Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3041of individual achievement. His birthplace was in one of the most picturesqueportions of Eastern Tennessee, and if environment has anything to do withdestiny, the influence of the rugged mountains where he spent his boyhoodcan be traced in the rugged integrity that was the corner stone of his character and conduct. 0-f his father, "William Austell, it has been said that hewas an enterprising planter who stood well in the community and who admonished his children by example as well as by precept to walk unfalteringly inthe path of rectitude. His mother, Jane Wilkins, was also an excellentwoman, whose character for Christian piety and for unselfish devotion to herhousehold cares closely conformed to the scriptural pattern. Both wereindustrious, substantial, honest and God-fearing people, and well fitted forthe great duty of parentage.Alfred Austell thus came into the world well endowed in mind and body,and was reared neither in poverty nor in affluence. Such educational advantages as were presented awakened in him an ambition for achievement beyondthe boundaries and horizon of the home farm. In early manhood he lefthome, and after an unsuccessful effort to obtain a clerkship in Dandridge,Tennessee, found an opening with his brother, William, who was a merchantat Spartansburg, South Carolina. The brother soon afterwards retired frombusiness, and Alfred, who had in the meantime profited to the fullest extentby the brief experience offered him at Spartansburg, came to Campbellton,Georgia, in 1836, being at that time twenty-two years of age; In Campbelltonhe was soon reckoned as the principal merchant of the village, and proved histhrift and sagacity by investing his surplus in farming lands, and operatingthem through hired labor in the raising of cotton. While Campbelltonwas in a large degree merely the training ground where he prepared himselffor the greater responsibilities which came with his metropolitan residence inAtlanta, the twenty years spent there were not without definite results anddistinctions. While a resident of Campbellton he was elected militia generalof his district. He also accumulated the resources and experience whichenabled him to enter actively into the larger aft'airs of Atlanta.General Austell moved to Atlanta in 1858, having already acquired someproperty in that city. It was his judgment that Atlanta was destined tobecome the metropolis of the Southeast, and that was the motive which impelledhim to identify himself with the growing center of industry and commerce.Though the cloud of Civil war was rapidly approaching, Mr. Austell hadalready fortified his position as a successful business man and was recognizedas one of the most enterprising spirits of the city.In the movement which preceded the outbreak of the Civil war, GeneralAustell took his stand as an ardent Union man, and stoutly opposed the policyof secession and vainly urged the adoption of more pacific measures of dealingwith the general government. When the state convention passed the ordinanceof secession, he at once cast his lot with the fortunes of Georgia, and thoughnot a participant in the military movements of the war employed his businessjudgment and resources to aid the Confederacy along financial and commercial lines. General Austell remained in Atlanta until the evacuation.Like all other Southern business men, he lost heavily through the consequencesof the war, but with peace returned to the city and was one of the men whonot only worked to rebuild their own enterprises, but gave new hope andinspiration to many who were discouraged by the general train of calamitywhich had overtaken the South. During the grievous period of Reconstruction he was instrumental in bringing order out of chaos and in reviving thespirit of industrial and civic progress which had animated Atlanta in thedecade before the war. On account of his intimate personal acquaintance withPresident Andrew Johnson, General Austell succeeded in mitigating many ofthe harsh measures of reconstruction, and could have received the appointment as provisional governor of the state had he been willing to sacrifice his