USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume VI > Part 96
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Mr. Carpenter married Miss May Beam, daughter of Peter C. Beam of Gaston County. They have two children: Harold Winston and Evelyn Inez.
WOODUS KELLUM has always believed in and practiced the principle that the best kind of help is self help, and has therefore relied upon his own energies and his ability to render service to promote himself to a position of prosperity and influence. He has long since enjoyed the security of a substantial reputation as a member of the bar at Wilmington.
He was born in Onslow County, North Caro- lina, January 16, 1878, a son of Wilson T. and Nancy (Humphrey) Kellum. He grew up on his father's farm, attended the public schools, but for his professional education instead of entering a law college he applied himself in the intervals of such work as was necessary to gain a livelihood to his studies at night time and other opportunities, and was finally qualified and admitted to the bar in February, 1903. Since then he has been look- ing after a general practice at Wilmington.
The people of New Hanover County elected him a member of the Legislature for 1911-13, and he served with much credit. He is former chairman of the city board of elections, is a director of the People's Building and Loan Association, is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and of the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics.
On October 26, 1904, Mr. Kellum married Chris- tian Horn, of New Hanover County, daughter of Hose L. Horn, a farmer. They have two daugh- ters, Madeleine and Chloris.
DAVID A. STANTON, M. D., who graduated in medicine over thirty years ago, and for more than a quarter of a century has been carrying heavy burdens as a physician and surgeon and also as a man of affairs at High Point, represents one of the old and prominent families of the Piedmont section of North Carolina.
He was born on a plantation in the Level Cross neighborhood of New Market Township, Randolph County. His father George F. Stanton was born on the same plantation, a son of David Stanton, and grandson of Samuel Stanton a native of Eng- land, who with his brother William came to Amer- ica in Colonial times. They sojourned awhile in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and later both came south, William going to South Carolina and Samuel buying land on Deep River in the Level Cross sec- tion of Randolph County, North Carolina.
David Stanton inherited 240 acres of this land bordering on Deep River. He was a devout Quaker, and was strongly opposed to the institu- tion of slavery. He died in New Market Township at the age of cighty. He married Martha Reynolds who was born in the Centre Neighborhood of Guil- ford County, and died at the age of ninety-three years. He reared nine children, named Sally, Mary, Elenor, Nancy, Eunice, Amie, George F., William, and Samuel. George F. Stanton also succeeded to the ownership of the old plantation and spent his entire life there. On account of his religion he was exempt from military duty during the Civil war. He died at the age of seventy-six, leaving by will the old homestead to his youngest son George E. Stanton. George F. Stanton mar- ried Ruhama J. Vickorey. This remarkable lady, who is still living on the old plantation and in good health, has besides her own children (who are all living) nineteen grandchildren and twenty- two great-grandchildren. She was born March 7, 1825, more than ninety-three years ago. Her parents were Christopher and Susannah (Fitchett)
Tooaus Liceum
Saftember
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Viekorey. She became the mother of six children: Mattie, Julius P., Samuel M., Mollie, David A. and George E. Mattie married J. R. Coltrain. Mollie married James Lowe, Julius P. married Lou Kirkman, Samuel M. married Addie Gray, David A. married Sue Coltrain and George E. married Emma Cranford.
William Stanton moved in his early life to Indiana and grew up with the progressive west. Samuel Stanton and wife died comparatively young, leaving a son, William B., and daughter, Martha. William B. Stanton was a successful merchant in Wilmington, North Carolina. Martha married a Mr. Flowers of Anson County and is still living.
Grandfather Vickorey (Marmaduke) was born in Virginia; he and his wife Susannah (Fitchett) were of Dutch descent and inherited their share of fight. One instance of this self protection clearly remembered by Doctor Stanton was ex- hibited by his mother near the close of the Civil war when the pressing of food and forage was common by the Confederate army. One day when the father was away from home a number of men and teams came to the farm and demanded that their wagons be loaded with hay and fodder. Mother took her stand in front of the gate leading to the barn with a pitch-fork and defied the intruders. Her stand was a success and the in- vaders left empty handed as well as with empty wagons.
Twenty-two years of Doctor Stanton's life was spent on the farm. He received his education in the rural schools, Pleasant Garden High School, New Garden Boarding School (now Guilford Col- lege) and New Salem Academy. He entered the medical department of Vanderbilt in 1885 and was graduated in 1887 from this institution. Locating in Randleman, North Carolina, he spent one year in the practice of his profession there, and in 1888 moved to Lexington and practiced two years. He moved to High Point in 1890 and was associated with Dr. J. J. Cox, this partnership lasting four years, when Doctor Cox retired from the profession. Doctor Stanton has taken post- graduate work in the best institutions in America, among the number being the Johns Hopkins, the Mayos, Rochester, Minnesota, and in Chicago, Richmond, New York Boston and Philadelphia. He was city physician six years, has been surgeon for the Southern Railway Company for sixteen years, surgeon for the North Carolina Service Company, special examiner for the T- P- Association and for most of the old line insurance companies. He takes an active part in the local and state medical societies in which he has held some responsible positions, being secretary of his state society for six years. Doc- tor Stanton is a stockholder in the High Point Hospital, and with his associates has made this institution one of the best in the state. He was one of the physicians under the draft act. While a busy man in his professional work he finds time to serve his city as mayor, and is connected in a business way with some of the larger institutions of the city. He is a director in the Commercial National Bank, the High Point Savings and Trust Company, and the Perpetual Building and Loan Association. IIc has not only achieved success in his profession but in a business way also.
Doctor Stanton married Miss Sue Coltrain, youngest daughter of David and Susie Coltrain. Mrs. Coltrain was a daughter of William Wel- born, a cousin of Mrs. Mattie Bell of Revolu-
tionary fame. Doctor and Mrs. Stanton have three children, Dr. Thomas M., Clara M. and David L. Clara married W. A. Sherrod and lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Thomas mar- ried Miss Nona Jackson. He is a graduate of the Medical College of Richmond, Virginia, class 1916, and was first assistant to his father as surgeon to the Southern Railway Company and in hospital work. He is a first lieutenant, M. R. C. United States army and is now in France with his brother, David, as members of Base Hospital No. 65. Both volunteered their services early in 1918.
WEIL BROTHERS. There is a business firm in Goldsboro known as H. Weil & Brothers. It is the oldest department store in Goldsboro, and for years has ranked as one of the leading mercan- tile establishments of North Carolina. Its pros- perity is based upon the bedrock of commercial and personal integrity. Three brothers gave the best of their lives to the founding and upbuild- ing of this business. They came from Germany to America and to Goldsboro, comparatively poor and obscure. They worked hard, and never ceased to work as long as they lived. The oldest of these brothers was Herman Weil. He died many years ago, but saw the firm prospering and flourishing. A beautiful park in Goldsboro is known as Her- man Park. It was given by other members of the firm and stands as a memorial to this beloved merchant and citizen. The two younger brothers continued the business, with their associates, and had prepared to celebrate the golden jubilee of its existence. Then in August and September of 1914, while the European war was in its early stages, death came successively to these brothers, whose names were Henry and Solomon, and though the business goes on today, their death meant a great void to the community which they had honored by their presence and their service, and which in turn had honored them.
It was on June 21, 1865, that the firm of H. Weil & Brothers began business in Goldsboro. Herman Weil, the oldest of the trio, had come to Goldsboro in 1858 as a clerk. He soon after- wards joined the Confederate Army, endured bravely the fortunes of war, and after the sur- render at Appomattox showed his faith in Golds- boro by casting his fortunes with that community for life. He brought from the old country his younger brothers, Henry and Solomon, and to- gether they launched the firm.
On the occasion of their fortieth anniversary in June, 1905, a local paper contained the fol- lowing paragraph which should be repeated: "The site of their present mammoth establishment was then, in 1865, occupied by a wooden structure in which the firm set sail upon the uncertain sea of merchandising. Their success is more eloquently told by the county records, the thousands of suf- ferers they have relieved, the thousands of friends they have made, the widespread popularity to which they have attained, and the confidence whien is reposed in them, than could be recounted from this source. Accumulating wealth does not mean that its owners have made a success of life. If one would enjoy the good will of his fellow men he must do something besides make money. The firm of H. Weil & Brothers have not only been successful in so far as making money is con- cerned, but they have been successful from a public-spirited standpoint, and they havo en- deared themselves to hundreds by their open handed charity."
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In 1878 Herman Weil died. In 1882 the late Emil Rosenthal, father-in-law of Henry Weil, was admitted to the firm, and upon his death in 1892 his son Joseph Rosenthal was admitted as a part- ner, and in 1910 Leslie Weil, son of Henry Weil, and Lionel Weil, son of Solomon Weil, were ad- mitted to co-partnership. The firm name still re- mains the same. At the end of half a century the business occupied four large stores on West Center Street, besides extensive warehouses to ao- commodate the stock of dry goods, clothing, gro- ceries, everything used on the farm and general supplies.
Henry Weil, second of the brothers, died in the Johns Hopkins Hospital at Baltimore August 9, 1914, at the age of sixty-eight. He came to Goldsboro during the last year of the war and was a resident of that city nearly half a cen- tury. As a young man he married Mina Rosen- thal, daughter of Emil Rosenthal, who then lived at Wilson, North Carolina, but subsequently be- came a partner in H. Weil & Brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Weil had four children: Leslie, Ger- trude, Herman and Janet.
Besides his success in the business field, Henry Weil was a splendid citizen of Goldsboro. Con- cerning this phase of his life the Goldsboro Daily Argus had this to say editorially: "In all the years of his citizenship here Mr. Weil was not only potential in the development of the city's physical possibilities in mercantile and manufac- turing avenues, but was an energizing force and a bulwark of stability in promoting and sustain- ing the educational and financial progress of our people. He was a strong advocate of public edu- cation, and was a member of the board of trus- tees of the Goldsboro public schools since their establishment more than thirty years ago, and all his children had their early schooling there. He gave to these schools generously of his thought and time and means and personal supervision, and established what is known as the Weil Prize, $20 in gold each to the boy and girl of the gradu- ating class each year that has maintained the highest average above a certain standard for two years previously. Mr. Weil was also a member of the board of trustees of the State University and was one of the founders of the Bank of Wayne, and was continuously a member of its board of directors."
Just seven weeks after the death of Mr. Henry Weil the press announced the passing of Mr. Sol- omon Weil, the youngest of the three brothers. Hc died at Fabyans, New Hampshire, September 27, 1914. Solomon Weil was born in Stuttgart, Wuertemberg, Germany, January 7, 1849. His youth was spent in his native town without un- usual incident, and he lived with his parents and attended school until he was sixteen years of age. In 1865 he came to the United States to join his brothers Herman and Henry in the firm of H. Weil & Brothers. He helped build up that great business, and was likewise most generous of his time and means in behalf of many worthy causes.
In 1875 Solomon Weil married Miss Sarah Ein- stein, of Boston, Massachusetts. He was survived by Mrs. Weil and two daughters and one son: Mrs. Adolph Oettinger, of Goldsboro; Lionel Weil, of Goldsboro; and Miss Helene Weil, now Mrs. Leon Strauss, of Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1890, by way of marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of H. Weil & Brothers, Henry and Solomon Weil presented to the Town of Goldsboro a tract of land adjoining
the city to be used as a park, the only condition imposed being that it should be named after their deceased brother Herman. Solomon Weil as a means of celebrating his sixtieth birthday, presented to the Goldsboro Hospital Association $5,000 as a nucleus for a fund with which to erect a suitable hospital building, and that gift largely made it possible to realize the worthy institu- tion of which the city is so proud today. Mr. Weil was a member of the board of trustees and treasurer of the institution until his death.
For a number of years Solomon Weil was a member of the board of aldermen of Goldsboro, and when he refused nomination for continued service in that capacity, his son was elected in his stead. For many years he was a trustee and most liberal contributor to the Hebrew Orphan Asylum at Atlanta, Georgia, and was very promi- nent and at one time grand president of District No. 5, Independent Order B'nai B'rith. With the
organization of Oheb Sholom Congregation in Goldsboro in 1883, he became its treasurer and filled that office continuously for many years. Among various business enterprises with which he was connected, was the Dixie Fire Insurance Company of Greensboro, of which he was a director.
Solomon Weil was fond of travel, and had re- visited the country of his birth and was also familiar with the principal cities of Europe. Many who knew him as a business man and philanthropist were not aware of his interests in the field of art, and that he was also a collector of coins and stamps. His was a splendid personality and a splendid citizen he was. In the words of one who knew what his life and work meant to the com- munity in which he had passed nearly half a century, "his years were filled with broad inter- ests and with high endeavor, and his princely per- sonality impressed itself in abiding admiration upon all with whom he ever came in contact, whether in the business office, in his home, where his hospitality was characteristic, or among the associations of men banded together in human sympathy for the common brotherhood or for industrial progress."
President Graham, of the University of North Carolina, in his remarks introductory to the series of "Weil Lectures in American Citizenship," en- dowed by the families of the late Henry and Sol Weil, said of these men: "Their many public services and philanthropies need not be recorded here. They put no emphasis on what they made, nor on what they gave away. Money was to them a sign and a by-product of business success, and philanthropy was not for publicity nor expiation, but a by-product of generous human impulses and loyalties. They were direct, sincere, clear-seeing, practical men; they were also and always loyal, true-hearted, patriotic, religious men. For the supreme investment of their youth and ambition in the ideals of America, she gave them back the abundantly productive life of American citi- zenship. The University of North Carolina, to whose interests they were devoted, proudly and affectionately, places their names among those it delights to honor."
LIONEL WEIL. Population alone does not make a city, nor can the common, every-day man with his limited opportunities do much in its develop- ment nor add greatly to its commercial impor- tance. It is to the man of enterprise and real public spirit, possibly a capitalist or at least one removed from the necessity of deadening toil,
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that communities owe their progress. He is often a far-seeing business man, who encourages capi- tal by making investments himself; who teaches that future independence rests on present econ- omy; that advantages to become permanent as- sets must be carefully guarded; that public health and safety must be conserved and that close com- munity interests must be aroused for the general welfare. Not always, perhaps, does he receive full credit for what he accomplishes, for public gratitude is unstable. But a man of such high aims as Lionel Weil, one of Goldsboro's foremost citizens, may find some measure of reward aside from general public approval in his own conscious- ness of work well done. In considering the im- provement in public conditions in Goldsboro since Mr. Weil entered into civic life, one finds scarcely a single forward-tending movement that does not bear witness to his sagacity and devotion.
Lionel Weil was born at Goldsboro, North Car- olina, September 1, 1877, a son of Sarah (Ein- stein) and the late Solomon Weil, the former a one-time resident of Boston, Massachusetts. The father was a merchant at Goldsboro for many years and one of the city's representative business men. From the public schools of Goldsboro Lionel Weil entered the University of North Carolina, from which institution he was graduated with honors in 1897, and of whose chapter of Phi Beta Kappa he is a charter member. He imme- diately became associated with his father in the mercantile business and his interest in this di- rection continues.
Mr. Weil's active entrance into civic affairs was in 1904, when he was elected a city alderman. He accepted the responsibilities of this office in all seriousness and at once set to work for city improvement. He was largely instrumental in bringing about the establishment of the present City Library, an enterprise that in itself reflects a large measure of credit. Mr. Weil was chair- man of the committee that negotiated the sale of the City Electric Light and Power Plant to the Carolina Power Company, the latter corpo- ration being better prepared to develop manu- facturing power. When he went into office, there were no adequate laws regulating the operation of railroads through the city. He accepted a place on the legislative committee, of which he was made chairman, and at their instigation the A. C. L. Railway was forced to observe strect grades and hours for shifting cars through the center of the city.
Mr. Weil was chairman also of a committee that succeeded in calling a vote of the people to re- organize the street car line and force its exten- sion all over the city, when the people by vote had raised 60 per cent of the amount required for the development of the lines. An experienced financier, he assisted greatly in improving the city's financial affairs, succeeding along this line in establishing a basis whereby banks must pay interest on a daily balance, and all publie accounts must be audited according to modern methods of banking. He has been chairman of the city's finance committee for the past eight years.
As former chairman of the fire and water com- mittee, Mr. Weil greatly increased the fire-fight- ing facilities of Goldsboro. At one time foreman of Goldsboro Fire Company No. 1, he was deeply interested in this service and did much to stimu- late fire-preventive work through the state. Un- der his direction, too, a modern filtration and water system was established, which enabled the
citizens not only to secure pure water in abun- dance but was also instrumental in placing the city on a first-class insurance basis.
His untiring energy largely made possible the passage of the bond issue providing for paving streets and sidewalks through the more traveled portions of the city.
It was due to his vision and his long labors, that the City of Goldsboro passed an amendment to its charter providing for a city-manager form of government, and under this modern system the city has been .operating with notable suc- cess for more than a year. During the pre- liminary work in this campaign, Mr. Weil in- vited Clinton Rogers Woodruff, Secretary of the National Municipal League, to come to Golds- boro and address the citizens on more progressive forms of municipal management. Mr. Weil is on the council of the National Municipal League and keenly interested in all its problems and every phase of its activity.
In November, 1910, Mr. Weil was united in marriage with Miss Ruth Kaufmann Heyn, of Toledo, Ohio, and they have two children, a son and daughter: Lionel Solomon and Helene Marie.
Mr. Weil is treasurer of the Congregation Oheb Sholom. He is also treasurer of the Goldsboro Hospital, and has been chairman of the finance committee of the People's Bank and Trust Com- pany. In countless ways he has been of the great- est service to Goldsboro. His knowledge of con- ditions is so complete that his advice is always well worth taking, and his counsel is so sane and sensible that the best results have followed its acceptance. During the existence of the local Civic League he served as its vice president. He is one of the directors of the Wayne County Fair Association, an enterprise which he has consist- ently encouraged, and is a member of the North Carolina State Fair Board.
He has lent his aid and co-operation in the many campaigns for war activities, and was on the State Executive Committee for the United War Work Drive, as representative of the Jewish Wel- fare Board. In August, 1918, he conducted a state- wide campaign for the relief of stricken Jews in the war-ridden countries, as a new departure in the work of the American Jewish Relief Com- mittee, whose efforts have been endorsed by Presi- dent Wilson and other leading men of our land. This campaign, inaugurated by Governor's Proc- lamation, brought forth a significant out pouring of all classes, irrespective of race or creed, realiz- ing approximately $150,000, and setting an ex- ample whereby other large sums have been raised for this cause in many states.
He is identified with the Knights of Pythias, and is past chancellor of Ruffin Lodge No. 6. He belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and is a past exalted ruler of the local Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has served also as president of that great He- brew organization, the B'nai B'rith, District No. 5. He is a man of widely extended charities and is vice president of the Jewish Orphans' Home in Atlanta, Georgia. His benefactions, however, are not confined to his own religious faith, but are extended to many and diverse causes both at home and abroad.
CHARLES ROBERSON, M. D. The service of a capable physician and surgeon Doctor Roberson has rendered to the community of Greensboro for nearly twenty years. Doctor Roberson is member
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HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
of an old and prominent family of the University town of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and he was born on a plantation ten miles west of that city in Orange County.
He is a son of Dr. Abner Benton and Cornelia (Jackson) Roberson. Doctor Roberson has a brother, Wescott, who is one of the most prom- inent lawyers and business men of High Point. His sister Nellie is an instructor in the State Uni- versity at Chapel Hill.
Doctor Roberson attended the Chapel Hill High School and then entered the University of North Carolina, where he was graduated Bachelor of Science in 1894. He also began the study of medicine in the university, but left there to enter the Long Island College Hospital at Brooklyn, New York, where he was graduated in 1897. For two years he practiced at Chapel Hill, but in 1899 come to Greensboro, and was engaged in a steadily increasing general practice until 1917. Since then he has confined his work entirely to diseases of women and children, in which department he is a recognized authority and specialist. He is a mem- ber of the Guilford County, the North Carolina and the Tri-State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association.
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