USA > North Carolina > Historical and descriptive review of North Carolina, volume 1 > Part 15
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Now, the Old Dominion State has had its market for the sale and export of the fragrant weed since Queen Elizabeth's courtier first introduced the luxury into Europe, and it has up till lately enjoyed the credit of producing this golden leaf, and even yet in the commercial journals, both foreign and home, who ought to be the best posted on the subject, no credit is given to North Carolina as a tobacco raising State; all the tobacco is classed as Virginian. This arises from the fact that the establishment of auction or ware rooms for the sale of the leaf is of recent date in this State ; formerly everything was shipped to Va., principally Richmond, and even yet large quantities of tobacco bought at the N. C. warehouses is re-handled by the so-called commission men of that market. A more direct sale from the warehouse floors to the manufacturer is in the tobacco, as well as in other interests, by saving the commissions of the middle men, coming to be recognized as a more profitable way of doing business, and to the observance of this method is greatly due Oxford's pre-eminence.
Returning to speak of the rise in price of this golden leaf, we might say Oxford being in the very centre of the region most adapted for its growth, has of course materially benefited thereby. Tobacco is brought to her from all the surrounding country. chiefly from Granville. Person, Caswell. Durham, Orange. Vance, Mecklenburg, Va., and also from Warren, Nash, Halifax, Franklin and Wake counties. On her floors at the daily sales a larger amount of the finer grades of tobacco will be seen, than anywhere else in North Carolina or Virginia ; it is claimed higher prices are paid than in any other market, but though it would be difficult to study the question long enough to enable one to make that an absolute assertion, yet it is a fact that Oxford brokers pay very readily a high price for fine qualities. By the generosty of buyers towards and by the liberal manner in which the warehouses treat the producer has Oxford largely been built up to her present proud position in this industry.
Also has she been greatly aided by the increased facilities that buyers have gained for placing the tobacco at once in the hands of the manufacturer. A few years ago Oxford as a tobacco market was hardly known to the factories outside of North Carolina, but by judieious advertising and making herself known by the personal visits of her brokers to the great eon- suming centers from Maine to Mexico, has she become to-day recognized as one of the lead- ing Leaf Tobaeco markets of America. Of the men, to whose indomitable energy, sterling
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intelligence and liberal enterprise is mainly due this, as already said "unparalleled growth' will be found short individual sketches further on.
In the front part of our book we give a full description of the cultivating and curing of fine yellow tobacco.
Among the more significant statistics that show this remarkable progress. we may mention that Oxford has doubled her population in five years, the increase in this direction having been drawn mostly from Granville and adjacent counties, people from other states or foreign countries being very rarely found here. Thus has the character of her people remained remarkably homogeneous. It might be supposed that these people having built themselves up so rapidly in material wealth are tending toavarice, selfishness and conceit. On the contrary, such characteristics are far distant from the motives which govern their actions. Enterprising, industrious, money-making and economic-utilizing every legitimate resource-as her men are, they are in thought and action liberal and generous to a fault. Perhaps in intelligence her business men have not their compeers, her scholars compared to the population are numerous, her bar for its size is one of the strongest in the State, and peradventure, her women, educated and refined, find little pleasure in dress, show and frivolity. but occupy themselves with the duties of their households and in acquiring those accomplishments of mind and heart which make their sex in any clime an ornament and a blessing to the world.
Society in Oxford approaches the ideal. Of the South, it is not oppressively Southern, with the abilities generally credited to the North, it does not ape to be Northern. It is decidedly Oxonian-it is purely American. Those of us who still cherish the memory of our old- fashioned colonial ancestors, who regarded honesty in men and virtue in women beyond every- thing else, and whose conscientiousness of justice sustained them through a seven year's war for liberty and freedom, will appreciate and learn to love and respect the people of this North Carolina tobacco town. The men of Oxford are not jealous of one another, each is as proud of his neighbor's prosperity as of his own, and society is free from these petty feuds, inquisitiveness and slander-mongery so common in smaller communities.
The population has risen to about 3,000 souls, and every week herakls the arrival of new- comers to the town or county. The Democratic vote of the town has a majority of 83. Real estate has lately risen tremendously in value. Land can be procured at from $10 to $25 per acre, town real estate bought 4 years ago at twenty was selling last year at from 90 to 102 dollars per front foot on the main street. The farming population of Granville county is per- haps the wealthiest class of agriculturalists in the U. S. An average yield per acre is $300. $500 and $600 is a common thing, while in some cases $900 and $1,000 has been realized from the sale of the product of an acre. Business is carried on here on cash principles, some 8,000,000 pounds of the leaf was handled last year, and on an ordinary day the bank will cash checks to the amount of $25 and $30,000, while some days in the height of the season at a big break, twice this sum will be paid out. The tobacco is shipped from here to all parts of the world.
There are eight establishments in Granville county manufacturing tobacco, but none on a large scale. One in Oxford for making a high grade plug, twist or smoking tobacco, would have superior advantages, and if required Va. qualities of the leaf could be delivered here at small cost. There is also great room in Oxford for a capable man to run a good $2.00 a day hotel for transient guests who are very numerous at this point : gentlemen also come here from the north in winter time for their health and for the excellent shooting. which those
The term ' break," as the tobacco sales or auctions are called, is derived from the practice that was formerly in vogue, the farmers shipping the leaf in hogsheads to the warehouse ; when a sufficient number of hogsheads had arrived, a sale was announced, the buyers collected together and the tops of the hogsheads were broken off in their presence, the tobacco being sold out of them and not arranged in separate piles on the floor, as is now the case. The leaf is usually brought to town in wagons, but from a distance is sent by rail in hogsheads. The word "prize" is used in the term "prize house" from the fact, that here the leaf tobacco, when brought from the sale, is pressed down or technically "prized' into the hogsheads for shipment to distant points.
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who love the sport say, is to be found here, unequalled. It is the purpose of the citizens here to erect a spacious and comfortable hotel for people wishing to flee the rigors of a northern winter. Oxford is most suitable for such an enterprise, as it is beautifully located in the midst of an undulating and wooded country. A better spot in point of health could not be selected, the seasons come and go with a studied regularity, and these sudden changes of temperature so trying to persons of weak constitutions are unknown. The town boasts of some fine buildings, and stores and residences are being erccted at a rapid rate. The citizens spend their idle time freely in one another's company, entertainments, musical and theatrical, amusements, sosial jand intellectual, anl in the season balls and out door tea parties, con- ducted in a manner becoming the character of the people, are the order of the day.
The town also boasts of superior scholastic accommodations. The Hobgood Female Sem- inary ranks with any in the State, and Dr. Horner's school has eductated most of the dis- tinguished men of Central North Carolina.
The Orphan Asylum located here is the only institution of its kind in the State. It was supported for many years entirely by private charitable donations, largely by Masons. Some years ago the Masonic Lodge of the State votel it an annuity of $2,000 and the members of that order have always taken an active interest in its welfare and progress. The State of North Carolina contributes $10,000 per year to the support of the Asylum. There are now 165 children of both sexes living here, and there are some 75 applications for admission, which have to lie over on account of funds. There are a larger number of inmates than ever before and the establishment is in a higher condition than ever. There is ample room for 200 chil- dren, and money-nothing more-is needed to afford them accommodation. This noble in- stitution of charity, a brilliant diadem in the crown of North Carolina's sovereignty, is most successfully managed by its worthy Superintendent, Dr. B. F. Dixon : the Board of Directors is composed of five of the principal men of the State. There are also graded schools and some other private institutions for both boys and girls.
Oxford has a bank with a nominal capital of $40,000, but a real capital practicably unlim- ited. Its post office has lately been raised owing to increased business to a third class, a pos- tal grade seldom attained by a town of only 3,000 inhabitants. Its railroad carried last year over 50,000,000 pounds of freight, and, Oxford-like, is perhaps the best paying line in the State. The town has two newspapers, the " Orphan's Friend," one of the State's best family papers, and the "Torchlight."
The valuation of property in the town of Oxford is $1,625,591.40 ; tax levied is $4,379.14. In conclusion we shall give a few statistics of the county of which Oxford is the heart and pulse, and which is justly looked upon as the banner county of the "Old North State."
Granville county was formed in 1746 from Edgecombe. In 1764 the part of Granville known as St. John's Parish was erected into the county of Bute. In 1779 Bute was divided into Warren and Franklin. Since that time other portions of Granville have been cut off and annexed to Franklin and Vance, until at present its area comprises 750 square miles. It was named in honor of George Carteret, Earl of Granville, who, with others, received Carolina as a grant in 1663 from Charles II of England. In 1729 these eight Lord Proprietors, except Carteret, surrendered their franchises to the English crown.
The county is bounded on the north by Virginia, west by Person and Durham counties, south by Durham, Wake and Franklin, and east by Franklin and Vance. It is divided into 8 townships-Oak Hill, Sassafras Fork, Walnut Grove, Oxford, Tally-Ho. Dutchville, Fishing Creek and Brassfields. From one of Page's excellent industrial publications " The coal and iron counties of North Carolina" just out, we take the liberty of quoting some of what he says about Granville.
"The soil is of two kinds. (1) red heavy soil and (2) light sandy soil. The former lies mostly in the northern and northwestern parts of the county, the latter is in the southern portion. The former is productive of wheat, oats, ryc, the grasses, corn, red heavy tobacco, and cotton ; often producing without stimulus 20 bushels of wheat to the acre. Upon the latter soil is grown the celebrated Granville light yellow or gold leaf tobacco, that some times sells for one dollar a pound, and after analysis by the great chemist Bunsen and others,
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is pronounced devoid of nicotine. Lands in this section have advanced 100 per cent. in the past ten years. A farmer raises 600 to 800 pounds of this fine tobacco to the acre, and hauls to market in one wagon drawn by two horses enough of the weed to net him $600.
The county is undulating, in some parts hilly; and in these regions which are mostly northern, are found splendid lands for pasturage. To the superior combination of grasses in northern Granville is attributed the inimitably fine flavor of the mutton, said to be the finest in the world."
Another writer says : "Every grain, fruit and vegetable known to the human race, except tropical fruits, can probably be grown on the wonderful soil of this county."
Continuing from Hale: "The cost of living in Granville is very little; board from $8 to $10 a month: chickens 12 to 25 cents; fresh pork $7 to $10; meal 60 cents to $1 per bushel.
The air is fresh and invigorating; the drinking water pure and healthful: the climate salubrious. No standing water except in a few mill ponds, and hence no malaria. The Tar River flows through the county but is not navigable. Many streams and brooks fertilize the soil and empty into the Tar and Roanoke rivers.
Oxford, the county seat, is remarkable for its intelligent population. It has one of the best male academies in the United States: an excellent female college; an excellent high grade female boarding school, and also boasts of the orphan asylum, a noble institution. Commo- dious churches of all denominations dot the county.
In the county are three iron foundries, one sash and blind factory, two dogwood factories, four very large tobacco warehouses and many tobacco factories."
The iron and tobacco manufacturing interests represent an investment of $247,000; 383 hands are employed, and the annual products sum up $750,000 in value.
Springs of fine water abound in the county. Polk's hand-book says ;- " This county is universally considered the best for fine tobacco in the Stato."
Hale says :- " The people raised among the hills are lare in size, of a saxon hue and are strong and healthy.
The county debt has been funded and is now about $12,000, and is being rapidly liquidated. . Land sells from $5 to $8 an acre in the red lands, and for $15 to $25 an acre in the sandy, the tendency of the price in both sections being upwards.
The county is rapidly growing, and the county script brings dollar for dollar. The popula- tion as a whole is one of unusual energy, thrift and intelligence."
Mining Interes!s. Coal has been found in surface deposits 6 miles west of Oxford, on Tar river. No scientific investigations have been made, but expert geologists pronounce the out- croping indicative of a fine quality of the "black diamond." There are valuable copper mines in the vicinity of Blue Wing; the Royster mine is now being worked successfully by a Penn- sylvania firm. Whetstones are found in the northern part of the county the finest quality. Gold is also in the same region; the Lewis mine prior to the war yielded a handsome income to its owners. Hematite irou ore and granite also abound in great quantities. The mineral resources of this county are quite undeveloped.
The prevailing growth of timber is white and post oak, hickory and pine.
Granville county has always taken a prominent part in the doings of the State. John Penn her citizen was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Robert Burton was another member of the Continental Congress. Four of her citizens represented this district in the Federal Congress, and two natives of the county represented other districts in the State. H. G. Burton, one of the latter, was also Governor of North Carolina. She has had seven of her sons elected to the United States Congress from other states. She has furnished a Chief Jus- tice to North Carolina ; two Judges to the Superior and one to the United States Court of the District of North Carolina. Her sons have sat on the supreme and superior bench in other States. She has had one Attorney General of the State and two Treasurers.
In the Revolutionary war she had a Brigadier General and she furnished to the Continen- tal line one Colonel, two Lieutenant Colonels and two Majors. In the war of 1812 she had two
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Majors. In the Texan Revolution one of her sons became a Major General and was afterwards Minister Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Texas to the United States.
In the civil war she had two Brigadier Generals from Kentucky and Missouri respectively; five of her citizens were Confederate Colonels, three Lieutenant Colonels and three Majors. Two natives of the county commanded Georgia and Mississippi regiments. She furnished seven surgeons to the cause of the South. Though originally a Union county she sent into the field more volunteers than she had voting population. The Granville Grays, still in a flourishing condition, was the first company in the State that marched to the camp of instruc- tion.
According to the State returns of 1883 Granville county had 314,281 acres of land, valued at $1,813.069, value of town lots $406,314 ; aggregete value of real property $2,219,383 ; 2,590 horses, value $148,066 ; mules 782, value $47,735 ; jacks 5, value $200 ; jennies 2, value $20 ; goats 200, value $251 ; cattle 7,858, value $59,587; hogs 21,004, value $31,619 ; sheep 7,445, value $18,337: value of farming utensils $179,805 ; money on hand $85,233 ; solvent credits $206,608.
Francis B. Hay
REPRESENTATIVE HOUSES AND PROMINENT MEN -OF-
OXFORD, N. C.
DAVIS & GREGORY, GUANOS, FERTILIZERS, WAGONS AND BUGGIES,
The future historian in writing on the Amer -.. an people will undoubtedly relate that two things which characterize the present gener- e ation is their love of driving and their love of fine crops. Our money is chiefly made in ising agricultural products and chiefly spent we might add poised on a fine spring vehicle,
W. A. DAVIS.
behind a fast horse on a clear and sunny after- noon. It is natural then that those establish- ments who not only furnish the agriculturist with that most useful of all his supplies, ferti- lizers, but who handle the vehicles by which transportation of his goods is accomplished, as well as those which give populations re- moved from railroads the only means of con- veyance, occupy a first and very import- a it position in the economy of wealth. Not
surprising is it then that one of the largest houses in Oxford is that whose name forms the caption of this sketch.
The present firm, founded on the 1st Janu- ary of this year, is the successor of Davis & Clement who were several years existent. Their trade thoroughly established throughout a large section of this State and Virginia, is conducted on a broad and deep basis, and has long ago distanced all competitors. The premises located in Oxford, consist of a large
N. A. GREGORY.
lot and two spacious buildings, one for stor- age of light carriages, the other for wag- ons. The stock of buggies, principally the famous Cooke & Tyson, and Jones make, un- equalled for this country, runs according to the season between 40 and 80 in number; in wagons they have always on hand about 50, chiefly the celebrated Tennessee and Old Hick- ory, also the Russel and other makes. Last
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season they disposed of over 200 of these wagons. and between 150 and 200 buggies. facts which speak in the highest terms of their popularity and suitableness for all purposes. In guanos and fertilizers the firm do the larger portion of the trade of this section, selling some 1100 tons annually : their brands are the following : British Mixture, Bone and Pe- ruvian, Genuine Peruvian Guano, Lister's, Baker's Standard, Wahan's, Pacific, Zell's, Game, " Bos', and many other standard ter- tilizing chemicals, names which include the best tobacco fertilizers sold. The transac- tions of the house last year amounted to $100.000 and steadily augment. The owners of this flourishing business are, it will be sur- mised, men of energy, experience and indom- itable outerprize. Mr. W. A. Davis the senior enjoys the reputation of being about the best business man in Oxford. He is a native of Caswell, has been 11 years in Granville, and first started as Editor of the Torchlight, gradually becoming interested in various other enterprises. Ile was 4 years Public Ad- ministrator and also Town Commissioner. In June last he sold the newspaper, confining his attention to his large business. He is a director in the coming R. R. to Clarksville.
Major N. A. Gregory is a native of Gran- ville, served in the war, first with the 12th; then with the 23d N. C., was wounded at Clarksville, and volunteered again. He was Town Commisioner of Oxford several years. and ingratiated himself into the confidence of the constituency. His best efforts have been in farming and stock raising. He was president of the Goodwin Agricultural Club, one of the three appointed by State Board of Agriculture to write Farmer and Mechanic. These gentle- men are also important social factors, are ac- tive in the Episcopal Church and K. of Il. They are careful and fair dealing, always help to advance everything they think will benefit the public, and as merchants and citi- zens. form a bulwark of Granville's prosperity and enlightenment.
W. A. BOBBITT. LEAF TOBACCO BROKER.
FINE WRAPPERS AND SMOKERS A SPECIALTY.
As the tobacco buyer regulates the price of the leaf when brought from the plantation, he forms a very intrinsic and prominent fac- tor in the wealth and prosperity of the to- bacco country, and as a consequence he must occupy much space in a work designed to show the growth and industry of this section of N. C. As the largest buyer on this one of the principal markets of our State, the subject of our sketch deserves eminent mention. Capt. Bobbitt has been in this market about 5 years. before which he was for a similar length of time engaged in manufacturing at Wilton : this latter has given him unequalled experience in knowing what is necessary for the manufacturer, and perhaps to this is partly accountable for his unexampled suc-
cess as a buyer, and his having gained so much the confidence of a large number of patrons. Mr. Bobbitt is advanced and intelli- gent in his business affairs, and has done most to make this market known to the out- side world. Every year he takes a. trip through the North and West, making a personal visit to his customers, and always gaining more.
TIZA.
This year he will buy about a million pounds of the leaf, all on orders, many of which are from the largest houses in Richmond and New York. When bought he prizes the stock im- mediately and ships direct. his facilities en- abling him to handle big lots with ease, and the owner thus gets his tobacco at once into his own hands for further manipulation at the auctions. The Captain is a quick and ready buyer, knows exactly what a pile is worth, makes up his mind on price and never is induced to bid higher. As President of the Tobacco Board he is an authority in business circles. He is likewise one of the county's most favorite and prominent citizens. He is a native of Granville, was born 13 miles south of Oxford. He is a K. of P., high up in the Odd Fellows, Past Noble Grand, representa- tive of and now member of the State Grand Lodge, also Grand Marshal of the State Grand Lodge, the 3d highest degree in the Order. He has been several times Town Commis- sioner, and last year was elected Mayor, but resigned the post. He is Captain of the newly organized military company-the Granville Greys. In business live, active and reliable, socially having those qualilies which make him a general favorite, his absence from this market and town would be a blow to the welfare and prosperity of this rapidly ad- vancing city.
S. W. PARKER & CO., LEAF TOBACCO BROKERS.
As the light colored and mild weed has become the favorite of smokers and chewers throughout the world, the demand for yellow
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tobacco has immensely increased, so much so that regions which formerly grew nothing but cotton have been of late years wholly transplanted in this staple. As a producer of this famous bright tobacco, becoming every day more and more popular with the manu- facturer, Granville county takes the lead, and in color, body and size her leaf is not sur- passed if equalled by the product of any other
soil on this continent or the world. As dealers in this favorite class of the product, it is but just that we should notice a house which was established a year ago, on a financial basis practically limitless. They have prepared themselves in every way to handle large quantities of the finer grades of this fine pro- duct. They make a specialty of fine wrap- pers, bright cutters. bright smokers, fine and bright fillers. This season they expect to handle about 300.000 lbs. of leaf, averaging from 10 to 35 cents, smaller quantities being bought at prices as high as a dollar a pound ; this stock being wholly bought on the floors of the Oxford warehouse, is the pick of the bright tobacco raised in this section of country, this market being a central one not only for Granville, but for counties far east, west, north and south. From S. W. Parker's prize- house then. let us say manufacturers and ex- porters when they want fine stock can readily select it.
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