Atlanta And Its Builders, Vol. 2 - A Comprehensive History Of The Gate City Of The South. Thomas H. Martin

      Early in December, 1866, the military office of provost-marshal was abolished in Atlanta, the city being considered sufficiently "reconstructed" to be governed by civil administration. On the 18th of the same month, the detachment of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois regiment on duty as a provost-guard in Atlanta since the surrender, was mustered out and left for their Northern homes. Captain Line L. Parker, who had served as provost-marshal, left for the North at the same time. However, a military post was maintained in Atlanta, four companies of the Thirteenth Connecticut, Captain Beckwith, being stationed in the barracks until April 17. 1866, when the regiment was mustered out and United States regulars stationed permanently in Atlanta.

      Of the early post-bellum period, E. Y. Clarke says in his admirable little history of Atlanta: "At first the rebuilding was in a haphazard manner, and hundreds of wooden and brick shanties were erected out of the debris of the ruins — in many instances the owners putting their own hands to the work, clearing away the rubbish and picking out the material fit for use. Er Lawshe set up the first store house on Whitehall street by the removal of a little one-story building from another part of the city and this was done by many others. The scarcity of buildings made rents enormous and building materials were equally high. * * * In 1865 John H. James built his banking house, and McNaught & Scrutchin their store on Whitehall street, and J. C. Peck rebuilt his planing mill. In 1866 E. P. Chamberlin built a residence on Washington street; C. E. Boynton erected one on Rawson street. In the same year, also, Mr. O. H. Jones, marshal of the city in 1864, and one of our most energetic citizens, built fine livery stables for the accommodation of the great increasing stock trade he had established. * * * Among the new citizens acquired will be recognized many who have attained official, social and business prominence. In 1865 came James R. Wylie, the wholesale grocer and prominent bank director, a gentleman of great worth and usefulness; John L. Hopkins, from 1870 to 1876 judge of the superior courts of the Atlanta circuit, and one of the most eminent lawyers in the state; W. A. Moore and E. W. Marsh, the wholesale dry goods merchants, who have been in business together some twenty-four years; Andrew Stewart and S. L. McBride, both very young men. In 1866 came C. E. Boynton, the successful merchant, and E. P. Chamberlin, his partner, a leader in all meritorious public enterprises, and a councilman prominent in municipal laws and measures enhancing the welfare of the city; A. E. Howard, of the tobacco house of Howard, Wood & Co.; Julius L. Brown, one of our ablest young lawyers; John N. Fain, a well-known merchant and church officer, and James A. Anderson, a young man who has successively held the office of city tax collector and chief of police for several terms with great credit, and now a practicing attorney of the firm of Goodwin & Anderson. In 1867 came S. M. Inman, an ex-Confederate soldier, from Tennessee, the great cotton merchant and public-spirited citizen; Richard H. Clark, present judge of the City Court; W. A. Hemphill, one of the proprietors of the Atlanta Constitution; W. F. Stokes, the great fruit merchant of Atlanta; John A. Fitten and John C. Kirkpatrick, who, in 1870, became firm members of the great hardware house of T. M. Clarke & Co. * * * "

      To the return of the old population, with their olden characteristics, intensified by an almost total loss of property, is chiefly due the restoration to former prosperity with a rapidity rarely, if ever, paralleled in American history. Appreciating the situation, they resolutely set to work to rebuild their fortunes. Did the scope of a general history allow, it would be pleasant to recount the story of individual effort. Every class proved true to its antecedent career. The lawyer, the merchant and the mechanic all went to work with a will. As, among the first class, might be mentioned General L. J. Gartrell, who found his home in ashes, but, by brilliant professional effort, achieved success worthy of the political and professional honors of his ante-bellum career; so, conspicuous examples of merchants and mechanics, and of other professional men could be numerously given.

      Taking into consideration the era and circumstances, it is doubtful if a parallel can be found to the magic resurrection of Atlanta within a year after the city was in ashes. It was the fable of the Phoenix re-enacted in real life, and well did the restored city choose as its municipal seal the image of that mythical bird, surrounded by the legend, "Resurgens." In March, 1886, a local newspaper published the following brief resume of the improvements made up to that time:

      "The indomitable energy and persistence of the people .of Atlanta is shown by the way in which they are rebuilding the city. Alabama street begins to assume its former neat and business-like appearance. New business houses are being occupied as fast as completed by book men, bankers, merchants, artists, physicians, insurance agents and all other classes. The following houses have been put in successful operation: P. P. Pease & Co., J. T. Jenkins & Co.; Langston, Crane & Co.; McCarny & Co.; M. W. & J. H. Johnson; Pratte, Edwards & Co.; Robert J. Lowry & Co.; Simms, Robert & Co.; Clayton, Adair & Purse; Meador & Brothers and McKeon & Godfrey. Bank block is a handsome edifice. The two hotel buildings, the Southern Express Company's building, and the Franklin Printing House, all begin to make the city look somewhat as it did before the war. The two hotels are the Planter's and the Exchange Hotel, the latter standing on the corner of Alabama and Pryor streets, and being the same as the Fulton House of the old regime."

      To quote further from Colonel Clarke's history: "In 1868 came M. C. and J. F. Kiser, from Campbell county, of the immense wholesale dry goods house of that name; Mark W. Johnson, of the agricultural warehouse; Thomas M. Wood, D. M. Bain and N. J. Doolittle. In 1869 came W. A. Haygood, from Emory College; Joseph T. Eichberg, from New York, afterwards organizer of the Germania Loan and Building Association, and its president; and J. F. Burke, in after years the successful library director. In 1870 came W. C. Dodson, the job printer; the Wilsons — W. S. and J. C. — the latter now the largest coal dealer in the city; also John B. Goodwin, from Cobb county, who was admitted to the bar in 1877 and has been three times elected to council. In 1871 came James H. Low and Clarence F. Low, from New Orleans, leading insurance agents, and E. H. Thornton, of the firm of Lynch & Thornton, booksellers. This year also brought us valuable citizens from the North and West, among them W. G. Goodnow, from Wisconsin, a man of