James Wood Oglesby Jr.

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James Wood Oglesby Jr. was a son of South Georgia Railway president James Wood Oglesby Sr. He served as an Army officer during World War I, became railway general manager by December 1919, and sat on the board by 1925. A 1939 obituary identified him as vice president and general manager.[1-7]

He must not be confused with his brother Wilbur Oglesby. Wilbur was acting superintendent and then superintendent before leaving for Army service in 1917. James Jr.'s documented management career began after Wilbur's 1918 death.[2][5]

Family and identity

The 1908 Men of Mark in Georgia biography of James Sr. names four sons: James, Pope, Wilbur, and Hugh. It does not give James Jr.'s birth date. No birth certificate or original census image was inspected for this dossier, so his exact birth date remains unresolved.[1]

On February 16, 1918, James married Juanita Bullard Oglesby at Vancouver, Washington. She was the widow of his first cousin Zenas Wise Oglesby Jr. A contemporary report identifies the groom as James Wood Oglesby, an Army lieutenant, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Oglesby of Quitman. That relationship and wartime setting keep him distinct from both his father and Wilbur.[4]

Huxford says James and Juanita had one daughter, Martha Elizabeth, who married Norman Traverse Slater. That family detail is probable, but no birth, marriage, or census record for the daughter was inspected.[8]

World War I

An August 1917 report said James had been accepted into the Emory Hospital unit and appointed first sergeant in its quartermaster department. It also said he was above draft age and had previously failed a physical examination when trying to enlist. An October report said he would go to France with the Emory unit.[2][3]

By February 1918 he was a lieutenant on the Pacific coast and was obtaining fir timber for Army airplanes. Huxford later said he volunteered on September 19, 1917, and served for the duration as a first lieutenant and captain. The contemporary reports verify his enlisted and commissioned service. The precise promotion chronology remains dependent on Huxford until the military file is inspected.[4][8]

Railway management

The first located contemporary report of James Jr. as general manager dates to December 23, 1919. It lists James Sr. as president and James Jr. as general manager, with C. T. Tillman as secretary-treasurer, C. F. Cater as auditor, C. H. Myers as general freight and passenger agent, R. H. Rives as superintendent, and W. M. Leverette as trainmaster.[5]

That roster matters because it separates the jobs. James Jr. was general manager, while Rives held the superintendent title. Wilbur's earlier superintendent service does not belong to James Jr.

A February 1920 Atlanta Georgian report nevertheless called Capt. J. W. Oglesby Jr. the railway's superintendent while naming him to the Brooks County Salvation Army advisory committee.[9] The title conflicts with the detailed December 1919 roster. It may describe a short-lived change, overlapping duties, or loose newspaper usage. Without board minutes or an annual report, the conflict cannot be resolved and both reports should remain visible.

At the November 1925 annual meeting, stockholders elected James Jr. to a six-member board with James Sr., Roderick C. McIntosh, Samuel S. Rountree, Charles T. Tillman, and C. F. Cater. The meeting report named James Sr. president, McIntosh vice president, and Tillman secretary-treasurer. It did not name James Jr. first vice president.[6]

Huxford calls James Jr. general manager and first vice president. The 1939 obituary calls him vice president and general manager. Those sources support later vice-presidential service, but the exact date he received that title has not been found.[7][8]

Other business and civic work

Huxford identifies James Jr. as president of the West Coast Lumber Company and the Steinhatchee Development Company. No corporate filing, annual report, or contemporary business notice was inspected to confirm the dates, so those offices remain probable.[8]

The 1939 Valdosta Daily Times obituary also said he had served as president of the Brooks County Chamber of Commerce. It is the only located source for that specific office. The obituary reported his death and described him as an Army officer during World War I, as well as vice president and general manager of the railway.[7]

Death

The Valdosta Daily Times published its obituary on November 20, 1939. The underlying death certificate, cemetery register, grave marker, and funeral report were not inspected. The obituary establishes that his death had occurred by publication, but this dossier does not assign an exact death date or burial place without a stronger record.[7]

Evidence summary

Research limits

No original birth record, census image, military personnel file, railway board minutes, corporate filings for the lumber and development companies, chamber minutes, death certificate, funeral notice, cemetery register, or grave marker was inspected. His exact birth and death dates and burial place remain unresolved.

Sources

1. William J. Northen, ed., Men of Mark in Georgia, vol. 4 (Atlanta: A. B. Caldwell, 1908), James Wood Oglesby sketch, pp. 341-344, Internet Archive.
2. Macon Telegraph, August 26, 1917, p. 9, Newspapers.com image 825858114.
3. Americus Times-Recorder, October 1, 1917, p. 1, Newspapers.com image 809526868.
4. Atlanta Constitution, February 24, 1918, p. 6, Newspapers.com image 26960379.
5. Atlanta Journal, December 23, 1919, p. 21, Newspapers.com image 970557775.
6. Atlanta Constitution, November 22, 1925, p. 24, Newspapers.com image 398199061.
7. Valdosta Daily Times, November 20, 1939, obituary of James W. Oglesby Jr.
8. Folks Huxford, The History of Brooks County, Georgia, 1858-1948 (1948), pp. 527-528.
9. Atlanta Georgian, February 20, 1920, p. 18, Georgia Historic Newspapers.