Among the citizens of Georgia of the present generation the Honorable
Robert W. Everett, of Rockmart, ranks high. He is a native Georgian, born
in Houston county on March 3, 1839. His parents were Alexander and Harriet
Blanche (Bryan) Everett. His mother belonged to the Bryan family so honorably
represented in the early days of Georgia by Jonathan Bryan, one of the foremost
Patriots of the Revolutionary period, whose name is preserved in Bryan county.
The Everetts are of old English stock and bear honorable position in England,
as shown by the possession of a coat armor. The family was founded in America
by three brothers who came from England, one settling in New York, one in
Massachusetts, and one in Isle of Wight county, Virginia. Mr. Everett is
descended from the Virginia branch. His great-grandfather, residing at that
time in Chowan county, North Carolina, served as a Colonel in the Revolutionary
War. His grandfather, Miles Everett, came to Georgia in 1827. He stopped
one year in Jasper county and in 1828 moved to Washington county, Florida,
where he settled Orange Hill, with a block house for a residence. Mr. Everett’s
father, Alexander Everett, was a farmer who moved to Houston county about
1833, and was married in 1835.
After attending the country schools of Houston county Mr. Everett entered
Mercer College, then located at Penfield , GA, and graduated in 1859 with
the degree of A.B., and later had conferred upon him the degree of A.M.
From the time of his graduation until 1875, with the exception of the Civil
War, he taught school. In the Civil War his first service was in Morgan’s
command. From that he was transferred to Forrest’s and was in active
service during the whole war in the territory covered by Forrest’s
command. His military record was a perfect one, as he never missed a roll
call during the war except when on detail duty.
In 1875 he took up farming as an occupation and has followed that to the
present time. Mr. Everett has carried into his farming sound business sense
and has always made it pay. He takes pride in the fact that he never bought
a bushel of corn, a pound of flour, a pound of meat, nor any other supplies
that could be produced on the farm. This easily explains why he has made
farming pay.
In 1882 the people of his county sent him to the Legislature, where he served
until 1885. He was again sent to the Legislature in 1897 and served for
that year in 1898. He took an active part in the building of the new Capitol,
made the minority report which saved the Railroad Commission to the State
was a strong advocate of the “Tech “ school, the chairman of the
Agricultural Committee.
In 1891 he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress in
his district against the Honorable Judson Clements. He beat Clements in
the nomination, and in the general election had as opponents Doctor W. H.
Felton, Independent, and Captain Z. B. Hargrove, Republican. He won over
both competitors, and during his term in Congress gave the same faithful
service that he had given in other positions never missing a roll call during
his term. During his Congressional career he served on the Committee on
Education, and the Committee on Mississippi Levees and Improvements.
Since his retirement from Congress he has quietly followed his occupation
as a farmer, interrupted only by a term in the Legislature. An attendant
of the Baptist Church he has given to the work of that organization the
same regular and faithful service that he has given to everything else.
As a teacher of a country Sunday School, to which he has given many years
of service, for one period of fifteen years he did not miss a single Sunday.
He is an occasional contributor to the agricultural press, and a regular
reader of agricultural and Biblical literature and of books and periodicals
bearing upon business interests.
On December 17, 1868, he married Miss Emma Cornelia Borders, a daughter
of Captain S. A. Borders, who for a long period was Ordinary of Polk county.
The have two children —Robert Borders Everett, district manager for
Massilon Engine and Threshing Company for Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
and Florida; and William Bryan Everett, cashier Citizens National Bank.
Looking to the promotion of the interests of the State, Mr. Everett regards
the building of good roads as indispensable. He would follow that with compulsory
education, and make strenuous efforts to solve along proper lines the perplexing
questions growing out of the great mass of negroes in our midst. He believes
also that corporations should be strictly regulated, regardless of the time
or trouble or expense that may be involved. He is a Democrat of the old
school, believing in government by the people, not afraid to trust the people,
and absolutely opposed to the present system, whereby the country is exploited
for the benefit of the few. He is past the Biblical limit of three score
and ten, but is vigorous in mind and body, and can look back with satisfaction
on a record of fifty years of faithful performance of every duty which has
come under his hand.
This biography from a collection of biographies, Men of Mark In Georgia,
compiled by William J. Northen, originally published in Atlanta, 1912; Reprinted
Spartanburg, N.C.,1974; found in the Family History Library, Salt Lake City.
This particular biography was authored by Bernard Suttler.
The original grammar and style have not been edited.
Addendum:
The following additional information was found in the “Biographical
Directory of the United States Congress”.
EVERETT, Robert William, a Representative from Georgia; born near Hayneville,
Houston County, Ga., March 3, 1839, attended the village schools and Hayneville
Academy; was graduated from Mercer University, Macon, Ga., in 1859; taught
school in Polk and Houston Counties for two years; entered the Confederate
Army as a sergeant in Captain Gartrell’s company, Gen. N.B. Forrest’s
escort squadron, and served until the close of the Civil War; again engaged
in teaching school in Houston County and also in Cedartown, Ga., until 1872,
when he abandoned the profession for agricultural pursuits; commission of
roads and revenue of Polk County 1875-1880; member of the Board of Education
of Polk County 1880-1891 and served as president of the board 1882-1891;
member of the State house of representatives 1882-1885; elected as a Democrat
to the Fifty-second Congress (March 4, 1891-March 3, 1893); was not a candidate
for renomination in 1892; resumed agricultural pursuits; again a member
of the State house of representatives in 1898 and 1899; lived in retirement
until his death in Rockmart, Polk County, Ga., on February 27, 1915; interment
in Cedartown Cemetery, Cedartown, Ga.