Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2822 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSnot known as a philanthropist in the sense of founding libraries or endowingc'olleges, but what is immeasurably more philanthropic in the true sense, hehas used his resources and opportunities to create wealth, opportunity andemployment for thouands of others and thus has afforded means whereby theymight support and improve themselves.A noteworthy fact in connection with Mr. Atkinson's career is that of allthe thousands of men who have worked for his various interests and enterprises, there has never been a strike or any appreciable labor trouble or dissatisfaction among them. On the contrary, all of his enterprises have beenconspicuous because of their freedom from troubles of this kind and becauseof the spirit of harmony, co-operation and satisfaction that has prevailedamong the members of the various organisations. This has, no doubt, beenlargely attributable to his attitude toward and interest in his men. Positive,but courteous; firm, but kind, he looks upon his employes as fellow-workersand members of an organization rather than as parts of a machine, andviews their welfare and comfort as of prime importance in connection withthe success of any particular enterprise and as entitled to greater, consideration than the payment of dividends or the creation of a surplus. This fairand liberal treatment has created in the hearts and ininds of the men associated with his enterprises, from the highest to the lowest, a feeling that theyare partners in the business and that the success of the enterprise is theirsuccess, and has inspired them with loyalty and a desire to respond with thebest efforts and resources at their command. As a result of this mutualinterest and co-operation, loyalty and efficiency have been the chief characteristics of all his organizations.As a conversationalist Mr. Atkinson belongs to the practical and not to thesentimental class, and believes in usefully employing the forces and gifts ofnature to serve and benefit humanity; he believes in and p'ractices the conservation that will make two blades of grass grow where one grew before;that transforms the desert and wilderness into fit places for mankind to livein and that harnesses the waste .powers of our streams and makes them lightour cities and homes, draw our trolley cars and turn over our machinery; asfor example, the plant at Tallulah Falls, where prior to the present development, power equal to the available energy of 325,000 tons of coal was goingto waste annually.Mr. Atkinson is a member of the Union Brook and Harvard clubs, ofNew York; and the Capital City, Piedmont Driving, Atlanta Athletic andDruid Hills Golf clubs of Atlanta. He is religiously associated with theEpiscopal Church.Mr. Atkinson was married April 5, 1888, to Miss May Peters, daughter ofRichard Peters, one of Atlanta's earliest pioneers, and a man whose namewill ever be associated with the birth and development of the city. Twochildren have been born to this union, a son, H. M. Atkinson, Jr., and adaughter, Miss May P. Atkinson.JAMES DAVID WEAVER, M. D. While Doctor Weaver was a highly successful physician and surgeon in Putnam County for more than thirty years, hisattainments in that profession shared honors with his active influence andenterprise in raising the general standards of Putnam County agricultureand country life in general. Doctor, Weaver was noted in his home localityas a horticulturist and dairyman, and through these channels accomplished a.work that will .prove a lasting benefit to the community.James David Weaver, who was accidentally killed by a motor car inEatonton on the 5th of August, 1916, was born in Putnam County, Georgia,June 2, 1860, a son of David Andrew and Sarah Clark Cogburn Weaver.The Weavers emigrated from England to America in 1737. On the eve ofthe departure of the family Nicholas Meriwethcr married Mary Weaver, and