The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-05-16

ladega, a school of considerable repute
in the early days of Alabama.
When Captain Clisby was a young boy
his parents removed to the plantation
Of his father In Coosa County where
they lived until after the war between
the States.
Captain Clisby first began business when
he was Is years old as clerk IN the
mercantile establishment Of Houghton,
Allen & Co., in Wetumpka. He remain
ed there a few years and then came to
Montgomery to keep books for Blount d
Janney, a large grocery establishment
He was In the employ Of this firm at the
war between the States.
Was a Gallant Soldier.
He inherited ardent military predilec-
ton from his father. who was Captain
Of the Montgomery True Blues In 1886 at
| the time of the trouble with the Seminole
| Indians, and at the beginning of the war
Captain Clisby volunteer with Samples
famous artillery battery. After eighteen
| months of service with Semple's battery
Captain Clisby was transferred to the
51st Alabama Cavalry. first commanded
by General John T. Morgan and later by
| Colonel M. L. Kirkpatrick. He remained
with this regiment until 1864 when, on
account of rheumatism which he had
contracted through exposure. he was In
valided home and in Montgomery he
served In the Confederate Commissary
Department until the close of the war.
Captain Clisby was a gallant soldier
and had great love and admiration for
his comrades of the Confederate army.
He was a member of Camp Lomax,
United Confederate Veterans OF Montgom-
cry.
| Soon after the close Of the war Cap
| kal- 1iehxr her ma associated
Phillips, Fariss & Co.. as bookkeeper and
remained in that position about two years
| when he engaged in the cotton business
by himself He continued in the cotton
| business alone several years until he ad-
| mitted his friend the late George o. jan
ney as a partner and the firm became
j. H. Clisby Co.
In 1885 Captain Clisby was elected AL
| der man to represent the Second Ward.
| He evinced unusual Interest in the af-
fairs of his native ;ity and was made
| Chairman of the Street Committee. He
| remained an Alderman from his ward for
| ten years, during which time Montgomery
| began making public improvements. AS
| Chairman of the Street Committee. Cap
| tain Clisby had much to do with these
| improvements. and so interested was he
| in their progress that he gave them tho
| largest share of his time and attention.
| Elected Mayor VI nAOhtSOHiSiy
Captain Clisby had been so actively and
so unselfshly engaged in the work of up
building Montgomery that when he Of
| fered for Mayor of the city in 1895 he was
easily elected. His administration was
marked by still greater improvements In
| the city, and he was reelected Mayor of
Montgomery in 1897.
When he was first elected Mayor of
Montgomery, Captain Clisby retired from
business life and gave all of his time to
the interest of the city.
In the meantime his health had been
seriously impaired and with the expira-
ton of mis- second term of Mayor. he
ceased to be engaged in any sort of bust
ness and devoted his time to his home
affairs and to the loving care and atten-
ton of his aged mother and adopted son,
John Clisby. who became the son of his
uncle with the death of his mother sew
eral years ago.
Throughout his life Captain Clisby was
an active man of affairs. His business
judgment and business advice was sought
by his business friends. and he had been
on the Board of Directors Of some of the
largest corporations in Montgomery. He
amassed quite a small fortune and his
silent deeds of charity brought to him
the love of the poor of the city who often
felt the touch OF his generous heart.
Captain CuSDy was one OF Lne organic
ers of the Montgomery Field Artillery
and was the second commander of that
battery. Major Semple having been the
first Captain Clisby continued in COM
mand of the battery until he was called
to command the battalion of artillery of
the Alabama National Nuard when he
was commissioned Major. although his
friends fondly chung to the lesser title
which had been given him in the earlier
years of his life. On account of his long
service with the local artillery. Captain
Clisby was intimately associated with
the young men of the city, all Of whom
were his ardent admirers.
A Volunteer Fireman.
He was also for a great many years
volunteer fireman and served several
terms as President of Alabama Fire Com
pany No 2. Among his possessions he
cherished three gold-headed canes given
him at various times by this old fire COM
pany
October 10. 1864. Captain Clisby married
Miss Fannie May Young OF Montgomery.
whose tragic death by being thrown from
her carriage, on May %, 1899. was the
greatest sorrow that entered into his
life They had no children. but Captain
Clisby, several years ago. adopted his
nephew and namesake, John Clisby. a
son of A. A. Clisby of Birmingham. Be-
tween Captain Clisby and this boy, who
10 !noW about 13 wears of age there was