USA > North Carolina > Biographical history of North Carolina from colonial times to the present; > Part 19
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""The night is darker because his light is gone out :
The world is not so warm because his heart is cold in death.'"
From the Raleigh News and Observer:
"Charles D. McIver was the best type of Southern manhood. His faith was profound, his courage unconquerable, and his capacity for labor apparently a thing that had no limit when the interests which he held dear were concerned. He was of massive brain and electric personality. Easily of national size, he preferred to stay in North Carolina and devote his genius to her educational advancement.
"The profession that he adopted made Doctor McIver an educational statesman, but he was more than that. He was a patriot and a statesman in the broad sense.
. "It would be difficult to name any movement-educational, industrial, religious or political-that was making for the betterment of the. State that did not feel the helpful touch of Charles D. McIver. He was an optimist of the best type. and went about making others have faith in themselves and inspiring them with patriotism and civic virtue and public spirit. Other men will be found who will carry on the college and direct the public educational work, but his spirit of faith and hope and cheer will be missed in an hundred ways, and it was the thing that made him easily the most useful man in North Carolina and the best loved private citizen.
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Albert Shaw in the October, 1906, Review of Reviews:
Doctor McIver was not quite forty-six years old; but his influence was already great, and his achievement was of the sort that saves imperiled civilizations and transforms communities. He was a man of remarkable eloquence, and of great readiness and power on all oc- casions in public speech. He was famous for his wit, and for his un- limited store of amusing incidents and anecdotes. If he had chosen to turn his energies into political channels he would have been Governor of his State and then United States Senator."
Walter H. Page in the October, 1906, South Atlantic Quarterly: I suppose that he was regarded as a close personal friend by more men and women, and he had the intimate confidence of more men and women than any other man in North Carolina. Twice he had a chance possibly to become President of the State University, but he considered his work in building a college for women of greater im- portance. He might at any time during the last six or eight years have received an income that would have relieved him of all financial care and provided luxuriously for his family if he had given his time to business undertakings. But the building and the development of a great college for the training of women (and by the training of women, the lifting up of the whole people) was dearer to him than all other aims in life; and he never hesitated."
Extract from Governor's Proclamation :
Governor R. B. Glenn issued the following proclamation to the people of North Carolina at the request of a number of prominent citizens :
"The lifework of Charles D. McIver is ended. For twenty-five years he served his State with fidelity, zeal and efficiency not surpassed in her annals. No one has rendered the State a. greater service. It is now the high duty and privilege of the people whom he served with unselfish devotion to manifest their grateful appreciation of his life and character by a memorial which will transmit his memory to posterity and be a per- petual incentive to the youth of the State to emulate his example. An heroic statue in bronze, designed and cast by a great artist, has been selected by general consent as a most fitting memorial. Charles D. McIver's en- tire life was given for the better education of all our women, the improve- ment of the educational opportunities of all our children, the uplifting of all our .citizenship and the elevation of all our ideals of civic service."
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JOHN McMILLAN MCIVER
B XIOGRAPHICAL sketches of representatives of the highest character, wisest methods, noblest achievements, in a word, the loftiest ideas, are precious legacies of the ages. Distinguished services and how they were rendered, unques- tionable success and by what means attained, an honorable and widely useful career despite inconspicuous sta- tion and how achieved, make up a worthy and fascinating story for the living, as well as for transmission to succeeding genera- tions. Among that noble class who are at once successful and widely influential in a life spent in the shades of retirement remote from the gaze of the public, no man in our time in North Carolina is a more illustrious representative than John McMillan McIver, of Gulf.
The life of every man, no less than that of every plant and animal, is the product of the combined influence of heredity and circumstances. Inherited tendencies, unconscious impression from men and things, are so many tuitional influences, or "schools and schoolmasters," that determine measurably the character and life of us all. The plastic mind of childhood, inconceivable more plastic than the body, can never throw off impressions then re- ceived. We may all say, "I am a part of all that I have met, es- pecially that which I have met in childhood."
The historical outline of no man's life can be written without
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relating the race from which he sprang, the place where he was reared, the institutions, the social customs and educational forces which molded his character and thus singled him out from his species, individualizing him for all time. The task is a pleasant one. History loves to trace the lineage of those whose lives rise above mediocrity and shine with deeds of high morality and beauti- ful unselfishness. If the blood that courses through the veins bears upon its tide the virtues by which it was first distinguished, then there is a prestige of birth that may prompt generations in their turn-
"To draw forth a noble ancestry From the corruption of abusing time, Unto a lineal, true-derived course."
Still the glory of embellishing a name, of adding to its luster, is superior to that of first drawing it from the ages agone.
John McMillan McIver was born on November 6, 1838, near, Carbonton, in Moore County, hard by the line of Chatham, on the hills of the historic Clarendon, now Deep River, and within the bounds of old Euphronia Presbyterian Church.
His great-grandfather, Donald McIver, was one of the three brothers who emigrated from Scotland in 1772. Two of these brothers settled in North Carolina and one in South Carolina. From this trio have descended nearly all of the sturdy folk who bear the name in both States.
The name of his father was Alexander McIver, a farmer, a loyal Presbyterian and an elder in Euphronia Church. His mother was Miss Ann Gordon, daughter of Mr. Langston Gordon, of Virginia, an Englishman.
The life of the subject of this sketch from birth has been typ- ically North Carolinian, modified by traits of parentage through his rugged paternal ancestry. There were but few environments better calculated to form character than those found in the atmos- phere among the hills of his birthplace where the parish schools, hard by the kirk in the fatherland, had been transplanted and re- ligiously fostered. He was born into that way of life which might be called in other lands the middle class, but happily in our coun-
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try character and capacity make their own level. He was neither of the richest nor of the poorest, neither proud nor humble; he knew no hunger he was not sure of satisfying, no luxury which could enervate mind or body. His parents were sober, God-fear- ing people ; intelligent and upright; without pretension and with- out self-effacing. He grew up in the company of boys who worked on the farm like himself-wholesome, honest, self-respecting. They looked down ou nobody, they never felt it possible they could be looked down upon. Their houses were the homes of probity, piety, patriotism. They learned from the inspiring traditions of their fathers, and at the feet of teachers of sound Christianity and ennobling patriotism, the lessons of heroic and splendid, life which came down from the past.
His father died when he was only one year old. . The loss was great ; but his mother proved a wise and capable counsellor, and her care and training molded him into manly excellence. His earliest recollection of his mother was seeing her kneeling in prayer with her three little children around her. A comfortable patrimony fell to him from his father's estate. In early life he had a strong desire for an education. The impulse was natural to one · of such ancestry and living in such surroundings. The first con- fession of faith adopted by the church of his progenitors, about two hundred and seventy-five years before, contained a provision for the planting of a school in every parish. Coming as did his forefathers and others, so to speak, from the feet of John Knox, the greatest of Scotchmen and the most illustrious pupil of John Calvin, they became founders and patrons of academic schools, which, without cabinets, laboratories and other parts of a college equipment, educated many young men for the gospel ministry, the bar and other learned professions. The influence of these early and useful schools had not died out as an inspiration to the young of that day. By both inheritance and environment there came therefore to him an overmastering and enthusiastic impulse for an education.
Preparation to matriculate at the University was obtained under that celebrated teacher, Doctor Alexander Wilson, at Melville
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Academy in Alamance County. In 1858, in his twentieth year, he was admitted to the classes of the University of North Caro- lina. In 1861, when the war between the States began, he left the University promptly to enter the army. An attack of sickness frustrated his plans and he returned to the University and grad- uated in 1862, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. On leav- ing the halls of the University he enlisted immediately as a soldier in a cavalry company, made up mostly of descendants of Scotch Highlanders, with Reverend James H. McNeil as commandant. The field of service for his command was in Eastern North Caro- lina until the opening of the famous Gettysburg campaign in 1863, when as the Sixty-third North Carolina Regiment it was trans- ferred to the army of Northern Virginia. Surviving the hard- ships and many bloody battles of this great army, he surrendered with it at Appomattox Court-House in 1865, having made a splendid record as a brave and conscientious soldier, whether in camp, bivouac or battle.
The active work of his life as a civilian was begun as a school- teacher. In 1865 he taught at Buffalo Church in Moore County, and afterward in Bladen County, and at Waynesville in Haywood County. In each of these communities his influence was forceful and far-reaching. The hearts as well as the heads of his pupils were impressed with his Christian life and nice scholarship. Some of his pupils became eminent as officers of the State, and many bear testimony to-day most gratefully to his uplifting and lasting work upon their minds and their character. In 1870 he became engaged in business at Gulf and established his home there. Mr. McIver has six children : three, the children of a former mar- riage to Miss Mattie Lee Morrison, of Asheville, and three, the children of his present marriage to Miss Lois Anderson, of Davidson.
His career as a worker in the church has been marked by ex- ceptionally distinguished services ; and to few men have so many and such high honors fallen. He was one of the founders of his church at Gulf and was elected its first elder. During the years of its earlier history he alone constituted its session. He is the
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only clerk its session has ever had, and the only superintendent of its Sunday-school. As the representative of his church he has attended with notable frequency the meetings of his Presbytery, and is one of the four ruling elders it has so far elected to preside over its deliberations as moderator. Twice he has been elected Commissioner to the General Assembly, the highest court in the polity of the church. He has been called often to serve on the most important committees. He filled with great credit the chairman- ship of the committee in charge of the Elders' and Deacons' In- stitute, and is now one of the two ruling elders on the Synodical Committee in charge of the Twentieth Century Million Dollar Educational Fund.
His career as a business man has been no less successful. He was never a speculator in the commonly accepted meaning of that word. One of the most pronounced characteristics of his work in the business sphere has been conservative. He has accumulated a fine estate. Yet it has been done by the application of the reg- ular and well-known and universally approved business methods of the world. His system, frugality, sagacity, industry, concurred to make his work as gainful as possible, bating the possible out- come of speculative ventures. He is a large and successful farmer, and a merchant with a fine volume of business. He was a pioneer in the roller milling business. As a manufacturer of flour he is widely known and popular. He has been one of those active men who have contributed so much to placing North Carolina on the career of prosperity that marks this period as the most interesting, industrially, in her history. He is interested as a director and stockholder in the bank of Fayetteville, a stockholder, director and Vice-President of the Sanford Cotton Mills, a stockholder in the Columbia Manufacturing Company at Ramseur, North Carolina, and the Elmira Cotton Mills in Burlington, North Carolina.
Tracing the service and success that have made up so much of his life back to the principles and methods which led on to them is a task as interesting as it is instructive. He built upon sure foundations. A conscientious desire to do his duty to his fellow- men, to himself and to his God have been prominent and conspicu-
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ous without ostentation. Three subjects for practice in composi- tion assigned to him when he was a student at Melville Academy by Doctor Alexander Wilson (Festina lente, make haste slowly; Obsta Principiis, oppose the beginnings ; Esse Quam Videri, to be rather than to appear to be) made, he says, a deep impression on him and has had much to do in shaping both his religious and business life. It has been a deep conviction with him that the cost of success was doing his best. His confidential legal adviser says of him, "He is one man who never forgets his God in his business." In cases actually occurring he has always readily re- nounced the employment of legal advantages with gain, and chosen instead an equitable procedure with loss.
. The following word picture portrays in some measure the make up of the man: One who lives largely not for himself but for others; and whose pleasure and happiness consists to an excep- tional degree in contributing to the happiness of others. A man of singularly sweet and amiable disposition and retiring in his habits, and yet, surprisingly, a successful business man even in this day of strenuous life and activity. One who can be depended upon at all times and never be found wanting. Of martyr spirit to suffer at the stake for conscience' sake, and for what he believes to be right. Ever ready to aid liberally in any and every move- ment in church or State for the good of his fellows.
A Democrat and interested in politics and influential, yet in- tensely averse to office holding ; a Presbyterian in religion, with the most cordial regard for his fellows of other creeds ; an active man in the conduct of large and varied business interests, yet liv- ing always unobtrusively and retiringly he has won distinguished success in business, and wielded a silent but powerful influence for good in business, social and religious life.
In a home notable for its atmosphere of culture and refinement, he is spending his days as a representative of the highest ideal of a Christian gentleman and successful man of business in the life of North Carolina as seen to-day.
P. R. Law.
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WILLIE PERSON MANGUM
ORTH CAROLINA has produced three men who have attained the Presidency. Jackson, N Polk and Johnson were all her sons; but the avenue of promotion lay through Tennessee. The balance of power has long since crossed the Alleghanies and is now crossing the Mississippi. It long ago proved that geographical location is the predominant factor in the making of Presidents and not inherent ability, and so confirms Mr. Bryce's thesis that we do not elect our greatest men to that office. It is to the doubtful States that parties go for candidates; to the centers of wealth and popula- tion. The rural community is no longer a factor in making nomina- tions. Then, too, during the period of Mangum's active career North Carolina was almost as solidly Whig as it is now Demo- cratic. The change came in the fifties, just as he was retiring from public life, and as a result the Whigs found their candidate for Vice-President in 1852 in William A. Graham. In that year North Carolinian was pitted against North Carolinian for the second place and again it was given to the son who had migrated to win the prize. Hence, while North Carolina produced three men who filled the Presidency and one the Vice-Presidency, none were elected to those offices as North Carolinians. But the State can claim for herself what was at that time the third, and after the death of the President or Vice-President the second, office in rank
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-the Presidency of the Senate. A President pro tempore of the Senate is chosen by its members in each Congress. His duties are nominal only, but upon the death or promotion of the Vice-Presi- dent he became, before a recent law changed the order of succes- sion, the heir apparent to the Presidency.
It follows then that while Willie P. Mangum was President of the Senate, 1842-45, and was next in succession after Tyler to the Presidency, he filled the highest post under this Government ever attained by a North Carolinian as such.
Willie Person Mangum, lawyer, legislator, judge, Congress- man, United States Senator and President pro tempore of the United States Senate, was born in Orange, now Durham, County, North Carolina, May 10, 1792 ( not December 29, 1791, as is some- times stated). His birthplace was near but not at the site of his later home, the present Umbra post office, known to the family as Walnut Hall, and during his life as Red Mountain (not near the present town of Durham, as is also said).
The Mangums were seated in Sussex and adjoining sections of Virginia early in the eighteenth century, and seem to have been caught by the last waves of the great stream of migration that swept over the southern border of that State into North Carolina for a hundred years. Tradition has it that the family is Welch in origin and that the original form of the name was Manghamis ; we know that the Irish branch still spells the name Mangham. It is believed that the subject of this sketch is descended from the Mangums, who about 1730 to 1750 were located in Albemarle Parish, Sussex County, Virginia. There were three heads of fam- ilies there at that time with this surname, William, James, John --- presumably brothers. William Mangum and his wife Mary had four sons : James, born January 2, 1734; William, born May 16, 1736: Henry, born January 24, 1773 (sic, error for 1737-38?) ; Arthur, born May 2, 1743. James Mangum, the elder, had two sons, William and James, and a daughter, Lucy; John had a daughter, Rebeckah (Va. Mag. of Hist. and Biog., July, 1894, p. 108).
We are not certain as to the exact time that Arthur Mangum,
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grandfather of Willie P. Mangum, and believed to be identical with the one named above, came into North Carolina ; but he seems to have come by way of Warren County, and perhaps stopped in Granville, for there was a Mangum family in that county as early as 1757. That an Arthur Mangum was in North Carolina in 1763 we learn from a manuscript note made by Thomas Person : "Bought of Arthur Mangum I Barrel corn @ 9/6 Cash he Dr. to 2/6 for Writeing his Deed to Orange Co. next in May, Tuesday, 6 Apr." (1763.) And again : "Paid Jos. Langston to be given to Arthur Mangum on acct. of a Barrel of Corn 10/. Cash 26 Ap."
The first land entries by Arthur Mangum, the grandfather of Judge Mangum, so far as Orange County records seem to show, date from 1760. Some of the lands taken up by him during the next few years remained in the family till February, 1902. Arthur Mangum married Lucy Person. She was a niece of Colonel William Person, of Granville ( 1700-78) and as such a cousin of General Thomas Person. I have not found the name of her father. She was probably the daughter of that Mary Person whose will was probated in Granville County Court August II, 1761. Arthur Mangum died between March 12 and 24, 1789; his wife remained a widow for forty years and died about 1829, aged about ninety-two. They had children as follows, order uncertain : (1) William Person Mangum, father of Willie Person Mangum; (2) Arthur, who married Dicey Carrington, daughter of John Car- rington ; he died about 1813, aged about forty, and left "a house full" of children, who migrated to Georgia, Mississippi and Miss- ouri; (3) Willie, who was very handsome and a merchant, died young and unmarried ; (4) Sally married Sion Bobbitt and went to Tennessee; (5) Holly, who married Cozart; one of her sons, William, was a large merchant in Columbus, Mississippi ; another, Herbert, was a merchant in Georgia ; another, James, was a planter in Granville; (6) Chaney married -- Mangum, and was the mother of Colonel Ellison Mangum and grandmother of Captain Addison Mangum and of Professor A. W. Mangum; (7) Clary (or Clara) married David Parker, a farmer of Granville ; Colonel
ИТЛОЛАЗ Наяби
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Abner Parker, merchant; Harrison Parker, planter; and David Parker, later of Edgecombe, were their sons. She left also a daughter, who married William Horner, father of James H. and Thomas J. Horner, the distinguished teachers.
William Person Mangum, who is thought to have been the old- est child of Arthur Mangum, was born about 1762. He married Catharine (Kate) Davis, who was born on the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania. Her father migrated to Orange County, North Carolina, when she was about four years old and there he died. William Person Mangum was a farmer and merchant and spent all his life in Orange, where he died in 1837, aged seventy-five. His wife had died in March, 1825. This couple had only three sons : Willie Person, the oldest and subject of this sketch; (2) Priestley Hinton, noticed in the sketch of his son, W. P. Mangum, Jr .; (3) Walter Alvis, born in Orange County, January 28, 1798; married Miss Eliza P. Bullock, daughter of Doctor Benjamin Bul- lock, of Granville; removed to Mississippi in 1832 and became a planter ; removed to Louisiana in 1856 and in 1863 to Texas as a refugee ; after the war returned to Louisiana and died there Janu- ary 20, 1868. He left a large family, some of whom have at- tained distinction; numerous descendants are still living in Texas.
It would seem that Willie Person Mangum came to his feeling for statecraft from his grandmother's family, and that the political mantel of his distinguished relative, Thomas Person, rested on his shoulders, for his father's family were merchants and planters and had not been before his day in public life. He received his pre- liminary education in part at the hands of Thomas M. Flint, a strolling pedagogue; in part at the Fayetteville Academy under Reverend Colin McIver, and in part in the Raleigh Academy under Reverend Doctor McPheeters. He spent some time also as a clerk in his father's store and was graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1815.
He began to study law with Honorable Duncan Cameron ; acted as tutor to his son, the late Honorable Paul C. Cameron, and was licensed to practice January 10, 1817 .. It is evident that
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he was successful from the start. He writes to his brother April 26, 1819:
"I have made a good deal of money this Spring, say upward of $1900 in actual receipts and nearly that sum in good bonds and accounts. My prospects in the practice continue to grow more flattering.
"You know that I have made a considerable purchase in Haywood. I think I have made more by that than all the rest of the labors of my life. . . In one case of Mrs. Patty Taylor, I have secured a fee at six months of one thousand dollars . . and an equal share with the first in the other business of that court which is profitable."
But even then he was dreaming dreams of political preferment.
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