USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 25
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Ja can Rely
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
WILLIAM O. JACKSON, of Surry County, began his active career with limited means but with un- limited determination and energy, and in course of time has developed one of the notable farms of the county.
Mr. Jackson was born in a log cabin in Little Yadkin Township of Stokes County May 2, 1854. His grandfather was John Jackson. His birthplace is said to have been Anson County, North Car- olina. For several years he resided in Davidson County and then moved to the Shepard's Moun- tain Settlement in Randolph County. In 1848 he went to Wythe County, Virginia, and spent his last years there. The maiden name of his wife was Barsheba Bean, a native of Davidson County. She died in Randolph County.
Joel D. Jackson, father of William O., was born while his parents lived in Davidson County, on December 10, 1824. His early training was as a farmer, and when he started life for himself he was just even with the world. For several years he worked at Hoover Gold Mine. He was a steady and industrious workman, and being thrifty of his earnings he was able in time to buy a tract of timbered land near the present site of Pinnacle in Stokes County. The timber at that time had little value. In fact it was an obstacle to cultivation, and huge logs, which would now be worth $100 or more apiece, were rolled together and burned. On
a clearing in the woods he built the log cabin in which William O. Jackson first saw the light of day. The task of clearing and cultivating had hardly begun when the war broke out. The duty of patriotism was stronger than any other responsi- bility with him, and he left home to enlist in Com- pany D of the Fifty-third Regiment of North Car- olina troops. He went to the front with his com- mand and was with his regiment in all of its serv- ices, including many of the important campaigns and battles of the Army of Northern Virginia. He fought at Gettysburg and many other engagements, and in 1864 was captured. He was taken to Point Lookout, Maryland, and held a prisoner of war for ten months until paroled. He reached home just four days before the surrender of Lee at Appo- mattox. In the meantime the country had been devastated, but he courageously resumed farming and in time had achieved financial independence. His later years were spent in comfort and plenty and he died on the farm in November, 1916, in his ninety-second year. He married Mary Ann Stone, who was born near Dalton in Stokes County and died at the age of eighty-three. Her father was William Stone, a planter who also filled the office of justice of the peace many years. William Stone married a Miss Barner. Joel D. Jackson and wife had five children: Albert L., William O., John B., Julia A. and Joseph A., all of whom married and reared families.
William O. Jackson made the best of his limited opportunities when a boy to obtain an education. During the war this section of North Carolina was visited by the armies of both the North and the South. . Farms were laid waste, crops were burned, stock driven off, and when the soldiers returned it was necessary to begin all over again in the task of rehabilitation and improvement. William O. Jackson was about eleven years of age when the war ended, and he had already tested his strength in the work of the fields. He continued at home assisting his father until twenty-four, and then married and started out for himself. For two years he rented land from his father, and then con- tracted for a tract of land from Nicholas Dalton, going in debt for the entire place. This land
joined his father's farm. Hard work and energy, together with the faithful co-operation of his wife, brought him success and he soon had his land paid for. In 1894 he removed from that farm, buying the place he now owns and occupies in Mount Airy Township of Surry County. This farm borders Lovill's Creek and is four miles from Mount Airy. The home is a substantial and commodious brick house, and there are numerous other farm build- ings, while the condition of the fields and the man- agement indicates and proves that it is one of the choicest farms of Surry County. Mr. Jackson is both a general farmer and stock raiser. Jerseys are his favorite dairy cows, aud he keeps Short-Horns for beef.
He married Sarah Ann Allen, a daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth (Spainhour ) Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have three children: Reuel D., Wal- ter Roscoe and Dixie Ella. Reuel married Ronda Ross and has a son Thomas J. Dixie Ella is the wife of George M. Sparger, and their children are Jack J., Mary Matilda, Edward and Glenn. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are active members of the Salem Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
JAMES OWEN REILLY. The wide-awake operator in realty in almost any section is able to accom- plish results when business conditions are normal, and that many have availed themselves of advan- tageous circumstances, the prosperity of numerous communities and of the individuals themselves con- clusively proves. One of those who has been instru- mental in bringing about present substantial con- ditions in Southeastern North Carolina is James Owen Reilly, who stands in a prominent position as an alert, capable and honorable operator. Dur- ing his business career along this line he has haudled much valuable property, either as an in- dividual or for others, and his name has been identified with the growth of the City of Wil- mington since 1903.
Mr. Reilly was born at Wilmington, North Caro- lina, July 12, 1879, and is a son of John William and Catherine (Scott) Reilly. He comes of an old and honored southern family, and is a grandson of Maj. James Reilly, C. S. A., who fought gallantly under the colors of the Southland during the war between the states, and was in command of Fort Fisher, when it was captured. John William Reilly, father of James Owen Reilly, was born April 27, 1851, at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, moved as a young man to Wilmington, where he had an honorable business career and was super- intendent of the Wilmington Gas and Electric ยท Light Company, and died May 3, 1904. James Owen Reilly received his early education in St. Mary's Parochial School of Wilmington, following which he pursued a course at Cape Fear Academy, and in 1892 entered upon his career as a clerk in the real estate office of his uncle, Maj. Daniel O'Connor, of Wilmington, who had established the business as early as 1869. Iu 1902 Mr. Reilly became interested in the insurance business, and in the following year, with another, purchased the business from his uncle, a partnership existing until 1905, when Mr. Reilly bought his partner's interests. Since then the business has been con- ducted under the style of James Owen Reilly, real estate and insurance. Mr. Reilly has been the medium through which have been conducted some of the largest real estate transactions that have been consummated here in recent years, and in the field of insurance he has represented all the leading companies. His long and successful career as a real estate man has given him a prominent
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
place among the shrewd judges of such values in Wilmington. His holdings include large and valu- able properties both in his own fee and in trust for others. At this time he is secretary and treas- urer of the Rural Building and Loan Association, and a director in the Peoples Bank and the North Carolina Building and Loan Association. He has always taken a deep interest in the city 's welfare, never hesitating to advocate or oppose any meas- ure or project which in his judgment has merited endorsement or opposition. As a fraternalist he belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is sec- retary of the local lodge of the latter order. His social connections include membership in the Cape Fear Country Club. On May 13, 1898, Mr. Reilly enlisted in Company K, Second Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, for service in the Spanish- American war, rose to the rank of corporal, and was mustered out of the service November 20, 1898. For five years he was a member of the Re- serve Corps of the Wilmington Light Infantry. Mr. Reilly is possessed of musical talent and has been organist of Saint Mary's Cathedral since the building of the edifice.
On June 21, 1906, Mr. Reilly married Miss Min- nie Irene Smithers, of Alexandria, Virginia, and to this union there has been born one daughter : Helen Scott.
ALEXANDER MACDONALD HALL, after leaving the University of North Carolina, set himself to the task of winning success in the commercial field, and has been continuously identified with the grocery business at Wilmington. For twelve years he was in the service of the Hall & Pearsall whole- sale grocery firm, beginning as a clerk, and in 1903 he organized the Wilmington Grocery Com- pany, one of the largest retail houses of the city, and has since been its president. He is also presi- dent of the Community Savings & Loan Company, and is president of the Merchants Association and the Bureau of Credits.
Mr. Hall was born at Wilmington December 9, 1873, a son of Benjamin Franklin and Margaret (Sprunt) Hall. He was given a liberal education, attending the local public schools, the Horner Military Academy, Davidson College and finishing in the University of North Carolina. He is now serving as Clerk of Session in the First Presby- terian Church of Wilmington.
Mr. Hall is married and has a happy family. November 11, 1896, he married Miss Margaret Hargrave, of Kenansville, Duplin County, North Carolina. Their five children are named Mary Hargrave, Margaret Sprunt, Jessie Kenan, Jean MacDonald and Alexander Sprunt.
ROMNIE PUREFRY WATSON. One of the great- est contributing factors to the prestige and re- nown of North Carolina is that which comes from the tobacco industry. The importance of this in- dustry cannot be gainsaid, for the Old North State is second only to one other in the production of this staple, and last year its crops approximated 200,000,000 pounds. Of recent years the han- dling of tobacco, which before had centered in certain localities, has spread out to numerous new communities, and one of these where the business has taken on added strength during the past sev- eral decades is Wilson County, where men of ex- perience, known business ability and sound finan- cial standing are devoting their energies to the promotion of standard methods in distributing this, one of the state's greatest products. In-
cluded among these men is found Romnie Purefry Watson, president of the R. P. Watson Company. Mr. Watson's entire career has been identified with the handling of tobacco, and at the present time he is president of the Wilson Tobacco Board of Trade and vice president of the Tobacco As- sociation of the United States.
Romnie P. Watson was born on a farm in War- ren County, North Carolina, December 31, 1867, a son of William and Luu Virginia (Wright) Wat- son. He was reared on the homestead place, amid agricultural surroundings, and received his edu- cation in private schools and at Wake Forest Col- lege, where he attended with the class of 1885. Following this he applied himself to farming for one year, but in 1886 began to secure experience in the field in which he was later to achieve so notable a success as a helper on sales for a leaf tobacco concern at Henderson, North Carolina. There he gained a comprehensive knowledge of the business, and in 1895 came to Wilson, where he became a commission merchant, buying and sell- ing leaf. tobacco until 1907, when the R. P. Wat- son Company was founded and incorporated. This concern, of which he has since been president, has a large and modern factory. In the develop- ment of this business Mr. Watson has displayed a thorough familiarity with the industry, an ex- cellent knowledge of values and a desire to ele- vate business standards. His acumen, sound- ness and personal integrity have been recognized by his associates in the trade, and in the position of president of the Wilson Tobacco Board of Trade he exerts a helpful and progressive influ- ence which is doing much to better conditions. In the national organization, the Tobacco Association of the United States, of which he is vice presi- dent, his voice is frequently heard in the coun- cils, always favoring high business ethics. Mr. Watson is also vice president of the Wilson Cham- ber of Commerce. When the Wilson Country Club was organized in 1916, he was chosen its presi- dent for a term of one year, and he belongs also to the Commonwealth Club. As a sincere friend of education he is serving as a member of the board of trustees of the Wilson graded schools. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons and is a Knight Templar and a Shriner. Aside from his interests in the tobacco business Mr. Watson has few activities, an exception being his large agricultural holdings, he being a successful gen- eral farmer.
On October 30, 1895, Mr. Watson was married to Miss Mary Lou Thomas, of Henderson, North Carolina, and they are the parents of six children: Penn Thomas, Margaret, Selma, Romnie P., Jr., Mary and William. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Watson is serving therein as a member of the board of stewards.
WILLIAM WADE HAMPTON. For many years ac- tive and prominent in public affairs, William Wade Hampton, a valued and respected citizen of Dob- son, has served his fellow-men in various capacities, in each and every official position that he has held performing the duties devolving upon him intelli- gently and courageously, proving himself in all things and at all times faithful to his constituents. A native of Yadkin County, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Alfred Hampton, and of his grandfather, Dr. John Hampton, he was born February 2, 1859, in Buckshoal Township, of pio- neer ancestry.
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Henry Hampton, Mr. Hampton's great-grand- father, was, it is supposed, a native of Virginia, his birth having occurred in Halifax County. Migrating in early manhood to North Carolina, he lived first in Stokes County, near Germantown, from there moving to Yadkin County, where, on land which he purchased, he was engaged in farm- ing until his death.
Born and educated in Yadkin County, Dr. John Hampton began the study of medicine when quite young, and when ready to assume the duties of a practicing physician located at Hamptonville, Yad- kin County. Skillful and successful in his profes- sional labors, he built up a large practice, which extended across the line into Wilkes County, caus- ing him many a long, weary ride, which he was forced to take on horseback, carrying his medi- cine with him in his saddle bags. Notwithstanding the many hardships he endured while caring for the sick he lived to a venerable age, dying at the age of four score and four years in Hamptonville. The Doctor married Nellie Holcomb, who spent her life of eighty-one years in Yadkin County, and to them three sons were born, as follows: Alfred, Leroy and Wade.
Alfred Hampton was born in Hamptonville, North Carolina, in 1832, and there grew to man's estate. Choosing the free and independent occu- pation of a farmer, he bought land near Hampton- ville, and was there profitably engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until his death, at the age of sixty- three years. During the Civil war he served as a member of the Home Guards. The maiden name of his wife was Janie Patterson. She was born near Hamptonville, a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Ladd) Patterson, and is now residing at Mount Airy, Surry County. She has five children, namely : Thomas J., William Wade, Mary E., Sallie A. and Jane P.
Obtaining his preliminary education in the rural schools of his native district, William Wade Hamp- ton subsequently attended the Yadkinville and Boonville academies, completing his studies in the County Line Academy, in which Senator Overman was an instructor. Thus prepared for a profes- sional career, Mr. Hampton taught school two terms, and then, being persuaded to enter official life, he accepted the appointment of Uniter States gauger, and served in that position two years. after which he served an equal length of time as deputy internal revenue collector. A short time later Mr. Hampton was elected to represent Surry County in the State Senate, and in 1889 was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature, and was there the candidate of the minority party for speaker of the House.
Locating on a farm near Haystack in 1886, Mr. Hampton operated it successfully until 1892, when he removed with his family to Mount Airy, from there coming in 1894 to Dobson, where he has since resided. In 1894 he was elected clerk of the Supe- rior Court, and after serving efficiently in that capacity for four years was re-elected in 1906 and continued in office for eight more years. He is still greatly interested in agriculture, being a land- holder and operating his farm through renters.
On January 13, 1886, Mr. Hampton married Miss Emma Shore. who was born in Yadkin County, a daughter of Wiley F. and Sarah (Williams) Shore. Two children have blessed their union, Wade Bruce and Henry Conrad. Mrs. Hampton is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church and is a teacher iu its Sunday school.
JAMES DIXON ECKLES is one of the able lawyers of Buncombe County, and also one of the most useful men in the citizenship of the community of Black Mountain. He has fairly earned every step in his advancement, and richly merits the distinc- tions that have been accorded him while he is still in the middle years of a successful career.
Mr. Eckles was born at Petersburg, Virginia, August 19, 1874, son of Robert Stith and Eliza- beth Bennett (Tucker) Eckles. His father for a number of years was a merchant and afterwards was connected with the Norfolk & Western Rail- way Company. The son was educated in the pub- lic schools of Petersburg, Emory and Henry Col- lege in Washington County, Virginia, and Wash- ington and Lee University, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Law at the latter school in June, 1902. Mr. Eckles was for five years a member of the bar of Norfolk, Virginia. In 1909 he came to Buncombe County, locating at Black Mountain, where in addition to his growing general practice he is secretary and treasurer of the Black Moun- tain Building and Loan Association, director and attorney of the Methodist Colony Company, and is attorney for various lumber companies and other corporations. He has also served as city attorney and in 1917 was elected mayor of this thriving town. In the Buncombe County democratic pri- mary held June 1, 1918, he was elected as the can- didate of that party for the office of representative No. 1 for Buncombe County in the General As- sembly of North Carolina.
April 8, 1912, he married Miss Elizabeth Cat- terall Many. Her people came from New York State. They have two children, Mary Elizabeth and Jane Ann.
CLEMENT COOTE BROWN has been a resident of Wilmington for over forty years. He came to the city at the age of twenty-one, and in those early years was a telegraph operator, the duties of which position caused him to move from place to place. He was promoted from time to time and eventually became manager of the Western Union Company at Wilmington.
On leaving the Western Union service Mr. Brown bought the Wilmington Brokerage Com- pany, and for a number of years has been an important figure in financial and business affairs. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Wilming- ton Homestead & Loan Association, and is vice president of the Masonic Temple Corporation. He is secretary of Orient Lodge No. 395, A. F. & A. M., is past commander of the Knight Templar Commandery, and is a member of the Carolina Yacht Club.
Mr. Brown was born in the District of Colum- bia February 13, 1853, a son of Eleazer and Mar- garet (Coote) Brown. His father was for many years an employe of the United States government at Washington. Mr. Brown gained his early education largely in the District of Columbia, and while there learned the art of telegraphy.
On April 15, 1877, at Wilmington, he married Miss Ellen Stevenson. They are the parents of four children. . Thomas Edwin and James Steven- son are) both connected with the Wilmington Brokerage Company, being associates of their father. Ida is Mrs. Thomas L. Speiden, of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. The youngest is Clement Coote, Jr., who is first lieutenant of the Three Hundred and Seventh Regimental Engineers and now in France. For many years Mr. Brown has
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
been a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Wilmington.
RICHARD BEAUREGARD HYATT is now in his third consecutive term as sheriff of Edgecombe County, and has for many years been closely identified with the business and civic affairs of Tarboro and that community.
He was born at Tarboro, August 21, 1864, a son of Jesse Blair and Margaret (Horne) Hyatt. His father was a substantial merchant of Tar- boro, and for a number of years served as chief of police of the city.
Richard B. Hyatt was educated in Prof. F. S. Wilkinson's school and his first practical ex- perience was as clerk in a general store. In 1893 he was appointed deputy sheriff of Edgecombe County, and filled that office six years, an experi- ence that gave him a training of much value as an officer of law and order. For a year he was chief of police at Tarboro, resigning that office, and for some years served as constable. In Feb- ruary, 1912, he was appointed to serve an unex- pired term as sheriff of Edgecombe County, and in 1913 was regularly elected to that office and has been re-elected in 1915 and 1917. The ad- ministration of the affairs which come under the jurisdiction of the sheriff's office in Edgecombe County have never been more efficient than un- der Mr. Hyatt.
He is also a director of the Edgecombe Home- stead & Loan Association and of the Edgecombe County Fair Association. Fraternally he is affil- iated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Mr. Hyatt married January 19, 1897, Miss Minnie White, of Halifax County, Northi Caro- lina, daughter of William King White, a farmer of that county.
BISHOP EDWARD RONDTHALER, D. D., has for forty years been a prominent figure in the Mora- vian Church in Western North Carolina, was for- merly pastor of the Home Moravian Church at Salem, and now for many years has been bishop.
He comes of a long line of Movarian divines and his father and grandfather were prominent in the church both in this country and in Europe. Bishop Rondthaler was born at Schoeneck, Penn- sylvania, July 24, 1842. His grandfather, Eman- uel Rondthaler, was born in Russia, and was pastor of the Moravian Church at Serepta in that country. About 1804 he immigrated to America, locating at York, Pennsylvania, where he continued as pastor of the Moravian Church for many years. Edward Rondthaler, father of Bishop Edward Rondthaler, was born at York, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1817. He was liberally educated at Nazareth Hall, North- ampton, Pennsylvania, and his first pastorate was at Shoeneck, Pennsylvania, where he was ordained in 1841. Subsequently he became president of the Theological Seminary at Nazareth Hall and was active in that office until his death in 1855. He married Sarah Louisa Rice, daughter of Joseph and Salome (Heckewelder) Rice. Her grand- father was the famous John Heckewelder, a bishop of the Moravian Church and for many years a mis- sionary among the Delaware and other Indian tribes in the Northwest Territory. Bishop Hecke- welder lived with those Indians in Ohio, and all his- torical students are familiar with his writings. He wrote a detailed account of his life and experiences among the Indians, describing their habits and characteristics, and this work is the basis for much
of the knowledge of these Indian tribes which has been used for historians in all subsequent work, and the Heckewelder narrative was also read and studied by Longfellow and other poets and supplied the material for much of the poetry dealing with Indian life. Bishop John Heckewelder spent his last years at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Bishop Rondthaler's mother died in 1854.
Bishop Edward Rondthaler grew up in Pennsyl- vania, attended the Nazareth Hall and also the Moravian Theological Seminary at Bethlehem for four years. He also went abroad and spent a year in the University of Erlangen in Germany. In 1864, at the age of twenty-two, he began teaching at Nazareth Hall and in the following year was ordained deacon and became pastor of a Moravian Church in Brooklyn, New York. He remained at Brooklyn engaged in his duties until 1873, when he accepted a call to the First Moravian Church of Philadelphia. After these pastorates in two of the largest cities of the country, Bishop Rondthaler came to the Home Moravian Church at Salem, North Carolina, in 1877. He has been active in the larger responsibilities of his church in this section of North Carolina ever since. He continued as a pastor until 1891, and on the 12th of April of that year was consecrated bishop of the Unitas Fratrum.
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