USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 61
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CHESLEY CALHOUN BELLAMY. To properly in- terpret the law in all its complexities and uner-
ringly apply its provisions to establish human rights and defeat injustice, demands such a com- prehensive knowledge of not only books but of life itself that he who reaches a high plane in this professiou must command more than nega- tive consideration in the minds of his fellow men. It is told in both history and romauce that a kind of law is respected even among the savage tribes, but when it is explained it resolves itself into the old axiom that "might makes right," and in these modern, civilized times it becomes the task of the exponent of the law to overcome this only too prevalent idea. Hence, on a solid educational foundation must be build a thorough knowledge of what law means to the present day man and how it can be applied to circumvent evil, protect the helpless and bring happiness and safety to the deserving. Among the younger members of the North Carolina bar, one who has had a thor- ough and comprehensive training, and who has always adhered strictly to the highest ethics of his calling is Chesley Calhoun Bellamy, who is now the possessor of a large and representative practice at Wilmington.
Mr. Bellamy was born at Wilmington, Septem- ber 4, 1887, and is a son of Marsden and Har- riet H. (Harllee) Bellamy, his father being one of the well known attorneys practicing at the North Carolina bar. After securing his prelim- inary training in the public schools of his native city Mr. Bellamy was sent to Horner's Military School at Oxford, North Carolina, where he pur- sued a full course, and next entered the Univer- sity of North Carolina, where his education was continued, and from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1909 and the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered upon his legal studies in the law department of the same institution, and was graduated with his degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1911. Returning at once to Wilmington, he engaged in the practice of his calling, and not long thereafter was appointed assistant city attorney, a position which he still retains. His practice has been general in its character, Mr. Bellamy being equally at home in all branches of the vocation, and each year it has assumed larger and more important propor- tions. He belongs to the various organizations of the profession and has a high standing among his fellow-practitioners, who recognize in him a courteous and dignified opponent who observes the highest principles of his calling. His fra- ternal connections include membership in the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and in the Improved Order of Red Men.
On August 12, 1912, Mr. Bellamy was married to Miss Caroline Mallett, of Etowah, North Caro- lina, and they have two children: Carolina and Robert Harllee.
RICHARD JACKSON LEWELLYN. One of the most enterprising and successful of the citizens of Elkin, Surry County, Richard Jackson Lewellyn occupies a place of prominence in business circles, and has served most efficiently and satisfactorily in various public offices of trust and responsibility. A native of Surry County, he was born on a farm, near Laurel Bluff Mills, April 4, 1865, a son of Rev. James H. Lewellyn, and grandson of Thomas Lewellyn, Jr., an early settler of Rockingham County, North Carolina. His great-grandfather, Thomas Lewellyn, Sr., emigrated from Wales to America in colonial days, and after serving bravely as a soldier in the Revolutionary war located in
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Virginia, and there spent the remainder of his life.
Thomas Lewellyn, Jr., was born and bred in Virginia. In early manhood he came to North Carolina, and having found a favorable location in Rockingham County bought a tract of land that was in its primitive wildness, and with the help of slaves improved a plantation. He married Eliz- abeth Power, who was born in Rockingham County, near Madison, of substantial Welsh an- cestry. She survived him, dying on the home farm at an advanced age.
James H. Lewellyn was born October 10, 1830, in Rockingham County, and was there brought up, acquiring his early education in the district schools. Manifesting religious tendencies as a boy, he joined the Baptist Church when quite young, and when but eighteen years old began preaching. Earnest in his work, and sincerely devout in his convictions, he was ordained a min- ister at Mayo, Rockingham County, and held pastorates at different places in Virginia and North Carolina. Few ministers of his day were more busy than he, the records showing that he married 2,600 couples; baptized nearly 5,000 people; and officiated at a very large number of funerals, notable among them having been the funeral of the Siamese twins. Retiring from active work, he spent his last years on his farm, on the Fish River, 41/2 miles northwest of Dobson, dying in 1902.
Rev. James H. Lewellyn married Sarah Eliza- beth Pratt. She was born in 1826, in Rocking- ham County, on a farm located on the Mayo River, near the Virginia line, being a daughter of Wil- liam and Jemima (Thomas) Pratt. She died in 1896, leaving eight children, as follows: Mary Jane, James Robert, Thomas Wilson, Martha Susan, Jemima D., Catherine Elizabeth, Richard Jackson, and Franklin T.
After his graduation from the Booneville Acad- emy, in 1883, Richard J. Lewellyn was made deputy register of deeds at Wentworth. Accept- ing then a position with W. R. Doss, a manu- facturer and merchant, he had charge of his factory and store at Copeland, Surry County, for ten years. Being then appointed United States commissioner, Mr. Lewellyn was located at Dobson for four years, and was afterwards for six years engaged in the manufacture of chairs and insulator pins in Elkin. Embarking then in the insurance business, he carried it on successfully until 1913, when he was appointed postmaster at Elkin, as- suming the position in the month of June. Re- signing from that office at the end of three years, Mr. Lewellyn resumed the insurance business, with which he has since been actively identified.
Mr. Lewellyn has been twice married. He married first, in 1887, Mahuldah M. Doss, who was born in Surry County, a daughter of Jefferson Doss. She passed to the higher life April 15, 1890, leaving one child, Metta. Mr. Lewellyn married second time, February 1, 1903, Mary J. Folger, daughter of R. S. and Juliet Folger. She died in January, 1910, leaving three children, Romulus H., Irene, and James Henry.
Religiously Mr. Lewellyn is an active member of the Baptist Church, to which both of his wives also belonged, and has served as Sunday school superintendent at Dobson and at Elkin. Politically he has been actively identified with the demo- cratic party since casting his first presidential vote in favor of Grover Cleveland. He has served as mayor of both Dobson and Elkin, and has been
justice of peace continuously since attaining his majority. Fraternally he is a member of Elkin Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Ma- sons, of Elkin Council No. 96, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and also of Knights of Pythias.
JOHN SAMUEL DANIEL. As a tried and trusted public official, John Samuel Daniel, of Mocksville, register of deeds for Davie County, has proved himself eminently fitted for the position he is so ably filling, and well worthy of the respect and confidence so generously accorded him by his fel- low-citizens. A native of Davie County, he was born on a farm in Jerusalem Township, a son of Toliver Chesteen Daniel, whose birth occurred, in : 1850, in the same neighborhood.
Wilson C. Daniel, his grandfather, who was of Virginia ancestry, was engaged during his active life in agricultural pursuits, his plantation hav- ing been located in Jerusalem Township, not far from Liberty Church. He reared three sons, Co- lumbus Bryant, Toliver Chesteen, and Goshen Parker, and they inherited the parental home- stead.
Assuming possession of the land that had come to him by inheritance, Toliver Chesteen Daniel carried on general farming until his death, in 1917. He married Alice Sutton, who was born in Yadkin County, North Carolina, a daughter of Thomas Sutton, and she still resides on the home farm. Six children were born of their union, as follows: Lulu Laura, John Samuel, Cora Nelson, Thomas Alexander, Bessie May, and Mary Ethel.
After leaving the district school, where he acquired his elementary education, John Samuel Daniel attended the high schools of Cooleemee and Clemmons, thus adding materially to his knowledge of books. Beginning life for himself at the age of fifteen years, he was for quite a long time employed as a clerk in a general store at Ephesus. Then, in company with Messrs. Harris and Free- man, Mr. Daniels opened a mercantile establish- ment, putting in a fine stock of general merchan- dise, and for a few years carried on business as' head of the firm of Daniel, Harris & Freeman. He was afterward salesman in a produce house at Winston for a few months. Giving up that position, Mr. Daniel returned to Ephesus, and purchased a half interest in the S. T. Foster Mercantile Company, and likewise, in copartner- ship with Mr. Everhart, bought a cotton gin. In 1915 he disposed of his interest in the mercantile business, but still retains his ownership in the cotton gin.
In 1914 Mr. Daniel, having been appointed reg- ister of deeds, removed to Mocksville, and the fol- lowing year built the attractive home which he now occupies. In the fall of 1914, he was con- firmed in the office of Registry of Deeds, and during the term of his office performed the duties devolving upon him so efficiently that in 1916 he was reelected to the same official position.
Mr. Daniel married, December 3, 1912, Thirza; Albertine MeCulloh, who was born in Jerusalem Township, a daughter of Cicero C. and Alice. (Louder) McCulloh. Three children have been born of their union, namely: Tolliver Harold; Helen MeCulloh; and Evelyn Dale, who lived but seven short months. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Daniel are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally Mr. Daniel belongs to Mocks- ville Council No. 226, Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
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HON. JACOB BRAGG SCOTT. It is a wholesome sign of the broadening processes of enlightened democracy in North Carolina when a man busied with the management and responsibilities of a large farm is called to the State Capital to serve in the Legislature. One of the best representatives of the country districts, and one most keenly and effectively interested in the solution of all prob- lems pertaining to country life, during the sessions of 1916 and 1917 was Mr. Jacob Bragg Scott, who came to the Legislature from Pender County.
Mr. Scott is a member of an old and prominent family of Long Creek Township in Pender County. The farm where he now lives was bought by his grandfather, Jacob. Scott, about 1830. Jacob Scott spent the rest of his years there, and on the place was born his son John Scott. John Scott when a young man removed to an adjoining place about three miles northeast, and it was there that Jacob Bragg Scott was born in 1861. John Scott married Barbara Jane George.
The Scotts are of a strong, sturdy type of citi- zens who have always done well and lived up to their responsibilities as citizens of the county and of the world. They have been chiefly distinguished as landowners and farmers, and as a family they have been strong believers in education and in a thorough. training for life's work.
Jacob Bragg Scott grew up in the "poor" period of the South, when educational advantages were very meager. His father, recognizing the value of education, arranged for the best schooling he could give his son both in private schools and under private teachers. Among those teachers, famous in his day, who left special influence upon Mr. Scott was A. J. McIntyre.
The home of Mr. Scott, where he lived for many years, was the original Scott place bought by his grandfather and has been in the Scott family nearly 100 years. It is situated seven miles west of Rocky Point, in Long Creek Township. He has about 600 acres of land of which 135 acres are cleared and in cultivation, devoted to general farm- ing. Besides the staple crops of cotton, corn, and small grain and feed crops, of late years he has ness. His specialty is the growing and shipping of strawberries. He is one of the pioneers in the Rocky Point district in that industry, having begun to grow strawberries on a commercial scale more than twenty years ago. Since then Rocky Point has produced some of the most desirable shipments of strawberries for the early northern markets.
Mr. Scott is a democrat by principle as well as by partisan affiliation. For many years he has been one of the leaders in his party in Pender County. He was elected to the lower house of the General Assembly in 1915, and was again elected in 1916. His services were so valuable as to bring about a general expression of opinion that he should be reelected for the session of 1919. Among other committees on which he served was the Com- mittee of Agriculture, and in that he was naturally a leader. He studied the entire program of legis- lation, endeavored to give his honest support to every matter that was needful and wise, but was a determined opponent of needless and harmful legislation, especially bills and measures the chief result of which would have been to breed strife and litigation and afford opportunity for lawyers to fatten off the public purse. His legislative record cannot be reviewed in detail, aside from his interest in one special matter which was of par- ticular concern to Pender County. This was the consideration of the Stock Law of the state. Mr.
Scott upheld the principle that the free range for stock was not a subject of general legislation but of local regulation and should be settled by those directly interested in the county and in accordance with the welfare of all concerned. Pender County as much as any other county in the state was directly affected by the proposed Stock Law.
Mr. Scott married Miss Hattie Wheeler. They have nine living children, Robert M., Arthur A., Claudeaus Bernard, Leslie B., Viola, Eva D., Irene, Eloise and Elmer J.
CHARLES VINES BROWN, former cashier of the National Bank of Lumberton and a former state bank examiner, has recently devoted all his time and attention to general insurance, and has acquired a most gratifying business at Lumber- ton. He is one of the live, progressive and pub- lic spirited citizens of that flourishing city.
Mr. Brown was born at Hamilton in Martin County, North Carolina, in 1883, a son of George and Lula (Vines) Brown, both now deceased. When he was ten years of age the family moved to a farm in Edgecombe County, and he lived there until his father's death in 1895. The fol- lowing two years he spent in the home of an aunt in Washington County, twelve miles below Plymouth. Altogether Mr. Brown acquired the equivalent of a liberal education. At Tarboro he was under the instruction of that splendid teacher, F. S. Wilkinson, and for three years he was a student at Fishburn Military Academy at Waynesboro, Virginia.
Mr. Brown's first banking experience was ac- quired in the Planters Bank at Rocky Mount. In March, 1910, he was appointed assistant state bank examiner, and in September, 1911, was made a chief examiner under the state board. That brought him an extensive acquaintance among North Carolina bankers and added to the many natural qualifications which enabled him, when he came to Lumberton on May 1, 1912, to take the position of cashier of the Bank of Lumber- tou, to afford that institution a thoroughly able and competent administration of its affairs. The Bank of Lumberton is now the National Bank of Lumberton, Mr. A. W. McLean, president, and it is one of the largest financial institutions in this part of the state, having a capital stock of $100,000 and deposits aggregating $600,000. Mr. Brown continued as its cashier until January 1, 1918. Having resigned, he established his office for general insurance.
Mr. Brown is doing his part to sustain the mil- itary activities of the state in co-operation with the regular National Army. He is first lieuten- ant of the Twenty-first Company, North Caro- lina Reserve Militia, a war organization under state control but formed with the encouragement and advice of the Federal Government at Wash- ington. The Twenty-first Company is the quota of Robeson County. This company is divided into three detachments, Mr. Brown being in com- mand of the detachment of twenty-six men sta- tioned at Lumberton. The entire company has an enrollment of eighty-one men, including three commissioned officers, and it is a timely and ef- fective unit with possibilities of great value to the state.
Mr. Brown is a democrat. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Lumberton graded schools, a steward of the Chestnut Street Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and in Masonry is affil- iated with the lodge and chapter of York Rite
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R.K. Bryan
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and the Lodge of Perfection of the Scottish Rite. He married Miss Mary F. Fitts, of Warren County, North Carolina. Their two childern are Charles V., Jr., and Francis Sterling.
JAMES IREDELL JOHNSON. One of the veteran merchants and business men of Raleigh, James Iredell Johnson, is a native of that city, and in many ways has been closely identified with its life and progress during the last forty years.
He was born at Raleigh November 2, 1854, a son of Dr. Charles Earl and Frances Lenox (Iredell) Johnson. His father was a physician, and for a time during the Civil war was surgeon general of the state.
Educated in private schools and in Lovejoy's Academy, James I. Johnson early took up the profession of pharmacist, and for forty years conducted one of the principal drug houses of Raleigh. He is now president of the Raleigh Building and Loan Association.
A man of great public spirit and interested in everything that concerns the welfare of his home city, Mr. Johnson has given much of his time during the last twelve or fifteen years to mu- nicipal affairs. In 1903 he was elected and served two years as an alderman, and in 1905 was elected mayor, being again returned to the same office in 1907, in 1911, 1913, 1915 and 1917. For years he was a vestryman in Christ's Episcopal Church, but is now an active member and Sunday school worker in St. Saviour's Church. He is affiliated with the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics, with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Travelers Protective Association.
At Raleigh in February, 1885, he married Miss Rebecca Murray. They are the parents of four children: James Iredell, Jr., now in Motor Truck Company No. 1, 105th Supply Train; Elizabeth Murray, now Mrs. G. H. Anthony of Hartford, Connecticut; Lenox, now in Headquarters, Sixtieth Infantry Brigade; and Earl is now in Head- quarters, 113th Field Artillery.
JACOB STEWART. Scholarly in his attainments and habits, and endowed with keen perceptive faculties, Jacob Stewart, of Mocksville, attorney- at-law, has long been recognized as a thorough- going, painstaking lawyer, and noted for his un- swerving loyalty to the interests of his many clients. A native of Davie County, North Caro- lina, he was born, January 2, 1860, in the vicinity of Fork Church, not far from the place where, in 1820, the birth of his father, Archibald H. Stewart, occurred. The immigrant ancestor of the branch of Stewarts to which he belongs was of Scotch- Irish descent, and on coming to this country set- tled in Virginia. His descendants and relatives may be found in many of the states of the Union, the name, however, being spelled in three different ways, Stewart, Stuart, and Steuart. Many mem- bers of the family have attained prominence in national affairs, among them being Gen. J. E. B. Stuart.
Archibald H. Stewart acquired a good education, and in his early life was well known in educational circles as a successful school teacher. For a num- ber of years he served as justice of the peace, and also as deputy sheriff of Davie County. As a teacher, and a justice of the peace he was exempt from military duty during the Civil War. Turn- ing his attention later to agricultural pursuits, he bought land in the neighborhood of Fork Church,
and was there a resident until his death, in 1905, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He married Jane Pack, who was born in Davie County, the descendant of an old and honored family of Virginia. She died in 1907 in her eighty-ninth year, leaving seven children.
Obtaining the rudiments of his education in the district school, Jacob Stewart continued his studies first at Fork Academy, and later at Yadkin Col- lege, of which Rev. S. Simpson was the principal. In 1882 he entered Wake Forest College, from which he was graduated with the class of June, 1886. While in college, he was an editor of the "Wake Forest Student," and in 1886 was the first debater for the Phi Society, and won the Phi Society essay medal. Going to Greensboro, Guilford County, in the fall of 1886, Mr. Stewart became a student in Dick & Dillard's Law School, and in September, 1887, received his license to practice. In February, 1888, he opened a law office in Mocksville, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at that place, through his legal skill and ability having won an extensive patronage. He is also attorney for many private corporations.
Mr. Stewart married, June 5, 1890, Miss Fannie M. Dulin. She was born in Davie County, a daugh- ter of P. N. and Harriet E. Dulin, the former of whom was a native of Davie County, while the latter was born and bred in Mississippi. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are the parents of nine children, namely :- Alma, Jacob, Jr., Edna, Philip, Janet, Roger H., Sallie Mabel, Marjorie and Helen. Alma married Wilbur Collins of Gates, North Carolina, and has one child, Stewart Collins. Jacob Stewart, Jr., enlisted in the United States Army, and is now serving in the officers training camp, Camp Jackson. Philip, at the age of eighteen years, enlisted in the United States Army, and now, in 1917, is with the Medical Department Hospital Corps, at Fortress Monroe.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are members of the Baptist Church, in which he has served as trustee. Politically Mr. Stewart has been actively identified with the democratic party since casting his first presidential vote in favor of Grover Cleveland. He is at the present time city solicitor, and a member of the board of trustees of the graded schools of Mocksville.
Fraternally Mr. Stewart is a member of Mocksville Lodge No. 134, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Order of Masons, and of Mocksville Coun- cil, Junior Order of United American Mechanics. The first Masonic Annual Picnic was held at Shoals Mills, the present site of the Cooleemee Mills, Davie County, and the fourth one was held at Clements Grove, Mocksville. These picnics have been held every year from the start, the last one having been the thirty-ninth one. Mr. Stewart has attended each pienic, and at the present time is general manager of the picnic organization.
ROBERT K. BRYAN, SR. It was the profession of journalism that the talents and abilities of the late Robert K. Bryan, Sr., particularly adorned, though such was his character that he was highly qualified to fill every responsible position to which he was called by general suffrage or by appointment. He was a noble member of one of the splendid old families of North Carolina, and some of the illus- trious record of the family belongs here as intro- ductory to the career of the late Robert K. Bryan.
His great-great-great-grandfather was William Bryan, who was born in Virginia in 1660. He
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married Alice Needham, daughter of Lord Need- ham of England. They established their home in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. One of their sons was Needham Bryan, and his son in turn was the famous Col. Needham Bryan of North Carolina. Colonel Bryan commanded the troops from John- ston County under Governor Tryon at the battle of Alamance May 16, 1771, against the Regulators. The Byrans are closely related to the Whitfields and other families whose names are distinguished in state history. William Jennings Bryan is of the same family. There have been Bryans prominent in superior intellectuality in every generation since the family was founded in America.
The late Robert K. Bryan, Sr., was born in Sampson County, North Carolina, January 22, 1827, son of Kedar and Mary (Evans) Bryan. He and his older brother Josiah were small boys when their father died and the widowed mother then took her children to Fayetteville where Robert K. Bryan was reared. He was educated in Donaldson Academy and in the University of North Carolina. On leaving the university he took up the study of law under Judge Pearson at Richmond Hill, in 1846-47. He was licensed to practice in January, 1848, and for 21% years was located at Kenans- ville in Duplin County. He was then prevailed upon by the people of Fayetteville to return to that city and take editorial charge of the North Car- olinian. That was the beginning of a long and distinguished career as an editor and journalist- a profession for which he was eminently qualified, not only by reason of his literary skill, but by the discriminating judgment and intelligence with which he sifted all matters of public interest. The North Carolinian was at that time the organ of the democratic party in the Upper Cape Fear Section. He was in editorial charge of the paper for four years from 1851 to 1854. During that time there was associated with him on the paper William J. Yates, who was afterwards and for many years editor of the Charlotte Democrat.
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