Duval County FlArchives Biographies.....West, Eugene Edgar 1857 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 27, 2010, 4:39 pm Source: See below Author: See below Eugene Edgar West It is no mere coincidence when each one of four brothers makes a success in life, accumulates a fortune, winning high station in the ranks of men, and ingratiates himself into the hearts of the people among whom he lives. If such successes are due to anything but native intellect, energy and right living, they are due to good breeding and the moral influences of a home wherein a noble father and kindly mother train their sons in habits of industry, frugality, charity and love of humanity. Eugene Edgar West is one of four brothers who were reared in every comfort on a big ante-bellum plantation, which was devastated, as their father's fortune was engulfed, in the troublous times of the Civil War. They faced life dependent upon their own resources, and no capital, except health, strength and energy, and fortune has been won by all. The love and loyalty of one for another has been notable and touching. Whether mutually interested in business or not, their interests have always been in common, and one has been ready to help another even before necessary. They have gone further and by advice and counsel and a helping hand in a material way given many worthy men a lift that ofttimes proved the divide between failure and success. Eugene Edgar West has passed the greater part of his active life in Florida, and has contributed in no small way to the development of her manufacturing enterprises, and by his enterprise and judicious investment has helped along the upbuilding of Jacksonville and of the State in every line. He is a generous contributor to all worthy causes, and a citizen whose value to the community is beyond all computation. Mr. West is of Scotch and English descent, and his ancestors were pioneer settlers in North Carolina, where they participated in the Indian and Colonial wars, and a number of them fought for American liberty in the War of the Revolution. He had numerous relatives in the Confederate service and his oldest brother was killed while in the line of duty near Richmond, Va. His father, James West, was a type of the ante-bellum planter and Southern gentleman. Born in North Carolina in 1811, he removed to Georgia in 1830, and married a native Georgian, Mary Ann Hunter. He was a progressive, enterprising man, and amassed a fortune, which was swept away by the Civil War. He was hospitable and charitable, and noted for his kindness to and consideration of his slaves. While he had lacked certain advantages of education, he was a man of fine mind, of large influence in politics, as well as in private life. He was a member of the State Senate which was elected in 1857, and was the author and champion of the bill creating the county of Brooks out of portions of Lowndes and Thomas counties. During the Civil War he was a member of the State Militia. In 1863 he removed from the county of Brooks to Madison county, and there passed his declining years on the farm. His eldest surviving son, W. S. West, is one of the most prominent lawyers and Democratic leaders in Georgia, who has served in the Georgia Legislature almost continuously since 1892. He championed the uniform text-book law for ten years before it was enacted. He also championed bills to erect a new passenger station for the Western & Atlantic Railroad in Atlanta and to provide for the next leasing of that road at $60,000 per month. He was of material assistance in passing the bill establishing the Agricultural, Industrial and Normal College in South Georgia, and at the sessions of 1905 and 1906 made an enviable reputation as president of the State Senate. Another son, Abram Hunter West, of Jacksonville, has large interests in plantations, lumber, manufacturing industries and enterprises of varied character and is a man of fine fortune. John W. West, still another son, is also largely interested in various industries and commercial enterprises and has been conspicuously successful. Eugene E. West, the youngest of this remarkably successful family, was born in Brooks county, Ga., July 1, 1857, and his only education was received in the private schools of Madison and Brooks counties, but he had the far greater advantage of an unusually pure and lofty home training. The example of industry and integrity, gentleness and affection was ever before him, and these were instilled into his heart and mind at an early age. His father's fortune having disappeared as a result of the war, he faced life without capital other than that which nature had endowed him, a strong constitution, but he was full of energy and ambition, and of active energetic mind and sound judgment. He was at first associated with his brothers in a business way, but securing a start in life, he branched out independently in turpentine and lumber manufacturing, and by wise investments and untiring industry and attention to business has built up an immense fortune, and is one of the most prosperous men in Northern Florida. He is President of the Ellaville, West Lake and Jennings Railroad, and is engaged in the lumber and turpentine business under the name of E. E. West. He is the individual owner of several office buildings, as well as other valuable real estate in Jacksonville. He is a stockholder in the Commercial Bank of Jacksonville. He is genial and sociable and a popular member of the Elks Club, the Seminole Club and the Osceola Club. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Travelers Protective Association, the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoos, the social organization of the lumbermen. He is an active Democrat, but interested in politics solely for the purpose of helping to elect the best men to office and serving his friends. Mr. West was married February 28, 1889, to Louise Francis Brady, a daughter of John W. and Louisa A. (Lourcey) Brady, of St. Augustine. They have had five children, of whom three are now living, as follows: E. E. West, Jr., Joseph Hunter West and Lois Evelyn West. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. II. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. MCCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. 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