Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2950 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSgroup, Mary Celeste is the wife of Judge Hinton J. Baker, of Fernandina,Florida.William Frederick Eve was born at Augusta, Georgia, March 8, 1851. Heattended the Richmond Academy of his native city. After completing thehighest courses there, he attended Major Fitten's preparatory school atAdairsville, Georgia. From there lie went to the University of Virginia,where he pursued both the academic and law courses and won their respectivedegrees. In 1871 he was admitted to the bar of the State of Georgia 'byJudge William Gibson, and entered upon a professional career in which hegained distinction both at the bar and on the bench. In 1875 he was appointed solicitor for the county court of Richmond County, which office hecontinued to hold for three years then becoming judge of the same court byappointment of the governor of the state. As judge of the county court hewas ex-officio commissioner of roads and revenues of Richmond County. In1881 the office of judge of county court was abolished and that of city courtcreated by the Legislature. Judge Eve then became judge of the city courtof Richmond County with the same jurisdiction over the county affairs ofRichmond County. For thirty-seven years he continued to hold the office ofjudge, a term longer than that of any other judge in the history of the State ofGeorgia. During this time he established a state-wide reputation for wisdom,justice and impartiality.In 1876 Judge Eve was married to Ida Evans, a daughter of Gen. ClementA. and Allie (Walton) Evans. General Evans was a man of high militarydistinction, who served in the Confederate army, rising to the rank of majorgeneral. Throughout his life he was a prominent man in the South in militarj7,ecclesiastical and civic affairs. At the time of his death he was a member of the prison commission of Georgia. To Judge and Mrs. Eve seven children were born. Three boys died in early childhood, and a daughter Ida diedat the age of thirteen years. The surviving children are: Allie Walton, whois the wife of H. E. Cabaniss, their children being William F. Eve Cabaniss;Henry Harrison Cabaniss; Sarah Garland, and William Frederick, Jr., who ismanager of the Augusta Cement Gravel Company. He married Miss GraceBoykin, and their children are Grace Boykin and William F. Eve, III.Aside from his long term of judicial service, Judge Eve served his cityand community in many ways. He was deeply interested in the AugustaMedical College and was one of the trustees of that institution. For morethan twenty years he was a member of the board of managers of the AugustaOrphan Asylum and at the time of his death was vice president and a member of its house committee. All charitable movements and benevolent institutions claimed his interest and he was never forgetful concerning their needs.In the latter years of his life Judge Eve resided at Monte Sano. a suburb ofAugusta. A few years before his death his beautiful home, with all its contents of furniture, books, and personal effects was totally destroyed by fire,with but little insurance to cover the loss. As an evidence of the esteem inwhich he was held by his f-ellow citizens, his friends immediately raised a sumof $10,000.00 and rebuilt his house, presenting it in full to Judge Eve andhis wife as a testimonial of their regard and affection. This tribute has rarelybeen paid a public man.To treat of his public career would be to cover a period from 18.75 to 1916,more than two-thirds of which time had been spent as jurist, and as sole manager of the affairs of Richmond County, for as judge of the city court ofRichmond County, he was ex-officio commissioner of roads and revenues ofthe county. It was in this latter capacity perhaps that he was most remarkable, though as a jurist he measured up to the very highest standards.As commissioner of roads and revenues for Richmond County for morethan a quarter of a century, he levied all county taxes and expended allcounty revenues, had supervision of all public roads, public buildings, and