The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-01-13
Something Of the Hen who are Bnilc=
Ing the Big Electric Dam Oil tie
Seneca.

Last week an INTELLIGENCEH man
took it in mind to spend whole day at
Portman Shoals looking at the men
working on the big dam and familiariz-
ing myself with things generally. 1t is
needless to say I received the most cour-
teous treatment or that enjoyed dinner
at the commissary table with Capt. Hurt,
the bookkeeper and Messrs. Atkeison and
Thomason, the excellent young men who
have charge of the Company Store, &C.
Mr.. J. W. Wright, youngish Virginian
and an agreeable gentleman withal,
has been with the Company some years,
and moves large number of hands with
clock like precision and regularity.
Incidentally I met Mr.. Andrew MUIR.
dock, who is employed as inspector OF the
man of pleasing manners, is q native OF
AYRSHIRE, Scotland, has been In Ameri-
ca ten years and is himself a contractor
and built the stone dam at Newry for the
Courtenay Manufacturing Company.
Mr.. B. o. Watkins, the senior mem Der
of the firm, was in Birmingham, and Mr.
Hardaway, the junior member, was with
his family at Anderson, but be came IN
the afternoon, and I had most pleasant
chat with him. While there conceived
the idea Of learning something of the per-
sonel of the big men about the place for
the INTELLIGENCER readers, and am
sure they will relish what is spread before
them.
OfMr. Watkins I necessarily learned
but little, owing to his absence. He was
born thirty-five years ago at Mobile, and
after leaving school began work as an
employee of the Louisville G Nashville
Railroad. Later he embarked in the saw
milling business on large scale, fur
nishiug lumber to railroad bridge build
ers, and finally began taking contracts on
his own hook. Some years ago he en-
tered into partnership with Mr.. Harda-
way, and is vice-president of the South
ern Bridge Company of Birmingham.
Mr.. BENZ. Il. Hardaway, the junior
member of the firm, son of Col. R. 4
Hardaway, we'll known at present
throughout Georgia and Alabama as the
worthy professor Of civil engineering in
the University of Alabama, and IN the
past throughout the Army of Northern
Virginia as brave and efficient com
mander of artillery, was born in Bullock
County, Ala, in 1866. His early. educa-
ton was received at Auburn: Ala. he
graduated with distinction at the Univer-
sity of Alabama and was at once made
Professor of Mathematics in that lnstitu-
ton, which place he held for three years,
and resigned to take work in civil engl-
neering, for which profession he had been
specially educated. He soon became
Chief Engineer of the s. A q NJ. z. R.,
and as such completed its survey, Ioca-
ton and construction from Anerlcus to
the Ocmulgee River. He was after,
ward in charge of important works OF
construction for that and other railroad
companies, among which were two rail-
road bridges over the Chattahoochee. In
1892 he entered into partnership with
Mr.. B. o. Watkins, as engineers and con-
tractors, and has since devoted his en-
tire time to the business Of that concern
Capt. W. B. Hurt, the bookkeeper fol
the Company, deserves extended notice
for several reasons, not the least of which
ia the fact that he is Confederate veter-
an with a highly honorable record. He
was born in Russell County, Alabama,
in lS4l, of parents then lately removed
from Hancock County, Georgia; his ear.
ly education was received in Columbus
Gs, where about eight years Of his life
was spent, before going to college. de
finished his education at the Western
Military Institute, Nashville, Tenn, g.
that time presided over by Col. Bushroc
r, Johnson, afterward q major-genera
in the Confederate army, as commandan
of cadets, and Berien Lindsay as Chancel
lor of the University, where he gradua
ted in 1861 with the highest honors Of hiE
class. Immediately thereupon, he en-.
listed as first Lieutenant in a company
then organized and equipped in Russell
Co.. Ala, for the Confederate State ser
vice by Capt. r. A. Hardaway, enlist
ment being "For three years, or tht
war" This company was ordered tt
Virginia early in June of that year, anc
when the battle ofsBull Run was fought
five miles of, it was then fairly wei
drilled in the manual of the heavy siege
guns which formed the defense Of the en-
trenched camp at Manassas Junction
Upon the evacuation of Manassas and tht
transfer of the forces to the Peninsula
the company was relieved of the ligh
arms which Capt. Hardaway had engi
neered out of the State Of Alabama, anc
thoroughly equipped, by the orders O
Gen. D. 81. Hill, with a battery of foul
three-inch rifled cannon, which had beer
among the spoils of Rull Run. Up to {
time only little preceding the battle O
Charlottesville there was generally NJ
organization of the artillery other thar
the company, and captains Of artillery
reported directly to Brigadier Generals
and, while under such circumstance
there was some ground to pride them
selves upon the dignity of their rank a!
compared with that of captains of infan
try, there was, at the same time, NJ
room for the promotion of the captains
of artillery. At this time, however
Gen. Lee, as we'll perhaps as provision
for the reward of his old officers, as fol
the better efficiency Of that arm of the
service, organized the artillery into bat
talions Of four companies each. Capt
Hardaway was thereupon promoted ano
assigned to the com mand of battalion
com posed entirely of Virginia troops
among which was the famous Rock
Bridge Battery; not, however, until ht
had added to the armament of bis ole
company two twelve-pounder Whitwortt
guns, which had recently escaped the
blockade. Lieutenant Hurt, being the
senior first, of course took his place II
command of the battery, and was assign
ed to battalion commanded by Majol
D G.. Mcintosh, of South Carolina; ma
jor at that time, but further on-say a
the seige of Petersburg-he received
further promotion, and his command
were grati1ied to call him Colonel Mcln'
tosb. Al the same time Capt. Hurt also
received promotion, and, with com mis-
sion as Mejor of artillery, ordered to re-
port al Mobile for duty; but comnunica-
ton with that point having, at that time,
been cut off by Sherman's march to the
sea, the war virtually terminated by the
surrender of General Lee when yet he hao
performed none of the duties of the ne"
position
Capt. Hurt, after the waf, engaged fol
some little time in agriculture on the old
hon es.ead in Russell County, but before
long, found something more congenial IN
every respect than managing freedmen,
and took engagement with corps of en-
gineers then projecting the location OF
the East Ala. & Gin. r. r., from Opeli-
ka, and ran survey lines all over the
mountains of North Alabama before Bir-
mingham and Admission were known.
and before the rich mineral resources oi
that region were even thought of. Since
then, too, till he took place with this
Company year ago. he has been regu-
larly engaged in civil engineering, and
has had charge of important works ofsur-
yey, of location and construction, espe-
cially for the S. A. & NJ. r. R., of Georgia
and Alabama.
4 Present Picture OF once Famous
Woman.