USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 23
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
In November, 1912, Mr. Hines married Miss Ida Edwards Winstead, who was born at Roxboro, Person County, North Carolina, daughter of S. B. and Ida (Satterfield) Winstead. Mr. and Mrs. Hines have one daughter, Dorothy Byrd.
Along with the law Mr. Hines has combined all active interest and a dutiful attention to public affairs and politics. He is chairman of the execu- tive committee of the democratic party in Guilford County and is a member of the State Executive Committee. Fraternally he is affiliated with Cor- inthian Lodge No. 342, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Greensboro Council No. 13, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; Greensboro Camp No. 26. Woodmen of the World, and is commandant of the local camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
CORNELIUS MONROE VANSTORY. The City of Greensboro has long recognized in Cornelius Mon- roe Vanstory one of its ablest and public spirited citizens as well as one of its most capable busi- ness men. Mr. Vanstory has never desired to figure in public life through the medium of politics, and has rendered his chief service in those positions and capacities which are usually without any re- muneration and involve unlimited' work which oftentimes goes absolutely unappreciated. Mr. Vanstory is one of the most prominent Masons of North Carolina.
. He was born in Guilford County, North Caro- lina, a son of John Henry and Kate B. (Gordon) Vanstory. Grandfather Dr. Cornelius M. Vanstory was for many years a practicing physician in Guil- ford County. He was descended from a family of sturdy Hollanders. John H. Vanstory was a North Carolina farmer and spent all his life in Guilford County. His wife was a daughter of Woodson and Mary (Greene) Gordon. Her grandfather Gordon served as a general in the Revolutionary war.
Cornelius M. Vanstory grew up in the atmos- phere of the country, had a good business educa- tion, and when a young man sought the bigger and broader opportunities of commercial life. At Greensboro he entered merchandising, acquired a thorough experience and then founded the Van- story clothing business which has grown and pros- pered and is now one of the largest enterprises of its kind in Guilford County. Out of his suc- cess as a merchant Mr. Vanstory has extended his interests to other fields and has acquired a large amount of city property. He is a director of the Greensboro National Bank, a member of the Board of Examiners of the Greensboro Loan and Trust Company, is a member of the firm of Vanstory & Balsley, real estate, and is a member of the Mer- chants' and Manufacturers' Club of the Young Men's Christian Association.
His affiliations with Masonry deserve a brief paragraph by themselves. He is a member of Corinthian Lodge No. 542, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; of Chorazen Chapter No. 13, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest; of Greensboro Council No. 3, Royal and Select Masters; Ivanhoe Commandery No. 8, Knights Templar, of which he is past grand commander; Carolina Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite at Charlotte; Oasis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charlotte and also Haji Mecca Temple of the Mystic Shrine at New York. In 1915-16 he served as grand commander of the National Knights Templar of the United States. He is chairman of the executive committee of the
Masonic and Eastern Star Home of North Caro- lina.
Mr. Vanstory is also affiliated with Greensboro Lodge No. 602, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is now exalted ruler, and is a past chancellor of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias.
As a public spirited citizen there has been noth- ing in Mr. Vanstory's life which would expose him to the slightest danger of being held up as a "slacker." He has always been willing to do his part, though practical politics has never been a really congenial field. He was for several years a member of the City School Board, and during the present war with Germany in 1917-18 he holds a position through appointment and commission from Governor Bickett as chairman of the Coun- cil of Defense for Guilford County, chairman of the committee on transportation, and chairman of the county food administration.
November 17, 1887, Mr. Vanstory married Miss Cora McLane Moore." She was born in Greens- boro, daughter of Maj. James Robert and Nar- cisa (Unthank) McLane. Her father, Major Mc- Lane, was an attorney and for several years a member of the Greensboro bar and prominent in public affairs. During the war he served as a member of the Confederate Congress. Mrs. Van- story was the adopted daughter of W. S. Moore. To their marriage have been born the following children: Robert Moore, who is in the artillery service, United States army, at Camp Zachary Taylor; Mary Carolina, Ruth McLane, Jennie Scales, Cornelius M., Jr., and William A. Mary is the wife of E. C. Elzemeyer and Ruth married R. R. King, Jr., and has one daughter, the only grandchild of Mr. and Mrs. Vanstory.
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REV. ERNEST HALL STOCKTON is secretary and treasurer for the Southern Province of the Mora- vian Church in America and is also secretary of the congregation of the United Brethren of Salem and vicinity. He has spent his life in Western North Carolina, and his people have for genera- tions been actively identified with the Moravian Church both in this state and in Pennsylvania. Some of his ancestors were among the pioneer Moravians in Western North Carolina.
Mr. Stockton was born at Salem on August 28, 1876. His great-grandfather, Daughty Stockton, . was born probably in the State of New Jersey of English ancestry. He was a pioneer in North Caro- lina, and owned and occupied a farm on the state road between Winston and Greensboro. He mar- ried a Miss Perkins. Grandfather John Branch Stockton was born on the old farm in Forsyth County and became a merchant at Kernersville in that county. After some years he removed to Winston-Salem and kept a general store there until his death, at the age of sixty-three. He married Martha McGehee. She was born at Farm- ville in Prince Edward County, Virginia, daughter of Micajah and Martha (Venable) McGehee. Her parents on coming to North Carolina settled near Madison in Rockingham County. John B. Stock- ton and wife had six sons: Joseph H., William D., Charles B., Nathan G., John G. and Madison D.
John Gilliam Stockton, father of Ernest H. was born on a farm near Kernersville in Forsyth County October 20, 1855. From the farm he came in early youth to Salem to clerk in the store of his brother, and after a few years engaged in the confectionery business for himself on Main Street. His store was near the Court House. Later
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
he entered the employ of D. H. King, in the coal and ice business, and continued to be associated with Mr. King until his death in 1893, at the age of thirty-eight. He was married in 1875 to Florence Estelle Hall.
Florence Estelle Hall was born at Salem, daugh- ter of William Henry and Ernestine Augusta (Veirling) Hall and sister of Rev. James Ernest Hall, a sketch of whom appears in this work.
John G. Stockton and wife reared four chil- dren: Ernest Hall, Gertrude E., Florence E. and John D.
Ernest Hall Stockton had the advantages of the public schools as a boy, but at the early age of fifteen became self supporting. He was employed by the Roanoke & Southern Railway Company, and later was with the Norfolk & Western Railroad. He was continuously in railroad service until he resigned to accept his present responsibilities with the Moravian Church of North Carolina.
Rev. Mr. Stockton was married December 14, 1897, to Miss Minnie Louise Tesh. She was born at Salem, daughter of Romulus and Louisa (Teague) Tesh. Mr. and Mrs. Stockton have six children : Flavella, Blanche, Edwin, Carrie May, Mary and Gertrude. Mr. Stockton is affiliated with Salem Lodge No. 289, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
WILLIAM PEPPER PHILLIPS has been identified with the cotton mill industry in North Carolina since boyhood, learning it as a boy operative, and for the past twenty-five years has been identified with The Erwin Cotton Mills Comnany in their extensive plant and manufactories at West Durham
Mr. Phillips was born in Alamance County, North Carolina, November 2, 1863, a son of James and Rebecca (Turner) Phillips. His father was a farmer. The son grew up on a farm, living in a country community until he was twenty-one, and his education was largely secured through a private school conducted by William Thompson, a well known educator of that day. He entered a cotton mill and spent three years in the carding depart- ment and from there entered the dye house, and it has been in the dyeing branches of the business that he has gained his chief fame as an expert. He has been and for twenty-five years was an overseer of dye houses. He moved to Durham, North Car- olina, in April, 1893, and was chief dyer for the Erwin Cotton Mills Company until 1907, when he . was appointed superintendent of Mill No. 1. His services have also been required in a number of the other mills owned by The Erwin Company, and he is undoubtedly one of the most prominent men in cotton mill circles in North Carolina today.
Mr. Phillips has exerted himself in a public spirited way toward the upbuilding of his com- munity at West Durham, is chairman of the board of deacons in the Baptist Church there, and is affil- iated with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. May 19, 1889, he married Mary Elizabeth Edwards of Orange County, North Carolina. They became the parents of eight children, Lucile, William Pepper, Jr., Callie Rebecca, Mary Elizabeth, Edward L., Catherine, Margaret Jasemine, and Elmina, who died at the age of twelve years.
HENRY CLAY STOKES. It is both encouraging and interesting to trace a career fulfilling ambi- tious hopes that has had for its foundation stones industry and business integrity. There may be
little of romance to adorn either, but the satisfy- ing results that accrue will far outdistance those won through a young man's easier choice, or his less conscientious attitude in relation to his deal- ings with his fellow men. Among Hartford's prominent, useful and truly representative citizens none are held in higher regard than Henry Clay Stokes, who is president of the Farmers Bank & Trust Company of Hertford. He is a Hertford "boy" and there have been many who have watched with commendation his steady advance from a minor place in a business house to one that places him at the head of one of the important financial institutions of Eastern North Carolina.
Henry Clay Stokes was born at Hertford, North Carolina, November 12, 1876. His parents were Henry Clay and Elizabeth (Tow) Stokes. The father has been engaged in business at Hertford for many years, as an undertaker, harness manu- facturer and in other lines, one of the city's honorable, dependable men.
Educational facilities have never been lacking in Hertford since its village days and in the boy- hood and youth of Mr. Stokes Hertford Academy offered many advantages. When fifteen years old the youth accepted a clerkship with M. H. White & Company, general merchants, and through indus- try and integrity was soon promoted as his busi- ness ability became more and more evident and finally he became a member of the firm, the style later becoming White & Company. Mr. Stokes was recognized as one of the city's most able merchants and an important factor in the com- mercial life of Hertford.
Later Mr. Stokes turned his attention to the financial field and with other capitalists organized the Farmers Bank & Trust Company, of which he has since been president. He is interested also in the Hertford Hardware & Supply Company, of which he is vice president, and in minor enter- prises of more or less importance. In all of these concerns and in his activities in other directions his actions have been characterized by the ad- herence to principles which have won for him the unqualified respect and confidence of his fellow men.
Mr. Stokes was married September 7, 1915, to Miss Ruth A. Clark, who was born in Virginia. They have one daughter, whom they have named Joyce.
While Mr. Stokes has been closely identified with the city's important business interests, he has always been an active citizen, deeply interested in Hertford's development and giving his support to undertakings which he has deemed beneficial to the community. His fellow citizens have recog- mized his sincerity and ability by electing him to responsible offices, and he served five years as chairman of the Board of. County Commissioners, and for six years, ' or until he resigned, he was a member of the Hertford Town Board, and at present is a member of the Board of Control.
HON. THOMAS LENOIR GWYN. A man of in- defatigable enterprise and unquestioned business sagacity and foresight, Hon. Thomas Lenoir Gwyn, of Elkin, Surry County, has accomplished a satis- factory work as farmer and miller, and is now living retired from active pursuits, enjoying not only the comforts, but many of the luxuries, of modern life. He was born in Elkin, November 9, 1842, son of Richard Gwyn, and grandson of James Gwyn, a pioneer settler of Wilkes County.
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
The Gwyn family is of Welsh origin, the im- migrant ancestor having emigrated from Wales to America in 1610. He located in Virginia, and, according to tradition, while exploring the coast along the Chesapeake Bay he saved the beautiful Indian maiden, Pocahontas, from drowning while she was attempting to swim from the coast to an island. Wishing to express her gratitude, she, in the name of her father, Powhatan, presented to him the island, which for many years thereafter was known as Gwyn Island.
Born and bred in Brunswick County, Virginia, James Gwyn came from there to North Caro- lina, locating in Wilkes County, in pioneer times. Purchasing a large tract of heavily timbered land, in which was included the present site of Ronda, he erected a substantial house, and with the aid of his slaves cleared and improved a good farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Lenoir, was the daughter of Thomas Lenoir, a soldier in the Revolutionary army.
Born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, near the present site of Ronda, in 1796, Richard Gwyn was brought up on a farm, and early became familiar with farm work. Soon after attaining his majority, he embarked in mercantile pursuits on his own account in Jonesville, Yadkin County. While thus employed he invested his surplus money in land, buying on the north side of the Yadkin River a large tract, which included the present site of Elkin. Far-seeing and enterprising, he im- proved the waterpower on Elkin Creek, and there built a grist mill. While other streams in the vicinity frequently went dry, Elkin Creek had a never-failing supply of water, and people from afar, even as far distant as Salisbury, brought their corn to his mill to be ground, often time keeping him busy grinding every day and night in the week, including Sundays. He subsequently built a cotton mill near by, the first mill of the kind in the county, and operated both plants for many years. On the north side of Main Street, in Elkin, he erected a good house, and there resided until his death, in 1884.
Richard Gwyn married Elizabeth Hunt. She was born in Yadkin County, on the south side of the Yadkin River, where her father, Daniel Hunt, a life-long resident of that county, was an exten- sive landholder, and operated his plantation with slave labor. Nine children were born of their union, as follows: Annie, who became the wife of Columbus B. Franklin; Richard R .; James D .; Hugh A .; Sallie, who married Rufus T. Lenoir; Nathan H. and Enoch M., twins; Elizabeth M., who married Alexander Chatham; and Thomas Lenoir.
Scholarly in his tastes and ambitions, Thomas Lenoir Gwyn was a student in the Jonesville Acad- emy, when, in 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Second Battalion, North Carolina Troops, the com- pany being commanded by Capt. G. C. Stowe, while J. C. McRay was major of the battalion. Mr. Gwyn had assisted in raising the company, and was elected lieutenant. With his comrades, he went to Camp Vance, in Burke County, this state, for drill, from there going to Tennessee, where he took an active part in the siege of Knoxville, and in other engagements of minor importance. At Cansbys Creek, Tennessee, the company to which he belonged was surrounded by the enemy, and, in the absence of the captain and the first lieutenant, Mr. Gwyn led the company in its dash through the enemy's line. Four or five of his
comrades were killed, while the remaining men of the company, with the exception of himself and eight others, were captured. A speeding bullet took a piece from one of Mr. Gwyn's ears, but he was thankful to escape thus easily. Returning with his eight companions to Salisbury, North Carolina, he was commissioned adjutant of the Senior Reserves, and was detailed to guard pris- oners, a position which he held until the close of the conflict.
Subsequently, in partnership with his brother, R. R. Gwyn, and his brother-in-law, Alexander Chatham, Mr. Gwyn embarked in the mercantile business at Elkin, and under the firm name of R. R. Gwyn & Company built up an extensive trade. The nearest railway point at that time was Winston, and all goods bought by the firm had to be transported from there with teams. A few years later, Mr. Gwyn formed a partnership with W. W. Wood, and as head of the firm of Gwyn, Wood & Company, was for three years engaged in the manufacture of tobacco in Jones- ville, Yadkin County. Afterward, in company with his brother-in-law, Alexander Chatham, he built a mill in Elkin, and embarked in a new in- dustry, not only manufacturing woolen blankets and jeans, but doing custom spinning and weav- ing.
Selling out his interests in the mill to his nephews, Mr. Gwyn, in 1884, removed to Grayson County, Virginia, where, from Col. Steven Hale and Capt. John Hale, he bought a large farm. Building a flour mill on the place, he was there engaged in milling and general farming for a number of years. In 1912, disposing of that prop- erty, he returned to Surry County, and has since lived retired at his pleasant home in Elkin.
Mr. Gwyn married, April 3, 1867, Amelia J. Dickenson, who was born in Hardeman County, Tennessee, a daughter of James and Julia (Thur- man) Dickenson. Her father removed from his home in New River, Tennessee, to Mississippi, where, during the Civil war, he was killed by Federal soldiers. Mrs. Gwyn passed to the higher life June 1, 1917. She reared two daughters, namely : Sallie J., who married N. Van Poindex- ter, and has four children, Ohna, Amelia, Carrie Smith and Gwyn; and Carrie, who married Alex- ander M. Smith, and died in early womanhood.
Mr. Gwyn is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, to which Mrs. Gwyn also belonged, and he has served as steward, and as a delegate to various annual conferences. A life-long demo- crat in his political affiliations, Mr. Gwyn served as a member of the Surry County board of Com- missioners for eight years, and in 1901 and 1902, while a resident of Virginia, was a delegate from Grayson County to the convention that formulated the present constitution of that state.
COL. JESSE CASPER BESSENT is one of the best known citizens of Winston-Salem. He is a man of genial and wholesome characteristics, with an honorable record both in public and private life, and has justified every confidence reposed in him.
Colonel Bessent is a native of North Carolina, and his family was established here before the close of the eighteenth century. Colonel Bessent was born at Mocksville, the county seat of Davie County, North Carolina, February 3, 1855. His grandfather, Samuel Bessent, was born on the Island Alderny in the English Channel, and he and a brother were the only members of the family to come to America. His brother settled in South
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Carolina and his descendants now live in that state and in Georgia and Florida.
Samuel Bessent brought his bride to America in 1795, landing at Charleston, South Carolina, and going thence to Davie County, North Carolina, where he was a pioneer settler. His remaining years were spent as a farmer, and both he and his wife passed their last days in the home of their son Rev. C. W. Bessent. Samuel Bessent lived to the venerable age of ninety-seven, and his wife was ninety-five when she died. They reared three sons : Calton W., Ransom P. and Samuel A. Calton W. became a well known minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, while Ransom was a dental practitioner.
Samuel A. Bessent, father of Colonel Bessent, was born on a farm seven miles south of Mocks- ville, learned the trade of saddle and harness mak- ing and followed that as his vocation during his very brief career. He died at the age of twenty- six. His wife was Cassandra Hendrix. She was born at Mocksville, her father, Jesse A. Hendrix, was born in the same county, and her grand- father, David Hendrix, was a native of Holland, coming to America about 1785 and establishing one of the pioneer homes of Davie County. Her grandfather was a blacksmith and farmer and Jesse Hendrix followed similar occupations. The house built by Jesse Hendrix, a two-story log structure, is still standing on a farm six miles south of Mocksville. Jesse Hendrix, who spent all his life in his native county, married Elizabeth Feezer, who was also of Holland descent. Both of them attained good old age. Mrs. Samuel A. Bes- sent died at the age of fifty-seven. Her three chil- dren were Margaret, Sarah and Jesse C.
As the Civil war broke out when Colonel Bessent was about six years of age, his boyhood was spent in a time when it was difficult if not impossible to secure those advantages of education which obtain in a peaceful civil community. Free schools were suspended during war times, and his education came almost entirely from such schools as were supported on the subscription plan. At the age of thirteen he became self supporting, beginning work in a tobacco factory at Mocksville. Colonel Bessent has been a resident of Winston-Salem since 1874. He was at that time nineteen years of age, and he continued his employment in a tobacco factory at Winston-Salem until 1882. In that year he was elected city tax collector and constable, and those official duties engaged his time until 1892. In that year he entered the insurance business, which he still follows. In 1894 he was elected justice of the peace, and has pre- sided over his court and administered local justice for twenty-two years.
Colonel Bessent has been actively identified with the National Guard of North Carolina upwards of thirty-five years. He enlisted March 28, 1878, in Company A, Third Regiment, North Carolina Guards. He was promoted to first lieutenant June 1, 1886, to captain June 6, 1892. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in 1898 he was mustered into the United States service with Com- pany C, First North Carolina Volunteers and remained with his command until the close of the war. He was mustered out in April, 1899. On June 26, 1899, his company reorganized as Com- pany C of the First Regiment, North Carolina National Guard, and he was the choice of his com- rades for captain. December 1, 1902, he was promoted to major, and to lieutenant colonel on August 7, 1907. In 1916 Colonel Bessent responded
to the call for duty on the Mexican border, but was rejected on account of failing eyesight. He was then placed upon the retired list subject to. call. In 1912 Colonel Bessent was a delegate to the National Guard Association held in Boston.
In 1882 Colonel Bessent married Louisa E. White, who was born in Winston-Salem, a daugh- ter of J. A. and Louisa White. Colonel Bessent takes an active part in Masonry, being affiliated with Winston Lodge No. 167, Free and Accepted Masons, Winston Chapter No. 24, Royal Arch Masons, and Piedmont Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar. He is also a member of Salem Lodge No. 36, and Salem Encampment No. 20, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and is grand high priest of the Grand Encampment of North Carolina.
While the activities and interests described are well known to Colonel Bessent's many friends and admirers in this section of the state, he is known among a more restricted number of friends as an indefatigable collector. He has one of the largest privately owned collections of paper money in North Carolina. It represents many issues of Colonial currency, also issues of state banks and of the Confederate Government. He also has a collection of rare coins and books.
THE DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY is an institution which by its service justifies some special mention in this publication. It has the distinction of being the first free public library in the state. Contrary to popular opinion there may be such a thing as a public library and still not absolutely free, since the patrons and users of the books must meet certain definite fees or charges for the service. The Durham Public Library was the first in the state. which- turned its books over to the public without any fee for the privileges.
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