Wayne County, NC - Biography of Jesse Parker Williams ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This article is copied from the book “Georgia” comprising sketches of counties, town, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedia form. Edited by ex-governor ALLEN D. CANDLER and General CLEMENT A. EVANS Vol. III (p. 592-598). State Historical Association, Atlanta, 1906 JESSE PARKER WILLIAMS of Savannah, Georgia, stands in the front rank of those sons of the South who by strong mentality, indomitable industry, starling integrity and sagacious foresight have accumulated large fortunes and lead in the development of this section of the country. His work has been that of an up builder, an organizer of industry, a planner of new business movements. His efforts have been exerted along carefully considered lines, with definite objects in view, and have been unceasing until success has crowned them. Knowing no discouragement, confident of the intimate fruition of his hopes, Mr. WILLIAMS has pressed forward undaunted where other men, with less confidence and determination, would have fallen back and abandoned their projects. As with other leaders who, in this generation, have been instrumental in organizing anew the great vital forces of the South, Mr. WILLIAMS stands as an example to the young men of Georgia, as an evidence of the rich rewards awaiting intelligence and energy when properly applied. He has thoroughly demonstrated the truth of the old adage that opportunities lay at every man’s door, and that success is merely the harvest that comes from the skilful use of them. The foundation of Mr. WILLIAMS’ fortunes was laid without the aid of influential friends. He began his business career facing the adverse conditions created by the Civil War, with no capital beyond his brains, his industry, and a reputation for strict integrity in all things that entitled him to the confidence of the commercial world. On this same basis he built, slowly at first, then more rapidly as the arena of his operations broadened, until today he stands the peer of any business man in the South, a recognized exponent of all that is best in the commercial activities of his state and section. There is nothing in Mr. WILLIAMS’ success that is to be attributed to “chance”. He has never played the part of a mere speculator, has never sought to build up his prosperity at the expense of others. The trend of his business life has been toward helping others while promoting his own interests, to keep the public weal before him as well as his private aims. Every man who has assisted in the carrying out of his plans has profited in proportion to the efforts he has put forth. Today scores of men in the South who are prosperous in business acknowledge their debt of gratitude to Mr. WILLAIMS. This probably the most satisfactory feature of his entire career. In a day when the finger of condemnation is pointed at so many fortunes acquired by immoral, even if not unlawful, means, it is a satisfaction to dwell on the fact that Mr. WILLAIMS’ entire life stands as an open book for the scrutiny of the world. He has not profited by the ruin or injury of others, or by schemes that were doubtful in character, but has walked steadfastly along the safe old lines of business probity and straight dealing with his fellowmen. Mr. WILLAIMS’ life exemplifies those starling traits of character which so strongly marked the original stock of the “Ole Dominion” and the “Old North State”. For generations back; his ancestors were among the sturdy sons of Virginia and North Carolina. Disciplined in the rugged life of the pioneer, honoring that which is pure and true, full of vigor and strength and courage, staunch in their adherence to principle, they bred a race of men well calculated to withstand the stress of war and of evil days of which the South was to enter. Mr. WILLIAMS was born in Wayne County, North Carolina, sixty-four years ago. His father, MAC WILLIAMS, a native of that state, was the son of CHARLES WILLIAMS, a Captain of North Carolina Cavalry in the War of 1812. On the maternal side, also, Mr. WILLAIMS is descended from an old and distinguished Virginia family, the PARKERS, a family whose name often appears in the annals of the state, in War as well as in Peace. His grandmother, ELISABETH PARKER, was born in Nansemonds County, Virginia, removing to North Carolina after her marriage. From both sides Mr. WILLIAMS doubtless inherited the love of Military Life which displayed itself in the struggle between the States. As with so many thousands of the youth of the South, Mr. WILLIAMS’ higher education was broken by that sanguinary conflict. His education had consisted of two years at the FRANKLIN MILITARY INSTITUTE, (1858-59), and he had become a student at the UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, when the news of the attack on Fort Sumpter swept the whirlwind of enthusiasm over North Carolina and her sister states. Books were cast aside at once. Returning home immediately he enlisted as a private in the TWENTIETH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY and served in that capacity for a year. While at home on a furlough Private WILLIAMS organized a company and tendered it to the Governor of North Carolina. Its services were at once accepted and he was commissioned its Captain. This company then became part of the Fifty-fifth North Carolina Infantry. After serving the CONFEDERACY in this position for a year Captain WILLIAMS resigned his command, about March 1, 1863, and returned home. After a short rest he was appointed Adjutant of NETHERCUTT’s battalion of PARTISANS RANGERS. After a few months’ service this office was resigned and Captain WILLIAMS organized another company at Kinston, North Carolina, received his commission and its commanding officer, and served with it until the close of the hostilities. This company was made a part of NETHERCUTT’s battalion, which was afterwards consolidated with WRIGHT’s battalion, and formed the Sixty-sixth regiment of N. C. Infantry. During his four years’ service in the CONFFEDERATE ARMY, Captain WILLIAMS was engaged in numerous skirmishes and battles in North Carolina and Virginia. He enjoyed the confidence of his superior officers and of the men under his command. At Washington, Walthall Junction, and second Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Fort Harrison, Wilmington, Wise’s Fork, and Bentonville his company fought valiantly. Its losses were heavy at the surrender there was but a fragment of its original strength to lay down arms and return to paths of peace. At Petersburg, from June 15 to Sept. 6, his company lay in the trenches within 136 yards of the Federals in Fort Stedman, probably being the nearest to the enemy along the whole Confederate line of entrenchments. At other battle points Captain WILLIAMS and his men were similarly honored with positions of great danger and never failed to reflect credit upon themselves and North Carolina by the unflinching performance of their duty in the face of great odds. In this period of military service as in the forty years of business struggles that were to follow, Captain WILLIAMS displayed the same traits of character and cool determination, sagacious planning, undaunted courage, and a high moral sense of personal responsibility. The years of warfare were a fitting preparation for the four decades of progressive business life on which he at once entered when the sword was laid down at Greensboro. There was no time for idleness for Captain WILLIAMS after hostilities ceased. He accepted a position as a bookkeeper for a firm at Conway, South Carolina, and remained there for two years. In 1868 he engaged in the lumber business at Port Haralson, S.C. and two years later in the mercantile business at the same place. Inside of ten years Captain WILLIAMS, as he is still generally known to his friends, had secured a firm financial footing, had established a credit that was never impaired, and had reached that point in his career where he could safely enter broader fields and undertake business on a larger scale than heretofore. To that end he removed to Savannah, Georgia, in 1879, and on December 10th entered the naval stores commissioned business there, later combining the handling of cotton with that of naval store. For twenty-six years he had continued in this line, the firm, now being the oldest naval stores commission house in the South. At first the firm was WILLIAMS and WATSON. Two years later, in 1882, the late C.L. CHESTNUTT succeeded to Mr. WATSON’s interest, the firm becoming J.P. WILLIAMS and Company. Soon after this Mr. J.A.G. CARSON succeeded Mr. CHESTNUTT. The firm remained unchanged until 1897 when the concern was incorporated as the J.P. WILLIAMS Company. At the advent of Mr. CARSON a wholesale grocery business was added, this house being the first naval stores firm to add that important branch to its business, an example the others soon followed. The the development of the business was steady, every year seeing a decided increase in the volume of naval stores and cotton handled. For the past twenty years the house has been recognized as foremost in its line. Even in the face of the strongest competition, such as has marked recent years, there has been a constant expansion of its business and a strengthening of its commanding trade position. The firm name stands as a symbol for fair dealings and for strict adherence to rigid probity in every transaction. The absolute confidence felt in it by the producing trade is the strongest testimonial that could be desired as to the principles espoused by Mr. WILLIAMS and his business associates. As far seeing business man Mr. WILLIAMS appreciated the fact that the rapid destruction of the Pine timber of the South must soon result in an enormous appreciation of timber land values. He accordingly became a large investor in such properties. To that he organized the WILLIAMS Investment Company and the J.P. WILLIAMS Land Company. These two companies have handles in all over 700,000 acres of Pine lands. The former has been liquidated, the latter continues in active business, controlling large and increasingly valuable tracts. Enormous profits have resulted from Mr. WILLIAMS’ keen appreciation of the future results of the Naval stores and lumber inroads on the Pine Forests. Through the instrumentality of these lands companies his house has also been in position to protect the interests of its customers among naval stores producers, providing them with timber lands when their farms were exhausted. The opportunity to buy timber lands cheap was open to all, but it was the sagacious foresight, the penetration intelligence of men like Mr. WILLIAMS that led them to seize the possibilities and utilize them to their own and others benefit. The control of large areas of timber lands in the natural course of events led Mr. WILLIAMS into the railroad sphere. He was one of the chief promoters of the MIDDLE GEORGIA and ATLANTIC railroad, which he merged into the CENTRAL of GEORGIA railway. The successful completion of this enterprise was LARGELY DUE TO Mr. WILLIAMS’ efforts. His experience in this enterprise was of value to him later. About eight years ago he began the construction of what is now known as the GEORGIA, FLORIDA, and ALABAMA railroad, but which for several years was operated as the GEORGIA PINE. Originally constructed from Bainbridge to Arlington, this road has been extended by degrees until now it is 170 miles in length, from Carrabelle to Apalachicola, and a branch line to Quincy, Florida. Plans have been made for further extensions of this railroad enterprise, which will give it a better outlet and assist materially in the development of the virgin territory though which it now runs. The expansion of the business of the Georgia, Florida, and Alabama railroad has been short of phenomenal. Striking boldly out into an entirely new section. Confident that he had honestly estimated the possibilities it offered as a naval stores, lumber, and agricultural district, Mr. WILLIAMS has had his predictions abundantly justified by actual results. The railroad, of which he is now president, the main owner and the dominating spirit, has enjoyed a growing and profitable business almost from its opening. The country through which it runs is rapidly filling up with settlers, and the entire territory it has opened up gives promise of becoming one of the garden spots of the South. At Carrabelle Mr. WILLIAMS enterprise is developing one of the most promising harbors of the south, possessing wonderful natural advantages, and the commerce of which is growing with rapid strides. While much of Mr. WILLIAMS time in late years has been occupied in the promotion of this railroad he has not allowed it to entirely absorb his business life. In Savannah he has held positions of honor and responsibility. One term he served as an alderman of the city. When a tank company was organized for the protection of the producers of the naval stores, Mr. WILLIAMS was elected its president. In the Savannah cotton exchange he has rendered valuable service as director, vice- president, and president. One of the organizers of the Savannah Board of Trade, he served it as a director for some years, then as vice- president and declining the presidency because of the pressure of business. In the advancement of Savannah’s interest’s he assisted in the organization of the Tybee Hotel Company and the Tybee Island Beach Company. In the banking life of the city he has also shown his public spirit. Assisting in the organization of the National Bank of Savannah and of the Oglethorpe Savings and Trust Company, he has served the former as director for a number of years, and is still a director of the latter institution. He is also a director of the Savannah Trust Company and of the Central Trust and Banking Corporation of Atlanta. Despite the claims on his time by the numerous business engagements of so active a commercial career, Mr. WILLIAMS has not failed in the duty toward the moral and spiritual side of life. An active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church he had liberally assisted its various benevolences. In its educational work he has taken a prominent part in connection with Emory College at Oxford, Georgia, serving as chairman of the trustees of that institution for some years and has given unstinted of his time and means to its advancement. Three of the finest and more modern buildings at Emory are largely the result of his personal efforts and financial aid. In Savannah he has seen chairman of the trustees of the YMCA and to him is mainly due the credit for the initiation of the building project which is now giving to the association one of the finest homes for work of this character in the South. He is also president of the North Carolina Society of Savannah and a Mason of many years standing. Mr. WILLIAMS has been twice married, his first wife being Miss OLIVIA ROWENA OUTLAND of South Carolina, and his second wife, who still lives, Miss CORA B. TAYLOR of South Carolina. He has a beautiful home in Savannah and is erecting a commodious mansion at Statesboro, Georgia for occasional use. Although in his 64th year, Mr. Williams today is as alert as in his younger manhood, and has the same keen interest in the manifold activities of his life, and finds the sphere of his usefulness to his fellowmen broadening with each year. Appreciation that wealth judiciously used for the development of the country is wealth applied, his is devoting large sums to the promotion of this area, pursuing a broad generous policy toward all those interests with which he comes in contact. His remaining years promise to be full of usefulness and add to the well earned reputation that nearly a half century of honorable business achievements have won for him. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Annette Roebuck ___________________________________________________________________