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MEN OF MERIT AND ABILITY.
IN THE FROST RANK
Os Rome’s Citizens Are These Popular
Geniltmen.
•
JUDGE BRANHAM IS RECOGNIZED
As one of Georgia’s Most Bril
liant Lawyers.
MESSRS. R. G. CLARK AND J. L. BASS
And Others Who Stand High in the Esti
mation of the People—Successful
Men of Fine Minds.
The name of Judge Joel Branham
is being prominently mentioned for
the supreme bench.
If the bill passes when put before
the people next fall, providing for
three additional associate justices, as
it undoubtedly should and most
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probably will, his will be the first I
name on the list for the honorable
preferment.
There is no man who stands higher I
socially and professionally at the bar ;
of public opinion, than the courtly
Branham. Possessing a fine legal
wind, pleasing and courteous in his
manner, he has gained for himself a
name in Georgia that may be well
cherished by his friends and family.
Fcr six years Judge Branham was
solicitor general of the Macon circuit
of this state. He resigned this posi
tion and removed to Rome in the fall
of 1866. In this community his stipe- j
rior talents were quickly recognized
and he was elected judge of the Rome
circuit to fill Judge Underwood’s un
expired term. As a judge he won the
respect of the bar and the admiration
< f the people and was re elected. At
the close of his second term he re
tired from office and devoted his time
to his profession.
He is now serving the city as a mem
ber of council, an honor altogether
unsolicited, but accepted through his
unselfish desire to contribute to the
welfare of the municipality. In that
position his advice and opinion are
often called into requisition, and the
people highly appreciate the inesti
mable services which he is rendering
to the city without the suggestion of
compensation.
No man in Georgia would fill a po
sition on the supreme court bench
more ably, honorably or conscien
tiously than Judge Joel Branham,
the peer of any lawyer in the South
and the quintessence of royal good
fellowship in bis social
MR. RICHARD A. DENNY.
Mr. R. A. Denny is one of the
brightest lawyers and cleverest gen
tlemen within the confines of the city
of Rome. He is well known not only
in this particular section but all over
the state, his record as a legislator
Having given him considerable promi
nence besides his legal attainments.
One of the most important laws
passed during the term in which he
was a member of the legislature was
at the time known as the Denny Bill
and is now a part of the common
school law known as the Denny law.
It is a law under which tbeschools of
the state are now com’ucte 1 and at
the time when fighting lor its pas
age, Mr. Denny predicted that it
H onld greatly increase the tn propria
tion for the schools of the state. It
must be gratifying to him to know
that the appropriation is now almost
double what it was at that time. The
bill was passed in 1887 and made some
sweeping changes and radical im
provements in the old law. The
“Denny Bill” improved the schools
all over the state, raisingthe standard,
simplifying many matters and bring
ing under better supervision the
schools of the state. It stands as one of
the most important of the laws of
Georgia, and attracted great attention
at the time of its passage. Mr. Denny
has received many compliments, and
deserved ones, on his work in prepar
ing and getting through this bill
which has so improved the schools of
Georgia.
Mr. Denny was born in Maryland
and came to Rome in 1874 He finished
his legal studies here tindev Alexan
der & Wright, and in 1875 was ad
mitted to the bar. Since that time he
has devoted himself exclusively to his
practice, establishing an excellent
reputation and a practice which is
constantly increasing. In 1884 he
formed a partnership with Hon. John
H. Reece, a leading attorney, and
this part ership still continues. He
has held quite a number of positions
in the county having served in the
JUDGE JOEL BRANHAM.
city government both as alderiMwa
and as eity attorney He was als«- a.
member of the General l Assembly &P
Georgia from Floyd cornmty, as men
tioned above. In the practice of Stew
he has iu»de a reputation of which be
may well be proud. He is known not
only in. Rome but all through this
section, as one of the best read,
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RICHARD DENNY. ,
shrewdest and most careful attorneys.
Beyond that he is a bright and genial
companion and has made friends of
all those who have been thrown with
him.
HON. C. N. FEATHERSTON.
Featherston was born in
Heard county, Georgia, where he was
raised and given the best education that
schools could afford. He then entered
Emory College at Oxford, Georgia,
from which he graduated with the de
I gree of A. B. and almost immediately
afterward enlisted as a private in the
j Seventh Georgia regiment. After the
first twelve months he was on staff duty
serving until the close of the war with
honorable distinction. In 1866 he came
to Rome and entered into partnership
with Judge A. R. Wright and the firm
did a big law practice for twelve years.
Since that time he has practiced by him
self with excellent results. He is widely
known as one of Rome’s most learned
1 v>yers and all over the state and indeed
th 1 r he bears the reputation for close
THE HOME TRIBUNE TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1896.
study and excellent judgment He is
one of the most excellent of the attor
neys to be fognd anywhere and his rep
( utation as such continues to grow. He
i has a large and valuable clientage.
| Although no politician in 1886 he well
I represented the county in the general
assembly. For the past two years he
has given considerable attention to
farming and has a -plendid plantation
about six miles from Rome.
HON. JOHN H. REECE.
Capt. John H. Reece was born in this
county and has made his home here all
his life. His longest absence was during
Die war, when he was a brave and gallant (
Confederate soldier, serving with dis- 1
tinction and coming out of the war with '
the rank of captain. After the war he i
spent about two years on his farm in 1
Floyd county and then came to Rome, ’
entering upon the- practice of law. In t
1876 he was elected to represent this
county in the general assembly, and took
an active interest i» calling the conven
tion <>f 1877. which framed the present
constitution of Georgia, am! was elected
to the first general assembly under it.
Two years ago and a little over he was
again elected to the legislature, and in
i the coming election his friends promise
t'"O he will siireh’ I"- elected again.
White' in no sense of the word a politi- <
cian.. few men command! such popularity |
as dots Captain Reese, and his friends j
are numerous and enthusiastic. As a
lawyer he has made a reputation forgreat |
ability, Ins knowledge of the law is I
thorough and intimate, and as a prac
tioner he has few equals. His convinc
ing speeches have commanded much ad
miration, and he ranks among the first
orators of this section of the state. He
has made a success, and a great one, as a
lawyer, and at the same time has pre
served his integrity so that no breath of
suspicion for sharp practice has ever
been brought against him. So thoroughly
is this realized that it has won for him
the sobriquet of “Honest John.” He is
a splendid citizen, known and liked by
all.
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Capt. R. G. Clark was born in j
Granger county, Tenn., some sixty |
years ago. At the age of sixteen he j
began life for himself as a clerk in |
Rutledge, Tenn. In 186th he went into !
the wholesale merchandise business |
at Knoxville, Tenn. At the breaking
out of the war he enlisted and was
made captain of his company. He
made a splendid soldierand his record
for bravery stands among the best.
In 1866 he came to Rome and began
business in the retail dry goods line.
At the end of five years he formed a
partnership with W. G. McWilliams
and engaged in the wholesale dry
goods business. Afterwards, he
bought the interest of his partner
and organized the firm of R. G. Clark
& Co., which he conducted six years
doing a tiemeudous business. Wish
ing to retire from active business life
he sold out his dry goods. store and
since that time has carried on a pri
vate banking business, Capt. Clark
has not only made a marked success
as a business man but has found time
to impress upon all with whom he
came in contact the affable nature,
congenial companionship and true
gentility which are parts of his every
day nature. He is an enterprising
citizen and has on many occasions
shown his thorough unselfishness and
his love for Rome. It would be well,
indeed, if Rome had many such citi
zens as is Capt. Clark.
On the death of Mr. T. F. Howel
the head of the great Howel Cotton
i Co., there was a considerable amount
of discussion among the citizens gen
erally as to the proper man to fill his
place as president of that company.
By unanimous consent Capt. Clark
was adjudged to be A the man and
when the directors of that company
chose him the people knew that it
was an honor worthily bestowed. He
has filled this place well, as he has
filled all others
THE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
MR. AND MES. FORTIN HAVE NO SUPE-
RIOR IN THE SOUTH.
The city of Rome has acquired a
just reputation as a musical center
which is excelled by no city of its
size in the south and equaled by few
much larger cities. It is a well known
fact that the highest music and most
intricate classical productions find
more appreciative listeners,more able
critics and more enthusiastic wor
shippers in this city than in any oth
er of the same number of people in
the south. The musical taste of
Rome has been educated up to a high
standard, higher indeed than that to
be found in cities of twice and three
times her size This fact is due to
the natural result of the establish
ment here of such a splendid institu.
tion with such highly educated and
talented teachers as the Southern
Conservatory of Music, and much of
the credit for the present excellent
taste,, continually’ growing towards
higher and more class jeahproductions,
is due to the splendid work of Mr. and
Mrs. P. J. Fortin, who are at the
head of this institution. No words of
praise for them would f ulsome, for it
is an acknowledged fact among the
musical people of this city and sec
tion that rhnv have done a wonderful
i work in Rome, a work already appre
ciated,. but which' in the future will
I bring them much greater returns in
the praises of a grateful public,grate
i ful for having been taught to see the
i beauties and understand the subtle
ties of the highest and pjrest music
born into the world.
The founder and head of the con
servatory is Prof. Pa'tl J. Fortin, as
sisted by that bright, t dented and
highly educated lady, Mrs. Fortin.
Prof. Paul J. Fortin, though born
of French parentage, bved most of
bis life in this country. He commenced
his musical training att leage of nine
years, under competent teachers, and
after many years of ca etui study in
the city of Chicago, where his pa
rents resided, he wen' to Germany
and entered the Royal Conservatory
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CAPTAIN R. G. CLARK.
of Music in Leipzig, where he re
mained until he was granted his di
ploma as a player and mus’eian.
While at the conservatory he availed
himself of the great advantage of
fered in Leipzig by the Gawand Haus
concerts, where the Symphony Or
chestra is second to none in the
world; also, the hearing of chamber
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MR. P. J. FORTIN.
music by the celebrated and unri
valed Joachim Quartette, and other
great artists; also, of the greatest ar
tists in solo playing and singing, and
of oratorios and choral concerts.
He also studied privately under the
greatest teachers of Germany and
I France, therefore he has the com
! Lined school of the German and
I French style of playing, the one
, breadth, purity and depth of tone-
shading the other, delicacy of tone,
light and piquant phrazing, which
moves the head more than the heart.
Mr. Fortin has made it the study
of his life, and has seized every op
portunity to fit himself as a great
teacher.
, Mrs. Fortin was born in Liverpool,
England, where she began her musi
cal education, a part of which was
not only the fine private training re
ceived from great masters, but also
the constant hearing of the highest
class of music, both instrumental and
yocal in public concerts which are be
ing given continually every season
Her family afterwards located in
London, where she continued her
musical studies until she went to
Leipzig, where she studied, both at
the Royal Conservatory of Music and
privately under Dr.’ Oscar Paul.
Having received her diploma from
the Royal Conservatory of Music aud
also from Dr. Paul, she returned to
London where she was a most success
ful teacher.
Mrs. Fortin came to America in
1886, and joined Mr Fortin, who had
located in Rome. Ga. Here they open
ed their work in the form of a music
school, which they called The South
ern Conservatory of Music.
They conformed their plan of work,
as near as possible to that of the cel
ebrated conservatory of music, where
they had studied, giving their pupils
the free advantages of theory, har
mony, counterpoint, ensemble and
orchestral playing, sight reading and
choral singing.
To give their pupils these advan
tages. and the bearing of music, in
their monthly concerts, they found
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themselves at great disadvantage for
want of proper room, f<om which
they were deprived being io an ordi
nary dwelling hous», tied after work
ingin this manner lor live years, they
were offered the i.nilding of a prop*-,
conservatory music in Nashvill .
Tenn., as also t> <• ehargeof the music
department '.i conservatory of music,
connected with the normal institute
in Wooster, 'ibio. At a very large
salary, 'at tne same time the Romans,
siV 'erif.r d towards helping to build
th< r i••sent, institution, situated on
It,- '-.orner of Third avenue and East
i'<.<<r'n street, in Rome, Ga., now
k iv wn as the Som hern Conservatoi y
• I Music, established in 1885.
This conservatory is prepared to
give as fine and thorough instruction
as can be obtained in this country,
milking a -ialty of pianoforte and
violin pi; rp They give an average
ol i j every season, in each
o 1 whirl >, . . generally have a con
cilia phi > with orchestral accom
;..,i.imci i. i 1.e.-e concerts are free to
•ipils an.i :in ns. to give them the
i.'lvankov • luaring music. They
teach st>i< t ne classical school, as
this style < i music, is the only one,
which will lay the proper foundation
and finish of a thorough musical ed
ucation. Their main object is the
training of teachers, who will be fit
to do first-class work, and advance
this divine art. In order to obtain
this result they allow the- ■ advanced
pupils (who wish to become teachers)
the advantage of teaching junior
classes at the conservatory under the i
guidance of their teachers. This
gives them practical experience of I
their work, and enables their teacher I
to judge without any doubt of their!
capacity. Soloists are also given the
advantage of playing with orchestral
accompaniment, also the ensemble
playing, in sonatas, for piano and
violin, tiios, qiiartetts with piano and
strings and also string quartette.
Rome is justly proud of being able
to boast of the only proper conserva
tory of music in this part of the
southern states, with people at the
head who are fully competent to ob
tain the highest results, technically
and musically.
CAPT. J. L. BASS.
It would be difficult, indeed, in all this
section to find a man combining so many
admirable and attractive traits as does
Capt. J. L. Bass. He combines with a
wonderful business ability and enterprise,
a love for his fellow men which shows
itself in many ways, and a liking for
those higher attributes which, in his
case, has found vent in the improvement
and refinement of his mind, which is
stored with an abundance of wholesome
intellectual food. It is a rare combina
tion. and one which has placed Captain
Bass in the front rank of our social and
literary world, a? Well as a leadir among
our most progressive business m *n.
He is a Tennesseean by birth, and
worked on a farm until he was 17 years
of age, getting what little education he
could at odd times. He went to Griffin
in 1873. and there his strong will and de
sire for advancement asserted itself, and
he determined tnaThis education should
not be lacking. Working during the
evenings and on Saturdays, and during
vacation for means to meet expenses, he
attended the Sim Bailey Institute for
three years an 1 made the best of his
every opportunity, leading in almost
every department of his school. Ex-
Congressman Beck so admired his course
that he offered him a home in his family
and instruction in law free of charge.
Flattering as was this offer Mr. Bass re
fused it, and two years thereafter he en
tered into business at Griftin. His suc
cess from the beginning was remarkable,
and his business has grown continually, *
until now he is the senior member of four
large dry goods establishments, one in
Griffin, one in Atlanta and one in Car
rollton. Os his business here nothirg
need be said <.t this place, it being too
well known and too popular with all cit
izens of this section. Yet a word might
be added concerning the splendid adver
tisements which appear in The Tribune.
They are written personal I}' 1 }' by Captain
Bass, and are examples of well-turned
sentences, forceful expressions and gram
matical construction. They have long been
the admiration of the people of Rome. L
He has ever taken a lively interest in
public affairs. For a long time he was
the senior commissioned officer of the
UAPJZ N J. 1. PASS.'
Uiilbi j ,p,,i Guaids, and in everything
looking to the advancement of his home
and in: people he has always taken a
pion iii< nt pait. His record as president
i.nd pein nil manager of the Rome Land
Company, and prime mover in a great
many of our leading enterprises, and as
an enthusiastic worker in every scheme
foi the public good, is part of the history
of Rome and is recognized by all. Be
sides his big dry goods business he re
cently accepted the presidency of the
Merchant’s National Bank, and is doing
splendid work forthat institution.
In society Captain Bass is a received
favorite. By his genial disposition, am
iable personality and high talents he has
made a host of admirers, and in his friend
ships, with a heart as tender as a
woman’s, he is very strong. He is a con
sistent member of the Baptist church and
a willing supporter of every Chrstian
movement. A polisned gentleman, a
lover of man and his country, and a
splendid example of a successful business
man, he stands in the front ranks of the
citizens of Rome, and his popularity is
not strange. It is a natural result of com
bining so many high and happy qualities,
and Rome is proud to claim him as one
of her sons.
HON. JOHN W. MADDOX. •
In the conduct of his campaign Hon.
John W. Maddox has displayed the
most manly methods. He is running
on his merits as a true and loyal demo
crat and a man upon whose fair escutch
eon there is neither stain nor stigma.
He has a rec r 1 that s clean
and no man can bring a charge against
his official career.
As a man he is the soul of integrity
and his fidelity to his principles have
never been questioned by those who un
derstand and appreciate the worth and
character of a conscientious leader. The
efforts to belittle bis career in con
gress fall flat before the many evidences
of his zeal and energy for the interests
of the people of his district.
He has met, in turn, republicans and
populists and has come out victorious in
every contest. In this campaign, he is
opposed not only by the populistic can
didate, but by a democrat whose
friends would malign the character of
Judge Maddox to further their own sel
fish ends.
The course of Judge Maddox is in
striking contrast to these methods, he
having adopted the policy which he is
putting into practice, of conducting his
campaign on the most honorable and
strictly democratic principles. Such a
cause deserves to win and is sure to
win in the end. and John W. Maddox
will be sent back to Washington by
the largest majority ever given a con
gressional candidate in this district.