Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2802 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSnineteen with the highest honors of his class and at once commenced to studylaw. His training included a course in the famous school of Litchfield, Connecticut, and in 1823 he was admitted to practice by special act of the Legislature, as he was not yet of age. He located at Madison, in the OcmulgeeCircuit, for many years the home of strong lawyers, and, notwithstandinghis youthfulness soon obtained a large practice. Shortly afterward he wassent to both houses of the State Legislature. In 1837 he moved to Macon andserved two terms in Congress', commencing 1838 and 1840. While in Congress he learned that his firm had endorsed and become liable on a very largedebt, which indeed for that day was an immense sum. He resigned fromCongress, returned to Macon, secured the release of the junior member of thefirm, and paid the holder of the claim. But we are told that for twenty yearsthe consequences of this strain upon him taxed his energies; and though heaccumulated a good estate, it was not until he was an old man that he wasfinally able to discharge the last cent of the debt contracted to pay the suretyobligation.In 1845 the Supreme Court of Georgia was created and Judge Nisbet wasappointed one of its three members. He returned to the practice of the lawin 1853. He was elected to the Provisional Congress of the ConfederateStates in 1861, but declined because Of ill health. His last public service wasas a delegate to the secession convention of January, 1861, and wa£ chairmanof the committee which drafted the famous ordinance of secession. JudgeNisbet was the author of the first fourteen volumes of Georgia Reports, andhis decisions are frequently quoted as authority on the law, both in the UnitedStates and England. He died in March, 1871.WILLIAM R. PHILLIPS, statesman, lawyer, and soldier, was a native ofSouth Carolina, born during the year 1828. Soon after being admitted topractice, in 1850, he located at Marietta. During the year 1854 he wasappointed solicitor-general of the Blue Ridge Circuit, holding this office until1857.Soon after General Phillips had obtained the surrender of the GeorgiaArsenal from the Federal officers he was placed in command of the camp ofinstruction, near Marietta, where thousands of Georgians were trained tomeet the exigencies expected in the coming contest. Resigning this positionhe at once set himself to- organizing Phillips' Legion, which, when completed,consisted of fifteen companies of infantry, six of cavalry, and one of artillery.This command did good service throughout the war, first in West Virginia,then being transferred to Lee's army just before the seven days' fight aroundRichmond. General Phillips' command was noted for many deeds of gallantry on several occasions.After the war General Phillips returned to Marietta and followed successfully the practice of his profession and farming for many years. His onlysubsequent public appearance was during the session of the Legislature,1877-78, in which he had to deal with bankrupt railroads, and other legaciesof debt and mismanagement. He died about 1908.J. ALFRED RASBURY. A man of distinctive enterprise and initiative ability,Mr. Rasbury has directed his energies most effectively in the domain of tradejournalism, of which he has become a prominent and influential representative, with a record of admirable achievement and with a reputation that fartranscends local limitations. He is now publisher and ma.naging editor of thetrade periodical entitled Refrigeration (formerly "ICE"), a paper that wasfounded by him in J906 and which is an effective 'exponent of the ice-makingand refrigerating industry and the only publication in the South .representingthese lines of business enterprise. Under his effective management this tradejournal of laconic title has been made notably successful as an exponent of