 In 1851, some of literary work was published in Polly Peablossom's Wedding (1851), edited by T. A. Burke.He has and had a significant reputation for his humorous writings, and was a founder and practitioner of both the school of Realism in America and genre of Southern Humor.From 1855 to 1858, he served on the UGA board of trustees and served at the state convention which passed the Ordinance of Secession in 1861.