Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....Travis, Robert Jesse 1877 - living in 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 15, 2004, 10:38 am Author: William Harden p. 692-694 ROBERT JESSE TRAVIS. Among the lawyers whose integrity and ability have given to the bar of Savannah its high reputation throughout the state is Robert Jesse Travis, of the firm of Travis & Travis, whose offices are located in suite 16-18 Provident building, Savannah, Georgia. Robert Jesse Travis was born January 13, 1877, in the town of Conyers, Georgia, the son of Dr. A. C. W. and Allie (Livingston) Travis. Dr. Travis was one of the best known physicians and surgeons in central Georgia, and was prominent as a surgeon in the Confederate service during the Civil war. He passed away in 1890, while his widow still makes her home in Covington, Georgia. Mrs. Travis is a woman of rare gifts and gracious refinement. Contributions from her pen have often found their way into print. She was born in Covington, Newton county, Georgia, June 17, 1845, the daughter of Robert Bass and Elizabeth (McLaughlin) Livingston. Robert B. Livingston is of distinguished ancestry, having been a grandson of William Livingston of colonial fame, and a direct descendant of Robert Livingston, who, in 1686, obtained a patent for the manor of Livingston, Columbia county, New York, and an account of whose life is to be found in Lossing's "Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence." The Rev. Jesse Travis, the grandfather of Robert Jesse, was a prominent Baptist minister and an associate of the Rev. Jesse Mercer, the founder of Mercer University of Macon, Georgia. Among the forebears of Mr. Travis, who were famous in Colonial and Revolutionary history, appear the names of Livingston, Bass, McLaughlin, Nicholson and Lewis, ahd including such well-known characters as the following: Amos Travis, an early settler in the state of Virginia; Richmond Terrell, the great-grandfather of Robert Jesse Travis, a native of Virginia, who served under Colonel Lynch's command in the southern campaign of the Revolution, and distinguished himself by valorous service in the battles of King's Mountain and Guilford Court House. John Nicholson, who served in the Revolution from Mecklenburg, North Carolina; Ebenezer Smith, a representative of Georgia in the war for independence ; John Lewis, who settled in Hanover county, Vjrginia, and whose nephew, Capt. Merriwether Lewis, became governor of the territory of Louisiana; and a member of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition; and David Lewis, born in 1685, a son of John Lewis, a prominent figure in Albemarle county, Virginia, and related to Col. Barrett Travis, who lost his life in the Texas defense of the Alamo in April, 1836. Robert Jesse Travis was graduated from Emory College, Oxford, Georgia, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts with the class of 1897, together with first honor and every scholarship medal in any department. In 1899 he was graduated from the University of Georgia, in the department of law, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He had at the same time been taking a post-graduate course in the literary department of the state institution. In the year 1897-98, he was principal of the high school at Madison, Georgia. In 1899, Mr. Travis entered upon the practice of his profession in Savannah, forming a partnership with Charles G. Edwards, under the firm name of Travis & Edwards, later entering into a partnership with his brother, John Livingston Travis, under the present firm style of Travis & Travis. The firm has an excellent professional business, and its members are popular and able, both as counselors and attorneys, at the Savannah bar. Both are members of the Savannah bar association. In his political allegiance, Mr. Travis is a stanch Democrat, but although he is an enthusiastic worker in behalf of the candidates and measures of his party, he has himself never accepted public office. Fraternally, Mr. Travis is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; is a past master of Landrum Lodge, Wise Master of Temple Chapter No. 1, Scottish Rite Masons, a Shriner, being Potentate of Alee Temple, Savannah, and a prominent figure at all state gatherings of the order. He is a member of the University Club, the Savannah Yacht Club, the Savannah Golf Club, and the Sons of the Revolution, and holds membership also in the Methodist Episcopal church South, belonging to the Wesleyan Monumental church of his home city. Mr. Travis is known as one of the best rifle and revolver shots in the state, and until recently, when business caused him to give up rifle practice, he was a member of every Georgia team since 1902, holding the state and inter-state (southern) individual championship medals. He has been identified with the Georgia state troops since August 25, 1899, when he enlisted as a private in Company E, First Regiment of Infantry, and later in Company C, Savannah Volunteer Guards, known as the Coast Artillery Corps of Georgia. He has risen through the various ranks of promotion, and has served as corporal, first lieutenant and captain, and is still the captain of Company C. In 1903, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel and assistant judge-advocate in the Georgia state troops. He is also a member of the Savannah Volunteer Guards Club and the United Sons of Confederate Veterans. Captain Travis conducted the investigation which led to the finding of the exact location, on the west side of Savannah, of Spring Hill redoubt, where occurred one of the most sanguinary battles of the Revolution, in which the American and French forces, making an effort to retake the city of Savannah, which was occupied by the British, were repulsed after waging a battle in which they displayed great valor and bravery. On February 11, 1911, this spot was marked by a tablet commemorating the event, erected by the Georgia Society of the Sons of the Revolution, of which Captain Travis is vice-president. A notable gathering, consisting of prominent Georgians, United States government officials and a representative of the French government, were present at the dedication of the tablet, and Captain Travis had charge of the entire arrangement of the affair. On November 27, 1902, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Travis to Miss Rena Falligant, daughter of Louis A. and Rosa 0. (Brown) Falligant, of Savannah. Captain and Mrs. Travis have three children: Robert Falligant, William Livingston and Margaret Elizabeth Travis. Additional Comments: A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA BY WILLIAM HARDEN VOLUME I ILLUSTRATED THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1913 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/chatham/bios/gbs226travis.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 7.1 Kb