USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 51
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Paul Nathaniel Heilig grew to manhood on the home farm in Gold Hill Township, and after the close of the Civil war, in which he served as a colonel in the State Militia, and as tithing-man conscription officer, he moved to Salisbury, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, as a dealer in hardware, until his retirement from business af- fairs. His death occurred several years later, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Amelia Miller, was born in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, which was the birthplace of her parents, Daniel and Mary (Sossman) Miller. She lived to the ripe old age of four score and four years, and reared three sons, as follows: John G .; James D .; and A. Sidney, deceased.
Having prepared for college at Mount Pleasant Academy, John G. Heiling continued his studies for 21/2 years at Roanoke College, in Salem, Vir- ginia. Then, preferring a business rather than a professional career, he left that institution to be- come a clerk in the hardware establishment of Crawford & Heilig, of which his father was the junior member. Subsequently he and his brother, James D. Heilig, became associated with their father as members of the firm of P. N. Heilig & Sons. After the death of the senior member of the firm, the business was closed out, and Mr. Heilig entered the employ of the McCormick Har- vester Company as commercial salesman, and for twenty-three years was thus successfully employed, traveling through parts of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Since retiring from that posi- tion he has continued his residence in Salisbury, where he has extensive interests, being president of the Heilig-Deas Shoe Company, and of the Taylor Mattress Company. Mr. Heilig is also a stock- holder in different cotton mills and banks, among the latter being the Salisbury Bank and Trust Company.
Mr. Heilig married, in 1876, Lilly Eilers, a na- tive of Wilmington, North Carolina. Her father, Herman B. Eilers, emigrated from Germany to the United States as a young man, and soon after his arrival in New York sent for his bride-to-be, Mary Adelaide Runge, who quickly responded to the summons, and they were married in New York City. Coming soon after to North Carolina, they spent their remaining days in Wilmington. Mrs. Heilig passed to the higher life in 1911, leaving four children, namely: Herman G., a physician in Salisbury; Paul A .; Marion, wife of John R. Deas, has two children, John R. and Lily Eilers; and Lily. Mrs. Heilig was a member of the Pres- byterian Church, and reared her children in the same religious faith. Mr. Heilig, true to the faith in which he was reared, is an active member of the Lutheran Church, and has served as a deacon in St. John's Church.
JOSEPH W. BOYLES. An active and prosperous business man of Thomasville, Joseph W. Boyles is contributing his full share toward the advance- ment of the manufacturing and mercantile affairs of Davidson County, being proprietor of a bot- tling plant, and an extensive dealer in ice and coal. A son of James Boyles, he was born, Jan- uary 3, 1878, on a farm in Upper Pilot Township, Surry County, North Carolina. His grandfather, Carey Boyles, owned a plantation in Surry County, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death.
James Boyles grew to manhood on the parental homestead, and having found farming not only congenial to his tastes, but quite remunerative, he
bought land in Upper Pilot Township, Surry County, and by dint of industrious labor and good management improved the valuable farm on which he still resides. He married Emily Fulk, who was born in Surry County, a daughter of Jacob Fulk, who managed his extensive planta- tion with slave labor. She died in middle life, at the age of fifty years, leaving but one child, Joseph W., with whom this sketch is chiefly con- cerned.
Joseph W. Boyles acquired a good common school education when young, and on the home farm had a practical training in the various branches of agriculture. Beginning the battle of life for himself at the age of seventeen years, he first operated a stationary engine, and later learned the steam fitter's trade, which he followed continuously until 1906. In that year, locating in Thomasville, Mr. Boyles established a coca cola bottling plant, and in its management has been very successful, it being now one of the thriving industries of the place. In addition to supervis- ing his bottling plant, he deals extensively in ice and coal, having a large patronage in both com- modities.
On December 25, 1901, Mr. Boyles was united in marriage with Lela Dennis, a daughter of Wil- liam Cobb and Ruth (Saunders) Dennis. Into their pleasant household thus established, seven children have made their advent, namely. Alva, Ruth, Joseph, Lela Maude, Imogene, Isabelle and George Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Boyles are active members of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which he is serving as a member of the board of trustees. He is also connected with its Sunday School as a teacher of the Bible class. Fraternally Mr. Boyles is a member of Thomasville Lodge No. 214, . Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons.
WILLIAM MANNING FALLON. While hundreds and thousands of men and women find a place in their hearts and recollections for Durham on account of its intimate associations with their col- lege days, the city is perhaps best known to the world at large as one of the important tobacco centers of the South. It is with the tobacco busi- mess that William M. Fallon has been chiefly identified during his residence here.
Mr. Fallon is a native of Virginia, born at Rich- mond August 2, 1869, a son of John and Mary Louise (Stewart) Fallon. His father was for a number of years clerk of the Henrici County court of Virginia. The son was educated in both private and public schools, and as a boy began learning the tobacco business as clerk. Later he rose to the position of manager of the American Tobacco Factory at Richmond.
His home has been at Durham since 1894. For a time he was employed as a tobacco buyer and later engaged in the same line of business under the name W. M. Fallon & Company. At the end of four years he sold his interests to the Im- perial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland, and then became manager of this com- pany, the post he has held ever since. He is prominently known in local tobacco circles, has served seven consecutive terms as president of the Tobacco Board of Trade and is well known among the men of this industry throughout the states of Virginia and North Carolina.
Mr. Fallon served as a member of Governor Aycock's staff. He served one term as alderman of Durham and is a member of the Common-
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
wealth Club, is a Royal Arch Mason and is vestry- man of St. Phillip's Episcopal Church.
November 2, 1894, the same year he came to North Carolina, Mr. Fallon married Jennie Clai- borne Hines of Washington, D. C. Her father was the late Dr. James Hines, who served as surgeon with the rank of major in the United States army. Mr. and Mrs. Fallon have five chil- dren : May Louise, Ruth Claiborne, Janie Gertrude, Margaret Stewart and Douglas.
Of his own immediate family there is living only one sister, Mrs. L. P. Goodson, nee Miss Annie Belle Fallon of Caswell County, North Caro- lina.
Mr. Fallon's travels have been rather extensive. During his numerous trips abroad, he has visited nearly all of the foreign countries, including Eng- land, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Africa and Spain. He arrived home from his last trip abroad just prior to the outbreak of the great world war, having spent four months in Holland, returning by way of Germany.
ERNEST WYTTENBACH EWBANK. A lawyer by profession, Mr. Ewbank has attained a position of success and has established many influential connections at Hendersonville. However, his in- terests are not confined to the law. He is presi- dent of one of the substantial banks of the city and is also one of the partners in a large insur- ance agency.
Mr. Ewbank was born in Greenville County, South Carolina, August 11, 1875, but has lived at Hendersonville since early childhood. His par- ents are Ernest Lucas and Amaélie Virginia (Wyt- tenbach) Ewbank. His mother was born in Geneva, Switzerland. His father was a South Carolina planter, but on moving to Henderson- ville in 1881 took up the ship timber business and in 1902 established the insurance agency of E. L. Ewbank & Son. That business is now continued under the name of Ewbank & Ewbank, comprising Ernest W. and his brother F. A. Ewbank.
Ernest W. Ewbank was educated in Judson College at Hendersonville, in the Porter Mili- tary Academy at Charleston, South Carolina, and finished his literary training in the University of the South at Sewannee, Tennessee, in 1893. His law studies were pursued under the direction of Louis M. Bourne at Asheville. He was ad- mitted to the bar in February, 1897, but a long period of illness kept him practically an in- valid for seven years and prevented anything like a regular devotion to his professional duties. Since then he has been in general practice at Hender- sonville and now gives most of his time to office practice.
Mr. Ewbank organized the Citizens Bank of Hendersonville, served as its vice president un- til 1914 and since then has been its president. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Fassi- fern School for Girls. For three terms he was Hendersonville's city attorney and has always in- terested himself in the important movements and undertakings in community life. He is a for- mer vestryman of St. James Episcopal Church.
September 8, 1909, he married Florence Schaf- fer, of Savannah. Her father was a Lutheran minister. They have three children, Ernest Wyt- tenbach, Jr., born August 17, 1910, Mary Ma- carie and Virginia Brent.
AARON Y. LINVILLE, M. D. For over a quarter of a century Doctor Linville has looked after the welfare of his large medical practice at Waughton, in Forsyth County. He is one of the leading mem- bers of the medical fraternity in his section of the state and through his profession has made his life one of useful service to humanity.
He was born on a plantation in Belews Creek Township of Forsyth County, where the family have lived for generations. His grandfather, Elijah Linville, was born in the same township, and as nearly as can be ascertained was a lineal descendant of Solomon Linville. Solomon Lin- ville was one of three brothers who came to Amer- ica in 1699 with William Penn on his second trip. The other brothers were named William and Ben- jamin. Descendants of William Linville moved from eastern to western Pennsylvania, and about 1810 went into Ohio as pioneers at Rushville, in Fairfield County. The descendants of Benjamin Linville settled in Virginia, locating on the present site of Winchester, and a creek in that locality still bears the family name. Solomon Linville for part of his life did a considerable business in the transportation of goods by river and overland routes. He operated rafts down the Susquehanna River and dealt much in southern markets. He finally moved south, and afterwards kept up no correspondence with his brothers. All the Linvilles not descended from William and Benjamin have been referred to as the members of the lost tribe of Solomon. Solomon is supposed to have been the ancestor of that branch of the family of which Doctor Linville is a member. In the first United States census of 1790 the following Linvilles were named as heads of families in Stokes County, North Carolina: Aaron, David, Mary and Richard.
The great-grandfather of Dr. Linville was prob- ably a native of Virginia and an early settler of Stokes County. Grandfather Elijah Linville was a planter in Belews Creek Township and spent his entire life there. He and his wife had the fol- lowing children : Jasper, Elias B., Mary A., Lusetta, Edward and Russell A. The son Jasper acquired a good education, taught school, afterwards en- tered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he graduated, and then settled in practice in Indiana. Edward was a farmer and shoemaker, and before the rail- road era was also engaged in transporting goods between High Point and Greensboro. Russell was a farmer for several years, afterwards moved to Waughton, and now for some years has been con- nected with the Nissen Wagon Works.
Elias Burton Linville, father of Dr. Linville, was born in Forsyth County, July 5, 1839. As a youth he served an apprenticeship at shoemaking. He did his journeyman work as a shoemaker long before the days of modern machinery and large factories, and all shoes and boots were made to order. After following his trade for several years lie succeeded to the ownership of the old home- stead, and remained a resident there until his death. He married Martha Caroline Crews. She was born near Salem Chapel, in Stokes County, North Carolina, daughter of John and Mrs. (Full) Crews. She is still living on the home farm in Belews Creek Township. Her six children are: Nannie M., wife of William Fulp; Nora Prudence, wife of James Fulton; Gaither, who died in his eighteenth year: Curtis Bragden, who lives on the old homestead; Arthelius J., of Winston-Salem; and Aaron G.
Dr. Linville grew up on the home plantation in
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Forsyth County, was educated in the rural schools, and for a time worked at the shoemaker's trade with his father. From a trade he turned his at- tention to a profession, and studied medicine in New York City, being graduated with his degree from the University of New York in 1889. Since then he has practiced at Waughton, and from that village has extended the range of his services over a large portion of Forsyth County. Dr. Linville is a member of the Forsyth County Medical Society, the North Carolina State Medical Society and the Southern Medical Association.
On December 31, 1891, he married Russie Sink, daughter of William L. and Susan (Glasscock) Sink. Dr. and Mrs. Linville have four children; William Stokes, Nera M., Archie Y. and Burton Sink. The son William S. married Essie Charles. Nera M. is the wife of Henry Mickey. Mrs. Lin- ville is a member of an old and well known family. Her paternal grandparents were Solomon and Lucy (Snider) Sink and she is a great-granddaughter of George and Eva (Long) Sink. Her grandmother, Lucy Snider, was the daughter of Martin and Julia (Rominger) Snider. Doctor Linville and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church at Waughtown and fraternally he is affiliated with the Centerville Council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
FRANCIS H. BAHNSON, distinguished not only as a native born citizen, but as a prosperous and progressive agriculturist of Davie County, Francis H. Bahnson is actively engaged in his favorite pursuit in Farmington, and is rendering material assistance in maintaining the reputation of this section of North Carolina as a superior farming and stock-raising region. A son of Charles F. Bahnson, he was born in Farmington in March, 1873, and has here spent the larger part of his life. His paternal grandfather, Bishop Bahnson, was for many years bishop of the North Carolina province for the Moravian Church, and very active and influential in that denomination.
Born February 15, 1840, in Pennsylvania, . Charles F. Bahnson was but nine years old when his parents settled in Salem, North Carolina, where he was educated, attending the Boys School. June 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Second Battalion, North Carolina Troops, and was first sergeant until promoted June 1, 1863, to battalion quartermaster. He served with his command until paroled, and after the war located in Farmington, Davie County, settling down to the peaceful and pleasant pursuit of farming, and was thus actively engaged until his death February 16, 1911.
The maiden name of the wife of Charles F. Bahnson was Jane Amanda Johnson. She was born in Davie County, this state, near Farmington, a daughter of George Wesley Johnson, whose father was for many years engaged in tilling the soil, owning and occupying a farm in Forsyth County, near Clemmonsville. George Wesley John- son was born near the present site of Clemmons- ville, Forsyth County, December 1, 1810. Although reared to agricultural pursuits, he did not take kindly to farming, but as a young man embarked in mercantile pursuits in Farmington, Davie County. When he first started in business, he bought all of his merchandise in Wilmington, this state, and the goods had to be shipped up the river to Fayetteville, from there being transported with teams to Farmington. He traded largely with the farmers, who exchanged produce for goods, and the farm produce he sent to Fayette-
ville with the teams that on their return trip brought back his merchandise. He continued in business there many years, having a large and profitable trade, and during the time made wise investments, buying several large tracts of land. He continued his residence in Farmington until his death, at the venerable age. of seventy-nine years.
The maiden name of the wife of George Wesley Johnson, was Martha M. Taylor. She was born in Farmington in 1816, a daughter of Spencer Taylor, who owned and occupied a plantation adjoining Farmington until 1840, when he re- moved to Tennessee, where he spent his remaining days. Mrs. George Wesley Johnson, Mr. Bahn- son's maternal grandmother, died at the age of three score and ten years, leaving six children, as follows: John M., Frances M., James L., Jane Amanda, William G., and Valeria Martina.
Of the union of Charles F. and Jane Amanda (Johnson) Bahnson, three children were born and reared, namely: George W., Mattie, wife of Oliver L. Williams; and Francis H.
Acquiring his education in the district schools, Francis H. Bahnson began when young to perform his share of the manual labor incidental to life on a well-managed farm. Becoming familiar with both the theory and practice of agriculture, he has continued to follow this profitable branch of industry to the present time, being widely known as a prominent and successful farmer and stock-raiser.
Mr. Bahnson married, June 3, 1896, Miss Mattie F. Rich, who was born in Farmington, a daughter of S. C. and Bettie (McMahan) Rich. Four children have been born into the household thus established, namely: Frances Helen, Elizabeth, Jane Amanda, and Charles F. Mr. and Mrs. Balinson are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have reared their children in the same religious faith. Fraternally Mr. Bahn- son belongs to Farmington Lodge, No. 265, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; and to Farmington Council, No. 169, Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
JOSEPH HOLLINSWORTH, M. D. "None but him- self can be his parallel." The subject of this sketch, although one of the most eminent physi- cians and surgeons of the state, as well as one of her distinguished citizens in his generation, lives today, not in the history of scientists, but in that volume that records the life and service of the "old country doctor." Dr. Joseph Hollins- worth, acknowledged by the leading professors of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia as one of the South's greatest physicians and sur- geons, may, perhaps, not long be remembered, but the memory of "Doctor Joe," the big bodied, master minded, humane-hearted, country doctor will be cherished for generations yet to come.
The great-grandfather of Joseph Hollinsworth came to America in colonial days from Hollywood, Cheshire, England, settling in the colony of Mary- land. His son Joseph-for whom the subject of this sketch was named-moved into North Carolina and at first settled in Duplin County, but later came to Surry County and built his home on the banks of Tom's Creek, twelve miles east of what is now the Town of Mount Airy. It was on this typical ante-bellum plantation that Joseph Hollins- worth was born on February 27, 1820.
His parents, James and Elizabeth Golding Hollinsworth owned a considerable amount of
Jos Haunsworth
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
property, and easily could have afforded all of their children splendid educational advantages. Yet, aside from a term of three months at an old log schoolhouse, he worked and defrayed every expense incident to both his literary and pro- fessional training, and in later years ne provided the money necessary for the professional training of two of his younger brothers, William and Edwin Hollinsworth, both of whom left an honorable record of usefulness as physicians. He had three other brothers, John, James and Isaac, and five sisters, Mary, Eliza, Sallie, Martha and Nannie.
One of the interesting incidents in the boyhood of Joseph Hollinsworth was related to the writer by Mr. Joseph H. Fulton, of Mount Airy. An uncle, Reuben Golding, of Germanton, then the county seat of Stokes County, was once on his way to visit James Hollinsworth, Joseph's father. As he rode along the road leading to the farmhouse this old planter and slave owner became interested in a scene nearby. He saw a husky young fellow, cradle in hand, setting the pace for a gang of negroes in a harvest field. "Jim," he said, upon reaching the house, "your boy Joe has got the stuff in him. Give him a chance; let him go home with me where he can go to school. He can help me run my farm and manage my niggers for his board." Joseph's father reluctantly consented, and the following autumn he entered the academy at Germanton where he remained for several years.
After finishing the course of study at the academy he began the study of medicine, spending a year or two in the office of Dr. Beverly Jones who lived at Germanton. While here he acquired much valuable knowledge of books, but his most important acquisition was a sweetheart who later became his wife. One day as he and some other young men were standing in front of the little office of Doctor Jones, a beautiful young woman, riding with grace a spirited horse, passed down the road. He inquired who she was, but no one seemed to know her. "I will find out who she is and some day I am going to marry her, or I will never marry at all," he remarked. He later learned the girl was Miss Mary Letitia Banner, of Stokes County, and that she, in company with her father, was on her way to Salem. When they met, which was some time later, there was found to be no disposition to thwart the purpose that had been so bluntly expressed on that first day. On August 21, 1847. shortly after his graduation from Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, they were married, and moved to Mount Airy and built their home.
The writer has made many inquiries among the older residents for the purpose of ascertaining, if possible, at what time in his professional career Doctor Hollinsworth's reputation became so securely established. But no one seems to know or even to have heard of a time when he was con- sidered an ordinary physician. Nor does any one recall the time when his opinion was not accepted as a finality.
Shortly after the outbreak of the war between the states. Doctor Hollinsworth offered his ser- vices to the Confederacy and was commissioned an assistant surgeon of the Eleventh North Caro- lina Infantry. then encamped at Manassas. He rode horseback from his home to Manassas and at once began his duties among the soldiers. On January 11, 1862, Ex-Officio Governor Henry T. Clark signed his commission as surgeon of Seventy- third Regiment, Eighteenth Brigade, North Caro- lina Infantry, and on the following May he was
commissioned surgeon of Eighteenth Brigade, with the rank of major. This commission was signed by Governor Z. B. Vance.
In the political campaign of 1862 the voters of Surry County, with an almost unanimous vote, elected Doctor Hollinsworth to represent the- county in the State Legislature. He accepted the office and discharged with credit the duties im- posed. He could never be induced to again accept political office, preferring, as he did, to give his undivided thought and efforts to the practice of medicine.
After the war he returned to his home and resumed his work which was continued without interruption until his death which occurred on. January 20, 1887. It would seem that one so well equipped and so ambitious to excel, would' not have selected such an isolated community as Mount Airy, yet it was in the work of the general country practitioner that Doctor Hollinsworth
really found himself.
Before marriage, Mary Banner Hollinsworth lived in Stokes County. She was a granddaughter of Charles Banner, a prominent planter and politi- cian of Stokes County, one time sheriff and legis- lator of the county. Her father was John Banner. She was a woman of rare physical charm, and noble character. Her life (which came to a close on November 19, 1906) was a benediction to the community.
Six children were reared in the Hollinsworth family. Virginia Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, was married to Joseph Bitting. Only last year she fell asleep after a long and useful life. John Banner, Joseph Martin and Edwin Moore Hollins- worth, all chose the profession of medicine, and all of them located in their native county. Dr. John B. Hollinsworth is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, a man of wide knowledge and an exceptionally accurate diagnostician. Dr. Joseph M. Hollinsworth, after his graduation from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, lived a few years in New Mexico, but later returned to Surry County. He enjoyed a wide practice and was one of the most beloved physi- cians of the county. His death occurred in 1911. Dr. Edwin M. Hollinsworth is also a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He began the practice of medicine just a few months before his father's death and to a large extent succeeded him. For thirty-two years he has preserved unsullied the heritage left him by his honored father, and today he is one of the first physicians of Surry County. He is a member of the local, County, State and American Medical societies, and is also affiliated with the Masonic, Odd Fellow, Woodmen and Junior Order fraternities. Annie Eliza is the wife of W. F. Carter, of Mount Airy, one of the ablest. attorneys of the county. Mary Letitia was married to Richard L. Gwyn. Mr. Gwyn was perhaps the owner of the most valuable farm in the county, and was one of her progressive farmers. His death occurred in 1914.
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