Background
Alfred Austell was born on January 14, 1814 in Dandridge, Tennessee, United States.
His father, William Austell, a farmer of that region, and his mother, Jane (Wilkins) Austell, were of English descent.
Alfred Austell was born on January 14, 1814 in Dandridge, Tennessee, United States.
His father, William Austell, a farmer of that region, and his mother, Jane (Wilkins) Austell, were of English descent.
It is only known that Austell was growing up without educational advantages except of the most limited sort.
At twenty-two Austell became engaged in merchandising and farming with his brother at Campbellton, a village near Atlanta. The two brothers located there in 1836. The elder brother died early, but Alfred, whose business acumen was of a high order, prospered and became the leading merchant and farmer in his section.
In 1853 he was married to Franchina Cameron of La Grange. In 1858 he closed out his business at Campbellton and moved to Atlanta. Though the future capital of Georgia had at the time less than 10, 000 inhabitants, its location at the junction point of three important railroads convinced Austell that it was destined to be an important city. In the stirring political controversies of the period he took no active part. He was, however, an ardent Unionist and anti-secessionist and used his influence on the side of conservative action.
With secession an accomplished fact, he supported the Confederacy and was an important factor in the industrial and financial aspects of the war. The title "General, " by which he was universally known, dated back to Campbellton days when he was a brigadier in the state militia. On the collapse of the Confederacy Andrew Johnson, a personal friend, urged on him the appointment as provisional governor of Georgia, but Austell declined. Again in 1868 tradition has it that Austell could have received the Democratic nomination for governor. He preferred, however, to continue his quiet efforts toward material rehabilitation and declined to be drawn into the political maelstrom.
In September 1865 he organized the Atlanta National Bank, the first Southern institution chartered under the National Banking Act of 1863. As its first president (he held the position until his death) Austell created one of the strongest of the Southern commercial banks, one that has played a large part in the development of Atlanta.
At a time when the extension of credit was on a less impersonal basis than at present, Austell established a reputation as a remarkably keen judge of character and business ability. As a railroad builder he also achieved much. He was associated with a number of railroad enterprises, the most important of which was the Atlanta & Charlotte Air Line (now part of the Southern system). This road, 265 miles long, provided a direct connection with Washington.
Austell was the first chairman of its board, acted as its financial agent, and was its vice-president for ten years. In addition to these activities in the banking and railroad worlds, Austell organized the cotton firm of Austell & Inman, later Inman, Swann & Company, one of the greatest cotton commission houses in the country. These ventures, invariably managed with conspicuous ability and success, brought to Austell a commanding position in the world of Southern business.
He was a leader in that army of enterprisers who rebuilt the South after the ruin of the Civil War. His wealth, large for the period, he freely gave to all deserving causes.
Education was also of interest to Austell, and he served as a member of Atlanta's first board of education. In 1878 he proposed a resolution to abolish the high school and superintendents' office, arguing that doing so would help keep taxes and municipal costs low, but the resolution did not pass. He also served as a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta's finance committee.
His name is associated in the history of Georgia and the South with the great task of laying the foundations of a stable economic structure to take the place of the old regime. He realized that the primary needs were strong financial institutions and more extensive railroad development. Austell organized the Atlanta National Bank, became one of the country's largest cotton dealers, and built railroads in several southern states.
In the stirring political controversies of the period he took no active part. He was, however, an ardent Unionist and anti-secessionist and used his influence on the side of conservative action.
Member of the Union Association.
In 1853 he married Francina Cameron of LaGrange, and the couple had four surviving children, Alfred Jr. , Janie, Leila, and William.
She died in infancy.
