By Danny Crownover
William Clinton Bellenger, a leading merchant of Gadsden for many years, was born in Fulton County, Ga., on April 15, 1850. He spent the first 14 years of his life on his father’s farm and was educated in the public schools of Decatur, Ga.
After leaving school, Bellenger worked in the railroad business for about six years. In March of 1872, he came to Gadsden and entered a partnership in the mercantile firm of Hodges and Wright, a supply store patronized by farm-ers in and around Etowah County.
Hodges withdrew in 1875, and the firm became Bellenger & Wright.
In 1888, the firm name was changed to Bellenger & Ralls, with John P. Ralls, Jr., becoming a partner.
Still later the firm’s name was changed to Bellenger Brothers, the partner being John M. Bellenger of Baton Rouge, La.
For many years, John Bellenger worked as a conductor on several large railroads operating in this area. He eventu-ally moved his family to Gadsden, where he owned a good deal of valuable property. John was the father of Wallace and Will G. Bellenger, the latter serving one term as mayor of the city.
W.C. Bellenger accumulated some of the most va-luable business property in Gadsden and owned a number of residences and farms. He also was interested in banks and other enterprises.
On October 12, 1882, he married Miss Sallie Ralls, daughter of Dr. John P. Ralls, a distinguished physician, preacher and statesman who served in the Confederate Congress at Montgomery and was described as one of the best educated men in the south.
W.C. was the son of John Nelson Bellenger, a native of South Carolina and a pioneer of Georgia, where he worked as a prominent lawyer and served as a superior court judge for several terms. He was also a member of the Georgia state legislature for several terms and was identified as a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
Contact The Vagabond at dkcrown@bellsouth.net.