Henry Lumpkin Wilson

Who was Henry Lumpkin Wilson?

Dr. Henry Lumpkin Wilson was a prominent Atlanta physician, city councilman, and was active in the city's expansion and development.

Dr. Wilson was born in Danville, Virginia in 1839 and came to Atlanta in 1853. He graduated from Emory College at the original Oxford campus in 1858. He then became a doctor at Atlanta Medical College and was appointed as city physician. He served in the Confederate army and was made chief sureon of the conscript department of Georgia. In 1872 he was elected to Atlanta City Council. He was chairman of the street committee and helped improved Whitehall, Marietta and Peachtree Streets. He was elected to the Fulton County commissioner in 1886 and was chairman of the committee of public works.

Soon after 1885 he opened a drug store at the corner of Broad and Marietta Streets.

After selling his drug business he entered the real estate business to become "one of the largest and boldest real estate men of the South", long in partnership with Frank P. Rice. in 1883 he was an incorporator of the Fulton County Street Railroad which brought horsecar service to Ponce de Leon Springs. Wilson is credited with giving the Springs their name.