USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 19
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Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Foltz has a number of interesting relics of the earlier genera- tions of his family. At his home is a sword which was carried by an ancestor in one of the earlier wars of our nation. He also has a canteen which saw service in the Civil war. Another article found in his collection recalls the old days of the feeble illumination furnished by grease and tal- low lamps. This is what is known as a grease lamp, and it was made by his grandfather. In con- sists of an iron receptacle or vessel, holding a small quantity of grease. He also has an old one- burner tin lamp in which either lard or sperm oil was burned. Another object of interest is a pair of the old fashioned candle snuffers. Along with the sword and canteen is another relic of earlier years in the shape of a flintlock revolver, still in good condition.
JOHN H. GRUBBS is a native of Forsyth County and in his mature years has built up a large busi- ness as a building contractor at Winston-Salem.
Mr. Grubbs was born on a farm in Middlefort Township of Forsyth County, and his family have been residents of this section of the state for a century or more. The records of the United States census of 1790 mentioned the names of George, Conrad and Elizabeth Grubbs, as heads of families in Rowan County. It is possible that Mr. Grubbs' grandfather was a member of one of these house- holds. Grandfather Grubbs was named Ensley. He became a planter in Middlefort Township of Forsyth County, conducted a plantation there, but spent his last years in Salem Chapel Township. He married Nancy Coffer. The only representa- tive of that name in the 1790 census was Joshua Coffer of Rockingham County.
John Grubbs, father of John H., was born in Middlefort Township in 1847, grew up on a farm, learned those lessons imparted by the local schools of the time, and in the course of years succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead. He made that the scene of his successful efforts as a farmer until 1903, when he removed to Walkertown, where he lived retired until his death in 1916. John Grubbs married Flora Jones. She was born in Kernersville Township of Forsyth County, a daughter of Martin and Billie Jones. She is now living at Walkertown. Mr. and Mrs. John Grubbs reared six children named William F., Thomas F., John H., Elizabeth, wife of William R. Jones, Josie, wife of D. L. Disher, and J. Walter.
John H. Grubbs lived on the home farm until he was twenty years of age. The public schools were his source of education, and he also gained both health and a vigorous constitution by his experience as a farm boy. On leaving the farm he learned the machinist's trade, at which he was employed for ten years. He then set up in busi- ness as a building contractor and is one of the most competent and reliable men in that business in Winston-Salem. In 1910 Mr. Grubbs built a large modern home three miles north of the city, and lives there with comforts and surroundings almost ideal.
In 1900 he married Ida M. Cobler. Mrs. Grubbs was born in Surrey County, North Carolina, daugh- ter of A. A. and Ellen (Marshall) Cobler. Mr. and Mrs. Grubbs are members of the Middle Spring Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is one of its stewards. Fraternally he is affiliated with Fairview Council No. 19, Junior Order of United American Mechanics and Twin City Camp
No. 27, Woodmen of the World. In politics he is when national interests are considered a republi- can, but in local affairs he chooses the man for the office according to the dictates of his best judgment.
EDWARD KNOX POWE is an old and experienced cotton mill man, and for fully a quarter of a century has been identified with the great Erwin Cotton Mills Company at West Durham. He assisted in building this extensive plant, was mill superintendent for a number of years, and in 1900 became general manager of The Erwin Cotton Mills Company at West Durham. The president of this company is B. N. Duke, vice president George W. Watts, and secretary and treasurer W. A. Erwin.
Mr. Powe came to this and other large business responsibilities from the ranks of labor and serv- ice. He was born at Salisbury, North Carolina, January 19, 1863, a son of William E. and Katie Elvira (Tate) Powe. While his father was a farmer, he was almost constantly in public life, was a magistrate of note, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Burke County for many years, and identified with other places of trust and responsibility. Edward Knox Powe re- ceived his early education in private schools. When seventeen years old in 1880 he began work with Holt, Gant & Holt at Altamahaw, North Carolina, in their stores, doing bookkeeping and other clerical work, and for twelve years was a valuable assistant in these mills. Then in January, 1893, he became connected with The Erwin Cot- ton Mills Company in starting that plant at West Durham.
Besides his work as general manager of this plant he is a director of the Alpine Cotton Mills Company, at Morganton, North Carolina, a direc- tor of the Fedelity Bank of Durham, a director of the Bank of Harnett.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the West Durham schools, member of the County Board of Health, and for years has been relied upon for leadership and personal effectiveness in all movements to raise the standards of life among mill people and in securing the best of modern privileges in sanitary conditions around the fac- tories and homes. At West Durham in particular he has done much to give concrete reality to many ideals of the city beautiful, and has helped to transform many bare spaces around the factories and homes into grass plots adorned with flowers, and has furnished some of that atmosphere which is such an important and valuable element in pro- ducing contentment and happiness in individual lives. Mr. Powe owns considerable real estate and has some farming interests. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and at various times has served as vestryman and junior and senior warden of Saint Philip's Episcopal Church at Durham. He is a member of the North Carolina Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and also of the Society of the Mayflower Descendants.
October 14, 1886, he married Claudia Josephine Erwin, daughter of Col. Joseph J. and Elvira J. (Holt) Erwin. They have two children, Edward Knox, Jr., born October 28, 1888, and Claudia Erwin, born October 23, 1898. The son is now in college at the University of Virginia.
LADDIN L. TILLEY. One of the younger mem- bers of the Durham Bar, Laddin L. Tilley in his
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eight years of practice has demonstrated natural ability for the law and his talents have brought him recognition and a very satisfactory clientage.
He was born in Durham County April 28, 1881, a son of Haywood and Louetta (Vaughan) Til- ley. His father was a farmer and also operated a corn mill. The son was educated in the Carey schools, and from 1905 to 1909 was a student both in the law and academic departments of Wake Forest College. . On his admission to the bar he began general practice at Durham. Mr. Tilley is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
December 22, 1912, he married Florence Powell of Wake County, North Carolina. They have two sons, Edward Bruce and Norwood Carlton.
SIMON EVERETT KOONCE, M. D. During the past fifteen years, Dr. Simon Everett Koonce has been engaged in the practice of medicine at Wil- mington, and by his devotion to the duties of his profession, his close study and his pronounced skill, has won a liberal and representative practice. His talents have gained him recognition especially as a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, to which field of medical service he has devoted his activities since 1908.
Doctor Koonce was born in Jones County, North Carolina, May 14, 1870, and is a son of Simon E. and Orpah (Brock) Koonce. His father, a well known merchant, was prominent in public affairs of Jones County, serving as sheriff for eight years and as county recorder for two years, in addition to holding numerous minor offices. Simon E. Koonce was given private instruction in his youth, and after this preparation entered Trinity College at Durham, North Carolina, from which he was graduated in 1890. For the following three years he was a teacher in private schools, and then entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, from which he graduated in 1896, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He commenced his professional duties at Polloksville, Jones County, where he remained until 1902, in which year, desiring a broader field, he came to Wilmington. In 1908 he began specializing in the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, and in this branch has won an enviable reputation and a large and representative practice. Doctor Koonce is a mem- ber of the New Hanover County Medical Society, the North Carolina State Medical Society, the Southern Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He holds to the highest of ideals in his professional service and his work is characterized by a conscientious devotion to duty and a display of knowledge that is remarkable. His work has brought him before the people of Wilmington in a way that will not soon be for- gotten. As a fraternalist he belongs to the Masons and the Royal Arcanum. Doctor Koonce has been found identified with public-spirited movements, and his charities have been many.
On May 10, 1899, Doctor Koonce was married at Polloksville, North Carolina, to Miss Lila Ward, of that city, and they are the parents of four children, namely : Lila Ward, Edwin E., Donald Brock and Carroll Hunter.
CHARLES A. VOGLER has been in the practice of law at Winston-Salem long enough to prove his ability in the different branches of the profession and to justify his choice of that as a vocation. He represents one of the old and prominent fam- ilies of North Carolina. He is a branch of that
Vogler family that came into Western North Caro- lina before the Revolutionary war and took a prominent part in the Moravian settlements in Forsyth and adjoining counties. Various refer- ences to the Vogler name in the pioneer annals of Western North Carolina will be found on other pages.
Charles A. Vogler was born at Salem January 27, 1886, a son of Charles W. Vogler, a native of Salem, and a grandson of Elias and great-grand- son of John Vogler. Elias Vogler obtained a good education and became a surveyor. The plats of Salem which he made are still in use. He was also a merchant at Salem and lived there until his death.
Charles W. Vogler grew up in Salem, attended the Boys' School, and became a merchant there in early life. He married Elizabeth D. Brown, who was born at Davidson in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, a daughter of William A. and Sarah Brown. She is still living, with her home at Salem. There were two children: Charles A. and Herbert A.
Charles A. Vogler after his early training in the public schools of Winston-Salem entered the Uni- versity of North Carolina, where he was gradu- ated Bachelor of Arts in 1909. Following that he became an instructor in the University for two years, and in 1912, having in the meantime carried on his law studies, was admitted to practice. In order to have the broadest possible qualifications for his career, he then entered the law department of Columbia University at New York City and was graduated in 1913. Since then he has been in active practice at Winston-Salem.
On November 15, 1915, Mr. Vogler married Martha W. Drake. She was born at Griffin, Georgia, daughter of Roswell H. and Annie W. Drake. Mr. and Mrs. Vogler are members of the Home Moravian Church at Winston-Salem. He is active in the Winston Young Men's Christian Association, the Twin City Club, the Forsyth Country Club, and the Winston-Salem Board of Trade.
As solicitor of the Municipal Court of Winston- Salem Mr. Vogler made an excellent record, and in the fall of 1916 was elected judge of the City Court, succeeding Judge Stephenson, who had resigned.
WILLIAM JOSEPH GRISWOLD has been a substan- tial and responsible business man of Durham for thirty years in the real estate and general insur- ance business, and his name has also been identi- fied with many movements that reflect the public spirit of the community.
He was born near Goldsboro, North Carolina, August 10, 1858, son of Benjamin J. and Ann (Hatch) Griswold. His early life was spent on his father's farm and he was educated largely in private schools. His first business experience was acquired as clerk in a dry goods store, and in 1887 he came to Durham and since that date has been in the insurance business. In 1905 he estab- lished the Griswold Insurance and Real Estate Company, of which he is president and general manager, and is also secretary and treasurer of the New Hope Realty Company, and formerly president and did much of the development work in the West End Land Company.
Much of his time through all these years has been taken up with civic matters. He served two years as alderman and two years as mayor of Durham, and was one of the organizers of the
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Chamber of Commerce, which he served as vice president and director. He is president of the local Bankhead Highway Association, which has under its supervision a local portion of the trans- continental highway between Washington and Los Angeles. Mr. Griswold was also one of the organizers of the Country Club of Durham, is a former vestryman of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, and is a Knight Templar Mason, an Elk and a Knight of Pythias.
September 20, 1888, he married Miss Laura Bryan, of Kinston, North Carolina, daughter of Dr. James P. and Mary (Biddle) Bryan. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold have three children: William Shepard, who is. a second lieutenant in the Na- tioual Army; Mary Bryan and James Bryan.
JOHN EDWIN PURCELL is a resident of Red Springs in Robesou County. His is a name spoken with honor and respect in that community, where he has lived a long and useful life of three quarters of a century. Mr. Purcell is a veteran of the great war between the states, and for upwards of half a century has devoted his energies and mind to agriculture on an estate that has been part of the family possessions through several generations.
The old Purcell place where he was born in 1842 is located ten miles northwest of Red Springs in what is now Hoke County. Hoke County was formed in recent years out of portions of Robeson and Cumberland counties.
This branch of the Purcell family is of ancient Norman origin. The remote ancestors identified themselves with England and Scotland for a num- ber of generations, until the early part of the eighteenth century, when they immigrated to America and located in Virginia. Of this Ameri- can branch some descendants went west and established homes in the Scioto Valley of Ohio.
It was Mr. Purcell's great-grandfather, Mal- colm Purcell, who founded the family in North Carolina. He made settlement here prior to the Revolutionary war. His location was on the east side of the Cape Fear River in Cumberland County. A man of strong patriotic sentiments and activi- ties, he incurred the active hostility of the Tories and during the war was killed by a band of men in sympathy with the British government. His son John Purcell was a native of Virginia and was a small child when brought to North Carolina. It was he who subsequently established his home on the land above referred to, ten miles north of Red Springs in what was then Robeson County. John Purcell married Beatrice Torrey.
John E. Purcell is a son of Alexander and Harriet (McIntyre) Purcell. His father was born on the old homestead, which has been in the family now for three generations.
On this farm John E. Purcell spent his early youth. In 1861, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted for service in the Confederate Army. He had been a student for a year and a half in the University of North Carolina and left the quiet halls of that institution to engage in a very interesting and adventurous career on the battle- fields of the South. He was a member of the First Battalion of North Carolina Heavy Artillery. Most of his service was in Eastern North Carolina. On account of special fitness he was assigned to many tasks involving bridge construction and en- gineering. Thus his service was often one of detached and detailed duty, and he rendered many important services to the Confederacy. Mr. Pur-
cell was also engaged in the strenuous defense of Fort Fisher at Wilmington, and was one of the brave and valiant defenders that kept that post in spite of the terrific and long continued fire of an immense Federal fleet. When Fort Fisher fell he was fortunate to escape capture.
After the war he reentered the University of Chapel Hill in 1866 and continued his work there until graduating in 1868. Though liberally edu- cated, Mr. Purcell chose agriculture rather than a profession and soon settled on the old home- stead to take up farming. His career as a farmer covers fifty years and has brought him the sub- stantial competence which he now enjoys. He still owns a part of the original plantation where he was born and has developed it as a splendid farm.
Chiefly to accommodate his children with better educational advantages he moved his residence to Red Springs in 1898. Mr. Purcell was honored by his fellow citizens by election in 1887 to the State Senate as representative of Robeson and Colum- bus counties.
Mr. Purcell married Miss Margaret Cornelia MacCallum, They have a fine family of five children, four daughters and one son. The daughters are Mrs. Ina Purcell MacEachern, Mrs. Hattie Bethea, Miss Louise Purcell, Mrs. Margaret K. Smith. The son, Rev. John Edwin Purcell, Jr., has distinguished himself as a minister of the Presbyterian Church, though still young in years He was liberally educated, having attended the Quackenbush School at Laurinburg, and is a graduate of Davidson College and of the Union Theological Seminary of Richmond, Virginia.
WILLIAM C. GREENE, M. D. Now living retired at Wilkesboro, Doctor Greene has had a long and notable career both as a physician and as a dentist. He practiced the profession upwards of sixty years. Among other distinctions he is a surviving veteran of the great war between the states and did his duty gallantly and well as an officer in the Confederate army.
He was born on a plantation in Alexander Coun- ty, North Carolina, December 3, 1842. His grand- father was a Massachusetts Yankee, but came to North Carolina and bought a farm eight miles east of Rutherfordton, where he had his slaves and cul- tivated his land according to the southern fashion. He lived there until his death. Johu B. Greene, father of Doctor Greene, was born on a plantation in Rutherford County, North Carolina, grew up on a farm, subsequently returned to Alexander Coun- ty and was there a merchant in partnership with his brother, Cromwell. He also bought land and engaged in farming. He owned a number of slaves and with them operated three separate farms. When the war closed there were still twenty-two slaves on his plantations. He told them they were free, but they refused to leave him for several years, and some of them hung around the plantation and their beloved master for years. John B. Greene died when nearly eighty years old. His wife, who was named Jane Redman, was born in Iredell County, North Carolina, and died at the age of ninety-one. Her parents were Hosea and Lucretia (Williams) Redman. There were five children: Lucretia Adeline, William C., Martha Jane, Emma and Arthur Judson.
Doctor Greene grew up ou the old family plan- tation and had liberal advantages both at home and in the schools of the state. He attended dis- trict school and was a student at Wake Forest Col-
W. C. Greene
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lege when in 1861 the war broke out. He raised a company of his friends and neighbors and this was mustered in as Company K of the 7th Regi- ment, North Carolina Troops. Given a commission as second lieutenant, he went with his command through its long and arduous service and was in the war almost to the end. Several times his clothing was pierced by bullets, but he escaped actual wounds and was never captured nor sur- rendered. At the time of the final surrender it chanced that he was home on a furlough.
Doctor Greene also had some part in the restora- tion of law and order during the reconstruction period. Soon after the close of the war a gang of outlaws, most of them natives of the sur- rounding country, but under the leadership of an ex-federal soldier, undertook to terrorize the in- habitants of Alexander and the adjoining counties. The headquarters was a log house on an eminence in Wilkes County. It bore the appropriate name of Fort Hamby. One time the gang visited the Greene homestead. The family was prepared and gave them a warm reception and the outlaws re- treated after one of their number had been wounded. Doctor Greene was thoroughly aroused and got together a number of the old soldiers in the neighborhood, went in pursuit and followed the gang to the very doors of their stronghold. This practically put an end to their depredations.
Doctor Greene's first ambition was to become a lawyer. He attended Judge Pearson's Law School at Rockford, but soon afterward on account of his father's disability returned to take charge of the farm. He then began the study of medicine under Doctor Hackett and subsequently attended medical lectures at Charleston, South Carolina. Doctor Greene began practice at Wilkesboro and attended a large clientage for fifteen years. He subsequent- ly studied dentistry in the Maryland Dental Col- lege at Baltimore, and after being qualified he gave his time to the practice of that profession in Wilkesboro and continued it many years until he finally retired.
Doctor Greene was married July, 1865, to Laura Gray. She was born in Davie County, North Carolina, May 21, 1841. Her father, Joseph Gray, was also a native of North Carolina, and losing his father when quite young, he went with his mother and his brothers to Davie County. His mother spent her last years there. After his marriage in Davie County, Mrs. Greene's father moved to Yadkin County, but during the war sold his farm and bought the Governor Stokes farm in Wilkes County. On that plantation he spent the rest of his days, dying at the age of ninety-six. He married Mary Kelley, who was born near Rockford in Surry County, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Coson) Kelley. Mrs. Greene's mother died when about fifty years of age. Her children were five daughters and one son: Wil- liam, Elizabeth, Juliet, Mary Lou, Laura and Jo- sephine.
Doctor and Mrs. Greene had two children, both now deceased, Herbert and Ida. Herbert attended public schools at'Wilkesboro, prepared for college under private tuition, and then took the literary course in the University of North Carolina. He studied law under Colonel Folk in Yadkin Valley Law School and on being admitted to the bar took up active practice at Wilkesboro and was one of the very successful lawyers there. He also served a term in the State Legislature. Herbert Greene married Davie Willbern. At his death he left four children : Gray, Louise, Mary and Ida.
Doctor Greene's daughter, Ida, was educated in the Greensboro College, was especially talented in music and became a teacher of that art. She mar- ried Robert Stafford, and at her death left one daughter, Ida. Doctor and Mrs. Greene are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church.
HON. JOHN FRANKLIN GRIFFITH is one of the veteran business men of Winston-Salem. Taking his experience as clerk, partner and individual proprietor he has put in more than forty years as a merchant, and has sold goods to two genera- tions of people in that section of the state. His place in the community is also one of heightened esteem on account of his long and varied partici- pation in public affairs. He has almost con- tinuously been connected officially and as a worker with some of the public organizations and institutions.
The Griffith family has long been identified with North Carolina and there is extant a publication showing the genealogy of this branch of the Grif- fiths, tracing the North Carolina members of the family to Wales. For a number of years the family lived in Rowan County, North Carolina, and from there the grandfather removed to Davie County, buying a farm in Farmington Township,' where he spent his last years. The father of the Winston-Salem merchant was Charles Frank Grif- fith, a native of Rowan County but reared in Davie County. After reaching manhood he bought a farm in Farmington Township of Davie County, and is still living there, being now at the venerable age of ninety-one years. He married Sarah Taylor, who was born in Davie County and died at the age of fifty-one. She was the mother of two sons: John Franklin and William Wallace.
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