Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2982 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSwas, perhaps, the first farmer in Georgia to recognize the value and makeuse of commercial fertilizers.When war between the states became a fact, Mr. Grant was not slow toprove the value of his state allegiance and was elected captain of the firstcavalry company raised for the Confederate army in Northeast Georgia.Under the brave General E^orrest, he participated in the capture of Murfreesboro,the engagements around Nashville, Tennessee, Munfordsville, Perryvilleand Crab Orchard, Kentucky, and the Battle of Stone River. It was onlywhen persistent ill health made the step necessary, that he accepted an honorable discharge, and, after a period of recuperation, was appointed superintendent of the construction of fortifications around Atlanta. His entirerecord as a soldier was highly creditable.Directly after the close of the war, Captain Grant and his father, the lateCol. John T. Grant, settled at Atlanta and they engaged in railway buildingon a large scale, this branch of activity being one of the most necessaryforms of business expansion at that time and one that created great industrialdemands at Atlanta. Although professionally educated and through inheritance and social environment -qualified for a literary, artistic, or merely a lifeof ease, Captain Grant accepted none of these lines entirely, in fact only asadjunctive, for he was essentially a business man, capable of great foresight,keen discernment and clearness of vision. He showed his faith and belief inthe future of Atlanta by investing largely in real estate and his improvingof the same along modern lines. He owned one of the most substantial andhandsomest business buildings in the city, the Prudential Building, a tenstory,fire-proof structure, one that would be creditable to any metropolitancity. At the time of his death, on November 7, 1901, Captain Grant was thelargest individual taxpayer in Atlanta.On June 13, 1866, Captain Grant was united in marriage with Miss SallieFannie Reid, who is a daughter of William and Martha (Wingfield) Reid,of Troup County, Georgia. Mrs. Grant was a social favorite in her youthand belonged to a coterie of beautiful women justly celebrated all over theSouth. Two children were born to Captain and Mrs. Grant: John W. andSarah Frances Grant. The former, one of Atlanta's prominent capitalists,married Miss Annie Martin Inman. The latter is the wife of Hon. John M.Slaton, former governor of Georgia.On many occasions during a long and particularly fruitful life, CaptainGrant was honored by his fellow citizens, and in 1895 he ably filled the officeof vice president of the Cotton States and International Exposition. Hetook pride and pleasure in his membership in various social and patriotic organizations among which may be mentioned the Capital City Club, the Societyof the Cincinnati, the Society of Colonial Wars and the Sons of the Revolution. Throughout life he held to high ideals of personal conduct and responsibility and his influence was ever beneficial. He gave largely to charity,mainly in the line of private benevolence.HON. ALEXANDER FERDINAND DALEY, whose death on October 29, 1915,removed'one of Georgia's most prominent citizens, was the founder and formany years president of the Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad, was a formerjudge of the Superior Court of Dublin Circuit, at one time a member of thelegislature, and a successful planter, financier and citizen of JohnsonCounty. He was also senior member of the legal firm of Daley & Daley.Born in Effingham County, Georgia, March 29, 1852, his death in his sixtyfourthyear seemed much too soon to those who had come to trust and relyupon his judgment and character. His parents were Alexander W. andElizabeth (Williams) Daley. His father, who was born in Beauford District of South Carolina, as a young man removed to Effingham County,Georgia, where his career began as a teacher in the public schools. He also