USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 94
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
Like his forefathers, Mr. Brown is a Methodist, and is a member of the Edenton Street Church." He takes an active part in the work of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants' Associa- tion and the Rotary Club, and is a member of the Capitol Club, the Country Club, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Odd Fel- lows. He is likewise an enthusiastic fisherman and likes nothing better than to get away from the
cares of business and spend a vacation beside the waters of lake or stream, seldom returning from these excursions without a good catch as evidence of his skill with rod and fly. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, he has proved by his untiring zeal in every pro- gressive step made by the city in many years, that there is no more enthusiastic citizen nor one who has the interest of Raleigh closer at heart than has he.
Mr. Brown has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Lena Wynne, of Raleigh, who died in 1913, leaving one daughter: Isabelle. Later Mr. Brown married Miss Flo Broome, of Waxhaw, North Carolina.
ROBERT G. CAMPBELL. As North Carolina leads all other states in number of cotton mills, it is one of the distinctive services that a publication of this character renders to search out and tell the careers of some of the big cotton mill operators of the present and past. From the standpoint of technical and administrative skill and ability one of the greatest is undoubtedly Robert G. Campbell, whose present associations are with Hope Mills in Cumberland County.
Apart from his big achievements the story of his life has interest and inspiration for those who must overcome the many minor difficulties and obstacles which too often stand in the way of any success whatever. He was born in Robeson County, North Carolina, in 1866, a son of Robert Harley and Jane (Hodges) Campbell. His mother is still living and has been able to take great pride in the accomplishments of her son, who when her hus- band died in 1876 was the mainstay and support of the little family. Robert H. Campbell was a native of Scotland, came to North Carolina in the '40s, before the war was in business at Fayette- ville, in Cumberland County, and finally moved to Robeson County. During the war he served in the Confederate Army.
Robert G. Campbell can scarcely recognize any of his early associations apart from the environ- ment of a cotton mill. He was only nine years old when in 1875 he obtained his first position as a floor sweeper in the old Pee Dee Mill at Rock- ingham in Richmond County. His employment at that time was not a necessity but it proved for- tunate in giving him some experience before the death of his father, which occurred a year later, as a result of which his mother and several sisters had to look to him to supply most of the means of existence. From that time forward he worked in- dustriously and continuously in cotton mills. Con- sequently there were few and brief opportunities to attend school. But when he was in school he was there for a purpose, and he mastered rapidly and thoroughly the fundamentals, and these with long continuous association with successful men have brought him a well rounded education. Some of his early employment was in the old Woodlawn Mill near Lowell in Gaston County, and later he went to work in the Gray mills at Gastonia. It was as a cotton mill operative under the late George A. Gray that he acquired his real ap- prenticeship. George A. Gray had likewise spent his life as a poor boy, and by his remarkable re- sults in the spinning industry had achieved a great fortune. Mr. Gray took a special liking for young Campbell, his attention being attracted to his earnestness, industry and ambition, and ac- cordingly he gave him every opportunity to make
Kimphill
351
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
use of his talents and rise on his merits. Mr. Campbell was associated closely with Mr. Gray for fourteen years, and under him became a mill super- intendent and mill manager.
One of the well known names in North Carolina mercantile affairs was that of the late Caesar Cone of Greensboro. Mr. Cone and his brothers had become immensely wealthy as merchants, and they finally determined to use some of their capital for cotton manufacturing, but to this industry they could supply only capital, having no knowl- edge of the technical side of the business. In the course of his inquiries Caesar Cone had brought to his attention the capacity and ability of Robert G. Campbell as a practical mill man. There fol- lowed an interview between the merchant and the mill operator at Greensboro, and the result was a proposition made to Mr. Campbell to superintend the building and installation of machinery and subsequently the management of a mill which Mr. Cone proposed to erect at Greensboro. This com- mission was assumed and executed by Mr. Camp- bell, and in 1896 he had in operation one of the biggest mills of the state, the Proximity Mill at Greensboro. Changes and additions were sub- sequently made, the capacity increased, and today it is one of the largest mills in the South. Later Mr. Campbell built the Revolution and the White Oak mills for Mr. Cone. As Mr. Cone's general manager of cotton mills he had complete charge of the industry for eighteen years. In cotton mill circles it is well understood that the unexampled success and profitableness of these mill properties, which added so much to the Cone fortunes, were primarily and principally due Mr. Campbell's ex- pert management. He had qualified himself for such responsibilities as a result of long and hard experience, and his thorough knowledge of cotton mill practice extends to every phase and detail from the first technical process to the marketing of the product. There is a sound reason at the basis of a claim frequently made that Robert G. Campbell is a cotton mill genius. Along with other work which he did at the Cone mill he built up a splendid welfare organization for the mill operatives.
After long years of hard and steady application to the business Mr. Campbell evinced a natural desire to retire and temporarily at least take up residence in the country. This lead to his pur- chase of a farm at Friendship in Guilford County, ten miles west of Greensboro, consisting of 420 acres. On this he has spent something over $100,000 above the purchase price, and the result is now one of the finest and most highly improved farms in the entire South. The farm is not merely a rich man's fancy but a practical proposition through- out. It is a splendid example and source of en- couragement to the surrounding agricultural com- munities. It is conducted on general farming lands, with a specialty of livestock. One of the best herds of registered Guernsey cattle in the state is found there, and there are many thor- oughbred Berkshire and Yorkshire hogs. The farm bears the attractive name of "Campbella." The residence is a handsome two-story structure, equipped with every modern convenience, includ- ing a gravity water supply from an artesian well of the purest water. Mr. Campbell has an expert chemist examine this water every year to insure its continued purity and wholesomeness.
While the charms and routine of country life still exercise a strong fascination upon him, Mr.
Campbell is once more in the hard work of his real profession, with headquarters at Hope Mills in Cumberland County. In March, 1916, he took charge of the Rockfish Mills, which had lain idle for several years and which had been purchased by a group of capitalists of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, headed by Mr. S. L. Arrington, who is president of the corporation. The Rockfish Mills at Hope Mills are four in number, one of which has been discontinued. Mr. Campbell began the habilitation and re-equipping of Mill No. 2, now being successfully and profitably operated. Un- der his direction the best and most modern ma- chinery was installed in that mill. It is operated by water power from the Big Rock Fish River. In 1917 Mr. Campbell began similar equipment and remodeling of Mill No. 4, which will probably be in operation early in 1918. There is every indica- tion that Mr. Campbell will repeat here the remark- able success he had with the Cone Mills at Greens- boro.
Mr. Campbell's first wife was Jane Hilliard, of Davidson County. She was the mother of two daughters, May and Mary. His present wife before her marriage was Miss Bertha Heritage, of Chatham County.
NORMAN OLLEN WARREN is one of the youngest men filling an important executive post in the banking circles of Greenville.
He was born in Edgecombe County, North Car- olina, September 28, 1890, a son of Ollen and Susie Elizabeth (Wilson) Warren. His father for a number of years has been engaged in the insurance and fertilizer business. Norman O. Warren had a public school education at Green- ville, and as a youth entered the Greenville Bank- ing & Trust Company in the capacity of messen- ger. This institution is the oldest and largest bank in the county, with resources of over $1,500,- 000. He rapidly familiarized himself with his duties and responsibilities and worked steadily upward in promotion until in January, 1916, he was made cashier of that institution, a post he fills today. Mr. Warren is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.
June 11, 1916, he married Miss Mary Flanagan Shelburne, of Greenville. Mr. Warren was chair- man of all three liberty loan committees of Pitt County, and at this time he is handling the Pitt County Liberty Loan quotas.
WILLIAM SAMUEL ALLRED from early boyhood has spent his years and energies in the cotton mills. His father was long prominent in the same industry, and William S. Allred has for many years been superintendent of the Alpine Woolen Mills in Surry County.
He was born at Buck Shoals in Yadkin County, North Carolina, October 29, 1863. His grand- father, John Allred, was a planter and so far as known spent his entire career in Randolph County. John Allred married Miss Shoon, and they had two sons, Stephen and Albert, and four daughters, Lovina, Martha, Sally and Otelia.
Albert Allred, father of William S., was born at Sandy Creek in Randolph County April 15, 1830. When only ten years of age he entered the cotton mills at Cedar Falls in Randolph County, and by a long and thorough apprenticeship learned every detail of the business. At the age of twenty-one he engaged as a machinist with R. R. Gwyn's mill at Elkin. In 1861 he removed to
352
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Buck Shoals and was connected with the mills of Gaither and Lawrence until 1863. He then be- came connected with the Turner Mill near States- ville in Iredell County, and in 1867 took the super- intendency of the Hamburg Mills. In 1869 he became connected with the firm of J. F. and W. A. Moore at Green Hill, and was with that firm until January 1, 1880. In the meantime he had built a woolen mill on Lovill's Creek a mile and a half above Mount Airy, and was active in its operation until it burned in 1895. After that Albert Allred lived retired until his death on January 6, 1904.
In 1852 he married Sally Gordon. She was born at Jonesville in Yadkin County in 1835, a daughter of William and Rebecca (Laffoon) Gordon. Wil- liam Gordon, a native of Virginia and of Scotch parentage, was a carpenter by trade and built many of the first frame houses in Surry County. From Jonesville he removed to a farm he had purchased near Dobson in Surry County, and there spent his last years.
William Samuel Allred was given the privilege of attending school regularly during his youth, but at the age of sixteen he left his books and studies and began work in cotton and woolen mills and learned all details of the business, from the handling of the raw material to the finishing processes. In 1880 his qualifications justified his appointment as superintendent of his father's mill near Mount Airy, and he was with that institution until it was burned in 1895. At that date he ac- cepted the superintendency of the Alpine Woolen Mills, which are located on Lovill's Creek about four miles from Mount Airy. Mr. Allred had found his duties in these mills sufficient to absorb all his time and energies and he has largely been responsible for the success and prosperity of the establishment.
Mr. Allred was first married in 1881, to Emma Sparger, who was born in Mount Airy Town- ship, member of a prominent old family of this section of North Carolina. Her parents were John H. and Matilda (Smith) Sparger, and her grand- parents were Murlin and Bethania (Cook) Spar- ger. Mrs. Allred passed away March 10, 1905. For his second wife Mr. Allred married Minnie Stimpson, a daughter of Rev. Hampton and Annie (Davis) Stimpson. By his first wife Mr. Allred had seven children: Albert, a soldier; Samuel, also a soldier; John, Mary, Inez, Joseph and Edward. There are seven children of the present union : Annie, Hampton, Katie, Charles, Mabel, Fred and Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Allred are active members of the Salem Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
PHILLIP HANES. A man of sterling worth and integrity, endowed with marked business ability and tact, the late Phillip Hanes, of Mocksville, was intimately associated with the development and promotion of the manufacturing interests of this section of the state as long as his health permitted, having as a tobacco manufacturer carried on a large and lucrative business, his plant having been located in Winston, Forsyth County. A son of Alexander and Jane (March) Hanes, he was born on a farm in Davie County, North Carolina, on May 1, 1852.
Although brought up on a farm, Phillip Hanes had no special liking for agriculture, and while yet a youth learned to manufacture tobacco. Be- coming familiar with that pursuit, he formed a copartnership with his brother, Benjamin F. Hanes,
and established a tobacco factory at Winston, Forsyth County, where he continued in active busi- ness for many years, meeting with eminent success as a manufacturer. Being obliged, on account of ill health, to retire from active pursuits, Mr. Hanes sold his interest in the factory, and returned to his pleasant home in Mocksville, where he con- tinued a resident until his death, in March, 1903.
Mr. Hanes married, December 7, 1875, Sallie Booe. She was born in Davie County, North Caro- lina, a daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Clem- ent ) Booe, and granddaughter of Phillip Booe. She still occupies the beautiful home in Mocksville, and in it entertains her friends and neighbors in a most hospitable manner. She is the mother of seven children, namely: Sadie, wife of R. W. D. Connor; Spencer B., who married Clara Lockhart; Mary, wife of E. W. Crowe; Blanche M., married Frank Clement; Frank, an attorney in Winston- Salem, married Bettie Poindexter; Sarah, wife of T. H. Stone; and Clement, a commercial trav- eler, with headquarters in Utica, New York. Mrs. Hanes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to which Mr. Hanes also belonged, he, while a resident of Winston-Salem, having been steward of Centenary Church.
ROSCOE WILLIAM TURNER. Able in the law and distinguished likewise in politics, Roscoe William Turner may well be named as one of Elizabeth City's leading and representative men. He worthily bears a name that has belonged to East- ern North Carolina for generations and honorably known in professional, agricultural and business circles.
Roscoe William Turner was born September 16, 1876, at Hertford, Perquimans County, North Caro- lina, and is a son of Wesley and Lucy (Williams) Turner. Wesley Turner was a highly respected citizen of Hertford and for many years was en- gaged in the drug business there.
In excellent private schools maintained in Eliza- beth City, North Carolina, Roscoe W. Turner ob- tained his preparatory education and then entered Wake Forest College, where he pursued a course in law and was admitted to the North Carolina bar in September, 1899. He immediately opened an office at Elizabeth City and has continued here ever since and has built up a very substantial practice. He was elected city attorney and served with complete satisfaction in that office, and sub- sequently served two years on the bench as judge of the Criminal Court.
Mr. Turner was married November 12, 1901, to Miss Alvine Covert, of Elizabeth City, North Caro- lina, and they have eight children, as follows: Beamon, Alvena, Roscoe William, Archie, Mantor, Wesley, Ruby and an infant. Mr. Turner and . family are active members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and formerly he was a member of its board of stewards.
In political matters Mr. Turner has been an important factor in democratic circles in Pasquo- tank County for a number of years, and the ex- treme confidence felt by his fellow citizens in his ability and integrity was shown in 1909, when he was elected a member of the North Carolina State Senate. He served through the regular term and also through the extra session. During this time he introduced many important bills and one that particularly benefited Pasquotank County was that which gave the graded schools. He has al- ways been greatly interested in education and for many years has served as a very wise and urgent
Rosevel Lower.
353
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
member of the school board of Elizabeth City. In many other ways and at different times Sen- ator Turner has shown his sincere public spirit. He is identified with various organizations, po- litical, professional and fraternal, is a Chapter Mason, a member of the Junior Order of the United American Mechanics and is past exalted ruler of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In manner genial and agreeable, Senator Turner has a wide circle of warm per- sonal friends.
HON. CLAUDE BERNARD MCBRAYER. One of the important promotions in the public service of the state that occurred during and after the cam- paign of 1916 was the appointment of Claude Bernard McBrayer, a well known young lawyer of Shelby, to the office of assistant attorney gen- eral under Judge Manning. Mr. McBrayer was strongly endorsed by members of the bar all over the state as candidate for this appointment, which is made by the attorney general himself, and there was no opposition to his candidacy.
The MeBrayers are an old and prominent fan- ily of North Carolina. Mr. McBrayer's grand- father was Col. Elisha McBrayer, who served as a colonel in the North Carolina Militia before the war, and during the war held a military position under the Confederate State Government at Ra- leigh. The McBrayers settled in Cleveland Coun- ty in pioneer times. Their old home was at Mc- Brayer's Springs, about four miles north of Shelby.
Dr. T. Evans McBrayer, father of the Shelby lawyer, is one of the most prominent physicians of Cleveland County. He was born there in 1849, was educated at Catawba College when the fa- ther of Hon. Hoke Smith was president, and was graduated in medicine from the Washington Uni- versity at Baltimore, Maryland. His high stand- "ing in his courses in medicine gave him the com- plimentary diploma from the Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons. Doctor McBrayer has practiced for many years at Shelby and is a man of wide influence in the civic affairs of that county. He has always kept abreast of the ad- vances made in medical and surgical science, and has taken post graduate courses in Philadelphia and the polyclinic in New York. Doctor Mc- Brayer married in 1881 Miss Sallie Webb, who was born in Cleveland County and died in 1888. Her father, David Webb, was one of the pioneer merchants of Shelby. On May 23, 1894, Doctor McBrayer married Miss Lizzie M. Allen, of an old and influential Virginia family.
One son of Doctor McBrayer is Capt. C. E. McBrayer, who has won distinction as a surgeon in the United States Army. He is a graduate of Wake Forest College, of the medical department of the University of Maryland, and subsequently took post-graduate work in New York City. He was soon afterward appointed surgeon with the rank of lieutenant in the United States army, and still later promoted to captain. Captain Mvc- Brayer is now major of Base Hospital 24, Amer- ican Expeditionary Forces, France.
Claude Bernard McBrayer, who inherits all the enviable characteristics long associated with the family name in this section of North Carolina, was born at Mckinney, Collin County. Texas, in 1885. He was graduated with the classical A. B. degree from Wake Forest College in 1907 and also pursued his law studies there. Admitted to the bar in 1908, he began practice at Marion, Vol. IV-33
North Carolina, but since 1911 has had both home and office in Shelby. The successes of the able lawyer quickly came to him, and his attainments and ability as a public leader also attracted much attention. In the campaign of 1916 he was se- lected to make a number of campaign speeches for the democratic ticket throughout the state, and is one of the most virile and resourceful de- baters of his party. Prior to his appointment as assistant attorney general he served as city at- torney of Shelby.
HON. SAMUEL G. PACE, who for many years was actively identified with tobacco manufacture and merchandising, is now United States commissioner and proprietor of the leading hotel at Mount Airy in Surry County.
He represents an old Virginia family and was born on a plantation in Henry County of that state March 29, 1848. His grandparents spent all their lives in Virginia, and his grandmother's maiden name was Mary Stone. His father, James B. Pace, was born in Virginia and owned and oc- cupied a farm in Henry County, operating it with slave labor. He early took up the manufacture of tobacco. Before the war he had a trusted slave named Matt who followed the practice of taking the tobacco to Tennessee, driving a six mule team. Some of the tobacco was sold en route, and Matt could be trusted to carefully guard the proceeds. In 1856 James B. Pace sold his plantation and moved to Stokes County, North Carolina, purchas- ing a thousand acres of land at the present site of Pinnacle. There he not only worked his plan- tation but also had a store and manufactured tobacco. In 1863 he sold that place and removed to Olin in Iredell County, buying a farm and operating it until 1865. Having sold out, he re- moved to Rogersville, Hawkins County, Tennessee, and in that village kept a public house until 1872. He then sold his hotel and bought a farm in the same county near the Virginia line. A few years later, disposing of his property in Eastern Ten- nessee, he removed to Danville, Virginia, and be- came associated with his son Samuel in the manu- facture of tobacco. That was his work until a short time before his death. He died at the age of eighty-one. James B. Pace married Lucy Tay- lor, who was born in Henry County, Virginia. Her father, William A. Taylor, owned and occu- pied a large plantation near Traylorsville in Henry County. He was one of the prominent citizens of that county. Well educated, of sterling character, he was often called upon to settle estates and to act as guardian for minor heirs. William A. Tay- lor married Catherine Hill, and both spent all their lives in Henry County. Mrs. James B. Pace sur- vived her husband and died at the age of eighty- one. Her children were named Samuel G., Grief, Kittie A., Spotswood F., Kate A., Virginia C. and Judith P.
In the various localities named above Samuel G. Pace spent his early youth and boyhood. His pri- mary education was acquired in rural schools, and he also attended Olin College at Olin in Iredell County, this state. One of his first experiences was working in his father's tobacco factory, and he learned that business in every detail. In 1875 he became a manufacturer of tobacco at Danville, Virginia, under his own name, though his father was associated with him in the enterprise. A short time before his father's death he closed out the business and in 1887 removed to Mount Airy, in which city he was successfully identified with
354
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
the livery business until 1916. In 1902 Mr. Pace opened his home in Mount Airy to the public under the name The Pace House, and has operated it as a hotel since that date.
In November, 1889, he married Miss Laura B. Cox, who was born on a farm near Galax in Grayson County, Virginia, daughter of William and Emeline Cox. Mr. and Mrs. Pace have one son, named William Samuel. The family are mem- bers of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Mr. Pace came to his majority in Tennessee and there cast his first vote for Hon. Thomas A. R. Nelson, candidate for judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. His first presidential ballot was given to Horace Greeley. He has always been a stalwart supporter of the principles of the demo- cratic party and has filled various offices of trust. For three terms he served as mayor of Mount Airy, and was one of the most prominent in se- curing light and water for the city. In his pres- ent office as United States commissioner he has served since his appointment in 1913.
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.