USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 73
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106
He was born in Florence County, South Carolina, October 9, 1880, a son of George Washington and Geneva Woodrow Mathews. His father is a con- tractor. Elmer L. Mathews gained a public school education and before coming to Wilmington he had some experience as clerk in a general store. Among other interests he is a director of the Orton Building and Loan Association. He is also a steward of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the Grand Lodge.
On January 30, 1901, he married Bettie James Rogers of Sampson County, North Carolina. They are the parents of five children: James Woodrow, Elmer Priscilla, George Rogers, Randolph Chappell and Sarah Elizabeth.
JAMES M. WHITTINGTON has long been promi- nent as a business man and citizen in Yadkin County and for several years has given his chief time and attention to his duties as cashier of the Yadkin Valley Bank at East Bend. His is one of the older family names in Western North Carolina and the Whittingtous have always been known for their steadfast honor and integrtiy in all the relations of life.
Mr. Whittington was born on a farm near Mount Airy, North Carolina, May 9, 1853. His great- grandfather, Meyer Whittington, was born in Yorkshire, England. Coming to America, he first located in Maryland, where he lived a few years, and then became one of the pioneer settlers in Guilford County, North Carolina, where he spent his last days. He reared three or four sons, one of whom, Thomas, lived and died in Guilford County.
Ezekiel Whittington, grandfather of the East Bend banker, was born in Maryland, but grew up in Guilford County. After reaching manhood he removed to Surry County, bought a farm near Mount Airy and was prospered in his activities there and lived to the great age of ninety-six. He married Elizabeth Grissom, who lived to be eighty-
five. Their children were named Ervin, Thomas, John, William, James W., Nancy, Elizabeth and Sally.
Mr. Whittington's father was James W. Whit- tington, who was born on a farm near Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1827, He grew up in an agri- cultural atmosphere, made the best of his opportu- nities to acquire an education, and after farming for a while in Surry County he moved with his family to Carroll County in the mountainous dis- trict of Southwestern Virginia. There he bought land and was both a farmer and stock raiser. In early youth he was converted, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was afterwards licensed as a local preacher. He was a man of great power and influence, and lived in Carroll County, Vir- ginia, until his death at the age of seventy-eight. He married Mary Wilson, who was born in David- son County, North Carolina, a daughter of Joshua and Annie (Michael) Wilson. Her death occurred at the age of seventy-nine. Her four children were named James M., Thomas C., Irvin L. and Mollie E.
As a boy James M. Whittington attended school near Mount Airy, North Carolina, his birthplace, and afterwards at Hillsville, county seat of Carroll County, Virginia. His finishing studies were taken in Woodlawn Academy. Mr, Whittington has had a varied program as his lifework. For three years he taught school in Carroll County. Ill health compelled him to abandon that vocation and removing to East Bend in Yadkin County he became clerk in a mercantile establishment. While thus engaged he studied pharmacy and then opened a drug business of his own, which he continued successfully for thirty years. In 1914 he became cashier of the Yadkin Valley Bank, which has taken his time and labors to the present time.
At the age of twenty-five Mr. Whittington mar- ried Elizabeth Benbow, a daughter of Dr. Evan and Bettie (Hall) Benbow. She is a member of a prominent family of North Carolina elsewhere mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. Whittington have two children, Annie Elizabeth and James B., both of whom are married. Annie is the wife of Rev. J. Kenneth Pfohl and their six children are named M. Elizabeth, Mary D., Ruth W., J. Kenneth Jr., James E. and Donald L.
JAMES HENRY BOATWRIGHT. Many citizens of . . Wilmington count it a rare privilege to have known the late J. H. Boatwright. His was a life of business integrity such as might serve as an example to young men, and it was also spent in doing good for others and in giving an unstinted measure of his time and energies to those institu- tions and organizations which represent the best in a community's life and growth.
A son of Dr. John H. Boatwright and Mary Eliza Lord of Wilmington, North Carolina, he was born at Columbia, South Carolina, in 1846. His entire boyhood was spent in Columbia. Immedi- ately after the war, however, on account of the death of Doctor Boatwright and burning of the home, the family came to Wilmington to be with the mother's people. He was a boy soldier of the Confederacy, at the age of fifteen being a boy in the Arsenal Cadets of Columbia, South Carolina. Afterwards for many years he was active in Cape Fear Chapter of the United Confederate Veterans.
On coming to Wihnington he entered the sery- ice of the Wilmington & Manchester Railroad, and from that went with the old First National Bank as discount clerk. In 1887 he bought an
272
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA .
interest in the firm of Gordon & Smith, insurance, and subsequently the name was changed to Boat- wright & Smith. In 1892 the partnership was dissolved, each partner establishing a business of his own in insurance. Mr. Boatwright con- ducted a large and extensive business under his own name, and in 1894 took in as partner his son, Swift M. Boatwright, making the firm, J. H. Boatwright & Son. This old and reliable insur- ance agency is now conducted by his son, under the old firm name.
J. H. Boatwright died at his home in Wilming- ton January 29, 1911. The character which he represented to the community is well expressed in the various resolutions drawn up at the time and found in the minutes of such organizations as the Board of Managers of the North Carolina Colonial Dames of America, the Church of the Good Shepherd, the Young Men's Christian As- sociation, the Sunday School of the Good Shep- herd Church, and St. James Episcopal Parish, in which he served for twenty-six years as a ves- tryman. Long prominent in St. James Parish, it was largely through his influence that the Good Shepherd Mission was established and he devoted himself so unceasingly to the upbuilding of that mission that he saw it an independent parish. He was one of the building committee when the Church of the Good Shepherd was erected.
In 1873 he married Miss Mary London Miller, of Wilmington. They were the parents of three children. Swift M. Boatwright is referred to' on other pages. Hal F. Boatwright, deceased, was a student of Johns Hopkins University at Balti- more, passing away a few weeks prior to his graduation. Miss Alice Boatwright still resides at the old home in Wilmington.
SWIFT MILLER BOATWRIGHT. A son of the late J. H. Boatwright, Swift Miller Boatwright was born in Wilmington February 10, 1875, and for more than twenty years has been actively identi- fied with the large insurance business founded and built up by his father. He was taken into partnership in the firm of J. H. Boatwright & Son in 1894, and since the death of his honored father on January 25, 1911, has conducted the business alone, under the old firm name.
.
As a youth he attended the private school con- ducted by Miss Hart and Miss Brown and the Rev. Daniel Morelle. At the age of seventeen he left school to enter his father's office and since then has become one of the foremost insurance men of the state. Since 1900 he has served as sec- retary of the Wilmington Board of Fire Insur- ance Underwriters. Socially and in matters of public enterprise he is also prominent.
He is a director in the Home Savings Bank, the People's Building & Loan Association, and the Carolina Building & Loan Association. He is a director of the Wilmington Public Library, a member of the Carolina Yacht Club, of the Cape Fear Golf Club, of the Masonic Order and the Rotary Club, and has long been active in St. James Episcopal Church, serving as junior war- den, vestryman and a worker in the Sunday school.
November 23, 1909, he married Jeanie Mur- phy Cronly, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Lan- don) Cronly. They are the parents of four chil- dren : Swift M., Jr., Jeanie M., Alice London and Ann Empie.
Z. NELSON ANDERSON. Noteworthy among the active and successful business men who are so
ably conducting the mercantile affairs of Davie County, is Z. Nelson Anderson, who, as manager of the Mocksville Wholesale Grocery Company, has developed a large and constantly increasing trade. A native of Davie County, he was born at Calahaln, which was also the birthplace of his father, Albert Alexander Anderson, and the place in which his grandfather, Richard Anderson, first lived on coming to North Carolina with his parents, about 1800.
Capt. Charles Anderson, Mr. Anderson's great- grandfather, was a native of Scotland, and came to this country in colonial days. He was captain of a company in the Revolutionary war, serving under Governor Nelson, for whom he named his oldest son, Nelson Anderson, born in 1783. Capt. Charles Anderson married Betsey Snead, and in 1800, with his wife, five sons and three daughters, came from Virginia to North Carolina, settling in what is now Davie County. He secured title to large tracts of land in the locality of Calahaln, and much of it is at the present time owned by his descendants. It is said that he gave an Indian a flint-lock rifle in exchange for Calahaln Moun- tain. He and his wife rounded out a full period of years, and were buried in the family burying ground, in Calahaln.
Richard Anderson, the next in line of descent, born in Buckingham County, Virginia, in 1793, was seven years old when he came with his parents to Davie County. As a young man he joined the state militia, and during the War of 1812 was called out, but, it being near the end of the war, he got no further than Salisbury. Embarking in agricultural pursuits, he owned and operated a plantation in Calahaln, the work being performed by slaves. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Ann Neil. She was born near Richmond, Virginia, a daughter of Billy Neil, who located at Calahaln about 1800, but subsequently returned to his old home in Virginia.
Albert Alexander Anderson was born, Septem- ber 28, 1842, in Calahaln, on the home farm. He completed his early education in the Olin High School, and as a young man was engaged in teaching school. Enlisting, April 28, 1861, in Company A, Eleventh Regiment, North Carolina Troops, he was in active service until the close of the conflict, taking part in many. important en- gagements. During his service as a soldier, he was twice transferred, first to the Twenty-first Regiment, later becoming a member of the First Battalion, Sharpshooters. At the close of the conflict, in company with his brothers, Charles and John, he was engaged in mercantile business at Calahaln for a quarter of a century or more, the firm name being Anderson Brothers. He also owned a farm, which he operated through tenants. He still resides in Calahaln, an honored and highly esteemed citizen. He married Martha Frances Poindexter, who was born October 23, 1849, a daughter of Robert and Martha Poindexter, and to them five children were born and reared, as fol- lows: Agnes, Robert P., Z. Nelson, Richard Benjamin and Wiley Neil.
After his graduation from the Mocksville High School, Z. Nelson Anderson learned the ways of a merchant while clerking in his father's store. Locating in Mocksville in 1899, he was for ten years associated in business as a general merchant with O. L. Williams. Disposing then of his in- terest in the firm, Mr. Anderson accepted his present responsible position as manager of the Mocksville Wholesale Grocery Company, and has
273
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
since performed the duties devolving upon him in that capacity with credit to himself, and to the eminent satisfaction of the firm, and its patrons.
On February 18, 1897, Mr. Anderson married Jennie Anderson, who was born at Calahaln, Davie County, July 31, 1875. Her father, Dr. John Anderson, a son of Richard and Sarah Ann (Neil) Anderson, was born in the same locality, April 1, 1837. Dr. John Anderson was educated in Davie Academy, and at the New York City Medical College. After his graduation from that institu- tion, he was for two years an interne at Bellevue Hospital. Subsequently locating at Calahaln, he built up a fine practice. Being a physician, he was exempt from military duty during the Civil war, but towards its close he was called to Fort Fisher. He continued in the active practice of his profession until his death, in 1886. The maiden name of the wife of Doctor Anderson was Julia Ellen Blackwell. She was born in Davie County, near Holman Cross Roads, in 1850, being a daugh- ter of Robert and Emily M. (Cheshire) Blackwell, who owned and operated, with slave labor, a plantation lying west of Davie County, where both lived and died, his death occurring at the age of seventy-one years, while she lived to be eighty- seven years of age. Mrs. Anderson's mother died March 18, 1915, leaving four children, Sarah Emma, Jennie, John Richard, and John Frederick.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have one child, a daugh- ter, named Mary Nelson Anderson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and liberal contributors toward its support. Fraternally Mr. Anderson belongs to Mocksville Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons, and to Mocksville Lodge, Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
WILLIAM EVAN BENBOW, M. D., was a true and noble votary of the great medical profession. His work was done in Yadkin County, where he looked after the interests of a large circle of patients for many years, attended to their material welfare and also exhibited that kindness and sympathy which are often as helpful as medical dosages. He came of a family of doctors. He succeeded his father in practice, and a son has succeeded him.
Doctor Benbow was born in East Bend in Yad- kin County November 28, 1852. He was a son of Dr. Evan and Bettie (Hall) Benbow, and some more detailed reference to this worthy and promi- nent family is found on other pages of this publi- cation.
William E. Benbow grew up in East Bend, at- tended the public schools there, afterwards the Guilford College, and then entered Jefferson Med- ical College of Philadelphia, where he took the regular course and was graduated M. D. Return- ing to his old home locality he succeeded his father in practice at East Bend, and gave himself to the service of his people for fully thirty years. The death of this physician and citizen occurred August 24, 1910.
Doctor Benbow married Mollie Jane Poindexter, who was born at East Bend and is of a family of very interesting and romantic connections in the different generations. She was descended from John Poindexter, who was born in France and was a French Huguenot. To escape religious per- sccution he fled to England, where he reared a family. The son, Thomas Poindexter, was born in England, was reared and educated there and fell in love with a young lady to whom his parents
objected. In order to separate them his parents induced him to come to America and take posses- sion of a tract of land they granted him in Louisa County, Virginia. But the width of an ocean could not separate such true loves. His sweetheart had promised to join him if she could and some time later Thomas Poindexter took a load of tobacco to market and was at the landing when a ship came into harbor and his sweetheart disembarked as a passenger. He paid her passage with the load of tobacco and they were at once married and lived happily all their days in Louisa County, rearing a large family. Their son John acquired a good education and became a lawyer. He, too, had a romantic experience. The object of his early love was Susan Hughes. Her father was a wealthy planter and not only forbade her marriage to the aspiring lawyer but locked her in her chamber. Her negro mammy assisted her to escape and they were married. Later. John Poindexter was con- verted and became an eminent Baptist preacher and one of the first of that denomination in that section of Virginia. He was also successful as a planter and both he and his wife spent all their lives in Virginia. Their son Thomas removed to North Carolina, bought a tract of land several miles in extent in the Yadkin River Valley in Yadkin County and developed its broad acreage with the aid of his slaves. He married Elizabeth Pledge, daughter of an Indian chief. Both lived to old years and they reared sixteen children, being able to supply each one with a farm.
Robert A. Poindexter, of these children, was the grandfather of Mrs. Doctor Benbow. He was born in Louisa County, Virginia, and his inheritance was part of his father's estate in Yadkin County. He made that his plantation, operating it with slaves, and spent his days there. He was twice married. The maiden name of his second wife was Charlotte Martin, a descendant of Col. Jack Martin, whose name appears frequently in the revolutionary annals of North Carolina. They reared eight children, while by a former marriage he had nine other children. His sons, Thomas, William and John, were all Confederate soldiers, and the first two were killed in battle while the latter was wounded.
Robert Clingman Poindexter, father of Mrs. Doctor Benbow, was born on the Poindexter home- stead on the Yadkin River in Yadkin County and near the present site of Donnoha, which is across the river in Forsyth County. He became a mer- chant, had a store at Huntsville, and later in East Bend, and was prominent and successful. In the early days before railroads he bought his goods in Philadelphia and New York and had them trans- ported by water routes as far as Fayetteville,. and thence they were carried with wagons and teams over the plank road. He continued active in business until his death in 1865. Robert C. Poindexter married Martha J. Ward, who was born near Farmington in Davie County, North Carolina, a daughter of Wiley and Mary (Smith) Ward. They reared ten children, Mary Frances, Henry Dalton, Samuel W., Ellen P., Dorothy E., Mattie G., Minerva C., Robert M., Wiley J., and Charles A. Doctor and Mrs. Benbow reared nine children named Laura, J. Thomas, Eugene Clinton, Robert Poindexter, Charles F., Mattie W., Lester W., Mary E. M. and Edgar V. The oldest, Laura, married Prof. S. J. Honeycutt. Eugene C. and Robert P. are now residents of California. J. Thomas was graduated from Guilford College, took advanced studies in the University of North Caro-
Vol. IV-18
274
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
lina, and finally received his degree in medicine from the North Carolina Medical College at Char- lotte. He succeeded his father in practice at East Bend and is thus the third successive generation of the family to follow the profession in this locality. Charles F. graduated from Guilford Col- lege with the degree A. B. and took his Master of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina and is now principal of the East Bend public schools.
SAMUEL JAMES ERVIN. The successful lawyer is made such by one of two elements-great tal- ent or great industry. It frequently occurs that those possessing the ability are forced through circumstances to display the latter quality, the two combining to make for success in a vocation than which probably no other strikes so deeply to the roots of the commonwealth. In his youth Samuel J. Ervin showed good talents, but his opportunities to advance himself were few, and it was only by overcoming obstacles and surmount- ing difficulties that he reached his cherished goal as a successful lawyer. Mr. Ervin is one of the oldest members of the bar at Morganton and has been in practice there almost forty years.
He was born in Sumpter, South Carolina, June 21, 1855, son of John Witherspoon and Laura (Nelson) Ervin. His father was a man of very modest means but of high intellectual ability and was both a teacher and an author. Samuel J. Ervin attended his first school in a country dis- trict where his father was a teacher. In March, 1874, at the age of nineteen, he came to Mor- ganton, North Carolina, and the next four years was employed as assistant postmaster. His spare hours he diligently spent in the study of law at home, and in 1879 was licensed to practice. Since then with the exception of eighteen months he has been steadily in the practice of law at Mor- ganton. He is also a good business man and is a director and attorney for a number of local corporations. Mr. Ervin's chief public service was rendered while he was chairman of the graded schools of Morganton. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
October 6, 1886, he married Laura Powe, of Morganton, daughter of William E. and Katie (Tate) Powe. Her father was a well known farmer in this section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Ervin have nine children : Laura, Mrs. James King Hall, of Richmond, Virginia; Catherine; Edward Powe; Samuel James, Jr., who is a lieu- tenant of infantry now with the American Ex- peditionary forces in France; Hugh Tate and Joseph W., both students in the University of North Carolina; Eunice Wood, John Witherspoon and Jean Conyers, who are still in public school.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH B. Fox, of Wilmington, gained his title through some very active years as a steam- boat captain on the Cape Fear, is prominent on river traffic circles, and was an active associate of the late Captain J. W. Harper, one of the foremost steamboat men of his time, whose career is sketched on other pages. Captain Fox has recently retired from river transportation and is now in business at Wilmington.
He was born in Philadelphia in 1886, son of Hugh Fox, a native of Ireland. He was reared and educated in his native city and in 1907, at the age of twenty-one, came south, for a time was located at Portsmouth, Virginia, and in 1911 took up steamboating under the late Captain Harper
on the lower Cape Fear River at Wilmington, which city has since been his home.
His youth, vigor and high intelligence, his adaptability and quickness in acquiring the essen- tial details of steamboating and water traffic won for him ready favor and early promotion under Captain Harper. In time he received his pilot's license, later his master's license, and was master of the "Wilmington," a splendid passenger steamer in the Southport trade owned by Captain Harper. Since the death of Captain Harper Cap- tain Fox has practically retired from the river and is now engaged in business at Wilmington as pro- prietor of the Royal Bakery on Front Street. How- ever, he continues his keen interest in all affairs connected with the river and ocean traffic on the Lower Cape Fear.
Captain Fox married Miss Louise Harper, daugh- ter of the late Captain Harper. They have three children : Joe, Jr., Louise and John Harper Fox.
Captain Fox is also a member of the Wilming- ton-Carolina Beach Steamship Company, an in- corporation organized in February, 1918, for the ownership and operation of steamboats chiefly in connection with the passenger traffic business be- tween Wilmington and Carolina Beach. Two of his active associates in this business and enter- prise are Mr. A. W. Pate and Mr. U. A. Under- wood.
ARCHIBALD ARRINGTON HICKS. Better known than many of her sister cities, Oxford, North Caro- lina, can claim this superiority because of fine business location, a rich adjacent territory and a thoroughly awakened public spirit, and in addition, because it is the home of men who have particularly distinguished themselves through public efforts that have brought rich results. In this list no man stands higher than Archibald Arrington Hicks, formerly a member of the State Senate during a protracted period of great public importance, and at present one of the foremost members of the Oxford bar.
Archibald Arrington Hicks was born at Hicks' Place, in Granville County, North Carolina, Sep- tember 9. 1862. His parents were B. W. and Isabella Jane (Crews) Hicks. His father was a farmer both before the war between the states, and he took part in the same as a soldier in the Confederate army. In early boyhood the youth attended the public schools and afterward had academic advantages at Pleasant Hill and Shiloh and subsequently took a course in Yadkin College. Upon his return to Oxford he entered upon the study of law in the office of his brother T. T. Hicks, a successful attorney, and completed his law course there and was admitted to the bar on September 29, 1887, and entered into a general practice at Oxford.
Early in his professional career it became im- pressed on Mr. Hicks that aside from all personal advantages, it is a citizen's duty to assist in move- ments for the public good, and from then until the present, he has always been found championing causes in which he has believed and even, figur- atively speaking, has fought for the maintenance of principles. So broad-minded and public-spirited a man, so willing to use his educational acquire- ments and professional talents and with his sound conceptions and precise ideals of efficiency and economy in the public service, could not fail of recognition by his conscientious and serious-minded fellow citizens. Hence, on many occasions he has been called into public life and his entire record
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.