Chatham-Screven County GaArchives Biographies.....Colding, Robert Lee unknown - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 1, 2004, 11:06 am

Author: William Harden
p. 1041-1042

   COLONEL ROBERT LEE COLDING. Savannah has a legal fraternity of which she has
every reason to be proud, some of the members of the profession having achieved
nation-wide prominence. Among its eminent representatives is Col. Robert Lee
Colding, whose excellent equipment has given him high standing and a practice of
large proportions. As his Christian name indicates, Colonel Colding comes of
staunch Southern origin and a glance at the history of his forbears reveals a
number of soldiers and patriots. He himself is a public-spirited citizen of the
best type, ever ready to give his support to any measure which in his judgment
will be likely to advance, the general welfare.

   Colonel Colding, who has lived his entire life in the city of Savannah, is
the son of Capt. Silas M. and Laura Frances (Sibley) Colding. The father, who
died in 1886, when the subject was still a lad, was born in Screven county,
Georgia, and came to Savannah a bare-footed boy. He served in the Confederate
army throughout the war between the states, becoming a regimental staff captain
in the Fiftieth Georgia Infantry, in the army of northern Virginia. For a long
number of years he was a successful cotton merchant; in his latter career as
such, however, suffering financial reverses. The mother of Colonel Colding was
born in Bridgeton, New Jersey; when she was a year old her parents removed to
Florida and later to Georgia. She was the daughter of Samuel Shute Sibley, a
widely known newspaper man of the earlier days. Long before the war he was the
proprietor of the Savannah Georgian, which was the predecessor of the present
Morning News. The paternal grandfather, Henry Colding, was born in Screven
county, Georgia, of parents who came from Barnwell District, South Carolina.
Henry Colding's father, Blanchard Colding, of South Carolina, was a Continental
soldier in the Revolutionary war. The family originated in Denmark, migrating
thence to Scotland and in Colonial days coming to America. They located first in
New York after their arrival in the land of the stars and stripes and
subsequently came to South Carolina.

   On account of the parental financial reverses above referred to, Colonel
Colding was early in life thrown upon his own resources. But although in those
early days the doors of the schools were locked in his face, the doors of
education were not and he found in the school of life a training quite
invaluable. After some attendance in the public schools of the city, he entered
the Savannah Military Academy, paying for his tuition out of his own earnings.
Meantime a long gathering desire to become a lawyer readied the point of
crystallization and he began his legal studies here, being duly admitted to the
bar on June 18, 1898. lie has since been admitted to practice in the state,
supreme and federal courts and in the United States supreme court. He has a tine
legal mind and is a hard-working and successful lawyer, always having a large
amount of legal business, and his conduct of his law business being notable for
thoroughness and efficiency.

   He is the sound and substantial type of citizen who wins the well-deserved
confidence of the people and he has been called to serve in several public
capacities. He was county attorney of Cheatham county for five years, from 1903
to 1908. He is an ex-member of the city council, of which body he was vice
chairman and chairman of the fire committee. He was colonel on the staff of
Governor Terrell and is now on the list of retired officers with the rank of
lieutenant commander.

   Colonel Colding is one of the most prominent Masons of the state. He is past
master of Solomon's Lodge, No. 1; deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of
Georgia; past high priest of Georgia Chapter No. 3; past grand high priest of
the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Georgia; past thrice illustrious master, Georgia
Council No. 2, Royal and Select Masters; past grand master, Grand Council of
Georgia; past commander, Palestine Commandery, No. 7, Knights Templar. He is now
preceptor of Richard Joseph Nunn Consistory, 32nd degree, A. and A. S. R. He is
also a high priest and prophet and representative of Alee Temple, A. A. 0. N. M.
S. He is also past exalted ruler of the local lodge of Elks. Colonel Colding has
been connected with the formation of many lodges and has been instrumental in
spreading the tine principles of Masonry, especially in southeastern Georgia.
During his progress through Masonry many honors have been conferred upon him,
each succeeding honor bringing increased satisfaction to the brethren of
Savannah. He enjoys a great degree of popularity and is well worthy of the
success he has achieved and the honors that have been conferred upon him.

   Colonel Colding married Miss Annie E. McIntyre, daughter of Edward McIntyre,
of Savannah, who was for many years comptroller of the Central of Georgia
Railroad. The demise of this lady occurred in 1898.


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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