WILLIAM H. BROTHERTON

WILLIAM H. BROTHERTON was b. 2/8/1839, near Benton, Polk Co., Tenn., d. Atlanta, Georgia 2/8/1908.

He came to Georgia in his young manhood and began clerking for John F. Centree at Varnell's Station, near Dalton. Later, he secured a clerkship in the Western and Atlantic depot in Dalton. He then went to Tifton, where he purchased a dry goods establishment, prospering wonderfully. During the Civil War, he enlisted as a second lieutenant in Capt. Ford's Co., 39th Ga. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, having risen to the rank of captain, and was stationed at West Point when the surrender came.

Capt. Brotherton came to Atlanta and began selling dry goods at Whitehall and Mitchell Streets, and son became one of Atlanta's leading merchants. When his store burned in 1869, he immediately erected a handuome building on the site and continued there until. 1905, when he retired. Atlanta Georgian, 2/28/1908.

Capt. Brotherton served on the Atlanta council 1873, 1882 and 1883, having great plans for the upbuilding of Atlanta. During the 1880's he clashed with another strong men for the control of the police machinery in Atlanta; the famous battles between Sapt. Brotherton and Capt. James W. English were wellknown. Although the men were warm friends, they were bitter political enemies. Both were born fighters. The heat and conflict of battle was joy to them. During the 1880's Capt. Brotherton was elected to the board of police commissioners, serving long and faithfully, more than once as chairman. He formulated the rules making the Australian ballot system effective in Atlanta, practically inaugurating this system of balloting. He was one of the pioneers in che prohibition movement, never relaxing his interests. Issue:

1. Mrs. J. L. Small.
2. William H. Brotherton.
3. F. M. Brotherton.
4. Mrs. George I. Walker.
5. R. L. Brotherton.
6. Edgar Brotherton.
7. Mrs. John M. Berry, Rome, Ga.
8. Harold P. Brotherton.