USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume V > Part 87
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Acquiring his elementary education in private schools at Salisbury he later continued his studies for a number of years, in the public schools of Washington, District of Columbia, and spent some time at the Horner's Military Institute, in Oxford. Having determined upon the profession of law, in which his family has been eminently successful for almost a century, Mr. Craige then entered the University of North Carolina, and was graduated from its law department with the class of 1907. Receiving his license to practice law, in February, 1908, he formed a copartnership with his brother, Burton Craige, with whom he has since been as- sociated. For a number of years he was the state's prosecuting attorney for Rowan County and he continues to enjoy an extensive and remunerative practice in his profession, as well as the esteem of his community, in the welfare of which he takes a genuine interest.
John Springa Myers
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Mr. Craige is a member of Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 576, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons.
CLAIBORNE MCMILLAN CAMPBELL, JR., is a prominent young educator of North Carolina, has been active in the teaching profession since leav- ing Trinity College, and is now superintendent of schools at Washington.
He was born at Chattanooga, Tennessee, Jan- uary, 9, 1884, a son of Claiborne M. and Kate (Ashcraft) Campbell. His father was a minis- ter of the Methodist Episcopal Church and con- sequent upon his itinerant vocation the son was educated in different communities, attending the' public schools at Asheville and Gastonia in this state, also Charlotte, and for his higher instruc- tion was a student in Rutherford College and then in Trinity College at Durham, where he gradu- ated with the class of 1907.
On leaving Trinity Mr. Campbell taught four years as instructor of history in the Durham High School. The following two years he spent as superintendent of schools of Jonesboro and in 1913 was called to his present responsibilities as superintendent of the Washington School Sys- "tem. He is one of the best known members of the North Carolina Teachers Assembly and be- longs to the National Education Association. Mr. Campbell is a Mason, master of Orr Lodge No. 104, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is also affiliated with the Royal Arch Chapter, the Knights Templar Commandery and the Mystic Shrine.
On November 6, 1912, he married Miss Helen Allison, of Mocksville, North Carolina, daughter of Gustave A. and Henrietta (Morris) Allison. Her father is an agent of the Southern Railroad Company. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have one son, Claiborne M., Jr., born January 8, 1914.
COLONEL WILLIAM R. MYERS. A life that was as useful as it was long, and expressed in many beneficent services to the public welfare as well as for self and family, was that of Colonel William R. Myers of Charlotte.
He was born in Anson County, North Carolina, December 17, 1813, and died at Charlotte in 1896, aged eighty-two years, two months, six days. He was of distinguished ancestry on both sides. His mother was Mary Pickett. His father Absalom Myers was an influential citizen who several times represented his county in the Legislature.
Colonel Myers studied law under Governor Gra- ham at Hillsboro, and came to Charlotte in 1843. In the same year he married Miss Sophia Springs, daughter of John Springs. Colonel Myers sur- vived his wife a number of years, and of their eight children seven survived their father: Mr. J. S. Myers, Mrs. H. C. Jones, W. R. Myers, R. A. Myers, Mrs. C. L. Hunter, Mrs. W. P. Myers and Mr. Baxter S. Myers.
Soon after locating at Charlotte William R. Myers was elected solicitor of the County Court, an office he held for a number of years. He was a fine lawyer, enjoyed a large practice, but in later years the claims of his private affairs grad- ually weaned him from his practice.
In politics he was a democrat before the war, but was opposed to secession. When the war was prepared, he gave his steadfast loyalty to the Confederate cause. His services were especially notable and valuable when at the beginning of the war he assisted in the formation of the vigilance
committees organized to suppress incendiary fires. He was thus the real leader and the fountainhead of law and order in the entire community. He also raised a company and as captain led it into the Confederate Army as Company G of the Thirty-fourth Regiment North Carolina Troops.
From the close of the war for thirty years Mr. Myers was interested in every public movement in his home community, in the state and the nation. He was a steadfast republican in politics, accept- ing the principles of that party from conviction and did much to build up a strong minority party in the state and keep it true to its fundamental principles. He never sought political honor for himself, though he might have had such honors for the asking.
Much of his time was given without remunera- tion to the general welfare of his city. He served as city commissioner and twice represented the county in the Legislature, but his best services were rendered through the constant manifestation of a public spirit which made him neglectful of nothing that concerned the real welfare and ad- vancement of Charlotte. Credit has always been given him for securing the passage of the stock law for Mecklenburg County. He early recognized the necessity for such a law and finally secured its passage. The results that followed that law and the building of good roads have always been looked upon as two of the most important meas- ures connected with the prosperity and progress of the county. Colonel Myers was exceedingly liberal and charitable, and his generosity was notably expressed in his active support and work for the organization of a college for the higher education of men, and another institution for the higher education of women. There should also be remembered his beneficent gift of a large and beautiful site for Biddle University for the educa- tion of colored men.
Colonel Myers was an active member of the Episcopal Church, and served as secretary of the first vestry of St. Peter's Church at Charlotte. Outside of his professional and public life, his interests' were in the realm of larger business affairs. For some years he served as president of the Atlantic, Tennessee & Ohio Railroad, and was its president when the railroad property was sold to the Richmond & Danville Railroad Company. He was also one of the founders of the First National Bank at Charlotte, served as vice president and director, and was similarly identified in an influential way with other commer- cial enterprises.
It was a well justified tribute to his personal character when some one wrote: "The strength and charm of Colonel Myers' personality were felt by all with whom he came in contact. He was a gentleman of the old school, brave, gentle and true as his race-true as steel. He held his friends and they loved him."
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JOHN SPRINGS MYERS. In the degree that an individual proves the broadness and sincerity of his character and his sense of the heavy re- sponsibility devolving upon him both relative to his private interests and those of the public, just in that measure does he deserve and achieve lasting success. Efficiency and preparedness for whatever life may bring are desirable assets in the formation of character and the accumulation of the evidences of material prosperity. Without a stable, common-sense outlook on life no indi- vidual can expect to' produce upon others that
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profound effect so desirable in order to substan- tially establish permanent prosperity. This is a fact that some men never appreciate, while others recognize it from the start and their careers are full of large accomplishments and public-spirited achievemets that lend themselves to effecting the favorable light in which such men are regarded by the community. To the latter class belongs John Springs Myers, retired capitalist of Char- lotte, who in every sense of the word has achieved a permanent and lasting prosperity. Early in his career he became aware of the responsibilities which rested upon him and of the debt which he owed himself and his community, and in generous measure he has been rewarded by success for his achievements, not alone in a material way, but in the respect and gratitude of his community. Not the least feature of Mr. Myers' accomplishments was the starting of the improvements upon his plantation which eventually led to what is now the beautiful Myers Park development, but mauy other labors have contributed to the rounding out of a career that has been as useful to the public as it has been successful personally.
John Springs Myers was born November 1, 1847, at Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and is a son of William R. and Sophia (Springs) Myers and a maternal grandson of John Springs, one of the leading business men of the South. John S. Myers had an early advantage of good parentage and excellent home training, and of being the son of a father who set him the example of worthy public-spirit in the accomplishment of many things that assisted Charlotte in its develop- ment. The common schools of the city furnished the youth with his early training, following which he clerked in the store of Brown, Tate & Com- pany for two years, and in the establishment of Brem, Brown & Company for one year. Returning to his studies, he went to the Bingham High School in Alamance County, North Carolina, and remained there for 21% years, the faculty at that time being composed of Col. William Bingham, Maj. Robert Bingham, Maj. William B. Lich and Capt. John J. Norwood. When he left school Mr. Myers chose cottou plant- ing and a mixed husbandry for his life occupation and commenced business on a five-horse unimproved farm, two miles southeast of Charlotte. Through enterprise and industry he increased his business to a forty-horse proposition. Urged by a con- suming desire for success, he availed himself of all the information to be obtained from any source of information in regard to agriculture, from Liebig's Chemistry to The Southern Cultivator, a publication devoted to farming in the South, which was supported by articles from the peu of David Dixon of Georgia, the greatest farmer of his day, and many other able correspondents of that period. By a proper application of the information re- ceived in this manner, sufficient success followed to compensate fully for all effort expended.
As a side line to his regular business Mr. Myers even as early as the '80s became imbued with the idea that Charlotte gave forth promise of be- coming a city of more than ordinary consequence, and therefore determined to be among the first to bring about such a result. Accordingly, even in those early days, he essayed to lay out lines, to run streets, and to set out trees and flowering shrubs such as he thought would add to the beauty of the naturally beautiful landscape, the city limits already having encroached largely upon his proposition. The plan worked agreeably and in
accordance with Mr. Myers' expectations, but work progressed slowly until George Stephens, a mau of large vision and accurate conception, recog- nized what were the actual possibilities of a proper and scientific development of the Myers Park lo- cality. Mr. Stephens thereupon organized, with his friends, the Stephens Developing Company which is now engaged in bringing forth results which exceed the greatest expectations of the people of the community beholding the transition. The work is being done under the plans of Mr. Nolen, one of the most celebrated architects in the landscape line in the South, assisted by modern grading and developing methods and by engineer- ing work of the highest character. Many who have traveled extensively in this and other countries have given evidence of their pleasure and aston- ishment at the beauty and completeness of this work, which is adding to Charlotte a community that will contribute inestimable value to its pres- tige and its importance.
For more than forty years Mr. Myers has been identified with movements which have served to add to the advancement of Charlotte as a city and to the comfort and prosperity of its people. In 1874, through his efforts, there was brought about the passage of the Stock Law, which provided" for the elimination of the cattle, hogs and other stock running at large. This measure met with violent political opposition, but its successful adop- tion resulted in more beneficial results thau auy other change that had been made in a century. Its justice was quickly acknowledged, and in its working it soon brought about a. more kindly neighborhood relation than had ever before ex- isted in the community. It likewise cleared the way, by the removal of old and ugly rail fences, for the straightening and improving of all public and private roads. In 1875 Mr. Myers bore a prominent part in another good movement, when the enterprising and intelligent portion of the com- munity realized the necessity of a financial expendi- ture for the improvement of public roads. This measure was also strenuously opposed by one of the political parties, and was only a partial suc- cess for some years; but through the united efforts of the wisest men in both of the leading political organizations was adopted finally as a necessary and desirable part of a well-founded county gov- ernment. The restoration of agricultural fairs, in 1877 and 1878, a measure for the encouragement of better and enlarged farming operations and an in- crease in manufacturing enterprises, was success- fully led and accomplished by Mr. Myers.
Mr. Myers is and always has beeu a conservative democrat, and in 1882 the people of Mecklen- burg County considered him worthy to represent the community for two years in the House of Representatives of North Carolina, and their con- fidence in his fidelity and ability was not mis- placed. In 1896 and 1898 he served, under the Springs administration, as a member of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Charlotte, and while acting in that capacity was chairman of the finance committee. In 1913 he promoted and accomplished the drainage of the principal streams of Mecklen- burg County. The means of having this work done, for the better health, comfort and advancement of the community was Mr. Myers' donation of $5,000 in cash to the fund, he being the only individual to so contribute. While he is now practically re- tired from active affairs, Mr. Myers is still a working member of the board of directors of the First National Bank, a position which he has held
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since 1901, also an active member of the Cham- ber of Commerce of the City of Charlotte, and an active member of the township trustees, an organ- ization that handles the roads of the county. Since 1870 he has been almost continuously a faithful member of the vestry of Saint Peter's Parish, of the Protestant Episcopal Church of North Carolina. Careful, conservative and pos- sessed of far-seeing judgment, Mr. Myers has won enviable distinction among the men of his time and locality. Honorable and upright in his deal- ings, he has lived the right life and is a worthy example of those whose admirable efforts build up and make secure the business of city, state and nation.
Mr. Myers was married December 22, 1870, to Miss Mary Rawlinson, daughter of Col. J. W. and Jane (Moore) Rawlinson, of York, South Carolina. Colonel Rawlinson was prominent in the public af- fairs of South Carolina, and was aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Pickens, war governor of that state. On her mother's side Mrs. Myers is descended from Governor James Moore, colonial governor of South Carolina; from Col. William Erwin who was a colonel of the Continental line in the Revolutionary war, and from Capt. Richard Springs and Capt. Alexander Moore, Revolution- ary patriots. Her maternal grandfather was Dr. William Moore, a physician of York County, South Carolina. Mrs. Myers is a prominent member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have five children: Rawlinson, Mrs. George Stephens, Richard A. Myers, Wood- ard Myers and Mrs. Harold Cothrane Dwelle.
WILLIAM BERRY McKoY. There is perhaps not a prominent lawyer in North Carolina who has more studiously avoided the responsibilities and complexities of politics and office holding than William Berry McKoy, of Wilmington. Though comparatively little known in public life, William Berry McKoy has long held a secure place of prestige among the foremost lawyers of the state.
His birthplace was at Wilmington, and since December 24, 1852, the date of his birth, he has almost continuously lived in that city. His parents were William Henry and Franconia (Berry) Mc- Koy, his father long a merchant of Wilmington. He was liberally educated, first in private schools and afterwards in Cape Fear Academy, conclud- ing with the regular course of Princeton Univer- sity, where he was graduated in 1876. Mr. McKoy studied law under George V. Strong, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1879. Since then, a period covering almost forty years, he has been employed in the large general practice which has rewarded his skillful efforts and thorough learning as a lawyer, and the real record of his life's service is written in the great volume of litigation that has passed through his hands in the past thirty- five years. Among other interests he is attorney for and a director in the Mechanics Homes Asso- ciation of Wilmington. When a young man he made the first complete set of abstracts of titles of New Hanover County.
Though never an office seeker, Mr. McKoy has for twenty years been a figure in the democratic party and has served for years as a member and chairman of the democratic executive committee. He is a past grand master of North Carolina Masons, has attained the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite and also belongs to the Mystic Shrine.
On December 14, 1886, he married Miss Catherine
Bacon, daughter of Henry Bacon, who was a civil engineer long in the service of the United States Government. To their marriage have been born five children : Elizabeth F .; William Ancrum, who is a civil engineer now in the I. C. C. service for the government; Henry Bacon, late employed as a construction engineer on the Lincoln Memo- rial at Washington, D. C .; and now in France in the engineers corps; Francis Kelton was a student in the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Raleigh and in 1916 enlisted in the Third Regiment of the District of Columbia National Guard and at present is lieutenant in the aviation corps in France; and James Hasell, still pur- suing his studies.
JOHN QUINCY MYERS, M. D. It is possibly true that, as the old belief had it, each individual is born with at least one natural gift. However, not everyone seeks to discover it, or finding this talent, has the opportunity to nurture or develop it. But it is proved by both history and biography that many of the most brilliant men of the country have felt this natural bent from youth, and, with enthusiasm, controlled only by circumstances, have sought advancement along the line of their special gift. Not so many, perhaps, have reached their cherished goal in their most receptive years, some indeed not until the evening of life, but there are those who at the open door of manhood find also the door open to their chosen field of effort. In this connection respectful attention is called to Dr. John Quincy Myers, of Charlotte, founder and proprietor of Tranquil Park Sanitarium, who, still in the prime of life, has accomplished a work that would take many men an entire career to achieve.
Dr. John Quincy Myers was born at New Life, Wilkes County, North Carolina, in 1877, and is a son of Turrelius C. and Julia (Brown) Myers, natives of the same county, who were both born and reared in the New Life community, which is seventeen miles from Wilkesboro, the county seat. Turrelius C. Myers, who has been engaged in mer- chandising and farming at New Life, postmaster of the village and a sturdy, dependable citizen, is a son of the late John Newton Myers, who was a county magistrate of Wilkes County during the Civil war. The father of Mrs. Julia (Brown) Myers, John Milton Brown, also occupied the same position in Wilkes County, where both families have been well and favorably known for many years.
John Quincy Myers attended the local schools and took his academic work at Fairview Academy, ten miles from his home. He then entered Davidson College in Mecklenburg County, where he took both the academic work and the courses in the medical department at Davidson, which was then known as the North Carolina Medical Col- lege. He made a splendid record as a student at Davidson, graduating with honors in both depart- ments, being elected president of his class and receiving many other rewards at the hands of his fellow students and the teachers. These came to him through no particular favors, but were the result of hard work and serious application. He taught in the public schools of North Caro- lina for four years and also clerked in a village store thus working out his education. He left Davidson College in 1904 and went to New York, where he took post-graduate work in the New York Polyclinic working under the University of New York and Bellevue Faculty and received a certificate therefrom in 1906. Subsequently he took
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further post-graduate work at Philadelphia, at Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore, at Chi- cago, and at the Mayo Clinics at Rochester, Minne- sota. It will thus be seen that Doctor Myers had a most thorough and extensive preparation for his life work.
Doctor Myers began practicing at Wilkesboro, the county seat of his native county, in 1904, and soon built up a successful and lucrative practice. Later he became associated with the
late Dr. George Doughtor, at whose death he succeeded to his practice, but in 1909 left Wilkesboro and came to Charlotte, where he has continued in practice, specializing in internal medicine. Shortly after coming to Charlotte Doctor Myers com- menced working upon what has since become an important enterprise in the medical profession and which has the greatest promise for eminent suc- cess. This is the Tranquil Park Sanitarium, which, after the expenditure of two years of constant energy and $65,000 in money, was thrown open in August, 1916. In defining the aims of this in- stitution and its purposes, Doctor Myers has said: "The purpose of the institution is to diagnose and treat all non-contagious, non-surgical cases; no specialty will be made of any cases of drug addictions. The sanitarium is strictly a medical institution, as distinguished from a surgical, and all medical cases are admitted for diagnosing and treatment except contagious cases. Ample oppor- tunities are available in most cities for the proper treatment of surgical cases, and Charlotte is espe- cially fortunate in the number and equipment of its general as well as surgical hospitals. The found- ers of Tranquil Park Sanitarium believe that there exists in this part of the country an opportunity to serve the profession of medicine by establishing an institution that will bear to the practice of medi- cine the same relation the many excellent surgical hospitals throughout the country bear to surgery. Tranquil Park Sanitarium is established for the special diagnosis and treatment of all medical pa- tients. It will use hospital methods for acute cases and sanitarium facilities for chronic patients. It does not treat alcoholic or insane cases. Owning, as we do in connection with the sanita- rium, fifty acres of land in the suburbs of the city, in close proximity to the beautiful Myers Park development, our facilities for the treatment of chronic invalidism and nervous cases are exception- ally good. The surroundings are homelike in char- acter; the buildings were so designed as to obtain a maximum of fresh air and sunshine; ample bal- conies and lounging rooms have been provided; the bedrooms are well heated and ventilated, with run- ning water in every room; a number of rooms are provided with private baths."
The buildings and grounds of this institution are owned by the Tranquil Park Land Company. The administration and main building contains between thirty-five and forty rooms, the building being three stories in height. The basement floor con- tains space for the hydrotherapeutic and electric baths, rest rooms, etc., while the first floor con- tains a general dining room, kitchen and the ad- ministrative offices, and a number of rooms for patients. The third floor is given over to patients' rooms. The foundation and lower part of the building are of pink and gray granite, which was quarried near the site of the new hospital build- ing, while the upper portions of the walls are of pressed brick. The interior of the main floors is finished with a special ceiling of asbestos com- pound, and the whole is finished in most attractive
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