Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-21

Eufaula. the home Of Governor William
Dorsey Jellxs, is one of the most beautiful
places in the south and the chief city of
southeast Alabama, although It contains
only 5000 inhabitants It is situated on a
high bluff. which rises 200 feet above the
Chattahoochee.
1t is on broad plateau, back of which
there are commanding hills, crowned with
splendid residences and the castle-like
| Union Female college. The streets are
wide and well shaded, and the stores and
i factories are structures that would
| would adorn any city.
Barbour county is one of the largest
/ and richest in the state A hundred years
/ ago the fertile lands of the Cowikees. two
| famous Indian creeks, attracted planters
/ from many sections. whose descendants
/ are still to Le found among the great cot
/ ton growers of this region. Eufaula has
ever been distinguished for the wealth,
/ culture and refinement Of its people. II
has been a hotbed for the production of
/ statesmen whose names are familiar in
| Alabama's history. In this respect 1t re-
sembles the Duchy of Coburg. in Germa-
| ny, which, though no larger than Barbour
/ county, has furnished princes and rulers
\ for nearly all the thrones of Europe. So
i true is this remark that 1t has been said
/ that Alabama is divided Into three parts,
north Alabama, south Alabama and Bar
! bour county. Just look at some of the
/ men she has given to the state, and In
my own recollection, for I lived here 30
/ years ago: John gill Shorter was COVER
nor; Judge Cochran, the brainiest man of
1 his day, whose intellect DIR. Curry once
i said was a sacred trust; General Alpheus
/ Baker the Robert Emmett Of the south;
/ United States Senator James L. Pugh,
second to none in that august body; Ell
S. Shorter, one of the most brilliant mem
bers Of the old congress; John M. Me-
| Kleroy, peerless as a statesman and law
yer; John d. Roquemore. who was on the
verge of stepping into the United States
4 senate when he died; R. T. Kolb, twice
candidate for governor with an immense
/ following; General Clayton, president Of
the State university; H. d. Clayton, at
| present member of congress; H. r. Short
er, president of the railroad commission;
and, last, but by no means least, w. d.
/ Jelks, governor, whose home It is the pur-
pose of this article to sketch.
He was born in Bullock county, Ala
bama, the adjoining county to this, about
\ AZ years ago, Of a prominent and widely
/ known family, many of whose members
are scattered over Georgia, one. brother
| formerly living in Marietta. He gradual
/ ed at Mercer university, Macon, Ga, and
i came to Eufaula to live just p years ago.
He read law, but gave 1t up to follow
| Journalism, and became owner OF the Eu-
faula Daily Times, which, under his man
/ agement, was a great success, both as to
/ the influence welded upon the public and
the profit that came to himself. While he
/ had the paper his editorials were more
| frequently copied and quoted than that
/ Of any writer in the state, and the SUBJ
scription list was very large. have heard
I some say, equal to that Of any paper
/ south of Atlanta. From this post he was
/ called to the state senate, where he serv-
ed with distinction for four years. He was
chairman of the committee on revision of
| the constitution, and secured the passage
Of the bill authorizing it, which Governor
/ Johnston thwarted, but which was re-
/ enacted by the present legislature, secur-
/ ing the constitutional convention, whose
labors have Just closed
! I met him in September one year ago,
| when all were looking forward with sym
pathy and interest to the administration
i of noble Governor Sanford No one
\ dreamed but that the governor would be
/ able to live out. his full term, as his
/ health at this time was considered good.
| There were several candidates for presi-
/ dent Of the senate but it was generally
considered that Jelks was in the lead.
| congratulated Mr.. Jelks on his prospects,
l but he replied that he was tired of politics
/ and at the close of the session, or when
| HIS term was out, he wanted to retire
from politics and go back into Journalism,
/ for which he had great passion. had
1
/ when, standing by his side about Christ
| mas, he received a telegram that Cover
nor Sanford was quite ILL., MY dear sir"
said ], IF that be true, the hghtnings are
! playing about your head"
He seemed sad at the tidings, but re-
marked: Il hope the governor will get
| Well"
Soon the legislature met, he was elected
president of the senate, and a law was
passed making the president the successor
to the governorship in case the governor,
| for any reason, should not be able to dis
charge the duties of the office.
AS the governor was still very Ill Sena-
| tor Jelks was for time acting governor,
| but to the delight Of all Governor Sam
| ford rallied and entered upon the duties
OF his great office, while all hoped and
| believed that his health would sustain
TO the end of the term, Providence de-
| creed otherwise. He died lamented by
| the whole state, and the young and gift
| ed Jelks at the time absent at Beau
mont, Texas, mot anticipating any such
emergency was called. to Montgomery
| where he took the oath of office and en-
| tered upon his duties as governor. His
| administration so Ear has been eminently
| prudent, able and successful. But his
| home Is still in Eufaula distant eighty
miles from our Capital City. and he re-
turns generally every Saturday night to
| spend Sunday with his family, going
| back to the executive chair Monday
morning. Strange to say this state has
! never furnished mansion" for its gov
| ernors. 1, when pastor in Montgomery,
| boarded with Governor O'Neill at the
| Exchange hotel and later with Governor
Seay at the Windsor. Governor Jones
occupied his own home on Capitol Hill.
| Governor Jelks has rooms at the Ex-
| change, but he has one of the loveliest
| residences in this or any other state, for
merly the residence of his father-in-law,
L