USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 56
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Doctor Haywood was born at Raleigh December 30, 1884, and was educated in the public schools and the Raleigh Male Academy, and was graduated in the, literary department of the University of North Carolina in 1905. In 1909 just sixty years after his grandfather took his degrees from that institution, he finished his course in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. Be- fore taking up active practice he spent some time at Mercy Hospital at Pittsburg and in the Protestant Episcopal Hospital at Philadelphia.
Doctor Haywood began his practice at Raleigh in 1910, and has given his time and skill to gen- eral practice. He has since taken post-graduate courses in the Royal Infirmary at Edinburgh, Scot- land. Doctor Haywood is physician for the Agri- cultural and Mechanical College of North Caro- lina, for the Rex and St. Agnes Hospitals, and for some years has been acting physician of the
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North Carolina State School for the Blind. Ou January 1, 1916, he resigned his commission as captain of the Medical Corps of the North Carolina National Guard. While in the militia he had . charge of the ambulance corps.
He is a member of the Wake County Medical Society and the Tri-State Medical Association, the Raleigh Academy of Medicine and the American Medical Association. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Order and the Zeta Phi, belongs to the Country Club and to the Rotary Club. On October 19, 1915, he married Miss Marguerite Manor of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
JAMES ISAAC METTS, a gallant soldier, a patri- otic citizen and a successful business man of Wil- mington, was born at Kingston on the 16th day of March, 1842. His father was James Engram Metts, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Ann Tull. Miss Tull was a daughter of Isaac Tull and Eliza Graham, who was born at Murfrees- boro, in 1794, being the daughter of Dr. Chauncey Graham, who came from Durham, Connecticut, and settled at Murfreesboro. Doctor Graham was a surgeon during the Revolutionary war with the New York Troops, Hospital Department. He was a son of Rev. Dr. Chauncey Graham of Stillwater, Connecticut, whose father was Dr. John Graham, D. D., the second son of one of the marquises of Montrose. Dr. John Graham was a graduate of the University of Glasgow and received his orders at Edinburgh. In 1718 he emigrated to Boston and married Abigail, daughter of the celebrated Doctor Chauncey. He was minister at Exeter, New Hampshire, and at Stafford, Connecticut, and the first minister in Southbury society, Woodbury, Connecticut. A branch of this same family of Grahams, descended from the illustrious house of Montrose, also settled in Duplin County and a branch in Lenoir County, North Carolina.
Mr. James E. Metts was a son of Frederick Metts, Jr., whose father Frederick Metts was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and fought under General Marion, and of Polly Engram. He was a farmer and inerchant at Kinston until his re- moval to Wilmington in 1848. He was industrious and a man of firm convictions, insistent on fully performing all his duties in life; unassuming, he was noted for his courteous bearing and for his sympathetic disposition, and in particular was he generous and liberal towards those who were in need. His inclinations ever led him to be help- ful to the poor and to be useful to those in distress. His son, James, of this sketch was six year of age on the removal to Wilmington. His health in childhood was good and he was fond of outdoor games and developed into a strong boy, particularly skilled in athletic exercises. His health giving way at the age of fifteen years he was taken from school for two years, being then prepared for college. He was taught by that eminent instructor, Mr. George W. Jewett, and being prepared for college, entered the university in the fall of 1860.
Of young Metts as a schoolmate, one of his friends writes as follows: He was a general favorite because of his unselfishness, his modesty and his manliness. He was quiet and dignified on becoming occasions, but in all the healthful manly sports of the day he was our joyous leader. He scorned that which was low and mean and he was clean and honest and fair in his speech and behavior. He led the school as an athlete and he performed such feats as jumping into the air
and turning somersaults on level ground; walking a block on his hands with heels aloft and other amazing things with the agility of a Japanese wrestler, and when he threw a clam shell over the tower of St. James' Church, we thought he had reached the acme of undying fame.
I think he was one of Mr. Jewett's models as a scholar. I know that he stood well in his classes and that he applied himself diligently to his studies. He has the same characteristics now that he had then and he bears a record of which any hero might be proud.
On the breaking out of the war, however, on April 15, 1861, he joined as a private the Wil- mington Rifle Guards of which Oliver P. Meares was the captain, and under the orders of Governor Ellis, that company took possession, along with the Wilmington Light Infantry, of Fort Caswell, where it remained until some months later the Eighteenth Regiment was formed under the com- mand of Colonel Radcliffe, the company becoming Company I of that regiment, and Captain Meares being elected lieutenant colonel. Then for some months Company I was stationed at Fort Fisher and was among those that laid the first founda- tions of that famous fortification. When the state organized her ten regiments of state troops, the Eighth Volunteers became known as the Eighteenth North Carolina Troops. In the meantime private Metts had become corporal and one of the color guards of the regiment and served as such with it at Camp Wyatt near Fort Fisher and at Coosa- whatchie in South Carolina. On the expiration of the twelve months for which the first volun- teers had enlisted, he was then color bearer of the Eighteenth Regiment and was discharged with others. He re-enlisted and became fifth sergeant of Company G, Third Regiment, of which the intrepid Gaston Meares was colonel, and the be- loved and efficient Robert H. Cowan was lieu- tenant colonel (who was subsequently commissioned brigadier general, but on account of ill health re- signed), and William L. De Rossett, afterwards so distinguished as a military man, the major. Their first baptism of blood was in the campaign before Richmond; and Sergeant Metts bore him- self with conspicuous courage, and his coolness was especially manifested in re-forming a part of the regiment at the Battle of Harbor, and his gal- lantry was displayed when commanding a detail, guarding a causeway in the Chickahominy Swamp. At the battle of Malvern Hill, he was among those who received the last order of the lamented Colonel Meares who fell on that field. During those battles he became orderly sergeant, and on returning to camp he was assigned to the duty of drilling the recruits received by his company, and was com- plimented by some officers of the regiment as being the best drilled man they ever saw.
Although he had escaped the deadly peril of those bloody battles, he however contracted disease in the peninsular swamps and for a time was separated from his company. In the promotions which followed the loss of officers at Sharpsburg, Sergeant Metts became the senior second lieutenant of his company, and at Winchester he was de- tailed as commissary of his regiment, and after the Battle of Front Royal, he discharged the duties of Adjutant. Cool, brave and determined his admirable conduct on every field attracted the attention of his superiors, while at Fredericksburg he won encomiums by his gallantry. Again how- ever he was a victim of pneumonia, but he was able to join his regiment in time to participate
C
Respectfully James D. Metto
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in thic fighting around Winchester, where his brigade under Stewart did much towards winning the victory over Milroy. At Jordan's Springs his coolness under fire especially attracted the atten- tion and admiration of the privates and was much discussed by them after the battle. His efficiency gained for him the confidence of his superiors and he was selected to command the rear guard of the brigade as they were about to cross the Potomac. On the 18th of June, 1863, the regi- ment encamped near the Dunkard Church in the woods on the battlefield of Sharpsburg, where the regiment had lost so heavily. A detail of men from the First and Third regiments with arms reversed and to the roll of the muffled drum, marched to the place of interment, and Rev. George Patterson, the beloved chaplain of the Third, read the impressive burial services. Upon this solemn occasion, says the historian, "many tears stole down the bronzed cheeks of the old veterans and all heads were bowed in grief."
Lieutenant Mctts accompanied his regiment to the vicinity of Carlyle and then by a forced march reached Gettysburg on the evening of the first, but the brigade was not seriously engaged until the next evening. Then being on the left of line at Culp's Hill, they drove the enemy from their first defenses and Lieutenant Metts leading his men forward was soon hotly engaged within seventy-five yards of their second line of breast- works. There he fell, pierced by a rifle ball that penetrated his right breast and passed through the lung, inflicting a terrible and most dangerous wound, from which none thought he would re- cover and from which at times he still suffers. An eye witness stated, that when Lieutenant Metts was shot he was gallantly cheering his men, his hat in one hand and his sword in the other, both aloft.
In that battle the Third Regiment, which en- tered with 300 guns, lost 223 men, but none were taken prisoners. Lieutenant-Colonel Parsley, Capt. E. H. Armstrong and Lieutenant Lyon were the only officers who passed through the terrible ordeal unhurt. Adjutant James helped his fallen friend to the ambulance corps, and for two miles Lieutenant Metts was hauled over the rough roads suffering the most excruciating agony and weak- ened by the loss of blood. On the withdrawal of the Confederate forces, he fell into the hands of the enemy, but was cared for by kind ladies from Baltimore, where he was the recipient of great kindnesses from the women of that city; later he was transferred to Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, where his kinsman, Col. Thomas S. Kenan, was his bunk mate for thirteen months. Their sufferings during the winter were terrible; in- sufficient food, scant clothing, houses neither ceiled nor plastered, the mercury at times 20 degrees below zero, and with but one stove for sixty prisoners. In August, 1864, the Federal authorities had ceased exchanging prisoners, but in spite of that some of the Confederates were selected and sent South in exchange, Lieutenant Metts being chosen as one of the most enfeebled and delicate of the prisoners for this exchange. He had been told by some of the doctors that he could not stand another winter there and often he would look over the fence at the graves of his poor comrades and feel that in a short while the boys would place him among those. Not long afterwards he found himself once more upou the streets of Richmond. During his captivity he had been promoted to captain of his company, which he joined at Staunton in December. He took com- Vol. IV-14
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mand of his company and also of Company E and served in Cox's Brigade of Grimes' Division, until detailed as special inspector of the division on the staff of Major-General Grimes, and shared in all the hardships and memorable experiences of those fateful days. When Lee surrendered and the night before arms were to be stacked at Appomatox by the remnant of the heroic army of Northern Vir- ginia, Captain Metts accompanied a band from division headquarters to serenade their beloved leader, General Lee. The general was so much affected that he could say but a few words, but he gave to each of the brave veterans who had thus sought to manifest their love and sympathy a warm pressure of his hand and an affectionate good-bye.
On his return home from Appomatox, Captain Metts, pressed by the necessity, at once addressed himself to the duty of supporting his mother's family. He soon obtained employment as a clerk with two Federal sutlers, but later obtained more remunerative employment; and his merits, his strict attention to business, his accuracy and good habits commended him to the business men of Wilmington and eventually after long and severe struggles he was able to enter the field for himself as a merchant and broker. Here he has met with gratifying success and commands the esteem and respect of the business men of his community.
On the 11th of November, 1869, Captain Metts was happily married to Miss Cornelia F. Cowan, a daughter of Col. Robert H. Cowan, his old commander, and their married life has been blessed with six children, three of whom are de- ceased. The children are: James Isaac, Robert Cowan and Thomas Walker, who passed away in infancy; John Van Bokkelen, named in honor of his boyhood friend's memory, is now colonel of the One Hundred Nineteenth Infantry, Sixtieth Brigade, Thirtieth Division; Edwin Anderson, president of the Gorth Co., is captain of the Ninth Company state troops at Wilmington, but expects to go to France soon as captain in the army; and Eliza Dickinson.
Captain Metts is an earnest, sincere man with the highest principles and most correct sentiments. His course in life has been consistent with that devotion to duty which he displayed in the ranks of the Confederate army. He was baptized by Rev. George Patterson in the Potomac River in 1863 while en route to Pennsylvania and has been an humble Christian ever faithful to his profes- sion and for many years a communicant of the Episcopal Church, and for many years he has been a vestryman of St. James' Church at Wil- mington. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and also an active member of the Seaman's Friend Society, of which he has been the president. He has ever been laborious in his work and diligent in busi- ness, and from his own experience he suggests that young men can attain true success in life if they will follow "honesty, sobriety, faithfulness to one's self, perseverance and trust in God."
Captain Metts has always remembered the years of his life when he followed the Confederate flag, and he has taken great interest in whatever af- fects the welfare of the old Confederate veterans or the honor and fame of North Carolina and . North Carolina troops. On several occasions he has prepared interesting articles concerning the gallant action of his North Carolina associates ou tho field of battle. Particularly he has written a notable paper descriptive of the charge of Gettys-
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burg, and also an equally interesting one relative to the important action of the 30th North Caro- lina Regiment at Chancellorsville when it turned the flank of Sigel's Division. In it he corrects some errors into which General Rhodes had acci- dentally fallen. He has also written an article showing that the last shot at Appomatox was fired by North Carolinians, and in conjunction with Captain Cowan he prepared the History of the Third Regiment for the Regimental Histories of the State.
When at Johnson's Island some of his comrades formed a theatrical troop under the name of the "Rebellonians, " and Captain Metts was one of the actors. The delicacy of his frame led to his being assigned a lady's part. In the original melodrama, "The Battle of Gettysburg," in five acts, ending in act fifth with "Home Again," he played the part of Mrs. Louisa White. The concluding farce was "Box and Cox." On an- other occasion, of which the program has likewise been preserved, he sang "Bonnie Jean," and the third part of that program was an original farce for the times written expressly for the Rebellonians, entitled "The Intelligent Contra- band." He occasionally receives letters from some old prison mate, who remembers the sweet songs Captain Metts and Lieutenant Mayer sang accom- panied by Col. Thos. S. Kenan with his violin or guitar. Turning from those episodes of prison life, on July 19, 1897, a stranger entered Cap- tain Metts' office and observing the name on the sign, asked if he was any relation to Lieutenant Metts who was killed at Gettysburg. Giving his name as Rev. E. C. Morton and stating that he was the chaplain of the Twenty-third Virginia Regi- ment, George H. Stuart's Brigade, he said that he knew Lieutenant Metts, who was killed at Gettys- burg, and recalled his thin, emaciated, sun-burnt face as he lay on the cot. He went on to say how much he was impressed with his noble character, and how he had offered up prayer for his recovery, though feeling at the time that his case was hope- less, and the Rev. Mr. Morton added that he had caused to be published an account of the death of Lieutenant Metts at the time. Extending his hand, coming from behind his desk, Captain Metts quietly said, "I am the man." Mr. Morton at once rose from his chair and with his eyes streaming with tears and with a fervent "God bless you," he embraced him. There these two old comrades stood and their emotion found expression in tears of joy. He could not realize it was the lieutenant he sup- posed dead.
In the hospital at Gettysburg, Captain Metts thinking he was about to die gave his sword with a spot of his blood on the hilt to Dr. Reeves of Maryland to keep the Yankees from getting it; in 1882 Dr. Reeves, not supposing that Captain Metts had survived, made inquiries with the view of returning it to someone of his relatives, and was astonished to learn that Captain Metts had not died. Dr. Reeves had the happiness of re- turning the sword to him after he had kept it sacredly for its brave owner, who now treasures it as an honorable memento of the dreadful struggle.
Captain Metts' interest in the old Confederates has been appreciated by his surviving associates and in April, 1899, he was elected first vice com- mander of the Cape Fear Camp, 254, U. C. V., and the next year he was chosen commander of the camp. In 1902 he was appointed brigadier- general of the Third Brigade, U. C. V., North Carolina Division, which honorable position he
held, much to the gratification of all who know him and who admire in him those sterling qual- ities of manhood which distinguished him as a soldier and which form the basis of his fine char- acter. In April, 1905, he was again elected commander of Cape Fear Camp No. 254. In 1915 he was elected major-general commanding North Carolina Division, U. C. V., which office he now holds.
EDWARD E. BROWN. The artistic temperament, shown in loveof pictures and flowers, is an envi- able one, and those who have it not lose much of life's beauty and cheer. This temperament undoubtedly opens up to its possessors a wealth of beauty and enjoyment, and when it is fortunately linked with practical ideas and sound judgment, the world may be made better and happier by its exercise, and fortune as well as fame may at- tend the artist. No resident of Asheville nor tem- porary sojourner would hesitate to name, among this exceptionally beautiful city's most attrac- tive spots "Brownhurst, where flowers grow." This great garden is the property of Edward E. Brown, and here is illustrated what wonders can be accomplished in floriculture when directed by the loving care of a true artist.
Edward E. Brown is a native of Ohio and was born October 2, 1858, near Washington Court House in Fayette County. He belongs to an old agricultural family of that section and his par- ents were Isaiah and Belina (Parrett) Brown. His education was secured in the country schools near his father's farm and in Shenandoah Sem- inary, and he grew to manhood on the home place, from boyhood taking a deep interest in the development of leaf and flower which lightened for him the actual labor of cultivating the soil. Near his home nature was lavish in floral beauty and the time came when Mr. Brown sought to per- petuate it and that led to his learning photography and finally to his embarking in the business. While development in this art has been notable within the past few years, much progress had already been made when Mr. Brown came to Ashe- ville and opened his studio in 1887. He con- tinned in the business for some years, his natural spirit of enterprise leading him to work and ex- perimentation all over the photographic field. Many years will pass, even burdened as they are with strife and suffering, before the fragrant memory of beauty and artistry that encom- passed the great Columbian Expositoin of Chi- cago in 1893 will have faded away. Among the greatly admired pictures that pleased and grati- fied North Carolina visitors was the exhibit of photographs of the memorable places in the Old North State, and all of these were the work and arrangement of Mr. Brown, and at the time, were the finest products of photographic art.
In 1893 Mr. Brown saw the fruition of what had been his hope for many years, in the com- pletion of his magnificent estate and the erec- tion of his greenhouses. Here he has 35,000 feet of glass and his floral productions cover every exquisite bloom of native growth and rare flowers of other lands. The place is aptly named as "where flowers grow.'' Mr. Brown has some additional interests in this and other states, and is on the directing board of the company own- ing "Orchards,"' a tract of seventy-five acres devoted to the cultivation of figs that is situated near Charleston, South Carolina.
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Mr. Brown was maried October 16, 1892, to Miss Mittie Clem, who belongs to a fine old Virginia
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family, in which state.she was born, and they have two children, a daughter and son. The former, Genevieve, is the wife of Sherman J. Bagg, who is a prominent merchant at Newark Ohio. The lat- ter, Elmo Leland, is associated with his father in business at Asheville. He married a young lady of Newark, Ohio, Miss Mary Morath.
Edward E. Brown has never found the politi- cal field especially attractive but, nevertheless, is a careful, alert citizen and demands a protective and efficient administration in civic matters. He is a member of the Asheville Board of Trade and is serving on several committees. He is one of the interested members of the Rotary Club and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Masons, having taken the Scot- tish Rite in the latter. With his family he be- longs to the Central Methodist Episcopal Church in Asheville. Mr. Brown is known widely and is held in the highest esteem both personally and be- cause of his artistic achievements, although he is very modest in mentioning these, preferring to re- gard them commercially rather than artistically if his many friends would permit.
JAMES PINKNEY LINVILLE. The records of the Linville family are traced through four or five consecutive generations in Western North Caro- lina. The family not only deserves distinction associated with long residence, but also with those activities and civic character which are so im- portant in the upbuilding of any community.
The lineage of James Pinkney Linville, a well known merchant of Kernersville in Forsyth County, goes back to one of three brothers who emigrated from England and came to America with the colony of William Penn. Their descendants are now scat- tered over all the states. This branch of the family comes down through Aaron Linville, who was born in Forsyth County, North Carolina. He spent his life in that county and was buried on the farm where he lived, located on the road between Kernersville and Belews Creek. This home was seven miles from Kernersville. The next genera- tion is represented by William Linville, a native of Belews Creek Township. He married Elizabeth Cook, who was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, where her ancestors were pioneers. Wil- liam Linville acquired large tracts of land, and was able to give each of his sons a farm. He died when about seventy years of age, and his burial place was on his farm about a quarter of a mile distant from his father's grave. His wife also died when about seventy years of age.
Smith Linville, grandfather of James P., was born in Belews Creek Township of Forsyth County December 25, 1806. He grew up on a farm, and at the time of his marriage located on land given him by his father. This place was about nine miles northeast of Kernersville and in Belews Creek Township. His first home there was a log house, and in it all his children were born. He operated his farm with the aid of slave labor, and lived there a quiet and prosperous career until his death at the age of sixty-nine. The maiden name of his wife was Louisa King. She was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, in 1808, her father, Nathan King, having been a large planter and slave owner in that section, though he was also a blacksmith by trade. Nathan King died when about seventy years of age. He married Aley Lee, of Virginia, who was kin to the famous Light Horse Harry Lec. She lived to be nearly ninety years of
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