Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3301in the Middle Georgia Bank, is a democrat, and he and his wife are membersof the Presbyterian Church. Percy P. Ezcll married Miss Corinne Billiardof Macon, Georgia.HON. RICHARD BREVAED RUSSELL. Formerly chief justice of the GeorgiaCourt of Appeals, it is only expressing- the sentiment, of many competent tospeak to say that -Judge Russell is one of the ablest lawyers of Georgia andthe South, and that his services, ability and varied mental and social accomplishments have conferred distinction upon the high office which he hasoccupied.His own career has been but the flowering of a notable ancestry. JudgeRussell was born near Marietta, Georgia, April 22, 1861. His parents wereWilliam John and Rebecca Harriet (Brumby) Russell, the former of LibertyCounty and the latter of Marietta, Georgia, In the paternal line there arerecords that show the Russells to have been members of the historic MidwayChurch from 1743 up to 1850. In the maternal line Judge Russell's greatgranduncle,Dr. Ephraim Brevard, was distinguished as author of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, while his great-grandfather, AlexanderBrevard, was a captain on Washington's staff. Another grandfather. Prof.Richard T. Brumby, investigated and revealed the great coal and iron depositsin the State of Alabama in 1829.Surrounded from his youth with influences and associations that wouldtend to bring out the best qualities of his mind and character, Richard BrevardRussell was qualified for the law before reaching his majority. In 1879 hegraduated with the second honors of his class from the University of Georgiaand in the following year completed the course at the University Law School.For eighteen years he was one of the prominent members of the Athens bar.From 1882 to 1888 he represented Clarke County in the Legislature, andfollowing that was elected solicitor-general of the Western Circuit. Formany years now Judge Russell has been identified with the bench. He waselected judge of the Superior Court in 1898, and resigned that office in 1906to become a candidate for governor. In the same year he was appointed asone of the original members of the Georgia Court of -Appeals, and has sincebeen advanced to the post of chief justice. The records of that high courtwill always be impressed witli the learning and high character of JudgeRussell, whose decisions have always been marked by a clarity of reasoningandbreadth of judgment which indicate the thoroughly trained lawyer andthe just and upright judge. He possesses the gift of real eloquence, andwhile a practicing lawyer was regarded as one of the best advocates beforea jury in the entire state, and was a master of logical argument. PersonallyJudge Russell, though of aristocratic family, is exceedingly democratic inhis tastes and manner, and one of the best loved citizens of Georgia,He was one of the founders of the Athens Savings Bank and the AthensStreet Railway. Fraternally he is a past grand master of the IndependentOrder of Odd Fellows, past grand regent of the Royal Arcanum, and alsoa member of the Masonic order. While his official duties keep him much ofthe time in his rooms at the state capitol in Atlanta, his home for many yearshas been at Russell. In 1883 Judge Russell married Miss Minnie Tylcr ofBarnesville. She died in 1886, and in 1891 he married Miss In a Dillard ofOglethorpe. Judge Russell and wife have thirteen living children.COL. JOHN C. PRIXTUP. The course of the long and active life of John C.Printup in Rome, which is his native city, has been distinguished by manyhonors of position, by an exceptional fidelity and capacity in all his variedrelations with the public, and by attainments that lend dignity to the honoredfamily name which he represents. Colonel Printup was long prominent inmilitary organizations in the state, and as a member of a family which built