USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 84
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Doctor Wright acquired his preparatory educa- tion in college under his mother in the noted school conducted by her at the old home at Coharie, and a number of successful men and women aside from
her own children are indebted to her for their early educational opportunities and influences.
Doctor Wright began his medical education in the University of North Carolina, where he spent two years, and from there entered the University College at Richmond, where he was graduated in 1899. His first work as a practitioner was done at Granite Falls in Caldwell County in Western North Carolina. He remained there seven years, and his work covered a wide field of territory around Granite Falls. His next location was at Lincolnton in Lincoln County, where he remained in practice for nine years. During the latter part of that period he began specializing in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, and .in Novem- ber, 1915, removed to Raleigh and became a mem- ber of the firm of Doctors Lewis, Battle & Wright, specialists. They are all men of general distinc- tion and of the highest rank in their profession.
The work of Doctor Wright serves to further distinguish a family of children, nine in num- ber, all of whom are noted for their intellectu- ality, scholarship and broad success in affairs. Beginning in 1906 Doctor Wright has never failed a single year to take post-graduate work, attend- ing schools, clinics and conferences in New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Much of his preparation for his specialty was made under the noted Dr. Chevalier Jackson, formerly of Pitts- burgh and now professor of laryngology at the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia. Doc- tor Jackson is the father of bronchoscopy and is America's most eminent authority on the bronchial tubes.
Doctor Wright married Miss Violet Rhodes of Gaston County, North Carolina. Their five chil- dren are named John Bryan, Jr., Margaret Eliza- beth, Violet, Bettie V. and James Rhodes Wright.
THOMAS JORDAN LATHAM. The life of Thomas Jordan Latham of Washington has been dis- tinguished by long years, by service as a Confed- erate soldier, by the ability with which he reha- bilitated his fortunes after the war, and by his success in banking.
He was born at Pantego, Beaufort County, North Carolina, a son of Thomas Jordan and Nancy (Cordon) Latham. His original Ameri- can ancestor sailed from Port Latham, Scotland, in 1717. His sons were named Phineas, James, Rotheas and John Latham. Of these James lived in Pitt County, North Carolina, and was a men- ber of the Committee of Safety during the Revo- lution. Rotheas Latham, another son of the orig- inal immigrant, was delegate to Congress in 1774- 76, and in 1780-81 was colonel of the Hyde County Troops. His death occurred in 1784. His wife was Mrs. Sarah Martin, daughter of John Jor- dan. She died in 1794 and both are buried at Woodstock in Beaufort County, North Carolina. The Lathams during their residence in Scotland had a coat of arms, the motto on one of these being "Expertus Fidem Secunda, alite." An- other motto on a different coat of arms belong- ing to the family is "Sans Changer."
Daniel Latham, Sr., a son of the Rotheus above mentioned, had sons Thomas J. Latham, Sr., and Daniel Latham. Thomas J. Latham Sr., was the father of Thomas J. of this article and was born in 1797 and died in 1862. He married February 4, 1821, Nancy Cordon, who was born in 1803 and died in 1837. Thomas J. Latham, Sr., was well educated and was a minister of the Disci- ples Church, preaching to several country churches,
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but also owned a farm and a number of slaves, a white man overseer looking after his land and chattels. He was a justice of the peace and for several years a member of the board of justices who held county courts. He was also examiner of public schools in his district and for several years taught a school for young men at his resi- dence. This school was quite a noted institution for some years and was attended by young men from different sections of the county. One of his characteristics was a somewhat excessive gener- osity and willingness to endorse other men's pa- per and he finally had to sell his property or most of it except his farm to pay these security obliga- tions. After that he conducted his farm by him- self, assisted by hired laborers and his sons. He finally removed to Washington, the county seat, about 1850 and was engaged in tax listing and other county work. He was also postmaster at Washington, and at Pantego had filled similar office for many years. His wife, who died when Thomas J., Jr., was less than two years of age, was a highly educated lady and a devout Chris- tian.
Thomas Jordan Latham never had the privi- lege of a college education. He attended the public schools of his native county and also the school conducted by his father and his ambition for an education led him to continue study after a day's hard work on a farm. When sixteen years of age he qualified and taught his first term of district school. When about seventeen he be- came clerk and bookkeeper in a local store and during his eighteenth year he was elected clerk and bookkeeper of the old Bank of Washing- ton. In those duties the outbreak of the war found him engaged.
When war was declared between the states in 1861 Mr. Latham enlisted in the first company from Beaufort County, known as the Washing- ton Grays, commanded by Capt. Thomas Spar- row, who was afterwards made a major. After daily drill and practice for several weeks the Company on May 20, 1861, left Washington and went into camp at Portsmouth on the North Carolina coast. There they continued regular training, and on August 29, 1861, took part in the battle of Fort Hatteras at Hatteras Inlet on the North Carolina coast. This fort was bom- barded for over six hours by a fleet of Federal warships. The fort was of sand construction covered with turf, and its guns were greatly in- ferior in range to those of the bombarding fleet. As a result of long continued fire and great de- struction caused by the constant bursting of the shells, the fort and its garrison finally sur- rendered. Mr. Latham and his comrades were carried by the warship Minnesota to Fort Column- bus in New York Harbor, and he was put in pris- on in Castle Williams for about two months, and then transferred to Fort Warren in Boston Har- bor. He was there nearly two months, at the end of which time the married and sick were paroled. Mr. Latham was sent home and after being examined by the army board of physicians was released from service on account of bad health engendered by prison life and advised not to enter the army again. However, Mr. Latham refused this advice and became identified with the quartermaster's department at Greensboro, North Carolina, as bonded agent with the rank of captain and continued in that way to serve the Confederacy until the end of the war.
During the war his home Town of Washington
had been almost totally destroyed as a result of fire and pillage by the Federal troops, and there being no business opportunity in that quarter he accepted the cashiership of a banking and com- mission house at Newbern, North Carolina. Mr. Latham was a resident of Newbern for about fifteen years and left there to become bookkeeper and cashier of a large cotton commission house at Norfolk, Virginia. While at Newbern and while cashier of the bank he was also treasurer of Craven County for a term of two years. He also had a commission as notary public for a number of years. In 1892 Mr. Latham was elected cashier of the New Bank of Washington, which was then being organized, and he removed from Norfolk to his old home community and was actively identi- fied with the bank for about twenty-three years. Thus most of his active business experience has been as banker and covers a period of over half a century.
. In politics Mr. Latham is a democrat and never voted any other ticket. At the age of twenty-one he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Washington, and during the war was a member of the Lodge at Greensboro, North Carolina. He then became affiliated with the lodge at Newbern. He filled all the elective offices in the subordinate lodge and was grand marshal of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina one term during his residence at Newbern, and also grand senior warden at the same time of the Grand Encamp- ment of Odd Fellowship. For several years he was a district deputy grand master for Craven and several contiguous counties. Mr. Latham is a member of the Washington Chamber of Com- merce. When about thirteen years of age he be- came identified with the Disciple Church by bap- tism and while living in Newbern was a member of the Middle Street First Baptist Church and on removing to Norfolk put his membership with the Freemason Street Baptist Church. Among his pastors while in that city were Rev. Dr. Thomas, Rev. Dr. Lansing Burrows, and Rev. Dr. Wharton. On returning to Washington in 1892 Mr. Latham united with the First Baptist Church. Soon after that the old church on Market Street was re- modeled and greatly improved in appearance and comfort both inside and out. The church had been removed to Market Street about 1835 from its former location on Bonner Street.
At Chapel Hill, North Carolina, January 31, 1865, Mr. Latham married Kathleen Cawthorn Stevenson. Her father, James Chapman Steven- son, was a merchant, distiller of turpentine and rosin and owner of a number of sailing vessels running to the West Indies. He was one of the leading citizens of Newbern, a prominent mem- ber, deacon and layman in the First Baptist Church, and a useful citizen and Christian gentle- man. He reared a large family of children, his daughters being noted for their general intel- ligence and musical ability. His sons became eminent as lawyers and in business and some of his grandchildren are equally noted. One of these is Hannis Taylor, former minister to Spain in Cleveland 's administration, and now one of the leading lawyers and publicists, of Washington D. C., being author of several valuable law books. His brother Richard V. Taylor is president and manager of the Moble and Ohio Railway, and lives at Mobile.
Mr. Latham is the father of four children: Thomas Jordan Latham, Jr., Elizabeth Stevenson Latham, James Cawthorn Latham and Hannis
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Taylor Latham. Thomas J., Jr., married in 1894 Marian Rebecca Schmoele, of Philadelphia. Eliza- beth S. was married in 1900 to Rev. Andrew L. Betts, a Baptist minister who died in 1912. James C. Latham married in 1899 Annie M. Blanchard. Hannis T. Latham married in 1907 Susan Lorena Harding.
ANTHONY LUTHER PAYNE has been one of the leading business men of Rural Hall in Forsyth County for many years. He now conducts a large general store, and is also vice president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Rural Hall. He was formerly a member of the firm of J. L. Mateer Company, manufacturers of veneer, and is now connected with the Pamlico Veneer & Lumber Company of Pamlico, South Carolina.
Mr. Payne was born on a plantation in old Richmond Township of Forsyth County, June 22, 1869. His people have lived in this section of North Carolina for several generations. His grandfather, Robert Payne, was probably born in Stokes County, and spent his life as a planter, owning a large place in Stokes County. The father, Washington Payne, was born at Sandy Ridge in Stokes County, grew up on a farm, inherited land from his father and bought other tracts, and until the war, operated this plantation with the aid of his slaves. He continued to live on the farm until his death at the age of sixty- six. Washington Payne married Elizabeth Bitting, who was born at Rural Hall in Forsyth County. There were only two sons, and the older, Lucas Alexander, died when twenty-one years of age.
Anthony L. Payne was about fifteen years of age when his father died. This threw upon him at that tender age unusual responsibilities, and for the next two years he had the management of the home farm with only such aid as his mother could give him. He then removed with his mother to the Village of Rural Hall. In the meantime he had attended the local schools near his old home, and from Rural Hall he entered the high school at Germanton. Since completing his education he has been actively identified with business affairs at Rural Hall. For two years he was in partner- ship with Robert and J. A. Wolf in a general store at Rural Hall, but then sold out. In 1899 he formed a partnership with J. C. Lawrence, under the name Lawrence & Payne. Besides their stock of general merchandise they engaged in the manufacture of tobacco flues. Some years ago Mr. Payne bought the interest of Mr. Lawrence and has since been sole proprietor of the business.
At the age of twenty-two he married Miss Ida Jane Godberry, a native of Yadkin County, North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Payne have five children, Ruth Marie, Ancus L., Aubrey C., Milton and Cameron, while one son, Herman A., died at the age of twelve years. The daughter Ruth is a graduate of the Salem Academy College and is now the wife of Charles R. Helsabeck. They have one son, Charles R., Jr. Ancus L. completed part of his higher education in the University of North Carolina and is now a student in the Virginia Medical College at Richmond. Aubrey has also had the advantages of the University of North Carolina, and is now associated with his father in the store at Rural Hall.
Mr. and Mrs. Payne are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is superintendent of its Sunday school. He is affiliated with Bethania Lodge No. 86, Knights of
Pythias, with Rural Hall Council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and in mat- ters of local interest he has been especially active in the advancement and improvement of the schools. He has served as chairman of the school board, and was a leader in the movement to levy a tax to support a high school at Rural Hall.
H. VAL BADGETT. Conspicuous among the ris- ing young business men of Davidson County is Harris Valentine Badgett, familiarly known in business and social circles as "Val Badgett," who is living in Newsom, where he has built up a large and profitable trade as a dealer in lumber and ties. A son of James Madison Badgett, he was born, September 28, 1887, in Jackson Hill Town- ship, Davidson County, coming on the paternal side of French ancestry, his great-grandfather, James Badgett, a native of Granville County, this state, having been, it is supposed, of French parentage.
James Madison Badgett, a son of William Har- ris and Elizabeth (Cameron) Badgett, was born in Jackson Hill Township, Davidson County, April 30, 1851, and was reared on a farm. On attaining his majority he received as a present from his father a horse, saddle and bridle. He soon dis- posed of those, and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Jackson Hill, where for a time he was asso- ciated with Stokes Adderton as junior member of the firm of Adderton & Badgett. Finding the business quite profitable, he there continued as a merchant until his death, in 1896, when but forty- four years old.
James Madison Badgett married Cora Mauney, a native of Stanley County, North Carolina. Her father, Hon. Valentine Mauney, who carried on farming in Stanley County with the help of slaves, owned at one time, with his brother Ephraim, the mine at "Gold Hill." He was influential in pub- lic affairs, representing his county in the State Legislature, and for many years serving as a mem- ber of the official board of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South. Mr. Mauney married Wini- fred Davis, who was born in Anson County, North Carolina, being a daughter of James and Rowena (Lee) Davis, and a descendant of the Lee family, so long prominent in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Mauney reared seven children, namely: John W., Virginia, Cora M., James M., Minnie, C. Junius, and David B. After the death of her first hus- band, Mrs. Cora (Mauney) Badgett married again, and is now living at Riverview, an estate over- looking the Yadkin River Valley, near Newsom.
H. Val Badgett obtained his rudimentary educa- tion in the rural schools, later attending the Oak Ridge Institute. At the age of sixteen years he began the battle of life for himself as clerk in a hotel at Concord. Going from there to Cooleemee, Davie County, he clerked in a general store for a few months, and on his return to Davidson County worked on a farm until twenty-one years of age. Locating then at Jackson Hill, Mr. Badgett was there actively engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1911, when he transferred his residence and busi- ness to Newsom. Selling out his store and stock in 1916, he embarked in the lumber and tie busi- ness, with which he has been actively and pros- perously identified ever since, having built up a fine trade in this and neighboring localities. Far- sighted and enterprising, Mr. Badgett, in July, 1916, put on Lake Baden a boat for transportation and passenger service, and its patronage has far exceeded his expectations, forming as it does con-
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venient communication between Newsom and near- by places.
Mr. Badgett married, in Juue, 1909, Miss Car- rie Smith. She was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, a daughter of J. Sidney and Cornelia (Forrest) Smith. Her father, an ex-sheriff of Albemarle County, is now successfully engaged in mercantile business, being a dealer in cotton seed and ties. Mr. and Mrs. Badgett have two chil- dren, James Madison and Mary Rose. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Badgett are identified by member- ship with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Politically Mr. Badgett cast his first presidential vote for William J. Bryan, and has since been an ardent adherent of the democratic party. Fra- ternally he belongs to Farmers Lodge No. 404, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons.
FURMAN N. BRIDGERS. A man whose wide and important business interests make him a potent factor in North Carolina's commercial affairs is Furman N. Bridgers, who is secretary, treasurer and manager of that large corporation, the Far- mers Cotton Oil Company, and officially connected with numerous other successful enterprises.
Furman N. Bridgers was born in Wake County, North Carolina, May 20, 1878. His parents are James Paschal and Barbara (Rowland) Bridgers. His father is a substantial citizen of Wake County and is engaged in farming.
In the local schools and then in the high school and Buies Creek Academy Furman N. Bridgers acquired a sound education along both literary and business lines, and after completing his course was for a time an assistant teacher in a business college. In May, 1899, he engaged with a sawmill company at McCullers, Wake County, North Caro- lina, first as bookkeeper, and later for about eigh- teen months was bookkeeper for a building and contracting company. From 1904 to 1905 he was a manager of the commissary department and bookkeeper for the Caraleigh Phosphate Fertilizer Works at Raleigh, North Carolina, and was elected secretary of that company as his business acumen became known. In the latter year business changes came about and through purchase and merging Mr. Bridgers became one of the active officials and since then has served in the combined offices of manager, secretary and treasurer of the Far- mers Cotton Oil Company. Mr. Bridgers is also president of the Lillington Oil Company, and in 1916 became vice president of the Caraleigh Phos- phate & Fertilizer Works. Additionally he is vice president of the Morris Plan Bank and is a director of the Branch Banking Company and a member of its finance committee. He has been a vitalizing force in the Wilson Chamber of Com- merce, of which he is an ex-president, and is vice president of the Atlantic Building & Loan Asso- ciation. Also may be mentioned the fact that he is a member of the executive committee of the North Carolina Cotton Seed Crushers' Association, of which he is an ex-president, and a member of the executive committee of the Inter State Cotton Seed Crushers' Association. These varied and important interests make Mr. Bridgers a very busy man, but he has systematized his work, and as his vision is keen and his business judgment dependable he bears the strain well.
Mr. Bridgers was married April 21, 1905, to Miss Sue Fleming, who was born at Vaughn, North Carolina, and is a daughter of Thomas B. Fleming. Mr. and Mrs. Bridgers have five chil-
dren, namely: Furman Andersou, Thomas Flem- ing, Margaret Chamberlain, William Ashley and Everett Rowland. Mr. Bridgers and family be- long to the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he is a steward. Mr. Bridgers is able to give his children many advantages both social and educational and they are growing into representative real Americans.
Mr. Bridgers has long been prominent in Ma- sonry and at present is eminent commander of his commandery and is a Shriner and Ceremonial Master of Sudan Temple at Newbern, North Carolina. He is a member of the Wilson Coun- try Club and is influential in many circles.
JOSEPH BUNN RAMSEY. The increasing incli- nation of men learned in the science of law to engage in occupations outside of their immediate sphere of activity is, resulting in numerous ad- vantages. This is the natural result of a knowl- edge of a learned profession which equips its devotees for success in more lines of business than any other wage-earning medium, causing it to be justly regarded as a means, rather than au end, and as an adjunct rather than an entirety. The result is necessarily an elevation of com- mercial and financial standards, an avoidance of complications, and a general simplifying of con- ditions through a knowledge of underlying prin- ciples and penalties. Au illustration of this modern phase of law is found in the person of Joseph Bunn Ramsey, who has had a successful career as an attorney and who has been equally successful in business and financial ventures, be- ing at this time president of the First National Bank of Rocky Mount and of the Standard In- surance and Realty Corporation.
Joseph Bunn Ramsey was born at Rocky Mount, Nash County, North Carolina, June 24, 1882, a son of Fletcher Yearel and Lucy (Bunn) Ram- sey. His father is vice president of the James W. Ramsey Company, of Baltimore, Maryland, which he represents in the field as a traveling salesman, and is a well known business man in Maryland and North Carolina. After attending the University School at Rocky Mount, Joseph B. Ramsey entered the University of North Carolina, where he completed his academic course with the class of 1903, and in 1904 received his law de- gree. Returning to Rocky Mount at that time, he at once engaged in the practice of his pro- fession, in the ranks of which he has attained to an honored place. He has attracted to him- self, through his fine talents, energy and fidelity, a large and appreciative clientele, and his prac- tice, general in its nature, takes him into all the courts. He has quite a corporation practice, and is attorney for the New Home Building and Loan Association. He has also numerous business con- nections, and is a director of the wholesale house of Alcocke-Henry Company, Inc. When he first settled permanently at Rocky Mount it was Mr. Ramsey's intention to devote himself unreservedly to his profession but his interests in other direc- tions became so important that he was gradually drawn away to some extent and finally, recog- nizing his opportunities, gave his talents full sway in the matter of forming business connec- tions. In this way he became identified with the First National Bank of Rocky Mount, a sound and stable financial institution, with a capital of $50,000, surplus of $50,000, and deposits of $900,000, of. which he is now president. The high esteem in which he is held in banking circles
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is shown by the fact that he is serving as vice president of the North Carolina Bankers' Asso- ciation. He belongs to the American Bar AS- sociation, the North Carolina Bar Association and to the Wilson Country Club, is past chancellor of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and holds membership in the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. A democrat in his political views, Mr. Ramsey has been the incumbent of several important civic offices, having been city recorder for a term or two, alderman for two years, and mayor for three years. In each of these positions he served with credit to himself and with honor to the community.
On June 1, 1911, Mr. Ramsey was united in marriage with Miss Ella Wiggins McCraw, of Wilson, North Carolina, daughter of James P. and Nannie (Young) McCraw, the former of whom is a successful merchant. To this union there has come one son, Joseph Bunn, Jr., who was born January 26, 1917. The Ramsey home is at Rocky Mount, and all of Mr. Ramsey's in- . terests are here. He has 700 acres in farming lands and when it is possible for him to lay aside his duties in the city for a time he goes into the country and engages for brief spells in super- intending the work done by tenants on these properties.
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