American journalist and writer, born in Macon, GA, on the 23rd of April 1855. Upon the completion of his elementary education, he studied law and was admitted to the bar of Georgia. He did not continue long in that profession, however, but soon turned to journalism. He joined the staff of the Macon Daily Telegraph, and within a few years became its editor. He soon attracted the attention of the reading public by his stories of Southern negro life, published in the Century and other periodicals. Among these stories were Two Runaways; Ole Miss an’ Sweetheart; and De Valley an’ de Shadder. In 1895 he was awarded the $10,000 prize, offered by the Chicago Record for the best “mystery story,” for his story, Sons and Fathers. This story established his growing reputation, and caused critics to class him among the leading writers.
