USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 78
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Mr. Rector is a member of the Asheville and State Bar associations, and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He is also a member of the Asheville Reserve Infantry.
July 30, 1913, he married Miss Nellie Hardy, of
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Chase City, Virginia, daughter of Edward Miles and Martha Ann (Reekes) Hardy. Her father was owner of a Virginia plantation.
JAMES HOWARD. One of the very interesting chapters in the history of any city is concerned with its theatrical and artistic activities, its recrea- tions. This history at Wilmington during the past dozen years centers largely around the persons of James Howard and Percy W. Wells of the firm of Howard & Wells, probably the best known theatrical men in the South, and who now control the entire theatrical situation in Wilmington.
James Howard, the senior member of the firm, came from "Up North," having been born at Mayville, New York, in 1867. When he was twelve years of age his father died, and about that time he seriously undertook what every boy at some time or other plans to do, starting in the show business. His first connection was with the old Whitney wagon show, and for several years he was on the list of star performers with a number of famous circuses. About 1900 he became asso- ciated with Mr. Percy W. Wells, who had also made a name as an individual performer and also had been successful in conducting feature performances with carnivals.
In 1906, after closing a prosperous season with the J. Frank Hatch Carnival Company at Man- chester, Virginia, these gentlemen came to Wil- mington, North Carolina, and pitched a tent on the site of what is now the handsome Bijou The- ater. They called it the Bijou then (only the natives of that day pronounced it By-Jo). Their undertaking is especially historic because it was the first motion picture theater to be established in the State of North Carolina and the second one in the South, a similar enterprise having been started in Atlanta about the same time. With a thick blanket of sawdust on the bare ground for a floor, a large coal heater for heating, and a half dozen small incandescents strung from the center pole of the tent, an antiquated phonograph screech- ing out in front, Wilmingtonians flocked by hun- dreds to witness the marvel of the age-pictures that moved like human beings. The method by which they were made was veiled in deepest mys- tery-no one imagined human beings posing for them. The operator at the Bijou was compelled to spiel the story as the picture flashed on the screen-the audience had not yet been trained to grasp the spasmodic action which flashed and was gone.
For five years the Bijou did business in the tent, until a snowstorm destroyed it. Then the lot was purchased and the present commodious theater erected, which is still the leading institution of the city, beloved by the masses of every creed and color. No less than a dozen opposition theaters have been launched in Wilmington during. the past ten years, with little of no financial success, the Grand and Victoria, built about four years ago by Mr. J. M. Selky at an outlay of more than $125,000, having been the only ones to survive. In 1916 Howard & Wells took over both of these theaters from Mr. Selky and a few months later acquired the Academy of Music. In the summer of 1916 they had purchased one of the most val- uable lots in the city, on Front Street opposite the postoffice, upon which they erected the handsome Royal Theater, the total investment representing $100,000. Upon the acquisition of the Academy of Music they came into possession of the last of
the opposition theaters. The total capacity of the theaters at Wilmington is 4,300 seats.
There are two companies, the Bijou Amusement Company, of which Mr. Howard is president and Mr. Wells secretary and treasurer, and the Howard & Wells Company, of which Mr. Wells is president and Mr. Howard secretary and treasurer. Both are active, progressive and public spirited citizens of Wilmington and are boosters for every good move- ment in that city.
The success of these men, notable among theat- rical ventures over the whole country, is attributa- ble to their constant and personal attention, the injection into their business of a personality that has made friends and held them and their never failing courtesy and kindness, especially to the children of the city.
Mr. Howard was married in Wilmington Septem- ber 15, 1909, to Mrs. Jennie M. Garrell of Wil- mnington.
Mr. Percy W. Wells, the junior member of the firm, has been especially active in motion picture organization affairs throughout the country and has served as president of the North Carolina Motion Picture Exhibitors' League for the past four con- secutive terms. He is also president of the Vir- ginia-Carolina Vaudeville Managers' Association, composed of all the leading vaudeville theaters in the two Carolinas and Virginia. He is a controll- ing stockholder in the Virginia-Carolina Managers' Circuit, a vaudeville booking agency with head offices in Atlanta. By his progressive management of the managers' organization in the state he has become nationally well known and his counsel is often sought by officers and leaders of the great National Exhibitors' Organization.
R. S. McCOIN has been a lawyer and resident of Henderson about twenty years. All things consid- ered his range of activities and interests is a notable one. He has proved an able lawyer, a thorough business man, a leader in democratic politics, and is now giving his district and state efficient repre- sentation in the Senate.
He was born in Forsyth County June 29, 1872, son of George N. and Elizabeth N. McCoin. His literary education was acquired at Pinnacle, Salem Boys' School, and Guilford College. He read law at the Dick & Dillard Law School in Greensboro. From the time he opened his office in Henderson business has come to him in grati- fying volume, and he has already reached that place in his profession where he has practically a choice of his business. Mr. McCoin is a char- ter member of the North Carolina Bar Associa- tion. In a business way he is president of the Gold Leaf Publishing Company, the Henderson Brick and Supply Company and the Henderson Furniture Company; is vice president of the Mixon Jewelry Company, and is secretary and treasurer of the Henderson Loan and Real Es- tate Company. He is also charter inember and a director of the Board of Trade of the City of Henderson.
Politics has furnished him not only a diver- sion but an opportunity for exceedingly useful service. He was chairman of the County Demo- cratic Committee from 1900 to 1906, presidential elector in 1908, served as city alderman and mayor pro tem of Henderson in 1911-12, was on the board of directors of the Eastern Hospital 1903 to 1908, and a director of the Central Hos- pital in 1909-10.
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His record as a member of the State Senate of 1917, where he represented the Sixteenth Senatorial District, comprising Vance and War- ren counties, was one of unusual activity and interested and energetic cooperation with every measure and movement for the state's general welfare. He is author of the compromise bill adopted settling the policy of the state in regard to electing the County Board of Education. He introduced and had passed in the Senate the present state-wide road law, also the state-wide automobile law. His particular interest was aroused by every piece of legislation affecting and promoting good schools, good roads, and with reference to these two specific subjects he came to be regarded as the most vigilant man in the Senate during that session. His qualifications as a lawyer and business man enabled him to render valuable service on the committees of judiciary, finance, education, good roads and in- surance, and as chairman of the committee on insane hospitals.
Mr. McCoin is affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. June 14, 1900, he married Miss Emma M. Freeborn.
HON. LEE SLATER OVERMAN. Standing prom- inent among the able and representative men who have figured conspicuously in the legal, civil and political life of North Carolina is Hon. Lee S. Overman, of Salisbury, who has rendered untold service to the state and the nation, not only . as a United States senator, but as a man of tried and trusted integrity, and a citizen whose ability and inborn patriotism has made him a leader in the administration of public affairs. A son of William Overman, he was born and reared in Salisbury, Rowan County, being descended from one of the oldest families of North Carolina, the first deed recorded in Pasquotank County having been made out to an Overman.
William Overman was born May 10, 1812, in Pasquotank County, this state, where his father, Thomas Overman, was a life-long resident. Cross- ing the state to Rowan County in 1835, he located in Salisbury and from that time until his death, August 25, 1890, was actively and prominently identified with the mercantile, manufacturing and agricultural progress of his 'community. The maiden name of his wife was Mary E. Slater. She was born in Rowan County, June 4, 1827, a daugh- ter of Fielding Slater, who prior to his death at. the early age of thirty-eight years served as high sheriff of the county. She was a great-grand- daughter of Maj. James Smith who figured prom- inently in the Revolution and lost his life fighting for liberty and independence. Mrs. Overman sur- vived her husband, dying November 9, 1893. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was her husband, who served for many years as chairman of its board of stewards.
Having acquired a good knowledge of the higher branches of study under private tutors, Lee Over- man entered Trinity College, from which he was graduated in 1879 with the degrees of A. B. and A. M. Subsequently his alma mater paid him an especial honor by conferring upon him the degree of LL. D. Looking forward to a professional career, Mr. Overman read law with J. M. Mc- Corkle, of Salisbury, and later with Richard H. Battle, a noted attorney of Raleigh. Thus well prepared to enter the legal profession, he was granted a license to practice law by the Supreme
Court in 1878, and immediately opened an office in Salisbury.
Interested in public matters from early man- hood, Mr. Overman, by extensive and intelligent reading, kept abreast with the times, and in 1876 made his entrance in the political arena as a participant in the campaign preceding the election of Governor Vance. In 1877 he was appointed executive clerk by Governor Vance, and was after- wards his private secretary until the governor was elected to the United States Senate. Mr. Overman subsequently served for a time as the private sec- retary of Governor Jarvis. In 1880 he resumed his practice of law in Salisbury, and as his ability became known his clientage became correspond- ingly large. In 1883 he was again called to a position of public responsibility by an election to the State Legislature, an office which he held by re-elections for six years. Mr. Overman was again chosen, both in 1893 and in 1899, to rep- resent his county in the State Legislature. While there, he took a prominent part in the delibera- tions of that body, and as a member of various important committees performed service of much value to the general public, in 1894 having been speaker of the House.
In 1895 Mr. Overman was the democratic can- didate for United States senator, but his party being in the minority his opponent, Judge Pritch- ard, secured the election. In 1900 Mr. Overman was made president of the Democratic State Con- vention, and in the same year was chosen presi- dential elector. In 1903 he had the distinction of being elected United States senator, notwith- standing the fact that his competitors for the high position were two of the most able and popular men of the entire state, Hon. Locke Craige and Cyrus B. Watson. He was re-elected in 1909, and again in 1914, when he was chosen by popular vote, being the first senator thus elected in North Carolina.
Senator Overman has served his constituents with rare ability and efficiency. He has held membership in sixteen committees, among the more important having been the committees on rules, appropriations, and forest reservations. It was through his influence that an appropriation was obtained to defray the expense of sending to for- eign countries commercial agents to investigate conditions abroad, and to secure new markets for American productions.
Senator Overman married, in 1880, Margaret P. Merrimon. She is a daughter of Hon. Augustus G. and Margaret (Baird) Merrimon; a grand- daughter of Rev. Branch H. and Mary (Paxton) Merrimon; and is of Revolutionary stock, being a lineal descendant of Gen. Charles McDowell, an officer in the Revolutionary army. Mr. and Mrs. Overman have one daughter, namely: Margaret, who married Edwin O. Gregory, and has four sons, Lee Overman, a student in the University of North Carolina; John T .; Edwin Clark; and Augustus Merrimon. Both Mr. and Mrs. Over- man are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which he has served as an active member of the official board for many years.
THOMAS JEFFERSON RICKMAN. Of the bet- ter known and more successful members of the Asheville bar few have had a broader experience in the law, business and public affairs than Thomas Jefferson Rickman, who took his first cases twenty-five years ago.
Mr. Rickman was born at Mills River in Hen-
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derson County, North Carolina, and as a boy he attended a fine institution of learning known as Mills River Academy under the tuition of Dr. Richard H. Lewis. He was a student in the famous old law school conducted by Dick & Dil- lard, and in 1882 was admitted to the bar. For many years Mr. Rickman had a large general practice at Hendersonville and many publie hon- ors were bestowed upon him while there. Dur- ing President Cleveland's administration he served as special revenue collector. He was mayor two terms, four years, for a number of years was alderman, was county tax collector six years and served as chairman of the Board of Education of Hendersonville. He has himself taught school and has always taken much interest in educational improvement and administration.
Since moving to Asheville in 1900 Mr. Riek- man has continued to handle a general practice as a lawyer. He is also a director of the Ashe- ville Milling Company, is attorney for the Asne- ville Grocery Company, is treasurer and director and gives much of his time to the Asheville Young Men's Christian Association, and is a member of the Buncombe County and the North Carolina State Bar associations. His church is the Bap- tist.
In November, 1880, Mr. Rickman married Eliza- beth C. Johnson, of Henderson County. Her grandfather was Hugh Johnson, one of the his- torie characters of that section of North Caro- lina. Mr .. and Mrs. Rickman have four chil- dren: Augusta, wife of Thomas M. Mitchell, a merchant at Brevard, North Carolina; Howell R., in the wholesale grocery business; John Hubert, who is a musician on the U. S. Battleship Okla- homa; and Evelyn, living at home with her par- ents and a teacher of music.
THOMAS LEONIDAS CROMARTIE, of Wilmington, is one of the younger representatives of the noted Cromartie family of Bladen County, and is some- what of an exception to the prevailing rule in the Cromartie family and has followed a commer- cial rather than an agricultural or professional career. Mr. Cromartie inherits the good name and other substantial characteristics of the Cromarties, had the early guidance and direction of a wonder- fully good and intelligent mother, but since attain- ing years of discretion has relied chiefly upon his own ability and energy to put him ahead in the world. He is now one of the active merchants of Wilmington, and is secretary and treasurer of the A. D. Brown Company.
Mr. Cromartie was born at Garland in Sampson County, North Carolina, March 14, 1885, a son of Henry A. and Bettie (Hobbs) Cromartie. Other pages contain an interesting account of the Cro- martie family in that region. It is sufficient to state here that Thomas L. is descended through several generations from William Cromartie, who was born in Scotland in 1731, came to Bladen County and established the Cromartie estate on South River in 1765, and lived a long and useful career, including service in the Revolutionary war. The sons of William Cromartie were all given lands in that neighborhood along the South River, and their descendants have continued to occupy those homes, which have never been out of the family possession for more than 150 years. One of the sons of William Cromartie was Alexander Cro- martie, who was born in 1772 and he in turn was the father of Patrick L. Cromartie, who married Eleanor Faison, and one of their children was
Henry A. Cromartie. Henry A. Cromartie was born in the Cromartie community in 1855, and died at his home in Garland in 1900.
Mrs. Bettie (Hobbs) Cromartie, mother of Thomas L., is still living at Garland. She was born at the Hobbs home near Clinton, the county seat of Sampson County, and was educated in the Baptist Institute at Raleigh. She is the mother of six children : Thomas Leonidas, Mrs. Eloise De Vane, Mrs. Gertrude Kilpatrick, George Graham, Henry LeRoy and Eleanor Lois. As Thomas L., the oldest child, was only fifteen when his father died, it will be seen that all the children were quite young and their care and rearing became a heavy responsibility nobly and effectively borne by the widowed mother. She possesses a rare intelligence as well as a great capacity, and deserves all the praise and admiration she has received from her children for the work she did in rearing and edu- cating them and seeing them successfully started in the world.
Thomas L. Cromartie grew up at his home town of Garland. While there he attended the noted private school conducted by Mrs. Bettie V. Wright at Ingold. In his early youth he left North Car- olina and went to Chicago, where he remained three years, working with a business house and at the same time taking the full course of the Kent School of Law in that city. Though well qualified for the law, he has never taken up practice. He returned from Chicago to Wilmington, where he had previously spent some time, and here estab- lished and conducted a traffic bureau for the com- mercial houses of the city. On January 14, 1914, he became accountant in the retail store of A. D. Brown & Company. He held that position until October, 1917, when the founder and owner of the business, Mr. A. D. Brown, died. The A. D. Brown store at Wilmington has long been a landmark in the commercial district. Mr. Brown established. it in 1867, and only a short time before his death he had planned to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the store. He had built up a splendid business upon the solid rock of honor and integrity, and had made its service reflect his own personal char- acter.
This fine old mercantile establishment after the death of its founder was taken over and reorgan- ized as a corporation under the name A. D. Brown Company, and as such continues not only the busi- ness but the good will and standards set by its founder. The active officers are Mr. Cromartie, Mr. T. W. Harrison and Mr. Anson Alligood. The A. D. Brown Company is a modern retail dry goods store of the highest class and for years has enjoyed a select patronage. It is located in the heart of the retail district on Front Street. Mr. Cromartie is secretary and treasurer of the company, with Mr. Harrison president and Mr. Alligood vice presi- dent. The two latter are thorough salesmen and experienced store managers.
Mr. Cromartie married at Wilmington Miss Mallie Davenport Houston, daughter of Mr. B. H. Houston, of Wilmington. She is related to the Davenport family in North Carolina. The Hous- tons are an historic family of North Carolina and the South, having produced such illustrious char- acters as Gen. Sam Houston, founder of the Texas Republic, and in later generation Dr. David Frank- lin Houston, formerly prominent as an educator and now secretary of agriculture in President Wilson's Cabinet.
Mr. and Mrs. Cromartie have two living children, Henry Houston and Mary Lillian Cromartie. The
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tragedy of their married life was the automobile . edge, varied experience, and professional skill accident in which they lost their little daughter Harriet Berrie at the age of twenty-six months.
GEORGE A. THOMPSON. For many years exten- sively and prosperously engaged in mercantile pursuits, George A. Thompson, one of the fore- most citizens of Thomasville, Davidson County, has won an honorable record in the business, social and political life of the city, and is now living retired at his pleasant home, enjoying to the utmost the fruits of his many years of per- sistent and successful toil. He is a native son of North Carolina, his birth having occurred, in March, 1848, in Onslow County.
His father, the late John Thompson, was as far as known a life-long resident of Onslow County. An extensive landholder, he carried on general farming on a very large scale, owning at one time upwards of 1,000 slaves. He was a man of strong physique, strong in mind and body, and lived to the venerable age of eighty- eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Lovisie Brown, died in early womanhood, leaving five children, Sue, George A., Walter, Charles, and Oscar.
Although he received a college education, hav- ing been graduated from Old Trinity, George A. Thompson, whose tastes and inclinations led him to decide upon a commercial life rather than a professional career, established himself as a mer- chant in Onslow County. A few months later he transferred his business operations to Randolph County, opening a general store at Trinity, where he continued until 1881. In that year Mr. Thompson located in Thomasville, which was then a small, straggling village, giving but scant prom- ise of its present thriving and prosperous condi- tion. A young man at that time, full of vim and energy, he opened a general store, and in its management met with encouraging results from the first. By dint of industry and close applica- tion to the affairs of his establishment, he accumu- lated a good property, and is now living retired from business activities, as previously men- tioned.
Mr. Thompson has been twice married. His first wife, whose name before marriage was Corina Kearns, died at an early age, leaving four chil- dren, Claude, Eliza, Mary, and Nellie. On Decem- ber 2, 1881, Mr. Thompson married for his second wife Margaret Thomas, a daughter of Robert Warrick and Margaret (Hampton) Thomas. Of this union five children have been born, namely : Thomas Hampton, Allen, John Thomas, Sallie Hampton, and Laura.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and have reared their children in the same faith. Prominent in democratic ranks, Mr. Thompson has rendered his fellow-citizens ex- cellent service as an alderman, and as mayor of the city, in the latter position, which he filled for twelve years, materially assisting in the advance- ment of the public welfare. Fraternally Mr. Thompson is a member of Thomasville Lodge No. 214, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons.
ROBERT WARRICK THOMAS, M. D. Conspicuous among the pioneer physicians of Davidson County was the late Robert Warrick Thomas, M. D., who located in Thomasville three score and ten years ago, and during his many years of active practice met with distinguished success, his broad knowl-
winning him an honored position among the lead- ing physicians of Central North Carolina. He was born, February 28, 1823, in Thomasville, a son of John Warrick Thomas, the founder of this now attractive city.
As a lad Robert W. Thomas had but little op- portunity to attend school, but by study at home, and extensive reading of the right kind acquired a good education. Not content to be a farmer like so many of his ancestors, he began the study of medicine, and when prepared entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1848. The young doctor imme- diately began the practice of his chosen profession in Thomasville, which at that early day, long before there were any railways in this part of the state, contained but three families. Nothing daunted, he worked faithfully and skillfully, and before many years had elapsed had built up a large and constantly increasing practice that ex- tended into Randolph and Forsyth counties. Many of his trips, which were long and tiresome, he. made on horseback, carrying his medicine and surgical instruments in his saddle bags. Doctor Thomas was a man of strong personality, genial and affable in manner, and had a large circle of friends in Davidson and adjoining counties. He lived to be quite old, dying in 1902, in the eightieth year of his age.
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