USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 35
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General Joshua Barnes was pre-eminently a type of the Old South. Born to command, accustomed to affairs on a lavish scale, he might have found it difficult to adjust his ideas to conditions after the war, but no mention of the early history of Wilson is complete without his name. Soon after the war he was stricken with paralysis and committed the direction of his affairs more and more to the care of his son-in-law, Alpheus Branch, while he found relief through many years of helplessness in the intercourse of a large circle of friends, and in the family circle of his only daughter, with whom he made his home till his death.
ALPHEUS BRANCH was one of the notable charac- ters and vitalizing forces of Eastern North Caro- lina from the close of the war until his death. He
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was still young when the great war closed. With a maturity of experience and a breadth of mind beyond his years he soon foresaw the possibilities of Eastern North Carolina, and in building his own business career he did much to reconstruct and make provisions for the future welfare of his entire community. He was never a politician, his name does not fill high places in public affairs, but as a business man he still had time for public welfare and was foremost in every public enterprise of his section, his name being among the first to be included in any church, school or philanthropic subscriptions. Scotch-Irish ancestry, he possessed the indomitable will and tireless energy of his race, and the success of his life has im- pressed his name upon the business and social interests of a large community.
He was born in Halifax County, North Carolina, May 7, 1843, and died, when still comparatively young, at Wilson on January 3, 1893. His parents were Capt. Samuel Warren and Mary Branch. His father was an extensive planter before the war and also a man who filled a large place in his community. During his early boyhood Alpheus Branch attended the Academy of Dr. Charles F. Deems at Wilson, the Horner School at Oxford, and Trinity College, which he left at the beginning of the war at the age of seventeen.
During the war he served as a member of the Scotland Neck Cavalry. His military record will be found in the Confederate Military History (Hill) Volume 4. He was also interested in mili- tary organizations, and after the war he served as an honorary member of the Wilson Light In- fantry Company, and did much to encourage its discipline and support as a creditable unit of the military organizations of the state.
After the war, like many others, he turned his first attention to agriculture and did farming on a large scale and with unusual success. In 1872 he founded the mercantile firm of Branch & Com- pany, afterwards Branch, Hadley & Company, and still later Branch, Briggs & Company. This busi- ness had a steady growth until it was one of the wealthiest firms in the state, with branches in many towns. In 1883 Alpheus Branch founded and became president of the Wilson Cotton Mills. In 1889 was founded the banking house of Branch & Company, of which he was first president. This enterprise, always regarded by Mr. Branch as his crowning achievement, well justified his confidence. Under the present title as the Branch Banking & Trust Company it is one of the leading banks of Eastern North Carolina. Mr. Branch was also a large stockholder and a member of the audit committee of the W. & W. Railroad Com- pany.
When his achievements as a business man are considered, his disinclination to public office and the lack of time which prevented his acceptance of such honors appear in the nature of a real loss to the community. He was a democrat in politics and a member of the Episcopal Church.
On November 7, 1865, Alpheus Branch married Nannie Barnes, only daughter of the late Gen. Joshua Barnes, whose individual career and family connections are traced on other pages. Mrs. Alpehus Branch died July 1, 1901. The record of their children is: Ximena, who was born March 10, 1867, died June 28, 1900, she married first James Roberts and second R. G. Briggs, and had her home for many years in Wilson. A. Paul, born October 27, 1869, died March 14, 1910. He
married Annie Harris. Mattie, born August 10, 1874, died December 27, 1914, she was first the wife of Edgar Gay and afterwards of J. B. Williams. Nancy, born January 11, 1879, is the wife of Frederick L. Carr of Wilson. Ellen, born August 21, 1881, is the wife of S. H. Anderson of Wilson. Joshua, born June 28, 1883, died April 5, 1904.
REV. THOMAS PAUL GRIFFIN. For seventeen years, during the greater part of his ministry, Rev. Thomas Paul Griffin has been one of the able and constructive workers in the Catholic Diocese of North Carolina. During that time he has been continuously pastor of the Church of Sacred Heart at Raleigh.
He was born at Baltimore, Maryland, July 10, 1871, a son of Michael and Catherine (Eaton) Griffin. Early in life he determined to devote his services to the church, and his early training was carried on under the direction of the Jesuit Fa- thers at Loyola College and he studied theology and philosophy at St. Mary's Seminary at Balti- more and in the Benedictine Monastery at Beatty, Pennsylvania. He was ordained a priest July 26, 1896, and was at once assigned to service in North Carolina. The first three years he spent at Fay- etteville, and since then has been at the head of the Church of the Sacred Heart at Raleigh. His parish comprises forty-five families and about 160 pupils are enrolled in the schools. It was during his pastorate that the Dominican nuns opened up the Sacred Heart Academy and that institution has steadily grown in merit among all creeds. Although a Catholic school the large at- tendance of those not of that faith shows the effective methods of the Dominican nuns as teach- ers. Father Griffin in 1916 completed the beauti- ful granite rectory at a cost of $8,000, and he and his congregation now look forward to the erection of a beautiful church building.
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH of Raleigh began its corporate existence in 1834. At that time it was known as the Church of St. John the Baptist. Prior to its existence mass had been offered up in the homes of the faithful where a visiting priest ministered to their spiritual needs. The first church was built in 1834. It is said that the first mass ever celebrated in Raleigh was by Rev. Peter Whelan in 1832 in the house of Mat- thew Shaw, a Presbyterian. Raleigh was then in the diocese of Charleston under the spiritual care of the learned and eminent Bishop England, who frequently ministered and preached there.
Father Whelan, the first pastor, was succeeded about 1840 by Father McGowan. Father Dunn was pastor from 1848 to 1854. Rev. Dr. P. Ryan came in 1854, during the period when "Know Nothingism" was rampant. He was recalled to Charleston in 1859, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Quigley. During his pastorate he secured the church and lot formerly the property of the First Baptist Church of Raleigh. The church was dedicated under the title and invocation of St. John the Baptist June 3, 1860. Bishop Lynch of Charleston officiated and there was also present Most Rev. John Hughes, Archbishop of New York, who was on his way to Chapel Hill to lecture at the University of North Carolina by invitation of the students. Father Quigley left Raleigh in 1867 and was succeeded by Rev. Henry P. Northop,
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who later on became Bishop of Charleston, his native city, where he died in June, 1916.
From 1870 to 1874 Rev. J. V. McNamara and Rev. Mark Guss were pastors. Rev. John J. Reilly was pastor from 1874 to 1877, when he was succeeded by Rev. James B. White. Rev. Wil- liam J. Wright took the place of Father White for nearly two years while the former was busy in effecting the purchase of new church property.
To Father White belongs the honor of securing for the Catholics of Raleigh the magnificent prop- erty now occupied for church, school and rectory. Father White was a man of wonderful executive ability. Having filled an office of high trust under the Federal government he retired from the world and was ordained a priest by Bishop Gibbons, now Cardinal Archbishop of Baltimore.
This property is in the heart of Raleigh adjacent to the capitol. At present the Dominican nuns of Newburgh conduct a day school for boys and girls and accommodate a limited number of girls as boarders. This school was opened in 1909. The program is the same as that of the graded and high school departments in Raleigh. These sisters have also establishments at Newton Grove and Durham. It is the earnest hope of their patrons that the Sacred Heart Academy in Raleigh will continue to grow and add another name to the long list of educational institutions under the care of the Dominican sisters.
The Catholics of Raleigh are beginning to look forward to the erection of a church worthy of the Catholic religion and of the capital of the State of North Carolina. At present they worship in a temporary structure. Recently there has been furnished a beautiful rectory of Salisbury granite under the direction of the present pastor, Rev. Thomas P. Griffin. It is hoped that this building will prove an inspiration to adorn the property with other buildings comporting with the site ac- quired largely by the sacrifice of Father White.
Father White was succeeded in 1887 by Rev. John Reilly. From 1889 to 1892 the pastorate was filled for short terms by Rev. Father Charles and Father Francis of the Benedictine Order. Rev. Peter Marian was appointed in 1892 and after faithful service was removed to Asheville, North Carolina. In September, 1895, Rev. James Pren- dergast took charge and after a pastorate of four years died of pneumonia at the Rea Hospital in Raleigh. He was a gentle, sweet character and is remembered today for his extensive charity. He was buried in Philippburg, New Jersey, his birth- place. Rev. Thomas P. Griffin was appointed in 1899.
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LEE VANCE PHILLIPS. An able and prominent business man of Lexington, Lee Vance Phillips is actively identified with the manufacturing and mercantile interests of Davidson County, being proprietor of a veneer plant at Linwood, the fac- tory, established through his enterprise, having been the third of the kind in North Carolina to make veneering. He was born on a farm in Yadkin College Township, a son of J. Sanford Phillips, coming from English ancestry.
Barnes Phillips, his grandfather, was a native, it is understood, of Montgomery County, North Carolina. Locating in Arcadia Township in early manhood, he bought a tract of land, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits during his re- maining years. He married a Miss Cowles, and
they became the parents of five sons, as follows: J. Sanford, James, F. M., Benjamin, and Frank.
J. Sanford Phillips was born in Arcadia Town- ship March 2, 1824, and while young acquired valuable experience in the art and science of agriculture. After his marriage, he settled on land that his wife had inherited, and began his career as an agriculturist. During the Civil war, he was detailed by the Confederate government to work at the salt petre plant. Subsequently resuming his former employment, he continued as a tiller of the soil until his death, in 1905. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Sheets, died in early life, leaving one child. Wes- ley A. Phillips. The maiden name of his second wife was Margaret Wagler. She was born in Yadkin College Township, Davidson County, March 28, 1826, a daughter of Hon. Henry and Elizabeth (Warner) Wagler. Her father, an ex- tensive planter and slave holder, was prominent in public affairs, and represented his county in the State Legislature for a number of terms. Mrs. Margaret (Wagler) Phillips died July 29, 1892. To her and her husband nine children were born, namely: Henry Thomas, Elizabeth died at the age of four years, John F., Mary E., Martha, M. F., D. W., Leila B., and Lee Vance.
Having completed his studies in Yadkin College Township, Lee Vance Phillips began life on his own account as a commercial salesman, and for twelve years traveled throughout North Carolina and South Carolina selling tobacco. Resigning his posi- tion in 1892, Mr. Phillips embarked in an entirely new venture. Locating in Linwood, he established a veneer plant, it being the third one of the kind in the state. Meeting with genuine success in his undertaking, he has operated the plant ever since, finding much profit in his industry, his home, how- ever, being in Lexington.
On January 10, 1901, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage with Mary Wells Hall, who was born in Steel Township, Rowan County, a daughter of Newberry Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are active and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a deacon, and both are actively interested in its Sunday School, she being a teacher, and he a member of the Bible class. Mr. Phillips is warmly interested in political and public affairs, and as a member of the county board of road commissioners was an earnest and faithful worker for good roads. Fraternally Mr. Phillips is a member of Lexington Lodge, No. 473, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of Lexington Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, to which Mrs. Phillips also belongs; and a member of Lexington Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
HOWARD THACH SHANNONHOUSE. Prosperity comes not to the man who idly waits but to the faithful toiler whose labor is characterized by intelligence and force and who has the foresight and sagacity to know when, where and how to exert his energies. Thus it happens that only a small portion of those who enter the world's broad arena in business competition come off victors in the struggle for wealth and position. Some lack perseverance, others business sagacity and still others are negligent and dilatory, but the record of Howard Thach Shannonhouse, of Hertford, proves that he possesses all the requisite qualities necessary to cope with the complex conditions of the business world. He is connected with a num- ber of prominent enterprises at Hertford, and has
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so capably directed his activities that, although still a young man, he is now accounted one of the prosperous citizens of the community.
Mr. Shannonhouse was born at Hertford, North Carolina, February 18, 1884, and is a son of Wil- liam Robert and Addie Honeywood (Thach) Shan- uonhouse. His father was a general merchant and farmer and a respected and well to do citizen, and the youth was given excellent opportunities for the gaining of a general, military and business education. After attending the public schools and Hertford Academy, he was a student at the Horner Military School, and when he left that admirable institution was well equipped to take his place among the world's workers. For a period of ten years Mr. Shannonhonse had the benefit of experience iu a business way in association with his father in the general merchandise line, and at present is engaged in the sale of fertilizers, pea- nuts, etc., possesses large and important farming interests, and is prominently connected in other ways. He is manager of the firm of Shannonhonse & Blanchard, dealers in cotton seed, peanuts and soy beans, is a director of the Hertford Banking Company, and is manager of the Shannonhonse Estate, doing business under the firm style of Shannonhouse & Company. With W. T. Shannon- house and Mrs. W. O. Elliott, a brother and sister, he owns the old Harvey Estate, which first belonged to the old and honorable family of that name who settled in Harvey Neck, this estate in- cluding the old home of Col. John Harvey and the 1,400 acres of land connected with it.
While he is primarily a business man, Mr. Shannonhouse has not neglected the duties of citizenship, and in addition to serving as towu commissiouer, has aided every public-spirited move- ment which his judgment has told him would have been beneficial to the community. He is energetic in his actions and operations, reliable in his busi- ness transactions, and faithful to his engagements, and therefore his reputation in the business world is an enviable one. He belongs to the Hertford Baptist Church, with Mrs. Shannonhouse, and at present is serving as a member of the church board of trustees. In addition to the training which he secured during the period of his educa- tion at the military institute, Mr. Shannonhouse has had practical experience as a soldier, having served as lientenant of Company F, Second Regi- ment, North Carolina National Guards, during the administrations of Governors Russell, Aycock and Glenn.
On July 16, 1913, Mr. Shannonhouse was united iu marriage with Miss Annie Hughes, of Hertford, danghter of Joseph and Anna Elizabeth (Caroone) Hughes.
MILLARD MIAL. Among the progressive agri- cnlturists of Wake County who have been called to fill positions of high trust in the government of the state, Millard Mial, of Raleigh, holds a foremost position. Born of a family of lovers of nature and tillers of the soil for many generations, it is only natural that he should be first, last and all the time a farmer. Although a county official for a number of years, with duties preventing him from spending as much time on his farm as he would like, he has not lost one whit of interest in things agricultural, nor neglected to get close to nature in field and wood whenever possible.
Millard Mial was born on a farm in Mark's Creek Township, Wake County, North Carolina, and is a descendant of two of the oldest and most
prominent families in the Old North State. His father, Alonzo T. Mial, was an extensive planter and a mau well known for the deep interest he took in the political, educational and religious life of his community. The Mial family were among the first settlers in the state, the land upon which Millard Mial was born having been granted to the family by King George III of England. This grant was preserved by the Mial family until the time of the war between the states, when the wax bearing the official seal of the English Govern- ment was used for some other purpose, wax at that time being almost impossible to procure. Mr. Mial's mother was before marriage Miss Vic- toria LeMay, daughter of Thomas J. LeMay, who more than three-quarters of a century ago was editor and publisher of the Raleigh Star and North Carolina Gazette, one of the leading whig papers of the state.
Milliard Mial as a youth attended the country schools and Trinity College, from which latter he was graduated in 1872. He was interested in agricultural pursuits and after leaving college took up farming and followed this vocation con- tinuously until the year 1891, when he was ap- pointed by the board of county commissioners to fill an unexpired term as register of deeds of Wake County. Although always actively inter- ested in politics and the cause of democracy, Mr. Mial had not been a candidate for public office np to that time, but so well did he fill the office to which he was appointed that he was urged by friends to become a candidate in the following election. He was fully elected and served until 1894, establishing an excellent record. In 1898 he was appointed one of two county commission- ers authorized by the Legislature to bring the total membership of that body up to five and was elected a member of the board two years later. He served as a member of the Legislature from Wake County in 1907 and was elected clerk of the Su- perior Conrt of Wake County in 1910. He was re-elected in the election of 1914 and is still serving in that office.
Although in the public limelight for many years, Mr. Mial has never been a seeker after office, nor has he used his position of trust as a means of personal aggrandizement. His accept- ance of nomination for office has always been at the earnest urging of fellow-citizens actuated by a desire to see public positions of trust and re- sponsibility filled by men of high ideals, stead- fastness of character and unimpeachable hon- esty. Throughout his career both public and pri- vate, Mr. Mial has always maintained an hon- orable standard and in the discharge of his official duties has been faithful, exact and systematic.
Mr. Mial is by faith and church membership a Methodist and is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Mark's Creek Town- ship. He was a member of the Seaton Gales Lodge of Odd Fellows and of the Raleigh Country Club. He has extensive farming interests and holdings in Wake and Johnson counties and is numbered among the most advanced and progressive agri- cnlturists of North Carolina.
RUFUS A. SHORE early chose the newspaper business as his career and has for many years been identified with the Twin City Sentinel at Winston-Salem, being now its business manager. He was born at Salem, North Carolina. His grandfather, Thomas Shore, was born near Hope-
Millard Mice
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well Church in what is uow Forsyth County and was of German. stock. At one time he owued a farm near Hopewell Church and operated it with slave labor. He married Mary Shutt, who was born in the same locality, daughter of George Shutt, also of German ancestry. Both grand- parents lived to a good old age and are buried in Hopewell Churchyard. Their four sons and two daughters were named Samuel, Jonas, Henry W., Lucy, Mary and Nathaniel.
Jonas A. Shore, the father of Rufus, was born near Hopewell Church, was educated in the public schools and when a young man he was employed in driving stage from Salem to High Point. Later he was in the wood working department of the Salem Iron Works for several years, and continued a resident of Salem until his death. He married Martha Elizabeth Thomas, who was born near Friedburg, and her father, John W. Thomas, at one time had a dairy farm in South Fork Town- ship and subsequently removed to Salem, establish- ing the first dairy in that town. Mrs. Jonas Shore died December 27, 1916, the mother of two sons, Rufus A. and Fred E., who is now a merchant at Kings, North Carolina.
Rufus Shore was educated at Salem in the Boys School, and on leaving school became a clerk in J. B. Whittaker's book store. From that he went to work with the Sentinel in the circulating de- partment, and in 1903 was promoted to his present responsibilities as business manager of that well known and influential journal. He is also busi- ness manager of the Wachovia Moravian, the or- gan of the southern province of the Moravian Church.
On November 10, 1901, Mr. Shore married Miss Susie J. James, who was born at Old Town, daugh- ter of Franklin and Jane (Spaugh) James. The James family is of early Virginia ancestry, while the Spaughs are members of that well known fam- ily in Western North Carolina elsewhere referred to. Mr. and Mrs. Shore have two children: Rufus James and Mary Louise. Mr. Shore is active in the Home Moravian Church, while his wife is a Baptist.
MATTHEW LEWIS OGBURN, now deceased, was long a prominent resident of Oldtown Township, Forsyth County. He served with distinction in the war between the states and during the greater part of his active career was more or less closely identified with the tobacco culture and tobacco manufacture. However, he operated a large estate as a general farmer, and for his achievements and for his character his name is spoken with high re- spect and with grateful memory in his part of the state.
He was born on a plantation in Oldtown Town- ship June 1, 1832. His father, Edward Ogburn, was born in Virginia, moved to North Carolina, and bought land in Oldtown Township, in Stokes but now Forsyth County. There he prospered as a farmer and lived in that community until his death. He married Miss Williams.
Matthew L. Ogburn grew up on his father's farm, had such advantages in school and home training as were then possible and was making his work count as an independent farmer when the war broke out. On May 22, 1861, he enlisted in Company D of the Twenty-first Regiment, North Carolina troops. That regiment went to Virginia and became a part of the command under Gen. Stonewall Jackson. Mr. Ogburn was with his com-
rades until severely wounded at the Battle of Pavillion Station in Virginia, and being incapaci- tated was granted an honorable discharge in August, 1862. While recuperating he went to South Carolina and planted a crop of cotton. On June 24, 1864, he enlisted in Company G of the Ninth North Carolina Cavalry, and was in the cavalry branch of the Confederate army until the close of hostilities.
The war over Mr. Ogburn entered the employ of the late Nathaniel D. Sullivan, long prominent as a pioneer tobacco manufacturer in Forsyth County. As a traveling salesman he carried the Sullivan tobaccos for distribution all over South Carolina and Georgia, and continued as a tobacco salesman about five years. Mr. Ogburn then set- tled down in Oldtown Township, where he bought 300 acres. He raised all the staple crops, but emphasized tobacco culture and also the manufac- ture of tobacco. His products as a tobacco grower were sent to the southern markets.
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