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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
CATHOLICS IN GEORGIA
J. J. HAVERTY
When “big business” is mentioned to a Catholic
in Georgia, he unconsciously turns his thoughts to Mr.
J. J. Haverty, vice-president of the Catholic Laymen’s
Association and chairman of its finance committee,
perhaps the leading Catholic business man in the state.
Mr. Haverty is a native of Atlanta, being born
there in 1858, the youngest of a large family. His
parents were from County Clare, Ireland, and when
they came to America in the early 40’s their wealth
consisted only of their Catholic faith, their boundless
hope in the wonderful new land of the free, abiding
love and forbearance in the family circle, good health
and the courage of their convictions. One of Mr.
Haverty’s uncles was Crown Counsellor to Australia
under Queen Victoria; another, Martin Haverty, was
a historian of renown.
Mr. Haverty’s earliest recollections are of Sher
man’s siege of Atlanta, of Yankee shells and the burst
ing of bombs, and of the visits home of his brother
Michael, who was a soldier with Lee’s army in North
ern Virginia.
At an early age. Mr. Haverty entered business life,
first as a dry goods clerk with the old Keely Com
pany, later becoming manager of Rich’s Carpet De
partment. In 1880 he married Miss Clara Malone,
the eldest daughter of Thomas J. Malone, Atlanta’s
tax assessor for thirty years. Ten children blessed
the union, all but one of them now living. Three
of his sons served in the World War, two of them as
officers of the line in France for a year. Mrs.
Haverty died in 1918 after eight years as an invalid.
In 1889, Mr. Haverty embarked in business for him
self. He and his brother Michael opened a modest
store on East Hunter Street, Atlanta. Two years
later he formed a partnership with A. G. Rhodes, then
a successful and wealthy merchant. The partnership,
known as the Rhodes-Haverty Furniture Company,
resulted in a chain of stores which operated in seven
teen cities, mostly in the South. In 1908, the part
nership was pleasantly dissolved, each partner taking
eight of the stores, and Mr. Haverty and his son,
Clarence Haverty, purchasing the odd establishment
that at Atlanta. The new arrangement prospered as
the old one had, and the Haverty Furniture Company,
of which he is president, now has stores in Savannah.
Atlanta, Charleston, Columbia, Birmingham, Memphis,
Houston and Dallas. In 1920, the concern did
$5,000,000 worth of business. His sons are his busi
ness partners, all of them occupying responsible posi
tions with his various companies.
Mr. Haverty is wrapped up in his business, yet he
is even more interested in his family. His beautiful
home is presided over by his eldest daughter, Mary
His youngest daughters, Dorothy and Katherine and a
son, John R., live with him. His second daughter,
Maude, now Mrs. McMichael, lives at Garden City,
Long Island, and one of Mr. Haverty’s greatest de
lights is to visit her and his little grandson. Another
married daughter, Margaret, now Mrs. McGaughey,
lives near him, and here Mr. Haverty has a grand
daughter to entertain. His second son, Robert, and
his wife live in Memphis, and the youngest boy,
James Joseph. Jr, lives in Birmingham. Another son,
Clarence, is married and lives in Atlanta.
Mr. Haverty’s interests outside of his business are
the pursuits of a student. He is a lover of art. and
owns one of the most complete private collections in
the South. He is a student of dramatics, and is
thoroughly versed in literature, economics, history and
current occurrences. Such hobbies as he has he rides
hard, as he does everything he comes in contact with.
He is a man of deep religious feeling and knowl
edge, and has assisted his Church not only financially
but by giving up much of his time to further its in
terests. His work as Vice-President of the Catholic
Laymen’s Association and as chairman of its commit
tee on finance is in a great measure responsible for the
strength of our organization today.
Successful in business, eminently happy in his home
life, a man who finds pleasure in the finer things of
life, held in high esteem by his associates and the
public in general, an American of Americans, a
staunch son of the Church, Mr. Haverty is a fitting
representative of that type of man the world so needs
today—a Christian gentleman.
THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF GA.
(Continued from Page 6.)
Other Missions 81.28
Marist Brothers’ Chapel 50.00
Linen bought for Missions 75.34
Subscriptions to papers 72.70
Stationary, newspaper wrappers and
postage 23.63
Catechisms 9.92
Miscellaneous 57.75
Balance 282.89
Total $1718.51
I was simply astounded when these figures were
read at the meeting.
If a Missionary Society in one City of the Diocese
can do so much for the Missions, what would be the
good done if every City in Georgia, or at least the
principal ones, had branches of the Society.
Hence, I have addressed a letter to all the Pastors
in Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Columbus, directing
them to establish such societies in their respective
parishes.
Our Divine Lord has promised that the slightest
thing done for Him will not be forgotten. Unfortu
nately we find at times much of self even in our
charities. But here is one in which there is and can