Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2978 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSas Sam Jones made. He said, himself, toward the close of his life, '' As nearas I ean estimate, I have made over $750,000 with my tongue.'' But he wasmost generous with his family and all men, so when he died he left only acomfortable support for those dependent upon him.On his way home to spend his fifty-ninth birthday (October 16th) withhis family, on the train, after having preached in Oklahoma City upon thesubject of "Sudden Death," he himself passed unexpectedly away near LittleRock, Arkansas, on the morning of October 15, 1906, and his body wascarried by a special train to his home in Cartersville. The progress of thistrain was attended at every station, through several states, with unexampledmarks of love and honor, and his funeral at home from a tabernacle whichlie had built himself, and which had been the scene of many of his greatesttriumphs, was, perhaps, the most notable in the history of the state. His bodywas thence removed to lie in state in the Capitol at Atlanta, where it wasviewed by thousands of loving admirers, and afterwards interred in Cartersville, Georgia, his home.ELIJAH B. LEWIS, of Montczuma, Georgia, who served for twelve yearsas congressman from the Third District, was born in Dooly County, Georgia,March 27, 1854, removed to Montezuma, his present home, at the age ofseventeen years, was educated in the common schools of Macon and Doolycounties, his father placing him in active business, and one year later becamehis partner in the banking and mercantile business. In 1894-95 he was electedto the State Senate, and becanle chairman of the finance committee of thatbody. Before the closing of his services in the Senate the Hon. Chas. F. Crisp,speaker of the House of Representatives, resigned to become a candidate forthe United States Senate. Mr. Lewis succeeded Mr. Crisp, and served in theFifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh, Fifty-eighth, Fifty-ninth and Sixtiethcongresses of the United States (1897-1909). On Mr. Lewis' return from Congress he resumed activity in his banking and manufacturing interests.HON. JAMES B. PARK. As ex-mayor of the City of Greensboro, Georgia,and as judge of the Circuit Court, Hon. James B. Park stands high in thecitizenship of Greene County, while additional achievement, at the bar, inpublic life and in business, have attested the solidity of his talents and thewisdom with which he makes use of them. A native of this state, born ofGeorgia people, his dearest interests have ever been centered here and theadmiration and respect which he has won while building up his fortunes, isequaled by the confidence and esteem that has been aroused by a wholesomepersonal character.James B. Park was born in Morgan County, Georgia, February 28, 1854,and is a son of James B. and Missouri (Billings) Park, both members of oldGeorgia families. For many years the father of Judge Park was largelyinterested in agriculture in Greene County, and during the war period he waselected judge of the lower court. He died in July, 1901, at the age of seventysixyears. The mother of Judge Park died in 1885, when aged fifty-two years,the mother of seven sons and two daughters, James B. being the third inorder of birth.After a course of training in the public schools, Mr. Park entered EmoryCollege, from which he was graduated in 1874. Having a natural bent in thedirection of the law, he entered upon the study of this science under privatetutors, so closely applying himself that he secured examination and admissionto the bar in March, 1875.Mr. Park entered into practice at Greensboro, through legal talent rapidlycoming to the front in his profession and in an unusually short time had builtup a remunerative practice. Vigorous in body he was equally so in mind andpublic affairs bore great interest for him and in party campaigns he worked