USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume VI > Part 69
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Doctor Armstrong is vice president of the Newbern-Ghent Street Railway Company and of the Ghent Land Company. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, is affiliated with Su- dan Temple of the Mystic Shrine and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
He was married June 26, 1907, to Miss Ro- bena Midyette, of Hyde County, North Carolina.
LOUIS A. POTTER, JR., is looked upon as one of the ahlest teachers of piano in the City of Wash- ington. North Carolina people are interested in his career because his family lived for many years at Beaufort, and still have many friends and other connections in this state.
It was in Beaufort that Louis A. Potter was born in 1881, a son of Louis A. and Ella Ruth (Fish) Potter, now residents of Washington. His father for many years was successfully engaged in business at Beaufort and at one time was mayor
of that city on the Eastern Shore. In the early '90s, he moved with his family to Washington, and has since been connected with government de- partments in that city. One of his sons Mr. Van Potter, is connected with the Title, Guarantee and Trust Company of New York City and another son, Charles H. Potter, has made a successful career as a patent lawyer in Washington.
Louis A. Potter, Jr., was reared and received his early education in the Washington schools. He early chose music as his profession. He graduated from the Von Unschuld University of Music in Washington. His finishing and most serious work as a pianist was as a pupil of Ernest Hutcheson of New York, one of the world's greatest piano teachers, and for a long time connected with the Peabody School in Baltimore. Mr. Potter began his professional werk in music in his home city. Though a very young man and located in a com- munity noted for its great artists, he held his own and established a position that is a source of satisfaction to himself and his family.
Mr. Potter is organist and choirmaster of Cal- vary Baptist Church, one of the great churches of Washington. He has given this church a splendid reputation for the high character of its music through his work as organist and through the direction of its quartette. His big work, however, is as teacher of piano. He has gained a repu- tation as a real artist in this branch of teaching and has given the best that is in him to ambitious pupils whose desire is to be something more than ordinarily talented in music. The artistic gifts of Mr. Potter are known beyond the confines of his home city. He has been on successful concert tours with Mrs. Potter, who is a soprano of dis-' tinction. Mrs. Potter before her marriage was Miss Ruby Jones, a native of Florida. She re- ceived most of her professional education in Wash- ington and she and Mr. Potter were actively associ- ated in their musical work for several years before they married. They have two children, Louis A., III, and Dorothy Miriam.
ULA H. COZART. A permanent resident of the city of Wilson since 1893, the business connections and interests of Mr. Cozart have been increasing and expanding with the passing time, and he is now one of the leading tobacco warehousemen of the state, and has been prominent in other busi- ness and civic affairs.
Mr. Cozart was born in Wake County, North Carolina, March 24, 1869, a son of Benjamin H. and Frances (Rogers) Cozart. His father was born in Granville County, North Carolina, and was a farmer, tobacco manufacturer, real estate dealer, and for some years was engaged in lumber milling at Oxford, North Carolina.
The son was well educated, finishing at Horner's Military Institute at Oxford, and from there acquired his first experience with his father in the tobacco warehouse business. He first came to Wil- son in 1891 and for a year was connected with the firm of Pace & Woodard. Later his tobacco interests were in Durham, North Carolina, but in 1893 he returned to Wilson and for about ten years was a member of the firm Cozart & Washing- ton. Since then the business has been conducted as Cozart, Eagles & Carr, and this firm operates the Centre Brick Warehouse, one of the largest in Wilson. It has always been run as an independent warehouse. The centre Brick has been the lead- ing warehouse on the market since it started.
Mr. Cozart is also a director of the First
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National Bank and the Wilson Trust & Savings Bank, is a director of the Wilson Ice & Fuel Company, and half owner in the Motor Sales Company. Besides his commercial interests he is a farmer on a large scale, owning 1400 acres in Wilson and Nash counties. Of this large acreage 900 acres are in cultivation and through that industry he is contributing much to the re- sources of his native state.
Mr. Cozart is a member of the Country Club and the Commonwealth Club, was for twelve years an alderman of Wilson, and for over twelve years a member of the Board of Trustees of the graded schools. He is also a trustee of the First Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South.
In August. 1894, he married Ollie Whitehead Moye of Wilson. They have four children: Thomas Allen, Doris, Ula, Hubert and Sydnor.
Mr. Cozart is a leader in charitable, Red Cross and church work.
DR. NEREUS MENDENHALL was one of the dis- tinguished educators and philosophers of North Carolina, and gave to the profession of teaching practically half a century of concentrated energy and conscietious labor.
He was a man of profound scholarship, not only noted for his great ability as a mathematician but also for his accurate knowledge of the ancient and of the modern languages. His unswerving devo- tion to what he conceived to be duty was so note- worthy as to remind one of the old Roman of whom it was said: "It would be easier to turn the sun from its course than Fabsicius from the path of honesty. '' This combination of clear thinking and dauntless courage he impressed upon several generations both in this state and else- where.
His family connections go back into the early colonial period of North Carolina and of Pennsyl- vania. He was lineally descended from.John Men- denhall, who was born at Mildenhall, England, and came to America in early colonial times, settling in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he spent the rest of his life. His son Aaron Mendenhall was born in Chester County and was a lifelong resident of that state. In the next generation James Mendenhall, a native of Chester County, was reared and married there, but in 1759 brought his family to North Carolina and settled in the locality now known as Jamestown in Guilford County. That locality has been the seat of the Mendenhall family for more than a century and a half. James Mendenhall bought a tract of land from Lord Granville, and the deed of conveyance to this tract is still carefully preserved by his descendants. Besides his home he erected a mill, and was a man of property and of substantial con- nections with that community. Late in life he moved to Georgia, where he died. He was sur- vived by his widow, who returned to Guilford County and spent her last years there. Her maiden name was Hannah Thomas, a native of Pennsyl- vania, and a sister of Col. Richard Thomas.
The grandfather of Doctor Mendenhall was George Mendenhall. who succeeded to the owner- ship of the estate of James Mendenhall, his father. In honor of his father he named the locality Jamestown. He married Judith Gardner, of Nan- tucket, Massachusetts. Their son Richard Men- denhall, the father of Doctor Mendenhall, who was born in Guilford County, was a farmer and also owned and operated a tannery. He was well edu-
cated, and for several years kept a night school at his home free to all comers. When his own children reached school age he employed a special teacher for their benefit. He married Mary Pegg, a native of Guilford County.
Nereus Mendenhall was born at Jamestown in Guilford County in 1819. His early training and education were carefully supervised. After leaving the home school he entered Haverford College in Pennsylvania, was graduated there, and then con- tinued his professional studies in the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he re- ceived his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Returning to North Carolina, he practiced medicine in Guil- ford County for several years, but on account of ill health gave up that profession, which but for this circumstance his abilities would have highly adorned. For a time he engaged in civil engineer- ing and made part of the surveys of the North Carolina Railroad. He then entered actively upon his career as a teacher, as principal of the New Garden Boarding School, which later became Guil- ford College. Later he removed to Philadelphia and was an instructor in the Penn Charter School, and was also connected with the faculty of his alma mater, Haverford College. After a few years of educational service in Pennsylvania he returned to Guilford County, North Carolina. He then re- sumed surveying and was employed as a surveyor for several railroad lines through this section of the state. He was at one time elected to the State Legislature. His great ability both as an edu- cator and as an independent thinker made his service in the halls of legislation highly useful in all matters pertaining to public institutions; as for example the location and building of the hos- pital at Morganton. The protection of the water shed from which the hospital is supplied with water is largely due to his knowledge of engineer- ing and of sanitation.
For many years Doctor Mendenhall served with marked ability as chairman of the Guilford County Board of Education. He was a leader in the move- ment for the prohibition of the liquor traffic in North Carolina. He continued so long as he lived his deep interest in all public questions that had for their object the general welfare. He died in 1893.
His wife, who died in 1890, bore the maiden name of Oriana Wilson, daughter of Jethro and Laura (Wood) Wilson. For several generations the Mendenhalls have been members of the Society of Friends.
GEORGE ALEXANDER GRAY. For nearly a quar- ter of a century the late George Alexander Gray was a resident of Gastonia and during that time was so closely identified with the business inter- ests, and particularly with the cotton mill industry, of the city that he left an indelible impression thereon, his name being at all times synonymous with upright and straightforward dealing. In his youth he was handicapped by the lack of education and of financial assistance, but so forceful and well-directed were his efforts that he had accumu- lated a handsome competence by the time of his death and occupied a high position among the men of substantiality here. Essentially a business man, he was not desirous of honors in public life, yet when his community called upon him to fill public office he willingly shouldered his responsibilities and served the city capably and faithfully, work- ing as hard in the interests of Gastonia as he had
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in his own enterprises. His career was useful, helpful and clean, and it would be difficult to find a man who had, in greater degree, the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens.
The matter for the following review of Mr. Gray's life and achievements is largely taken from a sketch written by Capt. Samuel A. Ashe, and which appeared in a biographical work published during Mr. Gray's lifetime. George Alexander Gray was born September 28, 1851, in Mecklen- burg County, North Carolina, a son of George Alexander and Mary (Wallace) Gray. His ma- ternal grandfather was Robert Wallace, whose parents had migrated from their native Ireland to America, a heritage of worthy distinction. The elder George Alexander Gray was a son of Ransom Gray of Poplar Tent Presbyterian congregation, then in Mecklenburg but now in Cabarrus County, who was a soldier of the Revolution. Ransom Gray lived in Mallard Creek section, and married Narcissa, the youngest daughter of Col. George Alexander, a distinguished citizen of Poplar Tent, who had migrated to that section from Pennsyl- vania some time prior to 1769. This is known from the fact that his name is recorded on the Poplar Tent session book of that year as voting for a call of Rev. Dr. Balch, a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, to the pastorate of that church. He is again recorded in 1801 and again in 1814, during which latter year he died, leaving a large connection of worthy de- scendants.
Eight children were born to the union of Ran- som and Narcissa (Alexander) Gray, three daugh- ters and five sons, namely: Narcissa, Caroline, Mary Ann, George, Charles, Nathaniel Robert and Baxter. Of these, Caroline and Narcissa married and moved to the West, probably settling in Mis- souri, and were lost sight of; Mary Ann married an Orr, perhaps related to the family of that name of upper Mecklenburg, moved to the West and reared a family, of which there now remains but one survivor, Mrs. Caroline Carleton, of Memphis, Tennessee; Charles H. went West at an early age, reared a large family and died in 1893, at the age of eighty years, leaving three children, Robert W. and Edward, of Proctor, Texas, and Narcissa, the wife of Samuel Y. T. Knox, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the mother being the daughter of Nathaniel Alexander, a son of Col. George Alex- ander; Nathaniel D. also moved West at an early day and is now living in Mississippi; and Robert and Baxter while yet young men went to the far West and were lost sight of.
The eldest son, George Alexander Gray, settled in Mallard Creek section, Mecklenburg County, but in the year 1836, with his wife and two daughters, moved to Tennessee and resided in that state until 1841, when they returned to North Carolina and settled in Crab Orchard Township, Mecklenburg County, which was the home of the family for the next twelve years, the family con- sisting of six daughters and two sons, the latter being Robert W. and George Alexander, Jr. Dur- ing 1853 the family removed to Rock Island factory and there resided for a number of years. At some time prior to June 29, 1859, they moved to Stowesville factory, where on that date the husband and father died suddenly of apoplexy, leaving George Alexander, Jr., a child of eight years. This sad and sudden event imposed upon Mrs. Gray the responsibility of a mother's over- sight and control of a large family of children, several of whom were of a tender age. George,
the youngest, at once became the mother's pet, the common fate of the youngest child, but happily for the lad, as well as for the entire family, the mother was both a sagacious and an intellectual woman in a high degree, and hence she was easily adequate to the great responsibilities which were now solely hers.
George A. Gray was not slow in developing an active mind with a full allowance of the live boy inspiration and adventure common to promising youth. His strong attachment to, and tender regard for his mother brought him thoroughly under her influence. She called him "Pluck" be- cause of his wonderful self confidence, and never stinted a mother's devotion in her attention to the proper pleasing and influencing of her boy. This seems to have won him to a marvelous obedi- ence and respect for the mother's every command and wish, which never waned nor abated until the day of her death. This trait, developed so early in life, was one of the most striking characteristics of the man, for it is highly worthy to relate of George Gray his devotion to his sisters from his earliest age of ability and usefulness to the time of his death, which, in connection with his fidelity to his mother's commands, showed true greatness, worthy of a man whose success in industrial life was so marked.
In 1861 was opened all the horrors and priva- tions that war can bring, and George A. Gray was forced by circumstances to go into the cotton fac- tory to work in order that he might aid in the support of his mother's family. Thus it seemed that his opportunity for an education had passed, at least for some years to come; but Mrs. Gray was extremely anxious that he should be put to school, and so by practicing the most rigid econ- omy, arrangements were made for the schooling of the boy. Having learned under the firm tute- lage of his mother the immense value of time and opportunity, he entered the school with an eager zeal. From day to day and throughout the school term of ten months he worked incessantly at his books and other school tasks, and, to use his own words in later life, "I sought to master the 'Blue- back' and my other books within one year, for somehow or other I felt that that year's schooling would be my last." True to such a fear, that was his last year at school, for now the war was on, the factory at Stowesville closed down, and Mrs. Gray was forced to move her family to Line- berger's factory.
At Lineberger's. Mr. Gray was put to work at earnest, being given the job of sweep-boy, which carried the pay of 10 cents per day of fourteen hours, and a job which was the real beginning of his rise in the industrial world. Three con- siderations now took possession of the lad: First, devotion to his mother and sisters; second, self-education; third, the mastery of the knowl- edge of machinery. During his work hours he made it a rule never to idle nor loiter, but rather to keep ahead of his work. Such spare moments as he had from his regular work he employed in studying the movements and action of the belt and pulley, wheel and cogs, spindle and loom; in a word, he sought daily to learn more of the mechanism and action of machinery, from a trav- eler to a steam engine. Thus it may be said that his education was acquired amid the wheels of powerful machinery: such books as he could get he read with intense interest. Within the mill his promotion was rapid and continuous, and it is a fact that he never sought promotion, nor asked
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for an advance in pay. His nineteenth birthday found him assistant superintendent of the Wood- lawn Cotton Mills, in which position he was en- trusted with the superintendence of the mill. Thus by steady strokes and close application to his roy); he steadily forged his way to the top.
The first opportunity that was afforded the young man for giving a tangible evidence of the extent of his textile knowledge was in 1878, when he was engaged by Messrs. Oates Brothers & Company, of Charlotte, to equip and put into operation Charlotte's first cotton factory, the Charlotte Cotton Mills. He superintended the purchase of the machinery and saw to its erec- tion and started the same in operation, subse- quently running the mill until 1882. In that year he engaged his services to Col. R. Y. McAden, started the McAden Cotton Mills and remained in that position for several years.
Having started in the cotton mill at the lowest round and having familiarized himself by work and study with every kind of textile machinery, Mr. Gray was now resolved on a larger career. Hence, in 1888, he moved to Gastonia and to- gether with the late Capt. R. C. G. Love, and the late Capt. J. D. Moore, organized and put into operation the Gastonia Cotton Manufacturing Company, the first cotton mill at Gastonia, then a small village of barely 300 people. This was the beginning of what is now one of the most progressive and prosperous towns in North Car- olina. The successful operation of this mill led the way to the organization of the Trenton Cot- ton Mills, with George W. Ragan and the late T. C. Pegram. In 1896, with John F. Love, he organized and erected the 'Avon Mills, capitalized at $200,000, designed to spin fine yarn and to weave a fine grade of sheeting. He remained president of this successful mill until 1905, when he sold his holdings and organized the Gray Man- ufacturing Company. In 1899 the Ozark Mill was organized with a capital of $200,000, George A. Gray, president, J. F. Love, vice president, and R. P. Rankin, secretary and treasurer. In 1900 there was organized and erected what continues to be the largest cotton factory, under one roof, in the state, the Loray Mills, capitalized at $1,500,- 000. Mr. Gray was also actively identified with the erection of a number of other cotton factories, including the Clara Manufacturing Company, the Holland Manufacturing Company and the Flint Manufacturing Company, in all of which he held high office. In addition to his Gastonia inter- ests Mr. Gray was much sought after in other towns and states, including South Carolina and Georgia, where he assisted in the organization and erection of mills at Chester, South Carolina, and Atlanta and Carrollton, Georgia. His chief in- terests were confined to cotton factories, but he was also identified with numerous other enter- prises, being a director of the First National Bank, president of the Gaston Metal and Roofing Company, and a director of the Carolina & North- western Railroad.
Although Mr. Gray was always an exceedingly busy man, he nevertheless found time to devote himself to the interests of the city government. For six years he was a member of the board of aldermen, and during the same years served as city treasurer. It was during his term of service that Gastonia took her first great leap forward, floated an issue of $105,000 in bonds, with which were established graded schools and also electric lights, sewerage and water works, which utilities
are the property of the town and are operated in the interest of its citizens. In faith Mr. Gray was a Methodist of the stanch and aggressive type. Never doing things by halves, from the time he arrived at Gastonia he was a moving spirit in all matters of loyalty, devotion and financial support. He was ever a most liberal contributor to all enterprises of his church. In 1900 a new and commodious church building was deemed a necessity, and so he, by reason of a large contribu- tion, made possible the erection of a very hand- some structure.
By far the most interesting chapter in the life of Mr. Gray had to do with his struggles in con- neetion with the enlargement of his first mill, the Gastonia Cotton Manufacturing Company. The mill had been erected, the original outlay of ma- chinery had been installed, and the plant had been put into successful operation. The success of the mill led to a determination to enlarge; the plan had been proposed by Mr. Gray and had been heartily accepted by the other stockholders, but no sooner were the plans matured and the machin- ery ordered than three of the largest stockholders suddenly decided to place their stock upon the market, so that Mr. Gray and the late R. C. G. Love were forced to buy or sell. As for Mr. Love, he could arrange for his part, but Mr. Gray al- ready heavily involved in debt by reason of his heavy subscription to the new issue of stock, was now brought face to face with the greatest prob- lem of his life. Now was the crisis on, now was his future at stake. Either he must sell and ac- knowledge defeat absolute, or he must raise, and that, too, immediately, $20,000. Those on the inside watched to see the bubble burst. Just twen- ty and four hours put him in touch with a friend -a mere acquaintance, in fact-before whom the few, plain, simple facts were laid, and in less time than it takes to write, the funds were in hand, the deal was made and the day was saved. As to this transaction no questions were ever asked, no information ever given. These plain, cold facts have been given for but one reason, viz .: to show the crisis and how it was met. That this incident both saved the day and made the man Mr. Gray had never the slighest doubt. From that day forward Mr. Gray cut the word "defeat " from his vocabulary. In all matters of forward movements, whether in the realm of business, church or state, he decided upon the thing to be done and then set himself to the doing. His rise in the industrial world was phenomenal, for in ten years he rose from the managing spirit of one mill, employing 200 operatives, to the presi- dency of five factories, in whose employ were 2,000 people.
There were three schools in which Mr. Gray was an ardent, eager student: the school of man, the school of machinery, and the school of books, and in all of these he became proficient. Among' books, his fondness lay in history, biography, lit- erature-chiefly poetry-and his favorite poets were Shakespeare, Burns and Moore, and he might be said to have known Burns by heart. His fixed habits were the chief features of his character. From his childhood until his death, or his final illness, he rose every morning at five o'clock and at six he was at his work, regardless of season or weather. As to tobacco or intoxicants, he was a total abstainer; and, though tolerant with re- spect to the views and likes of others, he had no time for games of any sort. In forming judg- ment, he was invariably quick. In matter of
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speech, he was quick and to the point, making use of the fewest words possible. Though of a nervous temperament, he easily saw all points of wit, and no one enjoyed a hearty laugh more thor- oughly than he. He read his daily newspapers and magazines and kept abreast of the news, thought and life of the times. In his death, which occurred in February, 1912, the City of Gastonia lost a truly remarkable man, one who had done more, perhaps, in building up the great cotton mill industry than any other individual. But more than that, it lost a citizen who took person- ally a prominent and leading part in the real movements which made for advancement along all lines, and whose influence for good was strong and far-reaching in its extent.
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