Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3300 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSquently given scout duty. Subsequently lie joined the western army, andwas again retired on account of age, and after that did militia duty in hishome state. He helped to build the fortifications around Savannah. Fromthe close of the war until his retirement he was a farmer. His death occurred in 1903 at the age of eighty years. In the early days he was a whigand later a democrat, was a member of the Masonic fraternity and active inthe Methodist Church. His first wife died in 1867 and he afterwards married Mrs. Emma Baldwin of Morgan County, Georgia. The first of the fourchildren by the first wife was Evan B. Ezell, and the others were: RobertP. Ezell, a planter in Jackson County; William Braxton Ezell, who was amerchant and leading spirit in the Town of Hillsboro, Georgia, and died atMacon December 31. 1914; and Mattie, wife of J. S. Malone of Monticello,Georgia. The three children of the second union were: Emma, wife ofEdgar Fears of Madison, Georgia; Tessie, wife of Eugene Summers of Madison ; and Mary, wife of Charles Banders of Madison.Evan B. Ezell had a youth somewhat restricted as to opportunities andtraining. He attended common schools, but from the age of fifteen in 1865until 1868 was a hard working plowboy. and in the latter part of 1868 foundwork which introduced him to his permanent career. He became clerk in asmall store at Montieello in Jasper County. He was energetic in the performance of his duties and thrifty and economical with a view to the future,and by 1875 was ready to embark on a modest scale in merchandising forhimself. It is now forty years since he sold his first goods in Eatonton,and the years have brought him a splendid success. He is active head ofthe largest supply house and general mercantile establishment in Eatonton.He is the oldest man in the cotton business in that town, owns the largest warehouses and other facilities for the buying and handling of cotton and grain inPutnam County, and is also the owner of four thousand acres of fine farm landproducing cotton, corn and alfalfa. In 1889 Mr. Ezell organized the MiddleGeorgia Bank of Eatonton with a capital of $50,000. He has been presidentsince organization, and is the largest holder of the stock, which is worth $200per share with none for sale. Conservative banking methods have been therule from the beginning of this bank's history, and there has never been atime when the bank was not prepared to give its regular service to its patrons.Every year it has paid 7 per cent dividends, that being the maximum limitregardless of profit, and there is now a large surplus of undivided profits.Some mention should also be made of Mr. Ezell's activities with relationto public affairs. As a member of the board of education for thirteen yearshe was active in securing the present admirable school system of Eatonton.He has served as a member of the city council and as mayor and has proved awise and efficient leader in promoting municipal improvements. He is a conservative democrat in politics, is a chancellor commander of the Knights ofPythias Lodge, is a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church and a teacher inthe Sunday School. He is held in the highest esteem by both old and youngand has been an especial favorite of young people, with whom he delights toassociate.In Eatonton on June 5, 1872, Mr. Ezell married Anna Belle Pruden ofEatonton, daughter of Sidney Clark and Isabelle (Simonton) Pruden. ThePruden family has a continuous record in the United States and Americancolonies extending back over 300 years. Mr. and Mrs. Ezell have two children.Marie Belle is the wife of AA7illiam Pollock Learned of New York City. PercyPowell Ezell is one of the leading young business men of Eatonton. He waseducated in the University of Georgia, where he graduated A. B., began ajobbing business in Eatonton, and is now owner of one of the largest gristmills in Central Georgia and one of the chief shippers of meal in the state.In 1900 he organized a wholesale grocery company in Eatonton and is theactive head of this house, known as Little & Company. He is also a director