HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
EDWARD HARMAN CABANISS
BIOGRAPHY and GENEALOGY
(1857-1936)
Jefferson County, Alabama
Hon. Edward Harman Cabaniss was an attorney at law in Birmingham, Alabama. He was born Oct. 1, 1857, at Forsyth, Monroe county, Georgia. His father, George Augustus Cabaniss, was also born at Forsyth; was a lawyer and merchant for a number of years; was president of the board of trustees of the Sanitarium for the Insane at Milledgeville, Georgia., for more than a decade, and was the eldest son of Elbridge Gerry and Sarah (Chipman) Cabaniss. His mother, Juliet McKay, was the daughter of Daniel and Juliet (Harman) McKay, of Forsyth, Georgia.
He was the eldest of four children: Edward H. Cabaniss, Daniel M. Cabaniss, Elbridge P. Cabaniss, and Juliet A. Cabaniss; he being the only survivor. The Cabaniss family were of French (Huguenot) origin and came to this country before the American Revolution. Two brothers first settled in Virginia, and their posterity have scattered throughout the country, a branch of them being early settlers in Monroe county, Georgia.
Edward H. Cabaniss obtained his early education at the grammar schools of Forsyth, Georgia; his college education at Mercer University Macon, Ga., being graduated in 1875 with the degree of bachelor of arts, and afterward the degree of master of arts was conferred upon him. He graduated in his eighteenth year, in a large class, with the second honor. His professional education was obtained at the law school of the University of Virginia, and he also read in private offices; was admitted to practice in 1878, at Union Springs, Alabama, where he entered upon his profession the same year, remaining there until 1887, when he moved to Birmingham.
He was elected to the State senate in 1886, and resigned in 1887 to remove to Birmingham to practice law. He was a Democrat, and took a deep interest in State and local politics.
On Dec. 13, 1882, he married Martha Frazer Jelks, sister of Governor W. D. Jelks, and daughter of J. William D. and Jane G. (Frazer) Jelks, of Union Springs, Alabama. The firm of Cabaniss & Weakley was the oldest partnership in Birmingham, having been formed in 1889. It was also one of the best known firms in the State, and did an immense business.
“Mr. Cabaniss was a gentleman of marked dignity; he was a clear, logical speaker, calm and imperturbable in manner, and he impressed his listeners with confidence in the integrity of his arguments. Mr. and Mrs. Cabaniss had five sons:
- Robert W. Cabaniss, attended the Naval academy at Annapolis, Md.
- Edward H. Cabaniss, attended college at Auburn
- Jelks H. Cabaniss, attended the State university at Tuscaloosa
- Elbridge G. Cabaniss
- William J. Cabaniss.
Mr. and Mrs. Cabaniss were members of the Baptist church, where he was a deacon. They lived on Highland Avenue, in Birmingham, Alabama.
Edward Harmon Cabaniss died March 11, 1936 in Birmingham, Alabama. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama along with his wife, Martha who died Mary 13, 1936.
SOURCES
- History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography by Thomas McAdory Owen, c1922
- Notable Men of Alabama: Personal and Genealogical, Volume 2 edited by Joel Campbell DuBose
- 1910, 1920, 1930 U. S. census
- Find A Grave.com Memorial# 116444047 # 52180461 # 46976376 # 46976346 # 116441330 # 116440330 # 116442442 # 47217485
