Livingston Mims
Encyclopedia
Livingston Mims was an American
politician
who served as the 37th Mayor
of Atlanta, Georgia
during the early 20th century.
Born in Edgefield
, South Carolina
, he later moved to Mississippi
and represented Hinds County
in the state legislature
from 1859 to 1861. He was the only child of Henry Mims and Susan Burr Read of Edgefield, South Carolina.
During the United States Civil War, Major Mims served under General John C. Pemberton
and saw action in the Battle of Jackson, Champion Hill
and Vicksburg Campaign
.
Shortly after those losses, he joined Joseph E. Johnston
's staff and shared a friendship and business interests until Johnston's death in 1891.
After the war, he became southern manager of the New York Life Insurance Company
(since 1868) and he was charter member and served 20 years as president of the Capital City Club
. Following his death in 1906, he was buried in Westview Cemetery
. In observance of his death, Atlanta's City Hall was closed for one half day, and free carriage rides were offered from City Hall to the Westview Cemetery.
Politically he was an old school Democrat and he was elected mayor of Atlanta in October 1900. The election came in the midst of Atlanta's streetcar war; he was supported by Joel Hurt
(Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company
) and opposed by Henry M. Atkinson (Georgia Electric Light Company).
On October 9, 1901 he rode in the inaugural streetcar over the Peachtree-Whitehall viaduct before then it was a dangerous at-grade crossing
of many busy railroad tracks.
His two-story residence was on the northeast corner of Peachtree St and Ponce de Leon Ave (current location of the Georgian Terrace Hotel
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the 37th Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Atlanta, Georgia
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...
during the early 20th century.
Born in Edgefield
Edgefield, South Carolina
Edgefield is a town in Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,449 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Edgefield County.Edgefield is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.-Geography:...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, he later moved to Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and represented Hinds County
Hinds County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 250,800 people, 91,030 households, and 62,355 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 100,287 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile...
in the state legislature
Mississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
from 1859 to 1861. He was the only child of Henry Mims and Susan Burr Read of Edgefield, South Carolina.
During the United States Civil War, Major Mims served under General John C. Pemberton
John C. Pemberton
John Clifford Pemberton , was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Seminole Wars and with distinction during the Mexican–American War. He also served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War, noted for his defeat and surrender in the critical Siege of Vicksburg in...
and saw action in the Battle of Jackson, Champion Hill
Battle of Champion Hill
The Battle of Champion Hill, or Bakers Creek, fought May 16, 1863, was the pivotal battle in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee pursued the retreating Confederate Lt. Gen. John C...
and Vicksburg Campaign
Vicksburg Campaign
The Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. The Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen....
.
Shortly after those losses, he joined Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a career U.S. Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
's staff and shared a friendship and business interests until Johnston's death in 1891.
After the war, he became southern manager of the New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance Company
The New York Life Insurance Company is one of the largest mutual life-insurance companies in the United States, and one of the largest life insurers in the world, with about $287 billion in total assets under management, and more than $15 billion in surplus and AVR...
(since 1868) and he was charter member and served 20 years as president of the Capital City Club
Capital City Club
The Capital City Club is a private social club located in Atlanta, Georgia. Chartered on May 21, 1883, it is one of the oldest private clubs in the South.-History:...
. Following his death in 1906, he was buried in Westview Cemetery
Westview Cemetery
Westview Cemetery, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is the largest cemetery in the South East, comprising over , 50% of which is undeveloped. Westview includes the graves of more than 100,000 people.- History:...
. In observance of his death, Atlanta's City Hall was closed for one half day, and free carriage rides were offered from City Hall to the Westview Cemetery.
Politically he was an old school Democrat and he was elected mayor of Atlanta in October 1900. The election came in the midst of Atlanta's streetcar war; he was supported by Joel Hurt
Joel Hurt
Joel Hurt was an important businessman and developer in Atlanta active in the late 19th century through the early 20th century.Born in Hurtsboro, Alabama Joel Hurt (1850–1926) was an important businessman and developer in Atlanta active in the late 19th century through the early 20th...
(Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company
Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company
The Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway was an attempt by Joel Hurt to take over the various Atlanta streetcar systems.Incorporated in May 1891, Hurt began negotiations to consolidate widely overlapping competing companies. On September 21 the titles of the following were conveyed to the...
) and opposed by Henry M. Atkinson (Georgia Electric Light Company).
On October 9, 1901 he rode in the inaugural streetcar over the Peachtree-Whitehall viaduct before then it was a dangerous at-grade crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
of many busy railroad tracks.
His two-story residence was on the northeast corner of Peachtree St and Ponce de Leon Ave (current location of the Georgian Terrace Hotel
Georgian Terrace Hotel
The Georgian Terrace Hotel in Midtown Atlanta, part of the Fox Theatre Historic District, was designed by architect William Lee Stoddart in a Beaux-Arts style that was intended to evoke the architecture of Paris. Construction commenced on July 21, 1910, and ended on September 8, 1911, and the hotel...
).