Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-01
MAI. w. F. SLATON
DIES SUDDENLY
WEDNESDAY A. NJ.

Major william f. Slaton. pioneer At
ANITA citizen, gallant Confederate SOL
uer and distinguished educator. died sud-
emily at his late residence, $50 CcGrt.
and street, "Wednesday morning at 1890
o'clock. Had he lived he would davv
celebrated his elghty-sixth birthday on
Iarch next.
Despite his advanced age, the death of
MAJOR Slaton came as a distinct shock
mis- immediate family and will cause
widespread sorrow. not only in Atlanta,
uut in Georgia and Alabama, where he
.,as We'll known and generally loved.
. or the past week he had been slightly
ndisposed. His Illness, however, was
ct regarded as serious and up to his
last moments he was in possession of
a OF his faculties.
Major Slatons entire career was spent
in the schools of Georgia and Alabama
and up to the time of his retirement
on June s. 1907, he was superintendent
of the Atlanta schools, being succeeded
by one OF his sons, William NJ. Siaton,
who served in that capacity for about
ten years. His other survivors are six
children: Former Governor John M.
Slaton, Mrs. Kate Slaton Blanchard,
Mrs. A. 1. Waldo, Miss Matte Lee Sla-
ton, Mrs. Samuel {. Atkinson, all OF At
lanta, and Mrs. William A. MacGregor,
OF New York City.
The funeral arrangements will not be
announced until the arrival of Mrs. Mac
Gregor and Governor Slaton, who is out
of the city on business.
Major Slaton was born March 6, 1881,
in Meriwether county, Ca, the son of
John Slaton, of Autauga, Ala, and
Nancy harris Slaton, a sister of rhe
late Congressman Harris, of the Fourth
district. He received his early educa-
ton from DIR. Carlisle p. Beeman, at
Mount Zion, and later attended EMORY
university where he received the Nj. A.
desree. In recognition of his ability as
an educator, the University of Georgia
later conferred upon hIm like degree
On December ., 1853, Major SIaton
married MISS Nancy J. Martin, of Mer-
iwether county, who died October 3,
1891. AS a young man he taught school
al Oak Bowery. Ala, and in 1856 was
made principal of the Auburn, Ala,
High school. l1e remained there until the
outbreak of the Civil war, when two
days before Alabama seeded from the
union, he answered the call TO arms of
Governor Moore, of Alabama, and took
mis- company to the front. He then
ranked as a lieutenant. he was promot-
ed to major for conspicuous bravery
just before the battle of CorInth where
ne was WOunueu. III the DdIllS VI LOOh-
out Mountain pass which preceded the
engagements on Missionary Ridge, he
and sixty of his men, out of coo were
| captured when they made daring
charge against superior numbers OF
| the enemy.
Major Slaton was carried Il prisoner
/ to Johnson's Island and while there
was taken before General Grant on the
charge of having broken his parole. He
was acquitted, however, and while still
| a prisoner of war was made a lieuten-
ant colonel.
Following the war and during the re-
! construction period. he came to Georgia
i and in 1870 was made principal of Sam
| Bailey college at Griffin. Four years
| later he accepted the place as principal
/ of the Boys High school in Atlanta and
| in January, 1879, was elected, superin.
| tendent of city schools, serving in that
capacity with distinction for twenty.
| eight years.
| When Major Slaton assumed charge
| of the school system the city boosted Of
but eight schools and $500 pupils I'm.
/ der his direction the system showed
/ enormous growth and when he retired IN
/ favor of his son there We're 325 teachers
4 having under them l5,9SS pupils. When
/ MIR. w. NJ. Slaton turned the system over
to his successor on June 5, 1915, there
were $50 teachers and 25,750 pupils.