Businessman military Bureaucrat
William Morrill Wadley was born on November 12, 1813, at Great Hill, in the township of Brentwood, New Hampshire. He was the son of Dole and Sarah Colcord Wadley. Upon reaching adulthood, Dole Wadley had changed the original spelling of the family name, Wadleigh, to Wadley for greater ease in writing. His descendants are the only branch of the family to have this modified spelling.
Little is known of William's education.
William Wadley learned the blacksmith's trade and at the age of twenty, Wadley came to Savannah, Georgia, and worked for six years on Cockspur Island where Fort Pulaski was being built. He went from blacksmith to superintendent of the public works on the Island.
Wadley's next venture was to build a bridge over the Savannah and Ogeechee canal at Savannah. Upon completion of this project, he contracted to build a railroad bridge across the Oconee River, which was completed three years later (1844) for the Georgia Central Railroad.
Wadley's association with the Georgia Central Railroad continued as he served as Road Master from 1844 to 1849 and General Superintendent from 1849 to 1851. He then became Superintendent of the Western and Atlantic Railroad (1852) but returned to the Georgia Central Railroad with an increase in authority (1853).
In 1858, when Wadley became the Superintendent of the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad from 1858 to 1859, the Wadley family moved to Amite, Louisiana, taking their slaves with them. He then became Superintendent of the construction of the Southern Railroad from 1859 to 1860, moved on to become Superintendent of the Vicksburg and Shreveport Railroad from 1860 to 1861, and then president of this road from 1861 to 1865. During this time the Wadley family moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi (January 1860), and a year later moved across the Mississippi River to Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, remaining there until after the Civil War. They returned to Georgia in 1865 and Wadley became president of the Central Railroad and remained in this position until his death (1866-1882).
During the Civil War Wadley received an appointment as Colonel in the Adjutant General's department of the Confederate Army (November 29,1862-May 22, 1863). His duties were to supervise and direct the transportation of the Confederacy on all of its railroads. The Confederate Senate failed to confirm this appointment and his commission was terminated.
Wadley was involved in other ventures during his lifetime, including the building of steamship wharves which was organized into the Ocean Steamship Company. He then served as President from 1874 to 1882. The Ocean Steamship Company built steamships including the "City of Macon" and "City of Savannah."
Desirous of a permanent home, Wadley bought a plantation of thirteen hundred sixty acres in Monroe County, near Crawford's Station, on the Atlanta division of the Central Railroad. It was named the Cotton Place (1873).
Wadley was a self-made man of immense intelligence.
Wadley married Rebecca Barnard Everingham, daughter of John and Sarah Weber Barnard Everingham, on November 12, 1840. They had nine children,
1782-1826
1791-1862
1818-1905
1841-1903
1844-1920
1848-unknown
1848-1936
1850-1909
1853-1885
1857-1930
1860-unknown
