USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 37
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Mr. and Mrs. Pike are also members of the Missionary Baptist Church and he has been a deacon for a number of years. He is also affiliated with Liberty Council No. 3, Junior Order of United American Mechanics. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Pike are William Albert, Hughes L., Emmet Luraco, Cordie May, Clarence Franklin and Laura Dorothy.
A. HOMER RAGAN. A man of forceful indi- viduality, possessing good business judgment and discrimination, A. Homer Ragan, of Thomasville, has ever been associated with interests of a vital nature, and as president of the People's Building and Loan Association is officially connected with one of the more active and important enter- prises of this part of Davidson County. A native
of Guilford County, North Carolina, he was born on a plantation lying about two miles from High Point, in the locality formerly known as Bloom- ington.
His father, Amos Ragan, was born in Thomas- ville Township, Davidson County, in 1824, and. as a boy and youth received a practical train- ing in agriculture. After his marriage he bought a plantation in Guilford County, and immediately began putting in practice the knowledge he had previously obtained. During the Civil war he carried the mail between Winston and Ashboro, going by way of the plank road, and in that capacity was exempt from military duty. Success- ful in his agricultural operations, he continued on the farm which he had improved until his death, in 1904. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha E. English, was born in Thomasville Township, Davidson County, a daughter of Thomas and Mildred (Tomlinson) English, and she still resides on the old home farm. To her and her husband the following children were born: Susan; Minnie, who died at the age of thirty years; Walter, who died when forty years of age; Ed- ward; Joseph, who died when thirty years old; William; Robert; James; Horace; A. Homer; Kate; and Martha, who lived but twelve years. The father was reared in the Baptist faith, but the mother was a member of the Society of Friends, and brought up her children in that be- lief.
Obtaining the rudiments of his education in. the school at Springfield Church, A. Homer Ragan subsequently attended the graded school at High Point, and was graduated in 1902 from Guilford College, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. . Returning home, he superintended the manage- ment of the parental farm for two years. Then, desirous of a broader field of action, Mr. Ragan located in Mount Gilead, where he organized the Bank of Mount Gilead, of which he was made cashier, a position he filled ably and well for the next four years. Coming from there to Thomasville he organized the First National Bank of Thomasville, and subsequently served as cashier of that institution until 1916. In the meantime, in 1906, Mr. Ragan, who is a man of versatile talents and good executive ability, had . organized the People's Building and Loan Asso- ciation, and had established a lucrative insurance business. Resigning his position in the bank in 1916, he has since devoted his time and energies to the affairs of the loan association, and as its president is managing its affairs intelligently and efficiently. He is also identified with other busi- ness organizations of note, being president of the North State Veneer Company and a stock- holder in the Hughes-Peace Lumber Company, both of which are carrying on a substantial busi- ness.
Religiously Mr. Ragan is true to the faith of the Society of Friends. Fraternally he is a member of Thomasville Lodge No. 214, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; and of Unity Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
HON. JOHN DUNCAN CURRIE. Among North Carolina's distinguished men of the past few have made a more profound impression upon their com- munities than did the late Hon. John Duncan Currie, of Bladen County, merchant, editor, farmer and legislator, and constructive promoter of move- ments which led to advancement and progress along many lines. More than sixteen years have
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farm which was Mrs. Welfare's inheritance. In 1884 they leased the farm, which they still own, and have since lived at Salem. Here Mr. Welfare was connected in a clerical capacity with a general store for twenty-two years, and finally resigned to accept a subordinate position with the Southern Railroad Company. His duties are light and pleasant, but give him occupation for his leisure hours and serve to keep up the tone of vigorous life.
Mr. Welfare was married February 3, 1867, to Miss Susan E. Rominger. She was born on a farm a mile west of Friedberg, January 25, 1848. Her father was Rev. Jordan Rominger and was born in Davidson County. This is inferred from the fact that his father, Jacob Rominger, was placed by the United States census of 1790 as a resident of Davidson County. Jacob Rominger owned and operated a grist and saw mill and a plantation in Davidson County. Jordan Rominger, father of Mrs. Welfare, was converted in his early youth and became a preacher in the Methodist Protestant Church and held a number of pastorates in the Iredell circuit. He had his share of old time circuit work and made his rounds from settle- ment to settlement and church to church on horseback and endured privations in his efforts to propagate the gospel. Besides the ministry he cultivated a large and splendid farm in Davidson County, and died there at the age of fifty-five. Mrs. Welfare's mother was Catherine Hanes, a native of Davidson County and a daughter of Phillip and Susan (Frye) Hanes. Phillip Hanes was the owner of a large plantation and many slaves and kept a large equipment of teams which served in the days before railroads for the trans- portation of produce to Fayetteville, 118 miles distant. He took local produce to market and on the return trip brought back such merchandise as was required by the local stores. Both he and his wife lived to a good old age. Mrs. Welfare's parents reared five children: Louisa, Jacob, Susan, Mary and Roswell P.
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An interesting and impressive event, and one that was made much of in local society at Winston- Salem, was the celebration by Mr. and Mrs. Wel- fare of their golden wedding anniversary in Janu- ary, 1917. In their home. made festive for the occasion, gathered all their six living children, fonr grandchildren and a great many of their warm and cherished friends. Mr. and Mrs. Wel- fare had eight children: Cora Lee, Roswell P., Charles R., Rupert C., Carrie May, Samuel E., Willie and Hattle L. Cora Lee is still at home with her parents. Roswell P. and Charles R. each died at the age of twenty-eight. Rupert C. married Lossie Woodward. Carrie May is the wife of Charles C. Shoffner and has a son, Charles C., Jr. Sammel married Margaret Smith, and their two children are Samuel and Edward. Willie married Evelyn Hooten. Hattie L. is the wife of Howard Bagby and has a son, Howard, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Welfare are active members of the Home Moravian Church. He keeps up old associations with his army comrades in the Norfleet Camp of United Confederate Veterans.
JOEL WILLIAMS MURCHISON. A very consid- erable part at least of the creditable achieve- ments associated with the name Murchison in commercial affairs at Wilmington has been due to the long and successful career of Joel Williams Murchison, head of the J. W. Murchison Com- pany, wholesale hardware merchants. Mr. Mur-
chison has been in active business forty-five years, and his name is a synonym of that commercial integrity which is an asset far beyond the mere value of stock and store.
Mr. Murchison was born at Manchester, North Carolina, March 20, 1853, a son of John Reid and Jane (Williams) Murchison. His father was both a manufacturer and merchant. Mr. Murchi- son completed his education in the noted Bingham Military School, and at the age of eighteen began his mercantile career. In 1873 he engaged in the wholesale and retail hardware business, and many consecutive years of close application have enabled him to build up the great concern of which he is now the head. His hardware business is now conducted in one of the leading establish- ments of the wholesale district at Wilmington, and the home of the concern is a three-story build- ing 185 by 66 feet.
Mr. Murchison has been an active member of the Carolina Yacht Club for the past forty years. He also belongs to the Cape Fear Club, the Cape Fear Country Club, the Masonic Order and is a vestryman of St. James' Episcopal Church.
On November 25, 1880, he married Miss Loulie Atkinson, of Wilmington. They are the parents of five children: Jennie Atkinson; Fannie, wife of M. A. Curtis, Jr., a paint manufacturer at Wilmington; John R., who is associated with the J. W. Murchison Company; Dr. David Reid, a successful physician at Detroit, Michigan; and Lucy Atkinson.
EDWIN T. BURTON has made rapid progress since beginning the practice of law at Wilmington in August, 1914, and is now serving as solicitor for Wilmington and New Hanover County, an office to which he was elected in 1916. He has also identified himself with local business affairs, and is treasurer of the Lassiter-MeDuffie Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Newtune Fisheries Company.
He was born in Pender County, North Caro- lina, May 19, 1891, a son of Amos B. Burton. His father has been both farmer and merchant. After his early training in private schools and in the academy at Burgaw in his native county, Edwin T. Burton entered the law department of Wake Forest College, where he was graduated in the law in February, 1914. Before beginning prac- tice he took special English courses in Valparaiso University in Indiana.
He is a member of the North Carolina Bar As- sociation in good standing, and fraternally is af- filiated with Wilmington Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; the Junior Order of United American Mechanics; with Cornelius Harnell Coun- cil No. 237. of the Royal Arcanum; with Cherokee Tribe No. 9, of the Improved Order of Red Men, and with the Knights of Pythias. He and his family are members of the First Baptist Church of Wilmington. On April 29, 1914, Mr. Burton married Miss Enlah Higgs, of Calhoun, Kentucky. They have two children, Mary Lamar and Edwin T., Jr.
ROBERT EDGAR CURRIER, of Black Mountain. out of a great variety of experience has achieved something more than a local reputation as an able insurance man. banker and an expert on business detail, and is one of the live spirits both in business and civic affairs at Black Moun- tain.
. He was born in Milford, Massachusetts, August
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11, 1884, a son of Edgar and Ella Florence (Un- derhill) Currier. His father was a merchant. The son was educated both in the public and pri- vate schools, and his first business experience was two years spent with a trunk and bag man- ufacturing establishment. For five years Mr. Cur- rier was clerk in the traffic department of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway on the division be- tween Petersburg, Virginia, and Tarboro, North Carolina. He resigned this position to become special agent for the Pamlico Insurance and Bank- ing Company, but three years later, in 1910, re- moved to Black Mountain. Here his work has been in the general field of insurance and real estate and he is also auditor for Perley & Crock- ett, a leading lumber firm, and is also auditor for the Mount Mitchell Railroad. For two years he served as town clerk, treasurer and alderman of Black Mountain. Mr. Currier is vestryman and treasurer of St. James' Episcopal Church. De- cember 21, 1911, he married Sarah Marie Parkin- son, of Bellevue, Ohio.
WILLIAM JACKSON MOCK. Reference to the career of William J. Mock, who has long been ac- tively concerned with public affairs in Forsyth County, brings into notice a number of well known families in this section of the state.
Mr. Mock himself is a native of Davidson County, having been born on a farm at the junction of Muddy Creek and Yadkin River January 1, 1872. His grandfather, Jesse Mock, a native of the same county, owned and developed a large plantation bordering on Muddy Creek. Both he and his wife, Mary, were active members of the Moravian Church at Friedberg in that county and are buried in the churchyard there. Their four children were: Mary, Matilda, Alexander B. and Lewis. Lewis entered the service of the Con- federate army early in the war and lost his life when about twenty years of age.
Alexander B. Mock, father of William J., was born on his father's plantation on Muddy Creek about four miles above its mouth, grew up in the country district and had only the quiet and peaceful environment of the farmer boy until the war broke out between the states. He volunteered his services, and did his part in defending the South. With the close of the war he went back home and again resumed farming. His farm was more than a scene of agricultural activities. It was the site of a saw and grist mill and a cotton gin. All these were operated under his management and he did a prosperous business for a number of years through these mills and his farm. In 1880 he sold his possessions in Davidson County and removed to Winston, which was then a small but promising town. Here he acquired 200 acres of land. Its east boundary was between Cherry and Spring streets and the tract extended westward so as to include a large part of the now beautiful west end section of Winston-Salem. Thirty-five years ago the west end was almost an unbroken forest. Alexander Mock built his private residence at the southeast cornor of Spring and West Fourth streets. He became one of the early contractors and builders of the town, but subsequently bought a farm of 400 acres on the Shallow Ford Road four miles west of Winston and that was the family home. His business as contractor and builder he continued to the end of his active career. His death occurred in March, 1901, when he was about sixty-seven years of age. Alexander B .. Mock married Louisa Rominger. She was born
near Friedberg Church in Davidson County, a daughter of Rev. Jordan Rominger, a native of the same locality, and a granddaughter of Jacob Rominger, whose extensive interests as a farmer made him a man of note in Davidson County. Rev. Jordan Rominger became a minister of the Metho- dist Protestant Church and for a number of years rode the Iredell circuit, preaching the gospel in many isolated communities. While devoted to the ministry, its pursuits did not prevent his man- agement of an extensive farm. He died at the age of fifty-five. Rev. Jordan Rominger married Catherine Hanes, daughter of Philip and Susan (Frye) Hanes, her father having a large plantation which before the war was operated by numerous slaves. Both Philip Hanes and wife lived to a good old age. Mrs. Louisa Mock died in 1886, leav- ing six children : C. Jacob, William Jackson, Jesse L., Wesley E., Lillie and Sarah. The father married for his second wife, Alice Norman, who is still living.
William J. Mock spent his early life partly on his father's farm in Davidson County, partly in Wins- ton, and also on the homestead west of that town. He attended public school at Winston, and found plenty to do on his father's place. At the age of cighteen he left home and took the role of a com- mercial traveler. He did well in this business and sold goods on the road until 1898.
In that year Mr. Mock enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war. He became a member of Company L of the Fourth Regiment, Fourth New York Immunes. He went with that highly efficient command to Cuba and remained ou duty on the island fourteen months. Though the regiment was all this time under a tropical sun, exposed to the terrors of disease in a southern climate, more frightful than any enemy's bullets, not one of the 1200 men of the regiment died while on the island and the only mortality of the regiment was one who died during the trip back to the United States. After receiving his honorable discharge, Mr. Mock returned to Winston and for a season worked on his father's farm.
For five years he was conductor on the local street railway, and then went. on the police force of Winston-Salem. After three years as a police- man, in September, 1913, he accepted the appoint- ment as superintendent of the County Home and Farm of Forsyth County. These are his responsi- bilities at present and he is earning the gratitude of the entire community by his just and efficient administration of one of the county's most im- portant institutions.
Mr. Mock was married October 12, 1900, to Miss Cora Norman. She was born in Oldtown Township of Forsyth County. Her father, Julius Norman, was born in South Fork Township, where her grandfather, Joshua Norman, had a large plantation and spent all his active years. Mrs. Mock's father grew up on a farm and now owns and occupies a well improved place in South Fork Township. His wife's maiden name was Regina Conrad, a native of South Fork Township. Her father, Isaac Conrad, was born in the same locality, a son of Gideon Conrad, one of the very early settlers of what is now Forsyth County. Two brothers of Gideon were also pioneers in this local- ity and their descendants are now numerous. Isaac Conrad had a farm in South Fork Township. He married Sarah Shamell, whose father, Peter Shamell, at one time owned and occupied a planta- tion a mile and a half from Mount Tabor Church. Isaac Conrad and wife were active Methodists
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and are buried in the Sharon churchyard. Mrs. Mock was one of eight children, namely: Dora, Cora, William, Lucas, Martha, Sarah, Mary and Anan.
The six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mock and comprising their happy and cheerful household are Julius, Beulah, Odel, Wilma, Herbert and Geraldine. Mr. Mock still retains the faith of his ancestors and is a member of the Philadelphia Moravian Church, while Mrs. Mock has her church home in Mount Tabor Methodist Episcopal. Fra- ternally he is identified with Fairview Council, No. 19, Junior Order United American Mechanics.
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LEONIDAS VALENTINE GRADY is a lawyer of wide experience, has practiced in different dis- tricts of the state, and for nearly ten years has enjoyed a place of prominence as a member of the Columbus bar, with home and offices at White- ville.
He was born in Duplin County, North Caro- lina, February 14, 1867, a son of Stephen Miller and Margaret Ann (Carr) Grady. His father was a substantial farmer, and it was on the farm that Mr. Grady spent his early years, drinking in its invigorating atmosphere and formulating the am- bitions that have influenced his mature life. He attended the local schools, and finally entered the University of North Carolina, where he was a student in the law department. In 1894 he was admitted to the bar, and returning to his native county, practiced three years at Kenansville. For ten years Mr. Grady was an active member of the Wilmington bar, and in 1909 he established himself in practice at Whiteville. He has a general practice, and for the past four years has also capably performed the duties of county attorney. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
March 8, 1899, he married Lucy B. Culbreth, of Whiteville. Their two children are Leonidas Valentine, Jr., a volunteer in the United States Navy stationed at Charleston, South Carolina and Rachel Culbreth.
ROBERT LEE STOWE. In any growing locality, whether it be developing from wilderness to set- tlement or from hamlet to city, the changing con- ditions offer splendid returns to foresight and business sagacity. The man who can foresee the strategic commercial situation may claim a con- quest as surely as can he who cunningly secures advantage in martial strife. It was largely through his ability to predict where trade would develop, where competition would, for long, be absent, that enabled Robert Lee Stowe to gain the start that has since led him to a leading place among the business men and financiers of Gaston County. He has seen the county and his home town of Belmont develop from the poor and "backwoods" conditions of former years. He well remembers when there were no good roads at all, no industries of any sort save distilleries, and no farming ex- cept that done in a precarious and often unprofit- able manner. Now all is changed. Today there are good roads, splendid farms and farm homes, towns humming with industry, and a population of busy and happy people. Instead of over a half a hundred licensed and illicit distilleries in the county there are more than that number of large cotton mills. It is a remarkable development to have been brought about within the space of a few short years, hardly to be equalled in the his-
tory of any other community, and Mr. Stowe is entitled to a large share of credit for the part he has played in the activities that have made such prosperous and satisfying conditions possible.
Robert Lee Stowe was born in Gaston County, North Carolina, near the present City of Belmont, in 1866, being a son of C. T. and Margaret Ann (Sloan) Stowe, both of whom are now deceased. This is one of the pioneer families of Gaston County, where those of the name have lived for several generations. The Stowes are of English origin. A member of the family among the earlier generations was Col. Jasper Stowe, who built one of the first cotton mills in Gaston County, it being located at old Stowesville, in the same neighbor- hood as was C. T. Stowe's farm. The community where the Stowe family lived was known as Stowes- ville for many years, or until the Town of Bel- mont began to build up. C. T. Stowe, who was a farmer by vocation, served throughout the war be- tween the states as a soldier of the Confederacy, first enlisting in the Sixteenth Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, and later being a member of the Thirty-seventh North Carolina Regiment. He was a fine type of the sturdy pioneer citizen, played his part in the development of his community, aided in all public enterprises, and reared a worthy fam- ily of children to perpetuate his name and carry on the work which he had started. The mother of Robert Lee Stowe was a member of a well- known pioneer family of Mecklenburg County, the Sloans having lived in this part of North Carolina for several generations. They are of Scotch-Irish ancestry. These parents, without great wealth, endowed their children with strength of character, perseverance and initiative, and reared them with a realization of the value of the virtues of honesty and industry.
The childhood home of Robert Lee Stowe, where he was born and reared, was situated two miles southeast of the present Town of Belmont, and this ancestral farm is still in possession of the family. He was educated in the country schools and at Captain Bell's Military School at King's Mountain, one of the notable private schools of its day. He was an ambitious and industrious youth and started upon his business career at an early age. In 1889, in company with his brother, S. P. Stowe, he started a small general store at Belmont, which was then a new, small and unimportant town. Subsequently they decided to go into the cotton mill business, realizing the trend of the times, and in 1901 their first enterprise of this nature, the Chronicle Mill, was built at Belmont. In 1906 they and Mr. A. C. Lineberger erected the Imperial Yarn Mill, which was followed in 1908 by the Majestic Manufacturing Company. In 1914 they erected the National Yarn Mills, and two years later they built the plant of the Climax Spinning Company, which is the last one to date which the brothers and Mr. Lineberger have erected and put into operation. These mills are all of modern construction and represent the best plants of their type. Financially the Chronicle Mill has a capital stock of $125.000, and operates 10,270 spindles ; the Imperial Yarn Mills has a capital stock of $200,000, and operates 12,544 spindles; the Majestic Manufacturing Company has a cap- ital stock of $200,000, with 12.768 spindles in operation; the National Yarn Mills has a cap- ital stock of $202,000 and operates 15,000 spindles. The Climax, the last mill built, has a capital stock of $300,000 and operates move than 21,000 spindles. The business is highly successful and
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prosperous, the mills being continnally in opera- tion and giving employment to large numbers of people. The products are various, including combed and carded yarns in single and ply in numbers ranging from 36 to 120 made from peeler and Sea Island cotton.
Robert L. Stowe is one of the largest owners and the secretary and treasurer of the Chronicle Mills, the Imperial Yarn Mills and the National Yarn Mills and a director in the Majestic Manufactur- ing Company and Climax Spinning Company, giv- ing to them and to his other business interests his entire time and the benefit of a trained and ex- perienced mind for business and executive man- agement. It was throngh his efforts that all these enterprises have been built which have changed Belmont from a hamlet of perhaps fifty people to a thriving and busy little city of from 3,000 to 4,000 people.
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