Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....Colquitt, William Neyle 1878 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 22, 2004, 10:14 am

Author: William Harden
p. 899-900

WILLIAM NEYLE COLQUITT. Among the popular and talented young citizens of
Savannah is William Neyle Colquitt, secretary to ex-Mayor Tiedman of the city
and former lawyer and journalist. He comes of distinguished southern ancestry
and has succeeded admirably in living up to the traditions of his antecedents.
Mr. Colquitt is one of Savannah's native sons, his birth having occurred within
the boundaries of the beautiful city, March 8, 1878. He is the son of Walter
Wellborn and Lilla (Habersham) Colquitt. He received his preliminary education
in the public schools of Savannah and then matriculated in the University; of
Georgia, being graduated from that institution in 1898 with the degree of LL.B.
He hung out his maiden shingle in Atlanta, but dabbled in journalism, and
finding it most congenial work, gave more and more of his attention to the
affairs of the Fourth Estate. He came back to Savannah, and soon thereafter was
proffered and accepted the city editorship of the Savannah Press. In 1907 he
became secretary to the mayor of Savannah, and continued in that capacity until
January, 1913. Mr. Colquitt has always been active in the military life of his
native city, although he declined an appointment to Annapolis, proffered to him
on account of his having saved the life of the son of Hillary A. Herbert,
formerly secretary of the navy. He was successively a member of the infantry,
cavalry, artillery naval reserves and the governor's staff, and he is now
secretary of the Savannah Volunteer Guards.

   Mr. Colquitt has decided literary ability, having a forceful and interesting
style. He has been the author of numerous magazine articles, mainly historical
in their nature. He was formerly secretary of the board of managers of the
Savannah public library, and he is still a member of the board, being chairman
of the finance committee. He is a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and
is secretary and treasurer of the Savannah Alumni Association. He was the author
of the movement to erect a monument to Generals Screven and Stewart in Midway
Cemetery, for which Congress has made available $10,000, and he is now secretary
of the monument commission. In recognition of his services in this matter he was
elected an honorary member of the Midway Society, the first in the history of
the society, which has existed for more than a century.

   Mr. Colquitt is everything that is patriotic and public-spirited. Being
naturally enthusiastic, they are passionate emotions with him, and he has the
gift of making fine realities out of his visions. He is a very popular citizen,
his honorable life and commendable characteristics, combined with charming
manners, having won him hosts of friends.

   In 1905, Miss Dolores Boisfeuillet, daughter of Adrian S. Boisfeuillet, of
Macon, became the wife of Mr. Colquitt, and their abode is now the center of
gracious hospitality of the most charming southern type.

   Walter Wellborn Colquitt, father of the foregoing, was born at Macon,
Georgia, where he was reared and educated. About the time he became of age he
located in Savannah, and was married in this city. He has been prominently
connected with commercial affairs all his life, and at present his main
interests are in the phosphate industry in Florida. During the first Cleveland
administration he was chief of the revenue service of the United States, with
headquarters at Washington. He is a half-brother of the late Alfred Holt
Colquitt, who died in Washington City, March 26 1894. Alfred Holt Colquitt was
born in Walton county, Georgia, April 20, 1824; he graduated in the College of
New Jersey in 1844, and in that year returned to Georgia and began the practice
of the law. He served in the Mexican war and was elected to Congress in 1852 as
a Democrat. In the war between the states he was a captain in the Army of the
Confederacy. In 1876, this veteran of two wars was elected governor of Georgia
and served one term. He was elected United States senator in 1882 and re-elected
in 1888, his death occurring shortly after the close of his second term.

   Governor Colquitt was the son of Walter T. Colquitt, one of the most
distinguished lawyers of Georgia of the earlier days. He was born in Halifax
county, Virginia, December 27, 1799, and died at Macon, Georgia, May 7, 1855. He
was educated at Princeton College and admitted to the bar in 1820. About that
time he came to Georgia, and in 1826 became a district judge, holding the first
court ever held in Columbus, Georgia. He was a highly successful lawyer, and
especially in criminal practice he was without a peer in the state. He was a
member of the Georgia state senate from 1834 to 1837; a member of congress from
Georgia from 1829 to 1843, and United States senator from 1843 to 1849.

   The subject's mother, Lilla Neyle (Habersham) Colquitt, who passed away in
Savannah in 1805, was a member of one of Georgia's distinguished families. She
was the daughter of William Neyle Habersham, who was the grandson of Joseph
Habersham, the first postmaster general of the United States, previous to which
he had been acting governor of the colony of Georgia. Three of the Georgia
Habershams were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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