USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 18
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Vol. IV-5
Leroy Campbell Caldwell prepared for college under the late B. F. Rogers, of Concord, a nation- ally known educator of his day, subsequently spent three years at Erskine College, South Carolina, and took his senior year of college work at Trinity College, Durham, North Carolina. He read law under the tutelage of Judge W. J. Montgomery, of Concord, and in the famous law school of Judges Dillard & Dock, at Greensboro, where he spent a year. He was licensed to practice in 1879, but did not begin to enter seriously upon the duties of his calling until six years later, in 1885, when he established himself in law practice at Statesville, Iredell County, which has since been his home and field of operation. He was for sev- eral years a partner of the late Major Bingham. Mr. Caldwell's legal attainments are solid. He is thoroughly grounded in elementary principles and possessed of a fine discrimination in the ap- plication of legal precedents. He is a fluent speaker and his style is notable for its purity and accurate use of words. In addition to faithfully caring for the duties of a large and representative law practice in the courts of North Carolina and the federal tribunals, he has been for a number of years a prominent figure in public life. In 1896 he was first. elected mayor of Statesville, serving in that office for two years at that time, and in 1910 was again elected mayor, since which time he has served continuously in the office, by virtue of reelections in 1912 and 1914. He is an able and efficient city officer and during his ad- ministrations Statesville has grown healthfully in its commercial and industrial life, and many pub- lic improvements of importance have been com- pleted as a result of his executive energy and clean and business-like handling of affairs in the civic government. He has proven a most accept- able and efficient official, and is very popular with the people of his adopted city. He has been suc- cessful in a material way, and at the present time, in addition to being identified with a number of business interests, he holds much city realty, and is likewise the owner of two farms, one in Iredell County, about two miles east of Statesville, and one in Fairfield County, South Carolina.
Mayor Caldwell has been twice married. His first wife, who is now deceased, was Miss Maggie Youngue before her marriage, a native of South Carolina of Huguenot descent. Six children were born to this union: Kittie Youngue wife of Jno P. Flanigan, deceased, Louise Campbell, wife of E. P. Clampitt, Dallas Brice deceased, Julian Campbell deceased, an infant daughter deceased, and Joe Youngue. The latter is a lawyer prac- ticing in association with his father, and a young man of excellent education and far greater than ordinary talents. He is a graduate of the Univer- sity of North Carolina, Bachelor of Arts and a graduate in law of Columbia Law School, New York.
The first wife of Judge Caldwell died in 1903, and he was subsequently united in marriage with Miss Edna Love, of Taylorsville, North Carolina. They have one daughter, Ellen, and two boys, both of whom are dead.
CHARLES M. TOWNSEND, M. D. A physician and surgeon of high attainments and large experience, Doctor Townsend has done little practice in recent years, and has surrendered himself to that calling and vocation which has been strongest in the blood of the Townsend family, agriculture. He has some of the finest land and is one of the leading
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
crop growers, especially cotton, at Raynham iu Robeson County.
It was iu this part of Robeson County that Doctor Townsend was born in 1866. The Town of Raynham is on the Conway branch of the Atlantic Coast Liue Railway in Thompsou Township of Robeson County. The name was given it by Doctor Towuseud from the fact that Raynham, Eugland, was the home of the Townseud family aucestor, Sir Charles Townseud.
The Townseuds have been distinguished in many states of America from the early Colonial period. There is a well founded tradition that the first of the name came over in the Mayflower. The southern branch of the family has lived in Robe- son Couuty, North Carolina, since about the time of the Revolution. Doctor Towusend's grand- father, Alexander Townsend, owued a large amount of land iu Robeson Couuty. His home was on Bear Swamp, where General F. A. Bond's "Hunter's Lodge"' is now located. David Town- seud, father of Doctor Townsend, was born on Bear Swamp aud on reaching manhood he aud two of his brothers settled on what was then kuown as Aaron's Swamp, the present location of Rayu- ham. The Townsends are a race of land owners and agriculturists, and for several generations have been among the leaders iu plantiug and farming enterprises in this part of North Caro- lina, rauking also as wealthy and substantial citizens. Taking the family as a whole iu Robe- son County they own estates comprising several thousand acres of land in Back Swamp, Raft Swamp, Pembroke and Thompson townships. Doctor Townsend's mother was a Thompson, and member of the family for whom Thompson Town- ship in Robeson County was named.
Charles M. Townseud was well educated and had all the opportunities and advantages derived from good social positiou and material prosperity. He attended the local schools and took his literary work in the University of Virginia, where he also began the study of medicine. In 1893 he grad- uated from the medical department of Tulane University at New Orleans. The next two or three years he spent in building up a promising private practice in his old home community and then interrupted it to go abroad and pursue post- graduate courses in Queen Charlotte Hospital at London. .
Since giving up medical practice Doctor Town- send has gained the reputation of being and well deserves to be called one of the best farmers in North Carolina. He is vice president for this state of the National Farmers Congress. For many years he has been identified with farmers organizations in the state, and has put himself in the lead in all movements for the advancement of agriculture, for the improvement of country life, for the securing of better markets and market- ing conditions and a more equitable distribution of advantages to all who make their living from the soil. Doctor Townsend is a close student of agri- cultural science, is perhaps as well read in agri- cultural literature as any man in his part of the state, and never neglects an opportunity to get into closer touch with improved methods in the field or in stock husbandry, and is constantly seek- ing to improve his own business and get better methods introduced into the business of his neighbors in the way of putting farming on a businesslike basis.
Doctor Townsend's plantation at Raynham comprises about fourteeu hundred acres. He also
has under his charge several hundred acres in farms belonging to other members of the Town- send family. Ou his own place he usually works from twenty to twenty-five plows, and is one of the leading cotton producers in this section. Other financial interests counect him with various busi- ness institutions. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Lumberton, the Merchants and Farmers Bank of Rowland, and is a director of the National Cotton Mills at Lumberton. Doctor Towuseud married Miss Meta Warnell. She is now deceased, and left no children.
JOSEPH A. BITTING, now deceased, was for many years prominently identified with business affairs at Winston-Salem, aud throughout the relations of a long life was entitled to the splendid respect and esteem paid him.
He was a native of Stokes County, North Caro- lina, where his aucestors were among the first set- tlers. His father John Bitting was a farmer and spent his entire career in Stokes County. Joseph A. Bitting grew up on his father's farm, and after reaching manhood bought a plantation of his owu in Yadkin County. There he became a success- ful general farmer and tobacco raiser and while there set up a plant for the manufacture of tobacco. When the war was raging between the states he did his part for the Coufederate cause and was detailed to look after the families of sol- diers and provide for their comfort. He devoted himself conscientiously and self-sacrificingly to this duty and those at the front felt more security and were better able to carry on their duties as soldiers because they knew their families had as friends and counselor and a help in time of need such a man as Mr. Bitting.
After the war he removed his tobacco plant to Augusta, Georgia, where he became actively engaged in the manufacture of tobacco. He finally transferred his operations to Winston- Salem and was one of the older men in the tobacco industry of that city.
Mr. Bitting died at the age of eighty-one, known and respected all over Western North Carolina. He married Miss Louisa Wilson, who still lives at Winston-Salem and is mentioned in succeeding paragraphs. Mr. Bitting was an active member of the Presbyterian Church.
. MRS. LOUISA WILSON BITTING, widow of the late Joseph A. Bitting, has long been prominent in social, religious and philanthropic affairs at Win- ston-Salem.
She represents an old and honored family name in this section of the state. She was born at Bethania in Stokes County, a daughter of Dr. George Follet and Henrietta (Hauser) Wilson. Her father was a native of Massachusetts, a son of George T. Wilson, who went from Massachu- setts to the State of Michiagn as a pioneer and spent his last years there. Doctor Wilson was reared and was given his academic advantages in Massachusetts and subsequently entered the Jef- ferson Medical College at Philadelphia, where he was graduated with his degree Doctor of Medicine. His choice of location was in North Carolina, and at Bethania he quickly acquired a splendid reputa- tion as a physician and enjoyed a large practice until the time of his death. He died at the age of fifty-one. Doctor Wilson married Henrietta Hauser. She was born at Bethania, daughter of Henry and Phillipena Christina (Lash) Hauser.
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JOSEPH A. BITTING
MRS. LOUISA WILSON BITTING
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Her grandfather, George Hauser, Jr., was a Revo- lutionary soldier, was a son of George Hauser, Sr., and a grandson of Martin Hauser, a prominent character in Western North Carolina, who settled at Bethania in 1753. Mrs. Bitting's mother died at the age of sixty-five, after rearing seven chil- dren: Henry, Virgil, Louisa, Reuben, George, Mary and Julia. The son Reuben served as a major in the Twenty-third Regiment, North Caro- lina Troops during the war between the states. He was twice wounded, the last wound causing the amputation of one of the lower limbs. Mrs. Bit- ting's mother was active member of the Moravian Church, and her father, while not a member of any church, was a man of the most moral and upright character, and widely known and trusted as a friend as well as a physician.
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Mrs. Bitting was reared and educated at Bethania and became the wife of Joseph A. Bit- ting. Mr. and Mrs. Bitting reared nine children: Anna, Susie, Louisa, Henry, George, Lillie, Sadie, Alexander and Casper. Mrs. Bitting is an active member of the Christian Church. She takes much interest in church affairs, being connected with the Ladies' Aid and the Foreign Missionary Society. She is also a member of the Civic League and the Daughters of the Confederacy.
W. LEDOUX SIEWERS is a prominent manufac- turer and business man of Winston-Salem. While his achievements have lain in the commercial field, many members of his family gained eminence in the professions. His father was for many years a leading physician in Western North Carolina, though his enterprise also extended to railway building and industrial development. Many of the family have been officials and ministers of the Moravian Church.
His great-grandfather was Rev. Henry Fred- erick Siewers, who was born in Lehre, Germany, July 11, 1757. In 1770 he was confirmed in the Lutheran Church, and in 1787 went to Herrn- hut, Germany, where he was received into active membership by the Moravian Church. As a mis- sionary for that denomination he was sent to the West Indies and labored among the natives on the Islands of St. Kips, St. Jan and St. Thomas. In 1822 he came to the United States, locating at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where he died February 4, 1845. He married Dorothea Margaretta Wrang. She was born April 25, 1774, on an island in the Duchy of Schleswig. She united with the Moravian Church. Her death occurred December 6, 1855. They reared eight children.
John Daniel Siewers, grandfather of W. Ledoux, was born on the Island of St. Thomas in the West Indies December 4, 1818. He was educated at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and at the age of fourteen came to Salem, North Carolina. Here he served an apprenticeship and learned the cabi- net making trade. He took up the manufacture of furniture and developed a considerable industry, most of his employes being his slaves. He con- tinued that business at Salem until the outbreak of the war, and then suspended business and after- ward lived retired until his death August 4, 1890. He was married December 12, 1844, to Rebecca Paulina Shober. She died one year after the marriage, leaving one son, Nathaniel Shober. For his second wife he married Hannah Hancs, who died December 31, 1912, leaving a daughter Gertrude.
Dr. Nathaniel Shober Siewers was born at
Winston-Salem in November, 1845. During his youth he attended the Boys' School at Salem and also had the instruction of private tutors. In 1863, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted as a musician in a band organized at Salem and went to the front with the First North Carolina Battalion of Sharp Shooters. He was with this command until the close of the war. On being released he returned home and put into execution a plan and ambition he had formulated while in the army to become a physician. Entering the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania he pursued his course of studies until graduating. He also spent two years in universities in Europe. Doctor Siewers then took up practice at Salem, and by reason of his ability and attainments and his family connections he soon acquired a large prac- tice. He was one of the early physicians in this section to have the advantages of a thorough col- lege education in medicine, and his life thencefor- ward represented a large and beneficent service to his fellow men. He practiced not only in Salem, but over a wide stretch of surrounding country. He did not give up practice until his death on January 12, 1901. However, other affairs inter- ested and commanded part of his time and atten- tion. He was one of the promoters and builders of the Roanoke & Southern Railroad, the second railroad to enter Winston-Salem. He was also among the organizers of the Wachovia Loan & Trust Company. He was a member of the Pro- visional Elders Conference of the Southern Prov- ince of the Moravian Church and was a trustee of Salem Academy.
Doctor Siewers' widow now occupies the fine old homestead which he built on Church Street in Winston-Salem. It is one of the most beautiful residences of the city, and is appropriately named Cedarhurst. Doctor Siewers married Eleanor Elizabeth de Schweinitz. She was born in Salem December 23, 1853, daughter of Bishop Emil Adolphus and Sophia Amelia (Hermann) de Schweinitz. Her maternal grandparents were Bishop John Gottlieb and Anna Paulina Hermann. Doctor and Mrs. Siewers reared six children : Charles S., Agnes, wife of Henry A. Shaffner, Ralph de S., W. Ledoux, Ruth, who married W. C. Idol, and Grace, who remains at home with her mother.
W. Ledoux Siewers was born at Winston-Salem, attended the Boys' School at Salem and took advanced studies in Columbian University, now the George Washington University, at Washing- ton, District of Columbia. While equipped with a liberal education and well fitted to enter any pro- fession he might have chosen, Mr. Siewers deter- mined to make business his career. Returning home, he entered the Arista cotton mills and as a workman in the operating department learned every detail of cotton manufacture. He continued his upward porgress until in 1905 he was made president and treasurer of the Maline Mills. He has done a great deal and is still doing much to build up and maintain the cotton manufac- turing industry of Western North Carolina. Mr. Siewers is president and treasurer of the Carolina Mills and of the Indera Mills.
In 1905 he married Miss Lucy Vance, a native of Salem. Her parents were Joseph A. and Adelaide Fogle Vance. Mr. and Mrs. Siewers have three children: Dorothy Louise, Marjorie Vance and Rose Adelaide. The family are mem- bers of the Home Moravian Church, and Mr.
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Siewers has served as a member of the board of trustees. He is also a member of the Twin City Club.
HARDY LUCIEN FENNELL. In a city like Wil- mington, where wealth, leisure and climate all combine to make the automobile not only a luxuri- ous adjunct of daily life but a business necessity, it is not only desirable but necessary that automo- bile accommodations and supplies should be readily available. To this public demand Hardy Lucien Fennell responded when he established his modern garage and supply business, providing storage facilities and acting as agent for some of the leading cars manufactured. Mr. Feunell is one of the reliable citizens of Wilmington, oue who has had business experience in other lines, and he has a wide and substantial acquaintance throughout this section.
Hardy Lucien Fennell was born at Clinton, in Sampson County, North Carolina, December 6, 1864. His parents were Owen and Charlotte C. (Beaman) Fennell, both of whom were born at Wilmington, North Carolina. The father was in business at Wilmington as a dealer in cotton and naval stores.
In one of the first class private schools of Wil- mington, of which there are many, Hardy L. Fennell was prepared for college and later became a student in the University of North Carolina. His first business engagement was in the capacity of bookkeeper in a large commercial house at Wilmington aud after one year he became a ship- ping clerk, but subsequently left that concern to go into business for himself and for fifteen years he carried on a retail business in harness and buggies. Mr. Fennell then turned his attention to life insurance and continued in that field for ten years. In 1912 he established the H. L. Fennell Auto-Storage Garage, one of the largest and best arranged in the city. Mr. Fennell is the agent here for the Overland, the Franklin and the Peerless automobiles and Federal Trucks, probably the most satisfactory machines now on the market, and is enjoying a prosperous line of trade.
Mr. Fennell was married to Miss Mamie B. James, who was born March 22, 1871, at Green- ville, North Carolina, and is a daughter of Dr. J. G. James. They have three children: Charlotte S., James G. and Mamie James.
While not very active in politics, Mr. Fennell is never unmindful of the demands of good citizen- ship and is ever alert conceruing anything that, in his judgment, will add to the good name and prosperity of his city. For many years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity.
HENRY WESLEY FOLTZ. One of the oldest and most interesting families of Forsyth County is rep- resented by Henry Wesley Foltz, real estate and insurance man at Winston-Salem. The Foltz family came to this section of North Carolina in early colonial days and were pioneers in the estab- lishment of a Moravian community, and its de- scendants have as a rule remained faithful to the Moravian church.
The orignial center of settlement of the family was Friedberg in Forsyth County, where Henry Wesley Foltz was born July 21, 1853. His great- grandfather was Peter Volz, as the name was spelled during the first generation. Peter Volz was born in Alsace, Germany, in 1726. He immi- grated to North Carolina in 1768, locating at
Friedberg. ' He was a member of the Moravian Church. The first Moraviau Church was completed at Friedberg in 1769, and Peter Volz was one of the fourteen married men who pledged support to a resident minister. The church was consecrated in March, 1769. Peter Volz acquired a large tract of land at Friedberg, and was extensively eugaged in farmiug there until his death.
Jacob Foltz, son of Peter and grandfather of Henry W., was born at the Friedberg community in North Carolina, was reared on the farm and eventually succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead, where he spent his youthful years. He married a Miss Zimmerman, and they reared a large family of children.
Edward Foltz, father of Henry W., was born in Forsyth County February 13, 1818. His early life was spent on a farm, and he subsequently bought land near the old homestead and operated it until his death at the age of sixty-six. Edward Foltz married Lucinda Sides. She was born in Forsyth County, the daughter of Jacob Sides, a native of the same county, and the granddaughter of John Michael Seiz, as the name was originally spelled. John M. Seiz was born in Wuertemberg, Germany, in 1737, and on coming to America first settled at Broad Bay in Maine, in 1759, but in 1770 came to North Carolina, locating at Friedland in Forsyth County. He lived there until his death at a good old age iu 1817. Jacob Sides spent his entire life at Friedland as a farmer. He married Mary Spach, a granddaughter of Adam Spach, who was born in Alsace, Germany, in 1720, came to North Carolina in 1756, and was one of the very first settlers at Friedberg. Mrs. Jacob Sides died at the age of seventy-five.
Mrs. Edward Foltz died when forty-five years of age. She reared four children: Anna, Maria, Mary aud Henry Wesley.
Henry Wesley Foltz acquired his early education in the rural schools of Forsyth County. He was well trained in habits of industry and he has always felt that he owes a great deal to his early environment and the example and precepts of his parents. He learned farming as a boy, doing his part on the homestead, and before leaving home he had taught a term of school.
At the age of twenty-two he came to Winston, entering the employ of Pfohl & Stockton, as a clerk in their general store. Here he proved him- self a competent and ambitious employe and in time was promoted and had charge of the fruit and produce department. He was connected with that old and substaintial firm for eight years. He resigned to take a position in a tobacco factory. He learned the details of the business in the office of the factory, and then went on the road as a salesman. In 1897 Mr. Foltz left the tobacco business to engage in insurance, a line which he has continued to the present time. He is asso- ciated with Mr. H. W. Spaugh under the firm name of Foltz & Spaugh. They deal extensively in city and suburban property as well as insurance.
In 1878 Mr. Foltz married Miss Carrie Johnson, who was born in Forsyth County, daughter of Dr. John L. and Eliza (Gafford) Johnson, and a granddaughter of Charles Johnson, whose original home was in Philadelphia, from which city he moved to Virginia and then to North Carolina. Mrs. Foltz' father practiced his profession as a physician at Union Cross for a number of years.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Foltz were reared in the Mo- ravian Church and still hold to that faith. He is affiliated with Winston Lodge No. 167, Ancient
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
THE ROCK HOUSE
One of the most interesting relics of pre-Revolutionary days in the Piedmont section of North Carolina is the Rock House, built by Adam Spach in 1774.
Spach settled near the upper line of Davidson County in 1754, and soon made friends with the Moravians who were building the Village of Bethabara ten miles north of his farm. He invited them to preach at his home, which they soon began to do, and this led to the organization of Friedberg Congregation.
During the Indian War of 1759 Spach and his family took refuge in the Beth- abara stockade, as did many other settlers from the surrounding country. When he decided later to erect a substantial house on his farm he planned it of a type which could be defended against quite an opposing force. It stands about one mile from Friedberg Church, and is built of uncut stone, laid up without mortar, except for inside plastering. It is 30 by 36 feet, and is of one story, with full basement an'd a small attic. It was built over a spring of water; and an outside entrance to the basement made it possible to drive in the cattle for protection in case of need. The windows are of the Flemish-Bond type and each room has its loopholes, through which the defenders could fire, and they still remain in the walls. The cut shows the rear of the house, with the loopholes, and the basement entrance.
Adam Spach had five sons and four daughters ; the sons all married and raised large families, so there are many descendants in North Carolina. About 1862 some branches of the family began to spell the name Spaugh, while others re- tained the original form of Spach, but all trace back to Adam Spach of the Rock House.
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