USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume VI > Part 81
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Mr. Tomlinson's only child, John Wilder Tom- linson, was born in Washington. June 18, 1895. When a boy he attended the public schools, also Friends Select School, and at the latter he was a classmate of Quentin Roosevelt, son of the President. Later he took a full course of study at the Mckinley Technical High School of Wash- ington and graduated in 1914, after which he was secretary of the American Land Company and associated with his father in handling their sub- urbau property known as Cabin John Park. While at school and afterwards he took much interest in amateur theatricals and produced many local plays for the pleasure of his friends and the benefit of churches. During his school days he organized a Fraternal Society which became very popular with the young men of Washington, and he was presi- dent of the society for four years in succession.
The young man spent most of the year 1916 on the Pacific slope promoting and exhibiting a Bible pageant or panorama for the American Bible Society, this being in celebration of the one hun- dredth anniversary of the Society. In some of the cities more than 1,000 people, young and old, were trained and took part in the pageant. Most of the year 1917 was spent in New York City in theatrical work as manager and producer.
Mr. Tomlinson enlisted in the aviation branch of the Army January 4, 1918, and was sent to Princeton University for the ground school work. He had no previous military training, but his pro- ficiency and close attention to studies and other duties won promotion from the ranks of one hundred men until the last week he was made commander of the squadron and was one of only thirty-one out of a class of one hundred who finished the complete course. He was then sent to Camp Dick, Dallas, Texas, and from there to the Flying School at Park Field. Memphis, Ten- nessee, where he completed the full course of flying work at the head of his class August 17. 1918. He was on that date commissioned a second lieuten- ant, U. S. A. Air Service, and was the only man in his class who received the high distinction of being recommended as a bombing pilot and in- structor in flying.
He was then sent to Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas, for advance instruction preparatory for his work as an instructor and for duties in France. He was instantly killed September 11, 1918, while making a forced landing in an unknown field, the airship having struck a "pocket" or cross current of air which caused the ship to "side slip." and being so near the ground it was impossible to
regain balance for the ship, hence the inevitable and fatal accident.
Lieutenant Tomlinson's body was sent to Wash- ington by Col. H. C. Pratt, the Commander of the Aviation Field, and it was accompanied by Capt. Royal W. King, the Adjutant of the Camp. After funeral services at Epiphany Episcopal Church, conducted by Dr. R. H. McKim, formerly a chap- lain in the Confederate Army, the War Department gave a full military funeral with burial at Arling- ton National Cemetery September 16, 1918. This service included six soldiers detailed as pall bearers, six officers of Lieutenant Tomlinson's rank as a body guard, and several aviators flying along the line of procession and over the grave. The casket, draped with an American flag, was borne on an Army caisson and preceded by an escort of a com- pany of infantry. The services were closed by three volleys over the grave, and then the bugler sounded taps, these solemn notes being the last token of respect and military honor. Thus passed away a young and promising life, a sacrifice for his country on account of the war with Germany.
REV. JAMES ATKINS, a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, with home in Waynes- ville, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 18, 1850, a son of James and Mary F. Atkins. His lit- erary education he acquired at Emory and Henry College, receiving the degree A. M. in 1872. Trinity College in North Carolina conferred upon him the degree Doctor of Divinity. He entered the minis- try in 1872, served as a pastor for seven years, from 1879 to 1889 was president of the Asheville Female College, and from 1883 to 1895 was presi- dent of Emory and Henry College, his alma mater, and was again president of the Asheville College from 1893 to 1896. Doctor Atkins was Sunday school editor for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, from 1896 to 1906, and in May of the latter year " was elected bishop. September 14, 1876, he married Ella M. Branner.
JESSE L. ROBERTS, the leading lawyer of Madi- son, has capably represented Rockingham County in the Legislature for two terms, and is a young man of brilliant abilities and has won for himself a secure degree of success in his native locality.
He was born on a farm in New Bethel Town- ship of Rockingham County, a son of Tony J. Roberts, whose native place was Stoneville. Tony Roberts after reaching manhood bought a farm in New Bethel Township, and has given his active lifetime to farming. He married Ida Mary Wil- liams, a native of New Bethel Township. and daughter of Abraham and Susie (Garrett) Wil- liams. They had seven children, named Laura, Jesse L., A. Glenn, Myrtle, Hattie, Charles and Jasper ..
Jesse L. Roberts spent his early youth on a farm. He was educated in district schools, Sharp's Institute, in Reidsville Seminary and for two years pursued regular literary courses in the Uni- versity of North Carolina. He then transferred to the law department under L. P. McGehee, dean of the law school. Mr. Roberts was admitted to the bar in August, 1913, and in April of the following year began his professional career at Reidsville. In April, 1916, he moved to Madison, where he has gained a large clientage. Since early manhood he has taken a keen interest in public affairs. Mr. Roberts was elected a member of the Legislature in 1914, was reelected in 1916, and in 1918 was renominated by the democratic party. In the two
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previous terms of the Legislature he has been a member of the committees on federal relations, publie roads and turnpikes, public and local laws, judiciary committee No. 2, and courts and judicial districts.
JOHN C. LANE is a practical business man with a number of diversified enterprises at Siler City. He has spent practically all his life in Chatham County and he represents families that have played more than an ordinary part in the affairs of that section of the state.
Mr. Lane was born on a farm in Matthews town- ship of Chatham County, a son of Abraham J. Lane and grandson of John Lane. John Lane was a planter in Matthews Township, and before the war used a number of slaves to cultivate his fields. He married Sarah Kidd, and both lived to a good old age.
Abraham J. Lane, who was also born on a farm in Matthews Township, enlisted for service in the twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiment during the Civil war. He was with the regiment in many of its most important battles and campaigns, and re- mained until the close of the great struggle, being paroled at Appomattox. He returned to a scene of desolation, which would have been disheartening to a man of less courage and spirit. The old farm had been largely neglected during the years of the war, but he faced the task without shrink- ing, and with a will went to work and soon had the plantation on a paying basis and later he succeeded to its ownership. Though it was a small farm, he demonstrated that such a farm could be made the basis of a very substantial career in an agricultural and business way. With the profits of his management he bought other land at dif- ferent - times, and at present his estate con- tains upward of 1,500 acres, one of the best farms in Chatham County. Abraham J. Lane mar- ried Martha Siler, who was born in Albright Township of Chatham County, daughter of Samuel (Wood) Siler. She is a member of the prominent Siler family referred to in more detail on other pages. Mrs. Martha Lane died at the age of sixty-one. She was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, while Abra- ham J. Lane, her husband, is a Baptist. They reared four children, John C., Thomas G., Kara and Randolph.
John C. Lane completed his education in the Thompson Business College at Siler City. He re- mained at home on the farm until twenty-two and since then has been diligent in promoting his various affairs in a business line. He gained prac- tical business experience as clerk in a dry goods store at Siler City, and was there twelve years before he set up in business for himself. After that he was a hardware merchant until 1917, when he organized the Oval Oak Manufacturing Company, of which he is president, treasurer and general manager. In the same year he also organ- ized the Lane Realty Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer. Mr. Lane is a member of Siler Lodge No. 117, Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are active in the Siler City Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon.
He married in 1904 Miss Sue Parks. Mrs. Lane was born in Randolph County, daughter of J. R. and Melissa, Parks. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Lane are named Martha Parks, Virginia and John C., Jr.
CAPT. EDWARD F. LOVILL, of Boone, whose name occupies a conspicuous place on the roll of North
Carolina's eminent lawyers, during almost a third of a century's connection with the bar of the state has won and maintained a reputation for ability that has given him just pre-eminence among his professional brethren. In the law, as in every walk of life, success is largely the out- come of resolute purpose and unfaltering indus- try-qualities which are possessed in a large de- gree by Captain Lovill. He distinguished himself as an officer in the Confederate ranks during the war between the states and he has served his com- niunity with efficiency both in the Lower House and in the State Senate.
A native of North Carolina, Capt. Lovill was born near Siloam in Surry County, February 10, 1842. He is a son of William R. and Eliza J. (Reeves) Lovill, both deceased. William R. Lo- vill was likewise born in Surry County, as was also his father, James Lovill. The great-grand- father of the captain, Edward Lovill, was one of the North Carolina patriots in the War of the Rev- olution, an officer in the Continental line, and after that war he served his state with distinction for several terms as a member of the House of Commons and in other important capacities. He came originally from Cornwall, England, where he had learned the trade of iron maker, and un- der the authority of the royal governor of North Carolina he was given a tract of boundary land near Shoals, in the lower part of Surry County, where he built and operated an iron foundry. It is probable that he was the earliest pioneer in the iron industry in North Carolina.
As a boy Captain Lovill attended an excellent private school at East Bend in Yadkin County, and there received a thorough preliminary educa- tional training. May 4, 1861, he volunteered as a private in Company A, Twenty-eighth North Car- olina Infantry, Captain Reeves, his uncle, being commander of his company. Subsequently he be- came a lieutenant and later captain of his com- pany and continued as its commander until the close of the war, acting with distinction, at times, as regimental commander. Following is a verbatim extract concerning his career as a soldier, taken from the work entitled "A History of Watauga County ":
"He was captain of Company A of the 28th North Carolina Infantry, and on the second day of Chancellorsville commanded that regiment in the absence of Col. Samuel D. Lowe. Of this in- cident Colonel Lowe reported : 'While absent, General Stuart again commanded the line for- ward, and my regiment charged through the same terrible artillery firing the third time, led by Captain (Edward F.) Lovill, of Company A, to the support of our batteries which I had just got into position on the hill from which those of the enemy had been driven.' Captain Lovill had commanded the same regiment during the mid- night attack of the night before. Upon the death of Colonel Asbury Speer at Reems Station and the resignation of Major Samuel Stowe, Captain Lovill was senior officer of the 28th till the sur- render at Appomattox, and commanded the regi- ment at the battle of Jones' farm near Petersburg in the fall of 1864, where he was severely wound- ed. He returned to duty in March, 1865, and was recommended for promotion to the coloneley of his regiment at the time that James Lineberger was recommended for the lieutenant coloneley and George MeCauley for the majority, but the end came before these appointments were published. He was wounded in the right arm at Gettysburg. At Fredericksburg, 'Captain Lovill, of Company
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A, the right company of the regiment, stood on the railroad track all the time, waving his hat and cheering his men, and neither he nor Martin (who had just shot down the Federal color bearer) was struck.' Soon after the battle of Jericho Ford, in September, 1864, Natt Nixon, a seventeen-year- old boy of Mitchell's River, Surry, was desperately wounded, and at night Captain Lovill and Private M. H. Freeman, a cobbler of Dobson, went to get him, as he had been left within the enemy's lines. They called him and he answered, saying the Feder- als were between him and them, but had been to him and given him water. Freeman put down his gun and accountrements and shouting in a loud voice, 'Natt, I'm coming after you. I am coming un- armed, and any man who shoots me is a damned coward,' started. It was night, but no one fired at him, and he brought his stricken comrade back to Captain Lovill, but the poor boy died near a farm house to which he had been borne before daylight."
After the war, when Captain Lovill had suf- ficiently recuperated from his wounds, he went to Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri, where he resided for a period of six years. He came to Boone, Watauga County, in 1874, and has here since maintained his home. He studied law un- der the preceptorship of Major Bingham and was admitted to the bar in 1885. During the long in- tervening years to the present time, in 1917, he has been engaged in work as an attorney and has gained distinctive prestige as an able and con- scientious lawyer. He holds an honorable record as a public official. He was elected a member of the State Senate in 1883, he served in the Lower House in 1885 and again in 1893, and was once more a member of the State Senate in 1907. His activities in both bodies were always enlisted in favor of education and of all measures for the welfare of the state and the development of its resources. For many years past he has been a consistent champion of higher education. In his first session as a member of the House, in 1885, he secured the passage of a bill authorizing a sum- mer normal school of one month's duration. This was a small beginning, indeed, but it was pioneer- work for this section. He did yeoman service in the establishment at Boone of the famous Appa- lachian Training School, without reward or hope of reward, and for several years past he has been chairman of the board of trustees of that splen- did institution. He has served as a director of the Oxford Orphanage, to which position he was appointed by Governor Aycock.
February 15, 1866, was solemnized the marriage of Captain Lovill to Miss Josephine Marion, of Surry County. Captain and Mrs. Lovill have two children: William R., who is his father's law part- ner, and Mrs. J. W. Brawley, of Greensboro.
Captain Lovill is a man of broad human sympa- thy and great benevolence. Charity in its widest and best sense is practiced by him, and his kind- ness has made smooth the rough way of many a weary traveler on life's journey. As a private citizen he is distinguished by all that marks the true gentleman. His is a noble character-one that subordinates personal ambition to the pub- lic good and seeks rather the benefit of others than the aggrandizement of self. Endowed by na- ture with high intellectual qualities, to which have been added the discipline and embellish- ments of culture, his is a most attractive person- ality.
EMMETT LEONIDAS MOFFITT. Long prominent as a leader in the Christian church of North Caro- lina, a man of ripe scholarship and for a number of years active in educational work and as an editor, Emmett Leonidas Moffitt retired some years ago from the burdens of literary life to give his time to business, and is now successfully engaged as a manufacturer at Asheboro.
He represents one of the very old and promi- nent families of Randolph County, and was born at Moffitt's Mills, North Carolina, January 17, 1869, a son of Eli A. and Martha A. (Hatch) Moffitt. The family was established here by his ancestor Charles Moffitt, who came from Londonderry, Ire- land, when a young man and settled in the wilder- ness country of Randolph County. He bought land near Buffalo Ford, and there hewed a farm from the wilderness. His son, Hugh Moffitt, great- grandfather of Emmett L. Moffitt, was born on a farm near Buffalo Ford in the eastern part of Randolph County and was a man of great business enterprise in that locality. He bought land and erected a flour mill at a point which for these reasons became known as Moffitt's Mill. Besides his farm and mill he also operated a tannery, and in the early days employed a number of negro slaves. He lived there until his death in 1838. He was twice married. By his first wife he had six children, named Sarah, Charles, Mary, Thomas C., Hugh J. and Stephen. By his second wife his children were: Elizabeth, William B., Julia, Eli N., Solomon and Benjamin. Of them all the only one now living is Benjamin, who is eighty-six.
Rev. Thomas Moffitt, a grandfather of Emmett Moffitt, was born at Moffitt's Mill, and early in life joined the Christian church. As a minister of that denomination he preached in different places in North Carolina and Virginia. He also owned a farm at Moffitt's Mill and there spent his last days. He married Nancy Cox, who was a lifelong resident of Randolph County.
The head of the next generation was Eli A. Moffitt, who was born at Moffitt's Mill, and for a number of years was a farmer and merchant there. From this business he was called to other re- sponsibilities when elected sheriff of the county. He then moved to Asheboro and was continued in office by reelection for twelve years. After that he was again a merchant at Asheboro and after his store was burned he was appointed deputy collector in the internal revenue department. In his official capacity he went with the deputy United States marshal to raid an illicit distillery and was shot and killed. This family tragedy, still remembered by the old timers, occurred in 1896, and he was then about fifty-three years of age. He married Martha A. Hatch, who was born near Pittsboro in Chatham County, North Carolina, daughter of Rev. J. W. and Elizabeth (Bland) Hatch. She is still living and makes her home with her daughter in Greensboro. Eli A. Moffitt and wife had the following children: John T., Emmett Leonidas, Elijah, Rowena, Lela, Herbert E. and Clara. Rowena became the wife of E. H. Morris at Ashe- boro. Lela married J. R. Parks, Jr., of Greens- boro, while Clara is the wife of C. C. Howell, of Jacksonville, Florida. Eli A. Moffitt volunteered as a private in the Confederate Army at the age of seventeen and notwithstanding his age soon rose to the rank of first lieutenant.
Emmett L. Moffitt acquired a liberal education in preparation for his personal career. Besides the public school at Moffitt's Mill and Asheboro
Cordially yours,
emmett 2. Moffice.
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
he was for two years a student in Graham Normal College and in 1889 graduated A. B. and in 1890 A. M. from Trinity College. Another year was spent at Harvard University, where he received the degree Master of Arts. Among other degrees indicating his scholarship Mr. Moffitt was hon- ored with the degree LL. D., by Union Christian College of Merom, Indiana. As an educator he held the chair of English at Elon College for three years. Then for six years he was editor of the Christian Sun, the official organ of the South- ern Christian Convention. In 1905 he was elected president of Elon College, which position he held for six years. During his administration the physical equipment of the institution, and also the student enrollment, were practically doubled. He retired in 1910, on account of ill health, and returned to the management of the business with which he was previously connected, the Asheboro Wheelbarrow Company, successor to the business established by his father. This company is in- corporated and Mr. Moffitt is its secretary and treasurer. He now gives his time to its affairs, and has helped in making it one of the leading industries of the city.
In 1897 Mr. Moffitt married Ella Mary Rhodes, who was born in Virginia, daughter of J. B. D. and Emma (Sipe) Rhodes, and granddaughter of Col. Emanuel Sipe, of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt have three children, named Stuart Rhodes, Margaret and Emmett L., Jr.
Mr. Moffitt and his wife are active in the Christian church, and he has served on many of the official boards of the Southern Christian Con- vention.
EDWARD RANDOLPH MICHAUX, M. D. Of the men devoted to the science of medicine in Greens- boro few bring to bear upon their calling larger gifts of scholarship and personal resource than Dr. Edward Randolph Michaux.
Doctor Michaux was born at Enfield, Halifax County, North Carolina, and is a son of Rev. John Lafayette Michaux, who was born near Richmond, Virginia. The ancestors were French Huguenots who settled in Virginia after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Doctor Michaux is ninth in de- scent from John Rolfe and Pocahontas, fifth from Abraham Michaux and Susanne Rochet of Sedom, France, and sixth from Gabriel de Macon, Lord of Santez France. Louis de Macon, father of Gabriel, received title for military services. The maternal grandmother was of English descent. The grand- father, Joseph Michaux, probably spent all his life in Virginia. He was twice married and for his second wife he chose Anne Meade Randolph, a member of the famous Randolph family of Vir- ginia. She was the mother of three sons, named Richard, Meade and John Lafayette. These three sons were very young when their parents died and they grew up in Guilford County, North Carolina, with their half sister and her husband, Mr. Ben- nett. The Bennetts had a farm in Guilford County and there the Michaux boys grew to manhood. The son Meade became a farmer, while the other two followed the calling of the ministry.
John L. Michaux had limited opportunities dur- ing his youth but had a very acquisitive mind and a firm purpose and not only educated himself but began teaching when little more than a youth. His own parents were Episcopalians but he joined the Methodist Protestant Church, and with his unusual powers of mind and the ability of one who has a true. calling to the ministry he was
licensed to preach at an early age. He filled va- rious churches with ability, including the pas- torates at Wilmington and Fayetteville. During the war he published a soldier paper at Greens- boro known as the Harbinger and Messenger. When that struggle closed he resumed preaching, but in 1869 had to give up the vocation because of throat trouble. He then entered merchandising at Pughes Hill in Franklin County, and remained there until 1890. For a time he was publisher of the official paper of the Methodist Protestant Church. Some of his most pronounced abilities seem to lay in the journalistic field. In 1874 he had moved to Greensboro. After publishing the church paper he established a daily paper at Greensboro, and this was the first successful paper of daily issues in the city. He remained a resident of Greensboro until his death on July 6, 1898. Rev. John L. Michaux married Sarah Mclemore Macon. She was born in Franklin County, North Carolina, daughter of George Washington and Eleanor Macon. She died January 17, 1894, the mother of five children: Leonidas Macon, Edward Randolph, John Summerfield, Lucy Evelyn, wife of Rev. T. M. McConnell, and Annie Glen, wife of T. H. Crocker.
Dr. Edward R. Michaux grew up in a home of modest comforts but of high ideals, where every influence was productive of real culture and a stimulus to the better successes of life. After finishing his education in the public schools he went to work as clerk in the drug store of W. C. Porter. He was successor as clerk to a young man named Sidney Porter, and it was young Porter's influence which secured the job for his friend in his uncle's store. Sidney Porter, it is perhaps unnecessary to say, is better known to fame and enjoys the world's homage under the title O. Henry. Doctor Michaux was a drug clerk for about two years, and accepted every opportunity to acquire a thorough knowledge of pharmacy and finally earned a certificate from the State Board of Pharmacy. He then entered business on his own account, and was a druggist for about three years. This business did not seem to offer the future which his ambition craved, and he then entered the medical department of the University of New York and was graduated in 1889. He at once returned to Greensboro and has been in active practice ever since. He has also been regularly a student during the leisure of his own practice and has taken a number of post-graduate courses, attending the New York Post Graduate Medical School. He is noted for his skill in surgery as in general medicine. He was county physician of Guilford County in 1889-93. local surgeon of the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway, 1893- 1900, and has been local surgeon for the Southern Railroad since 1900. Doctor Michaux is a mem- ber of the Guilford County Medical, North Caro- lina State Medical and Southern Medical societies, the American Medical Society and the Society of Southern Railway Surgeons. He was surgeon of the Guilford Grays, and assistant surgeon of the Third Regular North Carolina State Guard. He is medical director of the Security Life and An- nuity Insurance Company, Greensboro.
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