USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 63
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Williamson. Martha Jane, married William H. Kirkpatrick. She was born in Harrisburg, North Carolina, moved to Orlando, Arkansas, where they both died, leaving three children, Beulah, Howard, and Nellie. Anna, wife of James W. Tavlor, of Harrisburg, Cabarrus County, has seven children, Tra, Mary Ola, Lena, John Hugh, Beulah, Annie,
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and James. John C. McEachern and wife are both buried in the Rocky River Churchyard.
Left an orphan when quite young Samuel W. McEachern spent two years at the home of S. W. Harris, and afterwards lived with his uncle, John W. Davis, in Number One Township, Cabarrus County, until eighteen years old, during which time he attended the rural schools, and studied telegraphy. Accepting then an offered position with a railway company, Mr. McEachern came to Linwood to take charge of the railroad station, and has since remained here, for twenty-eight consecutive years having served faithfully and most acceptably as station agent. In the mean- time Mr. McEachern has made wise investments of his money, and owns a good farm, which he operates through tenants.
Mr. MeEachern married, in 1895, Laura Palmer, who was born in Tyro Township, Davidson County, a daughter of George W. and Amanda ( Holmes) Palmer. Mr. and Mrs. McEachern have three chil- dren, namely :- Carey Williamson, Geneva Palmer, and Hugh Samuel. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. McEachern are church members, though not belong- ing to the same church. Fraternally Mr. Mc- Eachern is a member of Charry Camp Lodge Num- ber 605, Lexington, and he also belongs to the Order of Railway Telegraphers.
JOHN HAUGHTON JAMES. Though only thirty- one years of age John Haughton James has trav- eled a long and broad road of business experi- ence, beginning as clerk in a bank and is now the head of or one of the directing officials in half a dozen prominent Wilmington business or- ganizations.
He was born at Charlotte, North Carolina, Oc- tober 27, 1886, and when two years of age his parents, Thomas Cowan and Eliza Alice ( Haugh- ton) James, moved to Wilmington. His father at the time of his death was connected with the Norfolk & Western Railway, and was a most valuable citizen.
Educated in a private and in the Wilmington High School, John Haughton James made an early start in business life. From bank clerk he was promoted to note teller in the Atlanta National Bank and then cashier of the Bank of Whitesville, and was also connected for a time with the Murchison National Bank as teller. In 1898 he gave up banking to engage in the insurance busi- ness, and in 1913 the firm of James & James was organized and incorporated in 1914 with him- self as president. Mr. James organized the Orton Building and Loan Association, was one of the organizers and is a director of the Home Savings Bank, director in the Willard Bag and Manufac- turing Company, director of the Carolina In- surance Company, an organizer and a director in the Community Savings & Loan Company, and is president of the Citizens Bank.
He is well known socially and in those organ- izations which represent the civic and moral in- terests of Wilmington. He is a member of the Cape Fear Club, Cape Fear Country Club, the Carolina Yacht Club, and the Chamber of Com- merce.
October 23, 1912, Mr. James married Isabel Hamilton Clark of Tarboro, North Carolina. Her father, William S. Clark, is a prominent merchant and planter. They have a daughter, Isabel Clark, and a son, William Clark.
HON. THEODORE DERONDO BROWN. An active, able and influential citizen of Salisbury, Hon. Theodore D. Brown, secretary of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, has contributed much to- ward the advancement of the business interests of Rowan County, which he has represented in both branches of the State Legislature. He was born on a farm not very far from Salisbury, it being the homestead on which the birth of his father, Adam Monroe Brown, occurred.
His paternal grandfather, Adam Brown, spent his earlier life in the eastern part of North Caro- lina. Migrating to Rowan County, he received a grant of land lying three miles southeast of Salis- bury, and having erected a log cabin immediately began the pioneer labor redeeming a homestead from its original wildness. Laboring with untir- ing energy, he succeeded in his efforts, and added to his farm by purchase, making it one of the largest farms in his neighborhood, and there lived the remainder of his days. He married Fanny Thomas, who spent her entire life in Rowan County, although her parents, with all of the other children, removed to Illinois. Both he and his wife were buried on the home farm.
Born and bred on the home farm, Adam Monroe Brown served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade at a time when all boots and shoes were made by hand, and to order, only. During the progress of the Civil war, he was detailed to make shoes for the Confederate Government. Succeed- ing to the ownership of the parental homestead, he erected a substantial set of frame buildings, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life. He was active . in public affairs, and for twenty-six years prior to his death, at the age of sixty-eight years, he was superintendent of the County Home.
The maiden name of the wife of Adam Monroe Brown was Mary Malvina Fesperman. She was a daughter of Michael and Cynthia Aramintha (Gaines) Fesperman, early settlers of Rowan County. She died at the age of seventy-two years. Both she and her husband were active members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Clinton N. died, un- married, at the age of fifty-two years; Henderson M. married Mary J. Crossett, and they have two sons and two daughters; Charles M. married Effie Barries, who died, leaving one son; Ida L., wife of H. T. Halshouser, has one son; Joseph A. died at the age of thirty-two years, unmarried; John F .; T. Clayton, a resident of Georgia, married Paulina Stillwell, and they have a son and a daughter; Fannie A., who married Michael J. Heilig, died in early life, leaving one son; and Theodore Derondo.
Theodore D. Brown was educated in the district schools, and at the Mulberry Academy. He began when a lad to assist his father in the management of the homestead, and is now the owner of that part of it on which the buildings are located. He has always made his home on the farm, which is now managed by his nephew, Harry Brown, an industrious and enterprising young man of eighteen years, who lives with him.
Mr. Brown has always taken a keen interest in public matters, and in 1912 was elected to the State Senate, in which he served in the session of 1913, and the extra session following. In 1914 he was elected as a representative to the State Legislature, and served in the session of 1915. In 1915 Mr. Brown became associated with the State Department of Agriculture. Subsequently
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he was one of the organizers of the Rowan County Farmers' Union, of which he was president for two years, and at the present writing, iu 1917, is secretary of the People's Agricultural Fair Association. He cast his first presidential vote for William J. Bryan, and has since actively and earnestly supported the principles advocated by the democratic party.
Fraternally Mr. Brown is a member of Winona Council No. 18, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of which he was secretary for fifteen years; of Bogley Council No. 5, Daughters of Liberty; and of Rowan Lodge No. 100, Knights of Pythias. He was one of the organizers of Washington Camp, Patriotic Sons of America, and served as its first state president. Religiously Mr. Brown is a valued member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and has served as a member of its official board, and as superintendent of its Sunday school.
MAJ. JOHN WASHINGTON GRAHAM. The oft repeated honors of the soldier, lawyer and public official are only an index to the worth and value of the long and distinguished career of John Wash- ington Graham of Hillsboro. Now living in the shadow of his forescore years, Major Graham stands high on the roll of achievements in this state.
He was born at Hillsboro July 22, 1838, a son of William Alexander and Susan (Washington) Graham. Of his father it need only be said that he was governor of North Carolina from 1845 to 1849, was secretary of the United States Navy from July, 1850, to 1852, resigning his place in the Cabinet to accept the nomination for Vice Presi- dent of the United States. He was also a United States senator from 1841 to 1843, was the first member of the Legislature elected from Old Hills- boro, served as speaker of the House, and was also a member of the State Senate.
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The life of Major Graham has been in keeping with the high standard of honors and achievements of his noted father. He was educated in the Cald- well Institute at Hillsboro, at Georgetown, D. C., and in the University of North Carolina, where he perfected himself in the classics, especially Latin, was a splendid student of mathematics, and studied law under Hon. W. H. Battle and S. F. Phillips and was tutor of mathematics from June, 1858, to June, 1859, and of Latin from that time to June, 1860. He has the degrees A.B., A.M. and LL. B. from the State University.
His university career had hardly closed when the war broke out, and on April 20, 1861, he joined the Confederate army with the rank of second lieu- tenant. He was on staff duty from June, 1861, until March, 1862, when he returned home and raised Company D of the Fifty-sixth Regiment. In September, 1863, he was elected major, and filled that rank until the dissolution of the army at Appomattox in 1865. He was one the hardest fighting soldiers from North Carolina. He was wounded at Petersburg, Virginia, June 18, 1864, in the right arm, and on March 25, 1865, in the attack on Fort Steadman was shot through both legs.
The war over, Major Graham took up private practice as a lawyer. He served as county solicitor from 1865 to 1868 until the office was abolished. In 1867 he was elected to, and beginning in Jan- mary, 1868, was a member of the Constitutional Convention. In November of that year, under the constitution, he was elected state senator, and in 1870 was elected for a second term of two years.
In 1872 he was unsuccessful candidate for state treasurer. In 1876 he was again in the Senate, and in 1886 was a candidate for Congress. During all these years he carried on an increasing practice as a lawyer, and at one time was associated with the noted Judge Ruffin, later of the Supreme Court, in the firm of Graham & Ruffin. Major Graham was elected a member of the State Senate in 1906, and during the following session was chairman of the Railroads Committee. Thirty years before he had served as chairman of the Finance Committee. Iu the Senate of 1910-11 he was chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
From 1877 to 1889 Major Graham was trustee of the sinking fund for the North Carolina Railroad. Another distinguished service he rendered was iu 1886-87 when through appointment from Governor Scales he was chairman of the North Carolina Tax Commission, This body of three men submitted a report to the state which was the basis of the tax- system for many years. Major Graham has been a trustee of the University of North Carolina con- tinuously since 1876. He is a senior warden of St. Mathew's Episcopal Church.
The home of Major Graham is the old Graham homestead which was bought by his father Gov- ernor Graham in 1842. Major Graham married at Hillsboro October 9, 1867, Rebecca Cameron, a daughter of Paul C. Cameron. Their children were: Judge Paul C. of Durham; George M., a broker; Joseph, a physician; Annie Cameron, wife of Robert F. Smallwood of Newbern; Isabella, de- ceased wife of Thomas H. Weeb; Dr. William A. Graham, deceased, a prominent physician of Dur- liam. On December 14, 1887, Major Durham mar- ried Margaret F. Mailey of Tallahassee, Florida. By this union. there is one son, Alexander Haw- kins Graham, who has won merited advancemeut in the law, and is now serving with the rank of lieutenant in the 324th Regiment of Infantry, at this writing being stationed at Camp Jackson.
JAMES RICHARD YOUNG has been state insurance commissioner of North Carolina since 1899. Though many people do not realize it, this is an office whose work vitally concerns practically every individual in the state. It has been the good fortune of the people of North Carolina that the insurance commissioner is a man praci- cally versed in insurance affairs, and also a mau of the highest personal integrity and possessing all the best qualifications for his responsibilities.
He was born February 17, 1853, in Granville Couuty, North Carolina, a son of Dr. P. W. and Jane Eliza (Cooper) Young. As a boy he at- tended Horner's Military School at Oxford and completed his education in Hampden-Sidney Col- lege in Virginia. During the greater part of his career before he was made state insurance commissioner he was representative and salesman of insurance, and it was his long and successful experience in that line that brought him to the post he now holds. From 1881 to 1890 he served as clerk of the Vance County Superior Court.
Mr. Young is a member of the Masons, Elks, Odd Fellows, and is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He married for his first wife Miss Anna Southerland of Warren County, and for his second wife Miss Virginia Nichols.
JOHN ALEXANDER MCNORTON. Now well known member of the Wilmington bar, John Alexander MeNorton began his career as a sten- ographer, was for many years in the service of
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one of the officials of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway, and while there he studied law.
He was born in Bladen County, North Caro- lina, October 19, 1869, a son of Solomon and Catherine (King) McNorton. His father was a farmer, but the son was not content to spend his life on the farm, and after his education in the public schools he took a shorthand course at Wil- mington, and then entered the employ of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway. For ten years he was secretary to the treasurer of that system, studying law in the meantime. Since his admis- sion to the bar in February, 1911, Mr. McNorton has carried on a general practice and is accorded a high place in the local bar.
He has taken considerable interest in demo- cratic politics and is a steward of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilmington. On October 26, 1899, he married Miss Cornelia Walker Daniel, of Columbus County, North Carolina.
JAMES GORDON HACKETT. A well-known, prom- inent and popular resident of Wilkes County, James Gordon Hackett has been active in public affairs for many years, and is now serving most efficiently and acceptably as postmaster at North Wilkesboro. He was born August 7, 1864, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, a son of Dr. Robert Franklin Hackett, and a grandson of James Hackett, a pioneer settler of Western North Carolina.
Robert Hackett, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born and educated in Ireland, where he became an extensive landholder and a man of great influence. Being convicted of conspiring against the government, he was sen- tenced to death. Making his escape, however, he came to America, the land of the free, and settled in the western part of North Carolina. He sub- sequently enlisted as a soldier in the Revolution- ary Army, and fought with the colonists at Kings Mountain. He was subsequently drowned in the French Broad River. His first wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Sloan, was the great-grand- mother of James Gordon Hackett, of whom we write.
James Hackett, a native of South Carolina, was born and educated in Charleston. Inheriting the patriotic ardor of his father, he served in the War of 1812. Subsequently locating in the Yadkin River Valley, he bought large tracts of land, and engaged in farming. The maiden name of his first wife was Mary Herndon, and that of his second wife, mother of Dr. R. F. Hackett, was Fanny Johnson.
Robert Franklin Hackett was born on a planta- tion lying three miles below Wilkesboro. After obtaining his diploma at Emory and Henry Col- lege, in Virginia, he was graduated from the Jef- ferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, with the degree of M. D. Locating in Wilkesboro, not far from his birthplace, Doctor Hackett built up a large and remunerative practice in that vicinity, residing there until his death, November 5, 1886. The maiden name of Doctor Hackett's wife was Caroline Gordon. She was born on the Gordon homestead, on the west bank of Reddies River, a daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah Lenoir (Gwyn) Gordon, and a sister of Gen. James B. Gordon, her father having been a son of George Gordon, an early pioneer of Wilkes County. She passed to the life beyond June 30, 1891. Dr. and Mrs. Hackett reared four children, namely: Geneva, Florence, James Gordon, and Richard N.
Obtaining his rudimentary education in the pub- lic schools of Wilkesboro, James Gordon Hackett was graduated from the Lenoir High School, and afterwards continued his studies at Trinity Col- lege. Since the death of his father, he has de- voted a large part of his time in looking after the parental estate, and in caring for his own private interests.
Having cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland, Mr. Hackett has since been actively identified with the democratic party. He has the distinction of having served as the first mayor of Wilkesboro, and has also filled the same position in North Wilkesboro. Mr. Hackett was a member of the board of directors of the State Penitentiary under Governor Aycock, and under the administration of Governor Glen served as chairman of that board. In 1913 he was ap- pointed, by President Wilson, as postmaster at North Wilkesboro, and is performing the duties devolving upon him in that capacity with ability and fidelity.
Mr. Hackett married, June 27, 1906, Miss Mary Grimes, who was born in Pitt County, North Caro- lina, a daughter of Gen. Bryan and Charlotte (Emily) Grimes.
YOUNG ELDRIDGE SMITH. While his executive responsibilities have been growing for many years, Mr. Y. E. Smith has also sustained a very active and influential relationship with the broader enter- prises and movements of Durham County, has been one of the men who has helped to develop the better public spirit and a larger sense of community responsibility and well deserves the reputation of leadership which is often credited to him in that city.
He was born in Wake County, North Carolina, April 8, 1872, a son of Talbott B. and Eliza E. (Brown) Smith. He grew up on his father's farm, attended public schools, also a private school at Raleigh. At an early age he was attracted into the cotton industry and his first regular position was as clerk in the commissary department of the Dur- ham Cotton Manufacturing Company. From that he was promoted to bookkeeper, and since 1900 has been superintendent of the mills and a director of the company. He also organized and since has been president of the People's Bank of Durham, where the cotton mills are located. He is a di- rector of the Durham Chamber of Commerce. The pioneer modern dairy farm and business of Dur- ham was established by Mr. Smith, and he has taken a great deal of pride and satisfaction run- ing that business along thoroughly up-to-date lines and furnishing the highest quality milk and milk products to the local trade. His interest in education has always been keen and lively, and for twenty years he has served as a member of the school board. He was a member of the State Legislature during the session of 1909. In church matters Mr. Smith is a trustee and steward of the Carr Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is also a member of the Board of Church Extension and has frequently attended the annual conferences of the church. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias.
December 14, 1898, he married Alma Randle of Warrenton, North Carolina. They have three chil- dren: Janet, Bernard Sanford and Albert Nor- fleet.
WATSON SMITH RANKIN, M. D. Few states in the Union have a more progressive board of
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health than North Carolina. The services of many devoted physicians and men of light and leading have been given to this work, and the effi- ciency of the board is due to the courage, disin- terestedness and enlightened ability of a group of men who primarily are public spirited citizens as well as prominent representatives of their pro- fession. The present secretary is Dr. Watson Smith Rankin, who is effectively carrying on the serv- ice for which the foundation was laid some years by Dr. Richard H. Lewis and Dr. Thomas F. Wood his predecessors in office.
Doctor Rankin was born in Mooresville, North Carolina, January 18, 1879, a son of John Alexan- der and Minnie (McCorkle) Rankin. His father was a farmer. Doctor Rankin received his early education in the public schools of Cabarrus County and Mooresville, spent two years in the North Carolina Medical College at Davidson, and in May, 1901, graduated from the medical department of the University of Maryland. He had experience as an interne in the University of Maryland Ma- ternity Hospital, was a post graduate student in the Johns Hopkins Hospital Medical School from 1901 to 1902, and was resident Pathologist at the University of Maryland Hospital one year.
Returning to his native state he became profes- sor of bacteriology and for four years was dean of the medical department of Wake Forest Col- lege. He held that office until 1909, and in July of that year was called to the greater responsi- bilities of secretary of the North Carolina Board of Health.
He is recognized as a national leader in preven- tive medicine and in the sanitary control of public health. He belongs to the American Public Health Association, to the Council on Health and Public Instruction of the American Medical Association, is chairman of the Section on Preventive Medicine of the American Medical Association, is secretary of the Conference of Secretaries of State and Prov- incial Boards of Health of North America, is mem- ber and vice president of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis. Is a director of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Infant Mortality, is president of the Southeastern Sanitary Association, with jurisdiction over five states, and is a member of the Wake County and the North Carolina Medical Societies and the American Medical As- sociation.
Doctor Rankin is a Mason, is president of the Raleigh Young Men's Christian Association and belongs to the Baptist Church. On August 14, 1906, he married Miss Elva Margaret Dickson, of Wake Forest. They have one son, Jesse Dickson Rankin, born January 21, 1911.
WILLIAM W. CARLYLE. When the history of Robeson County comes to be written in detail, one of tho most active, influential and vigorous figures in the period of intense development which trans- formed Lumberton from a straggling country vil- lage into a populous city and hive of industry will be referred to by the name William W. Carlyle. Mr. Carlyle was for many years one of the leading merchants of Lumberton, has been interested in nearly every phase of its industrial growth, and is still living there, but his main active interests at present are as a farmer and stock man.
He was born in Saddle Tree Township of Robe- son County in 1861, a son of Simeon C. and Sarah (Conoley ) Carlyle. This is an old and
prominent branch of the Carlyle family, and has lived in Robeson County for upwards of a cen- tury. His grandfather, Elias Carlyle, had his home in St. Paul's Township, and he and other members of the family owned extensive tracts of land both in that township and in Saddle Tree Township in the northern part of the county. Another prominent member of the family was the late Professor J. B. Carlyle, of the faculty of Wake Forest College. Simeon C. Carlyle, father of William W., was a gallant Confederate soldier, and was all through the war with the Fifty-first North Carolina Cavalry.
In 1871, when William W. Carlyle was ten years of age, his parents moved from the farm to Lumberton, and in that town he acquired much of his early education. During 1876-77 he was a student in the Carolina Academy at Ansonville, which was then under the direction of that splendid educator Professor Needham B. Cobb.
From the time he left Carolina Academy forty years have elapsed, and it is that period of his life which has shown so many achievements in a business way. On returning home from school he became clerk in a local store. For thirty-five years he was continuously identified wtih mer- chandising at Lumberton, and his first employ- ment was in the store of A. C. Melke. In 1884 he became a partner with Mr. R. D. Caldwell, his brother-in-law. The firm of Caldwell & Carlyle built up and developed the largest general mercan- tile or department store in Robeson County, and many interesting facts concerning that business will be found elsewhere in the sketch of Mr. Caldwell. The firm of Caldwell & Carlyle con- tinued until January 1, 1912, at which date Mr. Carlyle retired, and the business is now R. D. Caldwell & Son.
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