Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2962 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSgently in the furtherance of his interrupted academic education. In the sametown he later initiated the study of law in the office and under the preceptorshipof C. J. Elford, and in November, 1866, he was admitted to practice law,hy the Supreme Court of his native state. In the summer of 1*867 he came toGeorgia and established his home in Atlanta, where his ability, earnest application and upright character soon enabled him to develop a substantial lawbusiness, the same having eventually grown to be one of broad scope andimportance. lie continued in active general practice until 1891, when he wasappointed judge of the Criminal Court of Atlanta for the trial of state offense.Under this appointment he served also as judge of the second division of theCity Court, with jurisdiction in civil cases. Concerning his career on thebench the following pertinent statements have been written: "In his capacityas civil magistrate Judge Westmorland succeeded in breaking-down the practice of gambling in Atlanta and in restoring an effective system of law andorder. He was absolutely without fear and was steadfast, circumspect andconscientious in all his judicial rulings. An abler or more faithful officernever devoted his talents to this important domain of public service. In civilas well as criminal jurisprudence he gained a high reputation and it was uniformly recognized that in his court the paramount policy at all times wasthe conservation of equity and justice, though, like the ideal judge, he wasready to 'temper justice with mercy.' "It may well be understood that a man of such exalted ideals as those heldby Judge Westmoreland was instant in his earnest desire to do all in hispower to foster the best interests of the community. Thus he 'was found asthe staunch advocate of temperance and directed his splendid energies againstthe liquor traffic, his efforts having been specially potent in bringing aboutthe present restrictions of the business in Atlanta. He was eminently fortifiedin his opinions concerning matters of economic and governmental polity andwas a stalwart and effective advocate of the principles of the democratic party.He was an influential and valued member of Trinity Church, Methodist Episcopal, South, in Atlanta, of which his widow likewise is a devoted communicant, and he was serving as steward and trustee of this church at the time ofhis death, which was viewed with uniform regret and sorrow in the city thathad been his home for many years and in which his memory is held in enduring honor. The judge is survived by no children, but his widow still residesin Atlanta, a popular figure in the representative social activities of the city.In the year 1874 was solemnized the marriage of Judge Westmoreland toMiss Carrie V. Rawson, daughter of Edward E. Rawson, who was an honoredand influential citizen of Atlanta for many years prior to his death, whichhere occurred on the 8th of April, 1893. Mr. Rawson was born in the Stateof Vermont, in 1818, and was seventeen years of age when he joined his olderbrother, William E., in Georgia, the remainder of his long and useful life having been passed in this state. He was prominently identified with businessand civic affairs in Atlanta, where he served several years as chairman of theBoard of Education and for a number of years as chairman of the WaterworksBoard, Rawson Street in this city being named in his honor.It may be noted in conclusion of this memoir that Judge Westmorelandcontinued his service on the bench of the Criminal Court until 1899, whenhe resumed the active practice of his profession, in which he was associatedwith his youngest brother, George, under the title of Westmoreland Brothers,until the time of his death.JUDGE GEORGE EDGAR JOHNSON. An active business career as a manufacturer for a third of a century, his present office as city recorder, andhis broad and liberal philanthropy as a friend to the poor children of thecity have made Judge Johnson one of the best known figures in Atlanta'slife during his residence here for fully half a century.