History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV, Part 21

Author: Connor, R. D. W. (Robert Digges Wimberly), 1878-1950; Boyd, William Kenneth, 1879-1938. dn; Hamilton, Joseph Gregoire de Roulhac, 1878-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Chicago : New York : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 750


USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 21


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tion, but only to an honored stand in the ranks of a loyal and beneficent citizenship. Joining in with the rank and file of the white men of the conquered South he was content to lend all his talent and energy in aiding them in the upbuilding of an impoverished section.


The greater portion of his compositions were editorials upon political or practical themes of a public nature. They were plain, pointed and in- telligible. He did not pretend to the graces of rhetoric, though from constant reading his taste had been developed in the line of a transparent, simple style. He could distinguish bombast and fustian from pure English at a glance.


But aside from his editorials, Mr. Bruner some- times in leisure moments indulged in writing grace- ful little poems and essays, which he did not pub- lish but put into his drawer, there to lie for years. These were evidently jotted down at a sitting and have not had the advantage of critical filing and resetting-and yet they indicate the possession of an imagination, which, had it been cultivated might have won him distinction in the world of letters.


Blameless and exemplary in all the relations of life, a Christian gentleman, he met all the re- quirements of the highest citizenship, and what higher eulogy can any hope to merit? "The great work laid upon his three score years Is done, and well done. If we drop our tears We mourn no blighted hope or broken plan With him whose life stands rounded and approved In the full growth and stature of a man."


NATHANIEL HENRY MOORE is a prominent young business man of Washington, one of the executive officials in a large wholesale grocery business that has been developed in this city, and in a public way is known to all citizens as postmaster.


He was born at Norfolk, Virginia, May 10, 1886, but has lived in Washington, North Carolina, since 1895. He is a son of James Bruer and Appie (Grist) Moore. His father was a whole- sale merchant but now deceased. Nathaniel H. Moore grew up in Washington, attended private and high school, and acquired his early experience in a wholesale grocery establishment. He is vice president and secretary of the Carolina Distribut- ing Company, one of the concerns that have served to make Washington an important wholesale dis- tributing point for this section of the state. Mr. Moore was appointed postmaster of Washington on March 3, 1915.


He is an active member of St. Peter's Parish of the Episcopal Church, is a vestryman, and is one of the leading members of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.


JOHN HAMLIN FOLGER. A widely known and highly respected attorney of Mount Airy, Surry County, John Hamlin Folger is thoroughly versed in the intricacies of the law, and during his pros- perous professional career has conducted and won many cases of importance. He was born in Rock- ford, Surry County, a son of Thomas Wilson Fol- ger, and grandson of Milton Young Folger, for many years a practicing physician of Surry Coun- ty. His paternal great-grandfather, Reuben Fol- ger, was a son of Latham Folger, the founder of the Folger families of this state. He is of substan- tial English ancestry, and comes from the very oldest stock that peopled the Island of Nantucket, being a direct descendant of one of two brothers named Folger, who were among the original pro-


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prietors of that small but important island, im- migrating there from England in very early Colonial times.


Reuben Folger succeeded to the occupation of his New England ancestors, and during his active career owned and operated a plantation near the present site of Kernersville, Forsyth County. He married Lydia Wilson, a native of Randolph Coun- ty, North Carolina, and to them six sons were born and reared, as follows: Cyrus, Alfred, Rufus W., Benjamin F., Jackson and Milton Young.


Milton Young Folger was born on the home plantation, near Kernersville, in 1819. Entering the medical profession as a young man, he prac- ticed first at Brownsville, Davidson County, from there removing with his family to Rockford, Surry County, where he continued in active practice until his death, in 1890. Dr. M. Y. Folger was twice married. He married first Elizabeth Pegram, a native of Guilford County, and to them four children were born, Romulus S., Eunice M., Adrian Rush and Fanny. The doctor married for his sec- ond wife Elizabeth Gray, who was born in Davie County, North Carolina, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Kelley) Gray. Of their union seven children were born, namely: Joseph, Mollie, Thomas Wilson, Maude, Metta Alice, Ida and Benjamin F.


Born February 28, 1854, in Rockford, Surry County, Thomas Wilson Folger received superior educational advantages as a youth, being gradu- ated from Trinity College, and later being ad- mitted to the bar. Immediately opening a law office in Dobson, he built up an extensive and remunerative legal practice, and was there a resi- dent until his death, in 1913, at the early age of fifty-nine years. The maiden name of his wife was Ada Dillard Robertson.


John Hamlin Folger acquired . his elementary education in the public schools of Dobson, later continuing his studies at Guilford College. He subsequently entered the law department of the University of North Carolina, and was there grad- uated with the class of 1901. Locating in Dob- son, Mr. Folger achieved marked success in his legal work, carrying it on in that place for four years. In 1905 he came to Mount Airy, and in this vicinity has built up a large and higlily satis- factory general practice, his legal skill and ability being widely recognized and appreciated.


Mr. Folger married November 5, 1899, Miss Maude Douglas, who was born and brought up in Yadkin County, North Carolina, a daughter of Henry W. and Lulu (Wilson) Douglas, and into their pleasant home four children have been born, namely: Fred, Nell, Henry and Frances. Mr. and Mrs. Folger are active members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South, of which Mr. Folger has served as a member of its board of trustees, and as a steward.


Mr. Folger is prominently identified with sev- eral of the leading fraternal organizations of Surry County, being a member of Granite Lodge, No. 207, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons ; of Mount Airy Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of Mount Airy Council, No. 73; of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and of Mount Airy Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men.


ALEXANDER HENDERSON GALLOWAY, JR. Every community realizes sooner or later the need not so much of capital or of material resources as of an effective body of citizenship, devoted to the civic welfare, willing to sacrifice their. private interests


for some good that comes to the community as a. whole. Winston-Salem has several such men, and none with more dynamic energy and enthusiasm for all that concerns a larger and better city than Alexander H. Galloway. Mr. Galloway represents one of the oldest families in this part of North Carolina, being a son of Major Alexander H. and Sally (Scales) Galloway, of Reidsville. The family history and the career of Major Galloway are sketched on other pages of this publication.


Alexander Galloway, Jr., was born at the old home of his father at Valley Field in Rockingham County September 15, 1870. His father being a) man of ample means he kept a private tutor for the benefit of his children, and besides the instruc- tion from this source Alexander H. attended the Reidsville public schools, and also had a course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York.


He began his business experience as clerk in a bank at Greensboro for two years and from there came to Winston-Salem. For several years hé was in the office of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Com- pany at Winston, but resigned to become teller in the Wachovia Bank & Trust Company. He left the bank to take up the real estate business. Mr. Galloway has been one of the primary factors in giving Winston-Salem adequate hotel facilities. In 1906 he organized the Forsyth Hotel Company, became secretary and treasurer, and this organiza- tion built the fine Hotel Zinzendorf. In 1911 Mr. Galloway personally leased this hotel and has since conducted it under his personal supervision. In 1912 he organized the Guilford Hotel Company, which took over the Guilford Hotel, and that place of public entertainment has also been under his management.


In 1916 Mr. Galloway was elected president of the Winston-Salem Board of Trade, and under his leadership that organization is making a record year of performance for the development of the city along different lines. He is a member of the Twin City Club and the Forsyth County Country Club.


In February, 1907, Mr. Galloway married Miss Mary Gray, member of a prominent family of Winston-Salem, and daughter of James and Aurelia (Bowman) Gray. They are the parents of two sons, James Bowman and Alexander, Jr.


WILLIAM ARCH BRADSHER, M. D. The profes- sion of medicine is one to which many aspire, but in which only the chosen few meet with any com- parative degree of success. Of the physicians of Person County who have attained distinction and prosperity in their profession, one of the best known is Dr. William Arch Bradsher, who has been engaged in practice at Roxboro since 1904. He began his career as a public instructor, but after several years of teaching turned his attention to medicine, with the result that today he occupies a prominent and helpful place in his community.


Doctor Bradsher is a native son of Person County, and was born September 15, 1877, his parents being D'Arcy William and Mildred (Satterfield) Bradsher. His father was well known in the lo- cality of Roxboro and for many years occupied the position of clerk of the Superior Court of Person County. The public and high schools of the county seat furnished the basis for Doctor Bradsher's edu- cation, following which he attended Wake Forest College. He had a creditable college career, and in 1898 and 1899 acted as manager of the college paper, the Wake Forest College Student, which


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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA


prospered and flourished under his handling of its affairs. He was graduated in 1899 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and secured the position of principal of the Roxboro High School, which he re- tained from 1899 until 1901, then resigning in order to devote himself to the study of his chosen profession. , He entered the medical department of the University of Maryland at that time, and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1904. When he was licensed to practice, in the same year, he was one of three to be mentioned with honor before the examining board. Doctor Bradsher immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Roxboro, and his professional business has grown steadily since that time. He is accounted a skilled practitioner, an able advisor and a thoroughly competent surgeon; and his strict observance of professional ethics gives him an ex- cellent standing among his fellow-members of the fraternity. Doctor Bradsher belongs to the Person County Medical Society, the North Carolina State Medical Society, the Southern Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has had his full share of public service, and has discharged faithfully and efficiently the duties devolving upon him as a member of the county board of educatiou, to which he formerly belonged; as county physician for ten years; and at present as a member of the local exemption board.


Doctor Bradsher was married July 6, 1910, to Miss Anna Price Merritt, of Person County, North Car- olina, and to this union there have been born two children: Eileen Merritt and Anne Torian. Doctor and Mrs. Bradsher are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.


HENRY CLAY CARTER, JR., whose position as a lawyer is among the leaders of the profession, has been in active practice at Washington since his admission to the bar.


He was born at Fairfield, North Carolina, October 8, 1883, a son of Henry Clay and Robena (Spencer) Carter. His father was a farmer. Mr. Carter was educated in the Fairfield Academy, took his academic work at Trinity College at Durham, where he was graduated in 1904, and in 1906 completed his law studies in the University of North Carolina. Mr. Carter was admitted to the bar in February, 1906, and soon afterward began general practice at . Washington. Here the interests of a growing clientage have claimed his time and attention but he also served two years as county attorney and for the past eight years has been city attorney of Washington.


Mr. Carter is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is quite active in democratic party affairs, having served as presi- dential elector in 1916.


November 4, 1908, he married Lucile Thorn Nicholson, daughter of Dr. Samuel C. and Annie Elizabeth (Lucas) Nicholson, of Washington. They have three children: David Nicholson, Caro- line Virginia and William Baker.


WILLIAM J. BYERLY. Endowed by nature with far more than average business capacity and judg- ment, William J. Byerly, of Mount Airy, the leading financier of Surry County, has been the . chief moving spirit in the organization of banking institutions, not only in his own, but in various other counties. Officially connected with each of the banks that he has helped establish, whose ag- gregate deposits now amount to over $2,500,000,


his wise counsel and far-seeing financial vision has ever been at their service, and his personal reputation invariably inspires the public with con- fidence in their stability and worth. A native of North Carolina, Mr. Byerly was born at Yadkin College, Davidson County, which was likewise the birthplace of both his father, John F. Byerly, and of his grandfather, Frank Byerly.


Peter Byerly, the great-grandfather of William J., was born and reared in Germany. Immigrating to America, he came directly to this state, settling as a pioneer in Davidson County. Securing title to a large tract of land bordering on the Yadkin River, he improved the waterpower, and there erected one of the first flour mills established in this part of the country. Clearing a goodly por- tion of the land, he was there engaged in farming and milling during the remainder of his life.


Inheriting a plantation, Frank Byerly, grand- father of William J. Byerly, carried on general farming with slave labor, and there spent the ma- jor part of his long life of eighty-nine years. He married a Miss Phillips, and they reared a family of five children, as follows: Wesley, Fanny, John F., Lindsay and Ephraim.


John F. Byerly, father of W. J. Byerly, was educated at Yadkin College, and at the breaking out of the Civil war enlisted in the regiment com- manded by Col. James A. Leach, and went to the front. He was twice wounded in battle, but, with the exception of three months spent in recuperating from his injuries, continued in service until the close of the conflict, being in Appomattox at the surrender. Returning home, he resumed his agri- cultural labors. He continued as a farmer until his death, in 1912. He married Elizabeth Hartley, who was born at Yadkin College, a daughter of Thomas W. and Martha (Gobble) Hartley. She survived her husband, and is now living with a daughter in Advance, Davie County, this state. She has reared seven children, namely: William J., the special subject of this sketch; Nora, wife of C. M. Sheets, of Wilkesboro; Georgina, wife of C. J. Taylor, of Advance; Tullia, wife of William Poindexter, of Winston Salem; Thomas J., a well known banker of National City Bank of New York City; Guler, and May.


After leaving Yadkin College, where he was edu- cated, William J. Byerly, in 1892, went to Lexing- ton, Davidson County, where he was employed as a bookkeeper in the Bank of Lexington for three years. Going from there in 1895 to Louisburg, North Carolina, and accepted the position of cash- ier. He organized the Farmers & Merchants Bank, and gained an experience that has since been of inestimable value to him. Locating at Mount Airy in 1905 Mr. Byerly made good use of the knowl- edge he had previously obtained by organizing the Bank of Mount Airy, of which he has since been the president, in that capacity managing its affairs with wisdom and discretion. He had, how- ever, before that year, organized two institutions of a similar nature, in 1901 having established at Mocksville the Bank of Davie and Bank of French Broad at Marshall in which he is a director, and in 1902 having organized, at Taylorsville, the Bank of Alexander, which he has since served as vice president.


Mr. Byerly is likewise president of the Bank of Yadkin, at Yadkinville, which he organized in 1905, and is a director in several other banking institutions, including the Bank of Stokes County, at Danbury, and the Bank of Wilkes, at Wilkes- boro, both of which he organized in 1907; and


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the Commercial and Farmers Bank at Rural Hall, and the Commercial and Savings Bank at Boone- ville, both of which he organized in 1908. Mr. Byerly is also a director of the North Carolina Granite Corporation, and as a stockholder is finan- cially interested in various other corporations. Faithful to the trusts and confidence reposed in him, he gives his personal attention to the various organizations with which he is connected, allowing nothing to escape his observation that would ad- vance their financial status and prosperity.


Mr. Byerly married Miss May R. Leonard, of Lexington, in 1898, a daughter of W. C. B. and Mollie Leonard. Mrs. Byerly died in 1916. Mr. Byerly is a member of the Central Methodist Epis- copal Church, South, in which he is serving as steward.


JACOB CICERO TISE. At an early hour on Octo- ber 13, 1917, the lifework of Mr. Jacob Cicero Tise of Winston-Salem came to its close. But, as one who has known him long wrote at the time, "this is not the end. The good which he has done will live on. How much useful work he has done and what influences for good have found their source in his mind and heart will appear greater in the years to come when viewed in distant retrospec- tion. ''


It is doubtful if any resident of North Carolina entered business at an earlier age then Jacob Cicero Tise. He was a bona fide merchant when only ten years of age. His father was backing him, and of course exercising more or less super- vision over his activities. However, he showed keen business instincts from the start and for a great many years occupied one of the leading mercantile establishments of Winston. He long ago retired from the role of merchant and after- wards concerned himself with extensive real estate interests, becoming proprietor of the famous Vade Mecum Spring and tourist resort north of Winston- Salem.


His life and growth were almost contempor- aneous with that of his native and beloved city. Born at Winston October 24, 1855, he had been an important factor in its activities for more than half a century. Although the meridian seemed hardly passed he had left little undone to complete the life task of a real man.


By birth and training he was well endowed for a career of usefulness. His parents made for themselves and their children a typical American home of their day, from which most of our strong men have come-a home where industry, economy, integrity and religion were taught and practiced.


His father, Jacob Tise, was born in Davidson County, North Carolina, December 13, 1817, came to Salem when a young man, and there served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith and carriage making trade. After becoming a master workman he bought property in the new Town of Winston. He put up his shop on the forks at the junction of Main and Liberty Street. That shop was the home of high class workmanship and many well built wagons and carriages were made there. His home was directly across Main Street from the shop, and the old house is still standing, though it has been removed from its original location. Jacob Tise, Sr., was a very successful business man and one of the pioneers of Winston. Out of the pro- ceeds of his business he bought property, including the block east of and across Main Street from the postoffice. At that time only two buildings stood on this block. Besides wagon and carriage build-


ing he was a merchant, and he continued his use- ful and honorable 'career in the city until his death at the age of eighty-seven. Jacob Tise married. Margaret Kiser. She was born November 19, 1825, daughter of Henry and Betty (Ripple) Kiser. Henry Kiser was a son of Tandy Kiser, who operated an extensive plantation and had upwards of a 100 slaves in his service. His last years were spent on his farm near Rural Hall in Forsyth County. Henry Kiser also owned and occupied a large farm five miles from Germanton in Stokes County. He and his wife lived there until death overtook them when upwards of ninety years of age. Mrs. Jacob Tise died in March, 1915, when eighty-nine years old. She was a greatly beloved woman and one of the oldest residents of Winston at the time of her death. She reared four chil- dren: Mary J., who married Sihon A. Ogburn, of Winston-Salem, Martha Ann, who became the wife of John H. Masten, Charles H., now deceased, and Jacob Cicero.


Tise received most of his early instruction was known as Liberty Academy. Its sessions were held in a log cabin. The seats were made of slab benches and as the furnishings throughout were most primi- tive, the instruction was also confined to the funda- mentals.


The school from which Jacob Cicero


His entrance into merchandising at the age of ten years has already been referred to. Probably wishing to encourage good business practices in his boy, his father set aside a small portion of a building on the northeast corner of Liberty and Third streets, and the stock presided over by young Tise consisted of ginger cakes and beer. The beer was made by his mother from molasses. The cakes and beer were of excellent quality, and the boy had no difficulty in disposing of the entire stock every day. It was a money making institu- tion and in a short time, when more room was required, a partition was removed and the busi- ness took its first step of progress. A stock of general merchandise was installed and afterwards the trade was extended to farm implements. The father shared in the profits with his boy, but the latter was in active charge, and at the age of twenty-two became an independent merchant. After that he sold goods in Winston on a very successful scale until 1892. In that year he retired from merchandising and gave all his attention to the handling of real estate. He bought, improved and sold both city and suburban lots, and was successful himself and did much to develop some hitherto neglected portions of Winston-Salem.


In 1900 he organized a stock company and bought the Vade Mecum Springs property of 3,000 acres, located in Stokes County. A few years later Mr. Tise became sole proprietor, and thereafter expended upwards of $100,000 in improving and beautifying this wonderful springs resort, which travelers far and wide have visited and which is one of the most celebrated places of its kind in North Carolina.


On November 5, 1884, Mr. Tise married Miss Laura Ellen Miller at Riverside, North Carolina. Their lives blended into a union of perfect help- fulness, congeniality and happiness. A cultivated voice, rich in expression of sacred music, which she possessed, had its influence in leading him to her own church. He loved music and had appre- ciation for the beautiful in art and nature alike. Mrs. Tise was born in Clemmons Township of Forsyth County, a daughter of John W. Miller, who was born on the same farm, a granddaughter


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of John Miller, and a great-granddaughter of John Miller, a native of Germany. This last John Miller moved to England and spent the rest of his live there. He reared three children, John, Frederick and Elizabeth. They inherited considerable prop- erty from their father and all of them came to America and located in North Carolina. Mrs. Tise's grandfather, John Miller, bought some large tracts of land bordering Yadkin River in what was then Stokes County. Many slaves were employed to operate this land. He also im- proved the power on the Yadkin River, erecting a flour and saw mill whose wheels were kept turn- ing many years and gave a notable service in fur- nishing provision and lumber for a large district. The John Miller residence in Clemmons Township overlooked the Yadkin River, and that was his home until his death at an advanced age. Grand- father John Miller married Elizabeth McBride, also a native of England. They reared eight chil- dren : Nicholas, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Mary, Patty, Nancy, John and Thomas. John W. Miller, father of Mrs. Tise, grew up in Clemmons Township, attended the public schools, and succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead. He also had numerous slaves until the outbreak of the war. He operated his land for general farming and also conducted the mills established by his father. He remained in that community until his death. John W. Miller married Eliza Ward, who was born in Davie County, North Carolina, a daughter of Levin Ward. Levin Ward was a native of England, came to America when a young man, and settled in Davie County and acquired some large tracts of land, which were operated with slave labor. He continued a resident of Davie County until his death. Levin Ward's first wife, the grandmother of Mrs. Tise, was a Miss Brook, who died in early life, leaving just one daughter. Mrs. John W. Miller died when ninety-one years of age. She reared ten children: Elizabeth, Thomas, Minnie, Wesley, Martha, William, Virginia, Cenie, Laura E. (Mrs. Tise), and Dora. Mrs. Tise's father was a member of the Moravian Church while her mother was a Methodist.




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