Ed L. Sutton (born 1864) was an American newspaper printer, union leader, and politician who served as mayor of Clarkston, Georgia, in 1900 and 1923. Sutton, described as one of Clarkston's best known residents,Two Dogs Devoured. The Atlanta Journal, Wednesday, April 21, 1909, Page 3, Atlanta, Georgia. was a newspaper editor, printer, and journalist for over seven different newspapers, including The Atlanta Journal and The Clarkston Clarion.
Early life Sutton was born Edward Lee Sutton in Lafayette, Walker County, Georgia on June 12, 1864,Clarkston. The Atlanta Journal, Saturday, June 18, 1898, Page 7, Atlanta, Georgia. to David Cass "D.C." Sutton and Drucilla A. Rhodes."United States, Census, 1870", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC31-B9R : Wed January 22, 14:58:32 UTC 2025), Entry for Davis C Sutton and Drusilla Sutton, 1870. Sutton had two older siblings, Evelyn "Eva" MayMiss E. May Sutton Buried. The Macon Telegraph, Wednesday, April 18, 1900, Page 4, Macon, Georgia. and Claude Davis, born in 1858 and 1862 respectively, and six younger siblings. These younger siblings included Mollie Belle born in 1866, Anna born in 1868, Jessie Rosamond born in 1870,Mrs. T. E. Burch Succumbs Here. The Macon Telegraph, Wednesday, November 22, 1944, Page 10, Macon, Georgia. Cornelia "Nell" born in 1873, Eula born in 1876, and Kenneth MilnerPretty Wedding At Mt. Vernon, GA. The Macon News, Saturday, July 1, 1911, Page 4, Macon, Georgia. born in 1884."United States, Census, 1880", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8LN-HWF : Tue Oct 21 01:59:34 UTC 2025), Entry for Drucilla A. Sutton and Claude B. Sutton, 1880.Miss Eva May Sutton Dead. The Atlanta Journal, Tuesday, April 17, 1900, Page 2, Atlanta, Georgia.
By 1880, at the age of sixteen, Ed Sutton is listed as working in a printing office in Summerville, Chattanooga, Georgia in an US Census.
Career As an adult, Sutton continued his work as an editor, printer, and writer in newspapers. By 1885, Sutton had been working as the junior partner of the Sutton and Son publishing firm in Dahlonega, Georgia, and had been a printer and writer on the Signal newspaper.The Ellijay Courier, Thursday, September 10, 1885, Page 2, Ellijay, Georgia.
Sutton briefly lived in Atlanta in 1885Another ‘85 Fan. The Atlanta Constitution, Friday, April 25, 1941, Page 28, Atlanta, Georgia. after moving from Dahlonega before he married his first wife in 1887, and where the two lived in Valdosta, Georgia while Sutton worked with the Valdosta Times newspaper. The couple returned to Atlanta, living on 108 Stonewall Street, in 1889 wherein Sutton took editorial control of the Dekalb Chronicle a year later. At this time, Sutton became a member of the Atlanta Typographical Union, No. 48.
In 1892, Sutton and his family moved to Clarkston, Georgia where they would live until his passing in 1951.Ed L. Sutton Passes; Taught at Tech High. The Atlanta Journal, June 18, 1951, Pages 32, Atlanta, Georgia. Despite moving, Sutton remained involved with several organizations located in Atlanta, while also involving himself with the newspapers and organizations in Clarkston.
Sutton wrote for several newspapers across his career, both in Atlanta and more locally in Clarkston. Between 1895 and 1899, Sutton was an editor for the Clarkston Clarion.‘Tis Editors’ Day. The Atlanta Journal, Thursday, September 19, 1895, Page 1, Atlanta, Georgia.Fund for Folsom Family Growing. The Atlanta Journal, Saturday, July 15, 1899, Page 9, Atlanta, Georgia. By 1898, Sutton was working as an linotype operator for the Atlanta Journal and was still working for the paper in 1906.The Whole Journal Family. The Atlanta Journal, Saturday, December 22, 1906, Page 4, Atlanta, Georgia. Sutton worked with the Atlanta Journal for approximately twenty-years. In 1904, Sutton was involved in the creation of the Atlanta Weekly Journal newspaper.
Kappa Sigma Fraternity Sutton was initiated into the Kappa Sigma Fraternity in 1885 during a ceremony in Richmond, Virginia by supreme officers. Sutton was initiated despite not attending college, an honor that had only been previously given to one other person, Jefferson Davis.Newspaper Man Enjoys Unique “Frat” Record. The Macon Telegraph, Sunday, April 27, 1913, Page 16, Macon, Georgia. Sutton established the Rho chapter of Kappa Sigma in Dahlonega in the same year.Banquet Ends Reunion Kappa Sigma Fraternity. The Macon Telegraph, Sunday, May 1, 1910, Page 19, Macon, Georgia.
Ed L. Sutton was the district grand-master of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity for Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.Ed Sutton Leaves for Big Conclave. The Atlanta Journal, Sunday, June 28, 1908, Page 4, Atlanta, Georgia. In 1910, Sutton was invited to a fraternity banquet as one of the guests of honor. The other two guests of honor were two of the founders of the fraternity.Ed. L. Sutton Invited to Fraternity Banquet. The Atlanta Journal, Friday, January 28, 1910 Page 11, Atlanta, Georgia In the same year, Sutton became the editor for the Kappa Sigma Fraternity magazine, The Caduceus.Ed. L. Sutton Edits A Fraternity Magazine. The Macon Telegraph, Sunday, December 18, 1910 Page 14, Macon, Georgia. Before becoming the editor of The Caduceus, Sutton worked as editor of the Kappa Sigma Quarterly before 1890.Ed. L. Sutton is Editor of Fraternity Magazine. The Atlanta Journal, Sunday, July 24, 1910, Page 14, Atlanta, Georgia.
Labor and Union Sutton was a respected officer in several different unions, and as part of his involvement extended aid to strikers.Ranks of Strikers Receive Additions. The Atlanta Constitution, Thursday, May 23, 1901, Page 7, Atlanta, Georgia.Typos Vote to Help Telegraph Men in Strike. The Atlanta Journal, Wednesday, August 14, 1907, Page 7, Atlanta, Georgia. As a member of the Federation of Trades,Two Striking Reviews of Problematic Play. The Atlanta Journal, Monday December 13, 1909, Page 4, Atlanta, Georgia. Sutton was unanimously elected to be the editor of the Journal of Trade in 1901.Right Man In Right Place. The Atlanta Journal, Monday, May 13, 1901, Page 4, Atlanta, Georgia. After his election to editor of the Journal, Sutton was described as: Mr. Sutton is one of the best known member of the Federation of Trades, and is respected and honored by all who know him.Sutton Elected Editor of Journal of Labor. The Atlanta Constitution, Thursday, May 9, 1901, Page 7, Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1901, Sutton was also elected on the auditing and laws committees of the Allied Printing Trade Union.Speakers Named for Franklin Day, Officers Are Elected. The Atlanta Constitution, Monday, January 7, 1901 Page 7, Atlanta, Georgia. Sutton also served as chairman of the committee which created the constitution and by-laws of the Georgia Federation of Labor in 1902.Political Aims Charged to Labor Executive Board. The Atlanta Constitution, Wednesday, December 18, 1907, Page 7, Atlanta, Georgia.Sutton Becomes A Candidate For Trustee. The Atlanta Journal, Thursday, February 6, 1902, Page 7, Atlanta, Georgia.
Similar to Sutton's description after his election to the role of editor of the Journal of Labor, Sutton was described in 1904 as one of the best known organized labor men in the state of Georgia by the Macon News.Mr. Ed. L. Sutton Is In The City Today. The Macon News, Tuesday, February 2, 1904, Page 1, Macon, Georgia.
Atlanta Typographical Union Sutton was already a member of the Atlanta Typographical Union, the no.48 branch of the International Typographical Union, by 1889, and in 1895, Sutton was elected the president of the same branch of the union.Important Meeting. The Atlanta Journal, Thursday, October 17, Page 7, 1895, Atlanta, Georgia. Sutton served as president until 1986.President Sutton’s Clear Cut. The Atlanta Constitution, Sunday, May 17, Page 5, Atlanta, Georgia. By the following year, Sutton was serving as the secretary of the union,The Ordinance Endorsed. The Atlanta Journal, Saturday, February 13, 1897, Page 20, Atlanta, Georgia. and in 1898, Sutton held the office of treasurer within the union and acted as the representative of the Atlanta branch at the forty-forth session of the International Typographical Union in New York.To Attend I.T.U Session. The Atlanta Journal, Saturday, October 8, Page 1, Atlanta, Georgia. Sutton again held the office of the president of the Atlanta Typographical Union in 1899.Meeting, Typographical Union Notice. The Atlanta Constitution, Friday, September 22, 1899, Page 12, Atlanta, Georgia.
After a visit to the Union Printers Home in 1908, Sutton was described by his fellow International Union members as: ...a prominent and influential member...In his daily dealings with his fellow men he gathers many flowers of praise and appreciation and wins friendship from his fellow workers in the world's field of action.Ed. Sutton Honored by Typographical Paper. The Atlanta Journal, Sunday, August 9th, 1908, Page 5, Atlanta, Georgia. In 1935, Sutton gave a speech on reminiscences as the oldest member of the Atlanta Typographical Union at their seventy-fifth anniversary dinner.Ed. Sutton To Offer Union Reminiscences At Printer’s Dinner. The Atlanta Journal, Sunday, May 5, 1935, Page 15, Atlanta, Georgia. Sutton was seventy-one at the time of the speech.
Forty Oaks Sutton Orpington Farm While living in Clarkston, Sutton and his family lived in a two-story red brick and wood frame I-House, named Forty Oaks, and owned several acres of land fronting Market Street.
As early as 1897, Sutton was selling chickens, eggs, and rabbits on the property and eventually named the farm, the Sutton Orpington Yard, after the breed of chicken they bred and sold. As owner of the farm, Sutton became a member of several different farming associations, such as the Atlanta Poultry, Pigeon, and Pet Stock association, the Dekalb County Poultry Breeder’s Association, and participated in many poultry exhibits. In 1900, Sutton created a local monthly Clarkston paper called the Southern Poultry and Pet Stock.
Sutton operated the farm under the name of "Sutton Orpington Farm" between approximately 1897 to 1912, after which there is no more mention of "Sutton Orpington Farm" in any Dekalb County or Atlanta newspapers. After this date, Sutton operated the farm under the name "Forty Oaks Farm" until approximately 1941. Between 1915 and 1940, the Forty Oaks Farm sold items such as milk, cream, and water lilies in various colors.For Sale - Miscellaneous. The Atlanta Journal, Thursday, August 9, 1915, Page 12, Atlanta, Georgia.Water Lilies. The Atlanta Journal, Sunday, July 26, 1931, Page 34, Atlanta, Georgia.Ed Sutton Names Most Popular Atlantian. The Atlanta Journal, Thursday, March 23, 1933, Page 7, Atlanta, Georgia.It’s Just Like. The Atlanta Journal, Monday, March 13, 1933, Page 7, Atlanta, Georgia.Water Lilies. The Atlanta Journal, Sunday, May 12, 1935, Page 34, Atlanta, Georgia.Seeds and Plants. The Atlanta Journal, Sunday, April 28, 1940, Page 43, Atlanta, Georgia.
After Sutton's passing in 1951, the house was passed to his daughter Hazel who lived in the home with her younger sister, Winifred and older brother Harold. Hazel eventually deeded the house and half of the approximately property to the Dekalb County Parks and Recreation department in 1971 with the stipulation that the property be turned into a nature park. The park created is known as the Forty Oaks Nature Preserve and is open seven days a week.
After Hazel's passing, Dekalb County used the house as the site of offices of Dekalb Natural Resources, the Atlanta Outward Bound Center,Dateline Dekalb. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 24, 1998, Page J01, Atlanta, Georgia. as well as the Global Growers which uses the land beside the house for the Clarkston International Gardens. Dekalb County sold the property to the City of Clarkston in 2017 and the house has been vacant since.
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