USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume IV > Part 99
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Rev. Nathaniel Harding was' married Febru- ary 3, 1874, to Mary Elizabeth Hughes, who died .January 5, 1887. Of this marriage four children survive him: Collin Hughes, Frederick Harriman, Mrs. Kenneth G. Henry and William Blount Harding. On October 1, 1889, Rev. Mr. Harding married Marina Brickell Handy, daughter of Ed- inund S. Hoyt, of Washington, North Carolina. She with their two children Edmund Hoyt and Rena B. H. Harding, survive him.
EDWARD CHATHAM BIVENS, mayor of Mount Airy, is a successful young lawyer of Surry County Vol. IV-24
and represents an honored family name in the state.
Mr. Bivens was born in Union County, North Carolina, December 29, 1886. His grandfather, William Bivens, served in the Confederate army during the war between the states. His main business was as a planter, and prior to the war he operated his land with the aid of his slaves. So far as known he spent his entire life in Union County. He married and reared a family of children, including Henry F. Bivens, father of the Mount Airy lawyer. Henry F. Bivens was born on the farm owned by his father. This farm is about four miles northeast of Monroe. His early life was spent there and eventually he succeeded to the ownership of the place. He finally left the farm and moved to Waxhaw in Union County, where he engaged in the drug business. At the same time he superintended the operation of his farm. His death occurred in Waxhaw in May, 1908, at the age of fifty-five. His wife was Lulu M. Porter, who was born in Lancaster County, South Carolina. Her father served with the rank of lieutenant in the war between the states. She is now living in Durham. Her four children were named Edward C., William Patterson, Laura May and Ione.
Edward Chatham Bivens spent most of his early life in Waxhaw, where he attended public schools. He took the full classical course in Trinity College at Durham, where he was graduated A. B. in 1908. From Trinity he went to the University of North Carolina Law School and finished his course and received his license in 1910. Since his gradua- tion and admission to the bar Mr. Bivens has been in practice at Mount Airy, and by careful and conscientious attention to his work has built up a fine professional reputation.
Mr. Bivens was married November 10, 1915, to Miss Alma Louise Banner, who was born at Mount Airy, daughter of John L. and Emma Banner.
Mr. Bivens was elected to his office as mayor of Mount Airy in 1915. A democrat in politics, he cast his first vote for William J. Bryan. He is affiliated with Granite Lodge No. 207, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. and Blue Ridge Council No. 73, Junior Order United American Mechanics.
Mrs. Bivens' father, John L. Banner, was born on a farm in Forsyth County, North Carolina. His great-grandfather Ephraim Banner, was of early English ancestry and owned and occupied a plantation in Stokes County in colonial times. Benjamin Banner, grandfather of John L., was born in Stokes or Forsyth County. was a planter and kept many slaves to perform the work of the fields. He married Peggy Kiger, who was of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. Wesley Banner, father of John L. Banner, was born in Forsyth County and as a young man taught school, later engaging in farming and the manufacture of to- bacco, and in 1886 he removed to Surry County and bought a flour and saw mill on Johnson's Creek, with the operation of which he was identified until his death in 1892. Wesley Banner married Ann Morris. She was born in Stokes County, a daugh- ter of Frederick and Polly (Horn) Morris, a granddaughter of Hammond Morris and a great- granddaughter of Robert Morris, whose name is familiar to every reader of early American history as a friend of Washington and the "financier of the revolution."
John L. Banner married Mary Emma Banner, a daughter of John and Louisa (Prather) Banner. Louisa Prather was the daughter of Thomas and
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Jane (Beal) Prather. Mr. and Mrs. John L. Banner are still living at Mount Airy.
CALVIN COWLES SANFORD. A prominent factor in the business life of Davie County, Calvin Cowles Sanford, president of the C. C. Sanford Sons Company, of Mocksville, is at the head of one of the largest mercantile establishments of his community, as a general merchant having a large and prosperous trade. He was born, October 15, 1843, in Davie County, on a farm lying ten miles west of Mocksville, of English ancestry, being a descendant in the eighth generation from the im- migrant ancestor, his genealogy being thus traced : Thomas, Ephraim, Samuel, Samuel, Isaac, Abel, Amos, and Calvin C.
Thomas Sanford, born in Essex, England, in 1607, immigrated to New England in early man- hood, settling permanently in Milford, Connecticut. His posterity is numerous, and may be found in almost every state of the Union. Ephraim San- ford became a planter in New Haven, Connecticut, and married Mary Powell, a daughter of Thomas and Priscilla Powell. Samuel Sanford married Hannah Baldwin, daughter of Richard Baldwin. Samuel Sanford married Abigail, daughter of Peletiah and Martha (Sanford) Holbrook. Isaac Sanford married Jerusha Baker. Abel Sanford married Delilah Sperry, and migrated from Con- necticut to Marion, New York.
Amos Sanford was born at Woodbridge, Con- necticut, June 18, 1798, and was brought up and educated in Marion, New York. As a young man, he came to North Carolina in search of a favorable opportunity for improving his fortunes. He settled first in Iredell County, but later located on land just across the Iredell County line, in that part of Rowan County now included within the limits of Davie County. He improved a good farm there, and later moved to Jonesville where he resided until his death. He was twice married. He mar- ried first Catherine Johnston, and married second Mrs. Mary C. (Lunn) Griffin, a daughter of William and Esther Lunn. By his first marriage two sons were born, namely .: Louis; and William, who served as captain of a company in the Seventh Regiment, North Carolina Troops, during the Civil war, and died from the effects of wounds received at Newbern. By his second marriage he had but one child, Calvin C. Sanford, of this sketch.
Calvin Cowles Sanford attended the rural schools of his district throughout his boyhood days, later continuing his studies at the Olin High School, under the tutelage of Professors A. H. Merritt and R. P. Troy. In 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Forty-Second Regiment, North Caro- lina Troops, and on December 4, of that year, was promoted, being commissioned second lieutenant of his company. Continuing with his command in all of its marches, campaigns and battles until the close of the war, he was paroled at Bush Hill, near Old Trinity, and returned home.
Mr. Sanford subsequently taught school a very few terms, after which he came to Mocksville, and began his mercantile career in the general store of Brown Brothers, being employed as a clerk. Becoming familiar with the details of the business, Mr. Sanford, acquired a one-third in- terest in the firm, which was continued under the name of the Brown Brothers Company. Later J. L. Adams purchased a third interest in the concern, and was admitted to the firm. After a short time, Mr. Sanford and Mr. Adams bought
Mr. Brown's interest in the business, and the firm name was changed to Sanford & Adams. About four years later, at the death of Mr. Adams, Mr. Sanford became sole proprietor of the business, which he continued alone for a time. In 1907, his sons were admitted to a copartnership, and the business was incorporated as the C. C. San- ford Sons Company, with Mr. Sanford as president, and his son, Rufus B. Sanford, as secretary and treasurer. This enterprising company carries a large stock of general merchandise, including al- most everything in use in the house or on the farm, and is well patronized throughout the community. The firm also owns and operates an up-to-date garage, it being the only one in the city.
Mr. Sanford married, in 1872, Mary D. Brown, who was born in Mocksville, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Brinegar) Brown. Mrs. Sanford passed to the life beyond July 5, 1909, leaving eight children, namely: William, Thomas Franklin, Rufus Brown, Edwin Cowles, Laura, Hugh A., John Calvin, and Mary L. Thomas F. Sanford married first Julia Farrier, and second Mary Hogshead, neither of whom are now living. By his second marriage he had two children, Mary M., and Margaret Blair. Laura, wife of Robert T. Fawcette, has three children, Mary Catherine, Calvin Cowles and Robert T. Rufus B. married Adelaide Gaither, and they have three children, Lash Gaither, Rufus Brown, and Marshall Clement. Hugh A. married Marjorie Gelder, and John C. married Agnes G. Speight.
H. EDMUND RODGERS. A northern man by birth and training, H. Edmund Rodgers for the past three years has practiced law with growing pres- tige and success at Wilmington and besides look- ing after the interests of his private clientage he has been dean of the Wilmington Law School since , he came to the city in 1913, being the youngest dean of law school in the country.
He is a graduate in law with the degree LL. B. from the University of Pennsylvania with the class of 1913. Mr. Rodgers was born at Dayton, Ohio, January 23, 1885, a son of Harry Frank Rodgers, who at one time was sheriff of Mont- gomery County, Ohio. His early education was in the Steele High School at Dayton, where he took the scientific course, did his preparatory work in Doane Academy, and was graduated Bachelor of Science from Denison College at Granville, Ohio, in 1909. From there he entered the University of Pennsylvania, and while there was prominent in both his class work and in athletics, playing a position on the university football team, was one of the members of the team specially honored, and was All-American tackle in 1910.
Mr. Rodgers was married September 19, 1913, to Lillian Morton Baugh, daughter of the late George W. Baugh, a well known Philadelphia at- torney. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers are members of the Episcopal Church and in politics he is a re- publican.
JOHN RANDOLPH UZZELL, whose abilities long adorned the Wilson County bar, was born in Wayne County, North Carolina, July 16, 1858, a son of Thomas and Tirzah (Smith) Uzzell.
His people were farmers, and it was in a rural district that he grew up and received his first instruction. However, he was liberally educated, attending the University of North Carolina and afterwards the Dick and Dillard Law School. Ad- mitted to the bar in 1882, he at once began prac-
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
tice at Kinston, but in 1888 removed to Wilson, where he acquired a splendid practice and a high reputation and where he continued his work as a lawyer until his death on May 29, 1907. John R. Uzzell was an active member of the Pres- byterian Church and was affiliated with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows.
On September 26, 1886, he married Martha, better known as Pattie, Simms Woodard. Five children were born to their union: James W., now secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and tax lister at Wilson; Thomas R., the Wilson at- torney; Pattie, wife of T. E. Davis, a traveling salesman living at Wilson; George Anderson and Helen, who are still attending school.
THOMAS RANDOLPH UZZELL, now in general practice as a lawyer at Wilson, has had a suc- cessful experience and has done much to qualify himself for the position which he now enjoys in the esteem of his fellow practitioners and the general public.
Mr. Uzzell is former county attorney of Wil- son County. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1911 and has since been in general prac- tice. He belongs to the North Carolina Bar As- sociation and is a member of the Commonwealth and Country clubs of Wilson.
He was born in Wilson County October 6, 1889, and his father, John Randolph Uzzell, was for many years successfully engaged in practice as a lawyer. His mother was Pattie S. (Wood- ard) Uzzell. Thomas R. Uzzell was educated in the public schools of Wilson, the Oak Ridge In- stitute, and for two years was a student in the academic department of the University of North Carolina and prepared for his profession in the law school of the university.
EDWARD M. LINVILLE, of the old and well known family of that name in Western North Carolina, has for several years been a successful lawyer at Mount Airy. He is a leader in the republican party in that section of the state, and was filling the office of postmaster at Kernersville when he resigned to establish his office at Mount Airy.
He was born in Kernersville Township of For- syth County March 3, 1887. Concerning his ancestry it is known that three brothers named Benjamin, David and Solomon Linville, natives of Wales, came to America along with the William Penn colony. They lived for a time in Pennsyl- vania. Descendants of one of the brothers migrated west and are now to be found in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. Solomon became separated from the other two brothers, and it is not definitely known where he spent his last years, but the fact has been established beyond doubt that his descend- ants located in Belews Creek Township of Forsyth County, where they were pioneers. One of these was Benjamin, great-great-grandfather of Edward M. Linville. His descendants are numerous and have been represented not only in agriculture but in the various professions. There is record of David Linville, who is recorded in the 1790 census as head of a family in Stokes County, which then included Forsyth County.
Moses Linville, grandfather of the Mount Airy lawyer, was born in Belews Creek Township and spent his life there as a planter and as a very capable and influential citizen. He married Eliz- abeth Hester, daughter of John Hester, also a planter in the same township.
William S. Linville, father of Edward M., was
born in Kernersville Township of Forsyth County in 1854. He acquired a good education and for several years was a teacher, though his chief occupation was farming. He is now engaged in the mercantile business at Kernersville and has a large and complete stock of general merchandise sufficient to supply all the needs of that com- munity. He married Mary Vance, daughter of Martin N. and Hepsy J. (Smith) Vance. Mrs. Hepsy Vance was born in Kernersville, a daughter of Adam and Eunice (Starbuck) Smith, of a Massachusetts family, and she died at the age of sixty-four. Martin N. Vance was born in For- syth County in 1819, was a farmer and died at the age of eighty-two. His father was John Vance, also a native of Kernersville Township. He lived to the age of eighty-four and his wife, Polly Marshall, died at seventy-eight. John Vance was descended from an ancestor who came out of Ireland and set- tled in North Carolina in colonial times. John Vance's father was also John, and he spent his last years in Kernersville Township. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam S. Linville have reared children named Addison N., William Clinton, Arthur J., Bettie E., Mollie, Walter S., 'Laura Frances and Edward M. The sons Addison, Arthur and Walter are all associated with their father in general merchandising at Kernersville. William C. is a successful physician at Goldsboro. Bettie E. is the wife of Judge Gideon Hastings. Mollie married Clyde A. Holt. Laura is the wife of Herman Morton.
Edward M. Linville attended his first school in a log house in the old home district of Kerners- ville Township. Later he attended the graded and high schools at Kernersville and completed his education in the Agricultural and Mechanical College of North Carolina and in Shenandoah College at Dayton, Virginia. Having in the mean- time decided upon the legal profession as his career he entered the law department of the Uni- versity of North Carolina in 1908, and in the same year was given his license to practice. For a time he was associated with Judge Hastings at Winston-Salem, but a year later removed to Kernersville and had a promising business as a lawyer in that locality until November, 1914. Since then his home and professional interests have been centered at Mount Airy and he has built up a profitable practice. As a republican he has served as the candidate of his party for the Legislature. In August, 1917, he was appointed county attorney for Surry County.
Mr. Linville was married November 30, 1911, to Mrs. Sue Lindsay Holcomb. She was born in Davidson County, a daughter of H. W. and Minerva (Phillips) Lindsay, and is the widow of Virgil P. Holcomb. By her first husband she has two children, named Lindsay and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Linville are active members of Trinity Episcopal Church, in which he is serving as vestry- man and lay reader. He is also affiliated with Blue Ridge Council No. 73, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, with Magnolia Camp No. 109, Woodmen of the World, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is now serving as secretary of the Surry County Fair Association. 1
HON. JAMES L. SHEEK. Public spirited, ener- getic and enterprising, Hon. James L. Sheek, of Mocksville, North Carolina, is actively identified with the industrial and agricultural prosperity of Davie County, and has served his fellow-citizens with ability and fidelity in many official positions. A native of Davie County, he was born, December
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1, 1866, on a farm lying near Smith Grove, not far from the place in which the birth of his father, Daniel S. Sheek, occurred, on September 18, 1818, and which was likewise the birthplace of his grand- father, Rev. Jacob Sheek.
William Sheek, Mr. Sheek's great-grandfather, was born and reared in Germany, and with two of his brothers immigated to America, the land of great opportunities. Coming directly to North Carolina, he secured title to a tract of land in Davie County, near Smith Grove, and on the home- stead that he hewed from the forest spent the re- mainder of his life. He reared four sons, as follows: Jacob, Mr. Sheek's grandfather; George, who settled on the North Yadkin River, in Davie County; John, who took up land near Smith Grove, in Christian and Yadkin counties; and one that located in Weatherford County.
Rev. Jacob Sheek acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture when young. At the death of his father, he inherited a part of the parental estate, and having purchased other tracts of land carried on farming with the assistance of his slaves, living upon his plantation until his death, at the age of eighty-nine years.
Deeply interested in religious matters from his youth, he was converted in early life, and in addi- tion to his agricultural work was for many years a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. Jacob Sheek married Sallie Sain, who was born in Davie County, on Dutchmans Creek. Four children were born of their union, namely: Daniel S., father of James L. of this sketch; Wiley, who died in Atlanta, Georgia; Albert, a life-long resi- dent of Davie County; and Emily, who married Jonathan Smith.
Daniel S. Sheek began his business career as a general merchant at Smith Grove, and through good management built up a prosperous trade. Subsequently acquiring land by inheritance, he bought adjacent tracts of land near Smith Grove, and there spent the remainder of his four score years of earthly life. He was quite successful in his labors, and in addition to farming owned and operated a flour mill for many years. He married Martha Williams, a native of Smith Grove. Her father, John Williams, born, it is believed, in Caswell County, this state, came to Davie County in early life, and purchased, near Smith Grove, the farm on which he and his wife, whose maiden name was Beulah Etchison, spent the larger part of their lives. Mrs. Daniel S. Sheek died at the age of sixty-five years, leaving five sons, George W., John W., Charles F., James L., and Milton D.
Brought up on the parental homestead, James L. Sheek attended the rural schools in boyhood, and later took a course of study at Moore's Commercial College, in Atlanta, Georgia. Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, he has always taken an active interest in everything pertaining to agri- culture, and in the management of his fine farm, adjoining Mocksville, a part of it being in the city, he finds both pleasure and profit. Mr. Sheek has made improvements of great value on his estate, in 1916 having erected the commodious and con- veniently arranged house which he and his family now occupy. A man of versatile talents, and un- doubted business ability and tact, Mr. Sheek, in addition to farming, owns and operates a lumber mill in Mocksville, and also deals extensively in cotton. In 1898 Mr. Sheek was elected sheriff of Davie County, and served so ably that he was continued in office, by reelection, for a period of twelve years. In 1912 he had the honor of being
elected as a representative to the State Legislature, and while serving in that capacity was ever loyal to the interests of his constituents.
Mr. Sheek married, in 1889, Julia Rena Kim- brough. She was born in Smith Grove, a daughter of Dr. George Marmaduke and Sallie E. (Brock) Kimbrough. Their only child, James Kimbrough Sheek, was graduated from the Mocksville High School, and afterward studied for two years in the medical department of the University of North Carolina. In 1916 he enlisted as a volunteer in the Lincolnton Cavalry . Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Sheek are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally Mr. Sheek belongs to Mocks- ville Lodge No. 134, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; and to Mocksville Council No. 226, Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
MARMADUKE D. KIMBROUGH, M. D. Conspic- uous on the long roll of names that have conferred honor upon the medical profession of Davie County is that of the late Marmaduke D. Kimbrough, M. D., who gained marked prestige in medical circles, and for many years was known as one of the inost progressive and popular citizens of Mocks- ville. He was born, June 2, 1838, at Shallow Ford, on the Yadkin River, in Yadkin County, North Carolina.
His grandfather, Dr. George Kimbrough, a native, it is thought, of France, immigrated to the United States when young, locating in Yadkin County, North Carolina. Entering the medical profession, he was for many years actively and successfully engaged in the practice of medicine, being one of the more prominent physicians and surgeons of this section of the state, his patronage extending for miles in either direction from his home.
Born, bred and educated in Yadkin County, John Young Kimbrough spent his entire life in the vicinity of his birthplace. Embarking in agri- cultural pursuits in early manhood, he bought land at Shallow Ford, and with the assistance of slaves improved a fine farm, on which he lived until his death, at a ripe old age. His wife, whose maiden name was Amy Joiner, spent her long and happy life in the same locality. Four sons were born of their union, namely: Marmaduke D., John Anderson, William Nathaniel, and Lewis, who enlisted as a soldier in the Confederate Army, and died while in service.
Having acquired an excellent education in his youthful days, Marmaduke D. Kimbrough, who was an ambitious student, entered the University Medical College, in Philadelphia, and was there graduated with the degree of M. D. The young doctor immediately began the practice of medicine in Brookstown, and during the Civil war he served as assistant surgeon. Subsequently locating at Smith Grove, Davie County, Dr. Kimbrough made rapid strides in his professional status, winning his way to prominence as a physician and surgeon, and gaining to a marked degree the confidence of his colleagues, and of the general public. In 1872 and 1873, the doctor took a post graduate course in medicine and surgery, making a special study of the latter, and of diseases of the chest. Be- coming skilful in various operations connected with his surgical work, Doctor Kimbrough success- fully performed tracheotomy, and other equally delicate operations, besides those of minor im- portance, his skill with the surgeon's tools being recognized. The doctor subsequently removed to
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Mocksville, where he continued a respected and eminently popular resident until his death, in 1910.
Doctor Kimbrough married, in 1861, Sally Brock, who is now living at Smith Grove. She was born near Farmington, Davie County, in December, 1847, a daughter of William Britton and Frances Smith (Chaffin) Brock. Ten children were born of their marriage, namely : Camilla Frances, Mary L., Chalmers L., Sally B., Julia Rena, Joseph William, John Armitt, Algin Lezora, Alexander M., and Puryear Ramsey. A stanch republican in his political affiliations, Doctor Kimbrough always took an intelligent interest in the public welfare, and served efficiently in many offices, including that of deputy revenue collector. From 1884 until 1896 he was chairman of the Davie County Repub- lican Committee, and from 1882 until 1896 was also chairman of the Congressional and Judicial District Committee.
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