USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 17
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N.A. Mauney
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With his regiment, he participated in many en- gagements of note, including the Battle of Gettys- burg. On the eighth of February, 1865, Mr. Grant was captured at Hatchers Run, and taken to Point Lookout, where he was detailed for special duty. Being paroled on June 16, 1865, he returned home, and soon after resumed his professional labors, teaching at Liberty, Torrentine, Bethel, and Jerusalem. In 1878 Mr. Grant was appointed store keeper and gauger, and served in that capacity about four years. In 1882 he was elected clerk of the Superior Court, and, with the exception of four years, has since filled that position, perform- ing the duties devolving upon him with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
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Mr. Grant married, at the age of twenty-two years, Rebecca Parker, who was born in Davie County, North Carolina, a daughter of Turner S. and Elizabeth (Daniels) Parker. Mr. and Mrs. Grant are the parents of six children, namely: Lelia, Annie Parker, Ada, Sarah, Robinson S., and Absalom Turner, Jr. Religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Grant are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Fraternally Mr. Grant belongs to Mocksville Lodge, Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
HON. WILLIAM ANDREW MAUNEY. Of the citi- zens of Cleveland County who have contributed through their labors and talents to the financial and business upbuilding of the community, few are better known than Hon. William Andrew Mauney, builder and owner of large cotton mills, banker, merchant and man of wealth and extensive interests. But Mr. Mauney is something more. He has occupied a prominent place in business af- fairs for many years, but is probably as well or better known for his distinguished public services, both as a state senator and in the Lower House of the North Carolina Legislature, of which body he is a member at this time. Through sterling, worth-while and conscientious devotion to the duties of liis high office, this honored veteran of the Civil war has won the confidence and respect of the peo- ple not only of his home community of King's Mountain, but throughout the county.
Hon. William Andrew Mauney was born at the old Mauney homestead in Cleveland County, North Carolina, about 41/2 miles southeast of the Town of Cherryville, in 1841, being a son of David and Fannie (Carpenter) Mauney, both natives of what is now Gaston County. The Mauneys trace their descent from three brothers, Christian, Jacob and Valentine Mauney, of German ancestry, who came to North Carolina from Pennsylvania during colonial days. According to the official records, Valentine Mauney received a grant of land on Indian Creek, in what is now Gaston County, November 3, 1762, Jacob Mauney was given a grant of land April 19, 1763, while Christian Mauney, from whom Senator Mauney is descended, received a grant of 350 acres of land on Beaver Creek, September 8, 1770. Christian Mauney was the great-grandfather of Senator Mauney.
As is traditional with the German peoples, the succeeding generations continued to live on and in the immediate vicinity of these original grants of land, and are so living today, although many of the descendants have gone out into adjoining counties of North Carolina, and a few to other states, a number of the name being found in Tennessee, Kentucky and elsewhere. The Mauney community was about the center of the old County
of Tryon, which, under the subsequent United States Government, became divided into the pres- ent counties of Lincoln, Gaston, Catawba, Cleve- land and one or two others. By act of the North Carolina Assembly of 1774, a parcel of land on the Christian Mauney place was purchased and set aside as the county seat of Tryon County. It remained as such and the courts were held there and all county business transacted at this place until Tryon County was blotted out in 1779. The county seat for the new County of Lincoln re- mained in this locality and on the Mauney place until 1783, when the county seat of Lincoln County was established at Lincolnton. It was at this county seat on the old Mauney place that the Tryon Declaration of Freedom was proclaimed in August, 1775. This was a very bold and plain- spoken declaration against the British war on the American colonies. It will be seen that the old Mauney home place is one rich in historical fact and legend. It was the site of the colonial home of Christian Mauney, the site of the old Tryon County courthouse, here was formulated and signed the Tryon Declaration of Freedom, as noted, and it was one of the camps of Lord Cornwallis and the English army in their march through Lincoln County.
Among the children of Christian Mauney was Peter Mauney, who married Barbara Heavener and became the grandfather of Senator Mauney. Like his father before him, he was industrious, frugal and energetic, and became an influential man in his community. The family has in every generation been noted for its public spirit and for the sterling characteristics of its members. The early forefathers, when they had built their log cabins in the wilderness, set themselves with- out delay to the erection of their pioneer schools and churches, having brought with them to this community Luther's translation of the Bible. In addition to being faithful to their religion, they have always been strong devotees of education, and have steadfastly encouraged schools and colleges by their influence and in a monetary way. Those who have followed the pioneer founders of the family have lived up to the best traditions of the name, and have kept its record free from stain or blemish of any kind, in public or private life.
David Mauney, the father of Senator Mauney, was born in 1814, and died in 1900. In young manhood he began his career as a farmer, and subsequently was one of the first to operate a saw- mill in his part of the state. Later, when the cotton mill business was starting, Mr. Mauney had the foresight to realize that this was to be a great industry, and therefore engaged therein, and, with his son, built numerous mills in this locality. He became a successful business man and influ- ential citizen, and died full of years and honors.
William Andrew Mauney was born six miles from the original home place mentioned in the fore- going, and received his education in the old field schools and under instruction at a classical college in Catawba County. He was but fifteen years of age when he began teaching in the public schools, but his career as an educator was interrupted by the outbreak of the war between the South and the North, and he accordingly left the school room to don the uniform of the Gray and to shoulder a musket in defense of the cause which he thought right. In April, 1861, he was accepted as a member of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, and subsequently was assigned
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to the position of commissary. He served through- out the period of the great war, being constantly with General Lee's army of Northern Virginia with the exception of several months when he was held a prisoner in the Federal prisons at Fort Delaware and on Governor's Island.
When he returned from the war, with an excel- lent military record, Senator Mauney again settled in the vicinity of the old home place, where his attention was given to various vocations, includ- ing teaching, farming and mercantile pursuits. He remained on the old home place until 1873, when he located at King's Mountain in Cleveland County, just at the line of Gaston County, and here he has resided to the present time. His beautiful home adjoins the older and smaller house which he first occupied on coming here. With his characteristic Mauney energy, enterprise and sagacity, he has been the leading factor in building up the Town of King's Mountain to its present thriving and progressive stage; with its several large cotton mills and other industries, its banks, stores and adjacent prosperons agricultural region. Begin- ning with his father and brothers, he has built a number of successful cotton mills in Gaston and Cleveland counties, the first one being erected in 1888, at King's Mountain, the mill of the King's Mountain Manufacturing Company. The next was built at Cherryville, about 1890, and following this came the Long Shoals Cotton Mill, located in Lincoln County. The Long Shoals mill was then followed by the Bonnie Mill, at King's Mountain, erected in 1900, and now one of Mr. Mauney's most successful enterprises, although he has vari- ous other enterprises, being an officer and director in ten cotton mills. He is likewise president of the First National Bank of King's Mountain, and the head of several successful mercantile estab- lishments, the principal ones being the general mercantile firm of W. A. Mauney & Company and the Mauney Drug Company, both at King's Moun- tain, and is the principal owner of the Kiser Lum- ber Company, also located at this place. His stand- ing in the business world is one which is only at- tained by a man whose every action has been guided by a sense of integrity and a regard for business ethics, while his ability may be gauged by the absolute confidence his associates in his various enterprises place in his judgment and acumen.
In addition to being a man of wealth and broad resources in the business world, Senator Mauney is a citizen of wide influence in political and public affairs. He was elected and served as state senator from his district for one term, and in the fall of 1916 was elected to represent his county, Cleve- land, in the Lower House of the North Carolina Legislature. He has in both business and public life accomplished much for the general welfare and advancement of his town and county.
Senator Mauney has been married three times. His first wife was Susan Ramsaur, who became the mother of three children, namely: Ida, who is the wife of C. E. Neisler; Laura, who is the wife of W. A. Ridenhauer; and Hunter, who married Miss Jessie Mundy. The second wife of Senator Mauney was before her marriage Miss Carrie Hope, and there are no surviving children of this union. Senator Mauney's present wife was Miss Candace Miller, and they are the parents of two daughters, the Misses Bonnie and Virginia, the former a graduate of Elizabeth College, class of 1915, and the latter now a student in the same institution.
RICHARD J. GRANTHAM. The career of Richard J. Grantham is an exemplification of the fact that the individual who possesses ambition and determination can rise to high position, and that industry and perseverance are predominating fac- tors in the winning of deserved success. During a period of twenty-five years Mr. Grantham's fortunes have been identified with those of Wil- son, where he holds the important responsibility, of caring for the water, electric light, gas, sewer- age, etc., of the county seat in the capacity of manager of the city's plant. He is variously connected with business interests here, and is likewise one of the prominent agriculturists of the county.
Mr. Grantham was born at Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina, November 3, 1872, and is a son of David A. and Anna (Cox) Grantham. The family of which he is a member has been long and favorably known in Wayne County, the principal family occupation being farming, and several have held official positions of importance. His father was one of the well-to-do agricultur- ists of the community, and a man who not only held the respect of his fellow-citizens because of his industry and the honorable manner in which he carried out his agreements, but by reason of the efficient and busineslike manner in which he discharged the duties of sheriff of Wayne County, a position which he occupied for twelve years.
During his boyhood in Wayne County Richard, J. Grantham divided his time between attending the public schools and assisting his father in the work of the home farm, and it was intended by the elder man that the youth should follow an agricultural career after attaining his ma- jority. This was, however, distasteful to young Richard, who managed to find odd times to ap- ply to investigation of his favorite subject, elec- trical work, and to experiments therein. He thus developed an aptitude for this kind of work that amounted to something out of the ordinary, and he finally secured his father's consent to allow him to attend Trinity College at Durham, North Carolina. While attending that institution he helped to pay for his tuition by taking care of the light plant, and at no time in his career has there been a period when he was not in some way or another connected with this kind of work. A young college graduate, on October 28, 1892, Mr. Grantham came to Wilson for the first time to assist in the building of the electric light plant, and by the time this was finished he had formed connections that he has never since seen fit to break. In 1893 he was placed in charge and superintended the construction of the water plant of the City of Wilson, and in August of the same year was made manager. In 1906 he was put in the complete charge by being made manager of both the water and electric light plants, and in this capacity is held responsible for the correct working of the electric and gas light, water and sewerage systems of the city. During the period of his occupancy the City of Wilson has enjoyed most excellent service in this connection and the citizens are thoroughly satis- fied with this official's labors in behalf of the public welfare.
While a resident of Wilson Mr. Grantham has become convinced of the future prosperity of this section of the state and has accordingly invested his means here in various ways. He is a director of the Planters Bank, one of the leading finan-
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cial institutions of the county, a director of the Wilson Home and Loan Association, another well known concern, and a member of the loan board of the Morris Plan Bank. He is extensively engaged in farming, having some 1,200 acres under cultivation. In other ways he has entered actively into the life of the community, and is at this time a member of the Country Club, the local lodges of the Masons and the Odd Fellows, and the Rotary Club.
Mr. Grantham was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Daniel, of Wilson, in September, 1905, and they are the parents of three children, namely: Thomas Daniel, Kemp Dickinson and Marjorie.
NOAH WEBSTER & COLLETT. Having made a wise and diligent use of his faculties and opportunities, Noah W. Collett has been variously employed dur- ing his active career, and through industry, energy and good judgment has steadily climbed the lad- der of success, at the present time, in 1917, being a member of the manufacturing firm of Graf, Davis, Collett Company, which is carrying on a large and profitable business in the manufacture of building material, sash, doors and blinds. He was born in Midway Township, Davidson County, North Carolina, a son of John Collett, and grand- son of James Collett, both of whom were natives of Thomasville Township, Davidson County. His great-grandfather, Ezekiel Collett, was a planter in Thomasville Township, and but little else is known of his history. It is supposed, however, that he belonged to that branch of the Collett family that settled farther west in this state, and whose descendants are numerous and are to be found in many of the states lying west of North Carolina.
On arriving at man's estate, James Collett em- barked in farming in his native township, but sub- sequently moved with his family to Midway Town- ship, where he bought a plantation and was suc- cessfully engaged in the tilling of the soil until his death, at the age of sixty-three years. He married Miss Margaret Taggart, whose parents emigrated from Ireland to North Carolina, and settled on a farm in Thomasville Township, where she was born. She had four brothers, Francis, Jacob, Solomon and Jesse, all of whom removed to Missouri, Solomon Taggart settling in Johnson County and the other three brothers in Lafayette County.
Brought up on his father's plantation, John Collett bought adjoining land in early manhood, and having added somewhat to the improvements previously begun, sold, and bought a farm in Thomasville Township. A few years later he dis- posed of that and bought other land in Thomas- ville Township, where he was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits for awhile. Again selling out, he bought land lying on the west line of Randolph County, where he farmed for a time before dis- posing of it. He then purchased a farm, a part of which is now included within the limits of the Town of Thomasville, and there spent his re- maining days, dying at the age of sixty-five years. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Green. She was born in Midway Township, a daughter of John and Betsey (Keineclay) Green. She died at the comparatively early age of forty-five years. Four of her children are now living, as follows: Ladora, wife of J. R. Stone; Noah Webster; James P .; and Fanny, who married J. A. Lindsay.
Noah W. Collett attended the rural schools in
his youth and assisted in the labors incidental to farm life. On attaining his majority he entered the employ of the Richmond and Danville Rail- road Company, with which he was connected for eight years, first as fireman and the last four years as engineer. Resigning that position November 15, 1889, Mr. Collett accepted a position as engi- neer on the Seaboard Air Line, and remained in that capacity for nine years and fifteen days. The ensuing six years Mr. Collett was engaged in the laundry business at Athens, Georgia. Locat- ing then in Salisbury, he was engaged in the manu- facture of furniture for a few years. In 1909 the Graf, Davis, Collett Company was incorporated for the purpose of manufacturing sash, doors and blinds and all kinds of building material, includ- ing both exterior and interior furnishings and fin- ishings. This enterprising firm has a large plant amply equipped with all of the most modern ap- proved machinery and appliances for carrying on its manufactures, and is doing a large business, not only in Salisbury but in the surrounding country.
Mr. Collett married first, at the age of twenty- seven years, Mamie Hayes, who was born in Bur- lington, North Carolina, a daughter of Michael and Mary (Sellers) Hayes. She passed to the life beyond in early womanhood. Mr. Collett married for his second wife Lulie Hughes, who was born in Abbeville, South Carolina, a daughter of Cicero Hughes, who married a Miss Rainey.
By his first marriage Mr. Collett had two chil- dren, Mary I., who was born at the home of her mother in Burlington, North Carolina, married James C. Hunter, and has one son, James C. Hunter, Jr .; and John H., born in Abbeville, Georgia, who left the University of Virginia be- fore graduation to enter the United States Avia- tion Corps, and met an accidental death at San Antonio, Texas, dying at the age of twenty-two years. By his second marriage Mr. Collett has two children, Flora May, who was born in Athens, Georgia, and Noah W., Jr., who was born in Salis- bury, North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Collett are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served for a number of years as steward. Fraternally he is member of Fulton Lodge No. 99, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons. Mr. Collett has lived in many places and has had varied experiences. He can recall many incidents of pioneer life, among other things remembering when his father raised sheep and took wool to Fries Mill in Salem to have it spun. He then brought it home, and his wife wove the material in which she clothed her household.
EDWIN ANDERSON METTS, a wholesale grocer of Wilmington, and prominent as a yachtsman, rep- resents one of the old families of North Carolina and has spent almost his entire life in the City of Wilmington.
He was born August 10, 1880, at Wilmington, a son of James Isaac and Cornelia (Cowan) Meets. His father was for many years in business as a wholesale merchant. He was educated in private schools, in the Cape Fear Academy, the Daniel Morrell Academy, and in 1898, left the University of North Carolina. On leaving college he was taken into his father's business and for ten years the firm was known as James I. Meets & Son. He then acquired a large interest in the Worth Company, wholesale grocers, and has since been president of this concern, which is one of the largest firms of its kind in North Carolina and has
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done much to upbuild Wilmington's position as a trade center.
For a number of years Mr. Metts has been one of the citizens of North Carolina who has practiced military efficiency as an active member of the National Guard. In 1898 he joined as private the Wilmington Light Infantry, was promoted to lieutenant and battalion adjutant of the Second Regiment in 1903, was promoted to regimental adjutant in 1908, and in 1909 became captain of the Wilmington Light Infantry. He is now on the retired list with the rank of major.
As a yachtsman his exploits are well known among all followers of that sport. For two terms he served as commodore of the Carolina Yacht Club. He has commanded two of the best known pleasure boats in Carolina waters, the yacht Puzzle and the yacht Calypso, both of which have won various trophies and the Calypso captured the James Walters cup recently.
Mr. Metts is a member of the Cape Fear Country Club, is an active Mason, being affiliated with St. John Lodge No. 1, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and with Sepia Grotto, an organization of Master Masons. He and his family are members of St. James Episcopal Church.
On June 20, 1905, he married Miss Elizabeth Cotchett of Wilmington. They are the parents of three children : Edwin Anderson, Jr., James Isaac, Jr., and Elizabeth Green.
ROBERT HERRING WRIGHT. While his position as first and only president of the East Carolina Teach- ers' Training School at Greenville makes Mr. Wright one of the dominant factors in North Caro- lina educational affairs today, his career apart from that has been one of distinction and ac- cumulating responsibilities in school work and citizenship.
Mr. Wright was born at Parkersburg, Sampson County, North Carolina, May 21, 1870, a son of John C. and Betty Vaiden (Herring) Wright. He grew up on his father's farm and attended both public and subscription schools. Largely as a result of his determination to secure a liberal edu- cation he advanced by attendance at the Oak Ridge Institute and in 1897 graduated Bachelor of Sci- ence from the University of North Carolina. He was a post-graduate student during 1901-02 at Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, and was in the Teachers College of Columbia University in 1906.
Mr. Wright began teaching in 1891. His first school was in one of the country districts of Bladen County, and he had charge of the entire school, all the pupils being in one room. He continued his work in public schools both in this state and in South Carolina, and from 1898 to 1901 was an instructor in Oak Ridge Institute, which he him- self had formerly attended as a student. After leaving Johns Hopkins University, Mr. Wright be- came head of the department of history, civics and economics in Baltimore City College, and in 1906 became principal of the Eastern High School of Baltimore, where he remained until 1909.
It was on the basis of this successful record and experience comprising work in a small country school and as administrative head of one of the larger city schools of Baltimore that Mr. Wright was called to his present duties as president of the East Carolina Teachers Training School at Greenville when that school was first opened for students on October 5, 1909. In the eight years of its work the Teachers Training School has had
4,295 students enrolled. It is a state institution, and was founded for the express purpose of giving to "young white men and women such education and training as shall fit and qualify them to teach in the public schools of North Carolina." When it is considered that the teaching force for the next generation or so of pupils in North Carolina will be largely recruited from the former students of the training school, it is possible to understand better the importance and the tremenduous respon- sibilities devolving upon Mr. Wright as president and directing head of this institution.
Mr. Wright is a member of the Council of the National Education Association, a member of the National Society for the Study of Education, of the Southern Sociological Congress, is member and was on the executive committee and in 1915- 16 president of the North Carolina State Teachers' Assembly and is a member and was the first presi- dent of the Maryland History Teachers' Associa- tion. He is a member of the North Carolina Society of Baltimore, of the Carolina Club, of which he was president, and is affiliated with the Royal Arch Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is present chairman of the Board of Trustees of Jarvis Memorial Methodist Episco- pal Church.
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