Individual Details

US Congressman. He was elected as a Democrat to represent Georgia's 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1879.

The Constitution, published Atlanta, GA, Monday, 9 Aug 1909, p. 1
Claimed By Death, accompanied by picture
Death Comes to Distinguished Georgian
After Two Days and Nights of Desperate Illness the End Arrive, With All the Members of His Family Present at the Bedside
After lingering for two days and a night on the edge of death, the end came to Milton Candler, distinguished Georgian, at 8:35 o'clock last night at his residence in Decatur, Ga.
When the end came he was surrounded by the members of his family, with the exception of E. S. Candler, of Corinth, Miss, his brother, who has been notified and had left his home for Atlanta, but had not been given time to make the trip.
The funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Mr. Candler's career in public life made his name well known throughout the state. Few men have rendered better public service.
Mr. Candler is survived by his wife, two sons, Charles Murphey Candler, and Samuel C. Candler, the latter of whom lives in California, three daughters, Mrs. Clifford Coles, Mrs. Hunter Pope, and Mrs. Branch McKinney; six brothers, E. S. Candler of Mississippi, W. B. Candler of Villa Rica, Asa G. Candler, S. C. Candler of Florida, Warren A. Candler and John S. Candler and three sisters, Mrs. J. W. Harris, Mrs. J. C. Willard of Philadelphia, and Mrs. H. H. Dobbs of Villa Rica.
Mr. Candler was born in Campbell county in 1837, but spent the early days of his life in Villa Rica, Ga. He attended the University of Georgia, granduaing in 1854. He began the practice of law in 1857 in DeKalb county. He was one of the oldest members of the bar in the county. When the civil war broke out he was a member of the state legislature, but in 1863 resigned, entered, the Army, and before the close of hostilities became captain in the Tenth Georgia cavalry.
Mr. Candler had served the state with distinction. He was twice a member of congress being elected after the close of the reconstruction period in 1879, and a number of times was a member of the state legislature.
Three or four years ago he was attacked by spinal trouble so breaking down his constitution that he was practically an invalid since. For six months previous to his death he had not been able to leave the house, becoming almost completely paralyzed.

The Constitution, published Atlanta, GA, Monday, 9 Aug 1909; Editorial Page
My Note: This article is abhorent!!! Racism at its highest point. No wonder it took the South a hundred years to recover. I hope all these "fine men" are restless in their graves! Read at your peril.
MILTON A. CANDLER
Identified with public affairs in Georgia during the troublous reconstruction era, and since then aligned with the measures and the labor of rehabilitation, the death of Hon. Milton A. Candler sends to his final reward a man of that type of men who have left their impress in decisive letters upon the history of this state.
Mr. Candler once represented the fifth district in Congress, and upon many occasions served in the legislature as the representative of DeKalb County. The duties and requirements of these positions he discharged with ability and fine fidelity, in thorough accordance with the traditions of the notable Georgia family of which he is a member.
His services to his state in the ordeal of reconstruction, when he was associated with that resolute and devoted brigade of brave men in Georgia who redeemed the state from the scourge of threatened negro domination, and reestablished once and for all the policy of white supremacy, with firm and permanent moorings was his best work.
He aided in the defense and vindication of our most sacred and inviolate institutions, in that day when such devotion required courage and self-effacement of the highest order.
Georgians of today can only hope that should this state in the future face a similar crisis, men of the caliber of Milton Candler and his active contemporaries will be forthcoming.


The Constitution, published Atlanta, GA, Tuesday, 10 Aug 1909, p.5
Funeral Services of Milton Candler
DeKalb County Courthouse Office Will Be Closed.
The funeral services of the Hon. Milton A. Candler will take place this morning from Decatur Presbyterian church. Rev. J. G. Patton, pastor of the church, will conduct the services, assisted by Rev. H. G. Gaines, president of Agnes Scott College, and Rev. W. F. Glenn. The interment will take place in the Decatur cemetery.
Those acting as pallbearers are W. D. Thomson, C. D. McKinney, William S. Ansley, T. S. Burgess, J. R. George, Harold Hirsch, J. J. Scott and D. L. Weekes. The deacons and elders of the Presbyterian church and Colonel W. F. Thomson, Mr. Candler's old law partner, will escort the body to the grave.
All the offices of the DeKalb county courthouse will closed at the funeral hour.
Colonel L. S. Thomson's Tribute.
For nearly thirty-two years, from March 1874, to January 1906, I was the law partner of the late Milton A. Candler; and as, both in life and death, his exaclted character was ever, and is still, speaking to me, bidding me let all my aims be for God, my country, and truth. I would fain have this character speak to others, especially the rising generation.....
and on p.12
CANDLER - The friends of Mr. and Mrs. Milton A. Candler and of their family and relatives are invited to attend the funeral services of Mr. Candler at the Presbyterian church in Decatur, Tuesday morning, August 10, at 11 o'clock.

From Wikipedia:
Milton Anthony Candler (January 11, 1837 – August 8, 1909) was an American lawyer, Confederate officer and politician from an influential Georgia family of businessmen and politicians. He served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
... Shortly before the American Civil War began, his father-in-law, former Representative Charles Murphey died in January 1861.[9] In his honor, the Candler family outfitted a company of Confederate troops from DeKalb County, which was named the "Murphey Guards".[10] DeKalb County voters elected Candler to the Georgia State House of Representatives, where he served from 1861 through 1863. In 1863, Candler accepted a commission as captain of the 10th Regiment Georgia Cavalry, State Guards, a battalion organized in August 1863, fighting with the Confederate States Army to serve for six months as local defense in a portion of the State west of the Chattahoochee River as mounted infantry.[11]
Candler was a delegate to Georgia's state constitutional convention in 1865, and later the Democratic National Convention in 1872, 1876 and 1896. He served in the Georgia Senate from 1868 until 1872. In 1874, voters from Georgia's 5th congressional district elected Candler to the United States House of Representatives, defeating Republican James C. Freeman. Candler won re-election in 1876, but ultimately withdrew from the 1878 race and was succeeded by fellow ex-Confederate, and former state attorney general Nathaniel Job Hammond.[8]
Candler returned to his law practice in Decatur, and continued his political involvement, but less directly. His son Charles Murphey Candler became a lawyer and serve in both houses of the Georgia legislature, starting in 1886, and also served on the state Railroad Commission (1909-1922).[3] His younger brother John S. Candler became a Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court (1902-1906) (as did a more distant relative Thomas S. Candler from 1945-1966). His cousin Allen D. Candler, also a Confederate officer but from Lumpkin County, Georgia, was elected Georgia's governor in 1898. His lawyer nephew, Ezekiel S. Candler Jr., was elected to the U.S. Congress from Mississippi and served 1901-1921.[3]

The Iuka Vidette, Iuka, Tishomigo Co, MS, Thursday, 12 Aug 1809
Hon. Milton Candler died at his home in Decatur, GA, last Sunday night aged 72. He was two years older than his brother E. S. Candler Sr. of Corinth, MS and had been in feeble health for two or three years. He represented his district twice in congress and was for some time member of the state senate in reconstruction days.

Greene County Herald, Leakesville, Greene Co, MS, Friday, 13 Aug 1809
Atlanta, GA - Milton Candler, distinguished Georgian, is dead at his home in Decatur, GA, near here. Mr. Candler had served the state with distinction. He was twice a member of congress and a number of times was a member of the state legislature.

1910 Atlanta GA City Directory
Candler, Milton A. died August 8, 1909, age 72

Birth	11 Jan 1837	Georgia
Marriage	1856	Eliza Caroline Murphy
Death	8 Aug 1909	DeKalb County, Georgia
Burial		Decatur Cemetery, DeKalb County, Georgia

Spouse	Eliza Caroline Murphy (1839 - 1917)
Child	Charles Murphy Candler (1858 - 1935)
Child	Samuel Charles Candler (1859 - 1924)
Child	Milton Anthony Candler Jr. (1861 - 1893)
Child	Laura Candler (1864 - 1880)
Child	Florence Candler (1868 - )
Child	Maury Lee Candler (1873 - 1889)
Child	Claude McKinney Candler (1877 - 1972)
Child	Ruth Candler (1880 - 1960)
Child	Warren Word Candler (1883 - 1888)