USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 46
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it is the same as the regular building association, which has been tried and proven successful.
Senator McRae is author also of a bill creating an Arbor Day in North Carolina, which was passed, and aided in the passage of the state primary law and a number of other acts. He secured the pas- sage of the law entitled "An Act to Authorize the Board of Aldermen or other Governing Body of Towns and Cities to Issue, Upon Approval by Vote of the People, Bonds for Purchasing Sites, Erecting Buildings, Etc., for School Purposes." He also aided in the passage of the bill regulating the practice of architecture and creating a board of examiners of architects and providing for the registration of architects. In every way his serv- ice has been a most commendable one, alike bene- ficial to his county and state, helpful to his con- stituents and of the utmost credit to himself and his achievements. He is being spoken of as can- didate for the United States Congress. .
On January 22, 1916, Senator McRae was united in marriage with Miss Mattie T. Ham, of Wayne County, North Carolina. Of this union there have been born Martha Ham and John Albert, Jr.
CHARLES MORT FLEMING. One of the best known figures in the tobacco industry of East Cen- tral North Carolina is Charles Mort Fleming, whose headquarters are Wilson, but whose activi- ties in this great industry have made his name known throughout a broad contiguous territory. Practically from the outset of his career Mr. Fleming has been identified in some capacity with the tobacco business, and as the years have passed he has advanced to more and more prominent po- sitions until today he is recognized as a leading factor in the business and one of the best posted ment therein in this part of the state. He is at this time manager and buyer for the well known Imperial Tobacco Company, Limited.
Mr. Fleming has passed nearly all his life in the community in which he now lives. He was born in Warren County, North Carolina, May: 19, 1862, his parents being Charles Joseph and Winnie (Paschal) Fleming, well known farming people of that county, where the elder Fleming was a subtsantial agriculturist and the owner of a valuable property. While growing to young manhood Charles M. Fleming was given his edu- cational training in private schools in Warren County, and his career was started as a farmer, a vocation at which he was engaged until he was about twenty years of age. With rare foresight he recognized that a future lay before him in the tobacco business, and in 1882, at Oxford, North Carolina, he began operations therein. As a buyer and seller he gained much experience at Oxford, and in 1890 changed his base of opera- tions to Wilson, where he purchased the first to- bacco placed for sale upon the organization of the market at this place. Since then his head- quarters have been here and he has steadily risen to a foremost place among the men who have developed the industry. From 1890 until 1902 Mr. Fleming centered his operations in leaf to- bacco, handling that commodity exclusively, but in the latter year accepted the position of man- ager and buyer for the large Imperial Tobacco Company (of Great Britain and Ireland), Limited, with which he has since been identified. The volume of the business which he does as repre- sentative for the corporation which he represents is shown by the fact that during the fifteen
years past he has bought on an average of 9,000,- 000 pounds annually for the concern, and in 1915 his purchases amounted to approximately 14,000,- 000 pounds. He has a wide acquaintance among the foremost men in the industry, and wherever known is accounted a reliable, practical man of business, and one of the best judges of values and crops connected with the industry. In ad- dition, Mr. Fleming is extensively interested in agricultural ventures, owning much valuable land and operating a number of cotton gins. He has invested much of his capital in city business prop- erty at Wilson, and has assisted in the develop- ment of the city in both an industrial and civic way.
Mr. Fleming was married at Wilson, December 29, 1891, to Miss Mattie Crews, of Oxford, and they are the parents of six children: Allie W., who is the wife of Louis Williams, of Weldon, North Carolina; Roscoe Briggs, who married Nan- nie Briggs, of Wilson; and Charles Mort, Jr., Will Randolph, Lalla Rookh and Alice Herring, at home.
FRANK KINGSBURY THOMSON. Among the labors to which men devote their activities there are none which have a more important bearing upon the growth and development of any com- munity than those which have to do with architec- ture and building and their allied interests. The vocations which fashion and erect the homes of citizens and the large buildings in which important enterprises are housed are among the oldest known to civilization, and in their ranks have been found men who have risen to high places in the world. The community which may boast of able and energetic workers in these fields seldom wants for enterprise and civic zeal. They create a demand for their services, and while advancing their own interests they promote the community's growth. Without such men a city may not hope to prosper, for, lacking their initiative, skill and resource, other enterprises are affected and often fall into the rut of mediocrity that eventuates in failure.
Among the leading representatives in building and architectural work in the constantly growing city of Raleigh, Frank Kingsbury Thomson holds a deservedly high place. He first came to this city nearly twenty years ago, but for a time was largely engaged in operations in the government service; since 1910, however, he has devoted him- self to the private practice of his profession, and since then some of Raleigh 's large structures have been erected under his supervision and according to his plans.
Mr. Thomson was born in the City of Cincinnati, Ohio, April 21, 1872, and is a son of James and Belle (Kingsbury) Thomson. He undoubtedly inherits a great deal of his artistic ability, for for his father was a wood engraver and a master in an art that is practically lost. Mr. Thomson secured his early education in the public schools of his native city, following which he attended the University of Tennessee, and upon his gradua- tion from that institution further prepared him- self for his vocation by attending several schools of architecture and building. Coming to Raleigh in 1898, he established himself in practice as an architect, and his work soon attracted wide-spread attention, so that he was called to the Central West to superintend the erection of some large and important buildings. While thus engaged he was employed by the United State government in the building of a number of its structures, these
N. H.G. Lucas
MRS. W. HI. G. LUCAS
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including army posts, barracks and other works, under the quartermaster's department. Among these were Fort Mckinley, at Portland, Maine; Fort Lovette, the artillery post at Portland; and Whipple Barracks at Prescott, Arizona. After spending four years in the government service, Mr. Thomson once more took up his residence at Raleigh, and here has devoted himself to archi- tectural designing and supervising the erection of various edifices. His life has been one of continu- ous activity in which he has been accorded due recognition of the value of his labor. He is a member and an ex-president of the North Caro- lina Architectural Association. A member of the Chamber of Commerce and of the business council of that body, no citizen has been more active in the promotion of Raleigh's progress and advance- ment, and none enjoys a higher standing both in business and social circles.
In December, 1903, Mr. Thomson was married to Miss Jessie Allen, of Raleigh, daughter of William Allen, and to this union there have been born three children, namely: Allen, Grace and James.
JAMES MCKIMMON after graduating from the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1904, at once entered upon a business career at Raleigh, and for nine years was connected with the Raleigh Banking and Trust Company, part of the time as clerk and part of the time as chief bookkeeper.
He left the bank to take up business of his own in the insurance and real estate fields. He is now head of the firm of McKimmon and McKee, a firm that has steadily built up a fine reputation and an extensive clientage as dealers and brokers in real estate and as representatives of all kinds of in- surance.
He was born in Athens, Georgia, June 16, 1885, and when an infant was brought to Raleigh by his parents, James and Leila (Hull) McKimmon. His father was a druggist. Thus Mr. James McKim- mon was reared in Raleigh, and before entering college attended the public schools and Morson's private school. He is a member of the Capital and Country clubs and of the Sigma Nu fraternity.
November 2, 1910, he married Willa Norris, daughter of the late M. T. Norris, of Raleigh. They have three children: Cornelia, James, Jr., and Henry Hull. Politically Mr. McKimmon is a democrat.
WILLIAM H. G. LUCAS, M. D. Beloved and trusted at home and honored abroad, may be truth- fully written of Dr. William H. G. Lucas, formerly a member of the North Carolina State Senate, and for fifty years a faithful and successful physi- cian and surgeon of Bladen County, North Caro- lina. His busy, useful life has largely been de- voted to assisting others professionally and other- wise. To his energetic efforts on their behalf, his neighbors and fellow citizens at White Oak and in the entire Cape Fear section are indebted for their physical soundness very generally, and for many of the material modern comforts and con- veniences that play so large a part in bringing about neigliborhood well-being and social content- ment.
William H. G. Lucas was born September 19, 1844, at White Hall, Bladen County, North Caro- line. His parents were John J. D. and Mary (Rothwell) Lucas, and his paternal grandfather was Henry Lucas, of Scotch ancestry, who lived and died at White Hall, which was the old
family seat for nearly one hundred years. Prior to the period covered by the war between the states, North Carolina had numerous excellent private schools and one of the most notable was A. P. Gage's school at Laurinburg in Scotland County. In that school Doctor Lucas came under the care of a teacher noted for his deep classical learning and scholarship, his ability to impart knowledge to his pupils, his tact and diplomacy and his faculty of arousing the best in every nature. This is the generous tribute that Doctor Lucas pays to his old instructor, in recognition of his inspiring influence during his formative years.
When the war came on and military conditions so generally prevailed in this section, the schools suffered and with many things of the old life, some of the best institutions were closed and never re-opened. Mr. Lucas at the time of the war, on account of his youth and physical disability, was connected with the general local service. He managed to add to his literary knowledge and also, before the war closed, had done considerable preparatory reading in medicine, having decided upon a medical career. When prepared to enter seriously upon his medical education he was fortunate again in the selection of preceptors, Doctor Dixon, of Laurinburg, and Dr. Neill Gra- ham, of Bladen County, men of eminence in the profession and representing the highest standard of old-time ethics and professional abil- ity.
After the war closed and normal conditions had been resumed Doctor Lucas went to Philadelphia, the old fountain-head of medical education in America, where he diligently applied himself and in 1870 was graduated from the Philadelphia Uni- versity of Medicine and Surgery. He returned then to his old home at White Hall and im- mediately entered into practice and is still active after the passage of forty-eight years. He is the dean of his profession in Bladen County, esteemed by every one and greatly beloved. He has ever maintained the old-time ethics of his profession but united with the old standards is the skill and scientific knowledge of the modern physician and surgeon who keeps his mind open to every advance made in his beloved science. His name is a dear and honored one in very many households in this section.
Doctor Lucas was married to Miss Ann Eliza McKay, who died in 1915. She was a collateral descendant of General McKay of Revolutionary fame, a member of one of the oldest and most historic families of Bladen County. To Doctor and Mrs. Lucas ten children were born and five survive, namely: Mrs. E. R. Hemly, who is a resident of Rincon, Georgia; W. G. Lucas, who is a hardware merchant at Dillon, South Carolina; Mrs. L. McKay Chaffin, whose home is at Burgaw, North Carolina; Homer, who resides with his father; and Louise, who is a popular teacher at Hamlet, North Carolina. Until 1905 the family home remained at White Hall, but in that year Doctor Lucas removed to his present home at White Oak, which is twelve miles up the Cape Fear River from Elizabethtown. His fine farm and beautiful country home are on the Wilmington and Fayetteville highway. Always enterprising and public spirited, he has been particularly so since coming to White Oak and mainly through his instrumentality good roads have been estab- lished with convenient ferries on the Cape Fear River, these public improvements insuring satis- factory transportation at all times. Through his
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efforts also a telephone system has been introduced that connects this locality with the whole outside world.
Doctor Lucas has always taken a great deal of interest in the great matter of education and . has long been a leader in fostering movements along this line in Bladen County. At the present time he is a member of the county board of edu- cation, in his second period, having previously served from 1903 to 1905 and was a second time elected in 1912. For two years Doctor Lucas served as county treasurer and it was during that time that his friends elected him a member of the State Senate and he served at Raleigh with the same efficiency and sense of responsibility that has ever marked his professional career. By broaden- ing his interests Doctor Lucas has found one way to keep young in spirit and few men can be found better able in every way to meet the great emer- gencies as well as the everyday problems of life in his community. He is demonstrating his pa- triotie spirit as well as his professional efficiency by serving at the present time as a member of the Blade County Exemption Board and its examining surgeon.
RICHARD STANFORD TRAVIS is a North Caro- lina man who has made his way in the world from boyhood and has steadily climbed to a position of prominence and of definite achieve- ment in business nad financial circles. He is one of the prominent bankers of Halifax County.
He was born in Brunswick County, Virginia, September 23, 1872, son of Edward Warren and Mollie (Clark) Travis. His father was a farmer. When Richard Stanford Travis was fifteen years of age the family came to North Carolina. He was educated only in public schools, and as a boy found work and opportunity as clerk in a gen- eral merchandise store. For one year he served as deputy register of deeds of Granville County at Oxford, and in order to be still better equipped for a business career he took a course at a busi- ness college. In 1892 Mr. Travis came to Wel- don, was teller and later cashier of the Bank of Weldon, and since 1913 has been president of the Weldon Bank and Trust Company. He is also secretary of the Shaw Cotton Mills and head of R. S. Travis & Company, general insurance. Mr. Travis is a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church at Weldon.
August 4, 1907, he married Miss Mabel Zolli- coffer, of Weldon. They have five children: Au- gustus Zollicoffer, Richard Stanford, Jr., William Allison, Mary Ellen and Elizabeth Clark.
EUGENE MARVIN ROLLINS, though educated for the law has given his chief time and attention so far to educational affairs, and has done a highly appreciative and valuable work as superintendent of public education in Vance County.
Mr. Rollins was born at Holly Springs, Wake County, North Carolina, June 26, 1880, son of a substantial business man of that locality, Thomas B. Rollins and Janet (Coffield) Rollins. He was educated in Jonesboro, in the Trinity High School in Randolph County, and is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina. In the meantime he had taught school about five years and in the intervals of this occupation he completed his course in the law department of the University of North Carolina. Mr. Rollins was admitted to the North Carolina bar in August, 1904, and for three years practiced at Raleigh. On July 15,
1912, he was elected superintendent of education for Vance County and to the duties and responsi- bilities of that office he has devoted himself untiringly for the past five years. While living in Wake County he was member of the County Board of Education. He is a member of the North Carolina Teachers Assembly and is secre- tary and one of the organizers of the Golden Belt Fair Association. He is a steward and super- intendent of the Sunday School of the First Methodist Episcopal Church South, at Henderson. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and is also active in the local Chamber of Commerce.
In 1901 Mr. Rollins married Alice Dick of Whitsett, North Carolina. They are the parents of three children: Eugene Marvin, Jr., Vance Benton and Charles Dick.
J. FRANKLIN MCCUBBINS. A man of sterling worth and integrity, J. Franklin McCubbins, of Salisbury, clerk of the Rowan County courts, has gained a high standing in the community as a citizen, the esteem of a wide circle of friends, and the respect of men of all classes with whom he has come in contact. A son of James Samuel McCub- bins, he was born in Salisbury, April 26, 1863, of Scotch ancestry. His grandfather, Edward Mc- Cubbins, was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Randolph County, this state, in his active career, but spent the later years of his life in Salisbury.
James Samuel McCubbins was born on a planta- tion in Randolph County, North Carolina, Novem- ber 22, 1822. Leaving the farm when young, he was for a few years engaged in mercantile busi- ness in Statesville, having been in partnership with Samuel R. Bell. From there he came to Salis- bury, and here in partnership with William Murphy, he carried on a good business as a general merchant until 1886. Prior to that time he had purchased a farm, and an interest in a roller mill, and after his retirment from mercantile pursuits he superin- tended both the mill and the farm, continuing a resident of Salisbury until his death, June 13, 1899.
The maiden name of the wife of James Samuel McCubbins was Margaret Theresa Bell. She was born June 29, 1840, in Statesville, North Carolina, a daughter of Samuel Rutherford Bell, and grand- daughter of James Odell Beall. Her great-grand- father, David Beall, whose birthplace is unknown, was a pioneer of what is now Iredell County. Hav- ing acquired large tracts of land, he established his home on Fifth Creek, and there spent his last days, his body being buried in Bethany Church- yard. He was well educated, a man of literary tastes, and quite gifted as a poet.
A native, it is supposed, of what is now Iredell County, James Odell Beall was there a life-long resident and a successful agriculturist, operating his plantation with slave labor. The maiden name of his wife was Jean Galloway.
Born on the home plantation in that part of Rowan County now included within the limits of Iredell County, Samuel Rutherford Bell, who dropped the letter "a" from the original spelling of his surname, acquired a good education, and in early manhood taught school, while later he served as county examiner. Subsequently locating in Statesville, he established a general store, and was there engaged in mercantile business until his death, July 19, 1866. His wife, whose maiden name was Theresa Phoebe McPherson, was born January 4, 1809, in Iredell County, a daughter of Matthew McPherson. Her grandfather, Robert
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McPherson, removed to what is now Iredell County from Rowan County, he and his brothers having lived in the vicinity of China Grove. He purchased Baker's Mill, which was situated near the present site of Mooresville, and at his death bequeathed it to his three sons, Matthew, John and Robert.
Matthew McPherson, father of Theresa Phoebe McPherson and great-grandfather on the motornal
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part of his life in Salisbury, where he was for many years engaged in the manufacture of tobacco. His wife, mother of Mrs. MeCubbin, was born in Davie County, a daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Louisa (Jones) Lunn, and granddaughter of William and Esther (Lindsay) Lunn. She survived her husband and is now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. McCubbins. Mr. and Mrs. McCub- bins have one child, Theresa, wife of Forrest J. Allen, of Baltimore, Maryland.
Prominent in fraternal circles, Mr. McCubbins is a member of Fulton Lodge No. 99, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of Salisbury Chap- ter No. 20, Royal Arch Masons; of Adoniram Coun- cil No. 2, Royal and Select Masters; of Salisbury Commandery No. 13, Knights Templar; of Oasis
Temple at Charlotte; of Salisbury Lodge No. 24, Knights of Pythias; aud of Salisbury Lodge No. 699, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
DAVID NICHOLAS CHADWICK, JR., is prominently identified with Wilmington business affairs, and has been especially a factor of enterprise and de- """opment in real estate lines. Mr. Chadwick is retary and treasurer of the Wilmington Beach rporation, secretary and treasurer of the delity Trust and Development Company and is .cially connected with several other local organi- sions.
Mr. Chadwick was born at Wilmington Novem- ' 19, 1883, a son of David N. and Lina (Rob- on) Chadwick. His father was a substantial 'mer. The son acquired his early education in : public and private schools, the University of rth Carolina, and a business college.
His preliminary business experience was as a rk in the Murchison National Bank and as okkeeper in one of Wilmington's wholesale ises. Since 1909 he has given all his time real estate, and besides the two companies ve named he is vice president of the San Souci attoir Company, secretary and treasurer of the , Imington Dock and Storage Company, chairman
the Board of Elections of New Hanover inty, secretary and treasurer of the Taylor heries, Wilmington, North Carolina, secretary [ treasurer of the Seminole Fertilizer and Oil poration, Jacksonville, Florida.
The Wilmington Beach Corporation was organ- 1 in 1913 with a capital stock of $50,000 and the following year the capital was increased to 0,000. This corporation has acquired a mag- cent track of 426 acres located thirteen and a f miles from Wilmington comprising the ex- ne point of Cape Fear and between Cape Fear er and the Atlantic Ocean. As an ocean resort romises a magnificent future, and has unrivaled ilities of ocean beach, convenience to trans- tation and is close by historic old Fort Fisher.
development purposes the tract has been ded into 1,500 lots, each 50 by 100 feet. The zutive officers of this company are C. C. Chad- rn, president; L. W. Davis, vice president; N. Chadwick, Jr., secretary and treasurer; and E. Price, general manager.
he Fidelity Trust and Development Company .organized in 1912 and has also undertaken an itious development project, having acquired acres a mile and a half from Wilmington, re it has laid out and begun the development Sunset Park. This land is divided into 1,600 extending for a distance of a mile and a along beautiful Cape Fear River, and the capital of the trust company is $100,000.
Mr. Chadwick has always been active in demo- cratic party affairs and in community advance- ment. In 1913-15 he served as councilman in charge of the finances of the City of Wilmington. He is a former secretary of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at the City of Wil- mington.
Mr. Chadwick married December 4, 1912, Ethel- H. Hopkins of Wilmington. They have two chil- dren, Jean Robinson and David Nicholas III.
JOHN RICHARD DILDY. Few citizens are bet- ter known in Wilson County than John R. Dildy, register of deeds for Wilson County and a prom- inent business man at Wilson. He has had ex- perience along several lines and his activities
HENDERSON GRADED SCHOOLS HENDERSON, N. C.
Certificate of Hromotion
has completed the work
required in the Section of the Grade for the
term ending
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and is hereby promoted to
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