English

Captain James W. English

Fourth National Bank Atlanta Ga.

J.W. English was Mayor of Atlanta 1881-1883

Hon. James W. English, of Atlanta, was born in the State of Louisiana, parish of Orleans, Oct. 28, 1837. His father, Andrew English, a planter, died when he was quite young, but his early boyhood was spent at home, where he received but limited educational advantages.  At the age of ten he went to live with an uncle in the interior of the State, but soon after he went to Covington, Ky., and began an apprenticeship at the carriage trade.  In May, 1852, he came to Griffin, Ga., where he worked at his trade, and speculated in real estate until the beginning of the war.  On April 18, 1861, he enlisted in Spalding’s Grays, which afterwards became a part of the Second Georgia Battalion.  General A. R. Wright’s brigade, Army of Northern Virginia.  This command served solely in the Army of Northern Virginia, and participated in all the important battles fought by Lee’s Army, and was particularly noted for daring and bravery.  Soon after joining this battalion Mr. English was promoted to the rank of a lieutenant and served in this capacity through the war, but had the command of the company during the last two years of service.  He was wounded five times, but was never disabled for duty, and fought at the head of his company in every engagement in which it took part.  He was paroled at Appomattax Court House April 9, 1865, after four years of almost constant and continuous service in the field.

After the war he returned to Griffin, but in May, 1865, came to Atlanta.  At this time no one could have had a poorer start for the success he has since achieved than Mr. English.  In a strange city, without money, friends, or influence, he bravely began the struggle for a simple livelihood.  Work at his trade it was impossible to find, but he did not hesitate to accept the first opportunity to work which chance offered.  The rebuilding of Atlanta had just begun, and he secured his first employment carrying bricks, at fifty cents a day.  But he was not disheartened and with that same energy and determination to succeed which has marked his course, he continued in such employ until something more congenial and remunerative could be obtained.  He became a clerk in a store, and afterwards in a hotel.  He was industrious, economical and saving, and his accumulated savings he invested in real estate.  With keen business foresight saw what the future had in store for Atlanta.  His early investments, although small, netted large returns, and it was only a few years after his coming to Atlanta until he had gained considerable capital.  He continued his speculation in real estate and general trading and soon devoted his whole time to it.  Marked success followed his judicious and well directed efforts, and it is now several years ago that Mr. English passed the point of having accumulated a comfortable fortune.  

    About a year after his arrival in Atlanta, July 26, 1866, Mr. English was married to Miss Emily A. Alexander, daughter of J. L. Alexander, of Griffin, Ga.  They have had six children, five of whom are living, three boys and two girls, all of whom were born in Atlanta.  Mr. English and wife are both members of the First Presbyterian Church.

    Fertile in resource, and with a capacity for large enterprises, in 1883, Mr. English organized the Chattahoochee Brick Company, of which he has since been president.  The growth of the business of this company has been wonderful.  To-day it is the largest concern of its kind in the United States, having a capacity of 200,000 bricks per day.  The yards are located on the Chattahoochee River, about seven miles from Atlanta, where from three hundred to four hundred men are employed.  The production consists of fine oil pressed and ornamental brick, which are sold all over the States of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida.  This enterprise has greatly reduced the cost of constructing buildings in Atlanta, and has been a potent factor in the city’s prosperity.  

    Since April, 1885, Mr. English has been largely interested in railroad construction, having completed extensive contracts on the Georgia Midland and Gulf, Atlanta and Florida, Chattanooga, Rome and Columbus Railroads, and within the last seven months has completed one hundred and forty miles on the Columbus Southern.  The latter is the longest line of railway completed within the time ever built in the Southern States.  Mr. English and his associates contracted to build this road within a specified time, and upon failure to do so were to forfeit $125,000.  Few believed the contract could be fulfilled, but the enterprise has been successfully carried through, although it severely taxed the energies of Mr. English and associates.  It necessitated the employment of from 2,000 to 3,000 men, and the completion of this road within the time specified, has been one of the most remarkable results in railroad building in the South.  Mr. English is admirably qualified for extensive enterprises of this character.  He has wonderful executive ability, quick grasp of details, and the power to utilize to the best advantage large bodies of men.  Another strong element in his character is the unconquerable spirit of persistence with which his plans are pursued.  To do what he has undertaken to do, being convinced that his course is right, he is lastingly pledged by the resolution of his nature to pursue it.  It is impossible to vanquish such men, and this has been strikingly shown in all of the encounters with misfortune which Mr. English has undergone.  

    Mr. English has always been a democrat in political faith, but his taste and disposition do not run toward public station nor official life.  But it is not strange that one who has been so eminently successful in the management of his private business and whose career had been so honorable should be strongly pressed to assume political positions, and in deference to such requests he has on several occasions waived his personal preferences, and accepted public duties that were laid upon him.  He was a member of the city council in 1877 and 1878, and during this period was chairman of the finance committee.  At this time the city had a large floating debt, upon which was being paid interest at the rate of ten to eighteen percent, per annum.  He immediately undertook the task of reducing this heavy expense, and before his term had expired succeeded in making arrangement whereby interest on the city debt was reduced to seven per cent, and subsequently, as a result of his persistent labors, before the citizens’ committee, the entire floating indebtedness of the city was converted into bonds bearing six per cent, and the methods of creating such debts he also succeeded in abolishing.  

    His work on behalf of economical government and admirable handling of the city’s finance won the approbation of the people and in 1881, in a hotly contested election, he was chosen mayor of the city.  His course as mayor was characterized by fearless discharge of duty and sincere devotion to the best interests of the city.  He revised the tax collecting system, and inaugurated the present method of collecting tax whereby a much larger city revenue has been secured, based upon the enforcement of just and equitable laws.  The loose methods which had prevailed in the management of city finances were corrected, all unnecessary expenses were stopped, and sound business principles were applied to municipal affairs.  So sound did the financial reputation of the city become during his term, that the first five per cent city bonds ever issued in the South were readily sold, and netted the city par value.  He waged a vigorous warfare against gambling, and did his utmost to secure the enforcement of the laws of the city,  During his administration was inaugurated the first public improvement of any magnitude in street paving, the first granite block pavement being laid during the first of his term.  This greatly needed work was prosecuted with great success.  In fact, it is not too much to say that from the assumption of Mayor English’s control, as chief magistrate of the city, may be dated the commencement of the real and substantial growth and prosperity the city has since enjoyed.  That he was largely instrumental in bringing about this gratifying result, on one, acquainted with the earlier and present history of the city, will, for a moment, honestly deny.  

    At the close of his term in January, 1883, the Atlanta Constitution gives expression to the general verdict of the people, when it said: “It is seldom that any officer retires from a trust, so universally honored and esteemed, as does Mayor English, this morning.  The two years of his rule have been the most prosperous years the city ever knew, much of which is due to the fact that he has been the best mayor within our memory.  

    “In every sense his regime has been successful.  He has put under control a lawless element that has heretofore defied city officials.  He has restricted gambling to a few secret corners, if he has not driven it out altogether.  

    “In a financial sense the result has been quite as happy.  The English administration closes its year without having one dollar of debt or a single bill payable.  It leaves a sinking fund of $95,000 in the treasury, where it found only $40,000 two years ago.  It has spent $101,200 on permanent improvements such as $53,000, waterworks; $28,000, fire department; and and $10,000 for a new school house.  It has spent $70,000 on the streets, besides a levy of $60,000 on citizens against $40,000 a year ago.  It has maintained every department efficiently besides achieving the above results.  

    “Under Mayor English, a permanent system of good streets has been started, and two streets finished.  A paid fire department has been started, and a fire alarm system built.  The system of  assessment and tax paying has been so amended and enforced that, without increasing the burden, the volume of income has been largely increased.  Altogether, we may say that in the last two years the foundation has been laid for another order of things, and the start faily made for a higher and better growth.  If his work is only supplemented it will be well with Atlanta.  It may be claimed that Mayor English had the two best years to work on.  We grant that, and claim for him that the man and the occasion met.  He leaves office without a blot on his name, or a stain on his record, and will have the confidence of the people.”

    Mr. English took a prominent part in the movement, relative to securing the permanent location of the State capitol at Atlanta, in 1877.  After a long and wary struggle the issue, whether this city should remain the capital city of Georgia, went to the people for final adjudication.  In speaking of this struggle the Constitution said: “A terrible prejudice was arrayed against our brave city, and it was certain she had a desperate fight before her.  The most careful and thorough organization, and the most exhaustive and sagacious cunning were necessary if Atlanta wished to maintain her supremacy.  Besides the loss of prestige that would follow if Atlanta was beaten, it was estimated that her defeat would take twenty-five per cent, off the value of her entire property, or destroy at one blow $3,000,000.  It was necessary to find some citizen who would consent to take charge of this desperate and momentous campaign.  It was very difficult to find such a man.  There were dozens who were willing to serve o the committee in subordinate capacities, but none who were willing to take the labors and responsibilities of leadership.

    “At length Captain English consented to take the place, with its thankless and strenuous labors, and do the best he could to so handle it that the city would be protected from the assaults of its enemies.  He forsook his private business, and gave all his time and energies to the details of the campaign.  It was a fearful struggle.  Over one million circulars, letters and addresses were to be circulated throughout the State.  Speakers were to be provided for every section.  Local prejudices were to be met and local committees to be organized.  It was necessary to use money in the legitimate expenses of the campaign, and it was equally essential to protect Atlanta’s honor and purse by seeing that none was expended in an illegitimate way.  All these affairs Captain English attended to with rare fidelity.  He displayed a marvelous shrewdness and sagacity, and showed himself possessed of rare executive powers.  Everything went through, compact and organized, and Atlanta scored the most brilliant victory of her life.”  The people were full of grateful appreciation of his labors and exertions.  They presented him with a fine silver service, and the council passed resolutions of thanks to him.  Since Mr. English’s retirement from the office of mayor, he has held no public office, except as a member of the police board.  

    Progressive and public spirited, Mr. English has borne a leading part in all the enterprises which have aided the up building of Atlanta.  He is a large property holder in the city, and all his interests are linked with the city’s welfare.  He was a director in the first cotton factory established here, and was one of the original promoters of the Atlanta Female Institute, and under him, as chairman of the building committee, the school was built and equipped.  He also contributed toward the erection of Kimball House, and to the various expositions which have been held here.  In the various enterprises with which he has been connected, he has been remarkably successful, and in that success Atlanta has been enriched in numerous ways.  In business and financial management he has proven himself to be a force in this community, while the integrity of his course, both publicly and privately, command respect and esteem.