USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 76
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On retiring from Congress in 1895 Mr. Grady removed to Turkey in Sampson County, where with his son, Henry A. Grady, he established a school known as Turkey Academy. In 1901 he removed to Clinton, in which city he spent his last years.
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Through all the later years of his life his house was open to all who wished to study, many avail- ing themselves of the privilege and paying for their board and tuition in whole or in part by farm work. Thus he continued his chosen work almost to the end of his life. He often expressed the contents of his keen and vigorous intellect in writing for the press on industrial, social and political subjects. In 1867 he published an Agri- cultural Catechism as a text book for the common schools. It was especially valuable because it took up the subject of chemistry in farming. How- ever, its usefulness was limited because in the few years following the publication of the book the public schools were interrupted or hardly taught at all. His later productions were of an historical nature. In 1898 he issued the "Case of the South against the North," a compendium of the his- torical evidence justifying the Southern states in their controversy with the Northern states. It was a masterly presentation of the subject, and many critics have accorded it a place equal to if uot superior to any of the authoritative volumes on the subject. Another work of his was "South's Burden, " which deals with Reconstruction.
He possessed a philosophic as well as deeply religious mind, and at this time it is worth while to recall some of the views he expressed ou the ideals of American life as quoted by a former writer: "I can add nothing to the rules of life laid down in the New Testament. Our phenomenal material advancement and the commercial spirit of the age have somewhat blinded us to the in- flexibility of these rules as our only guide to the highest and best life possible here on earth. We are justifying all sorts of violations of them in every phase of our life, if committed by our family or our party or our country; and all history teaches that slow death inevitably comes to a people who do not return to the paths of recti- tude marked out by these rules. Of course, a knowledge of these duties and a recognition of their unmercifulness can be founded on nothing less than a degree of mental illumination which few of our race have attained."
A few years ago a beautiful memoir to this great son of North Carolina was published in "Carolina and the Southern Cross," and a few paragraphs from this appreciation deserve quota- tion here:
"Mr. Grady was by nature a teacher of men. His method of instruction was largely Socratic -- he propounded questions and required his pupils to answer them. He sought to arouse in the pupil a spirit of inquiry, believing that all culture came primarily from individual effort, stimulated and directed by proper suggestion. Wherever he went and with whomsoever he associated his giant in- tellect left an indelible impression. His mind was omnivorous, his memory almost infallible, his rea- soning powers unlimited. There were few fields of thought that he had not traversed. He would have been equally at home with Spencer, the scientist, or Goethe, the philosopher and poet. In the realm of mathematics he had no superior, in historical research few equals. His leanings were towards the natural sciences, rather than mere Belle Lettre, but his earlier writings evidenced the fact that he was also at home with the poets and in perfect attune with the beauties of nature. Accuracy and exactness he demanded in all things; wherefore, in the mathematics, natural philosophy and kindred sciences, he found that perfection of reason, that infallible logic, which alone could satisfy the cravings of his mind.
"To those who knew him well his memory of things was proverbial. He seemed to have for- gotten how to forget. His mind was a store- house of knowledge, a Thesaurus of facts; so di- gested and arranged as to take on the aspects of an encyclopedia. Such was the impression that usually prevailed among those who knew him.
"Mr. Grady was a man of deep religious feel- ing, but his views were largely influenced by reason. For the mere dogmas of religion he had little patience; but for the cardinal principles of the church he had the greatest respect; still, he was not orthodox, as the word is generally understood. He was sometimes accused of having entertained heretical views; but his unfeigned piety to God, his deep reverence and respect for the religious views of others, his uubounded charity and simplicity of life left little argument in support of the charge. He had absolute faith in the Divine Plan and in the final triumph of Truth. He recognized no kinship between truth and error, no compromise with falsehood, no borderland in morals. He loved the truth for its own sake, and no consideration could have induced him to swerve therefrom.
"He had a keen sense of the ridiculous, and, as is usually the case with men of that kind, was lenient to the absurdities and inconsistencies of others. He was prodigal in his habits. The material things of life had little attraction for him. Without love of money or property, the sim- plicity of his life and conduct was a source of wonderment to his friends. He was affectionate to his family and loyal to his friends. He delighted in the companionship of children, between whom and himself there was a perfect bond of sym- pathy, in the utter carelessness with which he viewed the material things of life."
He was twice married. His first wife was Olivia Hamilton, a grand-niece of Alexander Hamilton and a resident before her marriage of Huntsville, Texas. To this marriage there was born one son, Franklin Grady, now a prominent lawyer of New York City. Mr. Grady's first wife died while he was in Camp Butler prison. In 1870 he married Mary Charlotte Bizzell, eldest daughter of Dr. Henry A. and Celestial (Robinson) Bizzell. She was related to the Robinsons and Matthews fami- lies of North Carolina and Virginia. By this marriage the children were: Henry A. Grady, else- where referred to; Cleburne Grady, James B. Grady, Stephen S. Grady, Benjamin Grady, Louis D. Grady, Lessie R. Grady, Mary Eva Grady and Mrs. Anna B. Cowan.
HENRY ALEXANDER GRADY, one of the most prom- inent lawyers of the state, and a resident of Clin- ton, is a son of the late Benjamin Franklin Grady, the distinguished North Carolina soldier, educator and citizen whose career is sketched on previous pages. The life of Henry Alexander Grady has not been unworthy of so great a sire. He has in fact added something to the lustre of the family name. A year or so ago a biographer who had taken pains to study the work and character of Mr. Grady wrote an interesting sketch of him, and that article itself is so well phrased and so inti- mate a view of his personality that with a few adaptations and omissions it is published in the present North Carolina History.
There are two classes of country builders the world over, and in our own country these two classes are perhaps more clearly defined than in any other. The first class is that minority, which frequently holds office, gets newspaper notoriety,
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and takes pains to see that the public is kept thoroughly informed of its heroic efforts to save the country from destruction and to bring it to prosperity. Men of this class, never averse to their names being recorded in history, if only for bare mention, understand well the art of advertising. It would not be fair or truthful to say that such men do not render valuable service, but it may be justly observed that professional advertisers are apt to overestimate the value of their wares.
The other class is composed of the men who do the day's work. They are not as a rule good advertisers. They are not seekers after notoriety. Their ambitions are not unreasonable; they have convictions; they have courage. The great mass of them after lives of labor go to their graves unknown outside of the communities in which they have lived and labored. But it is these men who save the nation in every emergency; it is these men who preserve its laws, take care of its moral interests, build up its industries, and are satisfied if, after long and strenuous labor, they can pass on to their children the old institutions preserved, with some little new features of merit added. These men do not get proper recognition always, even from their own generation. It is im- portant, if future historians are to have accurate knowledge of our people and our conditions, that men of this class shall be fairly represented and their merits pointed out in works of permanent character.
To this second class belongs Henry Alexander Grady of Clinton. He was born September 19,. 1871, in his grandfather's house in Clinton, North Carolina. At the age of seven his father's health became impaired and he moved out to his farm in Duplin County, where he, his father, his grand- father and great-grandfather were all born and buried. Henry was the eldest of a family of nine children, six boys and three girls. He tells the story of that early period in a much more in- teresting fashion than a grave biographer can do it. He frankly admits that he did not par- ticularly distinguish himself on the farm. His father was county superintendent of education, and his great-unele, Stephen Miller Grady, was chairman of the County Board of Education. For several years these two publie spirited men went about the county trying to serve their country by advancing the cause of education, while the two crowds of young people were supposed to be run- ning the farm. In 1889 his father was elected to the Federal Congress, serving two terms or four years. Young Henry was in charge of the farm during his absence.
In 1893 he went to Chapel Hill and entered the University of North Carolina. After two years there he was called to Washington to act as secre- tary to his father. While there he completed his law education at Georgetown University. His real qualifications were beginning to appear, as is shown by his election to the presidency of his class of 360 young men. In 1895 Mr. Grady was ap- pointed to a minor position in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. In this capacity he went to Alaska, assisted in surveying the boundary line between that country and British Columbia, and also assisted in deep-sea soundings and as- tronomical work. Returning to North Carolina for a short rest in January, 1896, he located in New York City as law clerk in the office of his half brother, Franklin Grady. Later on he accepted a position with a reform club, and held that posi- tion during the exciting free silver campaign of 1896. His next work was as principal clerk in
the law office of John Sprunt Hill, a distinguished North Carolinian who was then practicing law at 52 William Street. This firm was later known as Hill, Thompson and Stürke. Mr. Hill was a mem- ber of a military organization which on the out- break of the Spanish-American war was called to service, and this resulted in Mr. Grady's return to North Carolina, where he organized a company, but about the time he had the company thoroughly organized he was notified that no more soldiers were needed.
In 1899 Mr. Grady was again in North Carolina and with his father taught school at Turkey in Sampson County. They taught two sessions and he says without profit, but with some degree of satisfaction. In the summer of 1900 he took a short law course at the State University, got his certificate from Judge MacRae, and was granted his license to practice by the Supreme Court in September, 1900. He says for three years that he practiced "at the law," the firm being Faison & Grady.
In 1901 he married Annie Elizabeth Graham, only daughter of Dr. Daniel MeLean and Elizabeth (Murphy) Graham. Mrs. Grady's great-grand- father, Col. Colin McLean, who commanded a part of the Tory forces at Moore's Creek battle in the Revolution was opposed to Mr. Grady's own great- great-grandfather, Alexander Grady, who was in the whig forces. Mr. and Mrs. Grady have three sons: Henry A. Grady, Jr., Franklin McLean Grady and Graham Montrose Grady. The naming of the youngest boy shows the admiration of the parents for James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, the greatest man of the Graham clan.
In 1904 Mr. Grady formed a new law partner- ship with Archie MeLean Graham, his brother-in- law, which firm has been in continuous practice up to date under the name Grady & Graham. In 1903 Mr. Grady was nominated by the democratic minority in Sampson County as its candidate to the General Assembly. He made the race against great odds and was defeated by the normal repub- lican majority, as expected. In 1905 he was nomi- mated and elected to the State Senate, where he served one term with marked ability. From 1902 to 1910 he was a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee. He served four years on the staff of Governor Kitchin with the rank of colonel.
Mr. and Mrs. Grady are Presbyterians in church relations. In fraternal circles he is at this date master of Hiram Lodge No. 98, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, High Priest of Clinton Chapter No. 40, Royal Arch Masons, a member of Oasis Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Charlotte, North Carolina, a member of Plantagenet Commandery No. 1, Knight Templars, at Wilmington, North Carolina, and a thirty- second degree Scottish Rite Mason. He also holds membership in the Knights of Pythias.
In the sixteen years since he began practice Mr. Grady has climbed solely by his own efforts to the point where he is recognized as one of the foremost lawyers of his section of the state. He disclaims being an orator, and yet his direct and pithy specches always show the highest and best form of oratory. He meekly admits that his longest speech to a jury was only forty-five minutes. One of the greatest lawyers the nation has ever known was William H. Crawford, who would have been president of the United States but for the breakdown of his health. Mr. Crawford rarely
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ever lost a case in court and it did not matter how great the case was he was rarely known to go over his limit of thirty minutes in addressing a jury. Mr. Grady therefore has worked out for himself a system practiced by the greatest jurist who knew how to win law suits.
Henry A. Grady has the Irish wit accompanied with a biting tongue, and this, though it may happen often that the pungent speech was not intended in malice, has made him enemies. A glance at the man reveals his character. It is a face full of courage, keen, intelligent, but the face also of a man who does not bear malice and is willing to meet the other fellow half way in bury- ing the hatchet. If he was more careful of speech it might be that political preferment would come his way, but would that be an improvement? As it is, he is setting an example, fearless, truthful, honorable, kindly, loyal, a man who can be trusted, a man whose community will in some, let us hope, not far distant day appreciate the value of one who for many years went in and out among them, doing his duty in every emergency honestly as God gave him to see it.
In 1912 Mr. Grady visited Europe with his friend Lauchlin A. Bethune. They traveled over Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. They visited the old home of Mr. Grady's ancestors in Ireland, where he learned that the name was pronounced Graddy, or as the "a"' in father is pronounced. Speaking of this trip Mr. Grady says it was both an education and also a disillusionment.
Literature is one of Mr. Grady's great loves. His father, as scholarly a man as ever lived, first class man in Greek, Latin, French and Mathe- matics at the University, a born teacher, conveyed to the son his knowledge in such a way that the son's education is equal to that of any college graduate. Naturally he has taken to the pen and has written a good deal, both in prose and poetry. Some of his poems have attracted wide attention, though the greater part of them have never been published. It is his purpose, some day, to publish them for private distribution. If he had not elected to be a lawyer, Mr. Grady undoubtedly could have rivaled Henry Woodfin Grady in a literary way.
M. C. BRASWELL. One of the commercial lead- ers in Eastern Carolina is named when attention is called to M. C. Braswell, who is proprietor of the largest supply business in the state, is an extensive grower of cotton, tobacco and peanuts, is interested in. many of the flourishing enter- prises that bring prosperity to this section and is one of the largest landowners in Nash and Edgecombe counties. In the generous distribu- tion of his ample means he has done much to adorn and beautify his home town, Battleboro.
M. C. Braswell was born in North Carolina and is a son of the late T. P. Braswell. He has two surviving brothers, J. C. Braswell, who is pres- ident of the Planters Bank at Rocky Mount, and Dr. M. R. Braswell, of the same city, all three brothers being men of large means and unselfish public spirit. This whole section is indebted to them for a large measure of its prosperity.
After completing his school course M. C. Bras- well was admitted to a business partnership with his father, under the firm style of T. P. Braswell & Son, which continued until the death of the senior member. Prior to this event for some time M. C. Braswell had been the active manager of
the business, and afterward he continued along the same trade lines as before, further expanding as conditions demanded. As a supply house this ranks second to none in Eastern North Carolina, and is one of the largest, in a business sense, re- tail dealers in fertilizers, selling probably 5,000 tons annually. This is but an adjunct to his numerous other important enterprises, his agri- cultural interests alone making him one of the capitalists of North Carolina. He owns a large amount of valuable realty at Rocky Mount but maintains his home at Battleboro, eight miles distant, where he owns a handsome modern resi- dence set in beautiful grounds.
Mr. Braswell was married in 1894, to Miss Alice Bryan, who belongs to one of the aristocratic old families of this section, and they have four children.
Mr. Braswell is a man of liberality of view on many subjects and is of complete personal in- dependence when questions of local importance come up for adjustment. He is a man who could never be coerced but is one who, in spite of auy opposition, would do his full duty as he saw it, in business, in politics or in society. His views on all questions are so sound and practical that his fellow citizens value them and few movements of any importance are carried through without his investigation and interest, if they concern the welfare of this part of his native state. Firm but genial, liberal but judicious, and benevolent far beyond the usual individual, Mr. Braswell is ' held in the highest esteem by the people with whom his entire life of usefulness has been spent.
WINFIELD AUGUSTUS WORTH. In naming the representative men of Elizabeth City, respectful attention is called to Winfield Augustus Worth, a leading member of the Pasquotank bar and for the past thirteen years serving in the office of referee in bankruptcy.
Winfield A. Worth was born at Fayetteville, North Carolina, October 9, 1879, and is a son of Albert Hugh and Almeda (Hurt) Worth. His father is well known as a master of steam vessels all along the eastern coast and is master of steam vessels in the river trade, operating on the Cape Fear and Savannah rivers.
In private schools and later in the public school Mr. Worth was given educational training. Am- bitions to enter the law, he began its study by himself and also perfected his knowledge of stenography until he secured the exacting position of court stenographer and officiated satisfactorily as such in Eastern North Carolina and also in Virginia for four years, not, however, in the meantime neglecting his law studies. His per- severance and diligence were rewarded by admis- sion to the bar in February, 1902. He located for the practice of law in Elizabeth City, and while competent in every branch, has made a specialty of corporation, titles and realty law. In 1904 Mr. Worth was appointed referee in bankruptcy and has served in this office ever since. His knowledge along his special lines is so complete and his accuracy so well established that he has built up a large and valuable practice.
Mr. Worth was married October 26, 1910. to Miss Ethel Virginia Etheridge, who is a daughter of Edward Everett and Virginia (Sessoms) Etheridge, natives of Bertie County, North Caro- lina. The father of Mrs. Worth was an extensive planter.
In addition to attending to his official duties
I.L. Cook.
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and to his constantly increasing law practice, Mr. Worth is interested in some of the city's success- ful business concerns and is secretary and treasurer of the Elizabeth City Fuel & Supply Company. Politically he is a democrat and has always been loyal to party and friends. For some years he was identified with military affairs at Elizabeth City and in 1906 was commander of the Second Battalion, Naval Reserves, but resigned from the organization in 1914. Ever since coming to Eliza- beth City to make the place his home, he has taken a sincere interest in the city's welfare and has never stood aloof when his voice or influence were asked to aid in furthering worthy enterprises.
HON. HENRY LILLY COOK. The part taken by Henry Lilly Cook in the affairs of his native City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County has been that of an able and conscientious lawyer whose affiliations have always been straightforward and honorable, and also as a public leader in the best sense of that term, one whose counsel and in- fluence have been aligned with the spirit of prog- ress in those matters most vitally 'affecting the welfare of his home community.
Mr. Cook was born in Fayetteville in 1864. Apart from his own achievements his record is interesting because of his influential family connec- tions. His parents, now deceased, were Col. John H. and Mary F. (Starr) Cook, both natives of Cumberland County. The Cook family is of Scotch- Irish ancestry. Mr. Cook's paternal grandmother was the daughter of James Gee of Cumberland County. James Gee was a Revolutionary patriot of North Carolina. He was one of the signers of the resolution declaring independence of the British crown at a meeting held at Liberty Point, Fayette- ville, in June, 1775. When the armed conflict · broke out between the colonies and the mother country he entered the army and was with the North Carolina troops throughout the war.
One of Cumberland County's most prominent men before and during the war times was Col. John H. Cook. Prior to the war he was one of Fayetteville's most prominent merchants. He was senior member of the firm of Cook & Johnson and later of Cook & Lilly, and those firms established wide spread connections throughout Cumberland County. Colonel Cook was a very successful planter and business man. He had been educated at West Point Military Academy, though he never was actually enrolled for service in the United States army. When the Civil war broke out he was about sixty years of age and was not called into active service at the front. Nevertheless he discharged important duties both civil and military for the Confederate Government at Fayetteville and vicin- ity. It was Colonel Cook and Gen. Walter Draughon who at the beginning of the war or- ganized a force and took possession of and occu- pied the United States Fayetteville arsenal.
Mary F. Starr, mother of Henry L. Cook, was of English ancestry and belonged to the noted Starr family of New England. Her father, John D. Starr, prior to the war between the states was president of the Bank of Fayetteville. This bank had a capital of $1,000,000 and was one of the staunchest financial houses in the entire state. One of the sons of Col. John H. Cook was Ed S. Cook, now deceased, who served in the Confederate Army and after the war went to Texas, locating at Tyler, and for several years was clerk of the court of Smith County.
With much inherited ability and with a liberal education Henry Lilly Cook has justified all the
expectations entertained of him as a useful and diligent citizen and professional man. He was educated at Donaldson Academy at Fayetteville, and studied law under Judge George V. Strong, at his law school in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ad- mitted to the bar in October, 1885, he at once returned to Fayetteville and began the practice which in thirty odd years has made him one of the strongest and most resourceful lawyers of the Cape Fear district. The work he has performed as a lawyer has been matched by a record of many capable services performed to the public. In his home city he has been one of the most constant factors in building up an adequate school system. He did much to perfect the Fayetteville graded schools, and for many years has been a member of the board of trustees, being now vice chairman. He is also chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Colored Normal School at Fayetteville, which is governed by a board of the leading white citizens of the state. In December, 1916, he retired from one term of service as judge of the County Recorder's Court, the law permitting but one term. Mr. Cook is a director and member of the execu- tive committee of the National Bank of Fayette- ville.
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