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 90

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 90

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guards of Columbus in 1886, but resigned after filling that office three months. He regularly attends the Presbyterian church, though not a member of any church. He was happily married in November, 1869, to Rebecca Epping, daughter of H. H. Epping, Sr. She departed this life in May, 1873, leaving as the fruit of that union two children, viz: John F., Jr., and Rebecca. Mr. Flournoy was again married in 1881 to Mary W., daughter of the late Walker Reynolds, of Talladega county, Ala., and by this marriage has been blessed by the birth of seven children, viz .: Reynolds, Maude, Josiah, Gordon, Mary Hannah, John Manley and Walker.

FREDERICK B. GORDON, of the firm of Joseph Kyle & Co., Columbus, Ga., was born in Newton, a suburb of Boston, Mass., in 1857. He was reared and educated in the town of his birth and is a graduate of its high school. He left school at the age of eighteen and soon after came to Columbus, becoming a partner with J. O. Matthews & Co., of Augusta, Ga., in the commercial fertilizer business, continuing in that business for several years. In 1887 Mr. Gordon became a meniber of the firm of Kyle & Co. On his shoulders falls the responsi- bility of the active management of the business of his firm, his duties including the purchase of all the goods for the dry goods and manufacturing departments, the dictation of all correspondence and the decision of all questions of credit. So well, however, has he systematized the business of the house that he finds time to shake hands with customers of the house on tlie street, and to make occasional trips into the surrounding country in addition to his regular trips to the northern markets. His qualifications are best summed up by the statement that under his management the business has been more successful than at any time in its history. He was secretary and treasurer of the first exposition given by the Chattahoochee Valley Exposition company, and is now the president of the Columbus board of trade. He has served on the public library board, and is a member of the board of school trustees. Mr. Gordon was happily married in November, 1883, to Miss Rosa Crook, a step-daughter of Joseph Kyle, his partner, and this union has been blessed by the birth of two daughters: Mary Elizabeth and Margaret Crook. Mr. Gordon is a deacon in the First Presbyterian church.

ROBERT S. GRIER, general manager of the Chattahoochee Brewing com- pany of Columbus, Ga., was born in Burlington, Vt., in 1850. His father was Thomas J. Grier, a native of Dublin, Ireland. He was a brevet-lieutenant of the City Light Artillery of Eufaula, Ala., was injured at Cumberland mountain, and after his recovery was employed by the government in getting out grind- stones at Columbus, Ga. He was also at the siege of Atlanta. After the close of hostilities he was chief of police of Columbus, Ga., and held that position when the city was taken by Wilson's raiders. He died in 1884, leaving a son and four daughters, viz .: Robert S., whose name heads this article; Mary E., wife of R. A. Davis of Columbus, Ga .; Elizabeth E., wife of P. H. Kelly of Macon; Catharine C., wife of John J. Conners of Montgomery, 'Ala .; Matilda, wife of W. S. McKnight of Columbus, Ga. Robert S. Grier came to Raleigh, N. C., in 1855, in company with his sister, whose healthi had failed, and he resided in that city for four years. In 1859 he removed to Eufaula, Ala., coming to Columbus, Ga., three years later, and has since resided there continuously. He was drug clerk in Eufaula, Ala., for a time and in 1866 he entered a dry goods establishment as a clerk, remaining in that position five years. In 1871 he was engaged as clerk in the wholesale grocery concern of J. & J. Kaufman and remained with that firm eight years, going thence to Atlanta, Ga., where he entered the employ of Maddox & Rucker, wholesale tobacconists, and was with that firm until they

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disposed of their business to Russell & Co., three years later. His services were retained by the new firm for four years, when he returned to Columbus, Ga., and devoted his attention to a general merchandise business he had established there two years before. In 1886 he removed to Brunswick, Ga., and engaged in the beer and ice business. Disposing of that business three years later he returned to Columbus, thence traveled to Europe for pleasure; returning in the early autumn of 1893 he accepted his present position in November of that year. Just one miile west of Columbus is situated the plant of the Chattahoochee Brewing company, one of the most important and successful enterprises centered about that city. The long columns of black smoke which seem to rise unendingly above the plant are emblematic in a way of the quiet work that goes unceasingly on, both of the men and of the chemical actions of the ingredients of the beer, within the plant. The amount invested in their plant by the Chattahoochee Brewing company is $200,000. The plant contains the most modern and improved machinery, and nothing has been spared to arrange for making the beer wholly pure and first class. Much of the success which the company is attaining, and the excellent and widespread reputation which its beers are acquir- ing, is due in a large manner to the intelligent and industrious work of General Manager Grier. He is thoroughly conversant with all the details of beer-making and is well equipped to direct the interior operations of the company's plants, as well as the office work and the company's business with its hundreds of customers. Although he has never sought political preferment, Mr. Grier was at one time elected alderman of Columbus, but being a citizen of Brunswick, Ga., he was ineligible. He was very active in the reorganization of the Columbus Light guards after the war, and was made a lieutenant, serving as such twelve years thereafter. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and served as secretary and treasurer of the Young Men's Catholic union of Columbus, Ga., for several years.

GEORGE J. GRIMES, M. D., was born in the city of Columbus, Ga., Jan. 12, 1847. He began the study of medicine under his father, Dr. Thomas W. Grimes, one of the leading physicians of Columbus. Young Grimes was graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical college of New York city in 1868; returned to Columbus the same year and entered actively upon the practice of his profession, in which he has achieved a very wide and enviable reputation. In 1872-73 Dr. Grimes was made visiting physician to the Columbus City hospital, and from 1886 to 1891 was president of the board of health of Columbus. In this capacity he rendered much valuable service to the public in preventing, by a rigid system of quarantine, the influx of refugees from the various quarters infected with the yellow fever. In 1892 Dr. Grimes was elected first vice-president of the Georgia State Medical association. He is the author of a series of papers of much practical value to the medical profession, on the subjects of Aneurism, Hernia and Tubercular Meningitis. Personally Dr. Grimes is held in highest esteem, and is a social favorite and of Chesterfieldian manners. While held in high esteem by the rich, he commands the gratitude of the poor on account of appreciated services rendered them, and is a typical representative of the true southern gentleman, many of whom are. yet found in the old county of Muscogee.

BENJAMIN THOMAS HATCHER, president of the Hatcher Manufacturing company of Columbus, Ga., was born in that city Oct. 30, 1847, being the second son of Samuel J. and Elizabeth (McGee) Hatcher. Banjamin Hatcher, the father of Samtiel J. Hatcher, was a native of Chesterfield county, Va. He was a

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planter and died in the county of his birth. Samuel J. Hatcher was a native of Richmond, Va., and removed to Columbus, Ga., in 1838, where he died in 1861. Elizabeth (McGee) Hatcher was a daughter of Thomas McGee of Harris county, Ga., and died in 1878, leaving five children, viz .: Marshall J. of Macon, Ga .; Benjamin Thomas of Columbus, whose name heads this article; Susan A., deceased, wife of S. W. McMichael; Samuel B., of Columbus, Ga., and Mrs. W. T. Hunt of Columbus. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch received his entire education in the common schools of his native section, and early in 1864, at the tender age of seventeen, enlisted as a private in a company of youths organized in Columbus, commanded by Capt. Walter Gordon, a brother of Gen. John B. Gordon of Confederate fame. This company of the flower of the youth of Columbus tendered its services to the then Gov. Joseph E. Brown, and was ordered by him to West Point, Ga., where it was joined by the Georgia cadets, another company of young men. Both companies were stationed at West Point about two months, at the end of which time they were disbanded by Gov. Brown, on account of the extreme youth of the meinbers. After the disbanding of the company, young Hatcher went to his father's plantation in Marion county, and a few months later joined another company, organized in Muscogee county, com- manded by Capt. G. C. Reedy; but was soon thereafter placed on the staff of Gen. P. J. Phillip, ranking as sergeant, and served in that capacity until the surrender. Sergt. Hatcher participated in the battles around Atlanta, Griswoldville and Savannah; and the last time he saw fighting was with Wilson's raiders at Columbus, Ga. After the war closed Mr. Hatcher returned to the plantation in Marion county, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1873, when he removed to Columbus and entered the firm of Flournoy, McGee & Co., cotton warehousemen, remaining with them two years. In 1875 Mr. Hatcher formed a partnership in the cotton business in connection with Flournoy, senior member of the firm, under the firm name of Flournoy & Hatcher, which lasted two years. Then Mr. Hatcher and C. C. McGee of Atlanta formed a partnership in the cotton business, lasting three years, McGee retiring. Mr. Hatcher then formed a partner- ship with Judge W. H. Brannon, but two years later he purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone until 1887, when he disposed of it and removed to Macon, Ga., where, in 1888, he and his brother, M. J. Hatcher of that city, organized a stock company known as the Hatcher Manufacturing company, with a capital stock of $50,000-M. J. Hatcher, president, and Benjamin T. Hatcher, vice-president. Two years later the plant of the Hatcher Manufacturing company was entirely destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt at once at Columbus. The following June Benjamin T. Hatcher bought his brother's interest, was made president and retains that position at this time. Under his wise administration of affairs the success of the enterprise has been marked, and the company now has an annual volume of business amounting to more than $60,000. In addition to his large manufacturing interests, Mr. Hatcher finds time to engage extensively in agricultural pursuits, owning large farming interests in Chattahoochee county, Ga., and Russell county, Ala., on which he produces annually about 1,000 bales of cotton and large quantities of hay and grain. He is a consistent member of the Methodist church, south, being a trustee of St. Paul's church in Columbus. Mr. Hatchier was joined in marriage Sept. 29, 1871, to Miss Martha J. Estes, daughter of the late Henson S. and Martha (Gray) Estes of Columbus, Ga., and this union has been blessed by the birth of one son and three daughters: Lottie T., wife of William B. Swift, a cotton factor of Columbus; Bessie, Benjamin Carl and Vera.

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A. ILLGES, president of the Golden Foundry and Machine company of Columbus, Ga., was born in Lancaster county, Penn., in 1830. He is a son of Paul Illges, a native of Germany, who emigrated to Pennsylvania in the early part of 1800. At the age of thirteen A. Illges left school and five years later came to Columbus, and clerked for his brother, Jacob P. Illges, a groceryman. In 1857 he was given an interest in the business, which partnership was continued for two years, when he disposed of his interest to his brother. The next two years of Mr. Illges' life was devoted to traveling for his health and pleasure. In 1864 he entered the Confederate service as a member of the state troops and was present at the evacuation of Savannah. In 1867 he again entered the grocery business in Columbus, and two years later added to it a cotton business. After continuing in this nine years he went into the manufacture of jute bagging and is extensively interested in that industry at the present time. In 1889 Mr. Illges was made president of the Golden Foundry and Machine company, considered by experts as the best arranged and most substantial foundry in the southern states. Mr. Illges is a member of the board of directors of the Muscogee mills, of the Chattahoochee bank, of the Georgia Midland & Gulf railroad and of the Chatta- hoochee Brewing company. He also owns a one-fourth interest in a large rolling mill at Birmingham, Ala. Perhaps the best tribute that could be paid to his business ability is this opinion, expressed by one of his business associates: "One of our most energetic and highly honored citizens is Mr. A. Illges, a gentleman of untiring energy and sterling integrity, whose word is as good as his bond. By his own unaided efforts he has accumulated a handsome fortune, and is always ready to invest in any enterprise which tends to the advancement of the city of his adoption. As a member of the board of commissioners of the commons, he has for a number of years served the city faithfully, and as president of the Golden Foundry and Machine company, as a director of the Chattahoochee National bank, also of the Georgia Midland & Gulf Railroad company, the Muscogee Manufacturing company, and the Rose Hill company, his large brain has contributed greatly to their success." Being a strictly business man, Mr. Illges devotes none of his time to politics. He is a prominent member of the masonic fraternity, in which he takes much interest. Mr. Illges was married in 1879 to Miss Mary L. Barnett, a miost estimable lady of Columbus, a daughter of John Barnett, deceased, who was a prominent citizen of the city. This union of hearts and hands has been blessed by the birth of two sons and five daughters, viz .: John, Paul, Mary, Fannie, Ethel, Almyr, Nouna and Abraham. The Illges' home is perhaps one of the most beautiful in Georgia.

RUFUS JONES, senior member of the firm of Jones Bros., lumber dealers, Columbus, Ga., was born in Chattahoochee county, Ga., in 1860. He was reared and educated in the county of his birth. Leaving school at the age of twenty he came to Columbus and began to work in the Columbus iron works, in the planing mill department. He left the iron works in 1882 and erected a planing mill of his own, with O. P. Willinsham as a partner, continuing in that business about two years. Then he was made foreman of the planing mill department of the Columbus iron works, where he remained four years. Mr. Jones and his brother, W. T. Jones, then erected a planing mill, and six months later W. T. Jones died. Rufus Jones then carried on the business alone five years, at the end of which time he formed a partnership with his brother, J. H. Jones. In 1893 T. A. Butts was admitted to the firm. This firm began business in Columbus in the fall of 1888 with a small capital, but as their business increased they added more machinery and erected more buildings, and so continued until

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MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA.

to-day their plant comprises two acres of ground, nearly half of which is cov- ered with buildings equipped with the very best and latest improved wood- working machinery, which is driven by a 100-horse-power engine, and they make any and everything that can be manufactured of wood. Among the employes are to be found some of the most skillful artisans and experts in the various departments of the business. The success of this firm has been phenomenal, for, although in business for the short space of three and a half years, their repu- tation has gone abroad beyond the limits of Georgia and adjoining states. Mr. Rufus Jones, the senior member of the firm is now, and has been from the begin- ning, the general manager, and to his close attention, untiring energy, watchful care and skillful management the phenomenal success of the young firm is chiefly due. Rufus Jones is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church south. He was happily joined in the holy bonds of wedlock to Miss Ida Hunt, daughter of W. T. Hunt, deceased. This union has been blessed by the birth of a son named Kirk.

G.GUNBY JORDAN, a prominent banker and manufacturer of Columbus, Ga., was born in Sparta, Hancock Co., Ga., in 1846. He received his educa- tion at the high school in his native town and his boyhood was spent in that immediate section of the state. At the age of seventeen he volunteered in the Confederate army and served as a private to the close of hostilities in the cele- brated Nelson's rangers, an independent cavalry company, which was honored toward the close of the war by being made escort company to Lieut .- Gen. S. D. Lee. On his return from the army in 1865 Mr. Jordan attended school to the close of that year. In 1866 he was offered and accepted a position in charge of the office of the wholesale merchandising establishment of H. C. Mitchell & Co., of Columbus, and retained that position one year. In January, 1867, he was elected treasurer of the Eagle and Phoenix Manufacturing company, the largest cotton and woolen manufacturing concern in the southern states, and he has served as treasurer and credit-man of that corporation for twenty years thereafter. He was chosen cashier of the Eagle and Phoenix Savings bank in 1873 and was suc- cessively re-elected to that position for the next thirteen years, declining re-elec- tion as an officer of the Eagle and Phoenix Manufacturing company at the annual meeting of the stockholders in 1886 in order to organize the Georgia Midland & Gulf Railroad company. He was made president of the Georgia Midland Con- struction company, which company built the G. M. & G. Ry. from the city of McDonough, Henry Co., Ga., to Columbus, Ga., its western terminus, a distance of 100 miles. Mr. Jordan was made general manager of the Georgia Midland & Gulf Railroad company in 1889, and during his incumbency as general man- ager inaugurated the movement, organized and secured the charter for the Co- lumbus Southern railroad, which was speedily built, connecting the cities of Co- lumbus and Brunswick, via Albany, and affords an outlet to the sea for the numerous manufactures of Columbus. In 1888 Mr. Jordan organized the Third National bank of Columbus and in 1889 he organized the Columbus Savings bank, was elected president of both institutions, and sustains that relation at the present time. During the month of July, 1894, Mr. Jordan resigned his position as general manager of the Georgia Midland & Gulf railroad and severed his con- nection with railroad matters entirely in order to accept the appointment of rail- road commissioner of the state of Georgia, which high trust was tendered him, unsolicited, by the then governor, William J. Northen. Mr. Jordan is one of the original founders of the Mercantile Credit Guarantee company of New York, and is a member of the board of directors of the company; also a member of the

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MUSCOGEE COUNTY SKETCHES.

directors of the General Fire Extinguisher company, of New York, capitalized at $2,000,000. He was a member of the special commission created by act of the Georgia legislature for the purpose of settling the celebrated Western & Atlantic railroad betterments case, which commission unanimously and finally settled a case involving several hundred thousand dollars satisfactorily to every citizen of the state. In 1895 he was unanimously elected president of the Georgia Bankers' association. It may be truthfully stated that Mr. Jordan has been connected with every movement that tended to the advancement of the interests of Columbus during the past quarter of a century, and as he has held in the past, so he holds now, the responsible positions affecting the municipality. In this connection it is a pleasure to reprint some well deserved words of praise taken from the Columbus "Evening Ledger," of Sept. 28, 1891. In speaking of the rapid growth of Co- lumbus during the past ten years that journal says: "We are great in mills, we are great in railroads and we are great in banking institutions, and out of these three have come all the other evidences of our greatness. Out of these have come a population doubled in ten years, of dwelling houses increased 100 per cent., of taxable values more than doubled in the last decade. Out of these have come a jobbing trade which has quadrupled in the last three years, a city with the lowest rate of taxation of any of its size in the country-a city that will right- fully claim the lead in manufactures. If it be true that from our mills, our rail- roads and our banks the prosperity of Columbus began, then to G. Gunby Jordan, who has done so much in the development of these three great agencies do the people owe a debt. Such talent as he possesses would have made him great in other fields. Had he sought political preferment the full measure of his ambition would have been met. He has elected to labor in and for the good of Columbus. Were he to be called to his long home all the people would rise to praise him, and no pen would be spared in writing his eulogy."

DR. SETH N. JORDAN of Columbus, Ga., was born in Hancock county, Ga., in 1854; received his earlier education at the noted high school of Prof. Richard Malcolm Johnston, now the renowned southern author. Mr. Jordan next became a student at the Washington and Lee university, Lexington, Va., and was graduated therefrom in 1872, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately after his graduation in Virginia, Mr. Jordan entered the medical department of the Polytechnical university, Hanover, Germany, remaining there several months. Dr. Jordan next entered the celebrated university of Leipsic, pursuing medical studies for not quite three years, taking, in addition, a thorough course in tentameuphysicum, and then passing the state's examination, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He returned to the United States in 1878 and was immediately elected visiting physician to the New Orleans Charity hospital, served in that capacity for a year and a half, returned to Georgia in 1881, and located at Columbus, where he has resided for the past fourteen years. Dr. Jor- dan has served as city physician of Columbus during several administrations of the city government, and has also been president of the board of health of Colum- bus for some years. He is a valuable member of the Chi Phi Greek letter fra- ternity, and a royal arch Mason. Dr. Jordan is an enrolled member of the Georgia State Medical association, and a member of the State Medical associa- tion of Louisiana. He is very highly esteemed as a gentleman of scholarly attainments, as a physician of much scientific knowledge and practical skill; and his extensive practice attests the fact that the people of that part of the state highly esteem his services.

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JAMES A. LEWIS, who is the head of a house which does perhaps the largest retail dry goods business in the city of Columbus, Ga., was born in Fort Gaines, Early (now Clay) Co., Ga., in the year 1848. He resided in the town of his birth until he was about ten years of age, thence going to Eufaula, Ala., where he remained until 1866, and received the principal part of his education. Soon after coming to Columbus, Ga., Mr. Lewis engaged in clerical work for his uncle, D. D. Gauley, remaining in his employ two years, when he was given an interest in the business, the firm name being Gauley & Lewis This firm con- tinued the dry goods business until the death of Mr. Gauley, in 1878, at which time Mr. Lewis assumed the entire management and conducted the business alone about three years, after which he had several working partners in the business. Mr. Lewis holds several important positions in the business world of Columbus, being vice-president of the Columbus Savings bank and a member of the board of directors of the Third National bank, and of the Columbus and Gulf Navigation company. In 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Willie Hood, daughter of Dr. E. C. Hood, a prominent physician of Harris county, Ga. She died in 1871, leaving as the fruit of that union a daughter, Vernon. In 1888, Mr. Lewis led to the marriage altar Miss Robena Bass of Columbus, Ga., the daughter of John H. Bass, a prominent citizen. This union has been blessed by the birth of four children, viz .: Bass, Fannie E., James A., Jr., and Robert M. A. Lewis, the father of the gentleman whose name heads this article, was a native of New York city, and came to Georgia in 1840. He was in business for a time at Lumpkin, Stewart Co., Ga., thence moving to Fort Gaines, Ga., where he did business until 1858, when he removed to Eufaula, Ala. In 1876 he came to Columbus, Ga., and was engaged in the shoe business until his decease, which occurred two years later. He had but two children, both of whom survive him, viz .: James A. Lewis, the subject of this sketch, of Columbus, Ga., and Mrs. Fannie S. Shields, wife of W. S. Shields, of Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Lewis is not a member of any church or secret order.

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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. II, Part 90

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