Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2881volving the annual payment of more, than $6,000»in perpetuity by the powercompany to the county that substantiated the legitimacy of its claims inthe connection. This case' attracted wide attention, was vigorously contested in the courts and" resulted in a decisive victory for Jasper County.Mr. Florence, as a loyal, progressive and public-spirited citizen, has takenan active part in political affairs, as a stalwart and effective advocate of thecause of the democratic party, and though he has never consented to becomea candidate for political office he has shown marked ability and enthusiasmin campaign work and has been a popular and influential figure in thecouncils of his party. His reputation as a resourceful and eloquent stumpspeaker extends throughout Bis native state, and his public addresses in-' variably bear the mark of scholarship, honest conviction and well orderedand well fortified opinions. Mr. Florence has never abated his love of goodliterature and his chief diversion is found in the cloister of specially comprehensive and select private library one of the finest in Jasper County.Mr. Florence is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows andthe Knights of Pythias^ and he and his family hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.On the 28th of November, 1900, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Florence to Miss Annie A. Florence, of Meriwether County, where she was bornand reared. Mrs. Florence, a representative of a family of somewhat remotekinship with that of her husband, is a daughter of Haywood and Emma(Fletcher) Florence, and is a granddaughter of Benjamin Fletcher, who diedin 1914, at the patriarchal age of ninety-two years, and whose wife, of thefamily name of Crowder, died in 1911, at tjie age of eighty-five years. Theparents of Mrs. Florence now reside at Durand, Meriwether County, whereher father is prominently engaged in the hotel business. Mr. and Mrs. Florence became the parents of six children, all of whom are living except Ebenezer,who died at the age of two years. The names of the surviving childrenare here indicated, together with their respective ages in 1915: Maryem,fourteen years; Annie, twelve; Blanche, ten;'Wilma, seven; and WilliamStockbridge, Jr., two.JUDGE HIRAM WARNER was born in Williamsburg, Hampshire County,Massachusetts, October 29, 1802. His high school teacher in his native villagewent to Sparta, Georgia, to take charge of an academy there, and, after atime, requested his former pupil, Warner, to join him as an assistant. Thishe did; and young Warner was placed in charge after about a year. Hetaught and read law for a number of years afterward; was admitted to thebar in 1824 and located for practice at Knoxville, Crawford County. From1828 to 1831 he served as a member of the Legislature and in 1832 was sentas a delegate to the anti-tariff convention which met at Milledgeville. Hewas elected judge of the Coweta Circuit in 1833 and continued to occupythat bench until 1840. In 1845 he was elected one of the three judges of thenewly-created Georgia Supreme Court and thus continued until his electionto Congress in 1855. He was renominated, but declined a re-election. Afterthe war he was again appointed to the Coweta Circuit and in 1867 he wasmade chief justice. Under the Reconstruction Act the State Supreme Courtwas reorganized and Judge Warner Was appointed to the short term. In1871 he was chosen as chief justice to fill out an unexpired term and theLegislature unanimously re-elected him. He resigned the chief justiceship, in1880, to accept the democratic nomination for governor. Not long thereafterhis death occurred.GEOBGE N. LESTER, lawyer, Confederate congressman, and immigrationcommissioner, was born in Abbeville District, South Carolina, March 13, 1824.He was admitted to practice in 1843, at the age of eighteen, by special act of