Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3152 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANStiona. All these things he steadily and successfully instilled into his sons.He taught them not only business methods but honesty of dealing and diligent and faithful labor. He allowed them no money for personal use exceptwhat they themselves had earned. He taught them to know that work on thefarm arid manual service in any honorable pursuit would not only commandthe respect of all worthy people, but would give vigor of mind and bodythat would serve in the usefulness of citizenship and the success of later life.In all these things his wife joined him most heartily. The rule of thisfamily government was to keep the boys always busy at something useful.The results of this practice can be best illustrated perhaps in the career ofAsa G. Candler. Samuel C. Candler, the father, was also quite active in publicaffairs, though he never aspired to political honors for their own sake. Atdifferent times h'e represented Cherokee and Carroll counties in the StateLegislature, and was first elected to represent Cherokee County. For several terms afterward he represented Carroll County, in which county he spentmost of his life. For two terms he was elected a state senator, and was amember of the National Democratic Convention at Charleston in 1860, wherehe was an ardent supporter of Stephen A. Douglas. His first important publicservice had been as a soldier in the war with the Seminole Indians in Floridain 1836.The first school attended by Asa G. Candler was one in Carroll County,which he entered as a student in January, 1857. For about four years a fewmonths each year he had the advantages of the local schools. During the warthere were no schools in the community. Even the advantages of homereading and home study were frequently interrupted by the constant marauding of the soldiers of one army or the other. In 1867 he entered school atHuntsville, Alabama, for one year, but the year 1868 he spent as a regularfield laborer on the farm, following which he was one more year in school.He apprenticed himself to a druggist at Cartersville on July 1, 1870, andhis. apprenticeship did riot expire until January, 1873. He was the boyof all work during the day, and at night he read medical books, and slept on acot in the back room of the drug store. Seven days after his apprenticeshipexpired, on January 7, 1873, he left Cartersville in search of better opportunities to learn the trade of druggist and finally arrived in Atlanta. Allday and until 9 o'clock at night he walked the streets entering each drugstore as he came to it, asking for a chance to make a start. At that hourof the night he found an opening, but no salary was promised until he couldprove himself worthy of compensation. He went to work the moment theagreement was entered upon and worked until midnight, at which time theproprietor of the store, Dr. George J. Howard, whose daughter he subsequently married, directed that-the business be closed for the night.In November, 1873, Mr. Candler left the employ of Doctor Howard temporarily on account of the death of his father. Returning to the home farmhe aided his mother in caring for the four brothers that had not yet becomeself supporting. He and his next younger brother took charge of the farm.In January, 1875, he returned to his position in the store of Doctor Howard,the position of chief clerk having been kept open for him.In 1877 Mr. Candler engaged in the drug business on his own account asa partner with M. B. Hallman, under the name Hallman & Candler. In1882 he bought out Mr. Hallman's interest and continued as sole proprietorthough under the name Asa G. Candler & Company. A little later he solda half interest to his former employer, George J. Howard, and the firmof Howard & Candler went on until January, 18"86, when Mr. Candler againbecame sole proprietor and continued the business as Asa G. Candler & Company until 1890. When he closed out his stock of goods it brought him nearly$50'000.It was at that time that Mr. Candler became identified with the manufac-