USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, Volume VI > Part 97
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In 1893 Doctor Roberson married Mabel M. Hill, who was born at Greensboro, daughter of William Henry and Mildred (Bethel) Hill. Doctor and Mrs. Roberson are members of the First Baptist Church, and he is affiliated with Corinthian Lodge No. 342, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Choragin Chapter No. 13, Royal Arch Masons, Ivanhoe Commandery No. 8, Knight Templars, and Oasis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charlotte.
MAJOR WILLIAM CARY PETTY. The type of char- acter exemplified by the late Major William Cary Petty of Carthage is a valuable asset to North Carolina long after the material presence of his name has passed away. He was a business man of what is often called the old standard, but strictly speaking merely exemplified those virtues and quali- ties which are as vital today as they have been in all history. He was methodical, earnest, diligent at his business as well as diligent in serving his Lord, was alert to opportunity, and resourceful in presence of emergencies, and much of what he ac- complished and what he stood for during his life- time still remains to benefit his community and state. He was a lumber manufacturer, planter, railroad builder, but apart from all these material achievements the important thing about his life was the spirit with which he went about and prose- cuted his work, whether humble or great.
He was born July 20, 1847, four miles from Sanford in what is now Lee County but was then a part of Moore County, North Carolina. He came of excellent parentage, was reared in fear and ad- monition of the Lord, but began life handicapped with that lack of resources which was more or less characteristic of the entire South at the close of the war. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Bing- ham Petty. He had three brothers, H. T. Petty, J. H. Petty and W. B. Petty, and two sisters, Mrs. Mary B. Stinson and Mrs. Nancy Byrd.
When a young man he had charge of a party of construction hands on the Weldon & Petersburg Railroad. On account of illness he moved to Thagardsville. Later he took charge of the depot at Manly, and was railway agent there for twenty- five years and at the same time built up an exten- sive business in turpentine and as a merchant.
In 1890 Major Petty became manager of the Carthage Railroad. He operated it with great suc- cess until the time of his death, and in that period he built two extensions, one known as the Curries- ville branch and the other connecting the Carthage railroad with the Durham and Charlotte lines at Hallison. It is said that Major Petty was a mas- ter of every detail of railroad management, being able to run and repair the engines as well as to look after its financial affairs.
It was inevitable that he should acquire exten- sive interests and that his services should be drawn in as a counselor with as many business organiza- tions as he would consent to serve. He was a di- rector of the Carolina Trust Company of Raleigh, a large stockholder and director of the Sanford Cotton Mills, and owned much valuable property in different parts of the state.
He was a member of the Baptist Church and a worker in the Sunday school. The quality of his religion was practically exemplified by his policy of never running a train on Sunday except in case of death, and then he would accept no remuneration. He gave generously of his time and his means to the support of church and other worthy causes. He was president of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist University at Raleigh when its buildings were constructed and was a trustee of that institu- tion until his death. He was also a member of the Board of Missions of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention.
Perhaps the best summing up of his career was made by the Daily News and Observer at the time of his death, when it said: "Major Petty has made a name in North Carolina as a successful railroad man, an earnest and industrious worker, a citizen of high character, an active force in his church and Sunday school.
"Major Petty was a man who attracted atten- tion wherever seen. He was large of stature and build, a tall man, broad shouldered. His eyes were of the kind that invited confidence and gave sym- pathy, his face one that marked the man as being of a broad kindness who wanted to be of service, and whose life proved that he lived up to the ideals impressed by his outer seeming. He was a digni- fied man, and he dignified labor, so that now he is dead his example can be pointed out as worthy of emulation for all who would make the most of opportunity. Largely useful in developing Moore county and Central North Carolina his death, com- ing at a time when physically and mentally he seemed at his best, he leaves a place in industrial and church development which will be hard to fill- which cannot be filled-for he made a distinct place for himself."
Among the numerous personal tributes paid him the following sentences seem appropriate for quo- tation since they emphasize some of those qualities which went with all his achievements: "He im- pressed me as one whose life rested upon basic principles. Grounded upon and rooted in them he with a stalwart frame met the winds and storms, the freezes and thaws of life with unshaken foot- hold, standing erect as his form, amid the tempta- tions and conflicts of all his environments, never despairing, never fearing, but ever trusting and hoping.
" He firmly believed in a stronger than the arm of flesh to lean upon, a wisdom surpassing human skill, an unseen power which being acknowledged in all things would direct his footsteps to the best purposes and ends. And yet, as firmly did he be-
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lieve in the effectiveness of his own personal ef- forts. He dared to weigh his own anchor, to unfurl his own sails, and pilot his own bark. Hence he lived to work, not to idle. With him time and life were no toys or playthings with which to spend our years. Rather they were entrusted resources with which he was to build, to enlarge and treasure up. His greatest pleasures lay in the line of labor and duty. He reckoned that his manhood was not his own to be used solely for self gratification, and counted himself as one of a great brotherhood that ties stronger than flesh which bound him to his fellowman; that his own good was their good and that their enlargement was his enlargement. He embraced the love that 'worketh no evil to his neighbor.' Hence he sought no gaius by oppres- sion, trickery or fraud. Strove to accumulate on lines beneficial to his county and country, ever rec- ognizing the just rights of others.''
On January 30, 1873, early in his career Major Petty married Miss Emma Virginia Thagard, daughter of W. C. and Lucy (Jones) Thagard, her father of Moore County and her mother of Bladen County, North Carolina. Her grandfather, Isaac Thagard, came from his native land of England when a boy. Mrs. Petty's father was an extensive and wealthy planter in Moore County, had a large number of slaves, and Thagard plantation seven miles south of Carthage was one of the notable places in ante-bellum days and is still shown on the old maps as Thagardville. Mrs. Petty's father served as a Confederate soldier through the war, being with General Lee at the surrender of Appom- attox.
Mrs. Petty is the mother of six children: Cor- nelia, widow of Palmer Jerman; Ella M., wife of W. B. Waddill; William C., who at his father's death succeeded to the management of the railroad property ; Henry Herbert; James Carey; and Lucy, wife of Mr. J. H. Brodie.
JOEL WHITAKER, M. D. North Carolina univer- sity men in particular have followed with keen in- terest the career of Dr. Joel Whitaker, who is now well established and enjoying a fine practice and a high place in the medical fraternity in the city of Indianapolis. Dr. Whitaker is a native North Caro- linian and member of a family of distinction in this state.
He was born in Warren County, North Carolina, October 5, 1877, son of Joel and Helen (Jones) Whitaker. His father is still living, a resident of Raleigh. Dr. Whitaker's great-grandfather was Col. Wilson Whitaker, and his grandfather was Wilson Whitaker, Jr. The Whitakers came orig- inally from Virginia and were settlers in Eastern North Carolina before the Revolutionary war. Wil- son Whitaker was a member of the North Carolina Legislature at the time of the war between the states.
Dr. Whitaker was in the University of North Carolina in the class of 1899. However, he did not remain to graduate, but entered the University of Maryland, where he graduated in dentistry and in 1899 received the degree Doctor of Medicine, in 1900.
While at the University of North Carolina he distinguished himself as an athlete, both in football and baseball, and later was one of the best coaches in the South. In his history of tho University of North Carolina published in 1910, Dr. Kemp P. Battlo says: "Probably tho university's best all around athlete, a star in both football and baseball,
was Joel Whitaker of the class of '99."' It was at Dr. Battle's request that Dr. Whitaker prepared for the same publication an article reviewing the records of all the noted athletes of the University, some of whom were personally trained under Dr. Whitaker.
After graduating in medicine Dr. Whitaker was located at Raleigh until he removed to Indianapolis. Here he has gained a high place in his profession, and is also one of the active and progressive citi- zens of the Indiana capital. Before coming to In- diana he married Miss Melissa J. Myers. Her father Judge Quincy A. Myers is one of the dis- tinguished lawyers of the Indianapolis bar, a mem- ber of the firm of Ralston, Myers & Gates. Judge Myers married a daughter of E. G. Cornelius, one of Indianapolis' pioneer wholesale merchants and a man of great prominence in his day. Dr. and Mrs. Whitaker have two children: A. Myers and Helen Courtney.
WILLIAM E. NEAL. There are still many personal ties and old associations that bind William E. Neal, a prominent life insurance man and general man- ager for the state of Indiana for the Union Cen- tral Life Insurance Company, to his native state of North Carolina. Mr. Neal left this commonwealth many years ago, but retains an active memory of interesting people and events and is deeply at- tached to his native state. His travels through North Carolina as a young man gave him a wide acquaintance and friendship with many of the lead- ing characters of that day, and he knows person- ally some of the notable men in North Carolina in state and national affairs of the present time.
He was born in Warren County in 1867, a son of William W. and Delia (Harris) Neal who were also natives of that county. His father being a farmer, grew up in a country atmosphere, but at the age of sixteen went to work as clerk in the store of George W. Davis at Arcola in Warren County. He remained there four years and then removing to Richmond, Virginia, traveled from that city as headquarters as salesman for the John R. Cary Company. With headquarters in New York City he traveled for the noted wholesale grocery house of Thurber-Whyland Company. For a brief time he again occupied his former position at Rich- mond with the John R. Cary Company.
He finally concentrated all his enthusiasm and energies on the life insurance field. In 1900 he went to New Mexico representing the Union Central Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati. He has been with this sterling old company ever since. In New Mexico he formed a partnership with John A. Carter, the firm having charge of New Mexico as general agents, with headquarters at Albuquerque. Arizona subsequently was added to that territory and still later West Texas. Mr. Neal was subse- quently given the territory of North Texas and had his headquarters at Dallas until 1911. In that year he removed to Indianapolis to become general agent for Indiana. He has added further laurels to his record as one of the ablest and most successful life insurance men in the country. Mr. Neal married Miss Elizabeth Ransom of New York.
MAJOR ADDISON GORGAS BRENIZER, for many years president of the Commercial National Bank of Charlotte, first became identified with North Carolina as a gallant officer of the Confederate Army and at the close of the war he located in
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Greensboro and for half a century has been active and influential in commercial and financial affairs.
He was born in Pennsylvania January 19, 1839. When he was about ten years of age he accom- panied his parents west to St. Louis, Missouri. From boyhood he was associated with southern peo- ple and his interests became identified with the South. After leaving school he worked in a whole- sale drug house, and eventually became confidential clerk and bookkeeper. During the panic of 1857 the business failed, and he subsequently became bookkeeper and cashier of a large manufacturing establishment, Thornton, Grimsley & Company, whose trade connections extended all over the west. In the latter part of 1860 Major Brenizer moved south to New Orleans and was connected with the mercantile agency of R. G. Dun & Company.
When the war broke out there was no hesitation on his part as to the side with which he would cast his fortunes and he was among the first to volunteer with the four months troops, joining the first regiment of Louisiana Volunteers. His talents for accounts soon caused him to be transferred to the quartermaster's department and from that to the ordnance department at Baton Rouge, Louisi- ana. A little later the chief of ordnance, General Josiah Gorgas, ordered him to report at Richmond, where he was assigned to duty as chief clerk of the Ordnance Bureau. In May, 1862, he was ap- pointed captain of artillery and assigned to duty as ordnance officer at Greensboro, North Carolina, where a new depot for ordnance stores was estab- lished. In March, 1863, the Confederate Govern- ment having decided to establish ordnance work at Salisbury, North Carolina, Major Brenizer was placed in command. With the growth and impor- tance of this establishment it was designated as an arsenal of construction. The close of the war found Major Brenizer in charge of this plant with 240 men under his command. He also had charge of the iron district of North Carolina, supervising all the contracts with the furnaces and rolling mills. Before the close of the war he was promoted to Major of Artillery on Ordnance duty. In 1864 when the detailed men were organized under Major- General T. H. Holmes, he was elected colonel of the regiment formed from Mecklenburg, Union and other counties.
At the close of the war Major Brenizer located at Greensboro. His choice of a permanent home was doubtless influenced by the fact that he had married in May, 1863, the daughter of Hon. John A. Gilmer, and a sister of Judge J. A. Gilmer. At Greensboro Major Brenizer was first engaged in the commission and brokerage business, and that soon grew into a private bank. He established a branch bank in Charlotte, from which was subse- quently evolved the City Bank of Charlotte. In the latter part of 1867 he was elected assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Charlotte and held that place until September, 1870. At that date he was elected cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank of Columbia, South Carolina. This bank had ten branches. Major Brenizer preferred the na- tional banking system, and a short time afterwards he and associates organized the Central National Bank of Columbia. He was its cashier for four vears and then returned to Charlotte to become cashier of the Commercial National Bank. With that institution he has been identified for over thirty years, and a number of years ago was elected its president. His interests have been lib- erally bestowed in behalf of religious and educa- tional advancement, and since early life it is said
that he has rigidly adhered to the practice of applying one-tenth of his income to Christian and benevolent institutions. He served several years as elder of the First Presbyterian Church at Char- lotte, and was at one time president of the annual convention of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion of North Carolina. He is a past eminent com- mander of Charlotte Commandery Knights Templar Masons. Major Brenizer has the bearing and ap- pearance of a soldier, though his experience in military affairs is now more than fifty years old. He is a man of polished manner, has unusual scholarship, speaks several languages with ease, has always enjoyed associations with the best in litera- ture as the best in social life.
PACK MEMORIAL LIBRARY is one of the institu- tions that have served a distinctive purpose in the life and affairs of the beautiful city of Asheville.
The history of the institution goes back to Janu- ary, 1879, when a public library association was chartered and under its provisions a group of local citizens undertook a house to house canvass in order to establish a real library. The library had its vicissitudes during following years, being lo- cated for a time in the Asheville Club, at another time in the rooms of the Y. M. C. A., and nearly fifteen years elapsed before it came into a building of its ownl.
A sketch of the library published in a local paper in 1895 gives the following information about the Library building: "Through the generous thoughts of Captain T. W. Patton and Miss Patton, a deed was made to the Library Association, whereby the plot of land on which the Library building now stands came into its possession. A large tract of land had been given by Captain Patton's grand- father to the Presbyterian trustees for church prop- erty, the only provision being that a plot in the church graveyard should belong to the Patton heirs. By arrangement with the trustees in November, 1893, possession of this was transferred to the Li- brary Association, the heirs-at-law considering the Library building to be erected thereon as a fitting memorial to a man whose public spirit was as broad and unfailing as was that of Mr. James Patton. The plans of the present simple and effective build- ing were generously given by the well known Bos- ton architects, Messrs. Cram, Wentworth & Good- hue. Mr. J. M. Westfall of Asheville made a free gift of his services in superintending the erection of the building. The formal opening was celebrated by an afternoon tea in March, 1894."
At that time the library contained about 2,700 volumes, and only subscribers were accorded the privilege of taking books from the building. In 1899 Mr. George Willis Pack gave the Library Association a building larger and more conveniently located. A few years later, after Mr. Pack's death, the name was changed from Asheville Library to the Pack Memorial Library. This was not yet a free library and on its shelves at the most recent estimate are 14,298 volumes. The library is under the direction of what is known as the Pack Memo- rial Library Association, of which Donald Gillis is president, S. P. Ravenel vice president, Isabella R. Field secretary, D. S. Watson treasurer, and Ann Talbot Erwin librarian. The Pack Memorial Li- brary Association has handed over as a free gift to the City of Asheville all its property, consisting of a three-story building in Pack Square with all books, furniture and equipment and a lot on Church Street, value about $75,000. The city hopes to open it as a free library about January 1, 1918.
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HENRY CLAY SALMONS, M. D. Occupying a position of note among the successful physicians of Yadkin County, Henry C. Salmons, M. D., of Jonesville, has met with excellent results in the exercise of his profession, his reputation for skill in the diagnosis and treatment of disease having won for him an extensive remunerative patron- age. A native of Yadkin County, he was born on a farm in Buck Shoals Township, which was like- wise the birthplace of his father, Andrew Martin Salmons.
The Doctor's great-grandfather, Joseph Salmons, who was of Irish ancestry, came from Delaware to the western part of North Carolina in pioneer days, locating in that section of Surry County that is now included within the boundaries of Yadkin County. Buying a tract of land on Long Branch, Hunting Creek, he set to work with a will to clear and improve a homestead. There was not at that time a railroad in the state, and the country round- about was in its primitive wildness, its dense growth of timber being then inhabited by deer, bears, turkeys, pheasants, wild hogs and all other kinds of game common to this part of the country. Hewing a farm and from the forest, he was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death.
Enoch Salmons, the Doctor's grandfather, was born in Delaware, and as a boy came with his parents to North Carolina. He assisted his father in the pioneer labor of clearing and improving a homestead, obtaining while young a practical knowl- edge of agriculture as then pursued. Settling, after his marriage, in Buck Shoals Township, he car- ried on general farming with slave help, and on the farm which he improved spent the remainder of his life. He married Lucy Eleanor Fitzpatrick, and their children, brought up on the home farm, were reared to habits of industry and thrift. Their son Elbert, who was educated at Wake Forest College, entered the Confederate Army at the breaking out of the Civil War, and died in the service.
Andrew Martin Salmons grew to manhood be- neath the parental roof-tree, as a boy and youth attending school, while in assisting his father he obtained a good knowledge of the many branches of farming. He inherited some land, and later acquired other tracts by purchase, and was suc- cessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on his farm in Yadkin County, in December, 1916. The maiden name of his wife was Fanny Sparks. She was born in Buck Shoals Township, a daughter of Joseph and Martha Elvira (Demmittee) Sparks, and is now residing on the home farm, in her native town- ship. She has reared four children, as follows :- Henry Clay, Ella, William Monroe, and Leroy. Now Leroy is First Lieutenant in Medical Am- bulance Corps of U. S. A.
Acquiring his rudimentary education in the district school, Henry Clay Salmons continued his studies at the Yadkinville Normal School, and at the early age of sixteen years began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. J. T. Burris, of Jonesville. He subsequently attended lectures at the North Carolina Medical College, and at the medical colleges of both Davidson and Charlotte, being graduated from the latter in- stitution in 1904, and attended post graduate schools in New York. Doctor Salmons immediately located at Jonesville, where he has built up one of the best medical practices in the town, his professional knowledge and ability being widely
recognized and appreciated throughout the com- munity.
On December 17, 1908, Doctor Salmons was united in marriage with Miss Angie Huie. She was born near Olin, Iredell County, being a daugh- ter of John and Paulina (Campbell) Huie, and a granddaughter on the paternal side of John Huie, and on the maternal side of John P. Camp- bell, both men of considerable prominence.
Fraternally the Doctor is a member of Jones- ville Lodge No. 227, Ancient Free and Accepted Or- der of Masons, and of Bryan Lodge No. 157, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Interested in pub- lic affairs, he has served faithfully and intelligently in various positions, having been a member of the Jonesville Board of Commissioners; of the Yadkin County Board of Health; and has been mayor of the town. In each capacity, he has ably and most satisfactorily performed the duties de- volving upon him, winning the approval of his fel- low-citizens. Doctor Salmons is active in pro- fessional ranks, and belongs to the Surry County Medical Society, and to the North Carolina State Medical Association, being a valued and useful member of each of these organizations.
WILLIAM H. BOBBITT, M. D. North Carolina has sent its sons and daughters all over the face of the earth, and not a little of the distinction the state enjoys is the reflection of the achieve- ments of those who have gone from their native heath to other localities. One of the old and honored family names here is that of Bobbitt, and Dr. William H. Bobbitt had earned an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon and citizen of Raleigh before he removed to Indiana. Doctor Bobbitt is now one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of Indianapolis.
He was born at Tarboro, Edgecombe County, in 1861, son of Rev. James B. and Mary ( Miller) Bobbitt. His mother was born at New Bern, North Carolina. The late James B. Bobbitt, D. D., who was born in Halifax County, North Carolina, of English ancestry, enjoyed a long career of the highest usefulness and left his impress for good upon the people and affairs of his time. North Carolinians remember him especially as editor for twenty-five years of the North Carolina Christian Advocate at Raleigh, the official church paper of the Methodist Conference South. He was a man of the finest scholarship and best culture, did a great deal of practical and constructive work in the ministry, and as a writer and editor his in- fluence extended to all North Carolina Methodism.
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