Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS ' 3209the common law and the elasticity of his mind have made him a remarkablystriking and successful advocate, and if there is a close legal point involved inany issue his examination of authorities bearing upon it is exhaustive. He hasdeveloped to quite a remarkable degree the necessary talent of the moderncourt lawyer, to think and act both quickly and powerfully in the midst of acase, and, quick to perceive and guard the weak phases of his own side, isequally active and courageous in assaulting his adversary at the point wherehis armor is defective.James Tift Mann was born at Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia, March24, 1880, and is a son of Walter B. and Irene (Tift) Mann. On the maternalside he is a descendant of Nelson Tift, one of the earliest pioneers of this partof the state, who owned the land on which the Town of Albany was built, andwho laid out the first village plans. Walter B. Mann was born in Virginiaand was there reared and educated. He was only fifteen years of age when heenlisted in the Confederate army for service during the Civil war, joining theSignal Service, in which he learned the telegrapher's trade. He served untilthe close of that struggle, establishing an excellent record for bravery andfaithful service, and shortly after the war closed came to Baker County,Georgia, with W. B. Gentry, who is now president of the Southern Bell Telephone Company. Both young men were telegraphers by vocation and camehere to follow their calling, but Mr. Mann subsequently gave up that occupation to turn his attention to the real estate business, as private secretary for hisfather, William Henry Mann, who had large interests in Georgia. LaterMr. Mann entered the same line of business on his own account, and for manyyears was known as one of the leading operators in real estate in various portions of the state, building up a large and profitable business and having manyinfluential connections. He was a real builder in the various communities inwhich he lived, and when his death occurred, January 17, 1915, in his sixtyeighthyear, Albany lost one of its best citizens. Mrs. Mann, who was bornin Georgia and a member of one of Dougherty County's old and honoredfamilies, died in 1886, when but twenty-eight years of age. There were twochildren in the family: Mrs. Washington Dorsey Gibbs, wife of the son ofUnited States Senator Gibbs, of Mississippi; and James Tift.James Tift Mann secured his early education in the graded schools ofAlbany, following which he enrolled as a student at the Albany High Schooland was duly graduated therefrom. By natural inclination he had decidedupon the law as his life work, and his academic course was pursued at SuwaneeAcademy and the University of the South. After his' graduation from thelatter he began his law studies at the University of Georgia, where he receivedhis degree of Bachelor of Laws as a member of the graduating class of 1900,and in the following year he returned to Albany and entered professional life.Since beginning his legal career Mr. Mann has not only become one of theleading attorneys of this section, but has been the recipient of numerous gratifying and important honors. A stalwart democrat, he was sent by his fellowvotersin that party to the House of Representatives in 1905 and 1906, and helda number of positions in that body, being chairman of the Committee onMilitary Affairs and a member of various other committees. In party affairshe has served as chairman of the Dougherty County Democratic ExecutiveCommittee and wields a wide influence in the ranks of democracy in this partof the state. He has been police commissioner of Albany, and ten years agowas elected city attorney, a position which he retains at the present time.Mr. Mann's military experience has included membership in the GeorgiaNational Guard, in which he enlisted as a private and was subsequently promoted regimental sergeant, second lieutenant and captain, and service asadjutant-general of the state, an office to which he was appointed in 1905 byGovernor Terrell, and from which position he later resigned. Fraternally,Mr. Mann is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and