 With Richard Peters, Samuel M. Inman, Lemuel Grant, and James W. English, he purchased the buildings on the site of the International Cotton Exposition of 1881 and made it the Exposition Cotton Mills, which were successful for many years.While editor of the "Constitution" in 1895, he sent out transcripts of Booker T. Washington's "separate as the fingers" speech across the country.He served on the Atlanta city council numerous times and served as mayor shortly before his death at age 66.