USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 51
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Henry married and reared one daughter, who died unmarried. Esther became the wife of Col. James Brandon.
Hugh Horah was born on the parental home- stead in Rowan County, but instead of continuing life as a farmer he learned the trade of a watch maker and repairer, and settled in Salisbury, where he continued in business until his death, at an advanced age. He was a man of considerable influence, his name being frequently mentioned in Rumple's History of Rowan County. From that volume we learn that he was one of the guests at the ball given in honor of General Washington when he visited Salisbury in the spring of 1791. It also tells us that it was he who rang the court- house bell in March, 1815, when the people were celebrating the Treaty of Peace at the close of the Second War for Independence. He married Mary Moore, who, like him, lived to a good old age. Both were devout members of the Presby- terian Church.
William Henry Horah, a native of Salisbury North Carolina, was the only child of his parents. He acquired a good education, and was a man of much executive and financial ability. Upon the organization of the Cape Fear Bank, he was elected cashier, and served acceptably until ill health com- pelled him to seek out-door employment. He had in the meantime invested largely in both city and farm property, and prior to the war managed his farms with slave help. He kept many sheep, and his slaves used to spin the wool, weave it into the material from which their clothing was made, fashioning, with assistance, their own garments at home. He continued his residence in Salisbury until his death, at the age of seventy-five years. He married Louisa Furr, who was born in Rowan County, a daughter of Tobias Furr. She died at the age of forty-five years, leaving twelve children, all of whom grew to years of maturity, as follows: Hugh, Robert, Mary Elizabeth, William Henry, John Murphy, James, Franklin, Ann, Henry, Rowan, Joseph and George. George enlisted May 30, 1861, being commissioned second lieutenant in the Forty-sixth Regiment, North Carolina troops; on March 20, 1863, he was promoted to first lieuten- ant; and on May 5, 1864, at the Battle of the Wilderness, he was killed.
Rowan Horah was born and bred in Salisbury, and as a young man was graduated from the Uni- versity of North Carolina. Instead of entering upon a professional career he went to Philadelphia to learn the cabinet maker's trade. Upon com- pleting his apprenticeship he returned to Salisbury and engaged in the manufacture of furniture. He was a fine workman, and did custom work mostly, being kept busily employed. It was before the days of undertaking establishments, and he made most of the coffins needed in Salisbury and the surrounding country. He died at a comparatively early age, having been but fifty-four years old when called to the life beyond. He married Rosanna Earnhart, who was born at Gold Hill, Rowan County. She survived him, passing away at the age of sixty-nine years. She had one brother, Clark Earnhart, who enlisted in the Confederate army and died while in service. Her only sister, Jane Earnhart, married James Shaver. Mr. and Mrs. Rowan Horah were the parents of six chil- dren, as follows: Thomas, Robert, George, William Lafayette, Hugh and Daisy.
William Lafayette Horah acquired a practical education in the public schools, and in 1890 entered
the Rowan Knitting Mill, where he became familiar with the work of its every department. Going to Scotland Neck, Halifax County, in 1894, he estab- lished a mill, which he operated successfully for four years. In May, 1898, he established a knitting mill at Fayetteville, and continued its management until August, 1900. Going from there to Norfolk, Mr. Horah was for six months superintendent of the Virginia Knitting Mill. Resigning that posi- tion, he established the Washington Knitting Mills, at Washington, North Carolina, and remained as superintendent of the plant until 1909. Disposing then of his interest in the mills, Mr. Horah went to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and there established a mill which he operated until 1912, when he sold his interest in it. Coming in that year to Salis- bury, Mr. Horah established the Meredith Knitting Mill, of which he is the sole proprietor, and has since carried on an extensive and profitable business in the manufacture of hosiery, the products of his factory finding a ready sale in the principal markets of this section of the Union.
Mr. Horah married in 1900 at Fayetteville, An- nie Martin, who was born in that city, of early English ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Horah are the parents of two children.
JEFFERSON DAVIS BARDIN. A lawyer by pro- fession and an honored member of the Wilson bar for over thirty years, Mr. Bardin has given the latter half of his professional career largely to official and public responsibilities. He is now serving as clerk of the Superior Court, to which he was first appointed August 14, 1916, and on December 4, 1916, was elected for the regular term of four years.
He was born at Wilson October 6, 1860, a son of Benjamin Howell and Nancy (Roundtree) Bar- din. His father was a well known farmer and merchant in Wilson County.
Mr. Bardin was educated in public schools, in Rutherford College, in the Wilson Collegiate In- stitute, and on October 6, 1885, graduated from the law department of the University of North Carolina. With his characteristic energy he at once entered upon his career as a lawyer at Wil- son, and had a growing general practice to look after until December, 1904. From June, 1891, to June, 1893, he had also filled the office of su- perintendent of public instruction of Wilson County.
Mr. Bardin was elected clerk of the Superior Court in 1894 and filled the office continuously until 1906, when he resigned on account of ill health. For several years he resumed his private law business, and on July 15, 1915, was appointed judge of the Court of Wilson County and was the last incumbent of that office, which was abol- ished in November, 1915. Mr. Bardin is affili- ated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and is president of the Wesley Bible Class of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wil- son.
He has been three times married. On January 3, 1886, he married Margaret Heloise Bristol, of Huntsville, Texas. She died June 20, 1890. On July 20. 1891, he married the sister of his first wife, Miss Lou B. Bristol, of Huntsville. This wife, the mother of his three children, died No- vember 12, 1909. The children are: Susan Ma- rie, now Mrs. J. J. Thrower, of Red Springs, North Carolina; and Robert Malcolm and Benja- min Hume, twins, who are still pursuing their
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S. F. Austin
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studies. On May 18, 1910, Mr. Bardin married Sallie Frances Coley, a native of Chatham County, North Carolina.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON POWELL. There has scarcely been a semi-publie enterprise undertaken at Oxford in recent years with which Alexander H. Powell has not had some active and influential connection. Mr. Powell is one of the leaders in business affairs in that city, and established his home at Oxford after a number of years in other states in the naval stores industry.
However, he is a native of North Carolina, born in Columbus County August 23, 1877, a son of Alexander Franklin and Annie Eliza (Hamilton) Powell. His father was a merchant. Mr. Powell finished his literary education in the Horner Mili- tary School at Oxford and in Wake Forest Col- lege, and from college he gained his early busi- ness experiences in the naval stores industry at Mobile, Alabama, where he was located two years, was connected with the same business for two years at Chicago, and six years at New Orleans. On returning to North Carolina he established the Granville Real Estate & Trust Company at Oxford and is president and general manager of this business, operating extensively as dealers in real estate and the handling of insurance. Mr. Powell is also vice president of the Oxford Build- ing & Loan Association, is a director of the First National Bank, a director of the Oxford Buggy Company and a director of the Oxford Water & Ice Company.
For three years he was a town commissioner, and is a member of the Board of Governors and former president of the Commercial Club and chairman of the local chapter of the Red Cross. Fraternally Mr. Powell is a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Junior Order of United Ameri- can Mechanics and the Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the executive committee of the North Carolina Insurance Agents Association, and for a number of years has been a director and one of the leading spirits in the organization and promotion of the work of the Granville County Agricultural Association. He is also a member of the board of stewards of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Oxford.
May 4, 1904, he married Miss Nelle Currin of Oxford, daughter of James Madison and Cornelia P. (Cooch) Currin. Her father has loug been identified with the tobacco business, and is a buyer for the American Tobacco Company.
HON. SAMUEL FRANCIS AUSTIN. During a period of twenty-two years Hon. Samuel Francis Austin has been one of the most prominent citizens of Nashville. As one of the leading members of the Nash County bar and for several years as county judge, he evidenced legal knowledge and ability of the highest character; as a business man in control of large interests he has proven the breadth of his capacity and the keenness of his foresight; as the incumbent of numerous public offices within the gift of the people he lias demonstrated execu- tive powers and a conscientious desire to give the community and the people good government; and in the every day affairs of life he has discharged the duties and responsibilities of citizenship in a manner that has left no doubt as to his public spirit and civic pride.
Judge Austin was born September 20, 1869, in
Johnston County, North Carolina, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Young) Austin, well known and highly respected farming people of that county. His early education came from the Smithfield public schools, following which he entered the University of North Carolina, and was graduated in the aca- demic course with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1893, and in the law department with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1895. For about a year he taught school at Elizabeth City, but in the fall of 1895 came to Nashville, was admitted to the bar, and at once entered upon a career that has carried him to high places and much honor. His ability and knowledge of the law brought hin prominently before the people ere he had been at Nashville long, and he was almost immediately called upon to fill positions of an official character. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1904 and rendered able service, being known as one of the working members of that body, and also served as county recorder, a position which he holds at this time, and as county superintendent of public instruction for two years. He was likewise mayor of Nashville for two terms, giving the people an excellent administration on both occasions and was then elected county judge, an office in which his legal acumen and wise decisions won com- mendation from bench, bar and public. In 1911 he returned to private practice and is now in the enjoyment of a lucrative professional business, with an important and representative clientele. His interest in public education has always been evidenced, and until his election as county super- intendent he was a member of the board of trustees of the graded schools from its organiza- tion. He is still a willing and generous supporter of all movements for the betterment of the school system. Judge Austin was one of the organizers of the Bank of Nashville, of which he was cashier for several years, and was then elected to his pres- ent position of president, in which capacity his pronounced financial ability has done much to make this one of the sound and stable institutions of the county. He is likewise president of the Nash Supply Company, a general merchandise concern of Nashville; of the Austin-Stephenson Company, another large mercantile house, located at Smith- field, and of the Warren Milling Company. He is a member of the firm of Austin & Batchelor, horse and mule dealers, and a prominent director of the Underwriters Fire Insurance Company of Rocky Mount. . He likewise has large farming interests, being the owner of 600 acres of valuable land. In business and financial circles his reputation is of the highest order, and his integrity in transactions has never been questioned. Judge Austin is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Knights of Pythias. He is district steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has shown an active and energetic interest in religious matters, being at this time the teacher of the Wesley Bible Class.
Judge Austin was married January 14, 1903, to Miss Ida Batchelor, of Nashville, daughter of Van Buren Batchelor, who laid out the original Town of Nashville and was for many years one of this community 's most prominent men. Judge and Mrs. Austin are the parents of two daughters, namely: Jackie Marie and Maud Rebecca.
JAMES HODGE KRIDER. Well and widely known as sheriff of Rowan County, James H. Krider, of Salisbury, is a man of prominence among the county officials, possessing in a marked degree the
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discretion, trustworthiness and force of character requisite for the responsible position he has so efficiently filled since he was called to its duties in 1914. A' son of James Hodge Krider, Sr., he was born November 25, 1885, on a farm in Mount Ulla Township, Rowan County.
His paternal. grandfather, Rev. Barnabas Scott Krider, was a Presbyterian clergyman, held pas- torates in Thyratira, Unity, Franklin and Joppa, in each place building up and enlarging the church membership. Owning and occupying a farm in Steele Township, he there spent the closing years of his long and useful life. His wife, whose maiden name was Maria Cowan, was a life-long resident of Rowan County, her death occurring on the home farm. Of their six children, two sons and four daughters, Barnabas S. is the only child now living, in 1917.
James Hodge Krider, Sr., was born in Steele Township, Rowan County, and obtained his educa- tion in the district school. Leaving the home farm at the age of eighteen years to accept the position of deputy sheriff, he continued in that official capacity, by reappointment, through several ad- ministrations. In 1904 he was elected sheriff of Rowan County, and served a term of two years. He died May 14, 1909, an honored and respected citizen. The maiden name of his first wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, was Agnes Graham. She was born in Rowan County, a daughter of John Graham, a planter. She passed to the higher life in 1892, leaving four children, as follows: John B., Marie, James Hodge, Jr., and Annie A. The father subsequently married for his second wife Ida Carson. She died at a comparatively early age, leaving four children, Louise; Myrtle; and Claudine and Alliene, twins.
After leaving the district schools James Hodge Krider continued his studies for a few months in the Salisbury schools. At the age of fifteen years he began his career of usefulness as delivery clerk in a grocery store, where for four months he was kept busy. Becoming then messenger boy for the Postal Telegraph Company, he learned telegraphy, and having obtained a position with the Western Union Telegraph Company Mr. Krider was made assistant telegraph operator at Salisbury, and held the position until he was elected sheriff of Rowan County in 1914. Filling the position ably and acceptably to all concerned, he was re-elected to the same position in 1916, for another term of two years.
Mr. Krider married, in April, 1909, Hattie M. Julian, a daughter of George W. and Alice (Fisher) Julian. Three children have been born of their union, James H., Kerr Julian and Ruth. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Krider belong to the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally Mr. Krider is a member of Salisbury Council No. 26, Junior . Order of United American Mechanics.
JOHN FLETCHER BRUTON. While a lawyer by profession and for over thirty years identified with the bar at Wilson, Mr. Bruton is widely known over this part of the South for his varied inter- ests in other affairs and particularly in banking. Mr. Bruton is a class A director in the Federal Reserve Bank at Richmond, Virginia, and has been on the board of directors since the organ- ization of that institution. He is also promi- nent as a banker and business man at Wilson.
Mr. Bruton was born in Wentworth, North Car- olina, May 29, 1861. His early life was not one of luxury and he had to work for his edu-
cation and secure his position in professional life largely unaided. His father was a Methodist min- ister for over forty years, active and influential in the church, though like all ministers he never became wealthy. Mr. Bruton is a son of David Rasberry and Margaret G. (Nixon) Bruton. His father was also a native of North Carolina.
Mr. Bruton was educated in the Bingham Mili- tary School and also took part of his law course in the University of North Carolina. In August, 1881, he came to Wilson as principal of the graded schools and in January, 1883, was made superin- tendent of the local schools. While teaching he read law, and in the fall of 1884 was admitted to the bar and began general practice at Wilson. Mr. Bruton practiced actively for many years, but his professional work is now confined to office consultation.
In 1895 he was elected president of the First National Bank of Wilson and in 1902 he organ- ized the Wilson Trust and Savings Bank, of which he has since been president. He is also vice president of the North Carolina Home In- surance Company and a director of the Hackney Wagon Company.
Colonel Bruton served as mayor of Wilson three years and for a similar time was chairman of the County Board of Education. For ten years he was actively connected with the North Car- olina National Guard, and during four years of that time was. colonel of the Second Regiment. He has served as grand master of the North Car- olina Independent Order of Odd Fellows and as- sisted in building the Odd Fellows Home at Goldsboro. He is a trustee of Trinity College at Durham, and is a steward and trustee in the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Wil- son, and was a delegate to the conferences of that church at Birmingham, Alabama, Asheville, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia. Colonel Bruton while in college became a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Greek letter fraternity.
On November 17, 1887, he married Miss Hattie T. Barnes, of Wilson, daughter of John T. Barnes. They have two sons: John Barnes, of Wilson ; and Howard Barnes, who is connected with the First National Bank of Wilson.
JOSEPH FANNING FORD since beginning practice in the law at Asheville twelve years ago has thor- oughly justified his own choice of a profession and the anticipation of his friends that his suc- cess would be out of the ordinary.
He was born in Haywood County, North Caro- lina, October 28, 1879, son of William P. and Sarah (Wines) Ford. His father was a farmer and stockman and the son grew up in a country environment. He attended district schools, the Clyde High School, the Bryson City High School, and his higher literary education was obtained in Carson-Newman College and in the law department of the University of North Carolina. Mr. Ford began practice at Asheville in 1906, and for several years, until 1909, was associated with that eminent lawyer and public leader, James J. Britt, under the firm name of Britt & Ford. In 1912 Mr. Ford became a partner with Charles G. Lee in the firm of Lee & Ford, and they command their share of the best business at the disposal of the local bar. Mr. Ford is candidate for the constitutional convention on the republican ticket from Buncombe County, North Carolina, in the election of 1918.
He is a member of the Asheville Bar Association
Duff Wernick
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and the North Carolina Bar Association, and in a business way is president of the Jackson Manu- facturing Company of Asheville. He belongs to the Asheville Club and the Knights of Pythias. December 29, 1909, he married Miss Mattie Dee Hale, of Jonesboro, Tennessee. Their one child is Nancy Josephine.
DUFF MERRICK. A member of the North Caro- lina bar for thirty years, Duff Merrick's services have brought him success and high standing as a member of the Asheville bar, and as a corporation lawyer he is admittedly one of the ablest in the state.
Mr. Merrick was born in Venango County, Penn- sylvania, November 5, 1862, son of Frank and Lois (Kingsley) Merrick. His father was ex- tensively interested in banking and the oil busi- ness in Western Pennsylvania, and about 1884 removed to Western North Carolina and engaged in lumbering in Jackson County. Mr. Merrick grew up in his native state and finished his liter- ary education in a fine old college, Allegheny Col- lege at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He came to North Carolina with his father and for a time they were associated together in the lumber in- dustry. Mr. Merrick studied law in the offices of M. E. Carter and Judge Charles A. Moore, and also attended Judge Dick's Law School at Greensboro, North Carolina. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1888 and has since been in general practice, though more and more as a corporation attorney, as Asheville. He is a member of the North Carolina and American Bar associations, is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a mem- ber of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Asheville Club and the Asheville Country Club. He was formerly active in the North Carolina Na- tional Guard, serving as lieutenant and captain of Company F. On March 1, 1906, Mr. Merrick mar- ried Charlotte Ward Gregg, of Houston, Texas. They have one son, Duff Merrick, Jr., born Sep- tember 18, 1909.
DR. ALBERT GOTTLIEB SPINGLER during the ten years of his residence at Raleigh has closely identi- fied himself with much of the city and state's work of social reform and practical philanthropy. He is now serving as president of the North Carolina Prison Aid Society and is treasurer of the Recrea- tion Commission of Raleigh.
Professionally he is an optometrist, and is mem- her and chairman of the North Carolina State Opto- metric Society. He was born at Newport, Rhode Island, March 30, 1861, was educated in the com- mon schools and in May, 1896, graduated from the Philadelphia Optometrical College. He practiced his profession in various cities until 1906, when he came to Raleigh and established his office and business, his location being at 132 Fayetteville Street.
Doctor Spingler is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Merchants' Asso- ciation. Fraternally he is Sitting Past Grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a trustee, and in Masonry is a Knight Templar, a thirty-second degree Mason and Shriner.
Doctor Spingler has three children: Albert G. of Philadelphia ; John Irving of Franklin, Indiana ; and Catherine Adelia, a student in Winston-Salem College.
WILLIS DOUGLASS HACKNEY. To no small de- gree the reputation of Wilson as a center for the Vol. V-13
manufacture of wagons and other vehicles has been sustained and kept up by the Hackney fam- ily through three successive generations. This is one of the old and honored names in industrial circles in North Carolina, and many capable and .high minded citizens are represented by the Hack- ney family.
The present active head of the wagon manu- facturing industry at Wilson is Willis Douglass Hackney, who was born at Wilson March 28, 1858. His parents were Willis Napoleon and Martha Douglass (Turner) Hackney. His father was for many years actively engaged in wagon and car- riage making. The son attended the public schools and the Horner Military Academy, and as a youth learned the trade of carriage trimmer, and subsequently acquired a full technical knowledge of all details of his father's business. For a number of years he was associated with his fa- ther in the manufacture of wagons and carriages under the name W. N. Hackney & Son. In later years the Hackney Wagon Company was organ- ized and is now operating with a paid up capi- tal of $200,000. W. D. Hackney is president of the company and several of his sons are actively identified with the same industry. W. D. Hackney was also a partner in the firm of Hackney Broth- ers. In the various lines of business operated by the Hackneys at Wilson fully 350 men are em- ployed, and these comprise perhaps the majority of high class and expert workmen in the city.
Mr. Hackney is a member of the Masonic Or- der. He was married September 5, 1882, to Miss Susan A. Cooper, of Nash County, North Caro- lina. Six children have been born to their union: Willis Napoleon Hackney, secretary and treasurer of the Hackney Wagon Company; May Etta, wife of Samuel Richardson, of Wilson; Wil- lis Douglass, Jr., also connected with the Hack- ney Wagon Works; Martha Douglass; Susie; and Charles N., who is now in the Horner Military Institute. The family are members of the Chris- tian Church.
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