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Y is for the Youngest Mayor of Rome, GA: Benjamin Yancey (A to Z)

Benjamin Cudworth Yancey was born 16 January 1877/8 in Rome, Floyd County, Georgia.  He was a son of Hamilton Yancey of Edgefield District, South Carolina and Florence Patterson of Fort Valley, Georgia.  Ben was also a "grandson of Colonel Benjamin C. Yancey, once minister to Brazil, and grand-nephew of the south's celebrated orator and statesman, William L. Yancey, of Alabama."

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Ben C. Yancey received a law degree from the University of Georgia, but was engaged in the insurance business prior to becoming Rome's city recorder.  He held the latter position for two years before becoming Mayor in 1912.  Following from the Dalton Citizen (Georgia):

It is with pleasure that we note that our good friend, Benjamin C. Yancey, has been elected mayor of Rome.  Mr. Yancey is only thirty-three years old, being the youngest mayor Rome ever had.  Ben will make good as mayor of Rome just as he made good as city recorder.  The Citizen congratulates both the city of Rome and Mayor Yancey.

Ben died at his home in Rome, at the young age of just 51 years, due to angina pectoris.  He left a wife and at least one son.

Ben's wife was Maud Harris.  She was a daughter of Hamilton Harris of Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia and Ethel Hillyer.  Ethel was a daughter of Dr. Eben Hillyer, the subject of an earlier post.

Lobar Pneumonia took Maud, born 1885, nine years after Ben's death.  In between Ben's death and her own, Maud was married to Mr. C. H. Porter.

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What remains of Ben and Maud rests at Myrtle Hill Cemetery in Rome, Georgia.



Are you wondering what's up with all the "letter" posts? I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (links to official page). This challenge lasts through the month of April, with Sundays off.  Each day follows a different letter prompt, in order, from A to Z.  Click here to see all my letter posts on one page (in reverse order). This blog as a whole is one of my themes – telling the tales of tombstones, primarily from those found in the Southern United States and usually the State of Georgia.  You may follow along with me by email and other social media platforms listed at the top of the sidebar.  I and other bloggers in the challenge on Twitter will also be using #atozchallenge.

Though this is my second year in the challenge, it's my first with two blogs.  I am also participating with Lincecum Lineage.  Though it is a one name study blog, my theme there is "kinfolk direct." These genealogy and family history posts all involve a direct relative.

Are you participating in the challenge, too? Please leave a link to your blog in the comments, I'd love to pay you a visit.  Good luck to all involved!

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