Clarke County GaArchives Biographies.....Dorsey, Joseph Harwell 1855 - living in 1923
************************************************
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 April 2, 2005, 9:51 am

Author: H. J. Rowe

JOSEPH HARWELL DORSEY

   Born at Athens, Georgia, September 6, 1855, the son of Captain and Mrs.
William H. Dorsey. Attended private schools of Mr. Calvin McAllister, Mr. A. M.
Scudder and Rev. H. R. Bernard.

   Mr. Dorsey began his business career at the early age of fifteen, when he was
employed as bookkeeper by the firm of Dorsey & Smith, general merchants at Athens.

   His first public office was as alderman from the First ward of Athens, and
while serving his term, he was elected Mayor of the City of Athens, and was at
the time the youngest mayor of any town of Athens' size in Georgia. Under his
administration and during it, some of the most important steps forward in the
city's history were taken: The public school system was adopted; the first
permanent street improvements were made, a rock crusher being bought for the
purpose; the first waterworks system was accepted; the Macon & Covington
Railroad route was changed to Athens as a terminal point (now the Central of
Georgia Railroad from Athens to Macon.) Mr. Dorsay was the first and only mayor
of Athens to order the chief of police to require members of the police fores to
attend Sunday church services at the church of their choice—four each Sunday,
two at morning and two at the evening service. These men were relieved from duty
during the hour, but were subject to call.

   Mr. Dorsey owned and operated the first street railway in Athens— horse-drawn
cars. Later he was again connected with the railway business, being for thirteen
years Traveling Freight and Passenger Agent for the Georgia, Southern and
Florida. He returned to Athens in 1899 and was elected Tax Receiver for Clarke
County, and has held the office, continuously since that date.

   On November 10, 1875, he married Miss Sallie Chapple who died August 3, 1881.
They had five children, two of whom survive. On June 10, 1883, he was married to
Miss Mary Allea Hargrove, who died June 9, 1920. Five children blessed this
union, three of whom survive. Children: Mrs. Fannie Hosey, Mrs. Susan Matthews,
Mrs. Aseneth Bstts, Mrs. Ida May Compton, Mrs. Elizabeth Maxey. Residence
address, 1196 South Lumpkin street. Business address, Clarke County Court House.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF ATHENS and CLARKE COUNTY
1923

H. J. ROWE, Publisher

THE McGREGOR CO., PRINTERS, ATHENS, GA.




File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/clarke/bios/dorsey771gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 2.9 Kb