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THE fLA A a o r j uVt|..-<aMfWW x ' *'*/( VOL. 1---NO 4 IlyJSHgly::*'.' b \- ,^ ?s ’.“' £iWMM|twl ,r ~' Is^^AMMFWy^*- r; ‘ ■’■'■'• ' - . •• • • -•’’’ -amm r. &. •• •••*■ " \;-.?-',!jtgßß WslHSio n~< HL> :UJ||, st V. ••■**■.?• «w -> ■ -■••'•—■■aSMb* -•,, - BS-?<-:- p?'CC- <r :■•>'*’-Tvi, -- ~ hb»-V. 'T * _ .*•*»# si Vf<| ; j I taaais klafjklsjfioe GOVERNOR J. S. BOYNTON. James Stoddard Boynton was born in Henry county, Ga., on the 7th day of May, 1833. His father, Elijah S. Boyn ton, was a native of the state of Ver mont, who early came South, and was one of the first settlers of Henry county. He was of Scotch descent. Mr. Boyn ton's mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Moffet, came from a South Carolina family, and was of French ex traction. James was the seventh son and eleventh child. His opportunities as a boy w’ere of the most meagre de scription. His parents, though in fair circumstances, were never wealthy. His only education was that derived from the old field school, which was ket open but a few months in each year, and the curriculm of which embraced only an elementary English education. During the rest of the year young James worked on the farm, following the plow, carry ing corn to the old country mill, or per chance, with gun or rod, pursuing the pleasures as shooting or fishing amongst the fields or along the banks of the beau tiful stream of his native county. But even amidst these peaceful events, his active mind was not idle. Fired no doubt by the heroic deeds of Southern valor in the Mexican war, the warm, enthusias tic heart of the spirited boy dreamed of glory, and his practical mind, not con tent with idle vision, planned for him self a military career. Young Boynton determined, if possible, to secure an ap pointment to West Point. In order that he might prepare himself for this life, in 1849 he was placed in the family of John W. Crockett, and attended the school of Rev. W. A. Rogers, a clergyman of the Methodist church, a most competent teacher, and one who has since attained great prominence in the church as an educator. Boynton was at this time sixteen years of age, wholly ignorant of the ways of the world, with so little education that he had never looked into a grammar, and knew of no higher branch of mathematics than arithmetic; warm hearted and confiding, in figure angular, over six feet in height, weigh ing only ninety pounds, ungainly, with a palid, calorless face, and hair sandy to whiteness, he seemed unable to keep pace with those around him who had had so many and great advantages, and to them he seemed just the proper vic tim for their glee and sports. But that spirit which has made the man, shone out clear and b.ight in THE LONELY BOY. The first attempt at a practical joke was met with so prompt a resentment and such a ready offer to fight the ag gressor, that he was not troubled by any similar attempt, while his pleasant and genial disposition soon made him a fa vorite with all the school. To the sur ’ prise of everybody, his indomitable will and energy, coupled with his natural quickness, enabled him not only to avoid falling behind in the studies of his classes, but won for him a reputation for talent and scholarship among his compeers. In November, 1849, he lost his.father, who left him as his patrimo ny one hundred acres of land and one negro. Young Boynton, still intent on carving out his fortune in a military ca reer, determined on continuing his stud ies. He chose for his guardian Wm. Beck, Esq., who took young Boynton to his house and treated him as one of his family, aiding him to continue his stud ies and encouraging him in his efforts to attain the objects of his ambition, and promising to furnish the means necessa ry for its attainment. During a portion of this time, in order to increase his lim ited means, he taught one of the coun try schools, still continuing, however, his preparation for West Point Unfor tunately for young Boynton, Mr. Beck died in 1851, soon after he became his guardian. This was a severe blow, and destroyed all hopes of West Point, as without Mr. Beck's aid, he could not bear the expense, and he had no other friend who would aid him; but nothing daunted Boynton, with the consent of Mr. John A, Smith, w’ho had taken Mr. Beck s place as a guardian, sold his prop erty and determined to apply for admis sion into the Georgia Military Institute at Marietta, Ga. In order to prepare himself, he re-entered Mr. Roger's school, which he had left in order to become a teacher, but remained there only a short time. Going to Marietta in the spring of 1852, with his scanty supply of money, all he had in the world, this brave boy learned that his hopes of a military edu cation must be forever abandoned; his utmost means could, by the strictest economy, support him but two years, while three was the least number that would suffice to enable him to graduate. Chafing under this disappointment and chagrin, in an evil hour he fell in with a sharper, who playing upon his feelings and taking advantage of his youth and inexperience, got him for the time in his power, having induced young Boyn ton to go with him to Rome, fleeced him of most of his money and left him “a stranger in a strange land.” By some chance Boynton went thence to Cave Springs, without any definite plans. There he fell in with and made friends of some of the boys of Hearne’s school at that place. Wherever he was, and un der whatever circumstances, Boynton seemed to thirst for knowledge; his active mind could not rest in idleness, and we are not surprised to find him next a student at Hearne’s School. There he staid until his exhausted hoard compelled him to lay aside his books and seek for something which would furnish food and clothing. Returning to Henry county without plan for the future, an offer from Colonel L. T. Doyal, a promi nent lawyer of McDonough, determined his future career, and accepting it, he became a law student in Colonel Doyal's office. About this time he met and FELL IN LOVE with Miss Fannie Loyal,’of Monticel lo, Jasper county, Ga. His love was re turned, and to his desire to become inde pendent and to enter upon a career of usefulness, was added the earnest desire to be united in marriage to the object of his affections. Spurred on by necessity, ambition and love, he applied himself with all earnestness of his ardent nature, and with every talent of his vigorous mind to master the principles of the law. At the expiration of seven weeks he pre- ATLANTA, GA., MARCH 11, 1883. sented himself for admission to the bar during the October term of Henry Supe rior Court, and during the third week of October, after a most rigid examination, he was admitted by that able jurist, Judge Jas. A. Stark, receiving the con gratulations of the Judge and the entire bar on the thoroughness of his prepara tion and the credit with which he had passed his examination. On November 15th, 1852, Mr. Boynton, then nineteen, moved, with his library and all his worldly goods (except a negro), which were contained in a one-horse wagon, to Monticello, Jasper county, Ga., and opened a law office. Without friends, without money, with only a limited and irregular education, but with a brave heart, an upright character and brilliant mind he started the battle of life. In the face of his difficulties, on the 2d of December, 1852, he was united in mar riage to Miss Fannie Loyal, and she, who, with the devotion that only woman’s love can produce, was willing to share the fortunes and privations of this poor young attorney, was to him through life every help-meet, encouraging, Riding, comforting every trial and shaping that character of noble manhood which ena bled her in after years to see, with feel ings of joy and pride, her husband, the honored and respected man among those who had known him first only as the struggling orphan boy. After his mar riage Mr. Boynton lived in Monticello, practicing his profession, until January, 1858, when he removed to Jackson, Butts county, Ga., and entered into co partnership with Col. Jas. R. Lyons. Rising rapidly in his profession and making many friends, in January, 1860, he was elected Ordinary of Butts coun ty. Ga., over a popular political oppo nent whose party had a majority in the c innty. His conduct of the office and business of the Ordinary was most ex cellent, and gave greyt satisfaction. Al though this office exempted him, and although he had been a conservative on the question of secession, yet Mr. Boyn ton, when the war came on, deemed it his duty to leave office, friends, wife, family and home, and he joined the ranks of the THIRTIETH GEORGIA REGIMENT and served seven months as a private. When the regiment was reorganized in 1862, so great was his popularity, Private Boynton was elected Major of the regi ment, and proved himself an efficient, trusted and favorite officer. In Decem ber, 1862, he became Lieutenant-Colonel. His regiment served at Savannah, Char leston, Wilmington, Pocotaligo and Jacksonville, but in May, 1863, was or dered to Jackson, Miss., and, went through the arduous campaign "which ensued in that State, and finally joined the army in Tennessee, a few weeks be fore the battle of Chickamauga. During this campaign Col. Boynton earned a high reputation for courage and ability, and on the evening before the evacua tion of Jackson, his Colonel, Manghum, and Lieutenant-Colonel Boynton were by general order issued by General Walker, specially mentioned for galantry dis played. His regiment was in the thick est of the fight, losing in one and a half hours 55 per cent, of its men; and those that were present bear witness that where the fight was the thickest and the danger greatest, there was ever the gal lant Boynton cheering on and encour aging his men, with a splendid coolness and courage that set death at defiance. Col. T. W. Manghum, a most gallant soldier, being seriously and permanently wounded in this battle, Lieutenant-Col. Boynton became Colonel of the regiment. From that time on, the regiment fol lowed the fortunes of the Western army. At Missionary Ridge, at Dalton, during the seventy-two days retreat to Atlanta, and in the battles around Atlanta, the Thirtieth Georgia bore its full share of danger and toil, and never did the Thir tieth Georgia go into action, so long as he commanded it, except under the lead ership of Col. Boynton. He was no car pet knight, he only asked his men to fol low where he led. The writer has been informed by a friend of Col. Boynton that just before the retreat from Dalton to Atlanta commenced he was detailed tosit on a court-martial which would last two or three months, in Atlanta. As soon as he heard of it he applied in most urgent terms to be relieved from that duty and to be allowed to remain with his regi ment. The request was granted, and he never left them until stricken down by the enemy while forty yards in front of his men, leading them on to the charge in the battle near Decatur, on the 22d of July, 1864. His wound detained Col. Boynton from his regiment until Janu uary, 1865, but at that time, although an invalid from his wound, which has kept him in bad health until the last three or four years, and although una ble tomove without his crutches, A MERE SKELETON, He juried his command and remained with them until they were disbanded. During the war, in 1863, Col. Boynton had moved his family to Griffin, and there, after the war, he resumed the of law. In the summer of 1866 he waS elected over Col. A. D. Nunnally, an old and popular citizen of the coun ty, Judge of the County Court. This position he filled with marked ability until the court was abolished. Judga Boynton, it is believed, was the first Judge to hold the Stay Laws of 1865 un constitutional From 1869 to 1872 Col. Boynton was Mayor of Griffin. In 1877 he lost his devoted wife, so long the sharer of his joys and woes. He has not since married. His family consists of his two sons, the only children he ever had. From 1870 to 1880 Col. Boynton devoted himself to his profession; but in 1880 he was called by the people of the Twenty-sixth Senatorial district from his retirement and unanimously elected to the Senate. On the assembling of that Lwdy he was" unanimously chosen President of the Senate, the only in stance we believe on record where a new member, serving his first term in the Legislature, has ever, without opposi tion, been called to preside over the Sen ate of Georgia and become ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor of the Common wealth. Such is a brief sketch of this self-made man, who, by his genius and goodness, has fought his way from ob scurity to the proud eminence on which he stands. Os HIS RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS We can say that he is an earnest and consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Os him as a soldier, his record speaks in lodes louder than meY<4»»'oms to tell of hl? gallantry, abil ity and fidelity. Os his capacity for pub lic office, the records of those he has filled are his most fitting witness, and are volumes which tell of his capacity. Another evidence is that in no race be fere the people has Col. Boynton ever been defeated. As a lawyer, learned, clear, with a perfect equipoise, with a dexterity in the management of cases, rarely met; as a speaker, logical, perspic uous, easy, often rising into eloquence, and with a power of invective whenever roused that sweeps all before, he stands the equal of any man to-day at the bar of Georgia. Perhaps his highest tribute is that the unlearned, untutored boy of nineteen, who, on seven weeks prepara tion, entered the ranks of the profession, stands a leader of the bar of that same circuit in which he was admitted, and which numbers among its members some of the ablest lawyers in the State. As a legislator Col. Boynton was noted for his courtesy to his colleagues, his clear ness of insight into any measure pend ing, and the soundness of his views aud measures. In the session of five months no appeal from the decision of their new member and presiding officer was ever sustained. Entering the Senate of Geor gia at its last session, and glancing around to see the distinguished looking men of that body, the eye of every vis itor naturally fell upon the President standing six feet and three inches in height, with broad and ample shoulders, a figure not too heavy, his clear blue eyes looking out from a face that blend ed benevolence with firmness and decis ion, his ample brow shaded now with locks no longer sandy to whiteness, but light brown, with health in every linea ment and intellect stamped on every feature, such is the picture presented by Jas. S. Boynton. ATLANTA SMARTNESS. A JONESBORO FIGHTER. He was no Christian looking man, as he came swaggering out of a bar on Ala bama street, and proclaimed to a group of awe stricken men that he was from Jonesboro, and not arfaid of anything mortal or otherwise. “Why,” said he, fixing his glittering black eyes on a small man in the crowd, “I kin lick this street full o’men; taint never Saturday es I don't have three er four rows an’ chaw of somebody’s year.” “Oh, shut up, blabby,”Jcame from the small man, “you’re no good!” “Great Jerusalem! did I hear right, er did my eyes deceive me. You talk to me that way; you little dried up skunk, talk to the best man in Clayton county thusly?” and he approached the young one threateningly, who, to the surprise of all, stood his ground. On came the hero of Jonesboro waving his fist around. As he reached the to be victim, he was met by a resounding whack from a stick and he fell over like a shot dog, with the little man on top, clawing and I ll' 1 i '43 Iwi® BR X-> a I ALEXANDER HAMILTON STEPHENS. IN MEMORIAM—BY SAM W. SMALL, ‘’OLD SI.” • A Great, Good man ! Amen 1 Full-orb’d in years !—Full-crown’d with Fame ! A weakling tho’ thou wer’t in frame— A quiv’ring Atlas ’neath a name With broader reach and slighter blame Than most e’er borne by men 1— Thou art at last in that brief trance That intercepts the final glance From earth to Heaven 1 Oh, Great, Good man ! Vale ! Oh, Heart so brave, so tender still 1 Oh, eyes so bright, yet quick to fill With these rich sympathies that thrill scratching like a cat. After a few sec onds he was allowed to get up, and as he regained his feet, the little man made another dive for him, shouting, “do you want some more?” “No, gul darn ye, I dont,” answered the conquered chief, as he got as far be hind the hitching post as possible, “I ain't no hog, I knows when I’se got er nough.” ECONOMICAL. He had a shrewd business way about him, as he stepped into an Alabama street store to price some groceries, but everything was too good for his trade. “I want something off,” he remarked, “something old, musty and rotten.” He was shown some cheese that had age and life enough about them to walk off, but nothing could be found to suit him, and at last he said : “Give me a chaw of terbakker.” The clerk produced a piece of Lucy Hinton, but he shook his head and said: “Have you nothing commoner than that ? ’ ‘‘l thought you’d like something good, ” the clerk said, as a peice of old navy ap peared, and the man grabbed it. “No, it’s too high for me, I takes the cheap stuff so I won’t cultervate a taste fer the good, because I’m not able to buy the good.” A NEW STREET CAR. As policeman Crim was walking his beat, a few nights ago, he heard some one growling and cursing on the corner of Whitehall and Alabama streets. Hur rying up there he found a man, rather off, sitting on the stepping stones near the street lamp, and hugging the post tightly, while he muttered : “Bern this system ’o street cars; say driver, why donsher drive on, hey? Oh, dassa fac’; I fergot, I must pay fare, ’fi don’t, off I go, see ?” and he dropped a coin into the letter-box. “Now, I shpose the old cart’ll move on,” and his weary head bent affection ately toward the post. The old cart however, remained still, but he moved off with Crim as conduc tor, to a place where little boxes are un known, and where locks and keys pre vail. A TARIFF REFORMER. One of our most influential Georgia Grangers was superintending affairs at his cotton-press the other day when he was accosted by a neighbor: “I see, Colonel, that the tariff bill has passed ? ” “Is that so ! How about cotton-ties ? ” “Still thirty-five cent ad valorem ! ” “Well, here, you boys, thar! sift an other shovel o’ sand in the middle of that bale—l can’t afford to reform until tlie tariff does !” And the sifting was strictly attended to. WHAT WILL THE RADICALS DO. A lady residing on Formwait street is the happy possessor of a bright and pre cocious boy of five years. The little fel low has heard everything from tea table chat to political topics discussed, and has PRICE 5 CENTS. To joyful scenes, or sights of ill, For thee, we weep and pray I For years will come and men depart Ere we shall know thy counterpart In this poor clay ! Oh, Great, Good man ! Farewell! Thy deeds shall live I—Thy honors bloom I Thy well-earned fame survive the gloom— Thy precepts over-reach the tomb— And find in patriot hearts full room To work their richest spell; And generations yet to be Guard well that fame which History And Truth shall tell 1 March 6th. 1883. ’ evinced considerable interest. His mother 3 read him an account of the death of Gov. 3 Stephens, and he insisted that she should 1 take him to the mansion to view the ro maine. After looking intently at? the * body, he asked : “Mama, is that Gov. Stephens?” “Yes, my son.” 1 “He can’t pardon any more convicts, can he, mama?” “No, my son, Gov. Stephens is dead.” “Well, mama, if he cant pardon any t more what will the radical party do a now ?” t The little boy was led qnietly away without a definite answer to his ques tion. 9 1 SAD DEATH OF A PUNSTER. t He did not seem to have much bus iness on his mind, as he passed in front of Walt Wood’s stove and baby carriage T emporium, but a bright idea seemed to . strike him and he waltzed boldly in. j “I want to see the proprietor,” he blandly said to the clerk who came hur- ’ riedly forward and courteously squirted . some tobacco juice on the stranger’s shining shoes, as he replied: “Not in, , somethin' I can do fer you ?” > “Where is he ? I want to see him es r pecially.” “At home.” “What’s the matter with him, ‘Stove’ up?” and an angelic look came over his face. As soon as he rec ivered from the 1 shock, that extended through the whole ! establishment, the clerk answered sadly: “No, sir.” I “I didn't know,” continued the stranger, “I thought he looked a little ‘Pail’ the la time I was here.” Another shock. “Pretty well off, ainthe?” “Well, not exactly as well off as some folks, but mighty solid.” “Oh, I imagined he was rather wealthy, seeing so much ‘Tin’ lying around.” This time the clerk dropped him with a slew-footed andiron. After he crawled up he asked: “What does ‘Tin-Ware?” Another whack, but from the confus ed, bleeding mass came these words, “Is that a very ‘Coal-Stove’ over yonder ?’* This was too much for even a stove man to endure, and he was dragged to the rear, and now sleeps in a nameless grave. All persons are hereby warned, that such talk as the above, will nbt ‘Pan out' on Whitehall street. ATLANTA SMARTNESS. “Why are you and I like the driver of a vehicle for carrying passengers ? ’ asked a young Peachtree husband, of his wife, after they had gone through the kissing act for the eighth time. “I don’t know,” was the reply. “Because we’re always on the Bus.” The attending physicians have hopes of his recovery. “You should not be so chairitable to wards your neighbor,” remarked Mrs. Muskedine, to her husband, after he had nearly brained Smith with a niece nf J household furniture. P °