Benjamin Bomar
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Franklin Bomar (August 9, 1816 – February 1, 1868) was the second mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
. Bomar was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina
and studied medicine in Charleston
. He practiced medicine in America's first gold rush
town of Dahlonega, Georgia
for a number of years until he tired of the winters in the Appalachian Mountains
. He heard good things about Texas
from his brother, Dr. Alexander H. Bomar who was serving in the Mexican-American War and decided to move his family there. On the way with his wife and two children, he arrived in Atlanta on April 30, 1847, fell in love with the bustling young town and settled there, running a general merchandise business on Whitehall St.
The young town soon-after received its first charter and elections were held December 1847 and Moses Formwalt was made mayor, Bomar its alderman and five were elected councilmen all for one year terms. The next year, Bomar was elected mayor at the age of 32, as a member of the Free and Rowdy Party
.
In 1849, he co-founded Atlanta's first successful newspaper, The Daily Intelligencer
.
That same year, he was elected mayor and during his term he selected and purchased 6 acres (24,000 m²) at $75 per acre to serve as the new Oakland Cemetery.
He never practiced medicine regularly again.
When Fulton County
was formed as Atlanta's new home in 1854, he became the first clerk of its Superior Court which he remained as late as 1859, when his residence was on the Marietta road a mile outside of town (roughly where Howell Mill splits off today).
He was 44 at the outbreak of the American Civil War
. He volunteered and served as the paymaster
of the Georgia's 28th Infantry at a rank of captain.
At the evacuation of the city following the Battle of Atlanta
, his family refugeed to Macon, Georgia
. After Lee's surrender, he rejoined the family in Atlanta but by then his health was broken and he died less than three years later.
He was buried at Oakland Cemetery.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Bomar was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
and studied medicine in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. He practiced medicine in America's first gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
town of Dahlonega, Georgia
Dahlonega, Georgia
Dahlonega is a city in Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,242....
for a number of years until he tired of the winters in the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
. He heard good things about Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
from his brother, Dr. Alexander H. Bomar who was serving in the Mexican-American War and decided to move his family there. On the way with his wife and two children, he arrived in Atlanta on April 30, 1847, fell in love with the bustling young town and settled there, running a general merchandise business on Whitehall St.
The young town soon-after received its first charter and elections were held December 1847 and Moses Formwalt was made mayor, Bomar its alderman and five were elected councilmen all for one year terms. The next year, Bomar was elected mayor at the age of 32, as a member of the Free and Rowdy Party
Free and Rowdy Party
The Free and Rowdy Party was a political party that operated in Atlanta, Georgia, during the middle of the 19th century. Although the mayoral elections of Atlanta are not contested along party lines, the first three mayors of the city were Rowdies, as members of the Free and Rowdy Party were called...
.
In 1849, he co-founded Atlanta's first successful newspaper, The Daily Intelligencer
Daily Intelligencer
The Daily Intelligencer was first published on June 1, 1849 as the young city of Atlanta's first successful daily newspaper.The founders were Benjamin Bomar, Z.A. Rice, Jonathan Norcross and I.O...
.
That same year, he was elected mayor and during his term he selected and purchased 6 acres (24,000 m²) at $75 per acre to serve as the new Oakland Cemetery.
He never practiced medicine regularly again.
When Fulton County
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
was formed as Atlanta's new home in 1854, he became the first clerk of its Superior Court which he remained as late as 1859, when his residence was on the Marietta road a mile outside of town (roughly where Howell Mill splits off today).
He was 44 at the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He volunteered and served as the paymaster
Paymaster
A paymaster often is, but is not required to be, a lawyer . When dealing with commission payments on contracts dealing with large amounts of money , most banks in the United States are very wary of handling such large amounts of money...
of the Georgia's 28th Infantry at a rank of captain.
At the evacuation of the city following the Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
The Battle of Atlanta was a battle of the Atlanta Campaign fought during the American Civil War on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Continuing their summer campaign to seize the important rail and supply center of Atlanta, Union forces commanded by William T. Sherman overwhelmed...
, his family refugeed to Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. After Lee's surrender, he rejoined the family in Atlanta but by then his health was broken and he died less than three years later.
He was buried at Oakland Cemetery.