USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume VI > Part 79
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Mr. Tomlinson is a member of an old and prom- inent Quaker family of Bush Hill, Randolph County. An interesting sketch of his forefathers is given on other pages of this publication. He was born at Archdale in Randolph County, and received his earlier education at Old Trinity College High School prior to its removal to Dur- ham. He is a graduate of Guilford College, from which he received the Bachelor of Science degree in 1898. In the meantime he had acquired con- siderable practical experience of value in a busi- ness way, and on leaving college he traveled through the South in the interests of the High Point furniture factories. His ambition soon called him to a larger field, and in 1900 he founded the Tomlinson Chair Manufacturing Company, with a capital of $12,000. This corporation is now the largest manufacturing plant of its kind in the South. In many respects it is a model institution. Its spacious fireproof buildings occupy an area of several acres. As an industry it takes front rank among the largest enterprises of the state. The company's capital at present is $400,000, and its products, consisting of high grade dining room and living room furniture, are widely distributed over the principal states of the Union. The aggre- gate value of its products is upwards of $1,000 000 annually. Mr. Tomlinson was the first secretary and treasurer of the company, but since 1904 has been vice president and active manager.
In 1904 Mr. Tomlinson married Ethel May Diffee, a native of Randolph County, and daughter of Alfred M. and Lonie (Johnson) Diffee. They have two children, William Allen and Sidney Hal- stead, Jr.
In 1905 Mr. Tomlinson organized the People's House Furnishing Company, at present one of the largest and most remarkable furniture stores in the South. The first furniture exhibition build- ing for showing manufacturers' samples to the trade Mr. Tomlinson has the credit of having established in 1905 under the name of the High Point Show Rooms. Mr. Tomlinson is a democrat in politics and a member of the Friends church.
Like many modern business men Mr. Tomlinson does not spend all his time in his office, and recre-
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ates his energy and enthusiasm by much outdoor life. His favorite game is golf.
ROBERT' SAMUEL CROMARTIE, M. D. A volume only would be sufficient compass in which to at- tempt a description of the Cromartie family con- sistent with its dignity, its power and influence as long time factors in the life and affairs of Bladen County and the Cape Fear section, not to mention in its earlier annals in Scotland. One outstanding characteristic of the Cromarties, and one that eas- ily distinguishes them from the majority of Ameri- can families, is tenacity of possession. The de- velopment of the American continent in a century inevitably required move and change, and while the great national resources have thus been made available, it is by no means certain that the wel- fare and security of many families participating in the movement has been substantially improved.
On the other hand, the Cromarties, while adapt- ing themselves readily to the changing circum- stances and ideals of the modern world, have for the most part remained fixtures in the one local- ity where their great ancestor settled more than a century and a half ago. The old seat of the Cromarties is in Bladen County, a few miles from the post 'Town of Garland, which is in Sampson County. Only the briefest outline of the family history can be attempted as an introduction to the career of Dr. Robert Samuel Cromartie, a distin- guished physician and surgeon and planter at the old Cromartie homestead.
The Cromarties were of a clan notable in Scot- tish history. Many brave and chivalrous deeds were credited to them, and they were strong and good men both in peace and in war. The founder of the original branch of the family was William Cromartie, who was born in Scotland in 1731. He espoused the declining cause of the Stuarts. Upon the fall of that house he renounced an earldom and left Leith upon what proved to be a romantic and adventurous voyage at sea. A well founded tradition, though the exact facts are not all known, is that his first wife was a captive princess whom he rescued during this voy- age. She was the mother of his oldest son, Wil- liam Cromartie, Jr. William, Sr., landed at Wil- mington, North Carolina, in 1765, about two years after the treaty of peace which concluded the seven years' war in England and the French and Indian war in America. Journeying up the Cape Fear and South rivers, he procured and located upon a large body of land in what is now Cypress Creek Township on the South River in Bladen County. Here he lived, gathered about him a retinue of slaves, developed his landed posses- sions, and in that locality his descendants have always continued to reside. After his first wife's death William Cromartie married Ruhama Doane, of Middletown, Connecticut. She was the mother of James, Thankful, Elizabeth, Ruhama, Alex- ander, John, Peter, Mary, Catherine, Nancy Ann and Margaret. William Cromartie proved true to the fighting ideals of his ancestry and when the War of the Revolution came on he espoused the American cause and fought as a member of Lieutenant Wilkinson's Company in the Tenth North Carolina Regiment. He lived many years after the colonies became united under a repub- lican government, and died September 21, 1807. His wife Ruhama was born in 1745 and died in 1813. This William Cromartie was the great- grandfather of Doctor Cromartie.
The latter's grandfather, John Cromartie, son of William and Ruhama, was born February 28,
1774. He and his brothers were all given plan- tations along the South River, adjoining the orig- inal home place, and they and their descendants have occupied that region ever since. The old Cromartie homes have never been out of the fam- ilies that founded them. The name Cromartie is synonym for the highest type of character in cit- izenship, and whatever may have been their individual fortunes they have always regard for the heritage of an honorable name.
The father of Doctor Cromartie was William James Cromartie, who was born at the Cromar- tie homestead in 1824 and died there in 1898. He was a lifelong planter except during the war between the states, when he served with a Confederate regiment recruited chiefly in Bladen County. He married Mary Douglas Sloan, who is also deceased. She was a daughter of Dickson and Catharine (Bryan) Sloan. Dickson Sloan was a citizen of Duplin County, which he repre- sented in the Legislature for a number of years. The Sloans are of English origin. Mary Douglas Sloan also represented the Dickson and Bryan families, both prominent in North Carolina his- tory.
Robert Samuel Cromartie was born at the place where he now lives in 1869. He grew up in those surroundings, and was educated in Davidson Col- lege, graduating A. B. with the class of 1895. In preparation for a medical career he spent two years in the University of North Carolina, but in 1900 graduated M. D. from the North Caro- lina Medical College at Davidson. Since then he has been engaged in the actual practice of medi- cine at his old home. He is also a farmer and planter and his part of the old Cromartie estate consists of about 400 acres, eighty acres being in a state of thorough cultivation.
Doctor Cromartie stands among the very highest in his profession: At different times flattering offers have come to him to take up professional work in the larger cities, where the skill and re- sources of the physician and surgeon have their highest premium in material rewards and reputa- tion. But Doctor Cromartie has steadfastly elected to remain at the old place, deeming professional reputation of less consequence than the service which he can render to the people who need him, and he has remained true to this choice, though certainly at considerable sacrifice. He is a former president of the Bladen County Medical Society.
Naturally in public affairs his services have been in much demand. He is a member of the board of county commissioners. Soon after the outbreak of the war with Germany he was appointed a mem- ber of the County Exemption Board. As everyone knows, it is a duty that exacts heavy demands of time, patience and judgment, and its chief reward is a sense of a necessary and patriotic duty per- formed.
Doctor Cromartie is a member and ruling elder of the old South River Presbyterian Church. This is one of the old and historic churches of the Cape Fear section, having been formally organized in 1795. Doubtless meetings of the congregation were held for some years prior to that date. His great-grandfather, William Cromartie, was one of the founders and pillars of the church and its chief nucleus of supporting members has always been the Cromarties and their relatives.
Doctor Cromartie married Miss Mary B. Jester, who was born at Suffolk, Virginia, danghter of Cant. Charles W. and Lois (Swett) Jester, both native Virginians and now deceased. Captain Jes- ter was a gallant Confederate soldier and served
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all through the war. In one battle he was severely wounded, and those wounds eventually brought about his death. For several years after the war he was connected with steamboat and steamship traffic from the port of Norfolk. Mrs. Cromartie was educated in the Baptist Female Institute, now Chowan College at Murfreesboro, North Carolina. The five children of Doctor and Mrs. Cromartie are Mary Blanche, Robert Samuel, Jr., Ruth Her- rington, William James and Lois Virginia.
Doctor and Mrs. Cromartie's spacious and hos- pitable home is a place of genuine attraction in addition to its historic interest. It was built originally by the doctor's grandfather, John Cro- martie. In later years it has received additions and new conveniences and comforts at the hands of Doctor Cromartie. It stands practically a stone's throw of the original place where stood the home of William Cromartie, who is buried here.
HUGH NELSON BINFORD. Through his business and other activities Hugh Nelson Binford has been one of the prominent factors in the citizenship of Madison for a 'number of years. He has spent most of his life in North Carolina, but is a native of Virginia and is related by family ties with some of the oldest and most prominent names of that historic commonwealth.
Mr. Binford was born at Cascade in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. His father, Dr. Walter Lee Binford, a native of Goochland County, Virginia, after graduating from the medical department of the University of Virginia moved to North Caro- lina and began practice at Leakesville. From there he returned to Virginia and settled in Cas- cade, and still later moved to Henry County, where he enjoyed an honored and useful position in his profession until his death.
Dr. Walter Lee Binford married Nancy Page Nelson. Through his mother Hugh Nelson Binford is related to the Nelson and Page families of Old Virginia, one of his distant kinsmen being Hon. Thomas Nelson Page, ambassador to the Court of St. James, England.
It will be of interest to recite some of the facts connected with the history of the Nelson family. Its progenitor in Virginia was Thomas Nelson of Yorktown, York County, Virginia. His parents were Hugh and Sarah Nelson of Penrith, County of Cumberland, England. Thomas Nelson, known as "Scotch Tom," was born February 20, 1677, and was given his name because of his birth at Penrith, England, on the border of Scotland. He immi- grated to the colony of Virginia about 1700, and thus became the progenitor of the Nelson family. About 1705 he founded Yorktown and built the first brick house in America, also the first custom house, the bricks for which were brought from England. The present Nelson house at Yorktown was built by William Nelson, a son of Scotch Tom.
William Nelson was president of the Colonial Council. He married Elizabeth, called Betty, only daughter of Nathaniel Burwell of Gloucester, Vir- ginia. Their oldest child was Thomas Nelson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Nelson was sent to England to be edu- cated in charge of Mr. Hunt, Fellow of Cambridge University. After seven years he came home and was elected to the House of Burgesses, though only twenty-one. He was a member of the convention of Williamsburg, to consider the taxation of the colonies by the home government in England; also served in the provincial convention, and was elected to offer the resolution instructing the Vir-
ginia delegates in Congress at Philadelphia to propose a declaration of independence. In 1776 he signed the Declaration of Independence. In August following, during the alarm when the Brit- ishi fleet entered the Virginia capes, he was ap- pointed commander in chief of the Virginia state forces. In June, 1781, he was chosen governor of Virginia. He participated in the siege of York- town with the rank of major general. His forces, 3,000 strong, were raised and equipped at his own expense. His statue was one of the six selected to be placed around the Washington monument at Richmond, Virginia. The other five thus com- memorated were Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Andrew Lewis, John Marshall and George Mason.
Elizabeth Nelson, eldest daughter of Governor Nelson, married Mann Page, eldest son of Governor Page of Rosewell, Gloucester County, Virginia.
The third son of William and Betty (Burwell) Nelson was Col. Hugh Nelson, who married Judith, daughter of Hon. John Page of North End, Glou- cester, now Mathews County, Virginia. The wife of John Page was Jane Byrd.
Dr. Nathaniel Nelson, fourth son of Col. Hugh and Judith Nelson, was a resident of The Lodge, Hanover County, Virginia. He married Lucy Mann, eldest daughter of Elizabeth Nelson (above mentioned) and Mann Page of Shelley. The fourth daughter of Dr. Nathaniel Nelson was Nancy Page Kinloch, who became the wife of Dr. Walter Lee Binford, as above noted.
Doctor Binford and wife had four children : Bettie Nelson, Nannie Page, Hugh Nelson and Helen Maria. Of these only Hugh Nelson and Mrs. Helen Binford Hood of Salem, Virginia, sur- vive.
Hugh Nelson had the rare privilege of having his cultured mother as a tutor during his youth, but he also attended school in Cascade and in Henry County, Virginia. While still young he gained experience as clerk in a general store and later for a time was a farmer. In Stokes County, North Carolina, he bought a tract of standing timber and with a portable steam mill converted most of it into lumber. During that time he made his home at Walnut Cove. In 1903 Mr. Binford came to Madison, Rockingham County, and here became associated with B. F. McGhee in the mer- cantile business. Later he bought out his partner and has since been sole proprietor of one of the chief institutions of its kind in the county.
At the age of twenty-nine Mr. Binford married Miss Dora Cahill, a native of Henry County, Vir- ginia, and daughter of Marshall and Tarmesia (Young) Cahill. Their only living child, Ger- trude Nelson Binford, is the wife of Walter S. Byerley, of Winston-Salem. Mr. and Mrs. Byerley have one son, Hugh Nelson Byerley. Mr. Binford and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church and he is a deacon in the organization.
PAUL WILFONG SCHENCK is a son of Hon. Da- vid Schenck, whose important work and career as lawyer, judge and historian is described on other pages of this publication. Paul W. Schenck's mother was Sallie (Ramseur) Schenck.
There are many facts and connections that make Paul W. Schenck one of the prominent men of the state and of his home city today. He was born at Lincolnton, North Carolina, January 7, 1882, and was' educated in the grade and the high schools of Greensboro and the University of North Carolina. He has been immersed in the affairs of business since 1901. He filled in the
Cyrus P. Frazier
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next ten years beginning as a stenographer and continued in that capacity for six months, was stenographer and private secretary a year, and then stenographer and assistant in an insurance company 's office. He then became special agent for fire insurance and assistant manager of his company and finally vice president of the South- ern Underwriters Insurance Company at Greens- boro. In 1911 Mr. Schenck organized a state insurance agency on his own account and has built up a large business as agent for both life and fire insurance.
Mr. Schenck has been president of the Guil- ford Battleground Company from 1910 to 1918; is president commissioner in 1918 of the Guil- ford Court House National Military Park, presi- dent 1917-18 of the Greensboro Rotary Club, di- rector in 1918 of the Greensboro Chamber of Com- merce and chairman of the conventions and pub- licity bureau; vestryman of the Episcopal Church from 1904 to 1918; was director of the Greens- boro Young Men's Christian Association in 1912; director in 1918 and member of the executive committee of the Greenboro Country Club; is a member of the Merchants and Manufacturers Club of Greensboro and a member of the Epis- copal Church. His political views are those of the democratic party, though he is liberal and not ardently partisan. Mr. Schenck became affili- ated with the Masonic Order in 1904 and in 1905 was initiated in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of North Carolina.
At Chapel Hill, North Carolina, June 16, 1909, Mr. Schenck married Margaret McClung Alexan- der, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Eben Alexander. Her father was professor of Greek and dean of the University of North Carolina and held the post of minister to Greece under President Cleve- land.
GEORGE M. SUDDERTH. A leader in public af- fairs and a factor of importance in its business life, George M. Sudderth, cashier of the Bank of Blowing Rock, at Blowing Rock, North Carolina, is a citizen who has probably done more than any other in the past decade to add to the permanent attractions that serve to make this place a popular summer resort.
Few names are better known in this part of North Carolina than the Sudderths, and they have been prominently identified with the development of the country and with its military history. Dur- ing the war between the states, from one of its firesides went forth seven sons, but two of whom lived to return, one falling on the field of Gettys- burg.
George M. Sudderth was born near Blowing Rock, Watauga County, North Carolina, in 1882. His parents were James and Jane (Nelson) Sud- derth. James Sudderth was born in Caldwell County and was a son of Abraham Sudderth, who was born in Burke County, North Carolina, but moved to Caldwell and there became a man of importance, one of his sons, also Abraham Sud- derth, being one of the organizers of Caldwell County in 1841, and the first register of deeds in that county. The Sudderth home in Caldwell County was at Valmead. Soon after the close of the war between the states the late James Sud- derth moved with his family to Watauga County and settled on a farm on the Yonahlassee Road, about three miles from Blowing Rock. There James Sudderth died in 1882. The mother of George M. Sudderth survives. She is a sister of Hon. J. L. Nelson of Lenoir and extensively in-
terested in cotton mills in Caldwell County, a prominent politician and a member of the State Senate.
George M. Sudderth enjoyed rather exceptional educational advantages. When ten years old his mother sent him to a noted private school at Sum- ter, South Carolina, and afterward he was a stu- dent in the famous Appalachian Training School at Boone, in Watauga County, and still later he took a course in the University of North Carolina. Mr. Sudderth then entered the teaching field and for some years taught at different points in Wa- tauga County, being very acceptable as an edu- cator. When he retired from that profession he located at Blowing Rock, where he has made in- vestments and has somewhat centered his inter- ests. He is cashier of the Bank of Blowing Rock, an institution capitalized at $18,000, with finan- cial backing entirely ample. This bank is doing well and is a great accommodation to a large and wealthy surrounding territory which, prior to its establishment, had no convenient banking fa- cilities.
Mr. Sudderth was married to Miss Cora Blair, and they have three daughters, Elizabeth, Helen and Cora.
For ten years Mr. Sudderth has been mayor of Blowing Rock and largely to his public spirit, good judgment and wise business administration may be attributed the fine sanitary condition and other benefits here enjoyed.
CYRUS PICKETT FRAZIER, educator, manufacturer and builder, was born near Archdale in Randolph county, North Carolina, on the 25th day of August, 1853. The first of his ancestors to come to North Carolina was James Frazier, of Scotch descent, one of the early band of Quaker pioneers who in quest of a land of peace and quiet where they might enjoy the blessings of religious freedom, first settled in Pennsylvania and later came to North Carolina. He arrived in Guilford County in 1751 and being averse to a life of publicity or display settled on his six hundred acre plantation near New Garden, where together with his wife he undertook to educate his children and rear them in the simple Quaker manner of life.
Harrison Frazier, the great-grandson of James Frazier, was the father of Cyrus P. Frazier. He was a man of marked decision of character and great firmness and integrity. He adhered to the faith of his fathers and took an active part in the affairs of his church. Though preferring the simple life to a public career he accepted the nom- ination for the Legislature and was elected to a seat in the General Assembly in 1872. He was one of the first temperence lecturers in Western North Carolina and his speeches contributed much to the final success of the cause in this state. He took an active part in educational development of Randolph County.
The untimely death of Harrison Frazier in 1872 left Cyrus P. Frazier to work out his own destiny. From childhood he had an admiration for the law, which he considered the most desirable of the learned professions. With that profession in mind, after receiving a preliminary education in the rural schools he entered Trinity College and gradu- ated with the class of 1877, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. While at Trinity he studied under Dr. Braxton Craven, for whom he conceived a most ardent admiration. After his graduation from Trinity he entered Haverford College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was awarded
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the degree of Bachelor of Science. He then re- turned to Trinity College as professor of French and German. While instructor at Trinity he con- tinued his studies and received the degree of Master of Arts. After three years at Trinity he went to Woodland Academy at Goldsboro, North Carolina, where he continued teaching for three years. At that time he was offered the superin- tendency of the city graded schools of Greensboro, North Carolina, and so in 1885 he came to Greens- boro. In 1888 he resigned this position on account of his hearing. Owing to his affected hearing he realized that as a teacher he could not hope for further success and to attempt the practice of law with such a hindrance would only result in failure. He arose to the emergency and immediately entered a new field of endeavor.
In 1891 Mr. Frazier organized and commenced the operation of the first furniture factory in Greensboro, the Greensboro Furniture Manufactur- ing Company. He then organized what is now the Southside Hardware Company, one of the largest wholesale and retail hardware companies in Greens- boro. He was one of the original stockholders of the Dixie Fire Insurance Company and was actively connected as a member of its board of directors for some time. He was an original stockholder of the Southern Life and Trust Company and has served on its board of directors continuously since its foundation. When the Bank of South Greens- boro was first organized along with E. P. Whor- ton he aided in its organization. Though actively engaged in a number of business enterprises Mr. Frazier developed to a great extent the south- western part of Greensboro. He purchased large tracts of land and laid it out into streets and squares, erected buildings upon it and developed it to such an extent that it now forms a splendid part of the city. He was largely instrumental in establishing a Quaker church in Greensboro and together with Dr. D. W. C. Benbow secured the building of the first Friends church.
Mr. Frazier has taken no small part in the public affairs of his state although actively engaged in business. He was one of the early advocates of prohibition. In 1884 he was the candidate of the prohibition party for the Legislature. He was for a time editor of the North Carolina Prohibitionist. In 1888 he was nominated for Congress. In 1902 the republican party nominated him for the State Senate and twice he has been his party's nominee for superintendent of public instruction. He took an active part in the movement for good roads in Guilford and Alamance counties and made many speeches throughout these counties advocating the necessity for bond issues in order to build good roads. Guilford County now has some of the finest roads between New York and Atlanta. Mr. Frazier has always been interested in education and has served as a trustee of Guilford College since 1898.
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