William Ezzard
Encyclopedia
William E. Ezzard was a Southern United States
politician who served as the 11th, 13th and 19th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
, in the 19th century.
Ezzard was born in Abbeville, South Carolina
. He moved to Georgia and later represented Elbert County, Georgia
, in the Georgia Legislature. He was twice elected as a state senator from that district. After a full term as judge of the Coweta circuit, he settled in Decatur
in 1822, being one of the first settlers in DeKalb County
. He was again sent to the legislature.
In 1826 DeKalb County Academy was founded and the next year, Ezzard, as well as Judge Reuben Cone
and nine others, were named as trustees in the incorporation. In 1827, at the age of 28, he was sent to the Georgia state senate from DeKalb County.
He served as Solicitor General of the Cherokee Circuit from December 8, 1832, to December 1835. Then he was brigadier general
of the First Brigade, 11th Division, in the state militia
. He resigned in November 1840 and was Judge of the old Coweta Circuit from November 6, 1840, until November 1844. While in that office, he administered the estate of Hardy Ivy
and was responsible for subdividing his estate comprising land lot 51.
Ezzard moved to Atlanta in 1850, where he was a law partner to Judge John Collier
and operated a dry goods and drug store Smith & Ezzard. He co-founded the Atlanta Bank in 1852 with John Mims
, Clark Howell, Sr., Jonathan Norcross
, Richard Peters
, William Butt
, Lemuel Grant, Joseph Winship, N.L. Angier, Joseph Thompson
and other investors.
He served three one-year terms as mayor in 1856, 1857 (this was the first time consecutive terms had been served by any mayor. His term included him visiting Charleston, where Atlanta was named the Gate City)) and finally in 1860.
In 1861, he was defeated for a fourth term by Whitaker by the count of 695 votes to 452. He was then a delegate to the Southern Congress, principally in the failed effort to secure the Confederate
capitol at Atlanta. During the American Civil War
, he represented Atlanta in the Georgia General Assembly
house from 1863 to 1865, where he offered a bill to raise soldiers pay to $25 per month (which was passed). Coincidentally, one son, John F. Ezzard, died as a soldier at the age 33 in October 1864.
After the war, he continued his law firm with William Hulsey
, and Judge Ezzard defeated Republican William Markham
819 to 762 when he served as mayor for his fourth and last time in 1870. In 1878 he was elected as tax receiver for Fulton County
.
He made his home on the future site of the Piedmont Hotel on Forsyth Street. In April 1871, Ezzard joined fellow pioneers to found the Atlanta Pioneer and Historic Society, of which he was voted president with Jonathan Norcross
as vice president.
He was buried at Oakland Cemetery in the family lot, but the grave was not marked. He is remembered by Ezzard Street in the southern section of the Old Fourth Ward
.
Another son, William Lane Ezzard, co-founded the Gate City Guard in 1855. He died in 1903.
His granddaughter Catherine (daughter of Ezzard's biracial daughter Sinai Calhoun Webb, born a slave in 1830), married Antoine Graves
, a prominent black realtor and educator in Atlanta.
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
politician who served as the 11th, 13th and 19th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, in the 19th century.
Ezzard was born in Abbeville, South Carolina
Abbeville, South Carolina
For other communities of the same name, see Abbeville .Abbeville is a city in Abbeville County, South Carolina, United States, 86 miles west of Columbia. Its population was 5,237 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Abbeville County...
. He moved to Georgia and later represented Elbert County, Georgia
Elbert County, Georgia
Elbert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was established on December 10, 1790 and was named for Samuel Elbert. As of 2000, the population was 20,511. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,525...
, in the Georgia Legislature. He was twice elected as a state senator from that district. After a full term as judge of the Coweta circuit, he settled in Decatur
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
in 1822, being one of the first settlers in DeKalb County
DeKalb County, Georgia
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population of the county was 691,893 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is the city of Decatur. It is bordered to the west by Fulton County and contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta...
. He was again sent to the legislature.
In 1826 DeKalb County Academy was founded and the next year, Ezzard, as well as Judge Reuben Cone
Reuben Cone
Judge Reuben Cone was an important pioneer and landowner in Atlanta, Georgia.He was an early pioneer in DeKalb County, Georgia where he married Lucinda Shumate and served on an education committee in 1823.. He began serving as a justice of the inferior court there in February 1825...
and nine others, were named as trustees in the incorporation. In 1827, at the age of 28, he was sent to the Georgia state senate from DeKalb County.
He served as Solicitor General of the Cherokee Circuit from December 8, 1832, to December 1835. Then he was brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of the First Brigade, 11th Division, in the state militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. He resigned in November 1840 and was Judge of the old Coweta Circuit from November 6, 1840, until November 1844. While in that office, he administered the estate of Hardy Ivy
Hardy Ivy
Hardy Ivy is said to be the first person of European descent to permanently settle in what is now the city of Atlanta, GA.By 1821 the last of the Native Americans who held claim to the land east of the Chattahoochee River ceded their land to the state of Georgia in the "Creek Indian Cession of...
and was responsible for subdividing his estate comprising land lot 51.
Ezzard moved to Atlanta in 1850, where he was a law partner to Judge John Collier
John Collier (judge)
Judge John Collier was a Superior Court judge from Atlanta, Georgia, commonly considered one of the city's 'founding fathers.' Collier filed the charter which renamed the city of 'Marthasville' to 'Atlanta' in 1848....
and operated a dry goods and drug store Smith & Ezzard. He co-founded the Atlanta Bank in 1852 with John Mims
John Mims
John F. Mims sixth mayor of Atlanta and agent of the Georgia Railroad & Banking Company.In the late 1840s he founded a flour mill with Lemuel Grant, Richard Peters and his younger brother William Peters but it didn't do well with competition from Mark A...
, Clark Howell, Sr., Jonathan Norcross
Jonathan Norcross
Jonathan Norcross , fourth Mayor of Atlanta, GA. Dubbed the "Father of Atlanta" and "hard fighter of everything." - Henry W. Grady - Personal life :...
, Richard Peters
Richard Peters (Atlanta)
Richard Peters was an American railroad man and a founder of Atlanta.Grandson of Judge Richard Peters, Jr...
, William Butt
William Butt
William M. Butt was a politician in Georgia.Butt arrived in Atlanta in 1851 from Campbell County, Georgia and served as a councilman in 1853. The next year he was elected the eighth mayor....
, Lemuel Grant, Joseph Winship, N.L. Angier, Joseph Thompson
Joseph Thompson (doctor)
Dr. Joseph Thompson was an early settler of Atlanta, Georgia, hotelier, and real-estate investor.Born to a Pennsylvania-bred family in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, he practiced medicine as a youth...
and other investors.
He served three one-year terms as mayor in 1856, 1857 (this was the first time consecutive terms had been served by any mayor. His term included him visiting Charleston, where Atlanta was named the Gate City)) and finally in 1860.
In 1861, he was defeated for a fourth term by Whitaker by the count of 695 votes to 452. He was then a delegate to the Southern Congress, principally in the failed effort to secure the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
capitol at Atlanta. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he represented Atlanta in the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
house from 1863 to 1865, where he offered a bill to raise soldiers pay to $25 per month (which was passed). Coincidentally, one son, John F. Ezzard, died as a soldier at the age 33 in October 1864.
After the war, he continued his law firm with William Hulsey
William Hulsey
William Henry Hulsey was an American attorney, soldier, and politician who served as the 18th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia...
, and Judge Ezzard defeated Republican William Markham
William Markham (mayor)
William Markham was a prominent hotel owner in Atlanta. Following the illness of John Mims he filled in as mayor October 1853 and won a special election soon after...
819 to 762 when he served as mayor for his fourth and last time in 1870. In 1878 he was elected as tax receiver for Fulton County
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
.
He made his home on the future site of the Piedmont Hotel on Forsyth Street. In April 1871, Ezzard joined fellow pioneers to found the Atlanta Pioneer and Historic Society, of which he was voted president with Jonathan Norcross
Jonathan Norcross
Jonathan Norcross , fourth Mayor of Atlanta, GA. Dubbed the "Father of Atlanta" and "hard fighter of everything." - Henry W. Grady - Personal life :...
as vice president.
He was buried at Oakland Cemetery in the family lot, but the grave was not marked. He is remembered by Ezzard Street in the southern section of the Old Fourth Ward
Old Fourth Ward
The Old Fourth Ward, often abbreviated The Fourth Ward or O4W, is a neighborhood stretching east from Downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The Old Fourth Ward is one of the city's most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods, but is also one of the city's most eclectic, containing a burgeoning nightlife district...
.
Another son, William Lane Ezzard, co-founded the Gate City Guard in 1855. He died in 1903.
His granddaughter Catherine (daughter of Ezzard's biracial daughter Sinai Calhoun Webb, born a slave in 1830), married Antoine Graves
Antoine Graves (person)
Antoine Graves was a prominent Atlanta realtor, first principal of Gate City Colored Public School , and principal at the Storrs School, the first school in Atlanta for blacks. He had his real estate offices in the Kimball Building on Wall Street, a street otherwise totally occupied by whites...
, a prominent black realtor and educator in Atlanta.