History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V, Part 26

Author: Connor, R. D. W. (Robert Digges Wimberly), 1878-1950; Boyd, William Kenneth, 1879-1938. dn; Hamilton, Joseph Gregoire de Roulhac, 1878-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Chicago : New York : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 730

USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 26

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Besides his responsibilities as bishop he is senior pastor of the seven Moravian churches of Winston- Salem and since 1880 has been a member of the Provincial Elders Conference. He was principal of the Salem Female Academy from 1884 to 1888 and for many years has been president of its Board of Trustees. Bishop Rondthaler is a man of wide culture and has traveled extensively. He attended the General Synods of the Moravian Church at Herrnhut in Saxony, where the church originated, being present at the Synods in 1879, 1889, 1899, 1902, 1906, 1909 and 1914. He was at the Synod in August, 1914, when the great world war broke out.

Bishop, Rondthaler married Mary. Jacobson, daughter of Bishop John Jacobson, who for many years was a missionary among the Delaware In- dians and subsequently bishop of the Northern Division of the Moravian Church. Bishop and Mrs. Rondthaler have reared two children, Howard and Alice. The latter is the wife of Rev. Arthur Chase of Ware, Massachusetts, and the former is presi- dent of Salem College.

RORY MCNAIR. Lying two miles east of Max- ton in Robeson County is located Argyle Farm, one of the best known places of historic interest in the southern part of North Carolina. Rory McNair, the present occupant and owner of the farm, and one of the progressive and energetic agriculturists of the county, is the representative of the fifth generation of the family to reside upon this property. He was born here in 1869, and is a son of R. M. and Rebecca J. (MacCallum) Mc- Nair.

It was about the year 1760 that Neil McNair, the great-great-grandfather of Rory McNair, came from Scotland and located on this farm, and here his descendants have resided ever since. His son was Roderick McNair, and the latter's son was Duncan McNair. An interesting relic of the early years is the residence, still preserved, al- though removed to the rear of the premises, which was built by Neil McNair for a home. Although at least 150 years old, its sturdy construction is indicated by its still good state of preservation, it being, in fact, practically as staunch as when

Rong m& hair

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA

first erected. It was built originally of hewn logs, and in later years these were covered by weather boarding.

The farm at present consists of about 500 acres, is of the rich sandy soil that is characteristic of this section of the state, and its fertility and last- ing quality can be judged from the fact that it has been continuously in profitable cultivation for such a long period of years. Argyle Farm is two miles east of Maxton, lying on both sides of the Lumberton-Rockingham road, which is a part of the Wilmington-Charlotte Highway, a much-trav- eled thoroughfare. The general crop, of course, is cotton, but for the past few years Mr. McNair, who is one of the progressive men of his locality, has been quite extensively engaged in the com- mercial production of canteloupes and watermelons, and usually ships from his farm from fifteen to twenty-five carloads of melons each year, making quite a local industry.

In 1912 Mr. McNair built his present spacious and beautiful residence on his farm, and this is one of the show places of Maxton and the vicin- ity, being equipped with a water system and all modern conveniences and affording a splendid and comfortable home for the McNair family and a pleasant and desired place of visit for their many guests. Mr. McNair married Miss Mary Purcell, and they have five children: Thomas P., Rebecca J., Roderick, James MacCallum and Elizabeth Neil. Mr. and Mrs. McNair and their children are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church.

ARTHUR BASCOM CROOM, M. D. The present secretary of the New Hanover County Medical So- ciety at Wilmington is one of the latest additions to the medical fraternity of that city, and it was in the nature of a distinctive tribute paid him by his fellow practitioners that he was given the honor and dignity of an office in their medical organiza- tion. Doctor Croom is a physician and surgeon of thorough experience and tried abilities, is a son of an old time and skillful country doctor of Robeson County, and in that locality he himself practiced until he came to Wilmington.

Doctor Croom was born at Maxton, North Caro- lina, in 1880, a son of Dr. James Dallas and Ann Mortimer (Blake) Croom, both now deceased. His father, who died at Maxton in 1914, was born at Currie in Pender County, North Carolina, in 1844. His ancestors were among the earliest of those splendid Scotch people who settled the Cape Fear section of North Carolina and put the stamp of their character on all its subsequent history. Bunyan Croom was the father of Dr. James D. Croom. Bunyan Croom married Mary Jane Mc- Duffie.

James Dallas Croom was one of the youngest soldiers in the war between the states, having volunteered in the Confederate army before he was seventeen. He made a creditable record as a soldier, as is attested to by all his old comrades who were with him on the march and in battle, never shirking a duty, always eager for the fray, and possessing a youthful spirit and enthusiasm and undaunted courage that made him beloved of all his fellows. He was wounded at the Battle of Bentonville. Some time after the war he moved to the little village then known as Shoe Heel, now the flourishing and wealthy Town of Maxton in Robeson County. He taught school, was in the drug business and studied medicine. His medical studies were finished in the medical department of the University of South Carolina at Charleston,

where he graduated with the class of 1876. From that time until his death, nearly forty years later, he was continuously in practice at Maxton. His Scotch character, his patience, his skill, his devo- tion to duty, made him greatly beloved all over that part of the country. For a long number of years he was a deacon in the Maxton Presbyterian Church, and not long before his death was elected one of its ruling elders. His wife, Ann Mortimer, was a daughter of Isham and Mary (Hall) Blake, of Fayetteville, Cumberland County.

With such parents the early influences surround- ing the life of Arthur Bascom Croom were well calculated to develop in him his best talents and all those ideals and ambitions that make men use- ful in the world. He was reared and attended the schools of Maxton, studied medicine in the Uni- versity of Maryland and Baltimore, and was grad- uated M. D. with the class of 1905. During his last year at Baltimore he also pursued post-grad- uate work in Johns Hopkins University. He began practice at his home town of Maxton and for a little more than five years he and his father con- ducted a well equipped hospital in that town.

Doctor Croom's unflagging energy and capacity for hard work, as well as his special talents as a physician, really required a wider field for his efforts. Hence in July, 1917, he located per- manently in Wilmington, the seaport city and com- mercial metropolis of North Carolina. He was gladly welcomed here by the medical profession, and his acquaintance and his ability brought him almost immediately a busy practice. Besides being a physician and surgeon of the first rank, Doctor Croom has a rare gift of making friends with every one, of whatever station in life, and he lit- erally radiates cheer and comfort which in these modern days of strain and complexity are as im- portant an agency for health as medicine. While at Maxton Doctor Croom was for several years local surgeon for the Atlantic Coast Line and Sea- board Air Line Railway. At Wilmington he has been appointed consulting surgeon for the Sea- board Air Line Railway.

During the administration of Governor Charles B. Aycock he was appointed first lieutenant of Company M, Second North Carolina Regiment, and Governor Glenn promoted him to the rank of cap- tain.

At Raleigh December 30, 1902, Doctor Croom married Miss Maude Dinwiddie, daughter of James and Bettie (Carrington) Dinwiddie, both members of Virginia families and both now deceased. James Dinwiddie was one of the South's distinguished educators. For several years he held one of the professorships in the University of Tennessee at Nashville, where Mrs. Croom was born. Later removing to Raleigh, he became president and owner of Peace Institute, in which latter institu- tion Mrs. Croom was educated. Mrs. Croom brings fine intelligence and capacity to the exacting duties of the wife of the busy practitioner, and is a woman of note at Wilmington, both at home and in society. Doctor and Mrs. Croom have three children, Elizabeth, Maude and Bascom.

WILLIAM GORDON WEEKS. In days when the whole world shows unrest, it is to the solid, re- liable, substantial business man that the ordinary citizen turns with hope. Such men have shown ability in the safeguarding of their own interests and have many times carefully guided their own enterprises through panics and business convul- sions that have brought stringent markets, and

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA

it would seem but natural that such men should be resourceful and from experience be able to ad- vise wisely and judiciously. Perhaps no better example of sound business methods can be found in any enterprise at Rocky Mount than those which prevail with the well known wholesale grocery house of Matthews & Weeks, William Gordon Weeks being the senior member of the firm.

William Gordon Weeks was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, March 19, 1875. His parents were George Washington and Bettie (Leg- gett) Weeks. The father has always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits.

After the public schools William G. Weeks continued his education in Scotland Neck Mili- tary School and subsequently took a course in a commercial college at Siler City, North Caro- lina. Afterward he remained with his father on the home farm for a year and then accepted a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale gro- cery company of Rocky Mount, and continued with this house for the next five years. No bet- ter method could he have found to prepare himself for his present business. He became favorably known over a wide territory and thoroughly fa- miliar with grade, quality and market of the com- modities he sold and with his competitors, and thus was well qualified when, in 1902, he became associated with James W. Matthews, as Matthews, Weeks & Company, wholesale grocers. This has been an exceedingly prosperous concern.

Mr. Weeks was married January 16, 1902, to Miss Martha Eleanor Woodall, who was born at Smithfield, North Carolina, and is a daughter of the late Seth and Martha (Durham) Woodall. The father of Mrs. Weeks was a merchant and also owned farm properties in Johnston County. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have three sons: William Gor- don, George LaFayette and Kenneth Denham, Mr. Weeks and wife are members of the Presbyte- rian Church, in which he is a deacon. Though never a politician or office seeker, nevertheless he is an active and useful citizen and all matters of civic importance receive his careful attention. He feels a sense of public responsibility as do other stable and dependable men, and is ever ready to assist in promoting undertakings which he believes will benefit the community.

LACEY JASPER BRAY. A prosperous business man of Elkin and a substantial representative of the milling interests of Surry County, Lacey Jasper Bray has been exceedingly fortunate in his under- takings. his success in life being entirely due to his untiring industry, energy and good manage- ment. He was born April 11, 1859, in Dobson Township, Surry County, North Carolina, a son of Oliver Bray and grandson of Arthur Bray, a life- long farmer of Surry County.

Reared to agricultural pursuits, Oliver Bray re- mained beneath the parental rooftree until twenty- one years old, when he started in life for himself. Desirous of learning the miller's trade, he worked for awhile in a corn mill in Surry County, later being employed in a French burr mill on Fish River near Dobson. He became an expert miller, and followed the trade during the remainder of his active life. He attained the age of sixty-eight years, while his wife, whose maiden name was Polly Butcher, died when but fifty years old. She was born near Stony Knoll, Rockford Town- ship, Surry County, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Butcher. She was the mother of ten chil- dren, all of whom were brought into the world with-

out the aid of a physician. Two died of that dread disease, diphtheria, and eight grew to years of ma- turity, as follows: Hiram, Martha, Tilda, Sihon, Lacey Jasper, Nancy, Clarenden and Richard.

Lacey Jasper Bray received a practical educa- tion in the district schools, and when quite young began working in a burr mill, while thus employed learning to make flour by that process. He con- tinued work as a journeyman miller until 1906, when, in the month of June, he purchased the Elkin Roller Mill, which he has since owned and operated. This mill is furnished with modern machinery and has a capacity of sixty barrels of flour and 100 bushels of corn meal per day, and under the super- vision of Mr. Bray furnishes much of the flour and meal sold in this section of the county. Mr. Bray has also a large feed mill and crusher, and is operat- ing them successfully and with profit.

At the early age of twenty years Mr. Bray mar- ried Teresa Lou Alice Chaney, who was born in Virginia, eighteen miles from Pennsylvania Court House, a daughter of Abram and Mary Chaney. Seven children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bray, namely: Mary Etta, Abram O., James S., Martha L., Cornelia, Rebecca, and Joseph Lacey. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Bray are con- scientious and faithful members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Fraternally Mr. Bray belongs to Elkin Camp No. 105, Woodmen of the World; and to Elkin Council No. 96, Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

LESTER A. CROWELL, M. D., F. A. C. S. While he has been busy with the general work of his profession in Lincoln County for a quarter of a century, the services and achievements that make the name of Doctor Crowell distinctive in the pro- fession in North Carolina is as founder and active head of the Lincoln Hospital at Lincolnton. He built and established this hospital in 1907, and since that time his work has been devoted to surgery. For a number of years he had evinced special skill in the surgical branch of his profession and prior to founding his hospital he took post-graduate work in New York, and for years has been a de- voted student as well as a practitioner of surgery. His professional brethren have many times recog- nized his rare ability in this field, and it is also testified to by the fact that the hospital is so generously patronized as to keep Doctor Crowell and his assistants constantly busy. At the annual meeting of the Tri-State Medical Association at Charleston in February, 1918, Doctor Crowell was elected vice president of the association. On the basis of his attainments he is also a member of the American College of Surgery. He belongs to the county and state societies and the American Medical Association. His individual record has been consistent with the high character of the Crowell family during their 21/2 centuries of resi- dence in America. Wheeler's "History of North Carolina, " published about 1845, gives an interest- ing account of the origin of the Crowell family. It states that two brothers, John Crowell and Edward, came to North Carolina and settled in Halifax, migrating from Woodbridge, New Jersey. The name was originally Cromwell. Wheeler quotes another authority to the effect that in 1674 two brothers of Oliver Cromwell left England for America and settled in New Jersey, having fled from England because of the political storms that impended over the name and house of the late Protector. While on the voyage, fearing that persecution would follow from the adherents of

L. A. Brower M. F.A.C.S.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA

Charles II, they resolved to change the name. This was done with solemn ceremony. Each brother wrote his name on paper and each cut therefrom the letter M and cast it into the sea. The family pedigree on vellum, recording these facts, was with the family in North Carolina. It was kept in an ornamental chest with other valuables which was seized and carried off by a party of Tarleton's Legion in 1781.

John Crowell, on the authority of Wheeler's history, married a Miss Lewis. He died early, leav- ing several children, one of whom, Joseph, married Miss Barnes, a celebrated beauty, and one of their daughters married Mumford, whose daughter was the wife of Hon. Wilie Jones. Edward Crowell married Miss Rayburn, aunt to Governor Rayburn of Georgia. His oldest son, Samuel, married Miss Bradford, and another son was Col. John Crowell, at one time a member of Congress from Georgia and also Indian agent.

Doctor Crowell's paternal ancestry goes back through several generations to his great-great- grandfather, Simon Crowell, who was born in 1725 and came to what is now Union County about 1760. His was a remarkable life. Born at the end of the first quarter of the eighteenth century, he lived into the second third of the fol- lowing century, and at his death in 1835 had at- tained the age of one hundred ten years.

Samuel Crowell, great-grandfather of Doctor Crowell, was a patriot Revolutionary soldier. His son, Michael Crowell, the grandfather, was also identified with Union County, where the family had had their home for years preceding the Revo- lution. Many of the Crowells have become notable in the professions and in affairs. One of the family connections is Dr. A. J. Crowell of Charlotte, a cousin of Doctor Crowell of Lincolnton. The Charlotte physician is one of the eminent members of the profession in this state. Michael Crowell married Jane Pyron, of pure Scotch ancestry. Her father, William Pyron, was a Revolutionary sol- dier.

Dr. Lester A. Crowell was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, eight miles north of Lincolnton, in 1867. His father, the late Dr. Eli Crowell, was born in Union County, but some time prior to the war moved to Lincoln County, settling eight miles north of the county seat. For a long period of years he was a country physician, and a large community gave him their gratitude during his life and have retained a grateful memory of his character and his work. He died in 1896. His home for many years was at the place known as Reepsville.

At Reepsville Dr. Lester A. Crowell spent his youthful days, attending the local schools and the private school of Professor Hahn, one of the nota- ble teachers of his day. He received his profes- sional education in the Baltimore Medical College, from which he graduated with the class of 1892. He then took up active practice in his home' com- munity on the Catawba River, and continued there until 1900, when he came to Lincolnton and was in general practice for seven years before estab- lishing his hospital.

Doctor Crowell and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married in 1896, at Shelby, in Cleveland County, Miss Mary J. Hull, daughter of M. F. and Mollie A. (Grigg) Hull, of Cleveland County. Her father served in the Confederate army throughout the war with a Cleveland County regiment, and was one of the leading citizens of that splendid county. Mrs.

Crowell's mother is a member of the Grigg family of Scotch ancestry which has lived in that sec- tion for several generations. Doctor and Mrs. Crowell have an interesting family of five chil- dren, named Gordon B., Mary B., Corinne, Lester A., Jr., and Frank Hull Crowell. The daughter Mary is the wife of Mr. Thomas Abernethy, a young man who is now in the United States Army.

Gordon B. Crowell is a graduate of the Univer- sity of North Carolina and following his father's example was preparing for the medical profession in the Medical School of the State University. In 1917 he volunteered his services in the Medical Corps of the United States Army, becoming a member of the unit headed by Doctor Brenizer of Charlotte. He is now in active service in France. This young man is twenty-two years of age, and has already demonstrated many unusual talents that offer a promising future for him in his profession.

HUGH DAVID WARD, M. D. The world owes more to the medical profession and its exponents than to any other vocation or class of men. The medical men from earliest times have borne an important part in the progress of civilization, not alone in caring for the sick, but in having a voice in the councils of the nations, and as time has passed their importance has steadily increased, and de- servedly so. The life of the conscientious physician is never one of ease. Not only is it necessary for him to devote years to preliminary training, but his studies are not completed until he lays aside his duties, for medicine is one of the most pro- gressive of sciences, and each day brings new ideas and discoveries. To keep abreast of them requires study and ability, a broad mind and comprehensive reading. Among the younger members of the medical fraternity of Brunswick County, one of the devotees of this calling who is winning success through inherent ability, thorough training and a comprehensive realization and appreciation of the responsibilities resting upon him, is Hugh David Ward, M. D., who has been engaged in practice at Southport since 1914.

Doctor Ward is a native of the Old North State, having been born at Wilmington, August 24, 1885, a son of David and Mary (Curtis) Ward. His father was a prominent farmer and stockman in the vicinity of Wilmington, and Doctor Ward passed a great deal of his boyhood on the home farm, in the meantime acquiring his primary edu- cation in the public schools. Later he pursued a course of study at Oak Ridge Institute in Stokes County, North Carolina, and was then sent to the noted Wake Forest College, in Wake County, from which he was graduated in 1912. With this prep- aration Doctor Ward entered the medical depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1914 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and at once came to Southport, where he has been engaged in a general practice. It has been his fortune thus far to impress the people with his ability, scholarship and medical talents, and thus has drawn about him a very desirable and remunerative professional business. His suc- cess thus early in life may be taken as indicative of a prosperous future, replete with eminent attain- ments. In July, 1907, he entered the United States Public Health Service as assistant surgeon, and expects to remain in this service in the future.

Doctor Ward is a member of the North Caro- lina Medical Society, the Brunswick County Med- ical Society and the American Medical Association,

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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA

and among his fellow practitioners enjoys an excel- lent reputation as an observer of the highest ethics of his calling. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of the Masonic Order, and of the Upsilon Pi Chapter of the Phi Chi medical fraternity of the University of Penn- sylvania. His religious faith is that of the Bap- tist Church.

AUGUSTIN WALSTON MACNAIR is a rising young attorney of the Tarboro bar and has demon- strated his thorough capacity for handling many large and important interests.

Mr. Macnair was graduated in law in 1908, was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1909, practiced five years in Norfolk, Virginia, and since 1915 has been located at Tarboro, where he handles chiefly a corporation and commercial practice. He is a member of the North Carolina Bar Asso- ciation.

He was born October 17, 1887, and comes of a fine old Scotch family and through his ancestry has membership in the Sons of the American Rev- olution. His parents were Whitmel Horne and Carrie Lee (Walston) Macnair. His father was a druggist. Mr. Macnair attended St. Mary's Col- lege at Belmont, North Carolina, finishing his preparatory work in 1904 and then entered the literary and law departments of Georgetown Uni- versity at Washington, D. C., where he graduated in 1908, before his twenty-fourth birthday.

CHARLES G. GILREATH, for fifteen years practic- ing law at Wilkesboro, is lineally descended from some of the first settlers in his section of Western North Carolina. The family has been distinguished for its patriotism, its ability in different lines, and has been liberally represented in the wars of the nation and in the professions and leading indus- tries.

His remote American ancestor was Capt. Wil- liam Gilreath. He was a Scotch-Irishman, and coming to America in colonial times lived in Vir- ginia, but about 1755 came south to North Caro- lina. He established a home in that portion of Rowan County which is now Wilkes County. His purchase of land was a place about three miles south of the present site of Wilkesboro. At that time Western North Carolina was a virtual wilder- ness. There were Indians in great numbers, none of the tribes having been removed or driven away. It was a vast happy hunting ground, filled with big game and the streams abounded in fish. There was every opportunity for pioneer adventure and frontier experience. When the war of the Revolu- tion came on Captain Gilreath joined the other colonists in seeking independence, and was cap- tain of a company in the noted Col. Ben Cleve- land's command. That company did its part in the battle of King's Mountain and Captain Gilreath was wounded during that engagement. With the close of the war he deeded his estate to his son William and with his wife and other children accompanied Col. Ben Cleveland on a migration to Greenville, South Carolina. In that community he spent his last days, and some of the descendants of the sons that went with him are now living at Charlotte, North Carolina.

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History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V, Part 26

Author: Connor, R. D. W. (Robert Digges Wimberly), 1878-1950; Boyd, William Kenneth, 1879-1938. dn; Hamilton, Joseph Gregoire de Roulhac, 1878- Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Chicago : New York : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 730

Author: Connor, R. D. W. (Robert Digges Wimberly), 1878-1950; Boyd, William Kenneth, 1879-1938. dn; Hamilton, Joseph Gregoire de Roulhac, 1878-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Chicago : New York : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 730