USA > North Carolina > Historical and descriptive review of North Carolina, volume 1 > Part 20
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HENRY T. JORDAN, ATTORNEY,
Was born in Person county, was educated first at Trinity College and later at Hampden Sidney City, Va., which he left in 1856. He commenced to read law at home by himself, continuing the same for two years at Judge Bailey's law school, being admitted to the county courts in 1859, and the following year to the Supreme. Mr. Jordan conducted at Roxboro', in his native county, a flourishing practice for many years, and became one of the most popular men of Person. In '70, "71 and '72 he was member of the legislature. In 1877 he came to Henderson, where he soon found himself at home with the people. In the war he was adjutant of the the 55th reg., was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, being con- fined in Fort Delaware and Johnson's Island. He is a steward in the M. E. church. In pol-
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ities he has always taken an active interest, and was chairman of the county Cleveland and Scales Executive Committee, in last fall's glorious campaign. He is a well read lawyer, is personally an agreeable gentleman to meet.
T. T. HICKS, ATTORNEY AT LAW.
This gentleman of the well known family of that name, long resident in this section of the Old North State, was born in Granville county, was educated at Yadkin college, and afterwards was engaged in teaching at Shiloh Academy, in Davidson county, a year and a half. Leaving this avocation he turned his attention to law, to which study he dili- gently applied himself, and was admitted to the bar on the 4th January 1881. He prac- ticed in Oxford a year and then opened his office in the new county seat, Henderson. He has since conducted a growing practice here. and confining his attention strictly to his pro- fession, has gained the confidence of a wide circle of clients. Practicing in all the courts of the State, he at the same time gives more special attention to negociating loans and col- lections, and has gained quite a reputation in this direction. Mr. Hicks is a scholar of no mean attainments, he is reported in Hubbel's and also in the Merchants directory. He married the daughter of the Rev. T. J. Horner of this county, is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and as a young man of originality and thought is destined at no distant date to be one of the lights of the North Carolina bar.
1
A. R. WORTHAM, ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Was born in that part of Warren now in- eluded in Vance county, was prepared for college at Henderson Academy and graduated from Trinity College in 1876. He studied law at his alma mater and continued the same with Wm. Eaton, being licensed in 1878. He practiced for several years in partnership with his cousin Col. George Wortham, who was resident in Oxford and since the latter's death has continued in business alone. Mr. Wortham practices in all the State and Fed- eral courts and has conducted many difficult cases to a successful issue. He takes an in- terest in all work confided to him and daily increases his number of patrons. He is a stauneh supporter of the principles of the true Democracy, takes an active part in all measures advanced for the citizens' welfare.
A. C. ZOLLICOFFER, ATTORNEY AT LAW.
As a recent and valuable addition to the Henderson bar we note the settlement here
of Mr. A. C. Zollicoffer, partner of Day & Zollicoffer, of Weldon. Mr. Z is a native of Halifax county, having been born two miles west of Weldon. He is a son of J. B. Zollicof- fer, first cousin of Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer. He was educated at Wake Forest which he left in 1878 and studied law with W. H. Day, being licensed in June, 1879 : he then became the partner of his preceptor. In June, 1882, Mr. Zollicoffer moved to Henderson where he is diligently attending to the business of the firm and has gained great popularity. He has been three years attorney for the town of Henderson, also for the county Sheriff, is a lawyer of knowledge, an advocate of ability, and energetically carries out his cases. He recently married a daughter of Dr. A. F. Perry of Franklin county.
SIDE-LICHT WAREHOUSE,
DAVIS BROS.
Messrs. Davis' opened for business on 1st November last and have been very progressive in conducting their affairs so that the high prices obtained for the tobacco soll on their floor have made their warehouse quite a fav- orite of the farmer. They are said to have sold more home trade than any house here, they have given as much satisfaction as any house in the State, and fairness and high prices have been always given to the planter. Their floor is 40x180 feet in extent, they have the best accommodation and ample facilities for handling the leaf.
Messrs. Davis' are also large buyers of to- bacco and have extensive prize houses for carrying on this branch of the business. The partners are T. A. and Owen Davis. These gentlemen are among the liveliest to- bacco men in Henderson and form an impor- tant item in making up that group of men of push and capital, who are tending to build up this town so rapidly as a central market for the surrounding territory.
OWEN DAVIS,
PHARMACIST.
Among the young and enterprising men of this city we are called upon to give special notice to the above gentleman, who started in business 2 years ago. His store, one of the most popular in town, is well arranged and adapted for business. The doctor manufac- tures to some extent. his Cough Syrup and King of Pains, having gained a standard rep- utation. He employs 2 competent hands to meet the requirements of his numerous custom. He is a member of the State Phar- maceutical Society, and is one of the youngest druggists in N. C .. being only 23 years of age. He is a native of Henderson, and is part owner of the Side Light Warehouse.
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TOWN OF HENDERSON.
J. H. LASSITER & SON, GENERAL MERCHANTS.
Jas. HI. Lassiter, the wellknown owner of this establishment, is a native of Gates county, for 28 years merchandised in Hertford, and in '65 settled in Henderson, where his busi- ness has since grown to be one of the largest in its line. In '71 he took his son into part- nership, and at the latters death in 1880, at his own request the business was continued under the same name. He carries a stock valued at some $20,000. This consists of foreign and domestic dry goods, notions, men's, youth's and boy's clothing, boots and shoes, hats and caps, also hardware and heavy groceries, Mr. Lassiter also handles many hundred tons of fertilizers annually. the principal brands being the Plow, Pacific, Patapsco, Durham Bull, Lazareto Acid Phosphate, also Kainit ; in cotton he handles some 1200 bales in the season. He employs 4 competent hands in the store, his total yearly transactions amount np nearly $100,000. He owns 942 acres of land in Franklin, Warren, Granville and Vance counties, which he rents to tenants who make cotton and tobacco. Mr. Lassiter in his business relations holds the confidence of the community. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, to the Odd Fellows, has been a member of the Baptist denomina- tion since 1839.
J. E. CLARKE & CO., GENERAL MERCHANTS, AND PROPRIE- TORS OF HENDERSON TANNERY.
Among the well known men of Hen- derson is the above gentleman who has been for some 33 years identified with this community. For that time Mr. Clarke has been carrying on mercantile business aug- menting his financial strength and import- ance with each succeeding year. In general merchandise he carries a stock of some 3 or $4,000 and does a good trade throughout this and adjacent counties. He also has a tannery from which he turns out annually large quan- tities of fine leather, chiefly kip and calf, which is shipped to Boston and the best mar- kets in the country. He established a tan- nery here in 1861, and supplied the Confeder- ate government during the war. He early gained a reputation for his goods, which lie has continued steadily to hold, and has always orders a long way ahead. He gets big prices for his leather which is prepared by the only reliable or slow process, and can thus afford to pay highest cash prices for the raw mate- rial. Mr. Clarke is a native of Warren county, and has been twelve years U. S. dep. Int. Rev. Collector.
MRS. K. W. COCHILL,
DRESSMAKING AND MILLINERY, AND DEALER IN DRY GOODS, NOTIONS, ETC.
It would be but just to our lady readers in discanting on the business of Henderson to note the above house, which, representing a line of trade peculiar to and characteristic of their sex, they take a great interest in and ac- cord a liberal patronage to. Mrs. Coghill has carried on the business of dressmaking now 9 years in this town, has during that time built up a large patronage, till to-day a lady to be considered among the élite of this and ad joining counties must have at least her best dresses made at this establishment. It is a common subject of remark that the ladies of Henderson dress better than those of other communities generally, and this is in great measure due to the taste displayed on the part of their common dressmaker. Mrs. Coghill's aptitude for her business places her on a par with the best in the country. She plans al- most entirely on the basis of the latest Paris- ian fashions, the bon ton and the a la mode which she obtains direct from France through the New York agents, and thus has little to learn from the fashion journals of this conti- nent. See gives her patrons the newest and latest modes, every dress turned out is in fact different from the one before, and her habits generally give an ease and grace to the form which nature in some cases has failed to endow it with. A year ago she added to her business a fine stock of millinery, dry goods, dress goods, ladies' furnishings, notions, etc .. about $3,000 worth in all. Her hats, bonnets and ready-made millinery generally is chaste and luxurious, and every one can chose from the large variety something becoming. She occupies one of the nicest stores in town, where she is ever to be found ready to attend to all callers in a manner that becomes one who may be styled the maker of ladies. She employs five skilled hands in the dressmaking department. She does mostly a cash trade, at which all her goods are cheap, and her reputation extends all over this section of the State and into Virginia, the young ladies from the leading colleges patronizing the es- tablishment largely. Mrs Coghill is a native of Gates county, came to Henderson in 1863, and has always enjoyed the esteem of a wide circle of friends and patrons.
PINKSTON, SHEARIN & CO., BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS, MANUFACTURERS OF
DOORS, SASH AND BLINDS, MOULDINGS, BRACKETS, BALLUSTRADES AND ALL KINDS OF BUILDING MATERIAL.
This firm representing one of the most im- portant branches of trade started business three years ago in this town and from the commencement has continued to prosper
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
till it now'do almost all the work in this line here. They occupy within the corpora- tion limits extensive premises furnished with all the necessary conveniences and most modern machinery for carrying out their multifarious operations. Owing to increase of business they will shortly erect a large brick building which will form the main structure or workshop and more machinery at the same time will be added. Twenty-five com- petent hands are employed and the power is supplied by a 25-horse power engine. The trade extends throughout Granville, Vance, Warren and surrounding counties. They have put up the principal residences, prize houses and stores of Henderson.
They supply sub-contractors with all neces- saries they may demand in the shape of doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, turnings of all sorts, building materials of all kinds, and their work in this line for finish and durability will compare favorably with any.
Their buildings wherever erected are a standing advertisement of their ability and experience. The proprietors of the establish- ment, Messrs, R. R. Pinkston, H. M. Shearin and K. W. Coghill, are men well suited to their business. The first is one of the finest machinists in the State, has been all his life practically engaged in this line, was long partner of the firm of Ellington, Royster & Co., and ably attends to the working of the shop, and is a zealous member of the M. E. *Church.
The second, also of Raleigh, is well versed in his branch as bookkeeper and business mana- ger, while the third who is a native of Vance county is energetic in the discharge of liis duties as outside manager and contractor; for ten years he has been the principal contrac- tor in Henderson, in the war he was color- bearer of the 23d N. C. Regiment, in seven large battles, was two years in Quarter Mas- ter's Department, and two in the field, and is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.
W. F. ROWLAND, GENERAL MERCHANT.
Mr. Rowland originally founded the present house as W. F. & W. F. Rowland who were succeeded by W. F. & G. H. Rowland and since 1870 he has continued alone. He oc- cupies on the main street a nice store 22x65 feet in extent. His stock is valued at from $3,000 to $5.000 and contains a full line of foreign and domestic dry goods, dress goods, hosiery, etc., boots and shoes to suit all sizes ot ladies, gents' and children's feet, latest styles in hats and caps, newest French and American notions. fashionable men's and boy's clothing, a large supply of staple and fancy groceries, and a good assortment of hardware and farming implements and planters' supplies generally. Several hundred bales of cotton are also handled in the season, and three competent hands are employed.
Captain Rowland has been all his life iden- tified with this county, having been born two
miles from Henderson. In the war he served first with the second N. C. and later with the 5th Cavalry, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He is the oldest merchant in town, has been many years a light in the M. E. Church.
R. E. YOUNG, COUNTY TREASURER.
Was born in this town on the 1st of May, 1842. He received his education at the dis- trict schools in Henderson, with which town he has been ever since identified. Up to 1865 he was engaged in farming, when he became one of the house of D. E. Young & Sons who were many years the largest merchants here. In 1868 Mr. Young accepted the situation of reconstruction and soon after devoted his time in the field of public life. For eight years he was in the internal revenue service and in 1876 returned to farming from where he was called to accept the nomination for the office of Treasurer of the new formed county in 1881. He ran successfully and was re-elected for a second term he is now filling. He has given satisfaction to the people and holds the confidence both of his own party and the opposition, the Democratic. The Major is one of the wealthiest men of this section, he owns considerable real estate around Henderson and has many acres planted in tobacco, cotton, corn and other staples. He resides in one of the finest dwell- ings in the county and lives and entertains his friends as becomes a gentleman of wealth.
R. M. POWELL, GENERAL MERCHANT
AND
LEAF TOBACCO DEALER.
Mr. Powell started business 2 years ago as a general merchant, and being already widely known over the whole country, soon had a large custom coming to his store. His premi- ses 22x80 feet in extent, with wing, are located on the main street and contain a stock valucd at some $4,000. This consists of dry goods, boots and shoes, fancy and heavy groceries, hats and farmer's supplies generally.
In the tobacco business he has been all his life and before the war dealt in the leaf in his native county. He handles a large quantity annually of the leaf and has his prize house in the season full of the fine bright leaf of this section. ready to meet the demands of the manufacturers and foreign dealers. He also runs a 24 acre tobacco plantation near town, and raises thereon some fine leaf.
Mr. Powell is a native of Caswell county. In the war he did some good service for the Confederacy, served with the 14thi Va., with Jackson's famous corps and was wounded thrice. He moved to Henderson in 1876.
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TOWN OF HENDERSON.
LUDINGTON & AYCOCK, PRINTERS.
The art preservative of arts is represented in Henderson by gentlemen whose enterprise is in keeping with the general spirit of pro- gress of this town. They opened for business on the 11th of April of last year, and from the commencement have continued to do an increasing trade, and to-day they do most of the work used here and thus hold money here that formerly went to other and larger cities. They employ 3 competent hands, have 2 tirst- class job presses, a Gordon and a Monumen- tal, execute all sorts of work in their line equal to any in quality and as low as any in the South, with promptness and dispatch. They are prepared to furnish at short notice Posters, handbills, dodgers, letter heads, bill heads, cards, statements, envelopes, tags, checks and drafts, wedding and party invita- tions, programmes, circulars, chromo and comic cards, lawyer's blanks, pamphlets, etc.
The owners of the house, Messrs. Jas. A. Ludington and D. E. Aycock, are well suited to carry on this business. The first is a native of Warren county, is a practical printer, while the second is trom Franklin and formerly in the mercantile line.
CURIN BROS.,
LIVERY, BOARDING AND SALE STABLE.
The above house which though only estah- lished on the first of January of last year, is already doing no inconsiderable trade. Their stables cover 100x200 feet of ground, comprise about 40 stalls besides innumerable mule pends and afford best accommodation to the animals boarded and kept here. They have always on hand some 10 or 12 well-bred saddle and harness horses, with some dozen light and heavy carriages to match, which are hired out at reasonable rates. The sales here are numer- ous and the stock of horses and draft mules gives a large variety for selection.
Three competent hands are employed and the establishment is in every way conducted so as to do credit to its owners and the town. Messrs. Curin are also agents for the well known Star wagon of which they sell a large number in the season. They have also a blacksmith and wheelwright shop where hands are kept busy horseshoeing and repair- ing. These genttemen, Messrs. S. J. & T. W. Curin, are go a head men; they are both natives of Granville county, the elder serving sonie time with the 12th N C. regiment. He
is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and the younger belongs to the Baptist denomina- tion.
M. ELKAN,
GLASSWARE, CROCKERY, LAMPS, LIOUSE FURNISHING GOODS, ETC.
As a recent and novel addition to the busi- ness of this town, we note the opening of this store, which has introduced a line of fine and useful goods formerly unknown here. The store which promises to be one of the prettiest and best in town, was opened on the 1st day of January this year. Its owner has filled it with the latest lines of chaste glassware, elegant crockery, dinner, tea and chamber sets, newest patterns in tin ware, most fash- ionable things in foreign and home notions, laces, etc. His selection of lamps is unsur- passed, and some give a light equal to that of the electric arc ; he also intends shortly to add musical instruments. The trade already necessitates the employment of three hands, whose politeness is in keeping with the su- perior excellence and novelty of the goods. Mr. Elkin is a native of Prussia, came to the U. S. in 1871, was in New York, Chicago and Baltimore. For 6 years he conducted busi- ness in Petersburg, Va., from where he came to Henderson. He is a K. of H., Chosen Friend and B. B. It is quite a pleasure to visit his store, even though one has no inten- tion of buying.
H. P. CHEATHAM, REGISTER OF DEEDS,
Who at the same time fills the office of clerk to the board of county commissioners, is a native of Vance county, and graduated from Shaw University in the spring of '81. He was then employed by the State Normal School in Plymouth, and was principal there two years. His pupils numbered on an average 150 and he showed himself equal to the responsibilities of the situation. He was in the fall of '84 unknown to himself chosen by the county committee as candidate for this office, and was called back from his pro- fessional labors and elected by the largest majority, 464 votes, that a register ever got in this county. Mr. Cheatham has since con- fined his attention to the duties of the position, and has gained the confidence of the board for the manner in which he has executed the trusts reposed in him.
formed in 1981, 20
DURHAM,
Orange County, N. C.
Is situated twenty-six miles west of Raleighi, in the tobacco raising section of the State. Fifteen years ago there was nothing here but a few small shanties, now there are handsome residences and large buildings devoted to mercantile and manufacturing pursuits. Durham is one of the principal markets for the sale of tobacco in North Carolina, much of which is bought by the local manufacturers. These select their tobaccoes almost entirely from the crop raised on the virgin soil of the Golden Belt of North Carolina, the finest in the world for smoking purposes, as a consequence the Durliam brands of smoking tobacco and cigarettes are unequalled and have a world wide sale.
The population of the town is large and the bulk of the laborers and factory hands are foreign ; in the tobacco and cigarette factories nothing but Italians, Spaniards and Poles are employed in some of the departments. Trade flourishes at this point and the stores are largely conducted by Israelites. The town has a Mayor, Board of Aldermen, police, lighted streets and is paved. Fires have proven a blessing to the place as the old wooden structures have been replaced with brick ones. The receipts of cotton at this point is small some 3,000 bales, tobacco being the main staple. There are four sash and door factories, one woollen factory; numerous tobacco and cigar works. No water power, everything is run by steam. The citi- zens are full of energy and ambition and are fully alive to the importance of the place. The celebrated Bull brand of smoking tobacco is made here.
Railroad facilities are hardly adequate, only one train a day each way. The depot is a re- proach and has reception room for neither ladies nor gentlemen.
Real estate in the corporate limits is very high ranging from $1 per foot up. In 1845 the land now covered by Durham sold at from $1.50 to $4.50 per acre. In 1859 the land was reas- sessed and sold for $25 an acre. The old Strayhorn Tract-now the Rigsbee property-sold for $15. An acre of it cannot be bought to-day for $1,000.
Taxes on real estate and personal property are 35 cents on the $100 and $1.05 on the poll. The county has good pasturage for stock and is adapted to all kinds of grain and fruits.
The bill to incorporate the town of Durhan passed the General Assembly April 10th, 1869. the town has a graded school, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian and other churches : a female seminary, a literary club, four newspapers, (one daily) and a military company.
SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSES
-OF- DURHAM, N. C.
DIBRELL BROS. & CO., LEAF TOBACCO BROKERS.
The tobacco trade engages the attention of more merchants than any one other avocation in the city of Durham, N. C., and among those gentlemen who are constantly occupied in supplying manufacturers, we find the well known firm of Dibrell Bros. & Co., who act as Brokers for the purchase of all grades of bright N. C. tobacco, which they extensively handle, shipping in hogsheads to the various manufacturers of tobacco all over the United States and Canada, buying and selling in this State. Mr. Dibrell commenced business in Durham in 1874, Dibrell Bros. in 1879. and Mr. John B. Walker joined the firm in 1881, under the style of Dibrell Bros. & Co. Mr. John B. Walker was born in Person county in 1854, and having been raised on a tobacco plantation became greatly experienced, hav- ing handled tobacco all his life; when sixteen years old he went to New Berne, N. C., came to Durham in 1873; he thoroughly under- stands his business, and has always given satisfaction to those who have dealings with him.
J. S. LOCKHART, BANNER WAREHOUSE.
LEAF TOCACCO.
As Durham is celebrated as a market in the tobacco belt of North Carolina, where the greatest quantity meets with a ready sale, we have much pleasure in calling attention to a highly respectable gentleman who has been engaged in this business for the last fifteen years in Durham, and who from his extended experience understands it thoroughly. Mr. J. S. Lockhart, of the Banner warehouse, was born in Orange county in 1841, was raised on a farm where his father grew large crops of "the weed" which he has handled all
his life ; it is not therefore at all surprising that he is the best dealer in tobacco in this market His sales for a short period from 1st to the 24th January '85 were 352,130 lbs ; the warehouse is spacious, being 55x273 feet, and he obtains the highest market price at all times, and gives general satisfaction to those for whom he sells. He also buys very extensively for his own private account ; and has great accommodation for handling tobacco, a three story brick building or prize house. Mr. Lockhart is a Royal Arch Mason, was also appointed Chairman this year of Durham County Democratic Executive Com- mittee, by untiring efforts did a great deal to carry the county by a large Democratic majority. He entered the war in the 6tli North Carolina Regiment in 1861, was pro- moted from the ranks, was in command of his company for 2 years, in various battles, could not be further promoted as his Captain was captured ; was himself taken prisoner on the 4th May, '65, at High Bridge, Va., on the retreat of Gen. Lee's army from Richmond, was confined in the old Capitol prison at Washington, and was there on the night that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and was carried from thence to Johnson's Island, where he remained in prison for two months.
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