The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1912-11-08
Atlanta Constitution Writes an
Interesting Sketch OF Mr.
VIM. M. Mckenzie
WAS ONCE A MARIETTAN
How He Carved Out His For
tune BY Energy and Bust.
ness Capacity. Inter
ing Facts in His Life.
From the Atlanta Constitution.

ful and brilliant men within the past
few decades, but certainly none OF
inem have had a more remarkable
ise in the business world and in the
esteem of their fellow countrymen
man William NJ. Mckenzie, for many
years prominent in the progress and
development of the state and now a
capitalist of this. city.
Mr.. Mckenzie has never sought
1ame or the acclaim of his fellow men.
lie has been cCntented to fill useful
sphere in the business world With
10 political ambitions and no selfish
interests to serve, he has been able
to give his time and attention to the
activities of the many enterprises
which he has directed and to his
home life which has been singularly
beautiful.
Just a little more than fifty years
ago MI Mckenzie saw the first light
of day. He was born 10 miles from
Montezuma, Macon CT unity, where his
father was a prominent planter. The
MeKenzies were an old-established
family in middle Georgia, and were
descendants from one Of the first
bands of Scots which came to America
nearly two centuries ago. His mother
was Miss Martha Virgins, a member
of an old distinguished Macon county
family. His father, Andrew J. Nc
KenZie, was one OF the real leaders
among the younger men OF middle
Georgia previous to the civil war, and
but for the conflict between the north
end the south, Mr.. Mckenzie would
have had all the advantages which
we're possible for the youths of that
period
Family Home Devastated.
As it was, however, the Mckenzie
plantation was devastated more than
once during the civil war. Soldiers
stole the products and ruined the
crops. Financial reverses occurred to
practically every planter in the south,
and at the close of the war the elder
Mckenzie found desolate and ruined
plantation ON his hands, the country
bankrupt, the slaves gone and every
line of business in chaotic condition.
This state of affairs was enough to
kill every ambition man might have,
Kenzie. Like thousands of other brave
but it EdidI not phase the elder Nc
southern men, he took up his ruined
lands and began their cultivation as
hest he could under the terrific odds
which were against him. While he
was not a wealthy planter, he was
considered independent-alw had |
a bank balance, and paid cash for what
he bought.
AS a result of the misfortunes which |
war had brought, Mr.. Mckenzie was /
unable to have better than a common |
school education. For five or six |
months of every year ne attended the !
schools which were conducted near his !
home, and during the remainder of the !
time his father and mother taught him
in the evenings after the work on the
farm was done. Early in life Mr.. Nc.
Ienzie showed great aptitude for study !
and his remarkable business ability |
was apparent before he was out Of hi1 |
teens.
When Mr.. Mckenzie was IS years |
Of age his mother died, and three years |
later his father passed into the be. /
yond. The old homestead was then |
sold and the Mckenzie family sepa- |
rated to start the avocation of life |
without any one to help or lean upon
Decides To Go in Business.
Mr.. Mckenzie was anxious to begin |
an active business career. There was |
70 opportunity for him to do this at
the home place or in Macon county. so
he decided to seek his fortune else
where. After much study he decided
that he would have to start out again
at the bottom of the ladder, just as
he had on the farm, and so he came 20
Marietta, where he secured position
in general store as clerk. He gained
the desired experience here and very
soon was given a number of promo
tons. His employers were quick to
recognize his natural ability and he
was given one of the most important
and responsible positions OF the bust
ness.
Gradually he became acquainted with
many persons in Marietta and Atlanta,
and after he had been at Marietta for
three years he was offered the posi-
ton of bookkeeper for the firm of
Ramspeck & Green, of Atlanta, which
was then one OF the largest business
firms Of Georgia.
While he was with this firm, Mr..
Mckenzie was married to Miss Eula
Cantrell, of Columbus. Ca. who was a
Of a prominent family of that
section, Mrs. Mckenzie has shown