Sumter County GaArchives Biographies.....Council Family, Lee George
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LaVerne Carter http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00028.html#0006854 August 1, 2012, 2:59 pm
Source: WEEKLY TIMES RECORDER, August 9, 1907
Author: Copied
TWO BEAUTIFUL AMERICUS HOMES
"THOSE OF MR. LEE G. COUNCIL AND
MR. CHARLES M. COUNCIL, PROGRESSIVE CITIZENS"
"Scions of a Family That Has Been Identified With
Sumter County for Nearly Three Quarters of a Century"
Two of the most beautiful homes in all southwest Georgia are in Americus,
the homes of Mr. Lee G. Council and Mr. Charles M. Council. Nowhere can
there be found homes that are more substantially built, or more attrative
in design, or that embody more of the comforts and conveniences of modern
life.
Situated in the finest sections of the city, surrounded by other residences
that are pleasing to the eye, they are an adornment to Americus and have
aided in giving a stimulus to the erection of other residences in keeping
with the times and the prosperity and forward sweep of the community.
For a century to come they promise to stand as monuments of the love of
well-to-do Americus men of this day for homes that gratified their taste
for beauty and for comfort. It has been nearly seventy years ago, since
S.B. Council came to Sumter County from the old North State, of which he was
a native. The long trip overland from North Carolina was made in wagons
and carts.
It was several years after he had located near Americus before the railroad
was built through this section. In this vicinity his son, G.W. Council,
grew up from almost infancy, becoming one of the most prosperous planters
and highly respected citizens of Sumter.
Here he reared three sons, now among the most substantial citizens of South-
west Georgia, men who have progressed with the rapid development of this
portion of Georgia, and becoming among its wealthiest and most prominent
citizens, Messrs. L.G., C.M. and E.B. Council.
Mr. Lee G. Council, the older of the trio of brothers, was born in 1869.
Like his brothers he was brought up on the plantation, accustomed to the
labors that fall to the agriculturist of this neighborhood, securing a
thorough insight into farming matters that has not been lost in the pursuit
of other lines of business.
He was educated largely at the old Gatewood Academy, built by his father
and three or four neighbors, where the noted Capt. G. M Patterson taught,
a teacher said to have had no superior in this section of Georgia as a
disciplinarian and instructor. From this school he went to Atlanta where
he took a three years commercial course in the college of Prof. B.F. Moore,
and acquainted himself thoroughly with the mysteries of modern business.
Returning to Americus, although then but a lad of eighteen, he engaged in
the warehouse business in association with Mr. Thomas B. Hooks for two years,
when he assumed the entire business, which has carried on successfully
without a break from its inception until today.
Having established this business on a profitable and growing basis, Mr.
Council assisted his father in the organization of the Planters Bank, which
opened its doors for business on February 21, 1892, with Mr. G. W. Council
as president, Mr. Charles M. Council as cashier, and Mr. Lee G. Council
as assistant cashier and actual manager.
In these capacities they continued until the death of the father in December
1900, when Mr. Lee Council succeeded him as president, his brother, Charles,
retaining the position as cashier, official positions which they have since
retained.
As he had speedily placed his warehouse business on a remunerative basis, so
Mr. Council, with the valuable assistance of his brother, and the advice of
his father, soon started the Planters Bank on the high road to a properity
that has never been marred. Beginning business with a capital of $50,000.00
it paid on the completion of its first year a dividend of ten percent. This
has been the regular dividend ever since. In the fifteen years of its
existence it has, accordingly paid to its stockholders 150 per cent in
dividends, returning to them their original subscriptions to the stock and
fifty per cent more. During the same time, a large surplus, now approached
the $100,000.00 mark, has been accumulated. Few banks in Georgia can make
a better showing than this, a showing that is not only gratifying to those
financially interested in the institution, but highly complimentary to the
business sagacity displayed by those in actual control of its daily affairs.
For some years the Planters Bank occupied very modest quarters on Forsyth
Street, where the Council warehouse office now is. These quarters were
soon inadequate but were retained until April, 1900 when the present fine
home of the bank having been completed, it removed to these commodious and
handsome quarters.
This thoroughly modern four-story building, with a basement for the banks'
records, etc. is an instance of the progressive spirit of the Messers.
Council. Few there were who believed that such a structure would be a
profitable investment in Americus. The fact that it has been such
demonstrated the good business judgement of those who took this forward step.
The year after the erection of the Planters Bank Building, Mr. Lee Council
erected his handsome home on Church Street. On a lot 270 by 540 feet in
size, it makes a magnificent appearance from the highway. It is probably
the costliest home in this section of Georgia. It was designed as the
home for his bride, Miss Florence Hildreth, a native of Long Island to
whom Mr. Council had been married in October 1900, in Florida, where the
family was residing.
Two children, both girls, have blessed their union.
Mr. Charles M. Council has also a home on Lee Street that would be an
ornament to any city. Erected by Mr. G. W. Glover, it was purchased by
Mr. Council in 1903. Here he lives with his mother. It presents a very
attractive appearance and is generally admired.
Outside of their interests in Americus, the Messrs. Council have large
agricultural interests, operating the plantations left them by their
father in Sumter County. Mr. E. B. Council, the younger brother, has
charge of these and is recognized as one of the most skillful and pro-
gressive planters of this section.
He has a new and beautiful country home, on the old plantation, about four
miles from the city. Mr. E. B. Council was married to Miss Lamartine
Tower of Americus in 1902, and has two boys,
Mr. Lee Council is also largely interested in agriculture individually in
Sumter County and other counties.
Citizens of sterling worth and of the highest character, the Messrs. Council
are doing their full share of the work of building up Americus and Sumter
County and are destined to become more and more potential factors in their
financial and general business affairs.
The above was from a re-print by Alan Anderson in the
Sumter Free Press dated July 19, 2000. It was originally
printed in THE WEEKLY TIMES RECORDER, August 9, 1907.
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The reference made to "Mother" above was Martha Caroline (Callie) Barwick,
the wife of George Washington Council. She was the daughter of Stancil
Barwick, born 7-16-1826. Stancil was the brother of Nathan Barwick, born
4-27-1822 who also lived in Sumter County.
The initials given for the three sons of George Washington and Martha Caroline
translates to: L. G. is Lee George Council. C.M. is Charles M. Council.
E. B. is Emory Barlow Council.
The home of Lee George Council is located at 318 East Church Street. It is
now the home of the Sumter Historic and Preservation Society. After all these
years, it is still referred to as "the Lee Council Home".
The home of Charles M. Council (and where he lived with his mother) is
located at 427 South Lee Street. It has been the Hancock Funeral Home
for a number of years.
The location of the Emory Barlow Council home is not known. It is described
above as being four miles from town but in 1907 where was "town"? In this
time span, "town" has grown so far out. There is one that might fit the
description but it is not a certainty so will not be given here.
The Planters Bank Building still stands on the corner of Lee Street across
from the new Citizens Bank. Citizens Bank building occupied it for a
number of years until it built its own new building.
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