Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2929and slave owner of Wilkes County, accumulated a valuable property in thatlocality and became a prominent and influential citizen. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Norman were William and Nancy (Spears) Hawes, nativesof Virginia, who later became residents of Lincoln County, Georgia, wherethey were known as the owners of broad acres of plantation land and manyslaves. - _-'. 'Jesse Mercer Norman was born in W»ilkes County, Georgia, in 1857, andthere passed the first thirty-three years of his life, being engaged in merchandising and farming. In 1890 he m'oved to "Warren County, Georgia, wherehe was a leading merchant and prominent citizen at the time of his death,which occurred in 1907. Through industry and good management he hadaccumulated a large property, which included farm holdings in both Wilkesand Warren counties. In politics he wM a stanch democrat. He was alsoprominent in Masonry, and a leader in the Baptist Church. Mrs. Normanstill survives her husband and resides at Norwood, Georgia, where she is aleader in the work of the Baptist Church. There were six children in thefamily: Elizabeth, who is the wife of E. S. Ray, of Norwood, Georgia; MissLulie, who makes her home with her mother; Kathryn, who is the wife ofMelvin Tanner, of Douglas, Georgia; William Walker, cashier of the CitizensBank of Helena, Georgia; Jesse M., a bank auditor, residing at Monticello,this state, and J. Broadus.After attending the grammar schools of Norwood, J. Broadus Normanbecame a student at the Warrenton High School, from which he was dulygraduated in 1908. He next entered Mercer University, from which institution he received his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1911, and for the followingtwo years was engaged in teaching in the public schools of Washington,Wilkes County. He then reentered Mercer University, for his law course, andin the class of 1915 was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws andalso received the .prize for highest general average. Mr. Norman immediatelyembarked in practice at Fitzgerald, which place he had selected as his fieldof activity, and here has 'built up a good practice. He has made a carefulstudy of all cases entrusted to him, has met with good success owing to histhorough and comprehensive knowledge of the law, and both as an attorneyand citizen stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens. Reared amidrefining influences, his social standing is high and the circle of his friendsextensive.Mr. Norman is unmarried. He is a member of the Sigma Nu fraternityand the Masons, and is a consistent attendant of the Baptist Church.DR. WIIATLEY BATTET. To attain eminence in one of the learned professions of these days of advanced thought and science is no easy achievement,and shows the possession of a strong mentality, and when that profession ismedicine and surgery, a high degree of medical skill. The possession of thesequalities is evidenced in the career of Dr. W. Whatley Battey, Jr., now oneof the leading surgeons and medical practitioners of the state.Doctor Battey was born at "Heywood," Richmond County, Georgia,April 11, 1884, the son of William Whatley Battey and Louise (Barbot) Battey. He is the representative of very distinguished families. On his maternalside he is descended from French nobility. His father's family emigrated tothis country as early as 1624, and have been identified with this country'sdevelopment from its earliest history. Caleb Carr, his grandfather, eightgenerations removed, was colonial governor of Rhode Island in 1649, and aclose friend of Roger "Williams. Caleb Carr's grand-daughter, MargaretCarr, married John Battey.After the Revolution, some of the Batteys moved to Louisville, Georgia,where they owned plantations. Here it was that William Battey marriedSusan Ann Heard, the niece of Stephens-Heard, Revolutionary governor of