Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-03-02

removed from our midst one Wnom
above all others, we esteemed for his
wise and beneficent counsel and loved
for the inspiration of his pure and no
BILE life.
On the 3rd day of October, 1912,
without a moments warning, the ar
row of the relentless and insatiate
archer pierced the heart of William H.
c. Dudley and ended forever that
earthly career, which had been mark
ed by splendid achievements, from its
beginning to its close.
Mr.. Dudley was born on the 9Th day
of August in the year 1886 in Lexing-
ton, Georgia, and removed to Ameri-
Gus with his father when only three
years old, in the. year 1889. With the
exception of few years spent in New
berry. South Carolina, Mr.. Dudley's
entire life was spent in Americus.
No man ever had greater right 10
the boast of heraldry, but his pride
of ancestry was not the occasion for
vain and offensive display, but was
manifested in his life, in which he
sought to transmit to posterity name
as untarnished and unsullied as whel
he received it from those who had Civ
en- it honor and reputation before him.
His father was Hon George NJ Dud
ley, lawyer of distinction and the
author of Dudley's Reports, which wGs
compiled and published before the o.
ganization of the Supreme Court Of
Georgia, and which is to this day
cited as authority in all of our courts.
His mother was Miss Caroline Craw
ford, the daughter of Hon William H.
Crawford, who was above all rivalry,
the facile princeps of Georgia states
men.
Mr. Dudley's childhood and young
manhood were spent in Americas, the
adopted home of his father, until hay
ing attained his majority, he accepted
a position in Newberry, South Caro-
lima, which continued until near the
close of the civil war Upon Mr. Dud-
| ley's return to Americas, he organic
ed in the year 1866, with his brother
in-law, Mr. ]. w. Wheatley, who is
sill an honored citizen Of Americas
The banking house of ]. W. Wheatlev
4 Co., which did an immense business
and in which both partners amassed
considerable fortunes. On the 18th
day of January, 1887, the banking
house of ]. W. Wheatley & Co. was
or artered under the name of the Bank
Of South Western Georgia, Mr. Dudley
continuing his connection with the in
stitution as cashier, until the 18th
cay of January, 1898, just eleven Yel,a
o the day, from the date of the orgaE.
i. alton of the bank, when he tende~ I'd
his resignation.
For the past several years Mr.. Dud-
ley has devoted himself to his private
interests and to the day of his death
held his place in the commercial lif :
of our city, being at all times recog-
mixed as a safe and influential bust.
ness man.
AS a business man, Mr.. Dudley's
distinguishing characteristics were
scrupulous honesty, strict integrity,
absolute accuracy and uniform fair
ness. Not a blemish rests today upon
his reputation as a conscientious bust
ness man in the long record of his az
fairs AS a citizen, he was modest,
transformations and faithful to every
trust. He was personally a most
charming and companionable man, and
while he was not seclusive, it was
not his habit to mingle generally with
men, being Of retiring disposition,
studious habits and devoted to t he
quiet Of home. He was, however, just
and kind and courteous to every man
with whom he came in contact nd
especially loved by those who had the
| good fortune to claim him as friend
He had fine literary taste and his never
failing memory supplied him instantly