USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
Belmont has grown to be the second city in size, importance and amount of business transacted, in Gaston County, being outranked only by Gastonia. Splendid business buildings, beautiful homes, first- class schools and handsome churches have been erected, and modern conveniences and comforts prevail. When Mr. Stowe started in the cotton mill business in 1901, as noted above, he withdrew from active participation in the mercantile bnsi- ness, and has since devoted his energies to the mill industries. During the year 1908 Mr. S. P. Stowe took an active part in the cotton mill busi- ness and two other brothers, J. W. and George W. Stowe, came into the mercantile business and the latter have since been the representatives of the family's interests in that direction under the name of the Stowe Brothers Company. They are gen- eral merchants in every line and are enjoying an extensive trade over a large section of the ter- ritory, including farming trade from across the state line into Sonth Carolina. It will be seen that the commercial and industrial interests of Belmont are almost entirely dominated by the Stowe brothers, although it is in no sense a "one- man town,"' in the usual acceptation of that term, as all reputable and responsible business men are welcomed and enconraged to locate there.
Robert Lee Stowe, in addition to being so ex- tensively interested in the cotton mill business, is president of the Bank of Belmont, of which he was one of the founders in 1908. For his generos- ity and consideration in financial affairs he is greatly liked by the public. He is one of the connty commissioners of Gaston County, and, it is needless to say, takes a leading part in every movement of his township and community.
Mr. Stowe married Miss Nellie Rhyne, a mem- ber of one of the oldest and most prominent fam- ilies in this section of the country and who have lived in Gaston County since before the Revolu- tionary war. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stowe, namely: Robert Lee, Jr., Catherine and Daniel.
CLYDE HOSEA RAY is a business man of thirty years standing at Waynesville, and his individ- val success and influence have aided in the pro- motion and establishment of a number of business concerns of direct benefit to that locality and the state at large.
Mr. Ray was born at Spartanburg. South Car- olina, July 30, 1864, a son of William H. and Mattie (Harris) Ray. His father was a South Carolina planter and farmer until 1877, when he moved with his family to Hendersonville, North
Carolina, and was active as a merchant in that. town until 1910. The son was thirteen years old when his parents came to this state, was edn- cated in the public schools and at Hendersonville College. When a yonng man, in 1887, he came- to Waynesville and established a general mer- chandise store. He brought that to leadership. among the business enterprises of the connty and as a merchant his interests have gradually spread to other concerns. He was one of the organizers and for many years was vice president of the First National Bank. In 1915 he became trav- eling anditor for the North Carolina State Cor- poration, but resigned that office in October, 1917. He also has some farming interests. Mi. Ray was elected mayor of Waynesville in 1889, and altogether served twelve years in that office. He is a former alderman. His only fraternity is the Masonic. ·
February 19, 1885, he married Ella Davis, of Henderson County, and they have a family of children in whose record they may take proper pride. These children are named briefly as fol- lows: William Davis, a traveling salesman; Clar- ence Broadway, a traveling salesman; Robert Wal- ter, who volunteered in July, 1917, and became a member of the One Hundred and Fifth Engi- neering Corps in the United States Army, but died in October, 1917, while in camp; Benjamin Franklin, a merchant at Waynesville, North Car- olina; Jennie Elmina, Bessie Haywood, Florence Engene, Annie Louise, Clyde Hosea, Jr., John Stokes, Mary Virginia and Margaret Lawrence.
R. DON LAWS. A man of versatile talents and -vigorons mentality, persistent in purpose and full of vim and energy, R. Don Laws, of Moravian Falls, Wilkes County, is widely and favorably known as a popnlar author and publisher, his brilliant editorials in the Yellow Jacket, the news- paper which he owns and manages, being eagerly sought and read by thonsands of people, its circula- tion being large and extensive. He was born Angust 22, 1868, in Moravian Falls Township, Wilkes County, North Carolina, in the same locality in which his father, Coffey Laws was born, his birth having occurred in 1838. His grandfather, Joshna Laws, was a native, it is supposed, of Wilkes County, his father, Shedrick Laws, who was born near Jamestown, Virginia, of English ancestry, having settled there in early life.
Joshua Laws left the parental home when a young man, migrating to Kentucky, where for a time he worked in the salt petre mines near Bowling Green. Returning to Wilkes County, he bought land in the Cove Gap section of Brierly Mountain, and there set out an apple orchard, one of the very first in the western part of the state. He continued a resident of Wilkes County until his death, at the age of four score years. The maiden name of his wife, grandmother of the subject of this sketch, was Caroline Lane.
Choosing the free and independent occupation to which he was reared, Coffey Laws was busily engaged in agricultural pursuits until the outbreak of the Civil war. Enlisting in 1861 in Company B, First Regiment, North Carolina troops, he continued with his command, and was at the front in many hard-fought battles, being three times wounded. Returning home at the close of the conflict, he purchased his father's farm and oper- ated it several years. Disposing of that estate, he
1
Henry & Baux
143
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
bought land near 'Moravian Falls, and there lived until his death, in June, 1916.
The maiden name of the wife of Coffey Laws was Amanda Roberson. She was born in Wilkes County, near Poors Knob, a daughter of John and Almedia (Williams) Roberson, and since the death of her husband makes her home with her children, of whom she had seven, namely: R. Don, Mattie, Leonard B., Bynum, Alice, Curtis B. and Jones. She is a most estimable woman and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
Having obtained his elementary education in what was called the "Old Field School," R. Don Laws continued his studies at the Moravian Falls Academy, in which Prof. George W. Greene and Prof. R. L. Patton, noted educators, were in- structors. As a boy he exhibited a great love for books, and ere entering his teeus wrote some very good poetry, stories and compositions, in his lit- erary efforts, being greatly encouraged by his father. He also possessed considerable mechanical ability and inventive genius, and some skill in de- signing and wood carving. Putting his native born talents to good use, Mr. Laws manufactured, after his own designs, the first printing press he ever saw, and with his pocket knife carved several fonts of type. Manufacturing some ink from the bark of walnut roots, he began experimenting, and a speci- men of the very first printing he ever did is care- fully treasured by the editor of the Yellow Jacket, holding an honored position beside the rude wooden printing press that he constructed when a lad.
Although Mr. Laws' educational advantages were but limited, he acquired a practical knowl- edge of books through home study and good read- ing, and after attaining his majority taught school several winter terms, in the summer working on the farm. In 1895, still ambitious to enter the field of journalism, he bought a second hand printing press and some type, and in the cellar of his home issued the first numbers of the Yellow Jacket, a three-column, four page paper, which he adver- tised to publish once a month for the small price of 10 cents a year. The growth of the paper was very slow for a time, scarce paying expenses, but in 1898 its merits began to be appreciated, and ere long its circulation was greatly increased. The necessities of his business soon after demanded more commodious quarters and better machinery and equipments, and Mr. Laws installed new print- ing presses, which he ran by water power. In April, 1899, Mr. Laws changed the paper from a monthly to a weekly publication, advancing the price to 50 cents a year. Subsequently its circu- lation grew to enormous proportions, and in order to increase its supply he introduced a Country Campbell cylinder press, and a kerosene motor. In December, 1900, the Yellow Jacket was changed to a bi-weekly journal, an arrangement that allowed the proprietor to give much more time to his editorial work. In August, 1901, Mr. Laws trans- ferred his plant to the Village of Moravian Falls, where he is still doing business on a large scale, being one of the best known and most highly re- spected journalists of Wilkes County. He has one of the best equipped offices and plants in this part of North Carolina, his machinery being up-to-date in every respect, while his office equipment has reached a point of efficiency rarely found outside of the larger cities. An expert manager, Mr. Laws has done all of his planning, and the almost un- precedented growth of his business bears evidence of his wisdom and good judgment.
In 1895 Mr. Laws was united in marriage with
Miss Dora Wallace, who was born near Poors Knob, Wilkes County, a daughter of Franklin and Mary (Broyhill) Wallace. Six children have brightened the union of. Mr. and Mrs. Laws, namely : Barney W., Shafter R., Thelma. M., Frances A., Mattie Rose and R. Don, Jr. In his political affiliations Mr. Laws is a stanch repub- lican, and a firm believer in the doctrine of protec- tion for home industries. Although he has ever been too busy to accept public office, he has served acceptably as a member of the local school board, and is now chairman of the Wilkes County Good Roads Commission.
HENRY EMIL BONITZ, an architect at Wilming- ton, North Carolina, whose work is widely known all over our state and South Carolina, was a mem- ber of the first graduating class of the State Col- lege of Agriculture and Engineering, and he now enjoys the distinction of being the oldest native North Carolinian in the architectural profession in the state who received his technical training in North Carolina.
He was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, April 16, 1872, a son of John Henry William and Mary Elise Bonitz. His father, a native of Han- over, immigrated to America in 1856, at which time,. Hanover was not a province of Germany, being an independent principality and ruled by Prince Albert, consort of the beloved Queen Vic- toria of England. Mr. Bonitz's father was well known as a hotel proprietor in Goldsboro and Wilmington,
Mr. Bonitz was a student in the Goldsboro graded school, which was the first graded school established in our state. His uncle, Mr. Julius A. Bonitz, was the prime mover in the establish- ment of this school. In Wilmington he was a student in the Bradley School, and in 1889 he en- tered the State College of Agriculture and Engi- neering at Raleigh, and was among the first twelve students who entered that institution. He graduated second in his class, with the degree of Bachelor of Engineering, in the year 1893. He was 11/2 years in the office of James F. Post, a well known architect in Wilmington, Iu 1894 he entered business for himself, and he has pre- pared plans and supervised the construction of much important architectural work in the state, his specialty for a number of years having been the designing and construction of schools, colleges and churches. The Young Men's Christian As- sociation Building that stands on the campus of the State College of Agriculture and Engineering in Raleigh attests his skill, and there are many examples of his work in schools and churches all over the state,
Mr. Bonitz served at one time as a member of the board of trustees of the State College of Agri- culture and Engineering. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and is a great exponent of fra- ternity, being member of many fraternal societies and having occupied responsible positions in these societies. He is a past grand regent in the Royal Arcanum, and is at this time grand secretary for the State of North Carolina.
January 12, 1898, he married Miss Katherine Burnett, of Wilmington, and their children are: John Henry William, a junior with the rank of first lieutenant at the State College; Katherine Marie, Marjorie and Katharine Louise.
THOMAS EVERETT BARDIN. It can scarcely be denied that some communities all over the country
=
144
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
make more rapid progress than others. There must be a reason. Location perhaps is a factor and climate may have influence in a community's development in some directions, but undoubtedly the real explanation of favorable growth lies in the personality of the business men through whose energy and foresight enterprises are founded and fostered. Every community must have men of this class in order to advance at all, and when, to their business acumen and commercial vision is added the sterling traits of character that bring them the confidence and esteem of their fellow citizens, the necessary elements for community progress are at hand and it is not unusual to find that these are the men who largely control public affairs as well as business interests. The same good judgment that has brought success to their private undertakings is used to further the public movements that must be carefully looked after by honest and competent officials in order that the public welfare may be conserved. The above lines came to mind in considering the business and official importance of one of the leading citizens of Columbus County, North Carolina, Thomas Everett Bardin, who is prominent here both in business and official life.
Thomas Everett Bardin was born in Sampson County, North Carolina, February 22, 1863., The date may be considered one of happy augury, especially as his father's name is Thomas Wash- ington Bardin. The name of his mother is Elizabeth (Bass) Bardin. The father is a mer- chant and a turpentine operator.
Thomas Everett Bardin was given careful edu- cational superintendence in his youth, attending private schools only. In 1865, when he was but two years old, his parents moved to Cerro Gordo, in Columbus County, and this county has been his home ever since. After completing his educa- tion he turned his attention to business and in the mercantile field found an outlet for his activities, building up a large business as a merchant at Cerro Gordo. He became a man of public affairs there also and for a number of years served as mayor, and the record of his long administration shows a large amount of progressive work accom- plished in the way of street paving and public utilities installed.
In December, 1912, Mr. Bardin located in Chad- bourne. He was already widely known over the county and in the same year was elected county treasurer. He returned to Cerro Gordo in 1917 to take charge of his farming interests, where he has built a fine new home and continues to be interested in agricultural pursuits quite exten- sively, owning valuable farm land. In 1914 he was re-elected treasurer of Columbus County, and for twenty years has been a justice of the peace. He is one of the directors of the Cerro Gordo Bank.
On October 5, 1889, Mr. Bardin was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Riddick, a native of Columbus County and a daughter of William Edward and Rebecca (Barnes) Riddick, both parents coming from old Virginia families. Mr. and Mrs. Bardin are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cerro Gordo and he belongs to its board of trustees. His name frequently appears as a leader in benevolent movements, whether local or otherwise, while his numerous private charities prove that his church profession and membership are matters of chris- tian conviction. He may justly be numbered with
the representative men of his community and, as indicated, is one of the solid and useful citizens of Columbus County.
ELIJAH THOMAS DICKINSON, M. D. To the field of surgery Doctor Dickinson has given his talents and superior attainments and for a num- ber of years has taken first rank in that de- partment of his profession.
He was born in Wayne County, North Caro- lina, August 10, 1870. His parents, Leonard and Phoebe (Smith) Dickinson, were substantial farm- ers of Wayne County. Reared on a farm and in a country atmosphere, Doctor Dickinson acquired health and strength, and was also well educated. He attended private school at Fremont, North Carolina, and in 1894 graduated Bachelor of Sci- ence from Trinity College. He had already taken up the study of medicine, and entering the Med- ical College of Virginia he graduated M. D. in 1895. Thus his experience in the profession cov- ers a period of over twenty years. For a year he practiced at High Point, North Carolina, and in 1896 removed to Smithfield, where he had a general practice with an increasing attention to surgery for six years. Doctor Dickinson removed to Wilson in May, 1902. Here he bought an in- terest in the Wilson Sanatorium, and is presi- dent of the Wilson Sanatorium Company, is its chief surgeon, and he now gives all his time to his practice.
Doctor Dickinson is a member of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway Association of Surgeons, of the North Carolina Surgeons Clinic Club, and be- longs to the Wilson County, the North Carolina State, the Fourth District and the Seaboard and Tri-State Medical societies and the American Med- ical Association. He is also a member of the Country and Rotary clubs at Wilson and he and his family are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
On August 11, 1903, he married Miss Willie Watson, of Henderson, North Carolina. Her par- ents were William and Mrs. Louise (Wright) Watson. They have five children: Frances, Lou- ise Wright, Nellie Bond, Rowena Sharp and Alice.
WINSTON L. REECE. A well known and highly successful member of the legal fraternity of Surry County, Winston L. Reece, attorney at law in Dob- son, is a fine representative of the native sons of North Carolina. He was born September 22, 1862, in Booneville Township, Yadkin County, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Winston Reece, and of his grandfather, John Reece. His great-grandfather on the paternal side came from England, where his ancestors settled on leaving Wales, to North Carolina in colonial days, and as a pioneer settler of Yadkin County was an active and able assistant in the development of its agri- cultural resources.
A life-long resident of Booneville Township, John Reece became the owner of a plantation which he operated with slave labor until his death, at the good old age of seventy-nine years. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Crutchfield. She was a daughter of Richard Crutchfield, who improved a fine plantation on the Yadkin River in Booneville Township, and there spent the remainder of his days, his body at his death being laid to rest on the home farm. Mrs. John Reece survived her
A.G. Holmes
145
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
husband, dying at the age of four score and four years.
Winston Reece was born and brought up on the home plantation, and at the age of twenty-one years received from his father as a gift ninety acres of the old Crutchfield homestead farm. Dur- ing the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army, and going with his command to Virginia re- mained in the service until the close of the con- fliet. Returning home, he resumed farming, and as an agriculturist met with eminent success. At the death of his parents he purchased the interest of the remaining heirs in the old Reece plantation, thus becoming sole owner. Preferring, however, to continue to occupy the Crutchfield homestead, he erected a good set of buildings, and there resided until his death, February 20, 1911.
The maiden name of the wife of Winston Reece was Mary Jane Dobbins. She was born in Boone- ville Township, Yadkin County, a daughter of Joshua and Susanna (Burcham) Dobbins, the latter of whom was a native of Surry County. Joshua Dobbins, who belonged to one of the early families of North Carolina, some of whose mem- bers omit the final "s" in spelling the name, was a pioneer school teacher of Yadkin County, and in addition to following his profession was also a cabinet maker and a farmer. Late in life he migrated to Iowa and there spent his last days, dying at the home of a son in Hardin County. Mrs. Reece passed to the higher life February 19, 1907, at the age of seventy-six years. To her and her husband nine children were born, namely: Mont- gomery, a physician in Elkin, North Carolina; Collie; Winston L .; Cornelia; Minnie; Ada; Viola; Lelia; and Mabel.
Winston L. Reece acquired his first knowledge of books in the rural schools of his native town- ship, and after continuing his studies at the Boone- ville High School was prepared for college at the Globe Academy in Caldwell County. The ensuing year he spent at Wake Forest College, after which he took a course of two years at the University of North Carolina. Entering then the law department of that institution, Mr. Reece was there graduated with the class of 1886. Beginuing the practice of his chosen profession in Surry, he has met with well merited success, his legal skill, ability and knowl- edge being recognized throughout this section of the state.
Mr. Reece married, December 18, 1905, Miss Dora P. Shore, a daughter of Wiley and Sarah (William) Shore. Three children have blessed their union, Gertrude, Emma and Edith. Fra- ternally Mr. Reece is a member of Dobson Lodge No. 117, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Re- ligiously Mr. and Mrs. Reece are active members of the Baptist Church in which he has served as deacon for the past four years, while for a number of years he has been superintendent of its Sunday school and for the past five years moderator of the Surry Baptist Association. Mr. Reece is also an active member of the North Carolina Baptist Conference.
THOMAS ATKINSON JONES is a prominent Ashe- ville lawyer. He studied law at Washington, D. C., at Asheville was admitted to the bar in 1884, and with a large private practice has filled some onerous public positions. He was judge of the Criminal Court of Buncombe County from 1892 to 1895, and from 1904 to 1906 was judge of the Police Court of Asheville.
Judge Jones was born in Danville, Virginia,
October 8, 1860, son of Benjamin Moseley and Agnes Poythress (Atkinson) Jones. His early education was supplied by the public schools until 1875. He began the study of law in private offices. He is an active member of the North Carolina Bar Association. In 1886 he attained the rank of second lieutenant in the Asheville Light Artillery Company. Judge Jones is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight of Pythias and an Elk and a member of the Episcopal Church.
He takes proper pride in the talents and achieve- ments of his three children. The oldest, Thomas A. Jr., is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, and is now a second lieutenant in artillery, serving with the United States Army iu France. The daughter Janie is a graduate of St. Genevieve Convent. The younger son, Charles Myers, graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1917 and is now captain in the United States Marine Corps on the U. S. S. Florida. Capt. C. M. Jones married November 15, 1917, Susannah Busbee, of Raleigh.
ANDREW G. HOLMES. For almost 100 years the Holmes family has lived in the northern part of Columbus County, North Carolina. It is of Eng- lislı origin. As a family it has been devoted to quiet pursuits, to the building of substantial homes, to broadening its field of knowledge and to mak- ing the most of life through industry that brings a competency and the cultivation and preservation of those sterling qualities that diguify and sweeten life.
Andrew G. Holmes, who for many years has been a prominent merchant at Council in Bladeu County, was born in 1855, but a few miles south of Council, in the northern part of Columbus County, which had been the home of his great-grandfa- ther, Gabriel Holmes, and the birthplace of his grandfather and his father. His parents were George and Saralı (Nye) Holmes. Mr. Holmes grew to the age of ten years with but meager educational advantages because of disturbed con- ditions incident to the progress of the war be- tween the states. Naturally industrious, he sought early to be self-supporting, and found his first earning position on a farm, where, as plough-boy, he was given his board and a salary of $8 per month. Following this he worked in the turpentine industry for about five years, and then bought a photographic outfit and for four years traveled through the country taking pictures.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.