USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 18
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December 31, 1902, Mr. Wright married Miss Pearl Murphy of Tomahawk, North Carolina. They are the parents of four children: Pearl, Robert Herring, Jr., Mary and William Alderman.
GEORGE THOMAS STRONACH. In any growing locality, whether it be developing from wilder- ness to settlement or from city to metropolis, the changing conditions offer splendid returns for foresight and business sagacity. The man who can foresee the strategic center of industrial development is in a position of advantage over his fellows, and it is this foresight that is neces- sary for success in the field of real estate. George Thomas Stronach, commencing his career at Wil- son in connection with financial matters, developed abilities in judging land values that have made him one of the leading operators in the real estate business in Wilson County, and today he is con- nected with enterprises that are assisting largely in the advancement of the county seat as a center of business activity and an attractive residential community.
Mr. Stronach was born at Raleigh, North Car- olina, September 28, 1874, being a son of George Thomas and Martha Elizabeth (Cooke) Stronach. His father, originally an agriculturist and the owner of large properties, in later years became interested in commercial ventures and was for some years known as a subtsantial merchant of Raleigh. After securing his preliminary educa- tional training at the Raleigh Male Academy, George T. Stronach entered Oak Ridge Institute, and shortly after his graduation from that in- stitution, in 1894, came to Wilson. In 1896 he became identified with the First National Bank, in a minor capacity, and remained with that in- stitution until 1914, at which time he was occu- pying the position of first assistant cashier. In the meantime, in 1907, he had become one of the organizers of the Wilson Insurance and Realty Company, having become convinced of the pros- perous future awaiting this locality. The busi- ness of this concern grew to large proportions, and in 1914, when elected secretary and treas- urer of the enterprise, Mr. Stronach severed his connection with the First National in order to
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give his entire attention to his duties in his new field. The Wilson Insurance and Realty Com- pany is a concern capitalized at $10,000, and handles real estate in a large way, much of its business being done in the way of additions to the City of Wilson, of which it has made several. Much of its success may be accredited to the acumen and energy of Mr. Stronach, an excel- lent judge of realty values and a capable organ- izer and promoter, as well as a business man who has attracted public confidence by honest representation and fidelity to agreements. He has several other interests, being secretary and treas- urer of the Morris Plan Bank of Wilson, and holding like positions with the Atlantic Building and Loan Association, also a Wilson concern, and in each has displayed energy and initiative in a degree that have made him especially valu- able to his associates. He holds membership in the Wilson Chamber of Commerce, in the meet- ings and work of which he takes an active part, and is also a member of the Country Club.
Mr. Stronach was united in marriage, Decem- ber 18, 1912, to Miss Margaret Pauline Woodard, daughter of Frank Woodard, an agriculturist of Wilson County, and they are the parents of one son, George Thomas, Jr., who was born Septem- ber 1, 1914, at Wilson.
THOMAS MILLARD GEORGE has had a very use- ful career as an educator and an editor. He is now proprietor and editor of the leading paper at Mount Airy and through the columns of his journal he appeals to many people who were as children under his influence as a teacher.
Mr. George represents an old colonial family of the South. He was born in New Hope Town- ship of Iredell County, North Carolina, January 15, 1852. His remote American ancestors were Welsh people who located in Maryland. His great- grandfather, Reuben George, was a native of Vir -. ยท ginia, where he spent nearly all his life. He was with the Virginia troops in the Revolutionary war. Of his children, one or two of the sons went to Ohio, while two came to North Carolina. One of the latter was Isaac George, who was born in Virginia and was a pioneer settler in Stokes County, North Carolina. From there he removed to Iredell County, and quite late in life, about 1840, moved to Indiana with some of his family. He made this trip with wagons and teams, accom- panied by his wife, one son and two daughters. In the vicinity of Knightstown, Indiana, he bought land, and lived there until his death at nearly eighty years of age. He married a Miss Hensley, who was born in Virginia. After her husband's death she and a son went to Litchfield, Illinois, and that was the locality where she died. She reared five children, named Enoch, Wesley H., Elizabeth, Mary and Reuben.
Wesley Hensley George, father of Thomas Mil- lard, was born in Stokes County in June, 1810. He made the best of his early opportunities to attain an education in a time when schools were very meagerly supported. He had a natural gift as a mathematician and developed exceptional skill as a surveyor. A part of each year he was kept busy at this profession in Iredell and nearby counties. He also bought a farm in New Hope Township, and long superintended its operations. As a young man he had also taught school. In 1872 he removed to Yadkin County, and buying a farm in the western part of the county resided there until death overtook him in 1880. He mar-
ried Arena Redman. She was born in Iredell County, daughter of John and Jane (Williams) Redman. Her grandfather, Thomas Redman, was born in Virginia of Irish ancestry. Thomas Red- man was a pioneer settler in Iredell County and the farm he developed furnished him resources and home until his death. He and his wife, Mary, reared a large family of children. John Redman was also a farmer and a lifelong resident of Ire- dell County. His wife, Jane Williams, who sur- vived him several years, was a daughter of Samuel Williams, who it is believed was born in Davidson County of Welsh ancestry, but subsequently moved to Iredell County and followed farming. Mrs. Wesley George died at the age of seventy-four. Her first husband was named William Chenault, and by that union there were three children, Abner, William and Mary. By her marriage to Wesley George she had seven children: John Julia, Franklin, Martha, Reuben Harrison, Thomas Millard, Isadore and Docia. Wesley George was a whig in politics and was elected twice on that ticket to the Legislature. He also served in the Constitutional Convention in 1868 ..
Thomas Millard George as a boy and in the intervals of his teaching experience acquired a lib- eral education. He attended the common schools in Iredell County, and afterwards was a student in Taylorville High School, in the Yadkin Insti- tute and in the Jenersville Academy. At the age of nineteen he began teaching, and continued that work upwards of thirty years. For several years he was a teacher in Yadkin, also in Iredell County, and for three years taught in Northwestern Missouri in Ray County. For two years he was principal of the high school at Cana in Davie County. His last teaching was as principal of the high school at Elkin in Surry County, which he served three years.
In the meantime, in 1904, Mr. George became editor and publisher of the Elkin Times. In 1905 he resigned as principal of the high school to give all his time to this paper. Editorial work proved a congenial field, and the success of his first ven- ture encouraged him to expand the scope of his business and in 1913 he consolidated the Elkin Times with the Mount Airy Leader. He has con- tinued the publication of the Leader at Mount Airy and has given it a high place among the newspapers of North Carolina.
In December, 1883, Mr. George married Mary Critz, who was born in Davie County, daughter of Haman and Elizabeth (Frost) Critz. Mrs. George was a teacher before her marriage and subsequently assisted her husband in school work. They have reared four children, all highly edu- cated young people and proving their value as educators. Their names are Lillian, William Fiske, Wesley Critz and Mabel Elizabeth. William, who had a high school education, is now secretary of the Board of Trade at Bartow, Florida; Lillian was educated in Catawba College at Newton, North Carolina, and is now a teacher at Mount Airy; Wesley Critz graduated from the University of North Carolina and is now a member of the fac- ulty of Guilford College; Mabel is a graduate of the Flora McDonald College and is now teaching at Maple Hill. Mr. and Mrs. George are active members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and have reared their children in the same faith.
HON. JOHN HOSEA KERR. Prominently inscribed upon the annals of the jurisprudence in the State of North Carolina is the name and record of Judge
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John H. Kerr, who became a member of the War- renton bar more than twenty years ago, served in various official positions, and in 1916 was elected judge of the Superior Court. In his judicial office he has established an especially creditable record for faithful, conscientious and eminently dis- tinguished service, and has strengthened the ties of faith and confidence in which he has been held by the people of his state.
Judge Kerr was born in Yanceyville, North Caro- lina, December 31, 1873, a son of Capt. John Hosea and Eliza Catherine (Yancey) Kerr. His father, who for many years followed agricultural pursuits, was also a man of prominence and worth in his community, and in addition to serving as clerk of the court for the County of Caswell, for a number of years was identified with state mili- tary affairs of the United States Government and the Southern Confederacy. After attending the public schools for a time, Judge Kerr was sent to Bingham Military School, which he attended as a pupil in 1890 and 1891, and in the latter year entered Wake Forest College, from which admir- able institution he was duly graduated with the class of 1895. In September of that year he had the distinction to be the first man to receive a law license who graduated from that college, and he at once located at Warrenton and entered upon the practice of his chosen calling. His business has always been of a general character, and from the first Judge Kerr was successful, his fine abilities displaying themselves in such a manner that he escaped almost altogether the period of probation which most young lawyers are forced to meet. As he gained more and more notable success as a practitioner, so did public honors come to him, and in addition to various minor offices he served for two terms as mayor of the Town of Warrington and in 1904 he was chosen as a presi- dential elector, in 1906 was made solicitor for the Second and Third Judicial Districts, a position in which he held with the utmost fidelity and ability for ten years. For some time past he had been considered to be of sound judicial timber, and in September, 1916, was nominated for the office of judge of the Superior Court. The large vote which he received at the polls in the November that followed evidenced the people's belief in him, a confidence that was not misplaced, as time has already shown. Judge Kerr has just been renom- inated for this position without opposition for a term of eight years.
Judge Kerr was married February 15, 1899, to Miss Ella Lillian Foote, daughter of Henry A. and Minnie (Young) Foote, and to this union there have been born two sons: John H., Jr., and James Yancey. The family belongs to the Baptist Church, and is connected prominently with social affairs and religious and charitable work of their state.
WILLIE PERSON MANGUM TURNER. Preliminary to the practice of law, in which he is now suc- cessfully engaged at Wilmington, Mr. Turner was a newspaper man, but throughout his career has benefited by close association with the leading men of the state.
He was born in Trinity, Randolph County, North Carolina, December 1, 1877, son of Julian Augus- tine and Mary Alma (Leach) Turner. His father for many years was a prominent attorney, served as a member of the Legislature from Stanley and Guilford counties, and is now living retired at Greensboro. The son was educated in the Horner
Military School at Oxford, North Carolina, and finished his literary training and also his legal edu- cation in the University of North Carolina. He worked as a reporter and correspondent and for a time was city editor of the Greensboro Telegram, later city editor of the Wilmington Messenger, and was also a member of the staff of the Raleigh Times. He then reentered the university and in 1907 was admitted to the bar. After practicing one year at Lexington he returned to Wilmington in 1908, and has since found abundant opportuni- ties to prove his legal ability in the handling of a large volume of practice.
He is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, and has taken an active part in the democratic party and at one time was nominated, though he declined to run, for membership in the Legislature. December 14, 1905, he married Miss Lucy Baldwin, of Wilmington. They have two children, Willie Person Mangum, Jr., and Marion Baldwin.
JOSEPH JAMES LOUGHLIN is one of the rapidly rising members of the bar of Wilmington, though his time and attention have been chiefly devoted to the business of real estate development.
He was born at Swansboro, North Carolina, March 20, 1880, a son of James and Ida M. (Ward) Loughlin, his father having been a mauu- facturer. He was well educated, attending gram- mar and high schools, and during the twelve years he held the position of chief clerk in the postoffice at Wilmington he carried on his law studies privately and in August, 1911, was ad- mitted to the bar.
For a number of years Mr. Loughlin has been successfully identified with the real estate busi- ness and development work. He is secretary and treasurer of the New Hanover Transit Company and has taken an active part in the improvement and development of Carolina Beach. He is also a director in the Highwood Company, developing a Wilmington suburb, and is a director of the Progressive Building and Loan Association.
Mr. Loughlin is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and belongs to the Masonic Order. On September 25, 1907, he married Miss Eleanor King, of Pennsylvania. They have three chil- dren: Joseph James, Jr., Charles Elliott and Eleanor King Loughlin.
WILLIAM GRANVILLE SYDNOR has for many years been actively identified with business affairs at Mount Airy, where he has developed a large and extensive clientage in general insurance. He has also done his part toward the promotion of local industries and is now president of the Hadley People Manufacturing Company, president of the Mount Airy Workingman's Building & Loan Asso- ciation, and is president of the Surry County Fair Association.
The welfare of the community has also enlisted his time and attention, and he has served as a member of the town board of commissioners, and was elected mayor in 1911 and re-elected in 1913.
Mr. Sydnor is a Virginian by birth and ances- try. He was born on a farm in Halifax County, Virginia, December 1, 1865. His grandfather, William Sydnor, was born in the same county, owned and occupied a farm near Meadsville in that county, and employed his slaves to cultivate his fields. He married Susan Coleman Barksdale, also a native and life-long resident of Halifax
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County. Their nine children were Peter, Beverly, Giles, Alexander A., William A., Mary, Judith, Betsy and Fannie.
William Anthony Sydnor, father of the Mount Airy business man, was born in Halifax County, Virginia, June 25, 1836. He was liberally edu- cated, and from early youth manifested a com- mendable interest iu public affairs. Before the war he owned numerous slaves and was much attached to his negroes, treating them kindly, and he refused all offers to sell them and kept them until they were set free by the war. For several years he owned and operated a saw mill in Hali- fax County, and from there moved to Mecklenburg County in the same state about 1871. In Meck- lenburg County he was associated as a partuer with his brother Alexander, and they owned and operated both a flour and saw mill on the Roa- noke River. That was his home until his death on April 9, 1877. William A. Sydnor married, No- vember 26, 1859, Sally A. Smith, who was born in Halifax County, Virginia, July 26, 1835. Her grandparents were Robert and Sarah (Spencer) Smith, life long residents of Prince Edward County, Virginia, and substantial farming people of that section. Daniel A. Smith, father of Sally A. Smith, was a native of Prince Edward County and married Mary A. Penick, a native of Halifax County and daughter of Nathan and Tabitha (Rudd) Penick. Daniel A. Smith and wife had the following sons and daughters: Robert J., Elizabeth, Maria, Nathan, Mildred, Mollie and Sallie. Mrs. William A. Sydnor is now living with her son William G. at Mount Airy and is eighty-two years of age, still hale and hearty. She was the mother `of three children, Robert A., Susan and William G. Robert A., who died June 13, 1897, married Bessie Butler, and they had a son, Trent. Susan married George Perkins and is now deceased.
William G. Sydnor was educated in the common schools and at the age of seventeen began clerk- ing in a country store. Later he took up the in- surance business at Danville, Virginia, and after his early training and experience he removed, in 1890, to Mount Airy and opened an office to han- dle both fire and life insurance. It has been a prosperous business connection, and he has the chief insurance agency in Surry County.
Mr. Sydnor was married in 1897 to Lottie B. Banner, who was born at Mount Airy, a daughter of Dr. C. L. and Martha (Tatem) Banner, of Pat- rick County, Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Sydnor have five children, named A. Kyle, Margaret, Wil- liam Lee, Gray Banner and Frank Tatem.
SAMUEL PROBERT COLLIER, now living retired at Wilmington, is one of the youngest surviving veterans of the war between the states. He at- tained years of manhood after that struggle was over, and more than forty years of his mature life were devoted to business and official affairs. He gained high rank among the railway officials of North Carolina and also for many years was clerk of the United States Court.
Mr. Collier was born at Everettsville near Golds- boro, Wayne County, North Carolina, in 1846, son of Col. George Washington and Elizabeth (Oliver) Collier. The father was born in the same locality, son of Probert Collier, who was a resi- dent around Everettsville for many years. The Colliers owned wide stretches of land and before the war were slave owners. The Collier home was on the south side of the Neuse River. In
various generations the Colliers have intermarried with other families whose names are conspicuous in the history of North Carolina, such as the Whit- fields, the Bryans, the Hughes of Newberu, aud the Everetts, for whom the community of Everetts- ville was named. Samuel P. Collier's mother was a daughter of Samuel Oliver of Newbern.
Prior to the war Samuel P. Collier was a student in the school at Everettsville conducted by J. D. Campbell. In the fall and winter of 1861-62 he attended Doctor Wilson's Preparatory School at Melville in Alamance County, preparing for col- lege. In the fall and winter of 1862-63 he was a student in Hillsboro Military Academy under Major Gordon. But all the time his thoughts were away from books and the routine of school life. His eagerness to get into the strife which had already drawn into the ranks the best blood of the South came to a climax in April, 1863, when he ran away from the military school in company with a fellow student, Thomas R. Roulhac. He was sworn into the Confederate service at Raleigh by C. B. Root. Both the young students became members of the Ellis Light Artillery, commanded by B. C. Manley, son of Governor Manley. This command was known as Manley's Battery and was attached to Cabell's Battalion in General McLaw's Division of Longstreet's Corps. Mr. Collier re- mained in the artillery until after the Battle of Gettysburg, in which three days' conflict he was a participant. At Gordonsville, Virginia, shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg he was offered and accepted the sergeant majorship of the Second North Carolina Regiment, and held that position until September 19, 1864, when his adjutant, J. P. Dillingham, of Newbern, was captured and he was then acting adjutant of the Second North Caro- lina. The responsibilities of this office he dis- charged efficiently and faithfully in spite of his youth until after the surrender at Appomattox, at which he was present. Mr. Collier was only nine- teen years old when the war closed. More than fifty years have since passed, but they have failed to obliterate his youthfulness in appearance and activities, and he is one of the youngest old men in the State of North Carolina. The days he spent with the fighting armies of the South assume larger and larger interest in his recollections as time goes on, and he has identified himself with the old soldiers' organizations and is deeply interested in the history and reminiscences pertaining to the war and its participants.
After returning from the army Mr. Collier was for a short time at Goldsboro and later lived at Newbern until 1870. He then returned to Golds- boro and married in 1871, and soon afterward entered the railroad service as clerk to Capt. John F. Divine, superintendent of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. Later he was made clerk to R. R. Bridges, the president of the road. His railroad duties brought him to Wilmington, the headquarters of the Wilmington & Weldon, and that city has been his place of residence since 1871. In the railroad service of the Wilmington & Weldon Mr. Collier rose by successive and well merited promotions to be assistant general freight agent of the company. He retired in 1884. Sub- sequently for a period of fourteen years Mr. Collier was clerk of the United States Court for the Wilmington Division of the Eastern District of North Carolina. He was constant and unflagging in his attention to the duties of this office until he resigned in 1917.
At Goldsboro, April 27, 1871, Mr. Collier married
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Miss Emma F. Knight, a native of that city and daughter of Capt. James and Louisiana (Loring) Knight. Her parents were born in Nansemond County, Virginia. Captain Knight was a railroad official of long and honorable record. He began railroading at Suffolk, Virginia, at the age of seventeen, and for over a half a century was with the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad and rose to the position of superintendent of transportation. He died in 1901 at the age of eighty-six. Mrs. Collier cherishes the possession of a beautiful silver service presented to her father in October, 1886, by Mr. W. T. Walters, one of the largest stockholders of the Wilmington & Weldon. The service is engraved with the following inscription: "To Captain James Knight, a testimonial to his never having been found wanting during half a century of service." The service consists of a pitcher and salver of hammered silver, truly massive, and of exquisite design.
Mr. and Mrs. Collier have three living children. Mary, is the wife of Mr. James W. Perrin, as- sistant traffic manager of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway. Samuel P. Collier, Jr., is traffic manager of the Winston-Salem Southbound Railroad, with headquarters at Winston-Salem. Dr. George Kirby Collier, a graduate of the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons of Baltimore, is now superin- tendent of a large state institution at Sonyea, near Rochester, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Collier had the misfortune to lose by death in 1911 another son, James K. Collier, who was a talented news- paper man. For several years he was on the edi- torial staff of the New York American. He also gained prominence in the amusement world, and for some years was manager for Primrose and West's Minstrels.
Mr. and Mrs. Collier have a most delightful and happy home. Some years ago he bought the Brown mansion on Front Street. It is a spacious and generously constructed residence suggestive of the opulence of its builders and one affording a fitting and congenial domicile for such hospitable spirits as Mr. and Mrs. Collier. This home is in the heart of what is now Wilmington's business district, and has become highly valuable as real -
estate.
RUSSELL WOLCOTT LIVERMORE. The real signifi- cance of a life is more than its material achieve- ments, and consists in what it has meant for the well being and advancement of others. It was a remarkably extensive circle of friends and neigh- bors that the life and career of the late Russell Wolcott Livermore affected, and always for their good.
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