USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1 > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
The People's National Bank of Norfolk was organized August 31, 1870, with a capital stock of $100,000, its first officers being J. C. Deming, president, and William S. Wilkinson, cashier. After doing business over eight years. it was permitted by the Comptroller to liquidate its affairs, and it ceased to exist as a National bank on July 31, 1878.
The Exchange National Bank of Norfolk was organized May 13, 1865, with a capital stock. of $100,000, and later increased it to $200,000, with a surplus of $150,000. It was one of the largest banking institutions in the State of Virginia and its failure April 9, 1885, was for a time a severe blow to Norfolk, sev- eral smaller banking houses being directly or indirectly affected by the closing of its doors, and two of such banks, together with a number of business houses, were forced to suspend business.
The Comptroller of the Currency (at that time Hon. W. L. Trenholm) selected William H. Peters as receiver, and upon him devolved the difficult and arduous duty of winding up the affairs of this bank, and so efficiently did he administer his trust that the depositors realized 72 per cent. upon the payment of the final dividend. a few years since, the claims proved against the bank aggregating nearly $3,000,000.
The following is a list of the banks in Nor- folk County, with their capital, date of organ- ization and names of officers :
1
.
State
411
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
- NORFOLK.
NAME.
BANK OFFICERS. CAPITAL.
City National Bank
A. E. Krise, President, $200.000
(1892)
John L. Roper, Vice-President. B. W. Leigh. Cashier.
Norfolk National Bank Caldwell Hardy, President, 100.000
(1835)
C. W. Grandy. Vice Presiden :. A. B. Schwarzkop, Cashier, W. A. Godwin. Assistant Cashier.
Bank of Commerce (1882)
Nathaniel Beaman. President, 200.000
R. P. Voight, Vice-President. Hugh M. Kerr, Cashier, M. C. Ferebee, Assistant Cashier.
Walter H. Doyle, President. 300.000
Tench F. Tilgbman. Cashier, J. W. Perry, Vice-President.
Walter H. Taylor, President. 110,000
R. C. Taylor, jr., Cashier, G. R. Atkinson, Jr., Assistant Cashier.
Merchants' & Mechan- W. H. Wales, Jr .. President. 25,000
ics' Savings Bank W. S. Spratley. Vice-President, (1851)
John E. Wales, Cashier.
Norfolk Bank for Savings & Trust (1893
Caldwell Hardy, President, 100,000
C. W. Grandy, Vice-President. W. W. Vicar. Cashier. George W. Dey, President. Geo. Chamberlain, Cashier.
Atlantic Trust & Security Co. (Private) (1895)
PORTSMOUTH.
NAME.
BANK OFFICERS. CAPITAL.
Merchants' & Farmers' John T. Griffin, President, $ 51,500
Bank
J. H. Toomer, Cashier. W. G. Maupin, Jr., Assistant Cashier.
(1885)
1
Legh R. Watts, President, 100,000
Bank of Portsmouth (1867)
J. L. Bilisoly, Cashier. S. D. Maupin, Assistant Cashier.
Peoples' Bank (1893)
Alexander B. Butt. Cashier.
Dime Savings Bank (1901)
T. J. Wool, President. 25,000
John H. Downing. Cashier.
BERKLEY.
NAME. BANK OFFICERS. CAPITAL.
Merchants' & Planters' Alvah H. Martin. President, 30.000
Bank.
W. L. Berkley, Vice-President, George T. Tilley, Cashier.
30,000
Berkley Peoples, , Bank* .(1901).
Foster Black, President, Joseph A. Wallace, Vice-President, William B. Dougherty, Cashier.
INDUSTRIES.
The development of the commercial and industrial institutions of the two cities and the town of Berkley has been phenomenal in the last decade.
There are two large and successful brew- eries, six bottling works, two grain mills, two creosoting plants, seven peanut-cleaning estab- lishments, three paper-box factories, three
book-binderies, nine factories for making bar- rels, boxes and crates for trucks and fruits, five ice factories, two cotton compresses, eight cotton-knitting mills, 10 fertilizer factories, one manufactory of silver-plated ware, car- riage and harness factories, agricultural im- plement works, foundries, machine shops, ship- yards. marine railways, cigar and candy factories, grain elevators. 18 saw and planing mills, two furniture factories, one peanut oil and fibre works, one shirt and overall factory, the government shipyard, the largest coaling station in the world, several sash, door and blind factories. six brick plants, one fence fac- tory, one trunk factory, one hat factory, three electrical supply works, three steam laundries. one lightning rod factory, one silk factory, and the fisheries and oyster industry. Some idea of their inception and progress may be ob- tained from the following details :
THE NORFOLK SILK COMPANY.
According to late statistics, there are 865 silk manufacturing establishments in the Uni- ted States, and Norfolk County enjoys the dis- tinction of having one of them within her borders. It is a comparatively new enterprise for this section, and indeed is one of the pio- neer mills of the kind in the South. The Nor- folk Silk Company owns and operates the plant, which is located at Lambert's Point. The company was very unfortunate in the start, having had its building about half de- stroyed by fire just before the looms were ready for installation, but the old saying that a poor beginning makes a good ending bids fair to be verified in this instance. The inill is now equipped with nearly 150 looms, and is capable of producing upwards of 20,000 yards of silk per week.
America is a silk manufacturing country, but not silk producing, and the raw materials have to be imported. When this material ar- rives here it is mostly soiled, matted and glu- tinous, and the preparation of it for the loom requires careful and laborious attention. First
*This bank was organized in July, 1901: as the bank statements preceding this list of the banking institutions of the county were to date of July 1, 1901. the statement of the Berkley People's Bank was not included.
-
30,000
Savings Bank of Norfolk. (1886)
J. W. Perry, President.
.
:1899)
Franklin D. Gill, President. 50,000
Citizens' Bank (1867)
Marine Bank (1872)
412.
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
of all the raw silk must be carefully assorted, and then soaked to remove the glutin and other impurities. After having been dried, it is spun, wound and doubled, it for tram or filling. If for organzine or warp. after winding it must be spun twice, first with 14 turns to the right and then with 16 turns to the left. Then this thread must be doubled and redoubled as many times as may be necessary to give the desired weight to the goods, after which each of these augmented threads is spun again to give it greater strength, and reeled to put back into skein form for dyeing. After the dyeing comes another winding, and then a stringing or pull- ing to soften and polish the threads that have become roughened by these various processes. When the organzine thus prepared has been made into warp on warping mills, it is deftly twisted into the loom harness for weaving. But before the weaving begins, every particle of this warp must be carefully inspected or picked ( as it is called ). . This process requires great skill and is accomplished by an extreme- ly delicate little instrument which is used by the operator of the loom. When the weaving is completed the goods are calendered by pass- ing over hot metal cylinders, and it is in this process that the moire or watered effects are produced.
. The experiment of manufacturing silk goods in Norfolk County has so far proven very successful and the product has already won a high standing in the market. It will no doubt lead to the establishment of other factories of the same character, and then we have to look into the future only a few years to see this section as noted for its silks goods as it is today for its cotton fabrics.
LUMBER MILLS.
There are handled here about 1.000,000,000 feet of lumber a year. The lumber mills em- ploy about 5,000 inen; their pay-rolls aggre- gate $150,000 per month, or nearly $2,000,000 annually. These mills require thousands of dollars worth of provisions for their men, and
---
many more thousands of dollars worth of hay and feed for the great number of cattle em- ployed in hauling timber and logs out of the forest. This, together with a large amount paid out for chains, axes, ropes and other sup- plies needed in this work, places the lumber interests, in this immediate locality. very far ahead in the line of home profit and production of any other branch of business enterprise in . our midst; and it is growing larger and larger every year in order to supply the increasing de- mand from all parts of this great country for Southern pine lumber.
THE NORFOLK COUNTY FISHERIES
Have for years been of great importance, as the ocean each year sends in its finny wealth in an unfailing supply, and the varieties differ according to the season.
The fish run mainly in nine months. In March, April, May and June the prevailing fish are shad, croaker, trout and gray trout. In July and August the schools of Spanish inackerel, bluefish and spots are abundant and in prime condition. In September, October- and November the fish that are abundant are. salmon trout, gray trout, spots and rockfish.
The local fisheries are mainly at Virginia Beach, Ocean View and in the James River. There are six fisheries (deep sea) at Virginia Beach, -- these employ about 100 to 120 men and about 15 boats. Ocean View has about 10 fisheries, employing about 200 men and 30 boats. The Ocean View fish are mainly sold in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Berkley for local consumption. The James River has hundreds of small fisheries on either shore, and this noted: stream has a great wealth of fish, oysters and crabs. Buckroe Beach is the site of many: fisheries that make a large annual catch.
These, and other fisheries, contribute heav-> ily to swell Norfolk County's annual volume of trade, and packers ship them to all the im -: portant points east of the Mississippi River.
The waters of the Norfolk County section produce not only the species of fish above :
:
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
413
noted, but to a more limited extent, pompano. sheepshead, black bass, white and sun perch, Southern white and horned chub, mullet, carp, pike, suckers, flat-back gar, hogfish, whitesides and eels. Eels are caught in abun- dance from the wharves of the cities by small boys, but they are not much esteemed locally, on account of the abundance of other more prized food fishes.
CRAB FISHERIES.
---
The crab is "one of the oldest inhabitants' of the Norfolk County section, and is abun- .dant. The hard-shells furnish a large portion of the food supply of many families along Tidewater and also support a number of "crab factories," where the meats are removed from the shells and packed for shipment to Northern markets. In many instances the shells are shipped also, and the meats and shells unite again as "deviled crabs" in the high-class res- tanrants, cafes and hotels of the North and West.
The soft crabs, or "peelers" (crabs about to cast off their shells), are packed in boxes and sent to Northern markets, where they bring fair prices.
The hard crabs sell for a few cents. Deviled crabs are hawked about the streets of the cities of the county at a nickel each.
OYSTER INDUSTRY.
For many years Norfolk County has been one of the principal seats of the great oyster industry of the Atlantic Coast and her bi- valves have acquired a well-deserved fame in the great markets of the country.
Most of the oysters handled at this port are "tonged," that is, picked up from the rocky bottoms by means of tongs that resemble gar- den rakes fastened together like the two arms of a pair of fire tongs. They have handles about 12 to 30 feet long, enabling the "tonger" to work in water of that depth. The last leg- islature, however, so amended the oyster laws
that dredging is permitted when the special consent of the State Board of Fisheries is ob- tained.
All Norfolk County oysters enjoy a good reputation, but the greatest prestige attaches to the celebrated "Lynnhaven" oysters. These come from Lynnhaven Bay, just inside of Cape Henry, in Princess Anne County, formerly in- cluded in Lower Norfolk County. The supply of "Lynnhaven" is limited and the price is always high. They are shipped away in the shell for high-class restaurant and hotel trade, and figure on the bill of fare at Delmonico's and other places of a similarly high character.
The great bulk of oysters brought to Nor- folk and Portsmouth are "shucked" here and shipped in barrels or pails (iced) to all the principal cities east of the Mississippi and some even go to parts farther west.
As one goes out in Norfolk and Ports- mouth harbor, he sees many small boats from which colored men are poking long tong's down into the water, then drawing them up to dump their muddy load on the boat's bottom. When a load is obtained, they are culled to meet the requirements of the law. The law as amended at the last session of the State Legislature and applying to all public rocks, with certain limited exceptions, prescribes that all oysters less than three inches in length from hinge to mouth must be thrown back on the oyster rocks to grow to greater size.
When the small boat is loaded, the men pull up to their sloop near-by and there deposit their oysters until the sloop is loaded and sails to Norfolk or Portsmouth, where its cargo is disposed of to one of the many packers ready to buy for cash. In some cases the packers have sloops out on the oyster grounds and buy the oysters from the "tongers." The "tong- ers" are, as a rule, colored men, and they make on an average $2 to S4 a day during the oyster season, that lasts from September Ist to April 25th.
When the oysters reach the packing house. they go to the "shuckers." who deftly open the shells and drop the oysters into receptacles
:414
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
provided for them. An expert "shucker" wil open about 30 bushels per day. He receives for his work 20 cents per gallon of meats.
As the oysters are shucked. the meats are put up in barrels, tubs, pails and cans, for ship- ment. The oyster industry probably supports many thousand people in Norfolk County.
The oyster packers are also, as a rule, oyster farmers and they control a large acreage under water, that is leased from the State of Virginia. at an annual rental of ȘI per acre. These lands so leased are submerged lands with a good firm surface, suitable for the cul- tivation of oysters and do not (in theory) em- brace natural oyster rocks.
The planter secures his seed oysters from the James River which. since other seed beds have nearly all been destroyed, has become the seed bed to which planters all along the At- lantic Coast resort for young oysters.
.
Previously to planting his seed, the oyster man has prepared his planting ground (if it is not all ready in condition) by scattering over it many boat-loads of rocks or old oyster shells. These are essential, for the "spat" of the oysters needs these as bases on which to cling. The oysters then grow rapidly and are ready for the market at the age of three years. At the age of one year the oyster is about one inch in size, two inches at two years, and three inches or over at three years. These are shell measurements.
To guard its interests in the natural oyster rocks, which are the property of the Common- wealth, the State maintains an "oyster navy," consisting of two small gunboats and one sloop. The gunboat "Chesapeake" is manned by 10 to 12 men and is equipped with a large stand of Winchesters and other guns. The gunboat "Accomack" has about as many men and is similarly equipped. The sloop is also an important part of the fleet.
These vessels are constantly on the oyster beds on the lookout for oyster thieves who. some years ago, were a great pest. Within the past few years, however, the vigilance and activity of the fleet have tended to make the
stealing of oysters from the public grounds both dangerous and unprofitable.
When a poacher is discovered, there fol- lows a lively chase and he is usually over- hauled, but sometimes the poachers reach the shore, abandon their boats and escape. When they are captured, summary justice is meted out to them, usually a fine and sometimes a fine and imprisonment and confiscation of their boats and outfits.
RATES OF WAGES FOR SKILLED LABOR AND CLER- · ICAL WORK.
The wages paid in Norfolk County for the different kinds of skilled labor and clerical work, according to figures prepared for the years 1900, are fair and proportionate to the expenses for board, clothing, house rents, fuel, etc. The following are some of the customary rates classified :
Bakers-$8.12 per week of 60 hours.
Binders -- $9.15 per week.
Bricklayers-$4 per day of 8 hours.
Blacksmiths-$2.50 to $3.00 per day.
Carpenters-$2 to $2.70 per day of 9 hours.
Cooks, hotel-$25 to $150 per month.
Cooks. private-$7 to Sio per month.
Bookkeepers-$40 to $100 per month.
Factory hands-$3 to $9 per week. Freestone cutters- $3.50 per day of 8 hours.
Granite cutters-$3 per day of 8 hours.
Hod carriers-$1.50 per day of 8 hours.
Hotel waiters-$12 to $25 per month.
House servants-$6 to Sio per month.
Hostlers-$16 to $35 per month.
Laborers-SI to $1.50 per day of S hours.
Lathers-$2 per thousand. 'Longshoremen-$1.50 to $2 per day of 8 hours.
Motormen-15 cents per hour.
Masons-$24 to $30 per week.
Molders-Sio to $15 per week.
Nurses-$7 to $12 per month. Printers :
Machine-$17 per week of 8 hours. Book and job-$15 per week of 9 hours.
Pressmen-$12 to $18 per week. Painters-Șio to $15 per week.
Plumbers-$12 to $15 per week.
Stationary engineers-$9 to $15 per week.
Sewing women-$2.50 to $4 per week.
Salesmen-$35 to Sico per month.
Saleswomen-$12 to Sto per month.
Street car conductors-15 cents per hour.
Stonemasons-$3.50 per day of 8 hours. Tailors-$12 to $18 per week. ·
,
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
415
Tinners-$12 to $18 per week. Truck drivers-$5 to $8 per week.
THE BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATIONS
Were organized to promote the business in- terests of the cities by drawing capital to them and encouraging the location of mercantile and manufacturing concerns in them, to direct at- tention to their advantages, and particularly to engender a more general and social inter- course amongst gentlemen of all branches of legitimate business residing in the cities and vicinity.
The Chamber of Commerce of Norfolk was organized in 1801, reorganized in 1888. and is, therefore, one of the oldest commercial bodies of the country. Those two dates, those of its institution and reinstitution, are engraved on its seal. It is a coincidence that each marks an era of prosperity in the history of Nor- folk.
It is not, however, for its age only that this body is distinguished. It is useful and influen- tial as well. The Chamber has representatives of all industries and interests. financial, me- chanical, and professional. of the city.
It is, therefore, the special guardian of the city's commercial interests, and the forum, so to speak, for its merchants of all sorts. It is still serviceable in that particular, although with the organization of other public bodies it confines itself to its own special field. At the same time it is concerned, in the broadest sense. with . the development of the industrial and manufacturing interests of the South.
On April 29, 1890, the Business Men's As- sociation of Norfolk was incorporated with the following gentlemen as incorporators: E. M. Henry, Barton Myers, Samuel Hodges, Walter Sharp, WV. Thompson Barron, N. Burruss, S. L. Foster, N. P. Gatling. C. A. Nash, Michael Glennan, W. S. Franklin, V. D. Groner, Ken- ton C. Murray, H. Hodges, James W. Mc- Carrick, William N. Portlock, H. G. Williams, ; April William Pannill, Alfred P. Thom and R. B. Cooke. The officers for the first year were: President, E. M. Henry; Ist vice-president,
Barton Myers; and vice-president Samuel Hodges; secretary, Walter Sharp; treasurer, W. Thompson Barron.
THE BOARD OF TRADE AND BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION OF NORFOLK.
The Association, under the able manage- ment of its officers, continued to flourish until February 10, 1898, when the Chamber of Commerce, Merchants' and Manufacturers' Exchange and Wholesale Grocers' Associa- tion amalgamated with it under the title of "The Board of Trade and Business Men's As- ciation of Norfolk, Virginia."
The officers from its organization have been :
ELECTED. PRESIDENTS: RETIRED.
April 9, 1890. E. M. Henry, January 30, 1996
January 80, 1896,
T. M. Wilcox, January 13, 1898
January 13, 1898, H. Hodges,
January 10, 1899
January 10, 1899,
R. H. Jones. January 9, 1900
January 9, 1900, H. C. Hudgins.
Ist. VICE PRESIDENTS.
. April 16, 1890, Barton Myers, January 12, 1892
January 12, 1892,
R. B. Cooke, January 10, 1>93
January 10, 1893,
H. Hodges, January 30, 1896
January 30, 1896,
Walter Sharp, January 12, 1897
January 12, 1897,
E. E. Dawes,
January 13, 1598
January 13, 1898,
H. S. Herman,
January 10, 1899
January 10, 1899,
H. C. Hudgins,
January 9, 1900
January 9, 1900,
W. H. Wales.
2d. VICE PRESIDENTS.
April 16, 1890,
Samuel Hodges, January 10, 1891
January 10, 1891,
R. B. Cooke,
January 12, 1892
January 12, 1892,
Walter Sharp,
January 22, 1895
January 22, 1895, S. L. Foster,
January 30, 1896
January 30, 1896,
E. E. Dawes,
January 12, 1897
January 12, 1897,
D. McCormick,
January 13, 1895
January 13, 1898,
B. L. Christian,
January 10, 1899
January 10, 1899,
W. H. Wales,
January 9, 1900
January 9, 1900,
C. W. Fentress.
SECRETARIES.
April . 9, 1890, Walter Sharp,
Nov'ber 7, 1890
Now'ber 7, 1890, C. Pickett, (Died)
March 25, 1899
March 25, 1899, E. E. Dawes.
TREASURER.
9,1890, W. T. Barron,
January 8, 1900
January 9, 1900, R. M. Wilkinson.
STATISTICAN.
May 1, 1898. E. E. Dawes.
1
-
--
416
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
THE PORTSMOUTH BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIA- TION
Was incorporated December 12, 1901, with the following officers: President, T. J. Wool ; treasurer, J. H. Downing; secretary, I. T. Van Patten; vice-presidents, --- Alexander B. Butt, A. L. Dashiell, A. H. Lindsay, Jr., G. Hatton. John L. Watson; board of directors .- Frank- lin D. Gill, W. A. Jenkins, Charles G. Hume, Frank Lindsay, John C. Emmerson, E. L. Lash, P. C. Trugien O. L. Williams, B. F Hofheimer, M. P. Claud, R. S. Mackan.
GOVERNMENT OF NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH HARBOR.
Board of Harbor Commissioners :-- Rich- ard A. Dobie, president; Walter H. Doyle, treasurer; J. M. Hudgins, secretary; Wynd- ham R. Mayo, Joseph A. Parker, John L. Thomas, Henry Kirn, Dr. G. N. Halstead; committee on harbor police, Wyndham R. Mayo, Henry Kirn and John L. Thomas : committee on docks and wharves, Joseph A. Parker, Dr. G. N. Halstead and Wyndham R. Mayo; committee on port warden lines, Walter H. Doyle, Joseph A. Parker and Dr. G. X. Halstead. The president is, er-officio, a member of each of the standing committees. W. T. Brooks is engineer of the board.
The harbor masters are: William W. Bain, J. M. Berkley and C. E. Yeatman. They are charged with general and specific duties as defined in the rules, regulations and orders of the commissioners, which have been, or may be from time to time, promulgated.
Their jurisdiction is concurrent over the harbor of Norfolk and Portsmouth. They are vested with authority to designate the anchor- age grounds of all vessels, and are required to keep the channel-way and track of steamers clear.
It is their duty to berth vessels at appro- priate wharves and dock; and, when called upon by the proprietor or occupant of any wharf or dock, to change the berth of any ves-
sel lying at such occupant's premises, it is made their duty to move such vessel to some other wharf, or to a safe anchorage in the stream.
They are charged with the execution of the police regulations which have been, or may hereafter be adopted for the better government of the harbor, and will report all delinquents and offenders to the committee on harbor police.
The practice of boarding vessels below, or on their arrival in, the harbor is no longer deemed necessary, and the harbor masters have been relieved of this duty, but they are required to see that the regulations forbidding vessels from anchoring in the channel-way, or in the track of steamers, is strictly observed.
They are entitled to receive as compensa- tion, fees, as follows, viz: Three dollars per month from each steamer (except those trad- ing through the canals, ferry-boats and tugs) that runs regularly to the port, and from all transient vessels arriving from, or destined to, any foreign port as follows :
Schooners and brigs. $3.00
Barks 4.00
Ships 5.00
Steamships 5.00
They are also entitled to receive from all vessels in the coasting trade, arriving here, whose length over all is 75 feet and upwards, a fee of $3, to be paid only once in a twelve- month. The harbor masters are required to keep a register of all such coasting vessels for reference and for examination by the commis- sioners.
They are required to see that the regula- tions of the United States government, requir- ing fog horns to be blown, or ships' bells rung, by all vessels anchored within the harbor dur- ing the prevalence of fog, are strictly con- formed to, and they are required to report all delinquents to the committee on harbor police.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.