Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3102 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSconducted at Waynesboro one of the most substantial and prosperous mer.cantile establishments in this section of the state. After remaining with thiscompany twelve years Mr. Blount, who had carefully conserved his earnings,found himself sufficiently reinforced in a financial way to justify his enteringupon an independent business career. He was further reinforced by thesplendid record which he had made in connection with the business enterprises with which he had been identified and through which he had demonstrated alike his executive ability and his inviolable integrity of purpose.Accordingly, in 1895, he formed a partnership with Charles L. Rowland,and they engaged in the general merchandise business at Waynesboro, underthe title of the Blount & Rowland Mercantile Company. Success attendedthe enterprise from the start, and effective service and fair and honorabledealings have not only given to the company an unassailable reputation buthave also brought about the development of one of the largest and mostimportant general merchandise establishments in Burke County, throughoutall parts of which the business extends. The company is to be designatedalso as one of the most extensive cotton buyers in this immediate section ofthe state, and Mr. Blount has been specially resourceful, progressive and energetic in his association with the splendid business enterprise that has beendeveloped largely through his well directed efforts.Mr. Blount owns and operates one of the fine cotton plantations of BurkeCounty, twenty-five plows constituting the effective battery utilized in itscultivation, and he has also other extensive landed interests in the county,besides having made judicious investments in real estate in the City of"Waynesboro.In 1905 Mr. Blount became one of the organizers of the Mutual InvestmentCompany, which was incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000, and heserved as its treasurer until 1912, when its interests were merged into thePeople's Savings Bank of Waynesboro, an institution of which he has sincebeen a director. Since 1908 he has been a member of the directorate of theCitizens Bank of Waynesboro. In 1915 he organized the Waynesboro MillingCompany, which operates a well equipped and essentially modern mill for themanufacturing of flour and corn products, with a daily capacity of fifty barrels, and of this company he is treasurer. It will thus be seen that he hasproved a dynamic force in furthering the industrial and business advancementof his home city and county, and thus has contributed also to general civicprosperity and progress.Mr. Blount is arrayed as a stanch supporter of the democratic party andhas served continuously since 1899 as treasurer of Burke County, the fiscalaffairs of which he has administered with characteristic fidelity and efficiency.In the Masonic fraternity he is affiliated with the lodge, chapter and commanderyat Waynesboro, and with the temple of the Mystic Shrine, besideswhich he holds membership in the Knights of Pythias. Both he and his wifeare zealous and liberal supporters of religious work in its various departments,he being a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mrs. Blountholding membership in the Baptist Church, as does she also in the UnitedDaughters of the Confederacy, for which she is eligible on account of herfather's service in the Civil war.In 1885 Mr. Blount wedded Miss Jennie R. Blount, daughter of David C.Blount, and she passed to eternal rest in 1904, being survived by three .children:Martha, Alien and Louise. On the 25th of March, 1912, was solemnized themarriage of Mr. Blount to Mrs. Prances (Coppage) Stallings, who was bornand reared in Burke County, and the only child of this union died in infancy.SAMUEL F. ELMS, D. D. S. In professional and business circles of Jesupno name is held in greater esteem than that of Dr. Samuel F. Ellis. He wasa resident of this community from 1897, with the exception of a short period