MUSCOGEE COUNTY, GA - BIOS Judge Abram Whitenack Cozart

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Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. II, Atlanta, Georgia, Pages
611-612 Published by the Atlanta Historical Association
in 1895

Judge Abram Whitenack Cozart, judge of the recorder’s
court of Columbus, Ga., was born in June 14, 1870, in
Loudon county, East Tenn.  His early childhood was
spent in the beautiful Sweetwater valley.  Col. A.W.
Cozart, his father, was a wealthy merchant and one of
the most highly respected citizens of that entire
section.  Abram was the youngest child, on which
account his father was particularly attached to him.
Before he was old enough to go to school he traveled
with his parents extensively throughout the north and
south and thereby had excellent opportunities to learn
by observation.  When he was fifteen years old he was
sent to Hiwassee college, Monroe county, Tenn.
Hiwassee is the alma mater of ex-Postmaster-General
D.M. Key, Judge C.J. Wellborn, Hon. L.N. Trammell,
Judge John L. Hopkins and Hon. A.S. Clay. Young Cozart
remained at college for three years and was graduated
in the A.B. course May 15, 1888.  During his entire
stay at college he was absent only two days.  He was
the youngest member of his class, but notwithstanding
that fact stood first.  On commencement day he
delivered an oration on Unity of Purpose, which he
wrote in less than a day.  While he was at college his
parents moved to Columbus, and he came here shortly
after he completed his studies.  Desiring to perfect
his education, he wanted to teach.  President J. Harris
Chappell and Supt. H.W. Woodall, of Columbus, Ga., gave
him great assistance in this, his first work.  He was
elected principal of the high school at Waverly Hall,
Ga., during the year 1889 and was wonderfully
successful.  In 1890 he was elected principal of the
Cusseta high school, Cusseta, Ga., and there he met
with the same success.  At the beginning of the year
1891 he entered the law office of Goetchius & Chappell
to read law.  These gentlemen took great interest in
the young student and instructed him thoroughly in the
elementary principles of law.  He was admitted to the
bar before Judge Roger L. Gamble, Jr.  After finishing
the prescribed three years’ course subsequent to taking
the A.B. degree, his alma mater conferred upon him the
A.M. degree.  At the beginning of the session of the
general assembly of Georgia of 1892 he was appointed to
a clerkship in the house of representatives.  On
account of his strong and clear voice he was made the
reading clerk.  This was very fortunate for Cozart, for
there is no one in the entire legislature who has as
good an opportunity to learn parliamentary law as the
reading clerk.  In addition to his appointment as
reading clerk he was appointed clerk of the general
judiciary committee.  Here he had an opportunity to get
intimately acquainted with thirty learned lawyers and
also the learn the minutiae of law-making.  His
services were so satisfactory during this session that
many of the members voluntarily asked that he be
reappointed for the session of 1893, and in compliance
with their wishes he was reappointed.  During the
session of the legislature of 1893, the city council of
Columbus created the office of recorder and Mr. Cozart
was elected to fill the office over one of the best and
prominent young men of the state, and he has since
enjoyed the distinction of being re-elected twice
without opposition.  The young judge is a polished
scholar and has already gained prominence in his
profession, the practice of law.  He is an entertaining
speaker and is invited to deliver addresses on numerous
occasions.  He is in demand at every political
gathering which he may attend, and during the last
state campaign did good work for his party.  Judge
Cozart is one of the rising young men of the state and
his friends predict an honored and useful career for
him.