Asa Griggs Candler (1851 - 1929)

Born 30 Dec 1851 in Villa Rica, Carroll County, Georgia, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Lucy Elizabeth (Howard) Candler — married 15 Jan 1878 in Fulton County, Georgia, USA

Descendants

Died 12 Mar 1929 at age 77 in Wesley Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA

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Biography

Asa Candler is Notable.

Asa Griggs Candler was born December 30, 1851 in Villa Rica, Georgia. He was the 8th child of Samuel Candler and Martha Beall. (As to the origin of his name: a neighbor in the 1850 census to the Candler family was an Asa Griggs noted as an instructor as seen in an image of 1850 census.)

Asa G Candler was enumerated for the United States Census, 1860 along with S C Candler, Martha B Candler, Ezekiel S Candler, Noble D Candler, Florence Candler, Jessie D Candler, Wm B Candler, Eliza F Candler, Charles C Candler, and Warren A Candler at the 2nd District, Carroll County, Georgia.^[1]

Asa had but a small amount of formal education because of the economic conditions of the family after the Civil War and his father's death in 1873. Even without a formal education by 1870 he wanted to learn the pharmacist trade. He found Doctor Best and Doctor Kirkpatrick to teach him the trade over the next several years. He then moved to Atlanta to work in a drugstore. George Jefferson Howard, the father of his future wife, Lucy Elizabeth Howard, hired him for his drugstore.

Asa G. Candler wed Lucy E. Howard January 15, 1878 in Fulton County, Georgia as seen in an image of the original marriage register.^[2]

Asa Candler was enumerated as self at Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia for the June 8, United States Census, 1880. He was noted as a druggist, born 1852 in Georgia and married as seen in this image of the original census. Also included in the household are wife Lucy Candler, son Charlie U Candler, mother-in-law S C Candler?, other Fany Walker, other Ella Walker, brother John Candler and brother Noble Candler, as well as a host of boarders named Hall.^[3]

Asa later formed a partnership, with Marcellus Hallman, under the firm name Hallman and Candler to set up his own drugstore. Candler began manufacturing his own "blood balm" and perfume at his drugstore. The store was such a success that Asa bought his partner's share and by 1887 had one of the largest drug businesses in the area. This included the manufacturing of patent medicines. But in a major move, he sold all his products for $50,000 and invested in the cola formula from Dr. John Stith Pemberton, the inventor and pharmacist. It was purchased for $2,300. Its manufacturing started small in a shed with Asa mixing the syrup himself. The first year 500 gallons of the syrup were sold. The Coca-Cola Company was formed in 1890. Asa developed it with his marketing techniques with famous aggressive marketing strategy. Asa spent a great deal of money on advertising the new drink. He placed the Coca-Cola name everywhere. He was a self-made man and an entrepreneur.

Making millions, he used the money for philanthropic causes, wanting to benefit humanity. He also developed the Central Bank and Trust Company, invested in real estate, donated to the Methodist church, granted land for Emory University, and donated millions for the building of Emory Hospital. He always felt education was very important.

Asa G Candler was enumerated as head of the household in Edgewood (excl. Atlanta city), Fulton County, Georgia for the June 25, United States Census, 1900. He was noted as a manufacturer (Coca Cola) and born December 1851 in Georgia. He had been married twenty-three years and was an owner as seen in an image of the original census. Also included in the household are wife Lucy E Candler, son Chas H Candler, son Asa G Candler, daughter Lucy B Candler, son Walter T Candler, son Wm Candler, servant Mollie Jones and son (of servant) Harvey Jones.^[4]

In 1906, he built the Candler Building in Atlanta, tallest at that time. The building was 17 stories tall, located at Peachtree and Auburn Avenue.

A G Candler was enumerated as head of the household at 61 Elizabeth Street, Atlanta Ward 9, Fulton County, Georgia for the April 19, United States Census, 1910. He was noted as born 1852 in Georgia and had been married thirty-two years. He was president (C. Btlg. Co.) and an owner as seen in the image of the original census. Also included in the household are wife L E Candler and son Wm Candler.^[5]

He turned the business over to his family in 1911. It was then sold in 1919 to a group of investors, including the Woodruff and Bates families of Atlanta for $25 million.

During his term as mayor of Atlanta (1916 - 1919), there was the great city fire of 1917 where over 1,500 homes were destroyed. He set-up the structure for the rebuilding of the city. He donated 50 acres for a park that was named for him, 'Candler Park'.

Asa G Candler was enumerated as head of the household at 1040 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia for the January 11, United States Census, 1920. He was noted as born 1852 in Georgia. He was widowed, an owner and a capitalist/president (bank) as seen in the image of the original census. Also included in the household are son-in-law Henry C Heinz, daughter Lucy C Heinz, grandson Henry C Heinz, granddaughter Elizabeth Owens and grandson William Owens.^[6]

Asa married a second time in June 1923 to Mrs. May Little Ragin. She was a stenographer in his office building, at Atlanta, Georgia. May was age 35 (born 1888). She was a widow and had twin daughters, Julie and Mary (born 1913). May and Asa separated a year later and Asa filed for divorce. By November 1924, the situation changed, May moved back into Asa's home.

Asa had a stroke in 1926 and was in and out of Wesley Memorial Hospital, later to become Emory University Hospital. He remained together with May until his 1929 Georgia Death. The image of the Certificate of Death shows that he died from cerebral arteriosclerosis with associated inter-cranial hemorrhage. The informant was Howard Candler. His father is listed as Samuel Candler and his mother Martha Beal. The attending physician was T. L. Nolan.^[7]

Asa G Candler is listed as the father in the Valdosta, Lowndes County October 2, 1936 Georgia Death of son William Beall Candler. The mother was listed as Lucy Elizabeth Howard.^[8]

Asa Griggs Candler, Sr. is buried at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA, Plot: : Section 35, Lot 447, Grave 3.^[9]

Genealogy Note of Interest

Asa Griggs Candler and Lemuel Oscar Motlow who was the heir of the Jack Daniel Distillery were 3rd cousins. They shared Great Great Grandparents Obediah Hooper and Massilva Marvula Brooks.

I wonder if they ever knew of the connection. A "Jack and Coke" really was meant to go together.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZMH-TYH : accessed 15 September 2015), Asa G Candler in household of S C Candler, 2nd Dist, Carroll, Georgia, United States; citing p. 16, household ID 115, NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 803,113.
2. ↑ "Georgia, County Marriages, 1785-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXVD-3L7 : accessed 26 August 2015), Asa G. Candler and Lucy E. Howard, 15 Jan 1878; citing Marriage, Fulton, Georgia, United States, county courthouses, Georgia; FHL microfilm 409,845.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8GM-842 : accessed 26 August 2015), Asa Candler, Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district 103, sheet 486C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0148; FHL microfilm 1,254,148.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3NR-Q4F : accessed 09 Nov 2014), Asa G Candler, Militia District 1422, Edgewood (excl. Atlanta city), Fulton, Georgia, United States; citing sheet 2B, family 34, NARA microfilm publication T623, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 1240198.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MLK1-8XK : accessed 09 Nov 2014), A G Candler, Atlanta Ward 9, Fulton, Georgia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 112, sheet 5B, family 112, NARA microfilm publication T624, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 1374203.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJDC-Z28 : accessed 11 September 2015), Asa G Candler, Atlanta, De Kalb, Georgia, United States; citing sheet 16A, family 268, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,820,249.
7. ↑ "Georgia Deaths, 1928-1939", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJCV-NPX : accessed 16 September 2015), Candler, Asa Griggs, 1929.
8. ↑ "Georgia, Deaths, 1928-1938," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QJX9-MN4T : accessed 09 Nov 2014), Asa G Candler in entry for William Candler, 02 Oct 1936; citing Valdosta, Lowndes, Georgia, United States, certificate number , Georgia Archives, Morrow.
9. ↑ Find A Grave website

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