Thomas Becomes Editor of the Enquirer-Sun (Georgia Editor Dead, Pt. 3)

Augusta Chronicle (Georgia)
22 March 1926, pg. 2 (continued)

"...Editor of Enquirer-Sun.
The latter part of 1919 Mr. Loyless sold his holdings in The Chronicle to Thomas J. Hamilton, present editor of the paper, and he went to Columbus in company with Julian Harris, son of Joel Chandler Harris, of "Uncle Remus" fame, where he was associated in the publication of The Enquirer-Sun of that city. Mr. Loyless continued as editor of that paper for some time, being forced out of active newspaper work on account of ill health and he turned his attention to developing the Warm Springs resort, which he felt sure was one of great curative worth, and he did much work there, later doing a limited amount of journalistic work, notably for The Macon Telegraph, until ill health finally compelled him to quit entirely.

A Forceful Writer.
Mr. Loyless was regarded as a forceful and convincing writer, always interesting, analytical, informative and dependable. His genius as a reporter and his ability to put over a scoop were first demonstrated while he worked as a reporter on the Macon News, when he, a country boy, was sent to cover the Woolfolk hanging at Perry. Woolfolk had been convicted of killing his family of nine people with an axe, and interest in the tragedy kept the state on ear. It was highly important, in Loyless' opinion, that his newspaper should get the story first, and as there was only one telegraph wire or means of communication with Macon, he handed a Bible to the operator and told him to start at Genesis and seep sending until he should be stopped by Loyless. In the meantime, Loyless prepared his news story and got it far enough along to make sure he could keep his private operator busy. No other newspaper man had any outlet for his story and Loyless had the exclusive beat for the state and he was only a country boy.

Mr. Loyless' last newspaper connection was with the Macon Telegraph last year, he conducting an independent column until he became too weak to keep up the work."

Thomas W. Loyless
July 27, 1870 - Mar. 21, 1926
Remains Resting at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Thomas was Left an Orphan Early (Georgia Editor Dead, Pt. 2)

Augusta Chronicle (Georgia)
22 March 1926, pgs 1 & 2 (continued)

"...Left an Orphan Early.
His father died in 187[5?] at the age of 30 years, when young Loyless was only five years old, he being the third child of a family of four children, and his mother died in 1879 at the age of 34 years. This left Thos. W. Loyless on his own resources at an early age and he began work as a clerk in his uncle's store at Dawson, but before he was 15 years old he went to Savannah as a clerk in a cotton firm, soon returning to Dawson to again work a short time in his uncle's store. However, he almost immediately began newspaper work on The Dawson News, now published by Hon. E. L. Rainey, of the prison commission of Georgia. His work soon attracted attention and he went to Macon in 1889 to work with The Macon News and a year later became city editor of The Macon Telegraph. In 1893 he went to Knoxville as managing editor of The Knoxville Sentinel, which position he held until 1[895?] when he organized a company to purchase The Macon News, which paper he edited until 1899, when he sold his interest to go to Atlanta as associate editor of The Atlanta Journal, and after a year there he accepted the same position with The Atlanta Constitution.

Becomes Chronicle Editor.
In 1903 he became associated with H. H. Cabaniss, business manager of The Journal, in a syndicate to purchase The Augusta Chronicle, and he was associated with Mr. Cabaniss in the work until 1905 when he procured the interest of Mr. Cabaniss and became editor and manager of The Chronicle. His record in Augusta is so well known until it would be needless to recount it. His activities were not circumscribed by the newspaper world, but instead he took and active part in practically every movement of consequence in the city and section during his residence here.

While not taking any part in politics personally, he was recognized as a great thinker and the fact that he was a selfmade [sic] man, fighting his way from the ground up, through all the vicissitudes of life, made him respected as an authority. He made enemies and friends and steadfastly maintained his position and fought for his convictions unrelentingly.

His home life was most affectionate. In 1895 he married Miss Margaret St. Clair Neill, daughter of Capt. Cecil C. Neill, of the United States navy. Though born in Charleston she was reared in Macon. To the couple was born a son, who died as a boy, and a daughter, Margaret, now Mrs. Patrick H. Mell.

In 1908 he was a delegate at large from Georgia to the democratic national convention and in 1912 he was tendered the same position, but he did not accept..."

Part 1 is here. Final part next up: "Editor of Enquirer-Sun" and "A Forceful Writer."

Georgia Editor, Dead

Augusta Chronicle (Georgia)
22 March 1926, pg. 1

"THOMAS W. LOYLESS, FORMER EDITOR OF THE CHRONICLE DEAD

Macon, Ga., May 21 -- (AP) -- The body of Thomas W. Loyless will be brought here on a special car on the Southern railway Tuesday evening at 7:55 o'clock and the funeral will take place Wednesday morning at St. Joseph's Catholic church.

Thomas Wesley Loyless, for 15 years editor of The Augusta Chronicle and nationally known as one of the South's leading newspapermen, is dead. After a lingering illness, that affected him for years he succumbed yesterday morning at 11:30 o'clock, death occurring at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Pat M. Mell, in Philadelphia. His condition had been regarded as acute since last summer when he underwent a major operation in Atlanta from which he never recovered. During the Christmas holidays he went to visit his daughter and suffering a recurrence of his ailment he grew worse until his death was momentarily expected on several different occasions during the past two or three months.

The announcement of his death will cause a shock throughout the state. A decade ago his death would have removed from the life of Augusta one of its leading figures around whom centered some of the stormiest fights ever inaugurated in Augusta. His newspaper career in Augusta covered a period of over 15 years and all of it was characterized by an activity prior to that unequalled in the history of local journalism.

Marion Building, Augusta, GA
by buck stone, on Flickr

Notably Active in Augusta.
His most notable activities were directed toward upbuilding the city in a commercial and industrial way, at the same time attacking means and methods in some quarters. The completion of The Chronicle building, now known as the Marion building, was the first modern fire-proof office structure completed in the city and he was the dominant figure in its organization.

In political circles he waged a two edged sword and his support of Gov. John M. Slaton [as?] the memorable Leo Frank case attracted nationwide attention, and while not strictly a political question it had many aspects of this character.

In the last illness of Mr. Loyless he knew that he was facing the inevitable and had sent messages to friends in Augusta that his death was but a question of time and the time would not be long. The turn for the worse came last Friday night and he continued to sink gradually until the end came quietly Sunday morning, with his wife and daughter, an only surviving child, present at his bedside.

Funeral in Macon Wednesday.

Thomas, son of T. W. Loyless
Died Feb 22, 1898

Plans for the funeral are for the burial to take place at Macon Wednesday morning, the former home of the family, where he will sleep beside his only son, according to his often expressed wish, the son dying many years ago, when he was a promising boy, filling his father's heart with grief and sorrow, from which he never fully recovered.

After the last sad rites are over, his wife, Mrs. Margaret St. Clair Loyless, will go to Deland, Florida, where she will be with her half-brother, Loyless Kennedy, for some time.

The surviving members of his immediate family are his wife, Mrs. Margaret St. Clair Loyless and his daughter, Mrs. Patrick H. Mell, together with her little daughter, grand-child of Mr. Loyless.

Thomas W. Loyless was born in Dawson, Ga., July 27, 1870, son of Thomas W. and Susan (van Aldehoff) Loyless. His father was born in Columbia county, Georgia, and entered the service of the Confederate Army under General Joe Wheeler, when a very young man, serving with distinction until the close of the war. After the war his father went to Dawson, Ga., and shortly afterward married Miss Susan van Aldehoff, of Tennessee..."

Block 2, Lot 39 of Eglantine Square
Rose Hill Cemetery
Macon, Georgia

Stay tuned for more about Thomas Wesley Loyless. Next up: "Left an Orphan Early" and "Becomes Chronicle Editor."