Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3155HAWES CLOUD. Among the substantial old families of McDuffie County,Georgia, none have proved of better citizenship nor of greater agriculturalefficiency than that of Cloud, and its descendants are also known in the professions in Georgia and other states. The family records are all American,the earliest being found in Virginia, the line leading then to North Carolinaand from there Joel Cloud, the grandfather of Hawes Cloud, of Crawfordsville,Georgia, came to this state, finding its soil fertile, its climate ideal andits people friendly and hospitable.Hawes Cloud was born in McDuffie County, Georgia, April 8, 1874, and isa son of 0. L. and Margaret Mathilda (Lowe) Cloud. The mother was bornMay 7, 1840, in Warren County, Georgia, and still survives. The father, bornin 1838, has passed his entire life in McDuffie County, during his active yearsas a farmer, and since retirement has been a highly regarded resident ofGreensboro. Of the family of nine children, Hawes was the eighth in orderof birth and six of the family are Jiving: 0. L., of Hamlet, North Carolina;C. R., of NorVood, Georgia.- Joel, of Lexington, Georgia; D. L., of Greensboro,Georgia; Mrs. B. L. Bryan, of Union Point; and Hawes, of Crawfordsville.Hawes Cloud came under his father's instruction in boyhood, the latterbeing an educator as well as a farmer, and by him was so well prepared thatin 1892 he was able to enter the sophomore class in the University of Georgia.Being very ambitious he assumed a double course of study, much against theadvice of the chancellor, and during the senior year, in addition to his literaryand scientific studies, also read law in the office of Lumpkin & Burnett, atAthens, and in 1895 was graduated, receiving the highest honors of his classin both courses notwithstanding the great jnental strain which he had imposedupon himself.Mr. Cloud was admitted to practice law on April 20, 1895, but did notimmediately enter into practice, in the meanwhile teaching school. In October, 1897, he opened -a law office at Elberton and from there removed toAthens and continued in practice until in May, 1900, when he came to Crawfordsville. This city entertains sincere regard for Mr. Cloud, admiring himas an able member of the bar, having confidence in his uprightness as a publicofficial and respecting him for his public spirit in bringing about manymovements for the public welfare. During the three years that he served inthe office of mayor of Crawfordsville, public utilities, including a satisfactorysystem of lighting, were installed, and the finest and most modern schoolbuilding in this section of the state was built. The manifold duties pertaining to a constantly growing practice, prevent Mr. Cloud taking any veryactive part in the councils* of the democratic party, to which he lends hispersonal influence, hence he declines to be a candidate for any office. He haslarge agricultural interests both in McDuffie and Taliaferro counties.At Crawfordsville, Georgia, in November, 1902, Mr. Cloud was united inmarriage with Miss Claude Bristow, who is a daughter of T. E. and Sarah(Hammond) Bristow. The father of Mrs. Cloud was formerly a member ofthe state senate and the grandfather was clerk of the Superior Court formany years. The family is one of great prominence in Taliaferro County.Mr. Cloud is widely known in many circles and is particularly so in lawbodies and in the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias. He has been a member of the grand lodge of this order since 1897 and was first chancellor andfirst commander of the Crawfordsville lodge. It may not be out of place,considering the success that has attended Mr. Cloud's undertakings, to makemention of the fact that this success has been the result of his own efforts.In early youth he set a high standard for himself and it has been his aim toreach it although the path has often been a difficult one over which havehung ominous clouds. When perseverance, courage and energy are the meansby which a goal is reached, it is well to tell the story that others may beencouraged and emulation be aroused.