Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3315Georgia history. He was a son of Colonel McCall, a revolutionary hero.Hugh McCall, another son of Colonel McCall,. wrote the first history ofGeorgia. The McCalls came originally from Scotland, and settled along thecoast in Mclntosh and Liberty counties. Thomas later moved to Laurens.The Stanley family was of English descent, and moved to Georgia fromNorth Carolina, and were successful planters. Ira Stanley was a man ofvery positive character, and exercised no little influence on the communityin which he lived. He filled several county offices and was a member of theGeneral Assembly of the state. He believed thoroughly in the benefits of aliberal education, and since there were no teachers or schools in the vicinityof his home in Laurens County in the early days, he sent East and broughta teacher to his home. This instructor not only presided over the educationof the Stanley children, but other children of prominent families in theneighborhood took advantage of the opportunity, and some of the pupilsafterwards gained distinction, largely due to the fact that their early careershad been under the influence of such training. When the teacher returnedhome Ira Stanley sent two of his sons, Rollin and Benjamin, along to complete their education in New Hampshire, where they remained several years.All the children of Ira's family were brought up on strict prohibitionprinciples and practice.Capt. Rollin A. Stanley, father of the Dublin postmaster, was a citizenof such attainments and with so many services to his credit that he waspopular with all who knew him. An evidence of the high esteem in whichhe stood came after his death when between 500 and 600 childrenassembled and brought flowers for his casket. He became prominentin the law, and served as the first solicitor-general of the Oconee Circuit.He. served in the Confederate army, and was captain of a company in theGeorgia Militia, After the war he practiced law for a good many years inthe courts of Middle and South Georgia. In later years he served as judgeof the Court of Ordinary, which office he held at the time of his death. Hewas a Baptist in faith and for more than a quarter of a century was superintendent of the Dublin Baptist Sunday School. He was the father of eightchildren, two dying in infancy. His children are: Ira L., who is connectedwith the Dallas (Texas) Times-Herald; Frank R., of Maeonr Harris MeCall,Commissioner of Commerce and Labor; Florence, wife of W. R. Haynes ofMacon; Vivian Lee and Gussie, wife of Judge John S. Adams a well knownattorney of Dublin.In the public schools at Dublin Vivian L. Stanley laid the foundationof his education, but his real university was a printing office, and at the ageof fourteen he became a boy of all work and "devil" with a local paper.Seldom do natural talents fit so completely into one profession as in the caseof Mr. Stanley. At the age of sixteen he was editor of the paper, the youngest perhaps in the whole South. He continued in this successful way to beidentified with newspaper affairs until appointed postmaster at Dublin byPresident Cleveland in 1895. He served during Cleveland's administrationand two years during the McKinley administration, and on leaving the officeagain resumed his duties as editor. He finally effected the consolidation ofthe Dublin Courier, which he and his brother owned, with the Dublin Dispatch under the name of the Courier-Dispatch. This paper was publishedas a semi-weekly and was the first paper of its kind in the South to purchasea linotype machine. The equipment of this plant is considered one of thebest in the country, taking the size of the town into consideration. In 1913the Courier-Dispatch was consolidated with the Dublin Herald under thename of the Courier-Herald and the plant was still further improved. Inthe ownership of this plant, Mr. Stanley is associated with his brother, H.M. Stanley, Frank Lawson, Harry Floyd, D. M. Emmerson and others. Thispaper is published semi-weekly and daily and is the only daily paper in the