History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV, Part 36

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 36

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In 1870 Mr. Ogburn bought 300 acres of land in Oldtown Township, only a small part of which was improved, and he subsequently added another 100 acres. Here he continued his work as a farmer and tobacco manufacturer and grower, and lived to find himself surrounded with all the material comforts and conveniences. That was his home when death came to him March 9, 1913, when past eighty years of age.

Mr. Ogburn was married in February, 1870, to Anna Eliza (Huckabee) Clowney. Mrs. Ogburn, who is still living at the old home in Oldtown Township, was born in Kershaw County, South Carolina, November 25, 1841. Her grandfather, Hon. Richard Huckabee, was a prominent South Carolina planter and slave owner and made a name in public affairs in the early days of the state being a member of the State Legislature. Richard Huckabee married Mary Booker, and both of them lived to a good old age. William Booker Huckabee, father of Mrs. Ogburn, was born either in Wake or Cumberland County, North Carolina, and spent practically all his life as a farmer. Re- moving to South Carolina, he bought a plantation on the Wateree River in Kershaw County and was one of the aristocratic and successful planters of that section. He had a large number of slaves to perform the field work and also to spin and weave and carry on the varied activities of the household. The cloth that was woven by the slaves was made into dresses and suits by Mrs. Ogburn's mother, and in the early days all the family dressed in homespun. Mrs. Ogburn well remembers how when she was a girl the cooking was done entirely by an open fire. Her father died at the age of seventy-one. William B. Huckabee married Catherine Hudson, who was born in Kershaw County, South Carolina, daughter of Rush and Annie Hudson, and she died at the age of sixty-nine.

Mrs. Ogburn was married in 1860 to John Clow- ney of Fairfield County, North Carolina. Mr. Clowney enlisted in the Confederate army at the beginning of the war and died while in the serv- ice.

Mr. and Mrs. Ogburn reared six children: Cath- erine E., Sally B., Willis, Minnie, Maude and Pearl. Catherine is the wife of Walter E. Glad- stone and her seven children are Ewell, Emmet, Ruth, Howard, Hunter, Ruby and Mary. Sally is the wife of Jeff Zigler and has two children, Otto and James. Minnie married Jerry Newton and has six children, Clara, Anna May, Jerry L.,

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Dona, Edward and Evelyn. Maude married John Pratt, and their five children are Hazel, Lillian, Beryl, Juanita and Russell. Pearl, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Ogburn, is the wife of Robert Ferguson, and has two children named Mildred and Ogburn.

Mrs. Ogburn is an active member of the Oak Summit Church and her husband was also affiliated with that congregation. Fraternally he was a member of Winston Lodge No. 167, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and was an honored and respected member of Norfleet Camp of the United Confederate Veterans.

REV. WILLIAM B. DUTTERA, Ph. D., S. T. D. Salisbury, North Carolina, numbers among its honored and valued residents many who have won noble distinction in one or another field of activity; and in the founding of the First Congregational Church and Parish House as a religious and social center here, Dr. William B. Duttera has won a place among the most worthy. It was the culmina- tion of years of hope and effort on his part, and in its final achievements is a monument of things yet hoped for.

William B. Duttera was born at Littlestown, near Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, in 1865. He is a son of Amos and Martha (Babylon) Dut- tera, the latter of whom is deceased. Doctor Duttera's ancestors on coming to America settled near Germantown, Pennsylvania. In William B. Duttera 's boyhood the family moved to Maryland, and later locating at Taneytown, here his father engaged in banking business for a while, but he is now living retired.

William B. Duttera attended both public and private schools, and as he was designed for the banking business, he was given a commercial edu- cation in Eastman's National Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, but later decided to give his life to religious and social work. With this end in view he entered upon a period of study at Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, where he was graduated in 1894. In 1897 he finished his theo- logical course at Heidelburg University, Ohio, and was graduated with the degree of B. D., and in the same year became a licensed minister of the Re- formed Church. Subsequently he took extensive post graduate study in the Chicago University, the University of Wisconsin and at Harvard. While in Chicago, through the facilities offered by Hull House and Graham Taylor's Chicago Com- mons, the young man became deeply interested both in study and participation in social work.

Going then to Cincinnati, Doctor Duttera in- augurated the university social settlement work in that city, where he was located until stricken with typhoid fever. It was in 1901 that this enthusiast came first to Salisbury, and here he has found a congenial home and has made this city the scene of his useful activities. Taking charge as pastor of a weak and struggling church, at a time when its prospects were discouraging and its whole organization needed his revivifying energy, he built it up to self support, both materially and spiritually and continued its pastor for fourteen years.

In 1915 Doctor Duttera withdrew from that denomination and founded the First Congregational Church of Salisbury, becoming a member of the latter communion at that time, and doing this in order to carry out long cherished plans to combine social and religious work at Salisbury, believing the democratic nature of the Congrega-

tional organization the true ideal under which to carry out . such plans and affording the widest scope. There went with him into his new en- deavor a gratifying number of members of his former congregation, for many were in thorough accord with Doctor Duttera's broad, liberal and progressive ideas for carrying on a modern relig- ious and social enterprise in Salisbury, for every- body, regardless of crecd or lack of creed. The original list of members has been substantially augmented by other dependable and influential people.

Doctor Duttera held services first in the new $150,000 courthouse, and later in the old court- house, converted into a community building, until the spring of 1917, when he had the satisfaction of dedicating the new Parish House, one block away, which has a most central location, standing on the cornor of Main and Liberty streets. Doctor Duttera not only looked after the financing of this enterprise, but he designed the building, personally selected the lumber, brick and other material, and superintended its construction. He may justly feel proud of this achievement. He is a pioneer in this line, there being no other like it in the South, and it has been modeled upon the most approved of such structures in the northern cities where social work is a part of the life of the people. This beautiful and appro- priate building is of brick construction through- out, two stories in height, with a basement equal to another story, and a roof that can be utilized during the summer season, thus providing four floors. A commodious main auditorium provides abundant space for religious services, concerts, etc. There are game rooms adjacent for the young people, besides a number of other rooms for use of individual societies, circles, musical organizations, etc. An admirable feature of the building is the adequate lighting, a flood of light pouring in on every side, no agent more exhilarat- ing or therapeutic, while the ventilating system is perfection. The basement has been fitted up as a gymnasium for both sexes and is equipped with lavatories and shower baths of modern type. The basement is also used for basket and volley ball, and a completely fitted kitchen and dining room provides for other needs.

Doctor Duttera is a great believer in the power of illustration, and with his other methods of entertaining, on two Sundays of the month he delivers interesting and instructive lectures which he illustrates with his compound stereoptican. He is an eloquent and forceful speaker and has a winning personality, and it would be difficult to find any other better fitted for such great work as he has undertaken. His name is already coupled with other great men of the Congregational body.

Doctor Duttera was married to Mary R. Julian, the only daughter of the late well-known David R. Julian, this family being prominent not only in Rowan County, but in North Carolina. They have four children, namely : Martha Dorothy, Wayne Bradford, Maurice Julian and Mary White.

On many occasions and by many bodies, Doctor Duttera has been honored. He is registrar and treasurer of the Congregational churches in the state, and no official is better informed or more zealous in advancing religious and social propo- ganda through the church. He is state president for North Carolina of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America, and is a national representative of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of which body he was formerly state chaplain, and

Mrs. n. B. M'Canles.

NB Ml xuless

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later made national chaplain. He is also state editor of the national organ of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty, The Visitor. He has also held sundry state offices in other fraternal organ- izations. In closing this all too brief record of an unusual man, a torchbearer along pioneer paths at is were, it seems appropriate as indica- tive of his aims and beliefs, to append his sum- mary of what Congregationalism means: De- mocracy in religion and life; sane evangelism and aggressive missionary extension; a civic vision and a social consciousness; church unity in diversity; education and the open mind; the proclamation of the Gospel with the right of Jesus Christ to rule all life and the spirit of love expressed in service.

NAPOLEON B. MCCANLESS. Endowed by nature with rare judgment, energy and discrimination, thoroughly public-spirited and progressive, and one whose interests are always of a vital nature, Napoleon B. McCanless, of Salisbury, has de- voted much of his time to the advancement of his home city, aiding in its upbuilding, furthering its material prosperity, and promoting in every possible manner the higher and better interests of the county and the state. Identified with vari- ous projects, he is associated with the agricul- tural, manufacturing and mining interests of Rowan County, and is now serving as president of the Halifax Cotton Mill Company. He was born at Gold Hill, Rowan County, North Carolina, a son of Joseph McCanless, and grandson of Wil- liam McCanless, who immigrated to North Caro- lina from Scotland, settling on a farm in Iredell County.

Joseph McCanless was born on a farm in Ire- dell County, in 1818, and there lived until about 1845. Coming then to Gold Hill, Rowan County, he was engaged in mining until sometime during the progress of the Civil war, when he served for awhile in the Confederate army. At the close of the conflict, the owner of the mine having re- covered its possession, he was given charge of the mill. Late in life, he removed to Winston, and there resided until his death, at the age of three score and ten years. The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Wasson. She was born in Iredell County, a daughter of William Wasson, and died at Gold Hill, Rowan County. Five chil- dren blessed their union, as follows: William Lafayette, James C., David A., Laura, and Na- poleon B.

At the age of fourteen years, enthused with patriotic zeal, Napoleon B. McCanless tried to enlist in Wheeler's Cavalry, but failed in the attempt. Coming to Salisbury soon after the close of the conflict, he was a clerk in the firm of McCabbins, Foster & Company, and its suc- cessors, for nearly three years. Going then to New York, he entered the employ of the firm of McCanless & Burrell, of which his brother, Wil- liam L. McCanless, was the head, and remained until the death of his brother. Going from there to Kansas, Mr. McCanless became one of the first settlers of Wichita, where he remained for a year, being employed in the construction depart- ment of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail- road.

Mr. MeCanless then returned to Gold Hill, and soon after entered the employ of Amos Howe, who had at that time purchased a mine, and contin- ned with him for a year. The North Carolina

Reduction Company then bought the mine, and he took a contract to mine for them for a year. The following year, he filled a contract to haul the granite for the Post Office Building at Raleigh. Mr. McCanless subsequently contracted with the state to build a mile of the North Carolina Rail- road, beginning at the west end of the Swan- nanoa Tunnel, but at the end of a year the state annulled the contract. Returning to Salisbury, Mr. McCanless was engaged in the mercantile business for a year, when he sold his interest in the firm to his partner. Then, in company with Dr. William Murdock and others, he organized the Vance Mill Company, and built and equipped the Vance Mill, which he operated for a time. Later, with D. R. Julian and others, he organ- ized the Kesler Mill Company, and built and equipped the Kesler Mill.

Prior to that date the streets of Salisbury had not been improved, and were in a sad condition, at times being almost impassable. Mr. McCan- less, with J. S. McCabbins and D. R. Julian, signed a contract to macadamize a part of some of the streets, the city issuing bonds to the amount of $50,000, the bonds being taken by the contractors in payment for their work. The contract being filled, Mr. McCanless and Mr. Julian built and equipped the North Side Roller Mill, and operated it successfully for two years. Later, in partner- ship with Thomas St. Vanderford, he built and equipped the Spencer Street Railway, which they sold to a Grand Rapids firm.

Prior to that time, Mr. McCanless and D. R. Julian had organized the Salisbury Savings Bank, and erected for its use the building on the corner of North Main and West Council streets. After disposing of the Spencer Street Railway, these enterprising gentlemen organized the Peoples National Bank, of which Mr. McCanless is the president. As a contractor and builder, Mr. Mc- Canless has erected many private residences, and having purchased a large tract of land in the southern part of the city platted it, and built Thomas Street. In company with Lee Overman, D. R. Julian and C. L. Welch, he erected the Wash- ington Building in Salisbury, and with J. D. Norwood, C. L. Welch and J. S. McCabbins, erected the Empire Block.

Mr. McCanless has always been interested in agriculture, and in partnership with J. D. Nor- wood, owns a farm of 800 acres in Iredell County, two miles from Statesville, operating it through tenants. In 1916, he, with J. D. Norwood, M. L. Johnson, and D. D. Campbell, organized the Yadkin Finish Company, and erected a mill on the river, in the fall of 1917 having it completed, and fully equipped with all the modern appliances used in the manufacture of mercerized goods, it being the second largest plant of the kind in the country.

Mr. McCanless is president of the Harris Gran- ite Company, which has quarries at Neverson, Bal- four, Stacey, and at Salisbury has a well-equipped finishing plant, it being the largest in the South to manufacture monuments and mausoleums. At the present writing, in 1917, he is financially in- terested in a ship building plant that is filling large government contracts at Alexandria, Vir- ginia.

Mr. McCanless married, April 26, 1872, Georgia Frances Mauney. She was born at Gold Hill, Rowan County, a daughter of Ephraim and Rachel (McMackin) Mauney, and granddaughter of Val-

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entine and Jemima (Black) Mauney. Nine chil- . man worker and then engaged in business for him- dren have been born of the union of Mr. and self as a contractor for plumbing and tin work of all kinds. This business he has built up to large and prosperous proportions. Mrs. McCanless, namely : Carrie, Mary, Lena, Wil- liam A., Kate, John, Walter, Charles, and Na- poleon B., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. McCanless are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of its building committee. Fra- ternally Mr. McCanless belongs to Rowan Lodge No. 110, Knights of Pythias, and to the Royal Arcanum. Politically he is a democrat, but his private interests prevent him from taking part in public affairs,

LAWRENCE BAGGE BRICKENSTEIN has been a business man at Winston-Salem for a number of years, and while not a native of the state he is connected in the maternal line with one of the very oldest families in Western North Carolina.

Mr. Brickenstein was born at Bethlehem, Penn- sylvania. His grandfather, Rev. John Henry Brickenstein, was a native of Basel, Switzerland, came to America when a young man and became a minister of influence and power in the Moravian Church. He held various pastorates, including the churches at Nazareth and Lititz, Pennsylvania, where he spent his last years.

Mr. Brickenstein's father was also a minister. He was Rev. Herman Brickenstein, born at Emaus in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He was educated . in the Moravian school at Bethlehem, where he graduated in theology, and after his ordination he went to Olney, Illinois, and was pastor of the Moravian Church there and subsequently at Brook- lyn, New York. Returning to Pennsylvania, he became principal of the Linden Hall Seminary at Lititz, Pennsylvania, and filled that responsible post for thirty-five years. He died in Pennsyl- vania in 1894. His wife was Susan Shultz. She was born at Friedburg, North Carolina, daughter of Rev. Augustus Henry Shultz. Her father was born in South America, where his father was sta- tioned as a missionary. Augustus Henry was ordained as a preacher in the Moravian Church at the early age of eighteen years and became pastor of the Friedburg Church in Western North Carolina and was active in that community for many years. This early Moravian minister mar- ried Rebecca Matilda Bagge. Her father was Charles Frederick Bagge and her grandfather was Traugott Bagge, who was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, July 27, 1729. Traugott Bagge came to America prior to 1770, locating at Bethabara, North Carolina. The store he established there he moved to Salem in 1772, and was a successful merchant and the recognized business head of the old Salem Colony. At different times he appeared before the Legislature at Raleigh in the interest of this colony. Traugott Bagge married Rachael Nicholsen. Both were active members of the Home Moravian Church. Traugott Bagge died April 1, 1800, and his wife in 1799. They reared four chil- dren.

Mr. Brickenstein's mother died in 1891. She reared five children, named Charles, John Henry, Mary, Lawrence B. and Lucy. Mr. Brickenstein was educated in the public schools of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but at the age of fifteen was ap- prenticed to learn the tinsmith's trade. His ap- prenticeship continued for three years, and he then removed to New York City and for two years was a student in the technical department of the New York Trade School .. In April, 1900, coming to Winston-Salem, he put in one year as a journey-

Mr. Brickenstein was married in 1892 to Gwen- nie Leibert, a native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Her father, Harry Leibert, also a native of Penn- sylvania, was reared and educated there and as a young man helped to build the Bethlehem Steel Company. He laid the first brick in the first factory of that company, and was identified with much of its early prosperity. While working in the plant he helped make the first armor plate ever manufactured in the United States and also the first twelve-inch high power gun and the first armor piercing projectile. Thus he was identified in the early stages with America's greatest armor plate and munition factory. This venerable in- dustrial pioneer died in South Bethlehem on De- cember 28, 1917, aged eighty-four years.

Mr. and Mrs. Brickenstein have one daughter, named Margaret. The family are members of the Home Moravian Church, and Mr. Brickenstein is active in the Twin City Club.

ROBERT J. JORDAN, one of the substantial mer- chants of Winston-Salem, is a native of that town and belongs to early colonial ancestry. According to the information contained in the reports of the United States census in 1790, ninety-five Jordans were enumerated as heads of families living in several different counties of North Carolina. Mr. Jordan's great-grandfather was John Jordan, and he was born probably in Randolph County. Late in life he moved to that portion of Rowan County that is now included in Davie County, and lived on a farm with his son, James, until his death. Grandfather James Jordan was born in Randolph County, went when a young man to Davie County and bought a tract of land about two miles east of the courthouse. He was engaged in general farm- ing and also became a tobacco manufacturer. When the war broke out he employed a substitute and rendered his own best service in civil life, looking after his farm and raising supplies for the government. However, during the latter part of the war he was in the ranks fighting as a soldier. Following the war he sold his farm and bought another place on Yadkin River in Davidson County. That was his home until his death in his eighty- fourth year. Grandfather James Jordan married Malona Ann White. She was born in what is now Davie County. Her father, James White, was probably a native of the same locality and a farmer there, He married for his first wife a Miss Booe,. whose father, Jacob Booe, owned 1,000 acres of the best land in Davie County, located along Dutch- man and Elisha creeks. Jacob Booe operated his land with a large number of slaves and also con- ducted a distillery. He died before the war. Mrs. James Jordan died at the age of seventy-six years, having reared nine children.

Robert Lindsay Jordan, father of Robert J., was born on a farm near Mocksville in Davie County, North Carolina, August 31, 1853. As a boy he assisted his father on the farm and also in the tobacco factory, and from the age of twenty-one until he was twenty-six conducted his father's land. He then removed to Elberville in Davie County, worked in a tobacco factory a few years, and re- moving to Winston continued in a local factory ·

from 1882 until 1899. For a time he was in the provision business and is now assisting his sons in their store in Winston-Salem.

P. S. Carlton

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At the age of twenty-eight Robert L. Jordan married Stelle Novella Hege. She was born in Davidson County, daughter of George W. and Hattie R. Hege. Of the children of Robert L. Jordan and wife one, Luna Viola, died at the age of sixteen. Seven grew up: Robert Jackson, Hat- tie, Maude, Walter, Everett Lindsay, Alice and Malona. The parents are members of the Meth- odist Protestant Church.

Robert J. Jordan acquired a good education in the public schools and Agricultural and Me- chanical College. On leaving school he worked at different kinds of employment and in 1906-07 was manager of the subscription department of the Winston-Salem Journal. As soon as his experi- ence justified it and as soon as he had sufficient capital he engaged in the mercantile business at the corner of Ninth and Hickory streets. Subse- quently the store was removed to Fourth and Maple streets and in 1909 came to its present location at the corner of Highland and Fourth streets. Here Mr. Jordan is associated with his brother, Walter E., under the firm name of R. J. Jordan & Com- pany. They have a fine trade, handle a well se- lected stock of general merchandise, and are rap- idly becoming prominent and successful business men of Winston-Salem.

In 1916 Mr. Jordan married Clarice McKee. They are both members of the Methodist Protestant Church. They have one little daughter, Elsie McKee.

CHARLES WILLIAM GRICE. The important and varied interests which have engrossed the time and attracted the abilities of Charles William Grice have brought him to the very forefront among the business men of Elizabeth City. His career has been one characterized by a continuous and steady climb, from the bench of a machinist to the directing head of numerous important en- terprises, and during this period of advancement he has relied solely on his own ability and energies.

Mr. Grice is one of the native sons of Elizabeth City who have won success in the community of their birth. He was born March 21, 1854, his parents being Dr. Samuel Davis and Susan (Charles) Grice, the former of whom was for many years a prominent and leading physician and surgeon of Elizabeth City. After attending private schools Charles W. Grice turned his atten- tion to the machinist's trade, at which he served a four years' apprenticeship, but subsequently took up railroading and for several years had an engineer's run on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In various ways he was brought into contact with large development and other enterprises, and soon realized that he possessed abilities that made him successful in the organization and promotion of stock companies. Accordingly, he gave up his position with the railroad in order to devote his entire time to the new line of work, which carried him to San Francisco, California, and the Puget Sound country, and in which he was unusually successful. In 1886 Mr. Gricc became interested in the hotel business, taking over the proprietorship of the Hotel Albemarle, which he conducted for about four years. Later he had a similar ex- . perience at the summer resort, Nags Head, where he was the boniface of the well known hostelry, Nags Head Hotel, for four years, and in this time was also interested in various other ventures and enter- prises. In 1898 he entered the general insurance field, and later became connected with Messrs. Culpepper, Griffin and Old in the handling of in-

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History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV, Part 36

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

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