Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3074 GEORGIA AND GEOEGIANStimes; also had two or three trips to the West' Indies and Mexico on one ofthese trips taking army supplies to troops in Mexico. My last trip was fromCharleston to Havana and back to Charleston, and in this city I was attackedwith rheumatism, upon which slight misfortune hinged my future plans."One summer day, stopping at a cigar store on Broad Street, I met agentleman, a Swede, who had recently purchased last interests in the ironworks at Cooperville, South Carolina. I had seen him before, and beingcountrymen we were mutually drawn to each other. Approaching me he saidin Swedish, 'Come, go with me to the iron works. You will soon get well-andI am in need of an interpreter. I cannot speak English, and I need a goodman who can help me manage the business.' I decided to go, and at the ironworks took my first lessons in active business, first clerking at the supplystore and then keeping books for the company. I was there from 1850 to1854. It was then a prosperous concern, working about three hundred handsand manufacturing pig iron, bar iron and hollow-wares.'' In the summer of 1854, having laid aside some money, I resolved to seemy native land once more. I left New York the last of April and reachedmy old home on Sunday, May 15th. I notified no one of my coming. Reaching our house I rang the bell, asking for Captain Romare. My father did notknow me, but in a little while all the household gathered to rejoice over thelong lost and long regretted."After a most delightful visit I returned to the home of my adoption.That fall I accepted a position in the Bank of Chester from the president,Mr. George S. Cameron, who was a friend of mine as long as he lived. I remained in Chester till the commencement of the war, when I enlisted with theold Chester Blues, the first company that left our place. I remained withthat company till I was detailed for service in the War Department at Richmond, and was there till the evacuation, when I left with the retreating army,and in a few weeks the surrender at Appornattox ended the struggle."In 1863 I was married in Grace Church, Cainden, to Miss Lucy Fisher.I returned to Camden, and in the fall came to Atlanta to accept a positionin the Atlanta National^Bank, offered by my old and true friend, George S.Cameron, who with Gen. Alfred Austell was the founder of that bank immediately after the war. I may mention that I received the first deposit evermade in that bank."The rise, success and prosperity of the institution are too well knownto be repeated. My life and life work I may truly say has been here. Formore than a quarter of a century my days have been spent in this( bank, andto it has been given my best of life and time. Those who began here whenI did are few indeed. I may say I am the only one of the original officersand stockholders that is still interested in the bank.'' I have made my home in Atlanta; here I expect to spend the rest of mylife, and departing bequeath to this city and her people my fondest wishingsand blessings."For nearly fourteen years after the above was written Mr. Romare continued to be actively identified with the bank which meant so much to himand to which he gave so much. He was an able banker, a public-spiritedcitizen, and a kindly and thoughtful gentleman, always bearing cheerfully hisown burdens and helping and sympathizing with others.Lucy Ann Fisher, whom Mr. Romare married on June 16, 1863, is stillliving, at her home at East Lake, Georgia. She was born and reared in Camden,South Carolina, where Mr. Romare had his early experience as a banker.She was born August 17, 1837, daughter of William H. Fisher and Elizabeth(Gayden) Fisher. Her father was born at Taunton, Massachusetts, wasdescended from an old New England family that had helped to form civilization in the northeastern colonies. William H. Fisher was born in 1802, andas a young man went to South Carolina, and was married in that state to