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HISTORY
FRANKLIN COLLEGE.
CLASS OF 1823.
Thos. N. Beall camo to College in
1819, frcm Oglethorpe county, where
he then resided; be was a member
of the Demosthenian Society. After
graduation, he moved to Monroe co.,
and was a practising lawyer there.
He was a delegate from that county,
to the “ Internal Improvement Con
vention” which convened in Milledge
villein 1831; also, to the “Great
Anti tariff” Convention of 1832.
Gen. Jamos N. Bethune, was also
a Demosthenian ; he came to College
from Greene county; in 1825, he was
elected Solicitor Gen’l of the South
ern Circuit; he was also elected Bri
gadier General by the Legislature.—
For sometime, he was connected with
the press of Columbus, in which city
he now resides.
Norman L. Chester came to Col
lege from Groton, Connecticut; he
was a member of the Demosthenian
Society. Upon the graduation of
his class, be spoke the Greek Saluta
tory. After leaving College, he
taught school some time at Lexing*
ton, Ga.; afterwards, he became a
practicing physician ; he lived in, or
near Marietta, after leaving Lexing
ton; he died either during or just af
ter the late war.
William B. Cobb, a member of the
Phi Kappa, was sent to the Univer
sitp from Columbia county; he has
been dead a number of years.
George Foote joined the ministry
a few years after leaving his alma
mater.
James A. Frierson entered College,
coming from Maury county, Tenn.
Dr. John H. Gray, prior to enter*
ing College, resided in Abbeville, S.
C.; he graduated with the Latin Sa
lutatory. When a Junior, ho was
elected to one of the positions from
tbo Phi Kappa Society, to speak on
Tuesday night of the Commencement
of 1822. After graduation, bo be*
came a Presbyterian minister, and
had the degree of D. D. conferred on
him, not by bis alma mater, but by
some other institution. About 1850,
ho became President of a College at
LaGrange, Tenn.
Judge Iverson Louis Harris is de
scended from Welch and French an*,
cestry ; his father was Augustin Har
ris, of Virginia, and his mother was
the granddaughter of John Lewis,
the contemporary and friend of Pa
trick Henry. Judge H. was the only
son of bis parents that reached the
age of ten ; ho was born in Clarke
county, Ga., about a mile from Wat
kinsville, on the Athens road, in 1805.
His father moved to Milledgeville in
1807, The subject of this notice, un-
THE GEORGIA COLLEGIAN.
derwent his course of iraining in the
very indifferent schools near him, un
til August, 1820, when he entered the
Sophomore class in the University.
In 1823, ho graduated without any
of the honors conferred for scholar
ship and strict observance of the laws
of the institution.
During the year 1824, withoutany
instructor, he read the books requir
ed for admission to the bar; and
when he felt assured, from self ex
amination, that he could pass the or
deal, he applied for admission, and
was examined for three hours by
Judge Longstreet. Upon its conclu*
sion, he was highly complimented,
and admitted to practice in all the
Georgia Courts. He then opened an
office in Milledgeville In 1826-7-8
-’9 and '3O, he was the Reading Cl’k
of the State Sonate. In 1831, he de
feated the Hon. John A. Cuthbert for
Secretary of the Senate ; and in '32,
was re-elected. Afterwards, when
party spirit ran high, being a States
rights man, he was defeated, and re
turned to his office.
He was appointed by Gov. Gilmer
to examine and revise Dawson’s
Compilation of the Acts of the Lo*
gislature. In 1836, being Judge Ad
vocate of a military division, he re
paired to head-quarters in Alabama,
and remained in the service till the
close of the Indian campaign. On
his return, without any desire on his
part, he was elected to the Legisla*
ture, and there, under the leadership
of Gordon and Jenkins, took an ac
tive part in the establishment of the
State Road, and had many valuable
amendments made to the Judiciary
system. In 1837, he was elected
Senator, and there originated the es
tablishment of the Lunatic Asylum
at Milledgeville. When absent from
the State, in 1838, he was elected,
without his knowledge, commission
er to carry out the Free Banking
System just entered upon. This po
sition he declined. In 1843, he
sented to goon the bench of the In
ferior Court, in order that he might
strike from the Jury lists worthless
men and cause a faithful application
of the School fund, and the employ
ment of competent teachers; having
effected this, he resigned.
In 1845 and '47, he was again elec
ted to the House of Representatives,
and participated in the establishment
of the Supreme Court for the correc
tion of Errors. In 1852, he was put
upon the Scott electoral ticket for
the State at large. In 1856, he was
elected a Trustee of the University,
and every Commencement, his face
may be seen upon our stage, and his
words of wisdom heard in the De*
mosthenian Hall. Also, in 1856, ha
ving refused to connect himself with
the “ Kknow-Nothing” organization,
he was, in compliment to the old line
Whigs , put upon the Democratic elec-
toral ticket for the State. In 1858,
he declined the position of Codifier
of the State laws, to which he had
been elected. In 1859, he was ap
pointed by Gov. Brown, Judge of the
Superior Court of the Ocmulgeo Cir
cuit to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Judge Robert Harde
man. In 1861, he was elected by the
people of the Circuit to the same po
sition, which he held till January,
1866, when he was elected by the
Legislature to the Supreme Court, to
fill the vacancy caused by the resig
nation of Hon. Chas. J. Jenkins. On
this Bench, he continued till 1868,
when the present government was
forced on the people of Georgia. Ha
ving been all his life a thorough
Statesrights man of the school of Jef
ferson and of Troup, the war changed
not a single principle of his faith.
During tbe service of Judge Har
ris, many great constitutional ques
tions were discussed and decided—be
almost invariably opposing the majo
rity. The reader of these decisions
will be at no loss to determine his
status; upon them chiefly, his repu
tation as a Judge will rest in after
times. All admit, however else they
may differ, that these decisions are
able, marked by profound judicial
thought, and eminently showing
their author to be a learned Jurist,
and an honest, independent Judge.
John S. Lewis was born in Greene
county, and from there came to Col
lege. His stand was excellent; not
only did he take the first honor, but
also filled the position of Phi Kappa
Anniversarian ; a thing that is very
seldom done. Although he repre
sented his county in the Legislature
one term, he had no taste for politics,
and would not mingle in them ; he
wasa modest, retiring man, and had
no desire to seek public positions.
John C. Martin was the son of a
Methodist preacher of Greene coun
ty; he was a Phi Kappa; about 35
years ago he died.
Thos. J. Meriwether, a Demostho
nian, was the son of Gen. Meriweth
er, of Clarke county. While in Col
lege, he did not have a very enviable
stand in any department except that
of Mathematics, in which he was con
sidored by far tbo best in College
He has been dead for many years.
William Roberts, from Abbeville,
S. C., was a good student when in
College. lie is also dead.
John G. Rutherford came to Col
lege from Baldwin county; he died
about 1850. When his class was Ju«
nior, he was elected one of the Phi
Kappa orators for Tuesday night of
Commencement.
Dr. Richard T. Sanky, after leav
ing Athens, took the degree of M. D.
in the University of Pennsylvania.—
He married tho sister of his class*
mate, John S Lewis. He was an
excellent practising physician up to
the time of his death, about 1849.
He was considered one of the most
prominent and influential members of
the Phi Kappa Society.
Jas. Scott, who was very small of
stature, lived near Athens. After
graduation, he moved west, and be
came a judge.
Dr. James S. Sims lived in Athens ;
he like most of his class belonged to
tbe Phi Kappa society. For some
time, he studied medicine under Dr.
Henry Hull, of Athens; after which
he attended a courso of lectures at
Lexington, Kentucky. However,
he took his degree at tbo University
of Pennsylvania. Ho married a
daughter of Judge John Moore, on
May 19th, 1832. A man of ability,
he has been a most successful physi*
eian. Now living in Lexington,
Georgia, be is very popular, and
could have represented Oglethorpe
county anywhere, but he has always
avoided public life.
Isaac W. Waddel, was born about
1805 or 6. In 1819 ho entered the
Freshman class. Soon after gradua
tion he became a Presbyterian min
ister. In 1829 he preached in Wal*
ker county, Georgia, after that in
MacDonough. Ho married Miss
Sarah Daniel of Green county. Most
of his life was spent in Marietta,
where he continuously preached till
1849, when he died.
W. W. Waddell, was born in 1804.
In 1819 he entered the Freshman
Class. Both he and I W. Waddell,
were members of tho Phi Kappa So
ciety. Ho graduated in medicine at
the University of Penn. Soon after
this, he married Miss Louisa Hilliard,
a sister of Hon. H. W. Hilliard of
Augusta. He practiced medicine in
Athens, Madison, and also Tallahas
see. Ho stood at tho head of his
profession, and was very famous as
a physician. He died in 1843.
Claiborne A. Watkins, then from
Augusta, took a good stand in the
Phi Kappa, having been elected to
one of the Junior orator places in
1822. But he immediately resigned
this position. He graduated in Med
icine at the University of Pennsyl
vania.
Ernest L. Wittich, a Demosthenian,
was a student of fair ability. H"
became a local Methodist preacher,
at Madison. For some years he was
Clerk of the Court of Ordinary of
Morgan county. He has been dead
many years.
To this class belonged Charles J.
Jenkins, who has been a leading pub
lic man nearly ever since his gradua
tion. At one time defeated for Gov
ernor by only 540 votes —at another,
Judge of the Supreme Court, and
then Governor of Georgia, at a time
jLbat would try the purity of any
man, yet he proudly passed through
the violent commotions around him,
with his integrity untouched.