Carey Wentworth Styles
Carey Wentworth Styles was an American lawyer and journalist who either founded or wrote for "at least" 21 newspapers in his career. He is best remembered as the founder of The Atlanta Constitution. During a lifetime divided in nearly equal measure between the states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas, Styles, a veteran of two wars, developed a reputation for finding his way into political frays and military adventures. He was briefly a member of the Georgia Senate, after having killed a Georgia State Representative earlier in his career.
Early years and education
Carey W. Styles was born October 7, 1825, near Spartanburg, South Carolina, the son of Gabriel and Rebecca Farrow Smith Styles. He spent his early years on his father's plantation, which prospered from cotton farming and cattle. In 1846, when he was 21 years old, Styles enlisted in the Palmetto Regiment of the South Carolina Volunteers, to fight in the Mexican–American War. His regiment suffered heavy casualties in fierce fighting around Chapultepec, where Styles distinguished himself, as one of only two survivors from his unit. He was awarded a silver medal by the state of South Carolina, and discharged in June 1848, with the rank of Sergeant. Returning to his home, Styles read the law and was admitted to the bar. He established a law practice in Edgefield. On November 23, 1852, Styles married Frances Jean Evans. The couple had two children, Louisa Gabriella, and Frank Evan Styles.Journalism
While living in Edgefield, Styles became convinced that a railroad was needed to link Columbia, South Carolina, with Augusta, Georgia. In an effort to bring the matter to public attention, and to rally support for the proposal, Styles began publishing a pro-railroad weekly newspaper, the Edgefield Informer. It marked the beginning of a career in journalism that would consume Styles for the rest of his life. It also marked the decline of his interest in the practice of law.In 1857, Styles moved the family to Brunswick, Georgia. It is unknown what prompted the move. The city was developing a seaport, which held the promise of business opportunities. More likely, however, Styles was attracted to the area by a series of recent events which pitted powerful interests, headed by state representative Jacob Moore, against the common citizenry. Moore, and others, had managed to persuade the Georgia General Assembly to pass legislation giving them control over significant amounts of local real estate. The resulting civil strife, as one writer noted, left the citizens of Brunswick in "need of a defender". Styles quickly became embroiled in the dispute, siding with the citizenry. He announced his intention to run for mayor, and organized a mass protest rally for the evening of December 24. In spite of bad weather, a crowd gathered at the protest point, where Styles delivered an impassioned speech against the powerful interests, and the legislative act giving them the power to seize local property. Styles called the legislation "dishonorable", at which point Moore jumped to his feet and shouted at Styles, calling the accusation a "falsehood". In the files of the Glynn County courthouse, still preserved, is recorded testimony of what next transpired. Styles is said to have yelled back at Moore, saying "You are a damned liar!", to which Moore replied "You are a damneder liar!". A brief exchange of gunfire left Moore mortally wounded. Witness accounts had Moore firing first, and though Styles was subsequently arrested for manslaughter, the charges were eventually dropped. On March 1, 1858, Styles was elected mayor of Brunswick.
After finishing his term as mayor, Styles moved the family inland to nearby Waresboro, then the county seat of Ware County, prior to the establishment of Waycross. There, he opened a law office and announced plans to publish a weekly newspaper, the Georgia Forester. In 1861, Styles was elected as a delegate from Ware County to the Georgia Secession Convention where, along with the other delegate from Ware, Col. William Angus McDonald, Styles voted to secede. Sensing a story, and historic events in the making, Styles proceeded to Charleston, South Carolina, where he was able to attach himself to the Hagood Regiment staff. This provided Styles with an insider knowledge of events, and first hand view of the Battle of Fort Sumter. After the fall of the fort, Styles returned to Georgia, where he enlisted in the 2nd Georgia Volunteers, and organized the Wiregrass Minutemen in Savannah, later designated as Company L, 26th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia. Styles was elected Captain of the company. He was commissioned Colonel in August 1861, and placed in charge of the coastal defense of Georgia, commanding a force of 4,000. Styles latter transferred to an artillery battalion and participated in the Battle of Atlanta.
After the war, Styles ran unsuccessfully for Congress, while living in Brooks County, Georgia. After the loss, Styles moved to Albany, Georgia, where he once again founded a newspaper, the Albany News. In the early years following the war, Styles took great exception to the Radical Reconstruction program then in force, and advocated for a more moderate response based on his interpretation of Georgia's rights under the Constitution. Styles backed "constitutional reconstruction" advanced by Benjamin H. Hill and sought support for the idea from the national Democratic party.