USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 54
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served as its cashier until 1917, when he was elected to his present position as vice president. Wide- awake, enterprising and far-seeing, Mr. Norwood has other interests aside from the bank, and in addition to ably and satisfactorily performing all of the duties devolving upon him as cashier and as vice president, is actively identified with various substantial enterprises.
Mr. Norwood married, in 1902, Mary McCanless. She was born at Gold Hill, Rowan County, a daughter of Napoleon B. and Georgia (Mauney) McCanless. Mr. and Mrs. Norwood have two chil- dren, Katie and John D., Jr. Fraternally Mr. Nor-
wood is a member of Andrew Jackson Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of Salisbury Chapter, No. 20, Royal Arch Masons; of Salisbury Commandery No. 13, Knights Templar; of Acca Temple, at Richmond, Virginia; of Salis- bury Lodge No. 24, Knights of Pythias; and of Salisbury Lodge No. 699, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. Active and influential in the management of municipal affairs, Mr. Norwood is a member of the Salisbury Board of Aldermen; a member of its finance committee, of which he has been chairman the past six years, and is now serving as mayor, pro tem. Mr. Norwood is prom- inent in both business, financial and political circles, and his beautiful home is the center of social activities, he and his accomplished wife re- ceiving and entertaining their many friends therein with a sincere and generous hospitality.
JESSE FRANKLIN HARGRAVE. Distinguished not only for the honored ancestry from which he traces his descent, but for the active and prominent part he has taken in advancing the mercantile and agricultural interests of Davidson County, Jesse F. Hargrave, of Lexington, holds a noteworthy position among the respected and valued citizens of his community. A lineal descendant of one of the founders of Lexington, both he and his father, Jesse Hamilton Hargrave, were born and bred in Lexington, the birth of the latter having occurred November 17, 1816. His grandfather, Jesse Har- grave; was born in Guilford County, North Caro- lina, in early pioneer days.
Mr. Hargrave's great-grandfather on
the paternal side came from England to America, ac- companied by a brother, and both located first in Virginia, on the James River, not far from Rich- mond. The brother subsequently moved to Pitt- sylvania County, Virginia, where numerous of his descendants are still living. The great-grandfather made his way to Guilford County, North Carolina, and having purchased land in the locality known as Deep River, cleared and improved a homestead. For awhile he kept slaves, but after joining the Friends Church he liberated all of them.
Brought up and educated in Guilford County, Jesse Hargrave came from there to Rowan County, and settled on what is now the present site of Lexington, Davidson County. With the limited capital, it is said, of $100, he purchased a tract of land now included within the city limits, and embarked in mercantile pursuits, being one of the first merchants of the county, his store having been located at the corner of South Main Street and Sixth Avenue. Upon the organization of Davidson County, he was elected as its first representative in the State Legislature. The issue in the cam- paign was the permanent location of the county seat, and through his persistent and efficient efforts in the Legislature Lexington defeated her rival for the honor, and was made capital of the new county.
At that time there were no railways in the country, and Mr. Hargrave (Jesse) used to go on horseback to Philadelphia to buy goods, and they were shipped by water to Fayetteville, and from there were transported with teams to Lexington, He was a very successful business man, and became one of the most extensive real estate holders in the county, his farm lands extending from the city limits south to the river. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Jane Lindsay. She was born in Guilford County, a daughter of Robert Lindsay, who married a Miss De Vane, and grand-
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Joseph M. Toy
Mary A Hoy
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daughter of John Lindsay, who settled in Guil- ford County in 1725. Both he and his wife are buried in the Jersey Baptist Churchyard. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Robert L., Samuel, Alfred, John, Franklin, Jesse Hamilton, and Susan. The daughter was twice married, marrying first a Mr. Hilliard, then a Mr. Humphreys. Both Samuel and Alfred became prominent in public affairs and both served in the State Legislature. Alfred was also a county com- missioner, and was an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
Jesse Hamilton Hargrave was educated at Chapel Hill, but instead of adopting a profession he was for a number of years engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. He acquired considerable landed property, becoming owner of a well-tilled and well- equipped farm, lying three miles south of Lexing- ton, and had slaves until they were freed. For many years his home was located on the present site of the postoffice building. Disposing of that property after the war, he spent a year on the farm. and then returned to Lexington. where he remained a resident until his death, October 20, 1879. During the progress of the war, he served as tithe collector.
Jesse Hamilton Hargrave was twice married. He married first Eliza Overman. aunt of Senator Overman. She died in early life. leaving three children, Tullia, John and Ida. He married for his second wife Martha Clement. She was born in Mocksville, North Carolina, a daughter of Jesse and Malinda (Nail) Clement. Six children were born of their union, namely: Sallie, Minnie. Jesse Franklin, Mary Lee, Charles Clement, and Robert Samuel. Sallie, widow of the late Rev. William C. Norman, resides in Lexington. as do her sisters, Minnie and Mary Lee. Charles C., also of Lex- ington, was for many years a traveling salesman for the McCormick Harvester Company, and is now similarly employed by H. H. Babcock.
Jesse Franklin Hargrave was prepared for col- lege under the tutelage of Prof. Mathew Davis, and afterwards attended Old Trinity for a year. Re- turning to Lexington, he opened a hardware store, and at the same time was local agent for the McCormick Harvester Company. At the end of two years, Mr. Hargrave entered the employ of the Harvester Company, and traveled throughout Virginia, and North and South Carolina, introduc- ing and selling McCormick machinery to the farm- ers of his territory. Resigning the position at the end of sixteen years, Mr. Hargrave was for twelve vears connected with H. H. Babcock & Company as agent. In the meantime, he became interested in mercantile business with his brother, Charles C. Hargrave. Mr. Hargrave owns a portion of the ancestral farm lands, and also owns one-half interest in the Governor Halt farm at Linwood, North Carolina. To the management of these he devotes a large part of his time, residing, how- ever, with his sisters, in Lexington.
JOSEPH T. Fov. Some of the best riches and values of life come to those who have their asso- ciations and memories concentrated in one locality from earliest childhood recollections. That was the experience of the late Mr. Joseph T. Foy of Scott's Hill in Pender County. But he was not for that reason an obscure citizen, since his life between birth and death had counted largely in the for- tunes of the community, and his name was an honored one in many parts of Eastern North Carolina. The City of Wilmington regarded him
as one of the important sources of business wel- fare of that community. From the many tributes spoken and written concerning Mr. Foy it is evi- denced that his place of esteem was worthily earned and justified.
He was born November 16, 1846, and died after a very brief illness on April 26, 1918, at the age of seventy-two. The plantation where he was born was also the home where he died, and like his ancestors he had always been a planter and farmer. His abilities went out to touch many of the varied business and public interests of his county and state, and he was honored with nearly every office in the gift of his fellow citizens. But all the time his heart was at his home, which is a place singularly dignified among the fine country estates of North Carolina.
The Foy home was formerly in New Hanover County, but since 1875 has been in Pender County. The lands of the plantation and estate embrace 835 acres and extend from the main street of the Village of Scott's Hill to salt water. The east boundary of the plantation is Lower Topsail Sound. It is a beautiful and healthful location, affording every charm and comfort of a country home and the salubrious climate assured by the salt air of the Atlantic Ocean. Its situation gives it a splendid climate both summer and winter.
The old homestead was erected in 1850 by the father of the late proprietor. Its perfect state of preservation attests the perfect quality of tim- ber put into it and the soundness of all materials. Mr. Foy's father personally selected the trees from which the timber and lumber were made and su- perintended every detail of the construction. It is a large and beautiful mansion of the old type, built in generous proportions, and its setting amidst a beautiful grove of surrounding trees is remark- ably impressive.
Joseph T. Foy's father was Joseph Mumford Foy and his mother Mary A. (Simmons) Foy. The Foys are of French origin, but have been in this part of North Carolina since the time of the Revo- lution. It was nearly 200 years ago that the family settled in Jones and Onslow counties. One of Mr. Foy's paternal ancestors, a great- grandfather, was Col. Henry Rhodes, who was one of the patriots that marked the way for separation of the colonies of America from the mother coun- try in the early days of the Revolution. The following is a summary of Colonel Rhodes' public service. He was a delegate to the general meet- ing of the deputies held at New Bern, North Carolina, on the 3d of April, 1775, representing Onslow County; also was sent to Hillsboro on the same mission August 21, 1776, and was a delegate to the congress at Halifax to form a constitution for North Carolina, this convention assembling on the 12th day of November, 1776. He was a lieu- tenant colonel in the Revolutionary forces from Onslow County in 1776. During the years 1777. 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781 and 1782 Colonel Rhodes was a member of the General Assembly of North Carolina, serving those periods in the Senate.
Joseph M. Foy, father of the late Joseph T. Foy, was born at the old home at Scott's Hill May 25, 1817. This was the home of his father James Foy. It is one of the oldest plantations of continuous residence of one family in this part of the state. Joseph M. Foy died April 1, 1861. He and his wife were the parents of several chil- dren, three sons surviving: H. S. Foy of Winston- Salem; J. W. Foy of Scott's Hill; and F. M. Foy of Scott's Hill.
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Joseph T. Foy was not yet fifteen years old when the war broke out between the states. Not- withstanding his youth he served in a civil position with the Confederate Government during the last year or so of the war. His experience in business affairs and his success in life have led to his being chosen by the people of his county to fill important publie positions. For twelve years he was chair- man of the Board of Commissioners of Pender County. In 1900 he was elected state senator, serving in the session of 1901. In 1902 he was chosen representative and was in the session of 1903 in the Lower House, and by election in 1908 was again in the General Assembly in 1909. In 1912 he was again elected to the House and helped perfect the legislative program of 1913. During his term as county commissioner both the court- house and jail were built. The citizens of Pender were glad to entrust Mr. Foy with any public position he would accept, knowing that he dis- charged all public responsibilities with fidelity to his trust and to the best interests of the people as a whole. His part was always that of a leader in progressive movements and improvements. He may be credited with an important share of the movement which brought about the construction of what was formerly known as the Wilmington, Onslow & East Carolina Railroad, now a part of the Atlantic Coast Line. This was built through Pender County from Wilmington to New Bern and was completed in 1890.
He became well and favorably known to the City of Wilmington, where he had numerous business interests, being a large owner of real estate and a director of the People's Savings Bank. Mr. Foy was a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, holding his membership at Scott's Hill, and was always ready with counsel and money to contribute to any aid that his church required. His was the type of all round good citizenship such as no community can afford to lose, and whose position it is difficult to fill.
Mr. Foy married Miss Nora Dozier November 8, 1871. She was born in Marion County, South Carolina, a daughter of Dr. T. J. and Sallie (Gause) Dozier, both natives of Marion County. Dr. T. J. Dozier was born in 1828 and was a large land owner and prominent physician. He was twice married, both times to ladies of the same name and first cousins. The mother of Mrs. Foy passed away during the daughter's infancy. The children of the second marriage are: Mrs. Jacob Harrell, Mrs. F. M. Foy, both residents of Scott's Hill; J. L. Dozier of Conway, South Carolina; Charles E. Dozier of Marion, South Carolina.
To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Foy four children were born, all passing away in infancy. In 1895 they adopted Robert Lee Foy, a nephew, whom they gave a college education and who now has entire charge of Mr. Foy's plantation.
Robert Lee Foy married Elizabeth Dozier Abbey, a niece of Mrs. Foy, and has two children, Eliza- beth Abbey Foy and Theresa Gertrude Foy, aged four and two years respectively. Mr. Robert Lee Foy and family reside in the palatial home of the Foys at Scott's Hill.
PAGE KEEN GRAVELY. Men of education, of financial stability and of social standing are rep- resented in the membership of the bar of Rocky Mount. The American Bar Association adopted a statement that a lawyer finds his highest honor in a deserved reputation for fidelity to private trust and to public duty, as an honest man and a
patriotic and loyal citizen, and as an able mem- ber of this body attention may be called to Page Keen Gravely, who is the present city solicitor.
Page Keen Gravely is a Virginian, born in Franklin County June 20, 1888. His parents are John Oglesby Winston Gravely and his wife, Lula (Keen) Gravely, natives of Henry County. His father is in the leaf tobacco business.
Page K. Gravely was educated in a private school, at Randolph-Macon Academy and Ran- dolph-Macon College, Ashland, Virginia, and spent three years as a student in the law department of the University of Virginia and also studied law in the University of North Carolina. He was li- censed to practice in Virginia in 1911 and in North Carolina in 1912. Locating for practice at Rocky Mount, this young lawyer soon showed the possession of a keen mind, vigorous and alert. He had been called a close and sound student and when he went into practice it was found that his grasp of every principle was broad and secure. He was elected city solicitor in 1912 and served two years and then resigned in order to give more attention to his growing private practice, but he was re-elected and is serving at the pres- ent time, having been continuously in the office since 1912, with the exception of eighteen months.
Mr. Gravely was married December 16, 1916, to Miss Elizabeth Haynes, who was born in Frank- lin County, Virginia, and is a daughter of Wil- liam Daniel and Fannie (James) Haynes. The father of Mrs. Gravely is a planter in Virginia.
Mr. Gravely is a member of the North Car- olina Bar Association. He is identified with the leading fraternities, is a Knight of Pythias, Odd Fellow and Elk, and is far advanced in Ma- sonry and belongs to the Mystic Shrine. He is president of the Rocky Mount "Shrine " Club, and has membership also in various social, political, recreation and benevolent organizations.
WILLIAM HENRY FETTER, a native of old Salem and of one of the families long resident in that vicinity, is now a successful building contractor at Winston-Salem. Though he learned his trade at Salem, he followed the process of the real old- time journeyman and as a worker at his trade has seen much of the United States from ocean to ocean, and has lived in some of the largest cities of the country.
He was born at Salem June 10, 1883. In the paternal line the record of the family begins with his great-grandfather, Jacob Fetter, who was a carpenter and lived at Oldtown, in what was then Stokes County. He developed unusual proficiency in the making of window frames. These frames he would put on a wheelbarrow as they were made and roll them into Salem village, where they fornd ready sale. He lived to be a very old man. He reared three sons, Thomas, Peter and William, and three daughters, Belinda, Henrietta and Rebecca.
William Fetter, the grandfather, was born at Oldtown, in what was then Stokes but is now For- syth County, North Carolina, and for a vocation learned carriage making. He worked at his trade in the locality then known as Liberty, but now North Winston. He finally went west and spent his last years there. The maiden name of his wife was Paulina Shore. She was born at Oldtown, North Carolina, May 4, 1833, and is still living at Winston-Salem. After the death of her first hus- band she married James Reid. By her first mar- riage she had two children, Charles and Elizabeth, and by her second union reared one daughter, Ella.
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Mrs. J. J. Joy-
t . J . Jay
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Paulina Shore was a daughter of Jacob Shore, who was also born near Oldtown, a son of Peter Shore, a native of Germany. Peter Shore was an early settler in what is now Forsyth County and owned and operated a plantation near Oldtown, where he died. Jacob Shore was a farmer, and met with an accidental death, having been thrown from a horse and killed when in the prime of his years. Jacob Shore married Betty Hauser, who was born near Oldtown, a daughter of Lawrence Hauser, a native of the same locality and a planter whose large farm was near Oldtown. Lawrence Hauser married Patsy Clayton. Lawrence Hauser had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Both he and his wife lived to a good old age. Jacob Shores' wife survived him several years, and they reared three children: Paulina, Henry L. and Sanford. Sanford Shore was a Confederate soldier and died while in the army.
Charles Thomas Fetter, who was born at Salem, in Forsyth County, and died in April, 1917, learned the trade of bricklayer and followed that trade for many years. He married Elizabeth Harmon, a daughter of Madison and Phebe (Weaver) Har- mon. Her paternal grandparents were Felty and Betty (Charles) Harmon, and on the maternal side her grandparents were John and Kate Weaver. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fetter had three children, William H., Charles and Elizabeth.
William H. Fetter was educated in the Boys' School at Salem, where he graduated with the class of 1899. He learned bricklaying under his father, and in order to supplement his school advantages and vocational training he spent part of the year 1903 in the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Raleigh. Returning to the old home he worked with his father until February, 1905.
On leaving North Carolina his first destination was Washington, D. C., where he witnessed the inauguration of President Roosevelt in March, 1905. He worked at his trade in Baltimore until July of that year, and then put in a year in New York City. Going west, he stopped and worked for brief intervals in St. Louis and Kansas City, and in August, 1906, went to San Francisco. The great San Francisco earthquake and fire occurred in the spring of 1906, and when Mr. Fetter arrived the city was still desolate and in ruins. There was an extraordinary demand for workers at his trade, and he remained there three and a half years. While working on the Emporium Building he fell from a scaffold and was severely injured. He received another injury, but this time financially, when he lost a thousand dollars of his savings in the failure of a bank.
In the spring of 1910 Mr. Fetter returned east, again worked at his trade in New York City, but in the spring of 1911 returned to Winston-Salem and has since been engaged in the business of building contractor. He has a reputation as a re- liable business man, maintains an expert staff of workmen, and has all the facilities for first-class work.
In 1910 he married Annie Merle Groff. She was born at Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania, daughter of Sylvanus and Emma Virginia Groff, both of whom were natives of Lancaster County. Mr. and Mrs. Fetter have four children : William Henry, Jr., Edner Merle, David and Vera.
Mrs. Fetter was reared as a Methodist while Mr. Fetter grew up as a Moravian, and is an active member of the Calvary Moravian Church at Winston-Salem. Fraternally his affiliations are with Salem Lodge No. 289, Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons; Winston Chapter No. 24, Royal Arch Masons; Piedmont Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar, and also with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
WILLIAM GASTON PENRY was one of the men who supplied much of the energy and enterprise to the business affairs of Lexington for many years. He was born at Lexington in July, 1853, a son of Eli and Catherine (Headen) Penry. He was a grandson of James and Hannah (Boone) Penry. His grandmother, Hannah Boone, was a granddaughter of Squire Boone and a grandniece of Daniel Boone.
William G. Penry was reared and educated at Lexington and began his active career as clerk in a mercantile establishment. He displayed those qualities and habits which inevitably have their compensation in promotion and progress, and in the course of time invested his modest capital in a business of his own and so carefully looked after his affairs that the closing years of his life found him more than moderately prosperous and the owner of a large estate. He was active in busi- ness life until his death on January 1, 1913.
Mr. Penry married Mrs. Sallie Lee (Nooe) Hege, daughter of Bennett and Mary A. (Watson) Nooe. She was the widow of William E. Hege mentioned ou other pages of this work. Mrs. Penry and her daughter, Elizabeth, still occupy the fine old home at Lexington.
WILLIAM E. HEGE during his active career was a prominent business man at Lexington, where his widow and only daughter still reside. Through his name it is possible to trace the connections of some of the most prominent families in Western North Carolina.
He was born at Lexington, a son of Alexander Christian and Tryphena Theresa (King) Hege. His paternal grandparents were Christian and Maria (Vogler) Hege, while his great-grandsar- ents were John Lazarus and Eva (Fischer) Hege. The Heges, the Fischers and the Voglers were all of German ancestry and were among the pioneers of North Carolina. The Hege family settled near Friedburg, the Fischers in or near Bethania in what is now Forsyth County, while the Voglers founded their homes at Old Salem.
Alexander Christian Hege, father of William E. Hege, removed to Lexington, North Carolina, and engaged in the mercantile business for many years and lived there until his death. He was reared in the Moravian Church. On account of his mar- riage to a Presbyterian he was excommunicated, and then became active in the Presbyterian Church and served as an elder.
He and his wife were married in April, 1849. His wife. Tryphena Theresa King, was born at Sharon, Connecticut, in February, 1827. Her fa- ther, Roswell Allen King, was a notable figure in North Carolina. A. native of Sharon, Connecticut, at the age of sixteen he went to London, England, and eventually became connected with the commis- sion business in that city. While there he met and married Theresa Tennant. They were married April 7, 1824. In January, 1827, they returned to America, locating at Connecticut, and in 1830 came to North Carolina, locating in what is now Em- mons Township of Davidson County. Here Ros- well A. King engaged in mining and invested a large amount of money in developing mines which were never profitable. His great-granddaughter. Elizabeth Hege, now has and cherishes a solid
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€ silver mug which was made from ore taken from the King mines in 1838. It is said that the first silver mined in the United States was taken from the same source. Roswell A. King was a practiced metallurgist and in the course of his operations col- lected a large quantity of rare geological speci- mens. This geological collection is now owned by his great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Hege. In 1839 Mr. King went North, but in time was drawn back to North Carolina and located at Lexington where he bought property and lived until his death on August 8, 1875, at the age of eighty-six. His wife, Theresa Tennant, was born in Belfast, Ireland. Her father, William Tennant, was a wealthy resident of that city. He provided liber- ally for the training of his children, and his daughter, Theresa, was sent to a finishing school in London. While in school there she attended a party one of the guests of which was the young and talented princess who afterwards became Queen Victoria. William Tennant made it a stipu- lation that any man who married one of his daughters should take the name Tennant and for that reason in matters of business Roswell A. King was known as Roswell King Tennant. Mrs. Theresa King died March 28, 1883, and both she and her husband were laid' to rest in the Fair Grove Churchyard near Thomasville. Their daugh- ter, Tryphena Theresa (King) Hege, survived her husband a few years. She was a very active mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church all her life.
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