Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3067James T. Beaton during the latter '70s came to Waycross, where forthirty-seven years he was engaged in successful mercantile pursuits. Formerly he was for several years engaged in farming after his marriage, butturned his attention to business affairs in preference to the tilling of the soil.Mr. Beaton is now retired from active pursuits, although he still supervisesthe handling of his city interests, having evidenced his belief in the futureprosperity and advancement of Waycross by investment in property there.He is a deacon of the Baptist Tabernacle, and his wife an active member ofthe Methodist Church.Mrs. Florence Beaton, mother of Mayor Beaton, was born at St. Mary's,Georgia, January 28, 1857, a daughter of John L. K. and Julia A. (Scott)Holtzendorff. Her father was born near St. Mary's, Georgia, was a farmerand merchant, and died when between sixty-five and sixty-six years of age.During the war he served four years as a Confederate sharp shooter, andthough once shot through the lung recovered and lived. His parents Alexander and Sarah (Spalding) Holtzendorff were both natives of Germany, andafter coming to the United States Alexander served in the Indian wars.Julia Scott, mother of Mrs. Florence Beaton, was also born near St. Mary's,Georgia, and spent most of her life there, dying at the age of fifty-three. Herparents Alexander C. and Eliza J. (Brown) Scott, were natives of Scotland,where they married, and as young people came to the United States, Alexander Scott becoming an extensive planter in Camden County, Georgia.Of the five children born to James T. Beaton and wife two died in infancy.Clifford, formerly a successful Waycross merchant died at El Paso, Texas,whither he had gone in search of health at the age of twenty-eight years; Dr.James Julian, a graduate of the Atlanta College of Physicians and Surgeons,is now one of the leading specialists of Waycross; and Scott T. is the oldest.Scott T. Beaton attended the public schools of Waycross and at the ageof eight years began to contribute to his own support by selling newspaperson the streets. At the age of fourteen he had his first advancement when hewas made a railroad news agent and in the meantime secured his own education, although this was direc-tly against the wishes of his parents, who wouldhave preferred to give him an education in the regular way while he lived athome. The youth was of a somewhat precocious and independent nature, however, and was not in sympathy with the methods employed in his home city,so chose his own schools and at his own expense, his education coming chieflyfrom schools in Florida. Always ambitious and willing, any honorable workthat fell to his hands was done thoroughly and well, and-in this way he accumulated a fund of experience that he probably could have gained in no otherwayẆith funds secured from cutting wood and hauling it to town, Mr. Beatonwas enabled to embark upon his first independent business venture, a modestretail grocery at Waycross. This proved a success, and he felt that he wasable to afford a home of his own, and accordingly in 1897 was married andtook his bride to Fitzgerald, where he established himself in the mercantilebusiness. One year later, however, he returned to Waycross and foundedanother business with which he is still identified.Mr. Beaton's first experience as a public official was in the office of alderman of the Fourth Ward, in which he served two years. Here he displayedenormous energy and initiative and a desire to forward the interests of hisconstituents that won him instant favor and placed him in the light of acceptable mayoralty timber. In December, 1913, he was elected to the chiefexecutive's office, and December 2,1915, received the re-election without opposition, which had only occurred once before in the history of the city. MayorBeaton is the local representative for the Dodge and Cole Automobile Company and has various other large commercial and financial interests. He is aleader in promoting movements for the elevation of educational standards and