Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2983devoted his spare time to studying law at Screven, but was admitted to thebar in Effingham - County and practiced there and in Tatnall County until1869. Having decided to spend his later years in agricultural surroundings,when he came to Johnson County he took up a residence on a farm, butdid not live long to enjoy the quiet and peace of that atmosphere, dying fouryears later nf 1873, at the age of fifty-three. He had been one of the ablelawyers of Central Georgia, and was not unknown to public life, havingserved in 1865-66 as a member of the State Senate from the Second Senatorial District. He was entitled to more than ordinary credit for his success,having not only started out in life as a poor youth, but had the additionalhandicap of being crippled. This prevented him serving actively as asoldier, but under the Confederate government he held the positions of taxcollector and postmaster, and did much to aid the cause of the Southland.He was a Mason of high standing, and like others of the family, was a devoutmember of the Methodist Church. His wife, who was born in Georgia, died inWrightsville at the age of eighty-three years and was laid to rest by the sideof her husband in the cemetery there. They were the parents of five children :Alexander Ferdinand; Frank, who died in 1898, at Wrightsville; Walter R.,a successful attorney at Atlanta; Miss Laura, who lives in Atlanta; and ClaudeC., a business man of Atlanta.The early education of the late Alexander F. Daley was secured underthe teaching of his father. He attended the Reidsville School in TatnallCounty and in Wrightsville Academy. Taking up the study of law underhis father's direction, he had to leave off at thei death of his father andshoulder responsibilities in connection with the care of his younger brothersand sisters. While thus engaged he continued as best he could his study oflaw, and in 1872 was admitted to the bar by Hon. H. D. D. Triggs, judge of theSuperior Court of the Middle Circuit.On beginning practice at Wrightsville in 1873, Mr. Daley formed apartnership with Walter R. Daley, his brother, an association which continued for five years until his brother removed to Atlanta. His next partnerwas R. S. Bussy, and after Daley & Bussy had continued for several yearsMr. Daley practiced alone until 1907. His son Russell M. Daley then becamejunior member of the firm of Daley & Daley.The first political call for Mr. Daley's services was as presidential electorduring President Grover Cleveland's first campaign. In 1892 and 1893 heserved as a member of the Georgia State Senate, to which he was electedby the voters of the Sixteenth Senatorial District, and in 1896 was againchosen as presidential elector for the Eleventh District, giving his supportto William Jennings Bryan. In 1904 he was elected Judge of the SuperiorCourt of Dublin Circuit to complete the unexpired term of Hon. B. D. Evans,who had been elevated to the Supreme Bench. At the expiration of thisterm of judicial service, Mr. Daley returned to his private practice.Probably Judge Daley's greatest service to. his community was in thebuilding of the Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad. In. 1883, having come toa realization of the needs of this part of Georgia in regard to transportationfacilitiesw he became the organizer of the company which built this line, andfrom 1883 until 1900 served in the capacity of director, in the latter yearbeing elected president, a position he held until his death. This road,built originally from Wrightsville to Tennille, a distance of seventeenmiles, has since been extended to Hawkinsville, with a branch road fromDublin to Eastman. At present the company owns 104 miles of trackrunning through the richest agricultural section of Georgia. Judge Daleywas general counsel of the road from the time of its organization, and didmuch to improve its service and make it an important factor in maintainingthe agricultural prestige of Washington, Johnson, Laurens, Dodge andPulaski counties.