USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume VI > Part 34
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yours truly Lovit Hines
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Mr. Hines' attention is given to the management and operation of the mill, but he also has various other interests, and is a helpful factor in all movements that are making for the welfare of his community.
Mr. Hines was married to Miss Mollie Jane Murphy, of Lenoir County, North Carolina, who died December 31, 1907, leaving seven children, as follows: Mary Pauline, who is the wife of Walter D. La Roque, postmaster of Kinston; Harvey Car- row, a wholesale merchant of Kinston; James M., who is a wholesale merchant of Greenville, North Carolina; Clara Louise, who is the wife of Oscar Green, of Kinston; Samuel Philip, who is a student of the Agricultural and Mechanical Col- lege, Raleigh, North Carolina; and Leah Ruth and Elizabeth, who are attending the graded school at Kinston. In September, 1908, Lovit Hines was married to Miss Polly Jones, of Kinston, and they have five children: William Grimsey, Willis, Robert Stancell, Lovit, Jr., and Charles Meadows.
ARTHUR L. ELLISON is a member of a family that for many years has been identified with the high class furniture manufacture at High Point. He was born in that town, and his father, Julius F. Ellison, is one of the older residents of the community, having lived there since he was a boy and having witnessed its growth from a few hundred population to a city of upwards of 12,000 and the home of many of the most important industries of North Carolina.
The family record goes back to the great-grand- father, Archibald Ellison, who spent all his life in the vicinity of Franklinville in Randolph County. He married Elizabeth Yerge, and they reared six children, named Joseph, Irwin, Eliza, Mary and Cynthia. Archibald Ellison was a very active Methodist and an exhorter of his church.
Albert Ellison, who was born in Randolph County August 24, 1820, received a very good edu cation for his day and all his life was a great reader and acquired an unusual range of informa- tion. As a youth he learned the trade of potter, and was making a good living for his family at that occupation when the war broke out. In 1862, when he was forty-two years of age, he enlisted and went to the front with his regiment, and saw service in many hard fought campaigns. On April 7, 1865, he was captured and was held as a prisoner of war at Point Lookout, Maryland, until the 13th of May following. He was then paroled and on returning home resumed work at his trade. He spent his last years at Greensboro. Albert Ellison married Mary Wilson, who was born in Chatham County, North Carolina, November 23, 1820. Her father, Micajah Wilson, was a shoemaker, and long before shoe making machinery was introduced made boots and shoes for a large trade. His father was a native of France and came to America in colonial times and was in the struggle for independence against Great Britain for seven years. Mrs. Mary (Wilson) Ellison died at Greensboro, November 5, 1878. She was the mother of seven children, Charles Wesley, Julius F., Lycurgus L., Alphonso L., Roslyn, Louisa L. and Mary.
Mr. Julius F. Ellison was born on a farm two miles east of Franklinville in Randolph County April 8, 1847. He is what might be called a natural mechanic. Apparently he needed no special training to enable him to handle tools accurately and skillfully. As a young man he learned the trade of wood turner, and was an expert in that line in both the manual processes and with ma- chinery. For over forty years he has worked as
a carpenter, cabinet maker and wood turner, and in 1911 he formed a partnership with his son Arthur, giving High Point one of its local fac- tories for making high grade parlor furniture. Julius F. Ellison married October 12, 1869, Sarah Jane Charles, who was born in Guilford County January 2, 1840, daughter of Elijah and Kesiah (Raper) Charles, her grandfathers being John Charles and William Raper. Sarah Jane Ellison died leaving three children: Viola, Arthur and Mary. Viola married Berry R. Cross and had four children, named Esther, Valley, Livingston and Cevera. Mary died November 8, 1910.
Arthur Ellison, who was reared and educated in High Point and for a number of years has been associated with his father in furniture manufac- ture, married Miss Bessie A. C. Whitesel. She was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, daugh- ter of Peter Asbury and Martha Alice (Jordan) Whitesel. Her paternal grandparents were Simon and Catherine ( Andes) Whitesel, while her ma- ternal grandparents were James and Anna (Boone) Jordan. The Whitesels are of German ancestry, while the Andes and Jordan families are English. Anna Boone was a near relative of Daniel Boone. Mr. and Mrs. Ellison have one daughter, Sarah Alice Virginia. Mr. Ellison was reared in the faith of the Missionary Baptist Church, while Mrs. Ellison belongs to the Lutheran Church.
MICHAEL JOHN CORBETT, a resident of Wilming- ton for forty years, was born in County Water- ford, Ireland, August 4, 1857, son of John and Margaret (Brown) Corbett. His people were Irish farmers. The best available information de- scribes the Corbetts as descendants of the Nor- mans, and there have been Corbetts in one locality of Waterford County for a number of generations. There are three distinct branches of the family, one in Ireland, one in England and one in Scotland.
Michael John Corbett was educated in the Christian Brothers School at Lismore, but left before graduation to engage in farming with his father. A few years later, in 1878, he came to America and was at first employed in Wilmington as clerk in a wholesale grain house. In partner- ship with the late Mr. W. I. Gore a wholesale provision and grain business was established in 1881, and later Mr. Corbett became sole pro- prietor and in 1900 incorporated the Corbett Com- pany, commission merchants and manufacturers' agents, now operating under a license from the United States Food Administration and handling meat, lard, flour. sugar, grain, mixed feed and other staple provisions.
Mr. Corbett is president of the Corbett Com- pany. president of the Wilmington, Brunswick & Southern Railroad, vice president of the People's Savings Bank, a director in the Murchison Na- tional Bank, and a director in the Tide Water Power Company. For four years he served as president of the Wilmington Chamber of Com- merce.
Mr. Corbett has been one of the managing board of directors of the James Walker Memorial Hospital. He is a life member of the American- Irish Historical Society and is vice president for the State of North Carolina. He is a member of the Cape Fear Club, Cape Fear Country Club, Carolina Yacht Club and in politics a democrat.
January 16, 1884, at Wilmington, he married Mary Josephine Deans, daughter of James Ir- ving and Ellen (Geary) Deans. . They have nine
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living children: Nellie, wife of Thomas Edward Brown, of Wilmington; Margaret and Madeline; Norah, wife of Maj. H. W. Stovall, of the United States Coast Artillery and now in France; Lieut. James Irving, of the National Naval Volunteers; John Dennen; Henry McQueen; William Iredell, and Kitty.
ALLIE HOWARD EDGERTON. Though he does not as yet number his years by the forties, Allie Howard Edgerton has attained some of the dis- tinetive positions in the industrial and commer- cial affairs of Goldsboro and is one of the fortu- nate, influential and successful men of that city.
He was born at Fremont in Wayne County, North Carolina, October 28, 1877, being a son of James Bryant and Pattie Mae (Pool) Edgerton. His father was not only a farmer, but for many years was a general land agent and is connected with a number of business enterprises at Golds- boro.
The son received his education in the private and public. schools of Goldsboro, and in 1897 was graduated from the University of North Caro- lina. Thus his business career has been devel- oped during the nineteen years since he left the university. His first important connection was with the Enterprise Lumber Company, where he gained a very thorough and detailed knowledge of the lumber industry. From that company he promoted the organization of the Empire Manu- facturing Company, became its first general man- ager, and in 1913 was elected president. This is now one of the important industries that have their headquarters at Goldsboro. Mr. Edgerton still retains h's place as a director in the Enter- prise Lumber Company.
He served as alderman of his home city in 1915-18. He is a member of the board of trus- tees of the city schools, is president of the Algon- quin Club. a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is affiliated with the Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Sigma Chi.
On January 6. 1904, Mr. Edgerton married Annie Belle Borden, of Goldsboro, daughter of Arnold Borden. They are the parents of four children : Arnold Borden, Catherine, Charles Newton and Rachel Humphill.
MAJ. GEORGE W. F. HARPER. Soldier, merchant, banker, railroad builder, statesman and author, Maj. George W. F. Harper is Lenoir's most prominent citizen. He is a member of a distin- guished family of this section of North Carolina, associated intimately with its history, and iden- tified with the organization of Caldwell county and the founding of the town of Lenoir. The Harners are of English ancestry, but the branch that came as colonists to America had previously been established in Londonderry, Ireland.
George W. F. Harper was born at Fairfield, in what is now Caldwell County, North Carolina, near the site of the present town of Lenoir, in 1834. His parents were James and Caroline Ellen (Fin- ley) Harper, the latter of whom was born in Augusta County, Virginia. She was a daughter of Samuel Finley, whose people had come from Lon- donderry, Treland, to Virginia at an early day.
James Harper was born in 1799, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. A tendency toward tuber- culosis developing in his youth, an open air life was prescribed and he started on an extensive trip on horseback that extended through the mountains
of Kentucky and Tennessee, and as far south as Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, and to Charleston, South Carolina. There he took a sailing vessel and returned north, and by the time he reached New York, felt thoroughly restored to health. In re- membering his pleasant travels, the beautiful scenery and equable climate of the South remained in his memory, and before long he decided to establish a permanent home there. In 1829 he located at Wilkesboro, in Wilkes County, North Carolina, where he embarked in the mercantile business. In the early thirties he removed from Wilkesboro to a place he called Fairfield, about one mile west of the present Town of Lenoir, sub- sequently donating land for the town site of Lenoir. For many years afterward he was the leading merchant in the new town, first engaging in the manufacture of leather in a small way, but later, in association with his son, George W. F. Harper, in a general mercantile line. He was a man of education and refinement, and as long as he lived espoused every cause that he believed would benefit Lenoir. He was one of the early magistrates and assisted in the formation of Caldwell County and founded the town, as above stated, through his donations of land and capital. He was one of the contributors to the fund to build Davenport Col- lege. James Harper was a man of strict integrity, kind and benevolent manner, and was the first elder of the Presbyterian Church at Lenoir, and in its little graveyard he was laid to rest in 1879. He is survived by but two sons-George W. F. Harper and Samuel Finley Harper, George W. F. being president of the Bank of Lenoir and promi- nent in many other enterprises. Lenoir was regu- larly organized as a town in 1842, the boundaries being small as compared with the present corpo- rate limits. In its name it preserves the memory of Gen. William Lenoir, an early celebrity.
Associated with the late James Harper in many of his early enterprises here, was his nephew, the late Col. James C. Harper. He was born near Gettysburg, in Adams County, Pennsylvania, in 1819, a son of John Harper. In 1840 he joined his uncle, James Harper, in North Carolina, and it was he who laid out the Town of Lenoir and did much in a political way to make Lenoir the county seat of Caldwell County. From 1866 to 1868 he was a member of the North Carolina State Legislature, and in 1870 was elected to the United States Congress, in which body he made a fine record. He was prominent in a number of important local industries, and founded the old cotton mill at Pat- terson, near Lenoir, in 1847, and was the senior member of the firm of Harper, Jones & Company that operated the mill for a number of years. He died at his home near Patterson, North Carolina, January 6, 1890.
Col. James C. Harper married Louisa McDow- ell, a daughter of Athan McDowell, and a grand- daughter of General Charles and Grace (Greenlee) McDowell, both of Revolutionary fame in this state. Colonel Harper's daughter, Emma, became the wife of the late Clinton A. Cilley, who was a distinguished lawyer and judge in Caldwell County.
To adequately portray in words the life history of Major Harper, would be telling the story of Lenoir, for he has been so closely identified with all its leading interests. During the war between the states he served with distinction, enlisting as a private in Company H, Fifty-eighth North Car- olina Infantry. The organization of this regiment was completed in Mitchell County, July 24, 1862, and became a part of a legion representing the
Sama Hapro 1799-1879
G. W. F. HARPER AND GRANDSON LIEUT. JAMES C. HARPER
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three arms of the service and was commanded by Col. John B. Palmer. Through soldierly qualities the private was successively promoted until he became Captain Harper, and in 1864 was promoted to the rank of major. At the battle of Resaca, Georgia, Major Harper was wounded in the leg, but subsequently returned to his command and was with General Johnson's army at the time of surrender, at Greensboro, North Carolina, in April, 1865. In the World war, now going on, Major Harper's grandson, James C. Harper, who is shown in the accompanying portrait with his grandfather, holds the rank of captain, and he expects soon to be fighting with the United States Army in France. George H. Bernhardt, another grandson, is in the United States Navy.
After the Civil war closed, Major Harper ac- cepted its results and returned to peaceful pur- suits. He went into business at Lenoir, in part- nership with his father, under the firm name of J. Harper & Son, general merchants, beginning in a small wooden building, but afterward removing to the corner now occupied by the bank, which Major Harper established in 1894. This bank has been a potent factor in the town's growth and development. Major Harper is still president of this oldest bank, the affairs of which he has care- fully and prosperously conducted for twenty-four years.
Major Harper was one of the builders, and for the first few years of its existence was president of the Carolina & Northwestern Railroad, extend- ing from Chester, South Carolina, to Lenoir, North Carolina, which was Lenoir's first and as yet is its only railroad. It was built originally as a narrow- guage railroad, but subsequently was changed to standard gauge. Major Harper was the managing official of this road, and it is recalled by all that he was universally popular, and was known as a rail- road man of superior tact and executive ability. He was large and liberal in his policies and under his management the road became a dividend-earning property. As a concession to local opinion at the time, it is remembered that he permitted no trains to be operated on Sunday.
Although Major Harper has always taken an active interest in politics and public affairs, he but once consented to the use of his name as a can- didate for public office. He was elected a member of the North Carolina State Legislature, and served with marked ability and great public use- fulness in the session of 1881. On many occasions he has served on boards and commissions of a more or less public nature, and particularly in relation to benevolent movements and institutions. For a number of years he was one of the board of trustees of the Western North Carolina Hospital, at Mor- ganton. the construction work of which building was superintended by the late Col. James C. Harper.
Major Harper was united in marriage with Miss Ella A. Rankin, who died in 1909, survived by two children, George Finley Harper, and Mrs. Ellen Harper Bernhardt. Mrs. Harper was a daughter of Rev. Jesse and Ann Delight Rankin, and was a sister of the late Emma Lydia Rankin, who was widely known throughout the state as an accom- plished teacher, being for many years principal of the Kirkwood Home School for Girls.
Miss Emma Lydia Rankin was a notable woman and her name deserves perpetuation along with those who generously and unselfishly have given of their talents to benefit others. She was born July 29, 1838, and died February 28, 1908. This gifted woman received from her parents, both of
whom were teachers of wide reputation, the bene- fit of a thorough classical education. She made the training of the minds and hearts of young women her life work and she adorned the profession of her choice. She inherited from a pious ancestry a love for the Presbyterian Church, of which she was a devoted member for over three score years, and to her strenuous efforts and liberal contribu- tions, the church at Lenoir is greatly indebted. In 1893 the fine brick manse was completed and the new church in 1903, which was followed by a gift of the large and valuable lot in front of the church. Miss Rankin was a member of the committee of the Vesper Reading Club of Lenoir that encouraged the plan which resulted in the opening of the Pioneer Library, which, from a small beginning grew with the years and, up to the era of the Carnegie libraries, was probably the largest town library in the state. For many years she was a moving spirit in this enterprise and during the last years of her life served as purchasing agent and librarian, a work for which she was partic- ularly well fitted. Her final active benevolent work was in aid of that noble charity, the Barium Springs Orphanage. Her pupils, from all over the state, loved and esteemed her, and everyone knew her to be just, kind, good and generously charitable.
Perhaps no one is better qualified to write his- tory concerning Caldwell County than is Major. Harper, and that so many valuable and inter- esting papers, relating particularly to the county in relation to the war period, have issued from his pen, is but another proof of his versatility. In association with Judge Walter Clark, of Raleigh, he published in 1910 the thrillingly inter- esting book entitled "Caldwell County in the Great War." For that work, Major Harper wrote the chapters entitled: "North Carolina at Chicka- mauga,'' "A War Time Furlough, " "Kirk's Raid and Skirmish," and "Sherman at Columbia." Another book compiled and published by Major Harper, is equally interesting and a valuable con- tribution to local history, and is entitled "Remi- niscences of Caldwell County in the Great War." While it has been, in large degree, a matter of love to assemble this mass of history, and a tender tribute to his old comrades in arms, it is remark- able that one so engrossed with large business affairs and with public and social demands con- stantly being made upon his strength and time, should have found the opportunity and the enthu- siasm to so carefully gather these records, and to present them so abounding with the vitality of youth, that they are equally acceptable to the passing and the present generation.
ALEXANDER S. HANES was born to wealth and high social position, but has made his life count as a constructive factor in his home city of Wins- ton-Salem, and has recently given that section of North Carolina a distinctive new industry in the Hanes Rubber Company, of which he is president.
His father, the late John Wesley Hanes, proved himself one of the ablest among those who built up and developed Winston-Salem as a commercial and industrial center during the last half century. He was born at Fulton in Davie County, North Carolina, February 3, 1850, and belonged to a family of Moravians who had come to this part of Western North Carolina during the Revolu- tionary war. He was a great-grandson of Philip Hanes, whose father, Marcus Hanes, was a native of Germany and on coming to America established
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his home in York County, Pennsylvania. Marcus Hanes came to North Carolina in 1777, and be- came a member of the Moravian Colony, locating in South Fork Township near Old Salem. Marcus Hanes' son Philip was the father of Joseph Hanes, who was born in what is now Forsyth County, February 2, 1784. Joseph Hanes was the father of Alexander Martin Hanes, who was born March 5, 1809, and besides farming conducted the larg- est tannery in this section of the state. Alexan- der M. Hanes was married September 26, 1833, to Jane March, daughter of Col. Jacob and Mar- garet (Hinkle) March. The children of Alexan- der M. Hanes and wife were: Pauline, who died in girlhood; Spencer J., who died as a result of wounds received in the trenches at Richmond; Mary M., who died in 1885, wife of H. X. Dwire; Jacob H., who enlisted at the beginning of the war in Company G of the Fourth North Carolina State Troops and was killed at the battle of Spott- sylvania May 12, 1864; . William H., who died in early youth; George A., who enlisted in Company E of the Forty-second North Carolina Regiment and was killed near Gaines Mill, Virginia; Pleas- ant H., who is still living and was a Confederate soldier, surrendering with Lee at the close of the war; Catherine E., who lives in Winston-Salem; John W .; Philip, who died March 14, 1903; and Benjamin Franklin, who died August 24, 1904.
The late John W. Hanes grew up on a farm. He "became accustomed to its work and duties but his fondness for books caused him to devote all his leisure time to reading and study. He was a small boy when the war broke out, and his older brothers went into the ranks as soldiers and so far as his strength and capabilities permitted he took their place at home. When the father died his mother removed to Hickory Hill near Mocks- ville, and at the close of the war young Hanes entered Trinity College, where he made an excel- lent record as a student. On leaving college he returned to the farm in Davie County, but soon became associated with his brother, Pleasant H., who at that time was pushing a successful wagon tobacco trade in company with A. M. Booe, as to- bacco manufacturer of Mocksville. Subsequently the two brothers entered the field of tobacco man- ufacture on their own account, and located at Winston-Salem. In 1872 they built their first factory. It was small and had a limited output. Two partners joined them, Maj. T. J. Brown and P. N. Dulin. The latter soon died and in settling up his interests with his heirs the partners lost much of their active capital. The business soon recovered, and its next calamity was a fire which destroyed the factory. They had little insurance, and though still in debt they determined to con- tinue the business and while they were rebuild- ing at Winston-Salem they rented the old Zeke Jones factory at Greensboro, and manufactured in those quarters for a year. They were all able business men, possessed of great energy and their business prospered almost inevitably. The first factory was extended from time to time, and final- ly they constructed one of the largest and most modern establishments in the South. In 1893 another fire destroyed the buildings and entailed severe loss upon the company. Again they re- built, better and on a larger scale than before, and the business went on from one stage of pros- perity to another until it became known through its products throughout the United States. This business. whose foundations were so carefully laid by the Hanes brothers years ago, is now part of
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the great R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, hav- ing been purchased by that corporation at a prince- ly sum.
On retiring from the business of tobacco man- ufacture John W. Hanes established a large and complete plant for making hosiery, known as the Shamrock Knitting Mills. That was a business which took his chief energies and time until his death.
John W. Hanes earned a high place in busi- ness circles and his ability and resources were sought by outside corporations and also by the publie in general. He was at one time president of the Roanoke and Southern Railroad, and was a director in banks and other corporations. He was at one time president of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and for years was on its executive board.
December 2, 1879, John W. Hanes married Anna Hodgin, daughter of Stephen H. and Lucy Moir Hodgin of Winston-Salem. They became the par- ents of eight children. John W. Hanes was a democrat, and was for many years one of the most active members and liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The death of this honored citizen and business man occurred Sep- tember 22, 1903.
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