USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 31
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Mr. and Mrs. Chaffin are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the Sunday school of which he was for four years the superintendent. Fraternally Mr. Chaffin is identified by membership with Mocksville Council No. 226, Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
GEORGE HACKNEY, JR., is one of the prominent young business executives of Washington, has had a wide experience in manufacturing lines, and is now at the head of one of the leading automobile sales agencies in that part of the state. .
He was born in Wilson, North Carolina, Novem- ber 30, 1887, son of George and Bessie (Acra) Hackney. His father for a long period of years has been prominent in manufacturing circles. The son was educated in the public schools, in
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WY leraufard
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the Bingham Military School, and in the Uni- versity of North Carolina. He returned from college to become associated with his father's manufacturing business, and in 1907 organized the Washington Buggy Company, of which he was owner and manager. He sold that part of the business August 19, 1914, and has since concen- trated his energies upon the automobile business. He has the general agency both in North and South Carolina and Georgia for the Stewart Auto- mobile trucks. He also organized and established the Hassell Supply Company, but has since sold his interests in that organization. Mr. Hackney is a former president of the Chamber of Commerce of Washington and is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
December 23, 1908, he married Miss Eva Has- sell, of Washington. They have one child, Eva Hassell Hackney.
WILLIAM G. CRANFORD is one of the best known residents of Winston-Salem, was long engaged in business there, and is still practicing his profes- sion as a veterinary surgeon. As a youth he had comparatively few opportunities, since he was an orphan child, and has proved his ability in every capacity and in every relationship in his mature life.
He was born on a farm about five miles from Salisbury in Rowan County, North Carolina, in June, 1861. His father, Wilburn Cranford, was born in Montgomery County, North Carolina, reared and educated there, and for a number of years was overseer of a large plantation. Later he bought a farm of his own in Rowan County and lived there until his death early in 1861, three months before the birth of his youngest child, William G. Wilburn Cranford married Martha Elizabeth Todd, a native of Rowan County and daughter of Joseph Todd. Joseph Todd was a planter and slave owner the most of his life in Rowan County. Mrs. Wilburn Cranford died in 1867, leaving four children: Frank, a resident of San Francisco, California; Scott, a resident of Portsmouth, Ohio; Maggie, wife of John Page, of Salisbury ; and William G.
Only six years of age when his mother died, the young orphan, William G. Cranford, was then taken to the home of Jeremiah Raeber, a farmer and miller in Rowan County. Thus he grew up practically among strangers, had limited educa- tional opportunities, and early became accus- tomed to hard work as means of self support. At the age of twenty-one he began learning the black- smith 's trade in the railroad shops at Salisbury.
Mr. Cranford is an old resident of Winston- Salem, where he located in 1886. Here he became an employe of Mr. Ed Spach, a blacksmith, and eleven months later they formed a partnership. It was a successful business alliance and was only interrupted by the death of Mr. Spach in 1904. After that Mr. Cranford became sole owner of the business and continued it on his own responsibility for a number of years. Finally C. W. Snyder became his partner, and they were together until 1916, when the business was discontinued.
During the early '90s Mr. Cranford began the study of veterinary surgery. He attended lec- tures by some of the well known representatives of that profession, and having a natural inclination for the work he rapidly acquired a mastery ot the fundamentals required for practice. He has been in active practice for the past seventeen
years, and his services are in wide demand over the territory around Winston-Salem. Doctor Cran- ford has always been a firm believer in the great- ness and the future prosperity of Winston-Salem. That faith he has put to the supreme test by in- vesting freely of his surplus profits in local real estate, and it has justified his confidence.
In 1895 he married Miss Jessie E. Talley, a native of Forsyth County and daughter of Rich- ard and Mary Ann (Miller) Talley. Mr. and Mrs. Cranford have five children: Charles Wil- burn, Joseph Edward, Phillip Eugene, Lillian Estelle and Franklin Richard. Franklin Richard · has shown a wonderful gift and talent in music, while Phillip is none the less gifted in art. The walls of the family home are decorated with many beautiful sketches in water colors executed by him. His work has been awarded the first prize in several exhibitions. Doctor and Mrs. Cran- ford are active members of the First Baptist Church of Winston-Salem. He is affiliated with Liberty Council No. 3, 'Junior Order of United American Mechanics, with Salem Lodge No. 36, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Winston Lodge No. 167, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons. He has also served nine years as member of the board of commissioners of Winston.
THOMAS A. BUTNER of Winston-Salem, had an ambition when a boy to make something of him- self and his opportunities in the world, and he sought the opening through the trade of car- penter. He became a good journeyman carpenter, found increasing responsibilities, and gradually developed a business as a contractor and builder. At the present time he maintains an efficient organization and has handled some of the largest contracts in Forsyth County. His other interests are widespread and he is an effective factor in the civic and religious life of his community.
He is a native of Forsyth County, born on a farm near Bethania January 1, 1870. He comes of some of the German stock that was trans- planted to this section of North Carolina in pioneer times. His great-grandfather Thomas Butner was a native of Germany, and on coming to America settled in what is now Forsyth County. There he bought a tract of land, made a farm of it, and found his profit and pleasure there the rest of his life. The old homestead was near the pres- ent site of New Hope Church. His remains now rest in the New Hope Churchyard.
Of his numerous family of sons, one was also named Thomas, and was born near Salem, North Carolina. He grew up on a farm and made agri- culture his lifelong vocation. So far as known he never went far from the place of his birth and lived and died in the community where he was born. He married a Miss George.
William Butner, father of Thomas A., was born also in the northern part of Forsyth County, and served a thorough apprenticeship at the black- smith's trade. For several years he conducted a shop in Salem, but then bought a farm near the old homestead, and lived there until his death in 1900. He married Mary Kerney, who was born uear Bethania, a daughter of Alexander and Catherine (Rothrick) Kerney, the former a native of Stokes County and the latter of Davidson County. Mrs. Mary Butner died iu 1915. She reared three children, Sarah, Carrie and Thomas A. Carrie died when twelve years of age. Sarah became the wife of H. P. Fansler.
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Thomas A. Butner spent his childhood and early youth on the old farm in Forsyth County. His educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools. At the age of eighteen he put his ambitions into definite form by beginning an apprenticeship at the carpenter 's trade. Alto- gether he served eight years as an apprentice and journeyman worker and was then given charge of construction as carpenter foreman. After another eight years experience he graduated into business for himself as a contractor and builder.
In 1896 Mr. Butner bought a farm two miles northwest of the courthouse at Winston-Salem, and has since given more or less active supervision to its management. In 1912 he bought an interest in a drug store on Trade Street in Winston, and in 1916 became sole proprietor. By strict fidelity to the principles of business honor he has prospered and has gained an influential place in his com- munity.
When twenty years of age Mr. Butner married Anna Hege. She was born in Davidson County, daughter of George W. Hege. When she died in 1897 she left three children: Etta, Ruth and Oscar. Etta married Fred Brewer and her children are named Grady, Louise, Fred J. Ruth is the wife of Will P. Yow, and their children are Naomi and Nellie. For his present wife Mr. Butner married Lillie M. Harvel. She was born in Yadkin County, North Carolina, daughter of Lewis P. Harvel. Mr. and Mrs. Butner have six children: Paul B., Myrtle E., Leo, Margaret, Thomas J. and Cyril.
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The religious association of Mr. and Mrs. Butner is with the Calvary Moravian Church, in which he has served as a member of the board of trustees and the board of elders. He and his wife are members of Liberty Council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and he is affiliated with Winston Aerie No. 732, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Twin City Camp No. 27 Woodmen of the World.
FRANK T. MEACHAM, superintendent of the state experimental farm for the Piedmont region of North Carolina, has for the past fourteen years been a leading and influential citizen of Statesville and his activity in business affairs, his co-operation in public interests and his zealous support of all objects that he believes will contribute to the ma- terial, social or moral improvement of the com- munity keeps him in the foremost rank of those to whom this section owes its development and present position as one of the leading rural dis- tricts of the state. His life is characterized by upright, honorable principles and it also exemplifies the truth of the Emersonian philosophy that "the way to win a friend is to be one." His genial, kindly manner wins him the high regard and good will of all with whom he comes in contact and thus he is popular throughout this entire region.
A native of Missouri, Frank T. Meacham was born in Scott County, that state, in 1869, and he is a son of Daniel and Julia (Christopher) Meacham. Although born in Missouri, Mr. Meacham is of North Carolina parentage and an- cestry and was raised in this state. His father was a native of Cumberland County, North Caro- lina, and he served throughout the Civil war as a Confederate soldier. Soon after the close of the war he located in Benton, Scott County, Missouri. In the early '70s, however, the family returned to North Carolina and settled on a farm in Wake
County, some three miles from Raleigh. Under the sturdy discipline of this farm Frank T. Meacham was reared to maturity and from his earliest youth he was imbued with the idea of becoming a splendid, scientific farmer. With this idea uppermost in mind he entered the Agricul- tural and Mechanical College of North Carolina and was graduated as a member of its first class, in 1893, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. After completing the four years' course he won a post-graduate scholarship, giving him an addi- tional year of study in the college; accordingly, he spent another year in study and received the de- gree of Master of Science, in 1894. He then ob- tained a position on the great Vanderbilt estate, "Biltimore," at Asheville, where he remained for a number of years. It is a well known fact that the Vanderbilts employ only the most adequately equipped men. as managers and department super- intendents and the fact that Mr. Meacham re- mained in their employ for a number of years speaks well for his ability.
In 1903, when it was decided by the state to establish an experimental farm somewhere in the center of the Piedmont region of North Caro- lina, Mr. Meacham was selected by the state au- thorities to assume charge of this enterprise and he was given the position of superintendent, an office he has filled with the utmost efficiency during the long intervening years up to the present time, in 1917. A location for the farm was chosen in Iredell County, some two miles northwest of States- ville, on the Taylorsville Road, in which vicinity 210 acres of land were purchased at a cost of $22 per acre. The place selected was an abandoned homestead but it possessed the required natural advantages for developing an experimental station. It is located most advantageously between the Taylorsville Pike and the Southern Railway. The object of the farm, as previously intimated, is to help the farmers of the Piedmont region. This section differs from other parts of the state, inas- much as the farmers here own and work them- selves moderate sized farms, while elsewhere in the state, large plantations, worked mostly by negro tenants, is the rule. From the very beginning the farmers of this region manifested and have con- tinued to manifest a deep and abiding interest in the farm, much to their own great benefit and profit.
The first constructive work, in starting this farm, was to lay out the fields in experimental plots, terracing the land to prevent washing by rains, and raising it to an up-to-date farm. This Mr. Meacham has accomplished. He then planned the experiments to be carried out and each suc- ceeding year has witnessed this place as one of increased usefulness to the surrounding farmers, for whose benefit it was originally planned. The buildings on the place were planned and con- structed in keeping with the nature of the work and they are modern and convenient in every par- ticular. Mr. Meacham laid out pastures and im- mediately began a number of experiments with va- rious field crops and grasses. He has obtained for the farm several varieties of live stock for breed- ing purposes and has established foundation herds and flocks for the good of the farmers of this section. Au orchard of twelve acres was launched, on which a variety of fruits have been grown in order to determine which are best adapted for the Piedmont soil, both from the standpoint of suc- cessful cultivation and profitableness for market-
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ing. The orchards of this farm have been em- inently successful and financially profitable far be- yond expectation. Numerous fruits have been grown with marked success but experiments have shown that peaches, on account of their great de- mand and the elimination of cold storage, are the most profitable for this region.
In regard to live stock it has been found advan- tageous to take beef cattle from the mountain dis- tricts of the western part of the state and fatten them for the eastern markets from the by-products of the farm. In this connection it has been dem- onstrated that the Piedmont farms can also be largely improved by the manure derived from the cattle thus fed. A herd of Poland-China hogs has been maintained on the experimental farm for many years past and hog-raising, both for food and for breeding foundation, has been found very remunerative. A small herd of Jersey cattle, chiefly for home use, has also been maintained on the farm and the offspring of this herd has been placed locally on various adjacent farms, the re- sult being a grading-up of the farmers' herds.
A flock of 200 thoroughbred Rhode Island Red poultry was installed on the farm for experimental purposes and has proved most profitable as food since the inception of the war.
The field crops grown are those that are pro- duced largely through the scientific application of fertilizers. The staple crops, such as cotton, corn, wheat, oats and peas, are used to determine the best varieties adapted for this section of the state. Plots of pure-bred improved crops have been grown largely for local seed distribution to farmers.
Referring again to live stock, Mr. Meacham early saw the necessity for improved work stock for the Piedmont region, namely-larger and better horses. In this connection one of his most recent importa- tions to the farm is a large pure-bred Percheron stallion, heading what he is developing into a Percheron breeding stud of pure-bred stallions and mares, the object of which is to improve the size and quality of the work horses of the farms of the community. As a result of this enterprise some 400 graded Percheron colts and horses have been placed on farms of this section.
Another of the recent additions to the farm is a flock of sheep, installed for purposes similar to those related in regard to the horses, and it is expected that this experiment also will be a great success on account of the constantly soaring prices of mutton and wool and on account of the elimina- tion of the sheep-killing dog.
Mr. Meacham has employed every possible means of placing the results of his successful experiments immediately before the farmers, whom they are calculated to benefit. He cultivates a personal acquaintance with the farmers and encourages them to visit the farm, where they are shown practical demonstrations either by himself or by his as- sistants. All through the growing season parties of interested farmers daily visit the place and are cheerfully shown the results of experiments that may mean considerable profit to themselves. Prac- tically all the work on the farm is labeled in plain "farmer's" language. Farmers' institutes have been held at various and frequent intervals and the interest in these in late years has grown to such an extent that they are frequently attended by from 2,000 to 3,000 farmers, often accompanied by their wives and families. In addition to the institutes, lectures and demonstrations are given on the farm and during the summer months pic-
nies are given by different communities of farmers, the same being a source of pleasure and recreation to the farmer; these gatherings are usually ad- dressed by speakers of prominence in the agri- cultural world.
Reverting to Mr. Meacham's biographical sketch, he married, December 29, 1896, Miss Effie Bar- nard, of Asheville. They have seven fine, vigorous children : Frank, Julia, Hilda, Effie, Earl, Hazel, James Edward. In his family life and home ad- ministration, Mr. Meacham carries out the same practical method and system that he uses in con- ducting his business. He keeps strict account of all personal and household expenditures, an inter- esting feature of which shows just what the rear- ing of each of his children costs.
Mr. Meacham's personal habits from boyhood have been of the most exemplary character. He has never smoked, drank, wasted time, or indulged in any habits or vanities that would detract from his maintaining the highest personal efficiency. However, he and his family live generously on the best the land affords, they have an exceptionally happy and comfortable home and enjoy all the wholesome pleasures of life. There has been very little sickness in the family and Mr. Meacham, himself, has not lost a day out of his work for the past twenty-eight years, nor has he missed a regular meal during all that time. High personal efficiency shows results of a like kind in one's work and this is particularly true of Mr. Meacham and his life work. Nothing under his jurisdiction is ever wasted and the result is the greatest good to the greatest number.
Mr. Meacham is genial in his associations, af- fable in his address, generous in his judgment of his fellow men, and courteous to all. As a citizen and enthusiast of his home locality, it is but just to say that communities will prosper and grow in proportion as they put a premium on men of his mold.
NEILL ALEXANDER CURRIE. In the business world of Bladen County, and more particularly in the territory immediately contiguous to the City of Clarkton, there is no name better or more favorably known than that of Neill Alexander Currie. Belonging to a family the members of which have long held a foremost place in com- mercial, public and civic life, he is worthily rep- resenting the honored name which he bears, not alone as a business man but as an influential supporter of the best interests of his section and its people.
Mr. Currie was born at Clarkton, Bladen County, North Carolina, in 1872, a son of Hon. John Dun- can and Amanda Louise (Cromartie) Currie, and on both sides of the family is of pure Scotch stock, these names having been known and revered in the Cape Fear community from a period dating before the outbreak of the War of the Revolu- tion. The father of Mr. Currie was one of the most distinguished North Carolinians of his day in this part of the state, and passed his life at Clarkton. He attended the University of North Carolina until his senior year, when he gave up his studies to enlist as a soldier in the Confederate Army, which he was finally forced to leave after his third wound because of disability, in 1864. Returning to Clarkton, he entered business and later agriculture, was editor of a paper largely devoted to the cause of education, and was sent to represent his fellow citizens in the Legislative
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halls of the state. A review of the career of this distinguished citizen will be found elsewhere in this work.
Neill Alexander Currie was educated in the public schools of Clarkton and at the University of North Carolina, where he was a student for three years. After coming out of college he en- gaged in the mercantile business at Clarkton, succeeding to the original enterprise, which had been founded by his father in 1866. Mr. Currie built up and has for many years carried on a large general merchandise and plantation supply business that for successful management, high standing in the commercial world, and popularity with the purchasing public in the quite extensive territory the store covers, is second to none other in this section of North Carolina. It is a com- mercial house the success of which is built upon honor and transacts a business the yearly volume of which is very large. Mr. Currie is widely known as one of the best business men of this part of the state.
Like his late father, Mr. Currie has taken a . ters, and relief of the brave little mother. How prominent part in public affairs and in the de- well he fulfilled that trust with his own busy professional life is shown in a remark made after his death by his youngest brother, Captain W. A. Clement : "I never questioned my obedience to him, never looked upon him as brother, but as a father, and never had an unkind word or look from him."' velopment and commercial expansion of the in- terests of Clarkton and the rich surrounding agricultural territory, which is noted for its fine farms. He served several years on the board of county commissioners of Bladen County and was chairman thereof for two years. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, known as Brown He read law at Richmond Hill with Chief Jus- tice Richmond M. Pearson, for whom he always cherished the fondest love of a friend and the highest admiration as a teacher. He was licensed to practice law at June term, 1848. Marsh Church, and which is one of the oldest and most historic churches in the Cape Fear section, its written records going back to 1795, with the probability that it was founded some years earlier than that date.
Mr. Currie married Miss Augusta Evans, of Cumberland County, North Carolina, a member of one of the oldest and most historic families of that county, and a daughter of the late Erasmus Evans. To this union there have been born five children : Isabella Campbell, Augusta Evans, Jolın Duncan, Neill Alexander, Jr., and Annic Kelso Currie.
JOHN MARSHALL CLEMENT, son of John Clement and his wife, Nancy Bailey, was born in what was then Rowan County, now Davie, on November 1, 1825. His first teachers in Mocksville were Mr. Buford, Mr. Peter S. Ney, and Rev. Baxter Clegg, the second named being the reputed French mar- shal. Mr. Clement was small when he attended Mr. Ney's school, but retained the same vivid impressions of him which seemed ever to follow Ney. Even the scar across the forehead, which to many is convicing proof of his identity with Napoleon's greatest general, he would describe graphically, as well as the fencing lessons given to the larger boys with canes cut from the forest in which the little schoolhouse stood. While con- sidering him by far the most impressive and unique acquaintance of his youth, Mr. Clement was not entirely persuaded he was Marshal Ney, from the fact of his profound crudition and culture, while history teaches us the real Ney was com- paratively unlearned.
Mr. Clement went to Bethany, in Iredell County, when he was about sixteen years of age, and en- tered the school of Hugh R. Hall. Afterward he attended Mr. Clegg's school, the Mocksville Acad- emy, until 1844, when he went to the North and entered Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania. The journey was made by private con-
veyance and stage, and was long and tedious. Very interesting was his account of the City of Wash- ington at that period, his visit to the White House, Capitol, and other public places. The Capitol was at some distance from the city, and was reached by a path across open country, where the grand Pennsylvania Avenue now is. He re- mained in Gettysburg during his entire collegiate course of two years, as the distance was considered so great and travel so slow. A great grief was his, on August 31, 1845, being caused by the death of his father. Between the father and son was an unusual depth of love and feeling, dis- tinguished by pride on the part of the father and implicit faith and obedience on part of the son. He was a close student, and this, combined with a naturally bright mind, won many honors for him in society and class, and he was chosen valedic- torian in June, 1846. After graduation he re- turned home and assumed, at the youthful age of twenty-one, control of his father's estate, the guardianship of his younger brothers and sis-
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