Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3218 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSthe completion of the Fair Grounds, and the beauty of Central City Park,thus alludes to Mr. Huff:"And all this great work is due to the untiring energy and indomitableperseverance of one man. Six months ago, nearly all this beauty spot was acomparative wilderness. When it was determined to hold the State Fair here,a single man resolved that it should have princely accommodations. At first,with the aid and approval of his fellow-citizens, he set to work, finally, whenthey thought he was too lavish, and frowned on his efforts, he continued as itwere on his own account; and on his own resources he has presented his citywith the finest fair grounds and buildings in the whole country, thus spreadingits fame far and wide, and giving it an eclat which must add immensely to itsprosperity; that man is William A. Huff, Mayor of the City of Macon oneof the executive men of the day, and of the times.'' His successful management, and that of others, of subsequent fairs, has no doubt benefited andadvertised Macon more than any one enterprise.During the greater part of the time from 1881 to 1884 he was activelyengaged in the hotel business in Atlanta, operating the Markham House, alsoa summer hotel at New Holland Springs, Georgia.Returning to Macon, the family resided in Vineville, the beautiful suburbof Macon. Later, in 1886, Colonel Huff was elected representative of BibbCounty in the lower house of the State Legislature. He was twice re-elected.As a legislator he was direct, prudent and far-sighted, and his influence wasalways beneficent in the work on the floor of the House of Representatives andin the deliberations of the committees to which he was assigned. During hislast session he was chairman of the Committee on Finance. He was one ofthe men who assisted .greatly in establishing the Georgia School of Technologyat Atlanta, strongly advocated the betterment of county roads, and foughtagainst the Convict Lease System then prevailing in Georgia.During the latter part of 1900 he was made manager, and later electedlibrarian of the Macon Public Library and Historical Society, serving as amember of the Board of Trustees of this institution, and librarian up to thetime of his death.Colonel Huff was a strong advocate of municipal ownership of public utilities, whenever conditions warranted, and some years prior to the time the people of Macon finally voted to take over the waterworks system, he favored themeasure. It was in 1911 that the city purchased the waterworks plant andColonel Huff was then elected a member of the Board of Water Commissioners. He was re-elected at the expiration of his first term, and subsequentlymade chairman of the board, which position he filled until his death. It wasdue to his ceaseless efforts that there was made an adjustment of water rates,and the placing of the plant on a sound financial basis.In May, 1860, Colonel Huff was united in marriage to Miss Martha E.Virgin of Macon, and she remained his devoted helpmeet for thirty years, herdeath occurring in November, 1891. Of the eight children, the second eldest,Albert, died when only a few months old. Seven children survive theirparents, namely: William A., Jr., Walter, Daisy (Mrs. D. H. Sparks), Prentice, Travis, Mattie (Mrs. W. B. Jennings), and Edison F.A venerable and distinguished citizen of Macon, Colonel Huff maintainedhis home here for more than sixty years, and none has been more influentialin connection with civic and business affairs in the city. He went out intothe world alone and unaided, believing there was a fortune in it for him, andhiscourse was ever forward. Of untiring energy and indomitable will, hewas noted for his directness of purpose and determination to carry to a finishall measures he advocated. During his entire life he was in natural sympathywith the poor, and at all times denounced monopolies, intrigues and hypocrisywith the same boldness and dash that he came forward in defense of and witha hand of assistance for the weak. He was a hard worker, a close thinker,