Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3143fixed citizen in Pierce County. He has long taken an active part in Masonryand is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Offerman.HON. WILLIAM FAIRCLOTH, Among the legists of Central Georgia whohave won leading positions through individual merit and effort, one whosecareer is particularly worthy of mention is that of William Faircloth, whonot only is a prominent attorney of Wrightsville, but a figure in the publiclife of Johnson County. His political record may be said to be indicative ofhis radicalism and independence as well as of his determination to he true toprinciples which he believes to be sound at the root, regardless of where sucha course may lead him as to civic, county or professional organizations of hisfellows.Mr. Faircloth was born in Emanuel County, Georgia, December 26, 1867,and is a son of Chesley E. and Lacy (Boatwright) Faircloth, natives also ofEmanuel County. The father was born in 1845 and was but' fifteen years ofage when he enlisted for service in the Forty-eighth Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, during the war between the states, joining the company of Capt.Chesley Flanders, an intimate friend of the family for whom he had beennamed. He served bravely throughout the period of the war and when peacewas declared returned to Emanuel County, where he spent the rest of his lifein agricultural pursuits and died in 1897, aged fifty-two years. He was aman of high character, a good citizen and a stalwart democrat, and servedEmanuel County in the capacity of county treasurer for several terms. Mrs.Faircloth died at the age of thirty-six years, the mother of seven children:William; Lewis F., a farmer of Emanuel County; Daniel, who is engaged inthe real estate business at Eiisley, Alabama; Robert and John, who are substantial farmers of Emanuel County; one daughter who died at the age ofseven years, and another daughter who died when fifteen years of age.William Faircloth obtained his early education in the public schools ofSwainsboro, the county seat of Emanuel County, and remained on the homefarm until attaining his majority. In 1888 he began teaching school, a vocation which he followed for three years, but prior to that time had earned histuition in the printing establishment of W. E. Arnold, where he became anexpert type-setter. While teaching school he became interested in the law,decided to enter the profession, and began its study, and after some preparation entered the office of Williams & Branon, attorneys of Swainsboro, wherehe completed his training and October 1, 1889, was admitted to the bar byHon. James K. Hines, judge of the Superior Courts of the Middle Circuit.Mr. Faircloth's professional career was commenced at Swainsboro, where heremained in active practice until July 5, 1892, at that time coming to Wrightsville, Johnson County, which community he has since continued to make hishome and field of practice. He was not long in attracting to himself a generous and important professional business, and his talents and success wererecognized in December, 1899, by his election to the office of solicitor-generalof the city courts of Wrightsville, a capacity in which he acted for two years.He was then appointed by Governor Terrell to -succeed Hon. Virgil B. Robinson as judge of the city courts for a term of four years, and later was appointed to complete an additional term in the same capacity by Governor HokeSmith. In 1909-10 Mr. Faircloth served his district as a member of theGeorgia Legislature, but in the fall of the latter year was defeated for theState Senate by seventeen votes, although his race was phenomenally good.While in the Legislature Mr. Faircloth was the author of the proposed law toabolish the office of solicitor-general in the State of Georgia, and to electinstead a county attorney for each county. In every session since Mr. Fairclothleft the Legislature this bill has been vigorously advocated. He alsotook a leading part in attempting to make it a legal offense to charge morethan 8 per cent interest on any form of negotiable note in the state, and in