USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume VI > Part 33
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His largest and his newest interest is the ice plant, which was completed in May, 1917. The title of this business is also R. Hope Brison & Company. The plant is on East Franklin Street and is one of the most modern ice plants in the South. Mr. Brison constructed it at a cost, in- cluding building and equipment, of $30,000. The plant is housed in a substantial brick structure, with concrete floors and foundations, and the most improved ice manufacturing machinery secured from York, Pennsylvania, has been installed. En- gineers of thorough competence directed every phase of the installation. The ice is made from water taken from the city mains, filtered, boiled, reboiled, then distilled. Thus the product is of absolute purity, without taste or odor, and in ap- pearance as clear and smooth as the proverbial crystal. Unlike natural ice, the artificial product has a solidity of texture uniform throughout a block, and is therefore more lasting than natural ice. The plant has a thirty-ton daily capacity. The completion and successful inauguration of the plant is a fine tribute to the ability and pro- gressive spirit of Mr. Brison.
The same spirit has been manifested by him in his relation to all other business and commu- nity affairs. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Club, belongs to the Mystic Shrine and worships in the Presbyterian Church. He married Miss Della Johnson, of Gas-
tonia. Their three children are: Marion, Lillian and R. Hope, Jr.
WILLIAM GRAHAM CARTER is proprietor of Car- ter's Mills, one of the most interesting and one of the most significant rural communities in North Carolina today. Mr. Carter, though he has spent practically all his life in this rather isolated com- munity, is truly a man of affairs, as much so as the big business men of Raleigh or Wilmington. He is planter, merchant, miller, a former county officer and a live and effective influence every day in the year for good schools, good roads, good churches and all other things that help realize the ideals of rural advancemeut.
His birthplace is an interesting community of Randolph County long known as Moffett's Mills, but even earlier as Carter's Mills. He was born there in 1862, while the war was raging between the North and the South. His parents were Stephen M. and Mary M. (Caviness) Carter. His mother was of the well known family of that name in the state, which has produced some prom- inent characters, particularly in the medical pro- fession. Stephen Carter was born and reared in Randolph County, a son of James Carter. The Carters are Scotch-Irish. Stephen Carter was a merchant and tanner, owning the Moffett's Mills.
The origin of the present locality known as Carter's Mills came about in 1856 when Alfred Brower built a grist mill on Bear Creek in Moore County. In 1862 Stephen Carter traded his prop- erty in Randolph County for the mills iu Moore County, and siuce that transaction the institution and the community has been known as Carter's Mills. In the same year he brought his family here and the mill site and the land have since been in the Carter name. Stephen Carter died in 1884.
Thus William Graham Carter became a fixture at Carter's Mills the same year he was born. He grew up to a full appreciation of the romantic charm and beauty of this historic spot in Moore County, was well trained and educated at home, and at the age of twenty-two, on his father's death, he became the responsible head of the fam- ily estate. For over thirty years he has consti- tuted much of the energy which has radiated into the enterprise of this locality. His public spirit is well indicated in the pride he takes in his con- nection with building up the school system of Sheffield Township. This township has more school children and more school houses than any other township in Moore County. It was Mr. Carter who led the movement and contributed most of the money for building the high school at Elise, now known as Hemp. This town is ou the Nor- folk Southern Railroad, south of Carter's Mills. Mr. Carter has taken a similar part in establishing all the other schools in the township. Both as a school trustee and as a private citizen he has given generously of his time, influence and money in building up the local educational system. For four years ending in 1917 he was county commis- sioner, and served the county most faithfully in that capacity. He has been postinaster at Car- ter's Mills for over thirty years, and besides op- erating the mill conducts a mercantile business which is one of the important services of the community.
For all his many varied interests doubtless his chief enthusiasm is farm development. He owns one of the very fine farms of this part of the state, comprising 300 acres. He is a farmer of the
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first rank and has brought his land to a high state of productivity through energetic manage- ment and modern and progressive methods. It is a source of great deal of satisfaction to him that he kept this farm during the poor years of agriculture and has lived to see the profession of farming exalted over everything else.
Recently a newspaper correspondent with more than ordinary insight and social vision wrote the story of Carter's Mills and some of the things he said are not only interesting but are historically significant and deserve repetition. The important features of that story are quoted as follows:
Before the railroads came many prominent men foregathered under the big oak trees above the mill, including Governor Zeb Vance, and many other notables down to Governor Aycock. This was the focus of a big country for two or three generations. The Salem Road passed the mill, crossing the fort below the dam and climbing the high hills beyond. What a procession has fol- lowed that old Salem Road. Stage coach and mail, wagon train with goods from Fayetteville for the mountains, or wagon train with goods going down. Men afoot, men horseback, men in vehicles of all descriptions. Wagons coming to mill, the miller going out with flour for the markets of the lower counties.
The old order has changed. The railroad came and a town was begun at Elise. J. B. Lennig gave ground for a school and the Carters backed the proposition with money and work and Elise thrived on the reputation of the school, and the prospective railroad shops that were to be built and the mill and the turpentime stills. Then John B. Lennig sold his railroad and died, and the shops were abandoned by the new owners of the road, and Elise was made a postoffice, but its name was changed to Hemp. So Hemp is the railroad point and at Hemp is the Elise High School, still famous under the management of the Fayetteville Presbytery. The township has re- built all its primitive schoolhouses until it now has a dozen or so of the most modern rural school- houses in the state. Carter's Mills is still the old flour mill on Bear Creek, with the miller listen- ing to the whir of the mill wheel as it grinds its grist, and the road crosses a modern bridge now instead of passing through the Ford.
The story of Carter's Mills is instructive. It tells of a rural community until in the last few years isolated from markets, living in unpreten- tious existence in modest manner. With the changes and conditions comes a market easily reached, a market that takes for cash the various little and big things the community makes, and takes those products throughout the year. So there begins the interest in schools and roads and clothes and painted houses and well-bred live- stock, and better home equipment and books and papers. If you want to know what your state is doing, no matter what state it is, the place to look is not in Raleigh or Charlotte or Peters- hurg or Pittsburgh or Atlanta, but in Carter's Mills or Hooper's Cross Roads or Grape Vine Ridge. If the rural community is coming and prospering and building school houses and roads and buying books you know your state is coming.
Carter's Mills in the older day was a rather conservative neighborhood, on the old Salem Road to be sure. yet so far from the activities of hus- tling life that it seemed a slow community. The old order has changed and without realizing it the neighborhood has stepped forward to a new
plane. The future looks right promising for three or four reasons. To me the most important is that fact that here is a community of home owners. These people nearly all own the places they live on. The tenant is a rarity. That guar- antees a permanence and thoroughness of farm operation, and an adaptability of the farm to its opportunities. Then in addition to owning their farms these people enjoy the advantages of one of the best local markets in the whole United States, for Pinehurst and Southern Pines are willing to pay the price for the best that can be made. Carter's Mills possesses good soil, good climate, good market, a good way to get out on the motor trucks, developing schools, picturesque scenery, self sustaining farms with a steady prod- uct to sell steadily, a community of home owning farmers, crossing the line from the land of yester- day to the land of tomorrow. Here is a well grounded agriculture with all the conditions in its favor, including the power to grind its grain, and do the various other tasks for which power is essential in a rural community.
Mr. Carter and family are all members of the Presbyterian Church. The Carter home now, as always, has been noted for its unstinted hospital- ity, and in many ways it is the social center of the neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have reared an exceptionally fine family of chil- dren, all of whom have been given fine educations. Mr. Carter married. Miss Maggie McLeod, who was born and reared near Carbonton on Deep River, and is a sister of Dr. G. McLeod of Car- thage. The children named in order of birth are Roberta Lee, Walter S., Mamie Kate, Blanche, Pauline, Maggie, Grace, Virginia, William Graham, Jr., and Robert Lee. The oldest, Roberta Lee, is the wife of Rev. Grover C. Currie, of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Walter S. lives at Atkinson, North Carolina. Miss Mamie Kate is a talented teacher and Miss Blanche has charge of the can- ning demonstration and other conservation work in Pamlico County. Miss Pauline, now the wife of L. T. Edgerton, was a teacher in the Elise High School.
JOSEPH D. Cox is secretary and treasurer of the J. Elwood Cox Manufacturing Company, one of the largest wood working establishments in North Car- olina, a business that has branch plants and offices in several other states.
Mr. Cox is a native of High Point, where he was born in 1883, son of Joseph J. Cox, M. D., and grandson of Jonathan Eliott and Elizabeth (Hare) Cox. The history of the earlier generations of the family is told on other pages of this publication. Josenh J. Cox was born in Perquimans County, North Carolina, in 1845. He acquired his lit- erary education in the New Garden Boarding School, attended medical lectures, and was event- ually graduated from Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia. He practiced at Guilford College until 1881, when he removed to High Point, and was a busy professional man of that city until 1890. In the meantime he had become interested in the manufacture of furniture and on retiring from practice gave most of his time to his duties as secretary and treasurer of the Home Furniture Manufacturing Company, which later was merged with the Globe Manufacturing Company. He con- tinned as secretary and treasurer of the latter cor- roration until his death in 1903. Doctor Cox married Mary Dundas. who was born near Inger- soll, Ontario, Canada, daughter of John and Sarah
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(Sackrider) Dundas. John Dundas was born in Ireland in 1811, son of John Dundas, Sr., who was of Scotch ancestry. The latter came to America, accompanied by his family, in 1822, and after a voyage on a sailing vessel lasting six weeks set- tled in Canada. Here John Dundas, Jr., grew to manhood, and then went into a comparatively un- settled district of Ontario, locating near Ingersoll in Middlesex County. He bought a tract of tim- bered land, hewed a farm out of the wilderness, and remained there a very successful farmer. He built a commodious brick house and other farm buildings, and was regarded as one of the most substantial citizens of the locality. In 1874 he sold his property in Canada and came to North Carolina, buying a farm two miles from Guilford College. That was his home until his death in 1892. John Dundas married Sarah Sackrider, who was born in Canada in 1818, daughter of Peter and Clara (Cornell) Sackrider, both natives of New York State. Peter Sackrider was of Dutch ancestry, and on taking his family to Canada set- tled at Norwich, where he spent the rest of his days. Mrs. Sarah Dundas died in 1902, the mother of ten children: Peter, Clara A., Mary, Phoebe Jane, Charles J., Edwin, Ellen, Marshall, Sarah Ann and Walter Scott. Of these, Phoebe, Charles and Edwin are now deceased. John Dundas and wife while living in Canada were Methodists, but after coming to North Carolina joined the Friends Church.
Joseph D. Cox was reared and educated at High Point, attended Guilford College to complete his literary education, and on leaving school became associated with his uncle, J. Elwood Cox, and with increased years and experience has fitted into a place of responsibility as secretary and treasurer of the J. Elwood Cox Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of shuttle blocks, one of the largest firms of its kind in the United States.
In 1906 Mr. Cox married Miss May Walton Rid- dick, who was born in Perquimans County, North Carolina, daughter of A. F. and Anna (Nicholson) Riddick. The Riddicks are of Virginia ancestry while the Nicholsons are pioneers of Perquimans County. The former were affiliated with the Meth- odist Church while the Nicholsons were Quakers. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have two sons, Joseph J. and J. Elwood. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are active members of the Friends Church at High Point and he is superintendent of the Sunday school.
THOMAS VERNON MOSELEY is a native of Le- noir County and since attaining manhood has found his years increasingly filled with absorb- ing and varied business interests. He is one of the first names to be mentioned in the group of progressive younger business men at Kinston.
He was born in Lenoir County August 31, 1880, a son of Wylie Thomas and Martha Eleanor (Harrer) Moseley. His father was a farmer, and the son grew up in the atmosphere of coun- try life. He was educated both in public and private schools and attended the business college at Columbus, Georgia.
He utilized his business training by taking a position as stenographer with the Kinston Cot- ton Mills, and has been steadily identified with that corporation, being now secretary and as- sistant general manager.
Mr. Moseley is secretary and assistant general manager of the Chesterfield Manufacturing Com- pany of Petersburg, Virginia; is acting secretary and assistant general manager of the Orion Knit-
ting Mills of Kinston and Beaufort, North Caro- lina, and is secretary of the Kinston Free Press Company.
He has been exceedingly liberal of his time and means in the promotion of movements that have a broad and vital connection with the general welfare of his city. He was especially active in' the Kinston Fair Association, was one of the promoters of the Caswell Training School, is sec- retary of the Christian Church Building Associa- tion, and is chief of the Kinston Fire Department. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and is a trustee of the Christian Church. Politically Mr. Moseley is a democrat.
HON. GEORGE E. HOOD. Interesting indeed are the stories which tell of advancement made by the overcoming of difficulties and the success that has rewarded earnest effort. The incidents may all interest, but it is admiration and pride that are aroused for the sterling qualities which have made these adventures true, for they insure future usefulness and promise further distinction. Sit- ting in the historic halls of the National Con- gress, equal to all and superior to many, is Hon. George E. Hood, one of Wayne County's brilliant young statesmen who, in his forty years of life, has made more progress upward than nine-tenths of his fellow-men have encompassed throughout their entire lives.
George E. Hood was born in Wayne County, North Carolina, January 25, 1875. His parents were Edward Bass and Edith (Bridgers) Hood, of Scotch and English ancestry. His boyhood was passed as an assistant on his father's farm in Wayne County during the summers and attend- ing the district school in the winter seasons, but when fifteen years old he accompanied his par- ents when they removed to Goldsboro. There, for a short time, he had educational advantages, but soon took up the work of a telegraph mes- senger boy and during the next two years learned to be an operator. That he had 'made an im- pression with the officials of the Western Union Company not only for efficiency but for relia- bility was proved by the company making him bookkeeper at Goldsboro. In 1893, when only eighteen years of age, he became assistant man- ager of the office at Goldsboro, and in 1894 he went with the Southern Railway Company as tele- graph operator and billing clerk. Thus far he had made his own way and had reached a posi- tion of responsibility, but his ambition was by no means satisfied. His work through the day was necessarily confining and had to be accurate. When release came in the evening, Mr. Hood did not allow himself to think of recreation, even when his comrades urged his companionship. On the other hand, his lamp burned long into the night while he was poring over law books. The time came when he felt prepared to take his ex- aminations in the Supreme Court of North Caro- lina, and his admission to the bar followed on February 3, 1906. His father. in the meanwhile, had been elected treasurer of Wayne County, but did not live to serve out his term, and when his death occurred in 1898 his son, George E., was unanimously elected by the board of county commissioners to fill his place.
This brought Mr. Hood prominently before the people and his administration of the office of treasurer confirmed the good opinion already en- tertained and public confidence was very definitely shown when in 1901 he was chosen to represent
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Wayne County in the State Legislature. On his return from the first session at Raleigh he was elected mayor of Goldsboro, a signal honor en- tirely disproving the old saying that a prophet has no honor in his own country. Mr. Hood served as mayor of his city until 1907, and dur- ing this period Goldsboro made rapid progress. In the political councils of Wayne County he had become by this time a leading factor, and his democratic friends realized that the abilities of a self-reliant man, a student and scholar, one who had proved capable, wise and resourceful in every business or public position he had held, was of such value to party and country that further responsibilities might safely be placed upon him and additional honors be tendered him. In 1912 he was made presidential elector of the Third Congressional District, comprising the counties of Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Jones, Ons- low, Pamlico, Sampson and Wayne. In 1915 he was elected a member of the Sixty-fourth Na- tional Congress, receiving 8,620 votes, a majority of more than 2,000 votes over his opponent, Hon. B. H. Crumpler, who was a candidate on the re- publican-progressive ticket. Since taking his seat in the House of Representatives Mr. Hood has given a good account of himself as a member of house committees on census, immigration, nat- uralization and public buildings and grounds.
Mr. Hood has been prominent in the North Caro- lina National Guard. From 1898 until 1905 he was captain of the Second Regiment. On Novem- ber 23, 1905, he was promoted by Gen. R. B. Glenn to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was assistant general of ordinance. In 1909 he was retired with the rank of colonel. His long offi- cial. connection with National Guard affairs has made him durnig the past year a valuable ad- visor in regard to military affairs.
Mr. Hood was married September 23, 1903, to Miss Julia A. Flowers, and they have three chil- dren : Nannie Bridgers, George Ezekiel and Frances Elizabeth. With his family, Mr. Hood belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1916 Mr. Hood was re-elected to Congress and as a member of that great body, confronted with many of the most serious public problems that have ever demanded wise deliberation, his hosts of friends in North Carolina believe he will distinguish himself still further and in achieving for himself will add luster to the Old North state and benefit the country at large. He has remembered his constituents in every way pos- sible for an honorable public man, and during his long absence in Washington has never per- mitted his interest in Goldsboro to lapse, her progress being just as dear to him as when he was one of the humble workers for his daily bread. He retains membership with the Wayne County Bar Association and the Goldsboro Chamber of Commerce. His fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics, of which last named body he was state councillor in 1903-4, from 1905 being a member of the national supreme judiciary committee.
Mr. Hood is a man of winning personality. Welcome is in his hearty hand clasp and spar- kling eye, and sincere are the words that come from his smiling mouth. Genial and friendly as he may be in social life and in affairs of legiti- mate business, his record shows that no coercion can ever make him countenance any measure that
he does not believe to be right and honorable. The steadiness that marked him as a boy is still a characteristic.
LOVIT HINES. The manufacturing interests of the community lying adjacent to Kinston in Le- noir County have grown remarkably with the past several decades, and to successfully direct a profit- able business along any line in the face of the keen present-day competition calls for abilities of more than an ordinary degree. One of the active men of business here at the present time, and who has successfully built up a large enterprise from small beginnings is Lovit Hines, secretary and treasurer of Hines Brothers Lumber Company, which is now one of the leading concerns of Kin- ston.
Lovit Hines was born in Wayne County, North Carolina, January 23, 1852, a son of James Madi- son and Nancy (Thompson) Hines, native North Carolinians and well known planting people of Wayne County. Reared in a family where truth, integrity and industry were watchwords, Lovit Hines was educated in private schools, and when ready to enter upon his individual career was well prepared both in mind and body to fight his bat- tles with the world. The father moved to Lenoir County when the son was a year old, and his first ventures were of an agricultural character, and farming continued to be his occupation until the year 1884. At that time he began to turn his attention to the business in which he has since made such a decided success. As his initial enter- prise he rented a small sawmill, and his success in the operation of this diminutive plant en- couraged him to buy a small mill of his own. The business grew rapidly and in 1889 he took his brother, W. T. Hines, into partnership, this being the inception of the present firm. The brothers continued in business at Dover, North Carolina, until 1892, when Mr. Lovit Hines leased planing mills at Newbern. In the later part of that same year he formed a stock company with P. H. Pelli- tire and S. C. Hamilton, and purchased the plant of the old Greenville Land and Improvement Com- pany and incorporated the Greenville Lumber Com- pany, moving there in January, 1893. This plant was destroyed by fire in May, 1896. After the destruction by fire of the Greenville Lumber Com- pany 's plant in May, 1896, Mr. Hines was made receiver to settle the affairs of the old Greenville Lumber Company and that company was dissolved. He then came to Kinston and formed a new com- pany with his brother, W. T. Hines, and John T. and Henry C. Riley, of Philadelphia. The Rileys furnished the money to build the mill in Kinston and to buy a supply of standing timber. The busi- ness was incorporated under the firm name of Hines Brothers Lumber Company, with a capital of $12,000. As the business grew and the debt was paid off, it was found advisable to increase the capital, which was elevated to $20,000. Later this was made $50,000, still later $100,000, and finally at present, $200,000. The present officers of the concern are: H. C. Riley, president; W. T. Hines, vice president; and Lovit Hines, secretary and treasurer. This is now one of the large and suc- cessful mills of eastern North Carolina, having a capacity of 60,000 feet of lumber per day, and employing 300 men in mill and offices. This plant, which is modern in every particular, occupies four- teen acres of ground, and the company controls operations on 5,000 acres of property in fee simple, 20,000 acres timber right. The greater part of
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