USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 84
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Mr. Stephenson is one of the most influential democrats of Wake County. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and has served as secretary and treas- urer of the Wentworth Christian Church. Decem- ber 22, 1897, he married Miss Anna Harris, who is also a native of Wake County. They have four living children: Susan W., Julia E., Leonidas D., Jr., and Eliza A. They lost a daughter, Anna Ruth at the age of seven years.
THOMAS RUFFIN HOOD. In the business affairs and citizenship of Smithfield Thomas Ruffin Hood has for many years borne unusual responsibilities and enjoyed those things which constitute real success not only in a business way but as repre- senting the best fruits of an honest and straight- forward life.
Mr. Hood was born in Wake County, North Car- olina, September 29, 1857, a son of John Cogdell and Martha Ann (Young) Hood. His father was also a man of varied business interests and activi- ties, and was at one time a carriage manufac- turer, was in the turpentine industry, and later for a number of years was a merchant at Smith- field. Thomas R. Hood received most of lis edu- cation in a private school at Smithfield. His fa- ther moved to this town in 1871, and soon after- wards the son went to work in his father's drug store. When the latter died in 1887 Thomas R. and his brothers took over the business and in 1890 the former became sole proprietor. He has kept this business growing and flourishing ever since and at the same time has found various other interests to absorb his time and abilities.
Mr. Hood is vice president of the Austin Ste- phenson Company, is president and was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Smithfield, and his participation in public affairs has been represented by a term of four years as treasurer of Johnston County, a long service as treasurer of the City of Smithfield, and as chair- man of the board of trustees of the graded schools. In 1905 and 1906 he served his state as presi- dent of the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Asso- ciation. He is now chairman of the board of
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stewards of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fra- ternally Mr. Hood is an active Mason and treas- urer of his lodge.
On February 9, 1881, he married Miss Lucy Ann Woodall, of Smithfield, daughter of Seth W. Woodall. Their five children are now well es- tablished in business, professions, and in home and social life. William Dameron is a success- ful druggist at Kinston, North Carolina. Eva Woodall is the wife of Dr. Thel Hooks, an officer in the Medical Reserve Corps of the United States army. Eula Kirkmau is the wife of Dr. Ralph Smith Stevens, a lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States Army. Henry Cog- dell, better known as Hal, is associated with his father in the drug business at Smithfield. Lucy Edwards, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Dr. Wallace E. Coltrane, of Dunn, North Car- olina.
HON. GEORGE COWPER. At the time of his death, which occurred in Winton December 12, 1916, George Cowper was the oldest member of the Hertford County Bar. In the minutes of the court of that county is spread a resolution, drawn up by members of the bar, which testifies to the eminent place he held there for so many years. It was the conclusion of these resolutions that "in his death the profession to which he belongs has suffered great loss which cannot easily be re- paired, and the community a citizen of high char- acter and lofty ideals. The individual members of the bar and his associates everywhere who were brought in contact with him feel that they have lost a friend whom they will greatly miss."
At the time of his death George Cowper was just entering his seventieth year. He was born in Maney's Neck Township of Hertford County December 8, 1847. His father, Richard Green Cowper, was also one of the prominent citizens of Hertford County. He was born in Hertford Coun- ty, was educated under private instruction, was a farmer and planter by occupation, but filled many positions of trust. He was sheriff of the county, was a member of both the House and Senate of the state, and also sat as a delegate in the Con- stitutional Convention. He acquired a large body of land in Hertford County and his fine old home- stead was widely known as "Vernon Place." He lived before the war, and was an active whig in politics. He supported the Methodist Church. Richard G. Cowper's children were named Sallie A., Margaret, Retta and George.
The late George Cowper spent his early child- hood at Vernon Place, attended school in Frank- linton, and was only thirteen years of age when the war broke out. He restrained his ardor for military service several years, but in 1864, at the age of seventeen, entered the army of the Con- federacy, being attached to the Home Guards. He saw some service in Hertford and adjoining coun- ties.
With the close of his army career he entered the University of North Carolina in 1865. He remained there until the close of the session of 1868, pursuing the regular academic course. He would have graduated the next session, but in common with most of the young men then at- tending the university he did not return. This was due to the fact that the university had fallen into discredit because of the pernicious political influences that had taken possession of it and de- prived it of its efficiency. His record while in uni- versity was in every way creditable. Dr. Kemp
B. Battle, in his history of the university, Vol. 1, page 771, says of him: "George V. Cowper of Hertford County was first in all studies but mathe- matics." Chief Justice Clark, who was a fellow student, states, that though his associates in col- lege were such men as Fabius H. Busbee, Patrick H. Winston, Jacob Battle and others of our most brilliant men, he was considered to have no supe- rior as a student.
After leaving university Mr. Cowper returned to his father's farm in Hertford County. On Novem- ber 19, 1874, he married Miss Rebecca J. Riddick, of Maney's Neck Township. While residing at the old home he began the study of law. On Septem- ber 3, 1877, he was elected as one of the judges of the Inferior Court of his county, being asso- ciated with John W. Moore and W. P. Shaw. This was the first court organized in the county under the Act of the Legislature of 1877. In 1878 he obtained his license to practice law and in Septem- ber of that year was sworn in as an attorney be- fore the court, of which he had to that time been a member.
Soon after his admission to the bar he removed to Norfolk, Virginia, where he taught in the city schools. With this exception of two or three years he spent practically all his life in Hertford County. Returning to Hertford County he located in Win- ton for the practice of law. Along with his legal duties he served as superintendent of public in- struction for the county from 1885 to 1892. At the August term, 1892, of the criminal court for the county which superseded the Inferior Court under an Act of the General Assembly of 1891, he was elected solicitor and filled that office until February, 1897. Mr. Cowper served as a senator from the First Senatorial District in 1899.
At the time of his death Mr. Cowper was a communicant of the Episcopal Church. He fully accepted the great principles of the Christian re- ligion and faced death with calmness and confi- dence. Quoting again from the resolutions of the bar: "During his life as a citizen and at the bar he was noted for his honorable dealings. His straightforward integrity and his respect for the rights and opinions of others. He was well read in polite literature and his conversation and speeches were always chaste, ornate and well pre- sented and free from anything that would offend the most delicate taste. "
His old associates and friends will especially recognize the aptness of the followng concise trib- ute penned to him and published in the North Car- olina News and Observer: "Mr. Cowper was actively engaged in the practice of his profession from the time of his location in Winton and gained for himself an enviable reputation as a learned and proficient lawyer. Although a diligent' stu- dent of law throughout his life, he devoted much of his time to a thorough and careful study of lit- erature. He was complete master of the classics and well acquainted with all standard authors. Law was his business, literature his recreation; and those who came under the spell of his bril- liant, scintillating* power as a conversationalist promptly recognized in him a gentleman of un- surpassed culture and refinement who gained some- thing whether at work or at play.''
Mr. Cowper was survived by one daughter and two sons: Miss Jessie Cowper, of Winton; R. W. Cowper, of Norfolk, Virginia; and George V. Cowper, one of the leading members of the bar of Kinston, North Carolina.
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GEORGE VERNON COWPER. The profession of law has from time immemorial attracted to its ranks a very large percentage of the notably bril- liant men. When rightly followed, it is one of the noblest callings, affording full play to Christian sympathy, and holding a mighty prerogative, that of instigating exoneration of and restitution to the wrongly oppressed, or the administration of just retribution to the guilty. It does not afford room for opportunity to the weakling, but the strong it strengthens to a keener insight into human thought and feeling, with a more accurate realization of the obligations and responsibilities that are civili- zation's bequest to modern manhood. Of the legists of Lenoir County who have during recent years won success, one of the more recent addi- tions to the fraternity is George Vernon Cowper. During a period of fifteen years he has been en- gaged in practice at Kinston, the county seat, and by reason of his talents has risen to a high place in his calling, while at the same time his respect for the highest ethics and principles of the pro- fession have gained him the confidence of his pro- fessional associates and the people in general.
George Vernon Cowper was born at what was known as "Vernon Place,"' at Como, Hertford County, in the extreme northeastern part of North Carolina, December 20, 1879, being a son of George and Rebecca Jane (Riddick) Cowper. George Cowper was an attorney and practiced for forty years in the Hertford County courts. George V. Cowper attended the public schools, graded and high, and Winton Academy, and then entered the University of North Carolina, where he spent three years. After one year in the law department he received his license at the fall term of 1901, his degree, and in the following year commenced practice at Kinston, where he has since continued in the enjoyment of a constantly increasing profes- sional business. Mr. Cowper's practice is general in character and takes him into all the courts, and he has had remarkable success with a number of important pieces of jurisprudence. Since 1906 he has acted as attorney for Lenoir County, and has represented a number of large corporations in a legal way. Aside from his profession he is in- terested in a number of enterprises, and at this time is director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Kinston, of which he is also attorney. As a friend of education he acted for three years as a member of the board of trustees of the graded schools of Kinston, and is now chairman of the county board of education, and has always been a supporter of movements making for an ad- vancement of educational standards, as well as for civic betterment and general welfare. Politically a stanch and unwavering democrat, he has taken an active part in the affairs of his party, and dur- ing the past six years has been chairman of the Lenoir County Democratic Committee. At present he is elector for the Second Congressional Dis- trict. With the members of his family he belongs to Saint Mary's Episcopal Church of Kinston, and during the past ten years has acted in the capacity of vestryman of that church.
On November 21, 1906, Mr. Cowper was united in marriage with Miss Rosabell Roundtree, daugh- ter of Dr. Francis and Alice (Edwards) Round- tree, the former a well-known physician of Kin- ston. Mr. and Mrs. Cowper are the parents of three children: George Vernon, Jr., Marion Round- tree and Albert Wallace. Mr. Cowper is active in fraternal affairs at Kinston, and holds member-
ship in the local lodges of the Masons, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of - Pythias and the Woodmen of the World.
Upon the entrance of the United States into the war against Germany Mr. Cowper, though beyond the draft age, took a leading part in Lenoir and adjoining counties in many war activities. He is a member of the Legal Advisory Board and is Government appeal agent of Lenoir Connty. In all of the campaigns for subscriptions to Liberty Bonds, War Stamps and donations to the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A. and other movements, he has been active, and his services in presenting the mat- ter to the people in public speeches over a large territory covering Lenoir and adjoining counties, have been continually used.
WILLIAM SAMUEL CLARK is one of the oldest and best known business men of Tarboro, having been continuously in merchandising there for forty-seven years. He holds many other interests both as a business man and citizen.
Mr. Clark was born in Martin County, North Carolina, June 19, 1846, a son of Samuel S. and Mary (Watson) Clark. His father was a native of Pitt County, North Carolina, and was a planter. William S. Clark completed his educa- tion in the Hillsboro Military Academy, and at the age of twenty-five began merchandising on a small scale. In 1872 he came to Tarboro, and his business as a general merchant has been grow- ing steadily throughont all the years. He is now head of the firm William S. Clark & Sons, his associates being Samuel Nash Clark and Daniel Russell Clark. Mr. Clark is also a director of the Fountain Cotton Mills, and owns and directs the cultivation and operation of 300 acres of farm land.
He has played an active part in public affairs, was chairman of the county board of commission- ers eight years, for one term was mayor of Tar- boro, and for fifteen years was chairman of the board of the graded schools. He is affiliated with the Royal Arcanum.
June 20, 1876, Mr. Clark married Miss Lossie Grist, of Washington, North Carolina. Eight children have been born to their marriage: William Grimes; Nannie Grist; Susan H., wife of Marsden Bellamy, a prominent attorney of Wil- mington, North Carolina: Rena Hoyt; Samnel Nash; Isabelle Hamilton, wife of J. Horton James, an insurance man of Wilmington; Daniel Russell; and Placid Bridgers. Mr. Clark is a vestryman in Calvary Episcopal Church of Tarboro.
J. RUFUS HUNTER is one of the most scholarly men in the State of North Carolina. He enjoys the distinction of a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Johns Hopkins University. For a number of years he was a professor of science in various colleges and institutions, but finally turned aside from the educational field to take up insurance, and with his brother Carey J. Hunter has the state agency in North Carolina for the Union Cen- tral Life Insurance Company, with offices in Raleigh.
A native of North Carolina, born at Apex, he is a son of Joseph C. and Piannetta (Beckwith) Hunter. His father was a farmer and also a civil engineer, and for a number of years filled the office of county surveyor. Mr. Hunter received an edu- cation in private schools and in 1885 graduated Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest College. He
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engaged in teaching and farming for three years, and in 1889 was given the degree Master of Arts by his alma mater. From 1891 to 1893 Mr. Hun- ter held the chair of science and physics in the Wisconsin State Normal School at Oshkosh. He took his post-graduate work in the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, and was awarded his Ph. D. degree in 1895. For the following ten years he held the chair of professor of chemistry in Richmond College at Richmond, Virginia.
In 1905 he resigned from the college to take up life insurance work in his native state. Mr. Hunter is a member of the Raleigh Country Club and is a deacon in the First Baptist Church. April 30, 1912, he married Miss Nannie Gordon Willis, of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
HIRAM LEWIS GRANT. A busy, useful life full of honorable achievement, is what Hiram Lewis Grant, one of Goldboro's most honored citizens, can see as he casts a retrospective view backward. Although he may justly be credited with success- ful undertakings far beyond the ordinary, Mr. Grant is yet active in the business world, and his advice and counsel along political, educational and moral lines show the same wise moderation and good judgment as in years gone by.
Hiram Lewis Grant was born at Woonsocket, Rhode Island, January 26, 1843. His parents were . John S. D. and Lucinda C. (Brown) Grant, old New England names that yet prevail in many sections. The father of Mr. Grant was connected with the manufacturing industries of Rhode Island, and in his son's boyhood and youth was a super- intendent in cotton mills. In the public schools and the academy at Woodstock, Hiram L. Grant secured an excellent education. His native city offered many excellent business opportunities, but before the youth had chosen his career the war between the states was precipitated and when but eighteen years old, on September 3, 1861, he en- listed as a private soldier in Company A, Sixth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. While war was not then waged with the inhumanity that casts a blot on civilization in 1918, at the best of times it is terrible and terrifying, and so the brave young soldier found it as he marched and fought, as was his duty, facing a determined enemy on many a battlefield and displaying such valor that pro- motions, one after the other, pushed him higher and higher in rank until he became major of his regi- ment, not, however, without the war taking toll. In the summer of 1863, when the Union forces were storming Fort Wagner on Morris Island, Charleston Harbor, a situation arose that made the commander issue a call for volunteers who were willing to endanger their lives in order to silence the enemy's guns on the ramparts. Heroes were not lacking, and one of the twenty who stepped for- ward was Hiram L. Grant. The ghastly work was to crawl up the sand dunes, in the face of the enemy 's guns and "silence" them. The task was accomplished, but five of the heroic men never came back and three others, Mr. Grant included, were badly wounded. This took place July 23, 1863, and on August 23d, he was awarded a medal of honor by Gen. Q. A. Gillmore that he cherishes as one of his most highly prized possessions.
For eight months following this daring feat Mr. Grant was confined in a hospital at Beaufort, North Carolina. After he recovered sufficiently he rejoined his regiment and was appointed to provost duty at Hilton Head. He then was ordered to Virginia and was appointed to the Tenth Army
Corps, under General Butler, and took part in the entire Virginia campaign on the staff of General Hawley following which came the battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Major Grant was made provost marshal at Wilmington and later at Golds- boro. At the close of the war he was houorably discharged and was mustered out August 24, 1865.
Although all necessity concerning life in the South had been removed, Major Grant after his return to New England found his thoughts stray- ing back to the land of genial climate, flowers and kind people, who, notwithstanding his execution of the military law while he was provost marshal, had shown him evidences of friendly understanding that warmed his heart as he remembered it. He decided that among such people he desired to fiud a permanent home.
That Major Grant was equally highly regarded by the people of Goldsboro was abundantly proved. He embarked here in a mercantile business and before long found himself postmaster, appointed without his knowledge, and in this office he served for seventeen years. In 1868, when he had been a resident of the state for only three years, his fel- low citizens made him a member of the Constitu- tional Convention, again without his seeking the honor. Always a republican in politics, he never has sought preferment for himself, but in 1892, without his consent, he was elected to the State Senate, and in 1894 was re-elected. It was during his terms in the Seuate that he gained the honor- able reputation of having done more for the estab- lishment of graded schools in this section than any other individual. He was chairman of the Seuate Committee on Education and it was through his efforts that an impetus was given the subject of universal education which aroused an interest that has never subsided. Perhaps the younger generation now enjoying public school advantages at Golds- boro do not know that Major Grant made possible the first public school in this city. He cherished the idea for some time before he found opportunity to make it practical. Finally he prevailed upon the Fair Association to donate an old building for the purpose, and this he moved to a lot of his own, rebuilt and furnished the structure himself and thus started the first public school, the nucleus of one of the finest public school systems in efficiency in the state. For twenty years he served as a school trustee and as secretary of the school board, and later for ten years was secretary aud treas- urer of the Colored Normal School. In numerous other ways Major Grant proved his public spirit and devotion to the best interests of Goldsboro during his active public life. For a number of years he served as a city alderman, and it was through his efforts that the first fire limit law was passed.
In 1898 when, after so many years of peace, the United States became again involved in war, Major Grant teudered his services in some ca- pacity, which were accepted, and he was appointed paymaster with the rank of major and served thir- teen months, at Washington, D. C., in Porto Rico and at New York City, and was mustered out in the spring of 1899. In November of that year he was appointed clerk for the United States District Court of the Eastern District of North Carolina, having four deputies under him, one each at Wil- mington, Newbern, Washington and Elizabeth City, and he served as such until 1913. At one time Major Grant was the caucus nominee for the office of sergeant-at-arms of the United States Senate, losing the appointment by the loss of but one vote.
Almand
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Few men are more widely known in business circles at Goldsboro than Hiram L. Grant. For forty-five years he has been engaged in a brick manufacturing business here and his prodnet is one of the market staples. He is president of the Grant Realty Company and of the firm of H. L. Grant & Son, owners and dealers in farm and city property. In 1913 he erected the Grant six-story concrete office building, with pressed brick veneer and fireproof throughout, the finest structure of its kind in this city. For years his interests have been so many and so substantial that his name has been a recognized asset in the enconragement of laud- able investments here.
Major Grant was married two years after the close of his Civil war service, on December 2, 1868, to Miss Lizzie Green, who was born at Putnam, Connecticut, and was an old school mate. To this union the following children were born: John Hiram, who is a minister serving the Congre- gational Church at Elyria, Ohio; Evylin, who is the wife of Daniel F. Gay, a prominent attorney of Worcester, Massachusetts; Mabel, who is the wife of J. F. Bowles, a merchant at Statesville, North Carolina; Louis N., who is associated with his father in the brick manufacturing business at Goldsboro and a member of the firm of H. L. Grant & Son; and Minnie E., who died at Golds- boro, January 20, 1916. She was the wife of C. E. Wilkins, who is a cotton mannfacturer and buyer in this city.
Major Grant belongs to no fraternal organiza- tions, other than patriotic ones, being a member of both the Grand Army and of the Loyal Legion. From yonth he has endeavored to lead an npright Christian life and is a member of the First Bap- tist Church of Goldsboro, in which he formerly served in the office of deacon and also for many years was active in Sunday School work. He has always been a liberal benefactor of worthy proj- ects' and from the time he established his home at Goldsboro until the present, has been a ben- eficial influence and au upbuilder.
FRANK K. BROADHURST is one of the young men of energy and ability who are making modern business history in the Town of Smith- field.
Mr. Broadhurst was born in Wayne County, North Carolina, December 22, 1881, a son of substantial farming people of that section, David John and Martha (Baker) Broadhurst. After his education in the Goldsboro graded school he de- termined that his career should be identified with business, and after some preliminary training and experience he came to Smithfield in 1903 and has since been secretary and treasurer of the . Smithfield Cotton Mills. Mr. Broadhurst was also secretary and treasurer of the Ivanhoe Manufac- turing Company, another cotton mill, and is presi- dent of the Cotter-Underwood Company, one of the principal general merchandise establishments of the town. He is also a director of the First National Bank of Smithfield. Fraternally Mr. Broadhurst is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias.
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