USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 42
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From 1894 to 1898 he was a member of the Board of Aldermen of Raleigh, and his service was coincident with and an important factor in the newly awakened spirit of municipal progress. He was chairman of the finance committee and a mem- ber of the street committee and of various other committees. It was during his term of service as alderman that Raleigh began its special era of im- provement and much municipal progress dates from that time.
His service in church affairs has brought him a conspicuous position as a Baptist layman. He has been a trustee of Meridith College almost from the date of its founding, and chairman of the finance committee of the board of trustees and secretary of the executive committee. He is a director and member of the executive committee of the Caswell Training School at Kinston, North Carolina. He filled the post of deacon in the Baptist Church at Wake Forest, and since 1889 has been continuously
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a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Raleigh. For six years he was also clerk of the First Baptist Church and for eleven years was treasurer of the Baptist State Convention. For four years he was superintendent of the First Baptist Sunday School and was a member of the church building commit- tee when the first church remodeled its home at a cost of about $40,000. He is a member of the Country Club and of the Chamber of Commerce.
October 16, 1889, Mr. Boushall married Miss Mattie Heck, daughter of the late Col. J. M. Heck, of Raleigh. Her father rose to the rank of colonel in the Confederate army, and was one of the sign- ers of Virginia's secession act. Mr. and Mrs. Bonshall are the parents of four children: John Heck Boushall is a Raleigh attorney; Joseph Dozier Boushall, Jr., is connected in an official capacity with the Pacific Tea Company of New York; Thomas Callendine is connected with the National City Bank of New York City as head of one of the new business departments; and Francis Mc- Gee is a student at the Raleigh High School. John H. Boushall is now first lieutenant of artillery, United States National Guard; Joseph Boushall, Jr., has just graduated from the United States School of Military Aeronautics at Cornell Univer- sity and is at a flying school in Texas; Thomas C. Boushall is now a sergeant in the United States Coast Defense Service, stationed at Long Island City, New York.
JAMES BION SCHULKEN. To the successful lawyer the doors of many lines of business and opportunity stand open. The lawyer has always been prominent in public affairs, and during the last generation the executive responsibilities of great business affairs have been entrusted more and more to the capable guidance of members of the legal profession.
A lawyer whose work has brought him intimate relationship with many varied interests is James Bion Schulken of Whiteville, head of the firm of Schulken, Tonn & Schulken. Mr. Schulken was admitted to the bar in February, 1883, and at once entered upon a general practice at White- ville. He served his clients well, built up a splen- did private practice, and more and more in recent years his time has been commanded by business concerns.
He and his firm are now counsel for the Atlantic Coast Line Railway, for the Whiteville Lumber Company, for the North Carolina Lumber Com- pany and the insurance firm of T. H. Maston & Company and Mr. Schulken is counsel for the Seaboard Air Line Railway. He is president of the Bank of Whiteville, and though an exceedingly busy man has found time to serve the public. He was a member of the Legislature in 1893 and again in 1897, and several terms was honored with the office of mayor of Whiteville. He is one of the best known members of the North Carolina Bar Association.
He was born in Brunswick County, North Caro- lina, May 24, 1857. a son of Martin and Nancy (Brookshire) Schulken. His father was a mer- chant and gave his son the best advantages of a liberal education. He attended private schools in Brunswick County and at Wilmington, finished his higher education in the University of North Carolina, and studied law with Dick and Dillard. Mr. Schulken is a trustee and steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is affiliated with the Masonic Order.
On February 22, 1891, he married Miss Mary
A. Smith, of Columbus County. They have six living children: James Bion, Jr., now with the American Trust Company of Charlotte, North Carolina; Joseph Smith, a student in Stetsou University in Florida; Charles Franklin, in high school; and Robert, Lucy Winifred and Nancy Margaret.
Edward Manly Toon, second member of the law firm of Schulken, Toon & Schulken at Whiteville, was born in that town, June 15, 1878, a son of Albert Franklin and Elizabeth (Smith) Toon. He was educated in the public schools, graduated in 1903 from the law department of Wake Forest College, and at once began practice in Whiteville. He is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias. December 20, 1910, Mr. Toon married Miss Gertrude Bryan, of Wilmington, North Caro- lina. They have one son, Edward Manly, Jr.
Martin Henry Schulken, the junior member of the firm of Schulken,. Toon & Schulken, was born at Whiteville, North Carolina, July 25, 1886, a son of Henry F. and Lizzie (Walker) Schulken. After attending the public schools he entered Stetson University in Florida, studied law in the University of North Carolina, and was admitted to the bar of his native state in February, 1910. He then returned to Whiteville and soon became associated with his uncle James B. Schulken in the firm as it exists at present. Mr. Schulken is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a Woodman of the World, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. On July 20, 1915, he married Miss Anna P. Waters, of Goldsboro, North Carolina. Their one child, Martin Henry, Jr., was born May 22, 1916.
THOMAS ALBERT CLARK is both a lawyer and banker and has made most commendable progress in attaining a substantial position in affairs in the few years he has been out of college. His home is at Canton.
He was born in Haywood County, North Car- olina, May 16. 1888, a son of Calvin R. and Cor- delia (Ford) Clark. His father was a farmer and stock man. Thomas A. Clark was educated in pub- lic schools, attended a noted institution in East- ern Tennessee, Tusculum College, and finished his law course in the Chattanooga College of Law June 6, 1911. Since that date he has been en- gaged in a growing general practice at Canton. He is also vice president aud attorney for the Bank of Canton, is a member of the Haywood County Bar Association, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
June 26. 1915, he married Zora Crawford, of Haywood County. They have one daughter, Maxie Rae.
LEON T. VAUGHAN. A gifted lawyer and a man of the highest personal character is found in Leon T. Vaughan, who is acknowledged to be one of the leading men of his profession in Eastern North Carolina. In educational circles also and in political life he has been among the achieving men of this district and his name is well and honorably known all over Nash County.
Leon T. Vaughan was born in Halifax County, North Carolina, at the old Town of Scotland Neck, September 25, 1875. He had educational advan- tages that included an academic course in the Vine Hill Male Academy at Scotland Neck, and a full course at Wake Forest College, from which insti-
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tution he was graduated in 1902. Had Mr. Vaughan been less ambitious his success as an edu- cator might have satisfied him, for he was a very popular teacher for some years after leaving col- lege, during which period he was principal of the Church Hill High School in Warren County, North Carolina. He had decided, however, on a career in law, a profession for which he was eminently fitted by nature, possessing in remarkable degree, even in very early manhood, many of the distinc- tive qualities which ensure success at the bar. He returned to Wake Forest for his law course and in August, 1903, was admitted to the bar.
Mr. Vaughan came to Nashville in May, 1904, and opened a law office and almost immediately won attention through his legal knowledge, his wise and just handling of the business that came to him, and his dignified and earnest citizenship. This attitude of civic responsibility has remained a part of Mr. Vaughan's life and at all times he has been ready to co-operate with others to bring about needed reforms here or to add to the jus- tifiable movements to increase the prestige and prosperity of the city.
All his life Mr. Vaughan has been zealous in his support of the principles of the democratic party and since locating at Nashville has been one of the strongest forces in every political campaign. Born to be a leader, wise, self-controlled and far- visioned, Mr. Vaughan has received a party recog- nition. In 1910 he was elected chairman of the Democratic County Executive Committee. The faith of the party was fully justified, for in the campaign that followed his fine executive ability was an important factor and the democratic ma- jority in the November election following was unprecedented. In 1911. when the State Legisla- ture created the office of prosecuting attorney for the recorder's court of the county, Mr. Vaughan was unanimously elected to that office by the board of county commissioners. In this important office his special talents have been brought forward in marked degrce and, as noted above, he is numbered with the able men of the law both as a public prose- cutor and as an attorney in private practice.
Mr. Vaughan was married March 28, 1906, to Miss Mary Laura Ross, who is a daughter of Dr. T. T. Ross, a prominent citizen of Nash County.
JOHN T. SIMPSON has a business relationship with Winston-Salem extending over a long period of years and is now a member of one of the lead- ing firms of warehouse men in the city. He was at one time connected with the great R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and he has utilized his experi- ences and opportunities in such a way as to give him a secure and independent business position.
Mr. Simpson was born on a plantation in what is now New Bethel Township of Rockingham County, North Carolina. His great-grandfather, James Simpson, was a native of England and on coming to America became an early settler in Rock- ingham County. His grandfather, William B. Simpson, was born in Rockingham County and spent many years of his life as a practical farmer there. He finally removed to Somerset in Pulaski County, Kentucky, where his last years were spent. He married a Miss Beashore, whose father was a native of France and an early settler in North Carolina.
Capt. James T. Simpson, father of John T., was born in New Bethel Township of Rockingham County in 1808. At that time New Bethel was
included in Simpsonville Township. He grew up on a farm and on coming to manhood bought land in what is now New Bethel Township and operated it with the aid of his slaves. When the war came on he was too old for active military duties, but none the less he proved his spirit and his loyalty to the South by raising a company and for a time commanded it in the field. He was finally detailed to command a company of Home Guards. With the close of the war he resumed farming and made that his occupation until the end of his life. He died in his seventy-ninth year. Captain Simpson married first Deliah Layton. Of the eight children from this marriage, five grew to maturity : Sarah, A. M., P. H., Frances and J. D. His second marriage was to Martha Dwiggins. She was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, daughter of John B. Dwiggins and granddaughter of Robert Dwiggins. The latter was a native of Maryland and was an early settler in Stokes County, North Carolina. John B. Dwiggins was born in 1808 in that part of Stokes County now in Forsyth County. He afterward removed to Guilford County, buying land in Oak Ridge Town- ship, where he followed farming until his death. He married Lacy Pegram, who died at the age of seventy-seven. She was born in Guilford County and was descended from one of four brothers who came to America in colonial times. One of these brothers settled in New York, one in Alabama, one in the West and one in Virginia. It was the Virginia branch of the family that sent its mem- bers into North Carolina as pioneers in Guilford County.
Mrs. Martha Simpson, wife of Captain Simpson, died in 1916, at the age of seventy-seven. She reared four children: John T .; Maryless, wife of P. R. Webster, of Rockingham County; Thomas J., who occupies the old homestead; and Eugene, a resident of Winston-Salem.
John T. Simpson spent his early life on a farm, attended the rural schools and was a practical and valuable helper on the farm for his parents until he was twenty-one. At that time he came to Winston and found employment at the R. J. Rey- nolds Tobacco Factory. He was with that firm three years, and then for seven years was connected with P. H. Hanes in the same business. He finally returned to R. J. Reynolds and was one of the practical men in that great and growing plant for seven years. He then resigned to engage in the warehouse business, his partner being A. R. Ben- nett. At the present time he is in partnership with Mr. J. H. Glen.
In 1891 Mr. Simpson married Miss Lula John- son, who was born in Forsyth County, daughter of Robert D. and Martha A. Johnson. Mrs. Simp- son died in 1904, leaving two children, Kathleen and James R. In 1907 Mr. Simpson married Elizabeth Shannon, who was born in Wythe County, Virginia, daughter of William and Martha (Spratt) Shannon. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have five children : William, Elizabeth, Frances, Virginia and John T., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson are active members of the West End Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, and he is serving as a member of its board of stewards. In fraternal affairs he is especially active in Masonry, being affiliated with Winston Lodge No. 167, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Winston Chapter No. 24, Royal Arch Masons; Piedmont Commandery No. 6, Knights Templar; and Oasis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charlotte.
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THEODORE F. DAVIDSON, whose career is one of the most distinguished that enters into the public and professional history of North Carolina during the last half century, has now rounded out half a century of membership in the bar of Asheville, and is one of that city's most honored residents.
It is only proper to mention briefly some other members of his family who have enacted historic roles in North Carolina. The Davidson family, Scotch-Irish in origin, came to Pennsylvania from Scotland and thence to Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, as early as 1748. One of the family who made that cmigration was William Davidson, a native of Pennsylvania, who during the war for independence was a major of militia and a member of the Committee of Safety, and otherwise played a prominent part in the affairs of the colonies. He was a whig, and a man of substantial property, high standing and influence. In 1791 he represented Rutherford County in the General Assembly. He took a prominent part in the enactment of that legislation which created the County of Buncombe in that session. Bun- combe county was organized, in pursuance of this act, at his own home in 1792. He served as a member of the first court for Buncombe County, and for several years represented the county in the Senate. His death occurred in 1810.
William Mitchell Davidson, a son of this Revolutionary patriot, was born in 1773 in what is now McDowell County, North Carolina. He married Elizabeth Vance. Her father Capt. David Vance, was one of the brilliant leaders of the Continental troops in the Revolution, par- ticinating at Brandywine, Monmouth, Ramseur's Mills, King's Mountain, Cowpens. After the Revolution Captain Vance served as a member of the General Assembly and first clerk of the Court of Buncombe County, an office he held until his death. He was the ancestor of Senator Z. B. Vance and Gen. R. B. Vance. William M. David- son after his marriage settled on Jonathan's Creek in Haywood County and on his large farm and stock ranch there reared his family. He died in 1846 and his wife passed away in 1861.
Of their nine children one was Allen Turner Davidson, who was born in Haywood County, North Carolina, May 9, 1819. He was educated in the common schools, at Waynesville Academy, and after studying law practiced in the western counties. He was president of the Miners and Planters Bank at Murrhv. a member of the State Convention of 1861 and otherwise interested in the development of western districts. He was director in several railroad companies and during the time of the Confederacy represented his district in the Confederate Congress and also served as solicitor of Cherokee County. In 1842 he married Adeline Howell.
Theodore F. Davidson was one of the eight children of Allen T. and Adeline (Howell) David- son. He was born in Havwood County. North Carolina, March 30. 1845. He was prepared for college at Asheville by Col. Stephen Lee, cousin of Gen. Robert E. Lee. He had been appointed a naval cadet at Annapolis when the outbreak of the war changed the course of his life. April 16. 1861, at the age of sixteen. he enlisted as a private in the Buncombe Rifles under Capt. W. W. McDowell. This was the first com- many organized in the state west of the Blue Ridge. The company was assigned to the First North Carolina Regiment, and was disbanded at
the end of six months. Young Davidson re- enlisted in Company C of the Thirty-ninth Regi- ment, under Col. David Coleman. He held the position of sergeant major until after the battle of Murfreesboro and was then commissioned aide to Gen. Robert B. Vance, commander of the mili- tary district of Western North Carolina. Later he served as assistant adjutant general on the brigade staff under Col. John B. Palmer and Gen. James G. Martin. A portion of the brigade to which he belonged about May 1, 1865, fired the last hostile guns in the great drama of the war east of the Mississippi.
With the return of peace Mr. Davidson resumed his studies under Colonel Lee and toward the close of 1865 took up the study of law under Judge J. L. Bailey at Asheville. Three years later he was admitted to practice and in 1868 formed a partnership with his father, which continued until the retirement of the latter in 1882. He then practiced with Col. James G. Mar- tin, and successively was head of the firm David- son & Martin, Davidson & Jones and Davidson, Bourne & Parker. During the past forty years Mr. Davidson has been connected with some of the largest interests and with some of the big cases in the State of North Carolina. He has served a number of years as counsel for the Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, as vice president and counsel of the North Carolina Elec- tric and Power Company, and of the W. T. Weaver Power Company.
Mr. Davidson was solicitor for Clay County, North Carolina, during 1867-68 until the office was abolished in the latter year by the new Con- stitution. He was one of the most zealous of the opponents of the adoption of that constitution. From 1872 for ten years he was chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of Buncombe County, also chairman of the Democratic Congres- sional Committee for the Ninth District. Iu 1878 he was elected from Buncombe county to the State Senate and two years later reelected. Altogether he was a member of the Legislature four terms. He took a prominent part in promoting the exten- sion of railway construction, which was the matter closest to the hearts of his constituents, and in 1879 he was appointed director for the state at large of the Western North Carolina Railroad. In 1881 he was made director of the Western North Carolina Insane Asylum, having ably advo- cated the act which established that institution. In 1882 he was appointed judge of the Criminal Court of Buncombe County. In June, 1884, he was nominated for attorney general of the state, and was elected by a large majority and reelected for a succeeding term of four years, his service in that high and important office running from the year 1885 to 1893. Since then he has served as mayor of Asheville. He has served as trustee of St. Mary's School for Girls at Raleigh, as chan- cellor of the Missionary Diocese of Western North Carolina, and is a prominent member of the Episcopal church. He has long been active in the North Carolina Bar and American Bar Associa- tions, and is a member of the Asheville Club and well known in the social life of that city.
November 6, 1866, Judge Davidson married Sallio K. Alexander, danghter of Capt. A. M. Alexauder of French Broad, near Asheville, Mrs. Davidson died in July, 1887. On October 12, 1893, he married Sally L. Carter, of Raleigh, North Carolina.
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JAMES WILLIAM FERGUSON. For exact and ready knowledge of the law, ability both as coun- selor and advocate and successful results, there is no member of the Haywood County bar with a better record than James William Ferguson, who has practiced at Waynesville since 1893. He has been honored with several of the important offices that are in direct line with the legal profession and made a notable record as solicitor of the old Twelfth Circuit.
Mr. Ferguson was born at Waynesville, North Carolina, September 29, 1873, and comes by the law almost as a birthright. He is a son of Judge Garland Sevier Ferguson, long prominent both as a lawyer and as a jurist. His mother's maiden name was Sarah Frances Norwood. James W. Ferguson was educated in public schools, attended private schools in Virginia and finished his law course in the University of North Carolina. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1893, and ·ever since, except so far as official duties have prevented, has been devoted to the interests and upbuilding of a general practice.
Mr. Ferguson was elected a member of the Legislature in 1897. From 1898 to 1903 he was solicitor of the Twelfth Judicial District, now the Twentieth District. For six years he was a member of the Waynesville School Board. He is a Royal Arch in Masonry, a member of the Mystic Shrine, is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, is affiliated with the Sigma Phi col- lege fraternity and is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South.
February 28, 1899, Mr. Ferguson married Miss Hester L. Cooper, daughter of Capt. James W. and Emily Isabelle (Henry) Cooper. Her fa- ther was an attorney and financier at Murphy, North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have three children, James William, Jr., Edwin Cooper and Isabelle. The son Edwin Cooper is now in the radio service with the United States Navy.
JOHN AARON ORRELL has a record such as he may well be proud of, and it is a record of faith- ful and consistent service in every capacity and of an honored and influential place in community af- fairs.
Born in New Hanover County October 13, 1875, and with only a common school education, he be- gan at the age of fifteen to earn his own way in the world. From 1890 until 1911 he was con- tinuously connected with the Standard Oil Com- pany in the accounting department, and it was the ability to do hard and conscientious work that brought him into a still larger and more useful field of service. After one year with the Cape Fear Oil Company Mr. Orrell was elected, December 1, 1912, as country treasurer of New Hanover County, and on May 1, 1913, the duties of county treasurer were combined with those of county auditor. Since then he has filled both functions in the govern- ment of his home county, and by re-election his present term runs to December, 1922. He had previously served as a member of the Board of Audit and Finance of the City of Wilmington, but resigned in 1905.
Mr. Orrell's parents were John J. and Ann E. (Hewlett) Orrell. His father was a noted pilot in his day, and served in that capacity during the Civil war and for many years afterward. John A. Orrell is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and the Wood- men of the World, and is a member of the Wilming-
ton Chamber of Commerce. He is treasurer of the Masonboro Baptist Church.
June 26, 1895, he married Miss Mattie J. Powell, of Wilmington. They have two children, May D. and John Aaron, Jr.
THOMAS E. LANDQUIST. From messenger boy to head of one of the leading drug houses of Winston- Salem constitutes the business progress of Thomas E. Landquist. Mr. Landquist is the son of a Confederate soldier, a private in a Louisiana regi- ment who after being wounded in battle was sent to Salem, North Carolina, to recuperate and subse- quently made that his permanent home.
Thomas E. Landquist was born at Winston- Salem July 23, 1873. His father and all his paternal ancestors were natives of Sweden. His grandfather was a farmer and lived in Sweden until 1856, when he came to America and settled in the Territory of Minnesota. He secured land near St. Peters, was engaged in farming there and remained a resident of that northern state until his death. He was twice married. His first wife died enroute to America, the mother of one daughter, who mar- ried a Mr. Tanquist. The second wife died in Minnesota.
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