Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2988 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSbetween the partners. Each took what he wished of the firm's earnings,and 'both were satisfied. During the war, after his return from the army,and during the troublous days of Reconstruction, Major Smith took up thepen which was to make him famous, moved only by a desire to cheer andencourage his fellow sufferers. "He was the first bird that chirped after thesurrender," says Henry Watterson, and he continued until his death to be"guide, philosopher, and friend" to many thousands throughout the SouthernStates. His earlier writings were draped in the quaint vernacular of theGeorgia Cracker, and he took as his nom de plume the patronymic of a localcourt ground celebrity, William (Bill) Arp, the hero of many a hard foughtfight, a homespun wit and a purveyor of unfailing jest.DR. HENRY H. TUCKER, Baptist minister and educator, especially identifiedwith Mercer University and the Georgia State University, was born in WarrenCounty, Georgia, May 10, 1819. When he was about three years ol'd hiswidowed mother moved to Philadelphia, where he received most of his education. In 1838 he was graduated from Columbian College, Washington City,and in the following year located at Charleston. In 1842 he began the studyof the law and four years later entered practice at Forsyth. It is said thatthe death of his wife caused him to turn definitely to religious matters, withthe result that he abandoned law, taught a few. years and in 1851 was ordaineda Baptist minister. After having charge of a church at Alexandria, Virginia,for a number of years, in 1856 he accepted a professorship in Mercer University, which he held until that institution was temporarily closed in 1"862on account of the war. In 1866-71 he served as its president, the institutionhaving been located at Macon. In 1874 he was elected chancellor of the StateUniversity, serving in that position four years. At the same time he waspreaching regularly, and periodically was editor of the Christian Index,of which he was proprietor at his death, September 9, 1889.HON. JAMES I. SUMMERALL. Records of the careers of those who haveattained merited distinction in American law have an attraction and forcethat commend them to every logical thinker. The reader naturally feelsan interest in tracing the careers of those who have reached established positions in public confidence, and have wielded their influence for the publicwelfare; who, cherishing integrity and truth for their own sakes, haveundeviatingly followed their dictates, unmindful of personal consequences.Records of this kind are calculated to raise the ministrations of law in publicestimation are guides for the junior members of the profession in theirpursuit of position, reputation and distinction, and in this connection ispresented a brief sketch of the career of one of Southern Georgia's ablestjurists, Hon. James I. Summerall, Judge of the Superior Courts of the WaycrossCircuit.Judge James I. Summerall was born at Baxley, Appling County, Georgia,May 24, 186.4, a son of William and Matilda (Hurst) Summerall, natives ofAppling County. William Summerall was born in 1818, and throughout along and useful life was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Appling County.For a long period, including the era of the Civil war, he acted in thecapacity of tax collector and tax receiver of his county, but in his lateryears removed to Pierce County, Georgia, and there continued his farmingoperations until his death, in 1879, when he was sixty-two years of age.Mrs. Summerall survived her husband until 1898, passing away in PierceCounty when sixty-eight years of age. Both were active members of theBaptist Church, in the work of which they took a helpful part, and werehighly respected and esteemed by the people of their community.The eighth in order of birth of a family of ten children, James I. Summerall received his early education in the public schools of Blackshear,