Jefferson County, Alabama Biographies

Jefferson County, Alabama Biographies

The following biographies were extracted from: Jefferson County and Birmnigham, Alabama: Historical and Biographical, 1887, Author: John Witherspoon Dubose.

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W. J. CAMERON, president of the First National Bank, and one of the most conspicuous among Southern financiers, is a native of the State, and was born inMontgomery in 1851. His progenitors came from Scotland, where the name is familiar to all who read the history of that noted race. They were emigrants to the north of Ireland, where his parents were born. His father, Andrew Cameron, came to America about 1838, and in 1840 became a resident of Montgomery, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until the close of the war, and is still in business life near Montgomery. He married, in 1850, Miss Eliza Crozier, of Philadelphia, and has four children living. William J. is the oldest child and only son.

Mr. Cameron received the benefits of the best schools of Montgomery, and also one year's course at the Norristown (Pa.) Academy. He began his business career in the banking house of Josiah Morris, of Montgomery, now, one of the most noted financiers of the South, and rapidly rose from the position of runner, until, in 1880, he was appointed cashier of the City Bank of Birmingham, through the influence of Mr. Morris, who had tested him in all positions and knew his sterling attributes. In 1884 he was appointed cashier of the First National Bank upon its organization, and in January, 1886, was elected president of that institution.

Mr. Cameron has been a resident of the city since that period, and is now at the head of one of the largest and most stalwart of the banks of Alabama. He is also president of the Southern Bridge Company, is secretary and treasurer of the Birmingham Ice Company, secretary and treasurer of the Alabama Construction Company, and of the Building and Loan Association, and a director of the Gas and Illuminating Company. He is one of the incorporators of the East Birmingham Land Company, and was elected treasurer of that corporation. He is one of the most progressive, genial, and popular citizens of Birmingham, and has attained his high position among some of the leading monied and industrial enterprises through sterling merit and superior executive ability. While living in Montgomery Mr. Cameron was orderly sergeant of the famous Montgomery Greys, and upon the reorganization of the State troops was made major of the Second Infantry, which regiment was in service in the famous Posey riot In Birmingham in 1883.

Mr. Cameron has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Mary E. Smith, of Montgomery. They were married in 1872, and her death occurred in 1881, leaving four children—Wm. Smith, Pauline, Andrew C, and Wm. J., Jr. In 1883 he was united with Miss Mary B., daughter of George E. Ward, of Birmingham. Mr. Cameron is a member of the First M. E. Church, South, and his wife of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

J. R. CARTER , City Engineer, is a native of Pulaski, Tenn. , and son of Major B. F. Carter, a gallant and distinguished officer, who served upon the staff of General John C. Brown during the late war between the States.

Mr. Carter received his education at Giles College, in his native town, supplemented by a thorough course at the University of Virginia. Though his studies were pursued and finished wholly with a view to the profession in which he was subsequently distinguished, his first employment was under the United States Government as gauger, for the district of Middle Tennessee. In this capacity he served about three years, which period introduced the year 1880, and found him soon afterward in the Far West, with the Texas Pacific Railway Company, as assistant engineer in charge of location upon the Rio Grande division. He was now fully started upon the practical part of the profession for which he was taught, and which, for three years after leaving college, he had neglected, through necessity growing out of the well-remembered stagnation of all business, particularly of railroad construction, consequent upon the panic of 1877.

Mr. Carter remained with the Texas Pacific until its completion to El Paso, and enjoys the distinction of having, in the discharge of the duties assigned him, ran the longest continuous line of levels ever run by any engineer in the United States.

Leaving El Paso, and still in the employ of the Gould Company, he went to the City of Mexico, as an assistant engineer upon the Mexico Oriental Railway. Yellow fever drove this surveying party from the field, and Mr. Carter visited Monterey, where he was several months in the employ of a Spanish Railway Company, and from whence he returned to the United States in 1884.

In March, of this year, he was elected to the position he has since filled with the highest credit to himself, and the unalloyed satisfaction of the citizens.

WILLIAM LOCKE CHEW , a native of Calvert County, Maryland, was born in May, 1861. His father, Beverly G. Chew, and his mother, Elizabeth Smith, were also natives of the same State, but it seems that while the subject of this sketch was quite young they emigrated to Mississippi, where the former engaged in planting in the rich bottom lands of the famous Yazoo Valley.

Our subject received the first rudiments of an education in Yazoo City, and kept this up until he was fifteen years old, and then entered the University of Mississippi at Oxford, where he was graduated, taking the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1882, on the 28th of June. He then entered the Tulane Medical College in New Orleans, Louisiana, in October, 1883, where he remained until 1886, and during two years of his stay there was a member of the medical staff of the Charity Hospital connected with this institution. This is an honor which has been highly prized by the students of this popular college throughout its history, as it is an indication of superior merit and high standing. It therefore indicates no inconsiderable distinction and gratification to Dr. Chew. In April, 1886, he came to Birmingham, and associated himself with Dr. B. M. Hughes in the practice of his profession, and, notwithstanding the fact that he is one of the youngest members of it in his chosen home, he is nevertheless one of its successful and popular practicing physicians.

Dr. Chew is a member of the M. E. Church, South, a member of Jefferson County Medical Society, a censor for five years, and a member of the County Board of Health for five years.

J. B. COBBS, Cashier of the Berney National Bank, is a young man of much promise. He is a native of Alabama, born March, 1856, and a son of Hon. Thomas and Lucy Thomas Cobbs, natives of North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. His father is a celebrated lawyer and jurist, a full sketch of whom appears in the biographies of the Bench and Bar.

Our subject was reared in Livingston County, where his primary education was commenced. Later he entered the celebrated Eastman Comercial College, located at Poughkeepsie, New York, and was graduated therefrom in 1874. He immediately engaged in commercial life, and for a number of years was engaged in office work in Livingston, Mobile, and other cities.

In March, 1883, he came to Birmingham, and was engaged by the National Bank as individual bookkeper. Upon the organization of the First National Bank he was made .general bookkeeper and receiving teller. A vacancy occurring in the Central Bank in July, 1885, caused by the resignation of Saffold Berney, who was its cashier, Mr. Cobbs was elected to fill that important office, and upon its reorganization and change of name he was elected to the position which he now holds. Mr. Cobbs is a typical representative of the young men of the New South, who have caught the progressive spirit of the times. He fills the position efficiently, is courteous and obliging, and one of the most popular citizens of the Magic City.

Mr. Cobbs is interested in some of the leading corporations, and has been a member of the city council.

He was married in 1880 to Miss Susie B. Little, of Sumter County, Alabama. They have two children—Carrie L. and J. Berney.

The family are members of the Episcopal Church, Mr. Cobbs being secretary of the vestry.

HARDIN P. COCHRANE was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, October 1, 1843. His father, William Cochrane, was a native of New York, a lawyer by profession, and practiced in that city until, his health failing him, he emigrated to Tuscaloosa, Ala., and entered into partnership with General Crabb, of whose fame as a gallant leader in the Mexican War all readers of American history are well aware. The mother of Hardin P. Cochrane was Miss S. S. Louisa Perkins, daughter of Major Hardin Perkins.

The home of the subject of this sketch was, at the date of his birth, well known as the center of refinement and culture. And it is not at all surprising that the influences of his surroundings should have exerted an important bearing on his destiny.

In the spring of 1860 he went North, and remained until fall, when he entered the University of Alabama, being in the first corps of cadets in the institution. In 1861 he was appointed drill master to the Confederate camps of instruction at Shelby Springs, and at Mobile, Ala., where he remained, mostly in detached service, until April 1862, when he resigned his position as cadet and drill master to join a Confederate company of cavalry under Captain J. J. Pegeus, called the Warrior Rangers, but subsequently known as Company D, Second Alabama Cavalry.

On one occasion, he was sent out, with a scouting party of eight men, and captured four of the enemy and eight of their horses. He displayed so much gallantry that in recoginition of which he was presented with a fine horse. He participated in over fifty engagements, and had a horse shot under him at Kingtson, Ga., while serving under General E. Johnston.

Not willing to give the cause up, he volunteered to go across the Mississippi to join General Dick Taylor. As Taylor surrendered a few days later, he returned to his home in Tuscaloosa, without taking the parole, and engaged in farming for several years, devoting his leisure time to the study of medicine.

He completed his medical education at the Medical Univeristy of New York, from which he graduated in March, 1874. He was then was appointed house physician of the Colored Home Hospital, and subsequently resigned it to accept the position of assistant physician on Ward's Island, in New York State.

In November, 1874, he returned to Tuscaloosa, and began the regular practice of his profession, and received the appointment of surgeon to the body of men, employed under Colonel Horace Harding, who were engaged in the work of improving the navigation of the Black Warrior River. In October, 1875, he accepted the position of assistant surgeon of the Alabama Insane Hospital; in 1876, was chosen counselor of the Medical Association of Alabama, and in May, 1881, came to Birmingham, where he resumed the practice of his profession; in 1884, was elected president of the Jefferson County Medical Society.

In 1881 he was married to Miss Lalla E., daughter of Judge William S. Mudd, of Elyton, Ala. The happiness of this union was cut short by the death of Mrs. Cochrane, during the year 1885.

In January, 1887, he was united in marriage to his cousin, Miss Leighla O. Perkins, of Franklin Tenn. Mrs. Perkins' maternal ancestors, the Maurys and Fontaines, were Huguenots, and her family are among the most prominent of Tennessee. Her grandfather, Hon. Abram P. Maury, was a distinguished politician, serving his country in Congress, and in the legislature of his native State. His father's family are too well known to need a word of commendation, save that they have always occupied positions of wealth and honor.

Thus, do we see a worthy member of a noble profession acquiring, step by step, an enviable standing professionally, and, as a citizen, a name above reproach.

Mr. and Mrs. Cochrane are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

BENJAMIN GRIGSBY COPELAND is a native of Limestone County, Alabama, and was born in the month of July, 1860. His father, Nathan G. Copeland, was a farmer, and his mother, whose maiden name was Callie C. Grigsby, were both native Alabamians.

The subject of this sketch was reared during his early years on the farm, and up to his twelfth year went to the common schools of his immediate vicinity, and then took a two years' course at Elkton School one year, concluding his academical studies at Culleoka, Tennessee, by a further attendance of two years. At this point in his life he at once entered upon the preparation of life's work by entering the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pa., and was an attendant there during its session up to his graduation in the fall of 1883, and being active and progressive he came to Birmingham in October of the same year, and since then has been in the active practice of the medical profession. His practice has grown satisfactorily, and, though but a few years beyond the time that divides youth from manhood, has attained a place among the associates of his profession, and those who seek the alleviation of his noble calling. His success argues well for the future. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, and has served as its secretary for one year since his residence in Birmingham.

He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Knights of Labor.

JAMES A. COX , is a young physician of Southern birth, fine education, and with a promising future before him. Born in Giles County, Tenn., in 1855. His parents were George J. and A. E. (Westmoreland) Cox, natives of Alabama, where the paternal grandfather was for many years engaged in the practice of medicine. Our subject commenced his studies in the public schools of Louisville, Ky., afterward spent three years in the high school of the same city, and subsequently went to the University of the South, located at Sewanee, Tenn. In the year 1874 he entered the Medical Department of the University of Louisville, and was graduated therefrom with honor. In 1876 he commenced to practice in Louisville, and two years thereafter went to Texas, where he remainded for three years. Desiring to confine his practice entirely to the diseases of the eye and ear, nose and throat, he went to New York in October, 1880, and was appointed house surgeon of the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, where he received the superior advantages of that large institution, and there he remained in diligent study and attendance until the close of 1881. Returning to Birmingham in the fall of 1886, forming an association with Dr. S. L. Ledbetter. Their practice is confined alone to the head and throat.

Dr. Cox is a genial gentleman, of a studious nature, and commands the respect of the profession and citizens.

GEORGE M. CRUIKSHANK , Young men lead and control many of the leading enterprises of Birmingham. The glittering prospects of fame and fortune have lured many of the brightest and boldest of Alabama's young men to Birmingham. The New South has a great attraction for men who want to abandon the past and keep pace with the spirit of the age, and the recognition of Birmingham as the center of that influence has brought to her streets the hope of many of Alabama's towns. In this spirit came George M. Cruikshank, the subject of this sketch.

He was reared and educated at Talladega, and, soon after his maturity, was elected principal of the blind department of the State institution for the deaf, dumb, and blind. This position he held for six years, when the death of his father compelled him to resign, and lead a more active life. He then began the practice of law, and took editorial charge of the Reporter, succeeding his father. Soon after this he was appointed general administrator of Talladega County, and held that office for two years, when he came to Birmingham. He came here to enter journalism professionally, for that pursuit had thrown an enchantment around him too powerful to be resisted.

Coming here Mr. Cruikshank at once bought an interest in the Chronicle, with F. V. Evans, and became its editor, and soon afterward, in partnership with Mr. Evans and Mr. Grace, founded the Evening Chronicle. He has continued to do its editorial work since then. His policy has consistently been to stand close by the people, and to urge every line of policy proposed for the good of the people. This policy has made the Chronicle very popular at home, and its influence has been recognized in the district and the State. He, with Mr. D. B. Grace, now owns the paper, and they are devotedly at work adding to its usefulness.

Mr. Cruikshank is the only son of the late M. H. Cruikshank, of Talladega, who was a member of the Confederate Congress, a lawyer of distinction, a fluent writer, and a man of stainless honor.

Few men, just entering the "thirties," have so bright a future as is now promised this young editor, who has already won an honorable place in his profession. He is well equipped for his life-work with a liberal education and a broad course of reading. Owning a well-established paper, he and his partner, Mr. Grace, are accounted two of the successful young men of Birmingham.

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