem insurmountable and with a pluck that knows no excuse for failure; his plans are successful. This faint outline of the few early years of a life that has been so useful to the state is but a promise that the future holds immense good in store for this fearless, quiet student, who calmly asserts that the needs of the school must be met and places his demands up to the last notch of improvement in instruction. His impress for good among the young men of his tuition is lasting, and many now rise up to speak in his honor.

HENRY H. CABANISS is one of four brothers whose sketches appear in these Memoirs, each in different localities and engaged in different vocations, yet each conspicuously successful in his preferred pursuit, and displaying unusual business and professional ability. Henry H. Cabaniss, business manager of the Atlanta "Journal," Atlanta Ga., is the son of Elbridge Gerry and Sarah (Chipman) Cabaniss, and was born in Forsyth, Monroe Co., Ga., June 21, 1848. A brief sketch of his parents will be found elsewhere in these volumes. While a boy and youth he attended the excellent schools of his native city and afterward attended and was graduated from the university of Georgia, Athens, himself earning the money to meet the expenses of his higher education. After his graduation he came to Atlanta in 1867 and was bookkeeper for the daily Atlanta "New Era," holding the position several years. In 1873 he purchased the Forsyth "Adver- tiser," and as editor-proprietor conducted it ably and profitably until 1882, when he sold the office and came to Atlanta to accept the position of business manager of the "Southern Cultivator," the oldest and ablest agricultural publication in the south. In this capacity he remained with the "Cultivator" five years, discharging the duties incumbent on him with his characteristic industry and fidelity-credita- bly to himself and with great acceptability to the publishers. In 1887 he became one of a strong company which bought the Atlanta "Journal," an evening daily, of which he was made the business manager, a position he continues to hold. Under his superb management the "Journal" has attained to a circulation equaling, if not surpassing, that of any other evening paper in this section, and to a wide and potential influence, and has been made one of the most valuable properties of its class in the south. Appreciatively recognizing his superior business and financial capabilities, moneyed institutions have called him to other important and respon- sible offices. He is now the able and popular president of the Georgia Press association, president of the Georgia Security and Banking company, director of the Southern Home Building & Loan association and of the Georgia Bond &

327

MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.

Investment company and vice-president of the Cotton States and International exposition. Mr. Cabaniss was married Dec. 13, 1870, to Miss Sarah E. Royston, of Monroe county, stepdaughter of Dr. James S. Lawson, deceased, the fruit of which union has been four children. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the masonic fraternity and himself and wife are members of the Baptist church, of which he is a deacon.

CHARLES HENRY DORSETT. One among the most active and conspic- uously progressive of the young business men of Savannah is Charles Henry Dorsett, extensively engaged in the real estate business. He is a son of John and Sarah R. Dorsett, and was born in Savannah, Nov. 29, 1845. His father was a master ship carpenter and was in charge of the largest ship yard in the city, and died in 1846; but his mother is still living. Until he was sixteen years of age Mr. Dorsett attended Chatham academy; he then engaged as a clerk. During the late war, while the Federal forces were investing the city, he enlisted in Maj. Shell- man's battalion, organized for its defense. Although comparatively Mr. Dorsett's life has been a very active one, that activity has been unusually beneficial to the city. Entering commercial life quite young, he has grown with the growth of his native city, and advanced gradually, yet steadily and continuously, to his present commanding commercial and social position. His earlier years were spent as bookkeeper for various leading grocery, banking and cotton houses. For ten years he was cashier for A. S. Hartridge, one of the prominent cotton factors of the day, and managed his business for ten years preceding that gentleman's death. In December he established the firm of Dorsett & Kennedy, auctioneers and real estate dealers. The business proved to be exceptionally prosperous and lucra- tive from the start, but in 1879 the partnership was dissolved, and since then Mr. Dorsett has conducted the business alone with marvelous success. He has dis- posed of most of the city and suburban property that has been sold in and about the city for the last ten years, and his judgment being apparently unerring, his counsel is daily sought by persons seeking to profitably invest in real estate. His success has been such that he is now a large holder of valuable eligibly located real estate in and around Savannah, and owns a delightful summer residence at the Isle of Hope. He organized the Savannah Real Estate company, which marked the first activity in real estate transactions, which proved to be a very profitable investment to all who were interested in it. He also organized the Savannah Investment company, which built the Belt Line railway, which has not only one of the best roads of the kind in the south, but owns nearly 500 lots in the extended city limits, now rapidly building up. He is a director in and treasurer of both companies, is vice-president and director of the Chatham Real Estate & Improvement company, which he organized; was also active in the organization of the Citizens' Loan association, which has been succeeded by the Citizens' bank, of which he is vice-president and director. He is a charter member and director of the Title Guarantee company and Dime Savings bank, and has large interests in all the real estate and financial agencies in the city. In nothing has his judg- ment been better exemplified than in his advocacy of the purchase, while serving on the board of county commissioners, of the Pritchard plantation for the county. This was a tide-water tract of 1,300 acres, cultivated in rice, which materially interefered with the drainage of that part of the county. The only way out of it was its purchase, which was made at his suggestion. The county was benefited incalculably from a sanitary point of view, roads have been opened and the property enhanced in value, so that the sale of two-thirds of it will more than return the purchase money to the treasury, and leave about 350 acres of fertile agricultural

328

MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

land to be set apart as a refuge for the poor. By his earnest endeavors a number of very important new roads were opened, providing highways which have brought into notice large outlying tracts of thousands of acres before almost inaccessible, and this important improvement was consummated without other cost to the county than the labor of the convict force. By these improvements public thought has been led up to a desire for better and more highways, and he has thus been instrumental in adding largely to the real estate values of Chatham county. Had he done nothing more it would place his name high on the roll of public benefac- tors. When a reapportionment was made in 1888 he declined to permit his name to be presented. The county owes largely to his influence and wisely directed efforts its new and costly jail and jailor's residence, and the recently completed magnificent court house. He has been a liberal contributor to almost every enterprise started in the city for ten years past for the advancement of the city's commercial prosperity, and in nearly all has been a leading and master spirit. He is a prominent member of the masonic fraternity, ranks high as a member of the I. O. O. F. and has held all the offices up to that of grand representative. He is now serving his sixth year as one of three representatives of Georgia to the sovereign grand lodge of the world, and is lieutenant-colonel on the staff of Gen. John C. Underwood, grand-sire and generalissimo of the order of Independent Odd Fellows throughout the world. He is a member of Wesley Monumental Methodist Episcopal church south, is chairman of its board of trustees and was chairman of the board of stewards and superintendent of its Sunday school many years. Few citizens of Savannah have been as useful in every line of progressive development-commercial, industrial, intellectual and religion, than Mr. Dorsett, and being only in the meridian of a robust and matured manhood, with ripe experi- ence, it would be difficult to fix the bounds of his future usefulness. Mr. Dorsett married Miss Josie Gross, a daughter of Mr. Charley Gross, a merchant of Sa- vannah, the fruit of which union has been a beautiful daughter, now in her fifteenth year, blushing into accomplished womanhood.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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. II, Part 46

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166