William Clinton Bellenger
WILLIAM CLINTON BELLENGER, Gadsden, was born in Fulton County, Ga., April 15, 1850; spent the first fourteen years of his life upon his father's farm, and received his education at the schools of Decatur, that State. After leaving school he followed railroading for a period of about six years, and in March, 1874, came to Gadsden, where, with Messrs. Hodges & Wright, he established a supply store, the style of the firm being Hodges, Bellenger & Wright. In 1875 Mr. Hodges withdrew, and the firm became Bellenger & Wright. At this writing, and after two or three changes in the firm, the style of the firm is Bellenger Bros. Aside from his mercantile business, Mr. Bellenger is largely interested in agriculture, and is more or less identified with various leading industries in Gadsden. He started in life relying wholly upon his individual effort and industry, and though yet a young man, he has succeeded in placing himself at the head of one of the largest establishments of the city, and of accumulating some of the most valuable property in the county. He belongs to that modern class of Southern men who appear to have come to the surface as if by magic, and whose feats in enterprise and progress are attracting the attention of the civilized world.
Mr. Bellenger was married October 12, 1582, to Miss Sallie S. Rails, the accomplished daughter of Dr. John P. Rails, of Gadsden, and has had born to him two children: Mary and Harry.
John Nelson Bellenger, father of the subject of this sketch, a native South Carolinian and a pioneer of Georgia, was a prominent attorney, and served several terms as Judge of the Superior Court. He was also a member of the house of Representatives in the Legislature of his State several terms; was prominently identified with church work, and equally prominent as a Mason and an Odd Fellow. In addition to the law and other matters, he gave much attention to agriculture. At the Forks of Peach Tree Creek, near Atlanta, at a place known as Bellenger Springs, taking its name from Sir Edward Bellenger, of England. Judge Bellenger owned an extensive plantation, which is probably in the family at this writing. Judge Bellenger died in July, 1853. Two of his sons served gallantly in the Confederate Army. His wife was Miss Sarah Ann Collier before her first marriage. She was a native of Atlanta, and was the widow of John Patey.
Source: McCalley, Henry, Northern Alabama: historical and biographical.
Birmingham, AL: Smith & De Land, 1888, pp. 835.