USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 79
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Doctor Thomas was twice married. He married first Margaret Hampton, who was born in David- son County, North Carolina, in 1830. Her father, Thomas Hampton, a native of England, came, at the age of seventeen years, to America with his brother Robert. Subsequently locating in David- son County, this state, he settled on the Yadkin River, and in the course of time became an exten- sive land owner, and with the assistance of his many slaves carried on general farming. He was active in public affairs, contributing his full share toward public improvements, and among other things established the Hampton Ferry. He died at the age of sixty-five years. Thomas Hampton married Sarah Mock. She was born, in 1758, in Midway Township, in what is now Davidson County, where her parents, Samuel and Sarah (Clinard) Mock, were pioneer settlers. Margaret Hampton Thomas died in 1893, leaving one dangh- ter, Margaret, wife of George A. Thompson, of Thomasville. The Doctor married for his second wife Sarah Hampton, a sister of his first wife. She died in 1911, leaving one son, Charles R. Thomas, a druggist in Thomasville. Fraternally Doctor Thomas was a prominent member of Thomasville Lodge No. 214, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Order of Masons, which he served for thirty years as worshipful master.
FRANK O'KELLY MORING. From the pinnacle of his more than three score and ten years Frank O'Kelly Moring can survey a career which has involved not only private business success but also that service and influence which mean most to a community or state.
He was a boy soldier in the Confederate army, and since then for half a century has been one of Raleigh's leading business men.
He was born at Moringsville, a community named in honor of his family, who were prominent planters and merchants in that vicinity, on De- cember 1, 1845, a son of Alfred and Elizabeth (O'Kelly) Moring. He was educated in private schools and in a preparatory school, but the ont-
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break of the war interfered with his studies, and in 1863, then a boy of eighteen, he went into the Confederate Army as a private in Company I, of the Sixth North Carolina Infantry. From that time until the close of hostilities he bore arms in defense of the South and did every duty well to which he was called.
Following the war he took up farming but in 1866 came to Raleigh where he engaged in the wholesale grocery and cotton business. In 1891 he entered the Cotton Milling industry, establish- ing the Caraleigh Cotton Mills, of which he is still a director. He is also a director of the Raleigh Banking and Trust Company, and of the Caraleigh Phosphate and Fertilizer Company, and its subsidiary companies located in Wilson, North Carolina, and Norfolk, Virginia.
Mr. Moring served as alderman of Raleigh when the important improvements and changes were made in the city waterworks system and in the paving of the streets. He is a deacon of the Christian Church of which his maternal grand- father the Rev. James O'Kelly was founder.
In 1876 Mr. Moring married Pattie Aline Up- church of Raleigh and of this union there are five children : Mrs. C. B. Williams, Mrs. W. D. Briggs, Mrs. Robert S. Page of Raleigh, Mrs. Ross Mac- Kinnon of Toronto, Canada, and Mrs. Horace Daniel of Norfolk, Virginia.
JAMES W. TANKERSLEY, M. D., F. A. C. S. Talent, inclination, physical and mental equipment, all combined to point the way of Doctor Tanker- sley to specialization and unusual success in the field of surgery. With twelve years of active prac- tice behind him, he is today recognized as one of the state's leading younger surgeons.
He was born at Lynchburg, Campbell County, Virginia, in 1882, son of A. and Margaret (Bahan) Tankersley, the latter deceased and the former a wholesale merchant at Taylorsville, North Carolina. Doctor Tankersley was only a child when his par- ents moved to North Carolina. The Tankersley family is of pure English origin, and originally lived in the town of that name in England. Their home for several generations was in Bedford and adjacent counties in Virginia.
Doctor Tankersley spent his early life in Char- lotte and Salisbury and attended school in both cities. For two years he was a student in the University of North Carolina, a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity and y. N. E., and from that entered the Jefferson Medical College at Phila- delphia, where he graduated Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1906. As a student in medical school he took more interest in surgery than in any other branch of the profession, and it was in that work that his attainments gained him the special commendation of his instructors. Even before be- ginning actual practice he had formed the resolute purpose to become a good surgeon. After graduat- ing he located at Greensboro, North Carolina, where for a year he was interne in St. Leo's Hos- pital. He then engaged in private practice asso- ciated with Dr. J. A. Williams, widely known as one of North Carolina's leading surgeons, and also with Dr. J. W. Long, another prominent surgeon. With those older men he carefully laid the founda- tion of practical experience, and achieved an envi- able success in Greensboro.
Doctor Tankersley moved to Wilmington in Jan- uary, 1917, to take charge of Harper's Sanitarium at the corner of Front and Castle streets. This sanitarium had not been in operation for over a year and a half, but under Doctor Tankersley 's
supervision it was thoroughly overhauled, re- equipped and modernized and is now known as the Tankersley-Harper Sanitarium. With its staff of competent nurses and with a training school for nurses, Doctor Tankersley has here an ideal place for handling his surgical subjects. His practice is now limited entirely to surgery and consultation, although the hospital is open to the medical pro- fession for general medical cases of other physi- cians.
Doctor Tankersley is a member of the County, State and Southern Medical societies and the American Medical Association and was recently elected a fellow of the American College of Sur- geons. He is also a member of the Medical Corps of the National Guard of North Carolina, holding the rank of captain. When the guard was called to the colors in 1916 he responded and was camp surgeon at Camp Glenn. He accompanied Com- pany A of the Engineers to El Paso, Texas, and re- mained there until the division base hospital was established.
Doctor Tankersley married in 1911 Miss Bonnie Bishop, of Greensboro, but a native, like her hus- band, of Virginia. They have one son, Edward William Tankersley.
MARTIN LUTHER EDWARDS. Rutherford County hardly knows a better lawyer, one more hard working, diligent and careful in handling the interests of his clients, and one who has realized to a greater degree the opportunities and privi- leges of his profession, than Martin Luther Ed- wards of Rutherfordton.
Mr. Edwards was born in Rutherford County June 2, 1877, son of Thomas Pinckney and Pris- cilla Elizabeth (Koon) Edwards. His father is a very scholarly man, for thirty-five years taught school in McDowell and Rutherford counties, but is now rounding out his career in the quiet of agricultural pursuits. The son was well edu- cated, first in the public schools, graduated A. B. in 1899 from Rutherford College, and the suc- ceeding three years he spent as a teacher in his native county. With this knowledge and experi- ence he entered the law department of the Uni- versity of North Carolina, where he pursued his studies 21% years until February, 1902. Quali- fied and admitted to the bar, he at once took up the work of his profession at Rutherfordton, and in a few brief years had all the practice that he could well look after. Mr. Edwards is a di- rector of the Citizens Building and Loan Asso- ciation, is attorney for the Bank of Old Fort, for the People's Bank of Union Mills, for the Bank of Ellenboro and is local attorney for the South- ern Railway.
His name is also well known in public affairs. He served as city attorney six years and was mayor of Rutherfordton four years until he re- signed. He is chairman of the local Red Cross organization and is active as attorney for the exemption board. Mr. Edwards is a trustee of the Round Hill Academy in Rutherford County, has been elected a deacon of the First Baptist Church, and fraternally is affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both of the lodge and encampment, and is a member of the Eastern Star, the Improved Order of Red Men, Woodmen of the World and Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
December 27, 1905, he married Georgia Evelina Jones, of Cleveland County, North Carolina, daugh- ter of William D. and Mary (Magness) Jones.
J.W. Jankindly, M. D. F. a. C. S.
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Her father was a farmer and millwright. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have four sons, Thomas Jones, Robert Hicks, William de Walt and Forest Mag- ness.
HON. ZEB VANCE WALSER. One of the most talented and cultured members of the North Caro- lina bar, Hon. Zeb Vance Walser, of Lexington, has brought to the practice of his profession a zeal, a well trained mind, and the habits of in- dustry that invariably command success, and in the prosecution of his chosen calling he has gained unmistakable prestige. A native of Davidson County, North Carolina, he was born, June 17, 1863, in Yadkin College Township, which was like- wise the birthplace of his father, Burgess Gaither Walser, and of his grandfather, Henry Walser.
Henry Walser was a citizen of much prominence and influence, and took an active part in the ad- ministration of public affairs. For forty years he served in the State Legislature, representing Davidson County in the lower house a part of the time, and a part of the time begin a member of the State Senate. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Warner, was a life-long resident of Yadkin College Township, where her death oc- curred at the age of seventy-five years, and her husband's at the age of seventy-six years. They reared a family consisting of several daughters, and the three sons, Burgess Gaither, Henry Clay, and Frederick Taylor.
Burgess Gaither Walser was educated at old Trinity College, but instead of entering upon a professional career he chose the pleasant and peace- ful pursuit of agriculture. During the Civil war he served as a soldier in the Confederate army. He subsequently superintended the care of his farm, occupying it until his death, at the age of three score and ten years. In his earlier life he was a whig, but after the formation of the republican party was one of its ardent supporters. He married Frances E. Byerly, who was born in Davidson County, this state, a daughter of Francis Byerly, and granddaughter of Peter Byerly. She, too, died when seventy years of age. Three sons were born to them, as follows: Zeb Vance, Joseph G., and Zenobian I.
Having obtained his preliminary education in the public schools, Zeb Vance Walser entered Yadkin College, from which he was graduated in 1879, at the age of sixteen years, with the degree of A. B. In 1880 he entered the University of North Carolina, where he studied for four years, completing the literary course in 1884. Going then to Ann Arbor, Mr. Walser entered the law de- partment of the University of Michigan, and on July 1, 1886, was there graduated with the de- gree of LL. B., and directly after receiving his diploma was licensed to practice law in Michigan.
Returning home, Mr. Walser appeared before the Supreme Court of North Carolina for examination, and having produced his diploma from the Uni- versity of Michigan, and his license to practice law in that state, the judges immediately granted him a license without examination, an almost un- precedented proceeding, stating as a reason for their action that the diploma was signed by Judge Cooley, and the license to practice by both Judge Cooley and Judge Henry Wade Rogers, the latter named having since that date served as dean of the Yale Law School, and later having been ap- pointed judge of the Circuit Court of Appeals by President Wilson. Immediately locating in Lex- ington, Mr. Walser has since built up an extensive
and remunerative practice, at the present time, in 1917, being associated with his brother, Z. I. Walser.
A stanch republican in politics, Mr. Walser has long been active in party ranks, and soon after settling as an attorney in Lexington was the re- publican nominee for the State Legislature, and defeated by a very small number of votes. Again running for representative in 1888, he was elected by a large majority, and in the House was the choice of his party for the speakership, but was defeated by his democratic opponent, Hon. Au- gustus Leazer. In 1890 Mr. Walser was elected state senator, winning the race in one of the hardest-fought contests in his senatorial district. In 1892 he was Harrison elector for the state, and two years later was elected to the House of Rep- resentatives by a majority of upwards of 700 votes, and at this time was the winning candidate for speaker of the House, a position that he filled most efficiently and acceptably, being popular with both parties, and at the close of the session being pre- sented by the members of the House, all of whom appreciated his impartiality as presiding officer, with a gold watch. For fourteen years he was a member of the State Republican Executive Com- mittee, and was chairman of the County Executive Committee of Davidson County for nearly as long a time. In 1912 Mr. Walser was chairman of the State Convention, and was a delegate to the Re- publican National Convention that met that year in Chicago. He was an ardent supporter of Roose- velt, and led the North Carolina delegation when it left the convention.
Mr. Walser married, January 31, 1894, Frances Estelle Adderton. She was born in Lexington, a daughter of R. Stokes and Martha (Wilson) Ad- derton. Mr. and Mrs. Walser are the parents of five children, namely: Patty A., Zeb Vance, Jr .; Donald A., Frances Harcourt, and Richard Gaither. Religiously Mr. Walser and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally Mr. Walser is a member of Lexington Lodge No. 473, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
RONALD BONAR CROWDER. Whether as a mer- chant, officer in various business organizations, banker, private citizens, the activities of Ronald Bonar Crowder have for many years been a source of enterprise and uplift in his home city of Hen- derson, where he is rightly esteemed one of the foremost men.
Mr. Crowder was born in Warren County, North Carolina, March 23, 1879, a son of Stephen Leon- ard and Mamie (Gilliland) Crowder. His father was an accountant and at one time a state bank examiner. The son was educated in public schools, attending the Graham High School, and began his career well down the scale of industrial import- ance. He learned telegraphy and spent four years as an operator with the Sea Board Air Line. After that for eight years he was a cotton buyer, and from that became manager of the Savings Department of the Citizens Bank of Henderson. He was in the bank two years and through his experience and with several influential associates he organized in 1912 the Farmers and Merchants Bank, which started with a capital of $15,000. In January, 1917, the capitalization was raised to $100,000, and it now has $18,000 of surplus.
Mr. Crowder is also treasurer of the Home Builders Manufacturing Company and is a director in a number of corporations. He is secretary of the Sarah Elizabeth Hospital and treasurer of
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the Golden Belt Fair Association, is treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce and active in every move in his home town and county. He is super- intendent of the Sunday School of the Episcopal Church of Holy Innocents. For four years he served as an alderman of Henderson. Fraternally Mr. Crowder is a Knight Templar Mason, a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias.
On December 26, 1906, he married Miss Ethel Dorsey, daughter of Melville and Nannie (Cooper) Dorsey of Henderson. They have two children, Ethel Seabrook and Nannie Alice.
CAPT. EDGAR DICKISON WILLIAMS, one of the best known and universally esteemed vessel-men connected with the history of the North Carolina coast, and since 1893 harbormaster at Wilmington, has followed the sea for more than a half a cen- tury. Coming of a seafaring family, he was ap- prenticed to the vocation when he was but twelve years of age, and during the long period of his service has acted in many capacities, in all of which he has discharged his duties with the utmost fidel- ity, at all times giving of the best of himself in behalf of the interests which he has represented. His career is one worthy of emulation by the youths who are starting life in any occupation.
Captain Williams was born February 3, 1849, at Southport, North Carolina, a son of Capt. Edgar and Susan Osgood (Potter) Williams. His father was a master of vessels in the coastwise trade, and with but six months of attendance at school young Edgar was apprenticed to the sea when only twelve. By 1863 he had so far advanced that he was given his master's papers, and from that time to the present he has continued to be in and out of Southport Harbor. During a large part of his service Captain Williams was a master of tow boats, but in 1893 was given the appoint- ment as harbormaster, a position which he has held to the present time. He is also surveyor for American shipping, the duties of which office in- clude the carrying out of measures for ascertaining the quantity, condition and value of merchandise brought into the port. He was also the organizer of the Diamond Steamboat and Wrecking Com- pany, of which he is president, a concern which has grown and developed to large proportions under his capable and experienced direction. He belongs to the Masters Association, the Mates and Pilots Association and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Politically, he is a democrat. Captain Wil- liams' character is oue admirably adapted to his choseu pursuit. Of uncompromising honesty and fearless courage, he is a rigid disciplinarian, yet his sympathies are broad. During the long period of his experience he has frequently had to encounter men whose inflamed passions impelled them to deeds of violence to enforce the demands of those who denied others the right to fix their own valua- tion upon their own labor. To such malcontents he has always shown a firm front. Those who have been willing to work he has always been ready to protect, and the turbulent spirit of their perse- cutors has been awed and controlled by his simple word, backed by the expression of a purpose which the disorderly element has known would be carried out to the letter.
On March 25, 1875, Captain Williams was mar- ried to Miss Ida Jane Fleet, of Wilmington, and three children were born to this union: James Sprunt, who is manager of the Diamond Steamboat
and Wrecking Company; Bessie Elene, who is the wife of Harry S. McGirt; and Edgar Fleet, a mem- ber and ensign of the United States Navy in charge of a division of submarine chasers stationed at New London, Connecticut.
Harry Stedman McGirt, secretary and treasurer of the Diamond Steamboat and Wrecking Company of Wilmington, was born in this city January 18, 1879, and is a son of Archibald G. and Mary E. (Buford) McGirt. He received his education in the public schools, and his first employment was with a hardware concern, where he was retained in the capacity of clerk. In 1910 he became con- nected with the Diamond Steamboat and Wrecking Company in his present positions. He is a Thirty-second degree and Shriner Mason, and be- longs also to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. In the Fifth Avenue Methodist Episco- pal Church he has been active in the various move- ments, being district steward, vice president of the board of stewards, a member of the finance com- mittee, and secretary of the Epworth League.
On October 24, 1906, he was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Elene Williams of Wilmington, daughter of Capt. Edgar D. Williams, and to this union there has been born one daughter, Elene Williams.
GEORGE HARRISS in 1916 was elected recorder of New Hanover County and re-elected in March, 1917, for two years. He has long been identified with civic and business life of Wilmington, and the enterprise with which he directed his private affairs was an excellent basis of judgment for the quality of his public service.
He was born at Wilmington June 26, 1863, a son of George Harriss. As a boy he attended the Cape Fear Academy, and soon left school to join his father in the shipping and brokerage busi- ness. In 1887, at the age of twenty-four, he was sent to Philadelphia to conduct a branch office of the company, and remained there until 1897. Returning to Wilmington he again became an active associate with his father, and is one of the older group of local business men.
In 1902 he was elected a member of the city council but soon resigned. In the same year he was elected a magistrate, justice of the peace, which office he retained, aud has filled the posi- tion for ten years. He was also United States commissioner. Mr. Harriss is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Masonic Lodge, including the Grotto of Master Masons, the Jun- ior Order of United American Mechanics, the Woodmen of the World, Cherokee Tribe of Red Men, and is a member of the Carolina Yacht Club.
June 26, 1888, he married Miss Eugenia Wil- liams, of Fayetteville, North Carolina. They have three children: James Williams, Eugenia, now Mrs. Howard Harlan, Jr., of Wilmington, and Andrew Jennings.
DERMOT SHEMWELL. When in 1909 Mr. Shem- well with associates organized the First National Bank of Lexington and was elected its head he had the distinction of being the youngest national bank president in the United States. He is still the executive head of the bank, and is a man of widespread business interests and one of the chief factors in the upbuilding and progress of his home city.
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8. 10. Williams
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Mr. Shemwell was born at Lexington, North Carolina, son of Baxter and Laura (Bernheim) Shemwell. He represents several of the prominent pioneer families of North Carolina. His great- grandfather William Shemwell was a pioneer in Jackson Hill Township of Davidson County. His paternal grandparents were Dr. Obediah M. and Sally (Thompson) Shemwell. Another great- grandfather, Hiram Thompson, was a pioneer in Tyro Township of Davidson County and with his son-in-law, O. M. Shemwell, established the foundry and machine shops at Tyro. Up to that time farm- ers had used the old Bull tongue in the plowing and breaking operations, and that foundry had . the distinction of making the first turning plow ever made and used in North Carolina. Mr. Der- mot Shemwell through his mother is a grandson of Charles H. Bernheim, who was born in Germany, and at the age of one year was brought to America by his parents. The great-grandfather Bernheim was a son of wealthy parents of the Catholic faith, the father being a physician and court physician to the emperor. Great-grandfather Bernheim be- came converted and joined the Lutheran Church and thus forfeited all claim to his father's estate, and for that reason came to America to start life anew.
Mr. Dermot Shemwell acquired his early educa- tion in Lexington and was a student in the Uni- versity of North Carolina. He left university at the age of nineteen to begin his business career as a traveling salesman and at the age of twenty-one he entered the real estate business. His work as a real estate man has brought him influential con- nections all over the South. It seems a field in which his talents have had full scope, and he was successful from the very start. Mr. Shemwell carried out the first suburban lot sale ever held at Lexington. In 1910 he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, J. E. Foy, under the firm name Foy & Shemwell. This is one of the largest real estate firms in North Carolina. They main- tain branch offices at Thomasville and Denton, North Carolina; at Chester, South Carolina; and at Eufaula and Dothan in Alabama. On their weekly payroll are sixty-seven employes. Besides their extensive real estate transactions the firm deals in automobiles, horses and mules, wagons and car- riages. They are extensive owners of city prop- erty and have upwards of 5,000 acres of farm lands. The firm also handles insurance represent- ing all the western half of the State of North Carolina.
At the age of twenty-one Mr. Shemwell mar- ried Miss Mary Foy, who was born at Eufaula, Alabama, daughter of James E. and Gertrude (Cochran) Foy. They have three children, Ger- trude, Mary and Dermot, Jr. Mr. Shemwell is a member of the board of stewards of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is captain of a Home Guard organization, enrolled in pursuance of a call from Governor Bickett in 1917. Mr. Shemwell is af- filiated with Lexington Lodge No. 473, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and with Lexington Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
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