USA > North Carolina > Historical and descriptive review of North Carolina, volume 1 > Part 10
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A. S. LEE.
they lend their aid towards it. In conclusion the writer will remark they are entertaining gentlemen and hold a high and envied place in this city and State.
(See inside front cover.)
COL. A. B. ANDREWS.
The history of all communities establishes the fact that the most effective and poten- tial of all human devices in expanding. de- veloping, increasing and diffusing the pro- ducts of the soil, the most important and the one that contributes as much as all other mod- ern enterprises combined to the growth. wealth, population. commerce and in all that tends to the betterment of a people are the railroad facilities, which are so steadily in- creasing and extending in every direction in our country. North Carolina, at present the most rapidly growing of all the Southern States, in no little measure owes her prosper- ity to the new railroads which are being ex- tended in her territory on all sides, most of which extensions have been projected and supervised by the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Also to his energy we owe the increased facilities on the great trunk lines which span the State from the mountains to the sea. Alexander Boyd Andrew's was born on the 23d of July, 1841, in Franklin
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
county, N. C. His father, W. J. Andrews, had moved here from Edgecombe and shortly after settled in Henderson where he was one of the leading merchants of that progressive town. His mother was the daughter of J. D. Hawkins of Franklin county. llis great grandfather. Jonas Johnston, was in the re- volutionary battle of Moore's Creek. His parents dying while he was yet young, he was raised with his grandparents from whom he learned those habits of promptness, method and industry out of which have been developed those features that have made him
an able governor of men. Colonel Andrews has been engaged in railroads all his life; his first experience was in 1859, when he was ap- pointed by his uncle to the post of purchas- ing agent, paymaster and general superinten- dent of the contract work on the Blue Ridge Railroad in South Carolina.
In April, 1861. young Andrews was among the first to volunteer for the Confederacy and in the First North Carolina Cavalry rendered some gallant service to the Southern cause. Soon after joining the army he was promoted to Second and First Lieutenant, and in July. 1862, to the Captaincy of Company B. Ho participated in all the memorable campaigns of Stuart's, afterwards Hampton's, Brigade and bore himself with a courage such as to gain favor with both his superiors and the men.
On the 22d September. 1863, at Jack's Shops, in an engagement between 2.000 Con- federates and 6,000 Federals. " while cheering on his men." writes the Adjutant of the Regi- ment. "the gallant Andrews fell, shot through the lungs. No braver or better manl has fallen during the war. He was univer- sally beloved." The wound was, indeed, a desperate one and was pronounced by the doctors fatal, but the young man's indomita- ble courage and will did more for him than medical advice, and he recovered, surprising
Dr. Schultz, his attendant, one day many years after by presenting himself before him on the streets of New Orleans.
He returned home convalescent, but in 1864 tried twice to go back to his old com- mand. When he heard of General Lee's sur- render, disobeying physicians orders, he re- ported to Johnson's command and was paroled with the surviving veterans of that gallant army at Greensboro. After the war in common with his countrymen he found himself penniless, but casting about for some occupation he quickly noted the break in railroad transportation caused by the destruc- tion of the bridges at Weldon and Gaston. and he made proposals to the railroads inter- ested in the Raleigh and Gaston and the Petersburg to lease, equip and operate the ferry at Gaston. From that time his career as a railroad manager and operator has been a continuously ascending one. His merits were soon appreciated and he was appointed superintendent of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, and along with the president, Dr. Hawkins, built many miles of the Raleigh and Augusta Air Line. In September 1875, Dr. Hawkins resigned his position and was fol- lowed by the superintendent. who soon there- after entered upon the fields of labor in which his greatest services to the State have been per- formed. When the North Carolina Railroad was leased by the Richmond and Danville, the lessees having learned Colonel Andrews worth in their frequent conflicts with the Raleigh and Gaston, choose him as superin- dent of the North Carolina Division, and un- der his enterprising management the town of Reidsville, Durham. Winston. etc., became prosperous and growing centres of trade. He was afterwards appointed assistant presi- dent of the Richmond & Danville system, and has since been regarded as one of those who have materially enhanced the growth of this mighty organization, which has so immensely increased the facilities of railroading over the whole South. In all its progress in North Carolina he has been the most potent factor. though sometimes sharply criticised and fiercely opposed he has always labored to unite the destiny and prosperity of the railroad with the development of his native State. While variously connected with the main railroad in this section of country it might be worthy of interest to note his connection with the W. N. C. line whose branches he is now extending westward over the mountains which divide us from the great plains of the Mississippi Valley.
In 1855 a charter was granted to construct a line in this direction. but co-incident on the breaking out of the civil war work was dis- continued, and in 1875 the State purchased it for $850,000. The company was reorganized and continued under State control, and a strong effort was made to complete the road. In 1879, however, it became apparent that the effort was beyond the financial ability of the State. At this juncture W. J. Best, of New York, bought the State's interest in the road and contracted to complete both branches of
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CITY OF RALEIGH.
the road (to Paint Rock and to Murphy) but his associates forsaking him, he entirely failed to advance a step. The situation was desperate, not only for the road but for the Democratic party that was responsible to the people of North Carolina for the sale. Col- onel Andrews was applied to for help; he laid the matter before the Richmond and Danville syndicate but found them luke warm, but after earnestly insisting he, with some others, advanced $50,000 for the pur- Mr. Best not being able to repay the loan. the line passed into the hands of the Richmond and Danville organization, and in 1881 A. B. Andrews became its president. For nearly four years he has devoted his un- tiring energies to the prosecution of the work of construction. He has inspired the courage of his associates, has struggled through heavy financial difficulties, has surmounted engineer- ing impediments which would have appalled a weaker determination, and always and ever has gone on building his railroad; now slowly. now rapidly, tunnelling here, grading there, spanning this gorge, dodging that rocky knob, but always further and further west. During all this while the condition of the road already built required constant outlay for im- provement and repairs.
By the advice of the indefatigable president the Richmond and Danville owners have spent two and a half millions of dollars in its construction. The line now reaches to Paint Rock, 190 miles from Salisbury, and connects our systems of railroad with those of East Tennessee. The other branch reaches to the mouth of the Mantabala river, 90 miles west of Ashville. The engineering difficulties overcome have been enormous, as a glance at surveys lately published by the railroad of the more mountainous divisions of the road will show. In one of these in a distance of 12 miles there is 3,495 feet of tunnelling, and the track rises over 1,000 feet.
It is, in conclusion, not too much to say that to Colonel Andrews is due the great develop- ment now abroad of Western North Carolina. He also built in 1880 the Chappel Hill Rail- road, ten miles long. He has always taken a great interest in the Atlantic and North Caro- lina railroad, formerly under his control. Col- onel Andrews is a man who has never had ambition in the political arena, though he has always given liberally to the Democratic campaign fund. He has been alderman of Raleigh whenever he would want, is a direc- tor in most of the principal banking and in- surance companies. and has always interested himself in ali that tends to build up his city or State. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. He married in Septem- ber, 1869, Miss Johnson. of Charlotte, and has five children. Personally the Colonal is of agreeable presence, and impresses himself upon those with whom he is brought in con- tact. and it will by the foregoing be seen that he wields a great influence and is one of the most important individual factors in the ma- terial advance and social welfare of North Carolina, and is justly styled the " Railroad King of the Old North State."
WM. WOOLLCOTT.
DRY GOODS, SIIOES, HATS, CLOTHING MILLINERY, NOTIONS, ETC., 16 EAST HARGETT AND 208 SOUTH WILMING TON STREETS.
There is nothing so beneficial to the trade of a city and nothing which tends to so in- crease its importance as a centre of supply as these large establishments, handling dry goods and kindred articles which purchase iu such enormous quantities that they can un. dersell in their own territory the jobbers and manufacturers from whom they bny, and thus afford the people of their locality all the conveniences and facilities enjoyed by the il, habitants of the largest metropolitan citie Such a house in Raleigh is that of Mr. Wn Woollcott, whose establishment not only the pioneer one in this State but takes prominent place among similar concerns in the South; it is in fact the Macy's of North Carolina.
It is worthy of remark in connection her ". with, that the institution was founded son twelve years ago on a scale at once small al insignificant and one out of which the mo .. sanguine theorist would not have dreamt 10 see developed the house of to-day of such ev. tensive proportions in such a short space of time. Mr. Woollcott commenced in a small room in which his customers had hardly roout to turn round, and by degrees, by a business foresight and intelligence, that grew with } transactions, he rose to take a leading pla among the concerns of this city. The buil ing occupied, it will naturally be surmised is large, in fact is one of the edifices of tlx city, and the guide books mark it as one the public places of interest in Raleigh. It extends in an L shape from 16 East Harge. to 208 South Wilmington streets: one wing is 55 the other 50 feet long and the average wid h is 24 feet. Down stairs is the retail depal ment, and here, we might mention, MI Woollcott sells on the one price system, which is one reason of his great success. His good. are well arranged on the various shelves anni displayed in the many show cases, impressing the visitor with their variety and at the sani( time affording them every fecility for readi. selecting what they want and often, w. might add, more than they want. the array and the prices are so inviting that they often think such an opportunity may not occur again.
The stock averaging some $50,000 in valu ... it will be almost impossible to describe: it il- cludes foreign and domestic dry goods from the best looms, dress goods, silks satins, mus- lins, ladies' dolmans and cloaks, notions as soon as issued from the factory, newest styles in boots and shoes, hand-made direct from the maker, to fit all shapes of feet, latest New York, London and Paris modes in gents and ladies hats and caps, clothing to fit all shapes of the human form. millinery goods to suit the varied and critical tastes of the female
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
75
sex, in fact there is nothing which a man or woman may wear from the nails in their shoes to the feather on or the vetillator in the op of his hat made that cannot be got here at bottom prices. The variety of the goods is astonishing and the quality is in keeping there- with.
On the upper floor we find the jobbing de- partment where hands are always busy filling the large orders which pour in from all parts of ne State. The business is divided into dif- ferent branches with military exactitude, rach branch having its special skilled attend- ants. Of these, twelve-both ladies and gen- Demen-are constantly employed carefully waiting on the continuously coming and go- ing crowd of customers.
It will be but proper before concluding to notice the life of the proprietor himself, to whom the people of North Carolina have ex- tended such liberal patronage. Mr. Wooll- cott is a native of London, came to the Un- ted States in 1859, and settled in Raleigh in 1872, where he has since been one of our Lest
known men and useful citizens. He isa man of unprecedented enterprise, method, liber- ality and integrity and well merits the re- markable success he has met with. He is likewise treasurer of the Good Shepherd Epis- copal Church. an Odd fellow and Knight of Honor. He manages his affairs in such a manner so as to promote the interests of his patrons and his dependencies, it is a matter of record that no one goes into his store without getting what they want, and it is a pleasure to think that this institution is established on such a broad basis that its progress materially increases the general trade of the city, as its reversion would be the sign of gradual decay of this people and country. Mr. Woolleoft this year enters into the manufacture of cheap clothing, shirts and drawers which will be sold to the trade throughout the State. This enterprise will give employment to at least fifty people, and its goods for quality and cheapness will surpass anything sold in this State.
11.1.1
INDESTRUCTIBLE
INDESTRUCTIBLE SIGNS
BREWSTER BREKISTE
SIGNS
JC BREWSTER
SIGNS
BREWSTERS SIGNS
LONGAGRE OPTIEK
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CITY OF RALEIGH.
J. C. BREWSTER & CO., HARDWARE, &C.
One of the largest mercantile establish- ments in Raleigh is that of J. C. Brewster & Co., located on the principal street. It is a most substantial buikdling consisting of store. 25×90, and warehouse 25x82, with workshop in the rear 25x82, the latter is used for the manufacture of tin and copper ware, sheet iron, alsosteam and gas fitting and plumbing, where nine hands find constant employment. In the store there is as large, varied and well selected and assorted stock as can be found in the State. This prosperous house was estab- lished in May, 1870, by J. C. Brewster who formed the partnership with Mr. E. B. Engle- hard in 1880. Their operations are princi- pally in this State, though spreading rapidly in the adjoining States. Their present stock is about $25,000 and they do business to the
on
DOOR CHECK-SPRING.
amount of $60.000 per annum. Mr.' Brew- ster was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1839, was in the United States army. and after the war came South to settle here. He is a Mason in the chapter. His partner, Mr. E. B. Engle- hard, was born in Raleigh in 1853, and is the son of the late Secretary of State, who died here a few years ago. Those gentlemen are most progressive and enterprising citizens, being endowed with fine business capacity. and have a thorough knowledge of the busi- ness in which they are engaged, have unsur- passed facilities for procuring their supplies. and give to their patrons the benefit of those advantages. They are among the most pub- lic spirited and liberal men in the State, and have always been ardent advocates of all measures that have been conducive to the"
general welfare and prosperity of the com- munity.
This firm is agent for Parker's breech-load- ing guns, and Dupont's gun powder, and have a large powder magazine situated about one mile from town. In addition to the usual stock they sell carpenters' and mechanics' tools, stoves, iron, steel, nails, woodenware, crockery, paints, oils, varnish, glass, putty, plumbing, gas fitting, steam fitting, and are special agents for Shaw's door check spring, which will close a door without slamming, also manufacture Brewster's Indestructible signs, attracting notice to the advertisement, being easily suspended and very durable.
CEN. WILLIAM RUFFIN COX,
Congressman from the Fourth District of North Carolina, which includes the counties of Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash, Orange, Vance and Wake, was born in Scotland Neck, N. C .; he re- moved to Tennessee, and, after due prepara- tion, entered Franklin College, near Nash- ville, where he graduated; subsequently he became a student at the Lebanon Law School and, after receiving his degree of Bachelor of Law, practiced his profession in Nashville, Tenn. Prior to the war he returned to his native State, engaged in planting in Edge- combe county, and is still occupied in the same pursuit. Early in the war he entered the Confederate States army as Major of the Second North Carolina State Troops. By suc- cessive promotions he became Brigadeer Gen- eral and commanded his division in the last charge at Appomattox. After the termina- tion of hostilities he resumed the practice of law at Raleigh, was elected Solicitor of the Metropolitan District and held the office for six years. Subsequently he was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of the same dis- triet and held the office until near the expira- tion of his term when he resigned to canvass a nomination to Congress.
He is a trustee of the University of the South, was a delegate to the State-at-large to the National Democratic Convention which met in New York, was similarly delegated to the St. Louis Democratic Convention, but de- clined the honor, and was several years Chair- man of the State Democratic Committee. Was elected to the Forty-seventh Congress, re-elected to the Forty-eighth as a Democrat, receiving 15.718 against 15,030 votes for T. P. Devereux, Independent, Coalition, Anti-Pro- hibitionist; and again to the Forty-ninth Congress last fall. He lately made an ex- tended tour in Europe as correspondent for a leading American newspaper,
ALLEN & CRAM, FOUNDERS & MACHINISTS.
Among those operative industries which contribute most directly to the prosperity of our growing cities and towns, there are none whose influence and benefits are worthy of
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
CRAM'S PATENT DRIVING MACHINE -FOR-
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Fig.2.
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1
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Fig. 3.
B
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JV
11
P
0
CLAY TEMPERING WHEELS.
PATENTED NOVEMBER 11, 1884.
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CITY OF RALEIGH.
more clear recognition in a work devoted to our resources and development than that of the founder and machinist. Messrs Allen & Cram have a large establishment where they work in iron and brass. copper, &c,, they manufacture and import engines, portable and stationary, cotton gins, power presses, saw and grist mills. also shafting and pulleys, hangers, boxes, plows and plow castings. They furnish plans and estimates on all classes of machinery. The buildings are most spacious. the machine shop is in two stories 155×30, store room 40x20, blacksmith shops 30x30, foundry 40x60, enginc 20-horse power with twelve machines, fitted up with lathes, drills, and all machinery necessary for their work in metals, also wood saws and turning lathes up stairs. This establishment was started in 1877, and principally does busi- ness in Raleigh and the central and eastern parts of North Carolina.
Mr. G. M. Allen was born in Wake county in 1835, he served with General Lee all through the civil war. from Yorktown to Ap- pomattox, is a Mason and Knight of Pythias.
Mr. William Cram was born in Canada in 1848, where he learned all about machinery. He worked in New York and Philadelphia. from whence he came South in 1876. Ile be- longs to the Knights of Pythias.
Both those gentlemen are devoted to their business, being exceedingly industrious and fully understanding their work, give general satisfaction. In building the most compli- cated machinery they have had much experi- once, and are well known to the community of Raleigh and this State.
.
LATTA & MYATT, WHOLESALE GROCERS.
The most important line of trade is that of handling the staple necessaries of life and as a consequence we find the largest and solidest houses in business in any community are the grocers. Among such in Raleigh we note a representative house, the progressive co-part- nership of Latta & Myatt which was formed in 1878, Mr. Latta having been before one of the firm of Parker, Barbee & Latta, after- wards Barbee & Latta. The house does a large and rapidly increasing business over central North Carolina. They occupy on East Martin street. a three-story building with basement, 30x75 feet in extent, well ar- ranged and adapted with all facilities for handling goods in bulk and large quantities. Their stock averaging about $15,000 in value is one of the most complete in the State, con- tains corn and bread stuffs in abundance, all grades of teas, coffees, sugars and molasses, ham, bacon and pork, butter and cheese, im- ported spices, canned goods, etc .; also tabacco and the famous Egerton and railroad mill snuffs. They receive their goods direct from manufacturers and producers and thus buying close compete with any Northern or Western honse in their territory, and can supply in any quantity anything included in the com-
prehensive terms groceries and food supplies. They also handle several thousand bales an- nually of cotton, as well as leaf tobacco. To meet the increasing demands of trade they have five hands, and two wagons are kept constantly going.
The enterprising members of this firm are C. G. Latta and W. A. Myatt. The first is a native of Orange county, entered into busi- ness in Raleigh in 1871 since when he has been regarded as one of the financial heads of this city. His partner is a native of Wake county and is a valuable addition to the busi- ness enterprise of Raleigh.
W. W. SMITH,
LIFE, FIRE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE.
ASSETS REPRESENTED $100,000,000. ESTAB-
LISHED 1867.
The importance of insurance is well known and closely concerns the mercantile commu- nity in ever locality, especially in relation to credit. It is of paramount significance that insurance be effected in bona fide, first-class corporations ; those that have enjoyed exis- tence for years, and have the reputation of paying claims promptly generally have pre- ference. Among those who at present repre- sent such insurance companies in this city, there is a gentleman of recognized ability and courteous manners who enjoys the full con- fidence of the community in which he lives, W. W. Smith, who represents the following well known, world renowned companies: London Assurance Corporation, Fire Insur- ance Association. Western Assurance Com- pany, Scottish Union and National, Lan- cashire, Georgia Home, Hartford (fire), Ger- man American, Crescent. Accident Insurance Company. of North American. Assets repre- senied over $100,000,000.
Mr. Smith, who is a son of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, was born at Murfreesboro, N. C., graduated at the Vir- ginia Military Institute in 1870, and entered the Confederate army at the age of 15 years; afterwards was appointed Pay Master's clerk in the United State Navy where he remained about one year, when he had the opportunity of visiting foreign parts and sailed around the world. He now de- votes all his attention to his present occupa- tion of extending the business interests of the different companies which he so ably repre- sents. He is highly esteemed for his pleasant way of transacting business, he has about thirty agents at work for him over the State, and is untiring in his efforts to insure success in his undertakings.
THOS. F. STEVENSON, PLUMBER, &C.
AGENT FOR ECLIPSE WINDMILL.
With increasing wealth and taste, the off- spring of prosperity and progress, more atten- tion is being bestowed on the cultivation of
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
the artistic and beautiful in the interior decorations of mansions, public buildings and stores, and in no one particular branch has this been more manifest than in gas fixtures, and their attendant requisite workmanship, and no larger field is offered for design and decorative display. While this is true, there is also no one integral part of a building, whether for business, pleasure or residence, that should require more care and perfect work than that coming under the hands of the plumber.
Thos. S. Stevenson has been located in his present place of business for several years, where he carries a fine stock of fixtures, and employs an adequate force of plumbers and fitters.
He was born at Richmond, Virginia, com- mencing liere in 1871. Has increased his busi- ness from year to year, and the community have the greatest confidence in him for his in tegrity and the care he bestows on everything undertakes, always guaranteed full satisfac- tion to those employing lim, besides which he is well known and much respected in this
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