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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HON. JOHN H. JAMES. John H. James was born in Henry county, Georgia, on the fourteenth day of July, 1830. His father, David James, a native of North Car olina, emigrated to this State about fifty years ago, and married the beautiful and accomplished Miss Sarah Sanders, of Franklin county. This estimable lady has passed from earth, but her husband survives at a green old age, full of mental and physical vigor—a sturdy, respected and independent farmer, at the old homestead in Henry county. The childhood of John H. James was unmark ed by any features of particular interest to the public. As a member of a respectable and in dustrious family, devoted to rural pursuits, he bore his part in the labors of the farm with un complaining and cheerful spirit. Dutiful to his parents, careful of their happiness, affectionate and just to his brother and sisters, he illustrated, in early years, the embryo of the splendid Chris tian character which makes him appreciated and honored by the good and noble of the State. He was never known to murmur at the circumstances of his early life, nor in Summer’s heat or Win ter’s cold to desert the post of duty. Through many a melting day he has followed the plow or handled the hoe, as a barefooted boy, and in many a wintry blast labored cheerfully for the bread of the family. After the crops were laid by, he was permit ted to enjoy the advantages of the neigh borhood schools, in which he obtained, by close application, a limited knowledge of the rudi ments of an English education. For about three months he attended a boarding-school at the village of Jonesboro, after which he entered the great University of Nature, in which he has gathered a fund of practical knowledge that con stitutes him one of the best-informed men of this country. The facility with which he meas ures character, circumstances and things, is wonderful—enabling him, with unerring preci sion, to reach conclusions. At the age of twenty he bade adieu to the old home, endeared to him by many fond memories, and located at Atlanta. There was a vital prompt ing energy within him that required more active and exciting scenes and employment than were furnished by life in the country. However dear were the pursuits and associations of his child hood ami youth, he yielded to the stern bidding of his nature and sought the city, not for idle enjoyment, but for the performance of manly duty. A situation was promptly secured al ten dollars per month. Soon it was advanced to twelve dollars and fifty cents ; and as his capac ity and fidelity were discovered, and his experi ence increased, his salary was enlarged, reach ing, in due season, one hundred dollars per month. At that period this was regarded as first-class compensation, and none but first-class clerks could command so much. For five years he continued in the relationship of employee, and enjoyed the fullest confidence of his em ployers. In 1865, having saved from his earnings two thousand three hundred dollars, which he deem ed sufficient to justify business on his own ac count, he decided to engage in that of an auc tioneer. Rightly judging that change from point to point was necessary to the life and profit of that pursuit, he determined to conduct it as an itinerant. For years he wa> punctual in attend ance at those places in the Southern States best suited to the success of his plans. In five years he had accumulated property valued at twenty thousand dollars, and demonstrated to himself the wisdom of reliance upon his own mental suggestions which have proven unerring guides to fortune. In 1860, feeling that his possessions were am ple, and influenced by a true and ardent affec tion, he sought and gained the heart and hand of Miss Susan C. Leonard, daughter of A. K. Leonard, Eeq., of Talbot county, to whom he was married during that year. Blessed with a wife of proverbial gentleness and beauty of character, he felt that an era had dawned upon him replete with the promises of happiness, and that his changed condition required a change of pursuit. Accordingly, with fortune enlarged, he located permanently in Atlanta, engaging in the business of banking. Success re war led his efforts until the war of the States was instituted. This circumstance, which disturbed the finan cial condition of so many citizens, fell with heavy force upon the fortune of Mr. James, leaving him only a small portion of his acquisitions with which, after the smoke of the conflict had passed, to resume his selected pursuit. About four thousand dollars in cash, and real estate of per haps twice this amount in value, constituted all ’hat was left him by the tedious and terrible strife. Undaunted and with a ch'erful spirit, he reopened his bank, and has since steadily prosecuted busineas with unvarying success.— m m wan w waiw Grasping results through a power of perception well-nigh prophetic, his conclusions have proved unerring. He has acquired fortune after for tune, until he now ranks as one of the wealthi est men in the State —owning as much (or more) real estate in Atlanta as any other citizen, and wielding a banking capital equal to every neces sity of his business position. Mr. James enjoys the confidence of all who know him. His capaciiy and integrity challenge the criticism of the world. No one can truly charge him with a single act either of illiberal ity or dishonor, and none will doubt the power of his intellect who judge it through the medium of his achievements—the only reliable test. During the panic of 1873. when many of the wealthiest bankers were compelled to suspend— some going into bankruptcy—a heavy pressure was brought to bear upon the establishment'of Mr. James, by the unexpected demands of de positors. At this juncture he closed his bank until he could marshal assets, when a number of the wealthy men of Atlanta, voluntarily and through the press, proposed to assume, in his behalf, liabilities varying from five to fifty thou sand dollars each. Such a manifestation of faith is seldom met with in the history of bank ers or banking institutions; and this was an expression of confidence unmistakably sincere, since it was based upon the advance of large sums of actual capital for immediate use. These shrewd men had measured not only the integrity, but the ability of Mr. James, and this act was the highest commendation that could have been given. The financial storm passed, leaving many a noble wreck as a consequence of its fury, but the establishment of Mr. James survived its threatenings and came out even strengthened in the face of the dangers which seemed to impend. Unwilling in such a period to force collections from his many debtors —feeling that such a course would result in great inconvenience and perhaps serious injury to them—he placed promptly on the market a large amount of valuable city property, which he brought to actual sale at pub lic outcry. Thus he was not only enabled to ex tend extraordinary favors to his patrons, but to make such additions to his banking capital as would prepare him, in all events, for the calls of panic-stricken depositors. Mr. James has wrought out for himself, in an incredibly short space of time, the reputation of an accomplished and far-seeing financier. He entered the arena of commerce when but a plow boy, and has handled the great financial prob lems of his day with the fhcility and success of a master. Even when fresh from the farm and the field, his conclusions and his actions were marked by accuracy, and the history of his ac quisitions show few errors of judgment in the many details constituting his business decisions. Men born in the lap of wealth, educated to the highest degree in literary and commercial schools, having long experience in banking under the most advantageous circumstances, esteem it a privilege to advise with John H. James. His fortune has been made, not by niggardly savings, but heroic investments. Relying upon his own comprehension and judgment, he has amassed largely by venturing where others feared to go. As an illustration, he realized over twenty thousand dollars from the purchase of a lot of bonds of a suspended bank. These securities were freely advertised in the papers of the State, and by distributing handbills. Their character ami the time of sab- were brought to the notice of bankers generally, but they failed to comprehend the situation, and suffered Mr. James to purchase them for a little over three hundred dollars. Dealing in stocks and bonds as an important feature in his banking business, and though regarded hazardous, has brought him only an unbroken succession of financial triumphs. He scans the question, de cides, acts and succeeds. No one has displayed so much enterprise, good judgment or refined taste in the improvement of Atlanta. The most valuable, beautiful and imposing structures are due to his designs. His bank block, extending on Whitehall and Ala bama street towards the railroad crossing, the Executive Mansion and his private residence on Peachtree street are ornaments to the city and monuments to his liberal enterprise and refined taste. The latter is a costly and magnificent model of architecture. Though, as stated, his s*les of city property in 1873 were considerable, he still retains a large amount of great value, bringing him good annual profits byway of rent. Every room in his spacious bank block, embracing basements and attics, is occupied. Here is situated his banking business, the ma chinery of which moves with a quiet precision and absence of all ostentation, which seems to be copied from the equanimity and deportment of the proprietor. With him its portico is a favorite point. There he may be seen every morning, greeting the passers-by with his genial face, or engaged in pleasant conversation with those who pause in the sunshine of his presence. No one would imagine that Mr. James has an unpleasant care upon his heart, or a disturbing thought in his brain. His eye beams with a lustre that burns steadily, and his countenance is sereiie as a cloudless morn of the spring. Free from all affectation, ready at every moment to communicate with others, showing no selfish reticence for the sake of gaining advantage, practical, far-seeing, sensible and good, no won der that his presence is an attraction which causes many of the passing throng to halt before him. To say that Mr. James is a noble character is only the language of true description. At home, in society or in the counting-house he illustrates this truth. His family consists of his wife, a little girl about ten, and a son about nine years of age. No happier home adorns the State. Af fection presides over it and with generous care provides for every want. Towards his employ ees he maintains a respectful, polite and kind deportment, never assuming that chilling aus terity so common with those who wield capital in the control of labor. To society he always adds a charm by his genial good nature. He is a man of great liberality, furnishing a striking exception to the maxim that human na tures becomes miserly in the ratio of its accumu lations. The evidences of his generosity are seen on every hand. At his individual expense two commodious and handsome church edifices have been built in Atlanta, and to the comple tion of another he contributed the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars. Both of the churches which he had erected are regularly supplied with pastors and services each Sabbath. Though he has been a devotedly pious member of the Baptist denomination since his eighteenth year, and though now attached to the Second Baptist Church of Atlanta, he is possessed of nothing like bigotry, but gives to all churches and all races, whether Jew or Gentile, Catholic or Protestant, home or foreign born, white or black. Thousands of minor charities have re lieved the necessity of the poor, and if the worth of men shoufd be measured by their gifts to the needy, that of Mr. James would appear pre-eminent. His donations to churches since the war sum up more than fifteen thousand dol lars, an.amount considerably in excess of the entire capital with which he resumed business. The fact that he gives in the prime of life, while in the vigor of health, distinguishes him from most of those who have bestowed charities and benefits. It is the general custom to cling closely to the sordid dust until robbed by death of the power of enjoyment, and then to bequeath a portion to charity and the church. Though temperate in all his habits, he has never joined a temperance society. His advice, however, to all now is to guard themselves with jealous care against the insidious indulgence in strong drink. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and lives in obedience to its injunctions of purity and charity. To give some idea of his appre ciation by the denomination to which he is at tached, it maybe said that he is prominent in almost all of its important enterprises, being a trustee of Mercer University; trustee and treas urer of the Georgia Baptist Orphans’ Home ; be ing. also, with the help of his good wife, super intendent of that institution. He has given to the “ Home ” more than any other man, and his wife more than any other lady. He has for a number of years been president of the Atlanta Bible Society ; also, of Fulton County Sabbath School Society, both of which are composed of members of the various orthodox denominations. In this we have proof that he is esteemed by Christians of other churches who have measured his virtues and honored him. In 1871, Mr. James was called unanimously to the Mayoralty of Atlanta, having first been nominated by a popular vote of the Democratic citizens over three gentlemen of highest standing socially and politically. This indicates his strengh With the Democracy of the city and his great personal popularity. This is the only of fice he ever held. It was not sought, but ac cepted because tendered by his constituents in a manner so complimentary. A high apprecia tion of his administrative ability and his integ rity promoted their choice. As proof that his administration was accepted and approve I, he was strongly urged to allow his re-election.— This he declined. His public service was char acterized by a desire to advance the common in terests of the city and by the sbiebst honesty. In 1872, his name was suggested in connec tion with the gubernatorial election office.— Many citizens of foresight and influence desired to see him in position for the exercise of his great financial mind in redeeming the State from her financial embarassments and perplexity. They saw in him the hope of Georgia, and therefore entreated him to allow his name placed before the nominating convention of that year. This he declined to do, and apprehending that his position might not !»e fully understood, and that this might interfere with the desired unani mity of that body, he published a letter in which he declared that he would, under no cir cumstances, be a candidate at that time. The suggestion of his name for Governor brought out a number of jealous and unjust comments, designed to prejudice his standing with the people. It was alleged that he had re alized a large fortune from the Treasury of Geor gia by the sale of his magnificent residence for an Executive Mansion. The facts and figures show that the report of his profits were exag gerations. The original cost of the land, build ing and furniture conveyed to the State amount ed to seventy-three thousand dollars. For these he received one hundred thousand dollars in depreciated bonds, which, by extraordinary shrewdness, he managed to dispose of to Henry Clews & Co. for eighty-five thousand dollars. This left him only the apparent prdfit of twelve thousand dollars. The land cost Mr. James ten thousand dollars. Upon this for three or four years, while unproductive, he paid State, county and city taxes. Add to this the interest on its cost—ten thousand dollars; then to this add the interest for one year on the cost of the building, it having been about that length of time in process of erection, and consequently unproductive. When these amounts are summed up and subtracted from the apparent profit— twelve thousand dollars—it will be reduced to an inconsiderable amount, if not altogether absorbed. These facts and figures are capable of easy proof, and certainly vindicate Mr. James effectualy against this charge. As soon as it was sold he built another fully as handsome which cost about the same, which clearly shows that he built the first one for his own use. The more serious allegation that be absconded from the .Confederacy during her struggle for independ ence was put in circulation. This was regarded by the opponents of his political advancement as a fatal shot— one that would cause him to hide his face in shame from his countrymen; one that would class him among the enemies of Georgia, convincing all that he was untrue, and therefore unsafe, to hdr interests. Mr. James was ap prised of the zeal with which this slander was circulated, and also that thousands of honest people believed the report. He gave no direct denial, calmly awaiting the period of his choice to employ the proof at his command for his vin dication. The facts are these : For a short period he was in the military service, but upon the tender of his personal aid as bearer of dispatches to for eign powers, he was granted a release from the army and furnished a passport beyond our lines. Embarking at Wilmington, North Carolina, on a blockade runner, he reached Nassau in safety, and remained there most of the time until the close of the war. He visited and spent a short time in Canada, and while there devoted himself, at great personal cost, to the object of relieving Southern soldiers who languished in Northern prisons. Many received the benefits of his lib erality and knew not to whom they were indebt ed. To make his plans more effective, it was essential that profound secresy should be main tained. When he advertised in the New York Herald, it was over an assumed name. Perhaps those who were his beneficiaries have innocently believed or circulated this unjust charge. If so, they should, when informed of the actual facts, be equally active and zealous in doing justice to a persecuted patriot. The passport of Mr. James was granted by Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of State of the Confederate States, and was doubtless allowed on the hypothesis that the applicant could and would render more efficient service beyond our lines than as a private in the ranks. It is absurd tn say that Mr. Benjamin, in 1863, when able bodied soldiers were in so much demand, would have allowed his departure on any other account. Lest some may dispute the correctness of this statement and persist in urging the false and prejudicial charge, we are permitted to publish the following copy of the passport, and to refer to Mr. James for the examination of the original : Confederate States of America. To all whom these Presents shall Come—Greeting : 1, the undersigned Secretary of State of the Confederate States of America, hereby request all whom it may concern to permit safely to pass, J. H. James, accompanied by his wife, a citizen o f the Confederate States of America, and in case of need to give him all lawful aid and protec tion. Given under my hand and the impression of the [Seal], seal of the Department of State, at the City of Richmond, this the 12th of Oc tober, 1863. [Signed,] J. P.‘ Benjamin, Secretary of State. This act of Mr. Benjamin whs approved by Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War, as will appear by reference to an original letter from that officer now in possession of Mr. James. This passport was not granted in and if the person to whom it was issued is subject to public censure, those who granted it must also be condemned. The Con federacy not only required soldiers to figh’ 7