USA > North Carolina > Historical and descriptive review of North Carolina, volume 1 > Part 11
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The "Eclipse" Victorious (See Centennial Judges Report.) STRONGEST WIND MILL MADE.
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Tested 10 years. Thousands in use. A solid wheel without joints. Produces 15 per cent. more power, and will not blow away.
WE BUILD 13 SIZES MILLS for pumping and power purposes. Illustrated Circulars free. Eclipse Wind Mill Co., Beloit, Wis.
city. Agent for " Eclipse Windmill."
J. C. S. LUMSDEN, HARDWARE, &c.
In his extensive establishment Mr. Lumsden keeps a large assortment of goods, of every description supplied by the trade and manufac- turers-Tinware, copper, sheet iron, and sells brass and steel goods. He is a dealer in stoves and house furnishing goods, cutlery of the best quality, guns, and all sorts of sporting articles used in shooting and fishing. Bird cages, fly fans, and hammocks ; is also keeper of standard weights and measures for Wake county, together with sundry things too numerous to mention.
He was born in this city in 1832. Went to work at tinware with W. J. Lougee, and remained with him for 12 years and made himself master of the business. Went to Hillsboro to learn copper smithing, then to St. Louis, Mo. Commenced with no capital, except determined energy and industry in 1869, gradually progressed. His present stock amounts to $5000 and business per annum, $15000, besides which he is a property owner.
His trade extends over the city, county and statc. His store is 22x100 feet and he contem- plates largely increasing its dimensions, in fact he has already commenced operations to do so. His tin works are at the rear of his premises. Shop 50x20 feet, where he employs 5 hands.
Is an Odd Fellow and was Captain of Com- pany D. 38 North Carolina Militia, from 1860 to 1864. Has been justice of the peace for the past 8 years of Wake county. He has acted as mayor of the city on several occasions, in the absence of the mayor, and performed all the duties of the office for the past three months, and there is every probability that he will be Mayor of Raleigh before long.
His father, Joshua E. Lumsden, was known as one of the very best mechanics that ever lived in Raleigh, and was the inventor of the liotel telegraph enunciater which has made his name famous all over the United States and other countries.
This gentlemen is very active and gives all his energetic attention to business and also to his customers. It is not surprising that he is so well regarded in this his native city.
CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK, COL. W. E. ANDERSON, PRESIDENT.
The origin of modern banking may be traced to the enterprising money lenders of Florence. who introduced the system into England, the Goldsmithis of London waxing rich on its profits for many years till the Bank of Eng- land was organized in 1694. The Bank of Amsterdam, a city whose capital developed the unbounded resources of the Eastern and Western Indies, was founded in 1609, that of Hamburg in 1619, and that of Paris in 1716. The first bank of the United States existed from 1791 to 1811, the second was organized in 1810 and wound up in 1840. Subsequent to this date and prior to 1864 all banks were chartered by the States and known as State Banks. The National Banking System was enacted 3d June, 1864, and is in the opinion of financiers a decided improvement on any otlier system in use in any country. The pop- ular Bank of Raleigh, and one which has put forward the most liberal aid to manufactur- ers and merchants, and whose enterprise has been greatly felt in the building of this city, is the Citizens' National Bank. The bank was founded in 1871 on a capital of $100,000, and from the commencement has steadily contin- ued to increase its transactions, which are now the largest in town. The bank is located on the corner of Fayetteville and Martin streets in the centre of the wholesale, the large retail trade, the principal insurance and law offices. The building which is one of the most sub- stantial and best known in town, 35x75 feet, is light and airy, and furnished with all the most modern convenience for carrying its multitudinous and growing transactions with the greatest expedition. The building is the best appointed in the State, and possesses the finest vault in the South. The bank has paid to its shareholders this year 6 per cent.
Col. W. E. Anderson was born in Orange county, educated at Chapel Hill, leaving which he entered the North Carolina State Bank as collector. Here his aptitude for fi- nance became noticed, and he rose rapidly thro' the positions of discount clerk, book-
ECLIPSE
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CITY OF RALEIGH.
keeper and teller to cashier. During the war he was the officer appointed to look after the bank, he later was cashier of the State Na- tional of this city, till he was appointed to liis present position. He is an ex-alderman, is Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Masons, Knights Templar, Knights of Honor, belongs to Ladies' Memorial Association, the Royal Arcanum, is a director in the North Carolina Home Insurance, Western North Carolina Railroad, and other large corporations. He married in Raleigh in 1860, and is Senior War- den of Christ Church. He is ably seconded in the bank by the Cashier, Joseph G. Brown, also a gentleman popular in business and so" cial circles.
C. E. JOHNSON & CO., COTTON AND LEAF TOBACCO DEALERS, 315 S. WILMINGTON STREET.
The important position a cotton and to- bacco merchant holds in this State is natur- ally comparative with the momentous part these great Southern staples play in financial circles, and we might add in the physical comfort and pleasure of the world; as a con- sequence then, we find in every trading cen- tre men of large capital and responsibility dealing in the fleecy staple so familiar to every Southern eye, and the fra- grant weed so well known in North Carolina. Among such in North Carolina the above firm is one of the best known. Mr. C. E. Johnson, the senior member of the firm started alone in 1876, and in January, 1882, took his brother, S. I. Johnson, into partner- ship. These gentlemen have continued a prosperous career, and now handle some 15,000 bales annually, besides buying largely in the smaller local markets in the middle section of the State. They are shrewd and careful buyers, have large connections and can place cotton at the highest market figures in any part of the continent, and also in Liv- erpool. They have well lighted office and sample rooms in the business portion of Wil- mington street, where they make callers feel themselves at home. They are now also en- gaged in the Leaf Tobacco business, making Raleigh one of the tobacco markets of the State. They are both natives of Raleigh ; the first is a light in the Episcopal Church of this State, and is Treasurer of the Diocese of North Carolina. He is a prominent citizen, formerly an Alderman, and always takes a leading part in movements advanced for the material or social welfare of the community. The junior partner is regarded as a rising bus- iness man of Raleigh. These gentlemen con- duct their affairs in a manner so as to win public confidence, their popularity daily in- creases and relations formed with them will be pleasant and profitable.
ALFRED WILLIAMS & CO. BOOKSELLERS AND STATIONERS, 19 FAYETTEVILLE ST.
While reviewing the commercial interests and enterprises of Raleigh, we must not, in any manner, fail to do justice to those estab- lishments that do so much to elevate society by the dissemmination of the products of the press, and to provide for their use such aids to refinement and education as iney be re- quired. The well known house of Alfred Williams & Co., to which we have reference, ls, without invidious comparisons, generally looked upon not only as the leading exponent in its line in this State, but an establishment which has few compeers in the South.
In gleaning facts historically, we find the house was established in 1867 as Williams & Lambreth, which co-partnership lasting only two years, Mr. Williams conducted business alone till 1878, when he took into partnership Mr. E. G. Harrell, who had been for four years his trusted employee, the firmn assum- ing its preseut style name.
The house is one of the strongest and most honorable business concerns in North Caro- lina, and its enterprise is in keeping with its extensive and always increasing trade. The stock of goods carried includes such a variety as cannot be noticed here in detail, suffice it to say it is displayed in a manner at once in- viting and attractive, and reflects in a credit- able degree, the taste and character of the community. It runs in value about $15,000 or $20,000, and embraces a full line of stand- ard novels, works of science, philosophy and religion, Lovell's and Munro's libraries, blauk books and stationery, gold pens, engravings and crayons, artists materials, fancy articles, Xmas presents and holiday goods, in endless array, for young and old; in fact in looking over the numerous shelves and attractive show cases we cannot but wonder how much time and trouble must have been and is being constantly taken to select goods which seem so well to suit the people and command their patronage.
The house has occupied this location since 1877, they were formerly lower down on the same street: the store is 25x100 feet in extent and is one of the best known and most fre- quented purchasing points in Raleigh. Be- sides the members of the firm four experienced and polite clerks attend to the wants of the numerous callers, and the jobbing business daily augments throughout the State.
The senior member of this solid old house is a native of Franklin county, came to Ral- eigh in 1821. He commenced in the drug business for himself in 1825, and two years later was joined by Dr. F. J. Haywood. About 1844 he took his brother into partner- ship, the firm continuing under the name of Williams & Haywood till 1854, when the sen- ior partner withdrew and entered into the dry goods business under the firm name of McGee & Williams, opening after the war in his present line. His career has had its fruits,
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
and he to-day stands as one of the most re- spected of Raleigh's men of business and cit- izens. He is a member of the First Baptist Church.
The junior partner, Mr. Eugene G. Harrell, is also a North Carolinian by birth, and adds to the name the house enjoys for enterprise and liberal dealing, and the active factor it is in the general advance in intelligence and wealth of the Capital and the State.
On the 1st of April last, by the retiring of Mr. Williams, the business passed into the hands of Eugene G. Harrel and John B. Neathery, gentlemen whose experienee, hon- esty and literary ability are destined to make North Carolina still prouder of the familiar name " Alfred Williams & Co."
T. H. BRIGGS & SONS .. HARDWARE, &C.
North Carolina is fortunate in possessing the well known firm of T. H. Briggs & Sons, of thiscity. This house was started by Briggs & Dodd in 1865 in Raleigh, succeeded by Thomas H. Briggs in 1868. and finally fol- lowed by Thomas H. Briggs & Sons in 1872, commenced business with a small capital and gradually inereased; present stock being about $20,000. The house continues to main- tain the prestige it has always enjoyed and their trade extends all over the State, they deal in all kinds of Hardware, espceially stoves, wagon material, paints, oils, glass, sash, doors, blinds, pure buck white lead, cut- lery, pistols, guns and all sporting goods for fishing and shooting. Lime, cement, plaster, and all description of Builders' supplies, &c., with other goods too numerous to mention. The store covers spacious floor and basement 32x200 feet and besides there is a brick ware- house 40x100 feet and 8 competent and polite employees are occupied in the store.
Thos. H. Briggs has a large factory in the city and is about 65 years old; Thos. H. Briggs, Jr., 37 years and Jas. A. Briggs 34 years, all being partners in the hardware firm. The father has been an Alderman of the city, Director of the Penitentiary and Vice-Presi- dent. J. A. Briggs has been also Alderman of the city and Past Master of the Masonic Lodge. The ability of these gentlemen is cominensurate with the important size of their undertakings and the firm has the respect of this community. representing, as they do, an element of reliability in their business and social relations in the city that has been an important aid to its advancement and progress, a bulwark to its solid eommer- cial standing, and a moving factor in the rapid prosperity of Raleigh, North Carolina.
E. M. UZZELL, STEAM PRINTER AND BINDER.
An excellent establishment in Raleigh, wherein the "art preservative of arts" is successfully prosecuted is that of E. M. Uzzell,
whose business since he commenced in 1878 has had a phenominal growth, and now ex- tends over a large portion of the State. The premises occupied consist of a spacious floor 120 feet long, 25 feet wide, conveniently situa- ted so that it is lit from all sides and the roof. It is provided with two power and three job presses, a great variety of plain and fancy type, and all the latest improvements for executing book and job work with neatness and dispatch.
The beauty, nvatness and elcancss of work is unsurpassed, and rivals finest press work of the largest cities. An extensive stock of paper. card and card board, is also kept to meet the increasing demand in the way of job work. Twenty-five competent hands are employed who are under the immediate direc- tion of Mr. Uzzell himself, and upon whose shoulders the responsibility of business graee- fully rests.
This excellent gentlemen is a native of the Old Dominion State, came to North Carolina in 1871, and has sinee proven himself an acquisition to the community. He is a prac- tical printer, of ripe experienee, displays great energy and foresight in his affairs, and his taste in designing is unsurpassed. He is also influential socially, is a member of several leading orders, and is one of those men of whom Raleigh is justly proud.
J. H. GILL, FOUNDER AND MACHINIST.
Among the important enterprises of Raleigh is the factory of J. H. Gill, founder and ma- chinist, situated one square west of court- house. Started on 1st April. 1884, and has almost half an acre under machinery, &c. He employs about 40 hands, and carries on a R. R. business in castings and other work He has capacity to turn out 50 plows per day or 1250 per month. He has two engines and four lathes, together with all other machinery necessary for his business, which principally consists in making engines, portable and stationery, saw mills, eotton gins, eotton presses, steam pumps. shafting,; pulleys, hangers, &c., plows and plow castings.
In May, 1883. Mr. Gill came from England where he was machinist in H. M. Navy Yards on the river Thames, London, where he held the high position of overseer. He was born at Keighley. near Leeds, in 1851, where he ran a business for seven or eight years, making engines and carpenter's and building machi- nery, and where he took first-class Queen's prizes in the seience and art schools, and passed successfully several examinations in applied and theoretical meehanies. He has had considerable experience in the R. R. shops at Raleigh, where he is regarded as a man of reliability and perfect master of his business ; he has been at great expense enlarging his shops and putting up new furnaces, and he proposes soon to erect a large engine-building establishment in this city which will eclipse anything of the sort in the United States
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CITY OF RALEIGH.
All the work done in this factory is supervised by the proprietor, and guaranteed to give full satisfaction ; he also repairs locomotives on an extensive scale for railroads not having shops of their own.
YARBOROUGH HOUSE.
There is nothing adds more to the progress of a community than the possession of a first- class hotel, and Raleigh as the central point of North Carolina fortunately has such an institution in the well known establishment under notice. On the site of the Yarborough House has stood a hostelry almost since Ral- eigh was a small country village. As a wooden structure it was long known as Pullian's Ho- tel, and when Col. Yarborough moved here in 1845, a brick building was erected with some 60 rooms. This has been from time to
time added to and built over till now we have one of the finest and largest hotel buildings in the South. The total frontage is 140 feet, and the two wings run back 120 feet. On the first or entrance floor we have a spacious hall with office, where polite clerks are in attend- ance night and day, writing room, newspaper and cigar stand. On the right of this we find our way to the dining room 40x75 feet in di- mensions splendidly lit from both sides, suit- able for accommodation of 240 people, and here we might mention, the cuisine and ser- vice is everything that can be desired. Near here is a luxurously furnished ladies parlor and ladies billiard room, also the proprietor's private offics, and in this section of the build- ing is the ladies' entrance. On the other side is the gentlemen's reading room, gentlemen's toilet room, some sleeping rooms, the bar where the best of wines, liquors and cigars are kept, large billiard room with four tables,
Koss Gut. Co. M
YARBOROUGH HOTEL,
also handsome barber shop and bath room. The second an I third floors are given up en- tirely to sleeping and lodging rooms including some elegantly furnished bridal and parlor suits. This year the hotel has been newly furnished with walnut and cherry from the famous factory of Berkie & Gay, Grand Rapids, Mich. A steam laundry, fine store rooms, steam apparatus for water are also part of this establishment whose equipments are first-class in every respect. There are 10 white and 35 colored employees who are com- petent in their separate departments. This hotel was for a long time run by one Blais-
dell, who was succeeded by Reddick, Hope, Donnell, Blair, and in 1870 Dr. Blacknal took possession and added the dining and 28 rooms in 1872. In December, 1883, he gave place to the present owner Mr. R. B. Raney, one of the most competent and energetic hotel men the writer has met. In the Fall of '84 he added 16 new lodging rooms, the bar and cigar stand, billiard room and barber's shop. Mr. Raney was formerly cashier in the Kimball House, Atlanta, and does everything to please his guests and increase the high reputation of the hotel,
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
JOSEPH H. MILLER,
WINE, LUNCH AND BILLIARD ROOMS, 311, 313 AND 313} FAYETTEVILLE STREET.
In every line of trade there are first-elass, second-class and also third-elass establishi- ments; the first tend to give tone and impor- tanee to the business the second and third tend to not only detract therefrom but to ruin the general standing of the trade. Especially is this the case in the wine and liquor busi- ness where the third-class coneerns are too often the harbingers for all kinds of dissipa- tion and viee. It is therefore with no little degree of pleasure that we come to note in Raleigh an establishment which, while it is conducted in a high class manner, gives a tone and standing to the trade that places it on a par with the other leading houses of this aristocratic city. This establishment was opened on the 15th September last by Mr. Jas. H. Miller who has been for a long time known here. His present premises occupy three stories 36x70 in extent in the bloek opposite the post office. They are fitted up in a most luxurious and tasteful manner, the furnish- ings being equal to any South or North. As we enter the main door we are met by a varied display of all kinds of imported and domestic cigars. Passing from this through an elegant doorway we come to the bar which is furnished and ornamented in a quite chaste and expensive style. Here we may have any kind of plain and fancy drink put up in any style. The stock of liquors valued at some $10,000 and replenished from the most relia- ble houses in ten barrel lots at a time, in- cludes all varieties of wines, liquors, ales, etc., and there is nothing made in any climate in the world that Mr. Miller cannot produce from his capacious cellars on demand. The billiard room which fills one-half of the first floor is provided with three new Collander combination tables and is fitted with all the latest conveniences.
At the lunch counter anything in the way of eatables, hot or cold ean be served at all hours of the day. On the second floor of the building are several comfortably furnished club rooms, parlors, etc., which can be hired for supper, dining or wine parties at very rea- sonable rates. Upstairs is the residence of the proprietor, and here we might mention, the whole building is supplied with plenty of water, wash stands and hydrants convenient for use at any time. Two polite barkeepers and two servants attend to the many custom- ers to be found here at all hours. In fact this is headquarters in Raleigh for pleasure and amusement.
In conclusion it would be but proper to make mention of the gentleman to whom we owe the foundation and successful carrying on of this institution which does eredit to the city of Raleigh. Mr. Miller was born in Cincin- nati, O. After the war he settled in North Carolina, he first clerked to Wm. Traps of this town then went into business for himself opposite Tucker's hall. He was later located
in the market as Miller & Nelson, then in the Perry building as Miller & Clifton, as Miller & Gant, and finally alone. He has estab- lished his name as the popular club man of Raleigh. He is attentive to his guests, under- stands well how to make people keep him in remembrance and his unexampled sueeess is but a consequence of his high toned manner of running a first-class establishment and his knowing where and how to procure the best stock of goods and furnishings.
D. B. AVERA, COTTON BROKER AND LEAF TOBACCO DEALER.
In a Southern community those engaged in handling the king of staples are generally not only the richest but the most influential men, and in Raleigh the central shipping point or market for a large cotton farming population. the position the cotton merebant occupies in business cireles beeomes apparent, when we note the important place that cotton holds in the trade of the city. Prominent among these who buy and rule the price of the staple at this point is Mr. D. B. Avera, one of the best known financiers on the street. Mr. Avera started in business in 1869, as clerk in the house of Messrs. Chureh & Dodd, and three years later the senior retiring, he became partner. The firm of Dodd & Avera existing two years. He then formed the association of Parker & Avera, which lasted nine years, in which time the name became familiar over the whole State wherever the fleecy staple was grown, and the house latterly handled about half of all the cotton sold on this mar- ket. While a member of this firm he, was also for two years partner of Avera, Parker & Norris, who were really a branch house formed to carry on the grocery business only. On the 1st of January, 1884, the familiar combination, Parker & Avera, dissolved, the latter having since confined his attention ex- elusively to buying cotton on order and also tobaeco. Mr. Avera is specially adapted to this line and in Raleigh his judgment on matters concerning cotton is often taken as authority .
He does an annual business of about 15,000 bales, which is shipped from depots all over this State, to spinners and exporters, both in the North and South. His office is located up stairs, on the eorner of Wilmington and Martin, the business center of the town, and here he has two clerks constantly employed attending to the clerieal work that naturally follows his numerous transactions. Apart
from business Mr. Avera is one of the most popular of Raleigh citizens. He is a native of Johnston county, where he still has large farming interests. He owns about 2500 acres and cultivates 500 in eotton and eorn, mak- ing a crop this year of 250 bales.
He came to the capital city in October, 1869, and as already notieed worked himself forward by his own energies, his keen fore-
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CITY OF RALEIGH.
sight, confidence in his own but still defering to the opinion of others, to the position he now holds.
He was three years Alderman of the 3d ward, and he takes an interest and lends his wealth and efforts to the advancement of the people when required. He is shareholder in the Capitol Warehouse and is active in making this a market for the sale of the leať tobacco.
B. H. WOODELL,
BROKER, COMMISSION MERCHANT, AND MANUFACTURERS' AGENT,
Men who possess that first of all human attributes originality, who in fact think for themselves form conjointly a class to whom mankind is most indebted. The inventors. discoverers and origmators may be termed the fathers of the world's economy and pro- gress and too many honors cannot be paid them.
Concerning the new interest in this city, tobacco, we will mention that the gentlemen to whose energy the people owe the introduc- tion of this industry, is he whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Woodell was for 10 years prior to January, 1883, engaged in the whole- sale grocery business, the firm being in 1881 1882. Woodell & Wynne. Since then he has most successfully prosecuted his present busi- ness, and now holds the confidence of the leading merchants of the city, to whom he sells most of the goods handled in his line. He can place in this market at shortest notice and at bottom figures, all kinds of heavy groceries and provisions. He represents Har- vey, of Chicago, in provisions and grain ; M. K. Fairbank. in lard. is agent for Herr & Cis- sel. Georgetown, D. C., famous Roller Patent Flour, the finest made this side of Minnesota. also for Beaver Creek and Bluff Mills sheet- ings and yarns, and has a general agency for domestic goods.
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