Collection of American ^Literature
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Cfje ILibvavp of ttjc Bnibersitp of i^ortfj Carolina
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JOHN M. MORKHEAD, INTKRNAI. IMPROVEMKNT GOVERNOR OF NORTH OROLINA.
THE
IISTORY OF GUILFORD COUNTY,
NORTH CAROLINA.
sallif: w. s'iy)ckari),
A. n. (IS'JT, C^uilford College), A. H. (18'W, University of Noitli CaroliiKi), A. M. (l«JXt, University of North Carolina.)
'O WDUlil that my oncmy ml^tit write a book." -Job.
Knoxvillx, Tknn.: Co., I'kimteks and Book Binhehs.
1110 2.
To
Col. James Turner Morehead,
Dr. and Mrs. Charles D. Alclver,
Col. and Mrs. W. H. Osborn.
Dr. and Mrs. Lewis Lyndon Hobbs,
Mr. and Mrs. J. Wyatt Armfield,
Major and Mrs. Joseph M. Morehead,
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred ^loore Scales,
Mrs McAdoo-King and her children,
Prof. P. P. Claxton and P<-of. J. Y. Joyner.
To
Guilford County, her historic lore,
her glorious past, and her wealth of promise for the future.
Copyright, 1902,
by
SALLIE W. STOCKARU.
"Rejoice wc arc allied To That wliich doth provide And not partake, effect and not receive! A spark disturbs our clod ; Nearer we hold of God Who gives, than of His tribe that takes, I must believe.
Tlien, welcome each rebuff
That turns earth's smoothness rough.
Each sting that bids not sit nor stand, but go !
Be our joys three parts pain!
Strive, and hold cheap the strain ;
Learn, nor account the pang; dare, never grudge the throe.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
C?IAPTER I. Guilford County, Its Establishment ii
CHAPTER II. The Slttlement 13
CHAPTER III. Prerevolutionary Land Grants 20
CHAPTER IV. The Part of Guilford in the Revolution. 24
CHAPTER V. "^Iinute Packet," i782-'S8 33
CHAPTER VI. Notes from the Minute Docket, 1796-1811 40
CHAPTER VII. The Slavery Question 46
CHAPTER VIII. The Part of Guilford in the Civil War. . . 52
CHAPTER IX. Industrial Development 55
CHAPTER X. History of Education in Guilford 7-7
CHAPTER XL History of Religion in Guilford 114
CP[APTER XII. The Towns of Guiliord and History of
Families 132
PREFACE.
Histon- relates the rise and progress of the human spirit. History is the story of what has been done. It shows the free play of reason, and is mind objectified into strenuous, potential, fruitful activity.
Guilford County is the heart of Piedmont North Carolina. Once it was the hunting-ground over which the Catawba Indian chased the buffalo and built his wigwam fires by the many whis- pering streams. By right of discovery the Spanish claimed pos- session until England assumed her place as mistress of the seas. In 1776 the British Colonies of America declared their power of self-government. Old Mecklenburg of North Carolina was the first to raise the flag of Independence. In 1861 North Carolina withdrew from the United States to become one of the Confederate States of America, and the star of destiny shone red above her. In five years the Old North State was again admitted into the I'nion. In the galaxy of nations the United States of America takes her place as the honored of all the world.
Guilford County is midway between the mountains and the sea. Greensboro, the County seat, is a city of twenty-two thou- sand inhabitants, situated a thousand feet above sea level, midway in the state from Raleigh and Charlotte, Asheville and Wilming- ton. High Point is twelve miles south of Greensboro.
Guilford is the typical Piedmont region. From her broad- backed ridges many creeks and rivers rise. Near the swell of land. C)ak Ridge, two of the largest rivers of the state have their origin. Here the upper waters of the Dan of the Roanoke, and
6 PREFACE.
of Deep River and Haw River of the Cape Fear, almost inter- mingle in the loving gambols of childlike springs. The Great Alamance, the Little Alamance and the Stinking Quarter Creeks also have their source in this County. These waters turn more cotton-mill wheels than any other in North Carolina.
Guilford County has an almost uniform soil and forest growth'. Oak, hickory, walnut, persimmon and maple abound. The soil of the wide ridges is of yellow, sandy, gravelly loam underlaid by a yellow and red clay.
The southern part of the County belongs to the cotton zone ; the western part to the tobacco zone. Guilford is the wheat- growing and fruit-raising County of the State. Before the War mining was carried on profitably. Gold and copper are found on the south side of the Southern Railway, which bisects the County, and iron on the north side.
Guilford County is rectangular, 28 miles east and west, 24 miles north and south. There are eighteen townships, namely: Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Center Grove, Monroe, Madison, Wash- ington, Deep River, Friendship, Morehead, Gilmer, Jefferson, Rock Creek, High Point, Jamestown, Sumner, Fentress, Clay and Green.
In regard to the people of this County succeeding chapters will show. How really to know them is by experience. In no way does one come closer to understanding them than by writing the history of their county.
In the history of Guilford County only four dates have any- thing like a general value. These are: 1750, when the first settle- ment was made; 1774, when the Quakers freed their slaves and began to agitate the slavery question; 1840, when the Whig idea attained supremacy and the internal improvement and educational wave began to break over the country; and 1865, the close of the Civil War. Around these dates each of these ideas has hovered like a shadow with a penumbra fainter and fainter in efifect.
PREFACE. 7
However absurd and unpatriotic it may seem to some rich people, I undertook this work as a business enterprise and I hoped to earn sonic money out of it.
1 hope this work will awaken in the younp people a deeper interest in the land they live in. I wish to sec a buildinjr, commo- dious and imposinp^, erected at the State Normal College for the purpose of preservings the history of North Carolina, the relics which show the life and the development of the people of this state. The State Historical Society, the Colonial Dames, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daug^htcrs of the Con- federacy and other historical orp^anizations would be interested in having such a building, fire-proof and secure, as a receptacle for this objective teaching of history. A hall for this purpose will be erected somewhere soon or late.
The portraits of Governor John M. Morehead, Judge Gil- mer. Governor Scales, Judge R. P. Dick, Dr. Calvin H. Wiley, Dr. J. Henry Smith and some others would be an adornment for the Greensboro Public Library. A statue of John M. More- head will perhaps some time be erected near the depot of the Southern Railway in Greensboro, to commemorate the name of him who did more for the North Carolina Railroad than anv other, and thus hastened industrial activity in the state. It would beautify the square on which the courthouse is situated if walks were laid off, grass plots and flower beds were made, over which beautiful fountains played. The fine old Roman roads in Eng- land were the beginning of her civilization and prosperity. Such macadam roads as lead out from Summer Avenue in Greensboro, if they were all through the County, would be a credit to any people. It would be an honor to Guilford if every school-house in her borders was made attractive without and within. Horti- culture should be taught in the public schools.
The Audubon Society, organized through the interest and energ>' of Prof. T. Gilbert Pearson, of the State Normal College, for the study and preservation of birds, is an advance both indus-
8 PREFACE.
trially and educationally ; birds affect agriculture and the natural products of a country ; this society creates the love and study of natural history.
The organization of the Society for the Improvement and Beautifying the Public Schools in North Carolina, during the spring term of 1902 at the State Normal College, is an advance- ment to the cause of education. Miss Laura Kirby, of Goldsboro, is its president. The plan of the society is to organize the women throughout the State in this movement.
The Southern Education Board, of which Mr. Robert C. Ogden is chairman, has inaugurated the greatest philanthropic movement this country has probably known in its history. The Civil War left the South impoverished. This body of men of both North and South have come together for the sake of humanity to do what can be done for the education of the Southern youth for the development and salvation of America.
The History of Guilford County was undertaken at the sug- gestion of several prominent men of this County. Its accomplish- ment is largely due to Mr. Victor Clay McAdoo. My thanks are due Col. James T. Morehead, Dr. Charles D. Mclver, Mr. A. M. Scales and Mr. V. C. McAdoo for presenting the interests of this book before the County Board of Trustees. Upon their request the Board granted one hundred dollars. To. Col. Morehead, Mr. Scales, Prof. J. Y. Joyner, Prof. W. C. Smith, Mrs. L. L. Hobbs and others I wish to make grateful acknowledgment for reading various parts of the manuscript. The excellent library of the Greensboro Female College has been of service to me. Prof. P. P. Claxton has given some very helpful suggestions. To Hon. W. H. Ragan, as Chairman of the County Board of Trustees, and to Col. W. H. Osborn, as Mayor of Greensboro, I express my thanks.
This book may be severely criticised. A chapter from the Kingdom of Glory would be distasteful to some folks. The writ- ing of this history, the collection of the data, and getting up the subscriptions, has indeed been hard work. This has been no child's
PREFACE. 9
l)lay. The writing of local history is truly arduous. It is hard to write history, hardest of all to write local history. Advice has not been wanting. May all the good live immortal and all the bad be buried.
S.VLLIK W.M.KER StoCK.VRD.
Greensboro, N. C, 1902.
JUDGE JOHN A. CII.MER,
I.A\VYER. SOLDIER. STATESMAN.
SEE PAGE 1/2.
HISTORY OF GUILFORD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.
CHAPTER I.
GUILFORD COUNTY ITS ESTABLISHMENT.
Guilford County was erected in 1770 by an Act of the General Assembly then in session at Xcwbern. The Act crcatinj;^ it reads as follows :
"An Act for erecting a new County between the Towns of Salisbury and Hillsboro, by taking part of the Counties of Rowan and Orange.
I. irhi-rcas, the great Extent of the respective Counties of Rowan and Orange, render the attendance of the Inhabitants of Part of Rowan County, and the Inhabitants of the upper Part of Orange County, to do public Duties in their respective Counties, extremely difficult and expen- sive : For Remedy whereof.
II. Be it enacted by the Governor, Council, and .Assembly, and by the .\uthority of the same. That a Line beginning at a Point twenty-five Miles due West of Hillsborough, running thence North to the Virginia Line, then West to a Point due North of the Painted Springs, then South to Anson Line, then along .Anson and Cumberland Lines to a Point due South of the Beginning, then North to the Beginning, be erected into a distinct County by the name of Guilford County, and Unity Parish."
This is accompanied by a foot-note which says: "The (^ripi- nals being missinc;."
The Act is copied from the Laws of North Carolina, printed in 1791 by J. A. Iredell, "Anno Rej^^ni Georgii III.. Regis Magn?e Britannijc, Franciie, & Hibcrni?c, Undecimo."
The new county was called Guilford in honor of Lord North, the Earl of Guilford, who was a Tory, King George IIL's Prime Minister, and "one who bowed to the roval will, and endeavored to
12 GUILFORD COUNTY,
carry out George Ill's favorite policy of 'governing for, but never by, the people.' "
This new county was strongly \\'hig. Dr. David Caldwell, Alexander Martin, six times Governor of North Carolina, General Gillespie, James Hunter and William Rankin were Whigs of no uncertain soundings. This was the hotbed of the Regulation movement. The people of Orange and Rowan petitioned the Legislature requesting that among various reforms relating to taxes, fees, etc., an Act be passed "to divide the county."*
Therefore Guilford County was erected, a concession to the Regulators. As Guilford was established at the request of such wilful Whigs, why was it called by the name of the English premier ? It seems quite human to cover the point of yielding with the name of the High Priest of the Tories. Perhaps it was to inspire loyalty to the King's policy. The tone of that Legislature was Tory, Tryon was governor. Did he name Guilford ?
Guilford County has always been Whig in principle. Internal improvements, public education and industrial development are Whig ideas.
Randolph County was formed, in 1779, from Guilford, and named in complim.ent to the Randolph family in Virginia, dis- tinguished for patriotism and talents. (See Wheeler's History.)
Rockingham County was formed, in 1785, from Guilford County, and named for Charles Watson Wentworth, ]\Iarquis of Rockingham, a distinguished friend of America in the English Parliament, who acted with William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, in opposition to Lord North. He was premier of England in 1782. (See Wheeler's History.)
It appears that the dividing of the County of Guilford from Orange and Rowan was a political division for the purpose of separating the "Insurgents from Orange and left them in Guil- ford." "The spirit of the Revolution was twin-born with the County of Guilford." f
* See North Carolina Colonial Records, Vol. VIIL, Preface, pp. xvii-xviii. •hSee the Oration of Maj.Jos. M. Morehead on "James Hunter."
NORTH CAROLISA. 13
CHAPTER II.
THE SETTLEMENT.
About 1/49 t'lt^ fij"^^ settlers came to this section. At that time a heavy stream of nii<jration was pourinpf into North Caro- lina. In the portion of the State marked by the present towns of Greensboro. Salisbury. Concord and Charlotte, the Scotch-Irish and German settled.
To the territory now known as Guilford County people repre- senting: three nations, the Scotch-Irish, the German exiles from the Palatine and the Eng^lish Quakers, came. These people were dissenters seckiuii: reliijious liberty as well as homes for wives and children. From the colony of William Penn. where they had first set foot on American soil, they passed on through Virginia, where the Church of England was already established, and traveled through a wild country to a milder climate and the freedom of forest and river to be found in Piedmont North Carolina. In the beautiful scope of country that later became Guilford County these three peoples settled, building their homes amid the fertile, rolling plains and wide ridges of Middle Carolina. The houses, manners and customs of the lands they had left were soon firmly fixed upon the new country.
■ In central Guilford the Scotch-Irish settled: in east Guilford the Gennans built their homes; while in west Guilford the English Quakers took up their abode. A band of Welsh also came to this section.
In central Guilford were: the Archers, the Hrannocks, the
ells, the Dennys, the Donnells. the Foulkes, the Gillespies,
Gorrells, the Hunters, the Kerners, the Lindsays, the McAdoos,
the McMikels, the Osbornes, the Stokes, the Sanders and the
^f ytaldw Jv//the Go
14 GUILFORD COUNTY,
Weatherlys. (Mr. Robert ]\I. Sloan of Greensboro is authority for this.)
In east Guilford were: the Albrights, the Clapps. the Cobbs, the Cobles, the Fousts, the Holts, the Keims, the Linebergers, the Sharps, the Shoffners, the Straders, the Summers, the Reitzells, the Whitsells, the Whitsetts and the Wyricks.
In west Guilford were; the Armfields, the Beasons, the Chip- mans, the Coffins, the Elliotts, the Edwards, the Gardners, the Horneys, the Mendenhalls, the Pughs, the Starbucks, the Stan- leys, the Welborns.
One band of Scotch-Irish came from Lancaster Coimty, Penn- sylvania ; another poured into the province by way of Charleston,. South Carolina. These two streams met in central Guilford. A company called the Nottingham Company of Pennsylvania bought a large tract of land on the Buffalo and Reedy Fork Creeks. ( See Life of Caldwell.) These were the blue-stocking Presbyterians. On the headwaters of the Alamance the * followers of Whitfield built their homes. Old Alamance Church was the nucleus of the neighborhood.
"From the stock of Scotch-Irish in the north of Ireland," say Hawks, Swain and Graham in their History of the Revolution^ page 51, "came the Carolina immigrants. They reached the place of their settlement by two different avenues of approach ; the one portion came to America by the Delaware River, landing in Phila- delphia ; the other touched our shores at Charleston, South Caro- lina. They struck into the fertile country of Virginia, and in Carolina the two tides of migration met. The line of their settle- ments across the whole state from North Carolina to Virginia may be traced through Charlotte, Concord, Salisbury, Lexington, Greensboro, Milton and the head waters of the Roanoke." "Our forefathers," says Dr. C. H. Wiley in his address on the Centen- nial of Alamance Church, "came not as adventurers or hunters, not as outlaws and wanderers, but as intelligent men, with good
• These were Presbyterians who had been influenced to emotionalism by John Wesley.
NORTH CAROLIS'A. 1&
worldly substance, with nct-dod inii)lemcnts of industry, with civi- lizati«m and the church."
The characteristics of the Scotch-Irish are mainly noticeable in tbouirht-inovenients. From this stock have come our public men. soldiers, politicians, statesmen, ai^itators. Morehead. Gilmer, Wiley were Scotch-Irish. In the first battle for American rij^hts, that of Alamance, in 1771. and the last decisive battle of the Revo- lution, that of Guilford Courthouse, of 1781, the Scotch-Irish were most prominent.
The Germans, who settled east of the Scotch-Irish, had come from the Palatine, driven by the scourge of war from what was once their happy home. Up the Rhine from Cologne the Thirty Years' War had left terrible devastation. Thousands of these people came to America upon William Penn's invitation. With them they brought that love of domestic life so marked a characteristic of the race. For many years their German speech excluded them from public offices, but they were among the fighters in the Regulation War and among the Whigs of the Revolution. Their manners and customs are German, their old German F>ibles and text-books are extant.
Unlike both German and Scotch-Irish was the Quaker in his territory in western Guilford. It is this element which makes the history of Guilford unique in North Carolina. The Scotch-Irish and Gennan may be found in many other counties in the state ; but not these three together. In the conjunction of these a clash- ing of ideas came about which has made history. In the question of slavery Guilford County history is vital not only in this State but touches national life as well. The aggravating element kept the Scotch-Irish mind active. Out of the active Scotch-Irish mind came the impulse for internal improvements in North Carolina.
In England. Quaker and Presbyterian had alike suffered re- ligious persecution. They were impelled by the same purpose to
NoT»: InUmeoflhe Revolution and before it, William Rankin lived in Guilford on the North Buffalo; Walter Dennv lived near by; Col. Daniel and Col. John Gilletpie, Ralph Gorrell, Hantz Mc Bride and John Thorn lived in the vicinity of Greenaboro; Jamei Hunter, Robert Bruce, Jamea .Mendenhall and Henry Ballinger lived north and west of Greensboro
16 GUILFORD COUNTY,
gain for themselves new homes and freedom to worship as they chose. About the same time, and probably together, they had journeyed to Guilford County. Though they had much in com- mon they v.'ere yet unlike. In the Quaker settlement the hip-roofed houses and the various crafts are manifestations of English train- ing. Besides the Quakers who came from Pennsylvania about 1749, a band of Nantucket Quakers came to this territory in 1771 : another band of emigrant Quakers came here from eastern North Carolina ; others still were of Welsh extraction. Among these last were the Benbows, Brittains, Hoskins and others.
The followmg, taken from S. B. Weeks' ''Southern Quakers," pages 107-108, gives us some interesting information concerning the Guilford Count}' Quakers :
"The island of Nantucket being small and its soil not very produc- tive, a large number of people could not be supported thereupon. The population of the island still increasing, many of the citizens turned their attention to other parts and removed elsewhere. A while before the Revo- lutionary War, a considerable colony of Friends removed and settled at New Garden, in Guilford County, N. C. William Coffin (1720-1803) was one of the number that thus removed about 1773. Obed ^Slacy, writing of the period about 1760. says that because of the failure of the whale fishery some went to N^ew Garden, N. C. About the outbreak of the Revolution, because of derangement of their business by the war, some went to New York and North Carolina.
"In 1764, Friends had begun investigations to find out who were the original Indian owners of their new homes, in order that they might pay them for the land, as they were trying to do at Hopewell, Va. It was reported that the New Garden section belonged to the Cheraws, who had been since much reduced and lived with the 'Catoppyes,' Catawbas. In 1780 two-thirds of the inhabitants of Nantucket were Quakers. Among their leaders were the Coffins, Starbucks, Folgers. Barnards, Husseys.
■'During a period of five years there were no less than forty-one cer- tificates recorded at New Garden Monthly Meeting from Nantucket out of a total of fifty certificates received.
'In this number there were eleven families, including many that have since been prominent in Guilford County. Among them were : Libni Coffin, William Coffin, Jr., William, Barnabas, Seth (and wife), Samuel (and family), Peter and Joseph Coffin; Jethro Macy, David. Enoch, Na-
iVO/v'77/ CAROLINA. 17
thaniel. Paul (and family). Matthew (and five children) and Joseph Macy ; William. Gayer. Paul (and family), and William Starbuck; Richard, Wil- Ii:im, Stephen and Stephen Gardner; Tristrim. Francis and Timothy Bar- nard; Daniel. Francis and Jonah Worth; John VVickersham. William Recce. Jonathan Gifford. Reuhen Bunker. Nathaniel Swain, Thomas Dixon "
The Pennsylvania and Xantucket Quakers did not mingle and inter-irarry with the Scotch-Irish, whose whole modus vivendi was the opposite of their own.
Ahnost all the members of the denomination at the present day who are "birth rij^ht," can trace their descent from one or both of these sources, and those who cong^ratulate themselves upon their Xantucket origin may be interested in the followinjr doggerel which was supposed tersely to describe those same ancestors.
The Rays and Russells coopers are,
The knowing Folgers lazy.
A lying Coleman very rare.
And scarce a learned Hussey.
The Coffins noisy, fractious. loud,
The silent Gardners plodding.
The Mitchells good,
The Bakers proud,
The Macys cat the pudding.
The Lovetts stalwart, brave and stern.
The Starbucks wild and vain.
The Quakers steady, mild and calm.
The bwains sea-faring men,
And the jolly Worths go sailing down the wind.
In a letter of Tryon to the Board of Trade. August. 1766 (Col. Rec, \'ol. 7, page 248), he said:
"I am of opinion that this province is settling faster than any on the continent. Last autumn and winter upwards of one thou-
iKi.^i**V' i?i*" •?"■'«' r°r*'"" "'"*»'« county, even within our preMnt boundaries, was at Ih.t Ume wilhoul white inhabitant.. The bcauuful middle region was the hi^hwav of
DrW^e;°T.ad^«^„"^7'""'"°^•^ '-■;■"'' V^'f'J"" ^.'''* '^^ lndian,we.t.''nd.'uth. Ur. Wilej s acldrew on Alamance Church. »ce al»o Record* at Salisbury .N C bk» 1.7 at
^fte^'w:r7. wentwV."'."""' "'" ' "'"••^'" """"• '^'""^ °' Iboie'^who LVttled here
18 GUILFORD COUNTY,
sand wagons passed through Salisbury with families from the northward, to settle in this province chiefly ; some few went to Georgia and Florida, but liked it so indifferently that some of them have since returned.
• "The dispatch of patents I have granted since my administra- tion will show to your Lordships the great increase of settlers in the western or back counties. These inhabitants are a people dif- fering in health and complexion from the natives in the maritime parts of the province, as much as a sturdy Briton differs from a puny Spaniard."
Governor Try on regarded this territory "as of great value, being perhaps the best lands on this continent, particularly Her- man Husbands', who had (in May, 1771) on his plantation about fifty acres of as fine wheat as perhaps ever grew, with clover meadows equal to any in the Northern Colonies." (Col. Rec, Vol. 8, page 615.)
These people did not live in crude log cabins. Many of them had comfortable homes, hiproof ed, with dormer windows, built of brick or frame material. They had wealth ; they loved beauty. All worked, continually stirring from four o'clock in the morning till late at night. Industry at length brought luxury and plenty. They were a pastoral and agricultural people such as good living never spoils, but, on the contrary, develops in them spirit and energy.
Spacious fields of wheat, corn, buckwheat and patches of flax and cotton surrounded their homes. Sometimes a hundred bee hives added another charm to the garden, with its lilacs, roses, sweet lavender and daisies.
The home itself was like a colony of bees in which there were no drones. It was a custom that no young woman should marry until she possessed forty or more bed-quilts, counterpanes and
Note: These Nantucket settlers were not the first Friends to come to North Carolina, and it is likely that Henry Phillips, who, in 1665, came to Albemarle from New England, was seeking a refuge from the tyranny of Massachusetts,where Friends suffered martyrdom on Boston Common.
NORTH CAROLINA. 19
snowy sheets that she had made herself. These articles of her handiwork she embroidered with all sorts of needlework.
The women wove for the whole family, tow shirts, barndoor breeches and silken p^owns. They sold p^reat quantities of cloth, wajj:onloads of butter, cheese and honey. They raised silk, flax, cotton and wool, and manufactured these products for sale. They sold preen apples and chestnuts all winter.
People lived without much expense. They had no fear of work. The men prided themselves on their physical strength. A friendly fight as a test was not infrequent, while even old men wrestled occasionally. It was customary for a company of men and boys to collect on Saturday evenings at a mill or cross-roads. One described a circle. Upon bagter being given two men stepped into the ring and they laughed at black eyes and hard knocks. They boxed each others' ears as a joke, and gouged and bit each other for fun.
20 GUILFORD COUNTY,
CHAPTER III.
PRE-REVOLUTIONARY LAND GRANTS.
From the Register of Deeds, Rowan County,* Books 1-7, at Salisbur}', North Carolina.
The Province of Carolina, embracing that territory which is at present North and South CaroHna, and extending westward to the Pacific Ocean, was, under a grant issued by King Charles II. of England, the property of eight Lords Proprietors. In 1729 the right to this land was surrendered to the King by all the lords except Granville, who retained his one-eighth part.
"In 1743 Granville's interest was laid off in severalty. It embraced the northern portion of North Carolina, and extended as far south as the Mont- gomery County line, or near it, and thus included the lands in Guilford County.
"Though Granville retained no political power, his right in the soil carried with it the right to appoint land officers and agents, thus forming a sort of government in a government, and involving complications which added to those grievances which helped to prepare the way for the 'Revo- lution.'" (Dr. C. H. Wiley's Address on Alamance Church.)
In 1744, September the seventeenth, George II. granted the Earl of Granville one-eighth part of iNorth and South Carolina.
In 1745 George II. granted Henry Eustice McCulloh eight tracts of land in the Province of North Carolina, each tract containing twelve hun- dred and fifty acres. That part of McCulloh's land in Guilford County lay on the head waters of the Alamance and Stinking Quarter Creeks. Parcels of it were sold to William Rose, Peter Amick, Nathaniel Robinson, Jeremiah Kimbro, James O'Neal, Solomon Grace and Smith Moore. The remainder of McCulloh's lands ni Guilford County was confiscated to the use of the State, and by an act of the Legislature of 1795 it was granted to the trustees of the University of North Carolina. McCulloh's land was within the limits of Granville's part of North Carolina.
* Rowan County was set up from Anson County in 1753. Orange County was once a part of Granville County. From Rowan and Orange, Guilford County was erected in 1770.
NORTH CAKOUN.l. 21
In >753 James and his wife Jeane Graham, of Anson Coimty, sold to William McKnight, for five shillings, a parcel of land in Anson County on a branch of Buffalo Creek, six hundred and forty-one "Eackcrs," "Be ye same more or less, yielding and paying ye yearly rent of one pepper .-orn at ye Feast of St. Mickals ye Archangel only if ye same be then demanded."
In '753 William Renolds and Rachel, his wife, of Orange County, conveyed by deed to their son, Jeremiah Renolds, two hundred and sixty- six acres of land on Polecat Creek.
In '753 Tabuland Gant (also spelled Gaunt. Gauant) bought of James Carter, for five shillings, six hundred and thirty-two "acors by esti- mation." on the south fork of Deep River.
In 1/53, in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of George II. of Great liritani, France and Ireland. King, Defender of the Faith, etc., Henry Beddingfield sold William Mebane six hundred acres on the North Buffalo Creek for the sum of forty-five pounds, current money of Virginia. To this indenture Alexander Mebane and John Thompson were witnesses.
In 175J Granville ^fnnted Robert Rankin a tract of four hundred and eighty acres for three shillings proclamation money.
In 1753 Granville sold John Cunningham a grant of six hundred and forty acres of land on Reedy Fork Creek for three shillings.
In 1754 George Jordenjur sold to Jonathan White three hundred and twenty acres of land on the south side of Hogin's Pond, south of Haw River. To this indenture Daniel Weldon, Blake Baker and Edward Under- bill were witnesses.
In 1754 Granville granted Alexander Mebane a tract of six hundred and forty acres of land on the upper branches of the Great Alamance. A yearly rent of twenty -five shillings was agreed upon.
In 1755 Henry Ballinger sold David Renolds, for five shillings, a tract of land on South Polecat Creek. "A yearly rent of one pepper corn" was agreed upon, "if the same be demanded." In May of that year Gran- ville sold Henry Ballinger a tract of land on the same stream.
In 1755 Granville's agents granted Robert Thompson a tract of four hundred and sixty-four acres on the north side of Reedy Fork. Robert Thompson was the first man killed in the Battle of Alamance, 1771.
In 1755 Robert Rankin and his wife, Rebckah, sold William Denny six hundred and forty acres of land in Rowan County.
In 1755 Granville sold George Finley a tract oirthe north side of the Reedy Fork, in Orange County.
In 1755 Robert Jones sold John Blair, of Virginia, land on the Dan River.
In 1755 Granville sold Anthony Hoggctt, for three shillings proclama- tion money, four hundred and eighty acres on Deep River. Granville also
22 GUILFORD COUNTY,
in the same year granted Philip Hoggett four hundred and twenty acres on Deep Creek.
In 1756, November the ninth, Granville granted John McNight that tract of land on both sides of Nix's Creek, a branch of the Reedy Fork of Havk^ River. To this indenture the signature of Peter Henley, Chief Justice of Rowan County, is affixed. Mordecai Mendenhall came to this territory at or before this time. He owned many hundred acres of land on Deep River.
In 1756 Granville granted John Kirkpatrick a tract of land embracing three hundred acres in the Parish of St. Luke, on the Buffalo Creek. In the same year Granville granted John Rhodes, for ten shillings, a tract joining Robert Harris's land on the north fork of Haw River.
In 1750 Granville granted Joseph Ozburn 640 ^cres of land on the Reedy Fork of Haw River.
In 1757 Zebulon Guantt, wheelwright, sold John Hiat six hundred and thirty acres of land on the north of Deep River. William Shepperd and his wife, Martha, sold Isaac Beason four hundred and eighty acres of land on the Deep River.
In 1757 Christopher Nation and his wife, Elizabeth, sold Benjamin 'Cox a tract of land on Polecat Creek.
In 1757 Henry Ballinger and Thomas Hunt bought of Richard Wil- liams fifty acres of land for five shillings. This tract the deed declares to Tdc "for .the use, benefit, privilege and convenience of a Meeting House which is already erected, and bears the name New Garden, for the Chris- tian people called Quakers to meet in for publick worship of Almighty God, and also the ground to bury their dead in."
In 1758 [Nlordecai Mendenhall and his wife. Charity, of Rowan County, sold Nathan Dick four hundred and fifty acres on Horsepen Creek. That year Uriah Woolman, merchant of Philadelphia, and Joseph Miller, yeoman of Chester County, Pennsylvania, bought of William Buis a tract of land on the Deep River. To this indenture Moses and John Mendenhall were witnesses.
In 175Q Granville granted William Mebane six hundred and thirty- six acres in St. Luke's Parish on South Buffalo, beginning at Kimbrough Corner and running along John McAdoo's line. In that year Granville granted John Boyd four hundred and sixty-seven acres on Reedy Fork.
In 1760 Thomas Donnell sold James Donnell three hundred and twenty acres of land on the North Buffalo for five shillings.
In 1762 Granville granted William Armfield five hundred and forty acres of land in St. Luke's Parish for ten shillings, or two dollars and a half. He also granted James Mendenhall for the same amount two hun-
NORTH CAROLINA. 88
drcd and four acres of land joininR Richard Reason's land on Deep River; and Willianj Millican. six hundred and twenty acres of land on the same stream.
In 176.? John Nick? sold James Denny, of Pennsylvania, six hundred and fifty acres of land on the North Buffalo.
In 1764 Thomas DonncU sold Alexander McKnight land on the North Buffalo. In that year Robert Tate sold William Trousdale land on the North Buffalo.
In 1765 Henry Eustice McCulloh sold Robert Sloan two hundred and eight acres on Pott's Creek.
In 1766 Thomas Donnell sold Francis Cummings, for five shillings, four hundred acres of land on a branch of the South Buffalo.
In 1766 James Mathew, Sr., sold James Mathews, Jr., for one hun- dred pounds proclamation money, five hundred acres of land on the Alam.incc Creek.
In 1767 John Hodge sold Alexander Penny, for five shillings, three hundred and twenty-six acres of land on the Buffalo Creek, this being a part of a tract granted John Gillespie by Granville in 1762.
In 176K Adam Mitchell sold John McKnight and William Anderson, as trustees for the Presbyterian Congregation and their successors, one acre of land on the waters of the North Buffalo, for twenty shillings. This land the deed affirms to be for the use of a Presbyterian Meeting House for those that are members of the Synod of Philadelphia and New York, and is '"for that use forever, including the meeting house and the study house "
In 1769 Benjamin and Elizabeth Reason gave land on the Polecat Creek to their sons, William, Richard, Benjamin and Isaac Beason.
In 1770 Robert Forbis sold Welcome W. Hodge land on Joseph's Creek.
In 1770 Joseph Scales owned land on the Dan River.
In 1770 John Fraizer and Abigal, his wife, sold Thomas Buller land on the Deep River.
In 1770 James Graham, of Rowan, sold John McGee, of Orange, a tract on the Great Alamance. This was a part of the land sold by Her- man Husbands to James Graham in 1766.
24 GUILFORD COUNTY,
CHAPTER IV.
THE PART OF GUILFORD IN THE REVOLUTION.
The life of David Caldwell, by Dr. Eli Caruthers, gives the history of the society in North Carolina called the "Regulators." This society was organized about 1764. Dr. David Caldwell was the most prominent man then living in the heart of the territory in which the Regulation movement had its greatest strength. ( See prefatory notes to the Colonial Records of North Carolina, Vol. 8.)
The Regulators were the first company of men banded together in the interest of home rule, or government by the American people in matters relating to their own business, and opposed to Great Britain. Hence their movement was the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Dr. Caruthers, the successor of Dr. Caldwell as both pastor and teacher, a biographer and historian, certainly regarded the movement of the Regulators as the beginning of the Revolution.
As early as 1760 Igrievances were made to the king, among others, because "illegal and arbitrary pecuniary claims were in- forced for the use of the governor and secretary." The land agents, ^deputy surveyors, entry takers and other officers of in- ferior grade in that department, encouraged by the example of their leaders, soon became as much adepts in the practice of chicane and extortion. Sfhis state of things continued, and perhaps be- came much worse, at least in the lower grades of office, until the people, unwilling to bear it any longer, undertook to regulate mat- ters themselves ; so assumed the name Regulators. -^When all
Note: l See (2) Colonial Records Vol. 7, page 159. See Lite of David Caldwell, page 98, 185.
2 Life of David Caldwell, page 99.
3 " " page 102.
4 " " page 107.
NORTH CAROLINA. 25
lej^al means of redress had failed, they had recourse to an expres- sion of puhHc sentiment by hohhn^ meetinjT:s in ditTerent parts of the country for the purpose ; then they refused to pay illef^al taxes or fees, and this brou^lit about an open rupture witli tlie govern- ment.
A large i)roportion of the men in Dr. Caldwell's congregations were Regulators.'* Hemian Husbands, James Hunter, Rednap Howell, all of them Guilford County men. were guiding spirits in the movement.
In April. 1771. Governor Tryon marched up toward the Regulation section with an army to enforce the authority of his officials. He met several hundred Regulators, probably eleven hundred, just over the Guilford County line, on the banks of the Great Alamance Creek. Dr. David Caldwell was there to present resolutions of the Regulators and to ask for peace. Many mem- bers of his congregation were there, and others, to demand redress. A battle occurred, in which Tryon was victorious. But the Regu- lators thus made the first open resistance to British authority. Colonial Records of N. C, \'ol. 8, shows that Tryon and his army then marched through the territory of the Regulators, "destroying everything that was in his power to destroy by fire and sword."
On May 30, 1771, the Superior Court of Oyer and Terminer, for the trial of the Regulators in the "back country," began at Hillsboro. X. C. Twelve men were tried and condemned for high treason.
"A PROCL.AM.\TION.— Whereas. I am informed that many Persons who have been concerned in the late Rebellion are desirous of submitting themselves to Government I do therefore give notice that every Person who will come in either to mine or General Waddell's Camp, lay down their arms, take the oath of allegiance, and promise to pay all taxes that are now or may hereafter become due by them respectively, and submit to the Laws of this Country, shall have His Majesty's most gracious and free pardon for all Treasons, Insurrections and Rebellions done or committed on or before the 16th Inst., provided they make their submission on or before the loth of June ne.xt. The following persons are however excepted
5 Their (graves mav be seen at AUmancc and BufTalo graveyards.
26 GUILFORD COUNTY,
from the Benefit of this Proclamation, Viz. All the Outlaws, the persons in Camp, and the under named persons, Samuel Jones, Joshua Teague, Samuel Wagones, Simon Dunn, Jr., Wilkerson, Sr., Edward Smith, John Bumpass, Joseph Boring, William Rankin, William Robeson, John Wink- ler, and John Wilcox. Wm. Tryon."
"31 May, 1771."
See Col. Rec, Vol VITL, page 613.
The spirit of the Regulation movement was the same North CaroHna love of liberty which in 1766 resisted the Stamp Act in Wilmington, when the British sloop-of-war Diligence arrived in the Cape Fear River, laden with stamps, and was peremptorily- refused permission to land them. The Regulators were fired with the same zeal for liberty which actuated the men of ^lecklenburg in 1775 when they declared independence. This love of liberty is found today in every North Carolinian.
"James Hunter, The Regulator," by INIajor Joseph M. More- head, gives conclusive evidence that the Regulators made the be- ginning of America's great struggle for freedom from Great Britain. All revolutions have begun in this way.
"North Carolina in 1780-81," by Judge David Schenck, has shown the history of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, when Greene so crippled Cornwallis and his army that they were forced to leave the state. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse was the beginning of the last act of the Revolution, which ended at York- town by the surrender of Cornwallis. The beginning of the Revolution was in Guilford County, because of unjust taxation ; so it was permitted her to strike the last great blow at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
Dr. Eli Caruthers and Judge David Schenck have exhausted the subject of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. To get a full view of the battle, its causes and its effects, read them. Also visit the battleground and see the various imposing monuments that tell the story of the part of Guilford in the Revolutionary War.
NORTH CAROLINA. 27
In Mardi. 1781, the forces of the American Revohition under the coinniand of General Green met the forces of Great Britain under Lord Cornwallis on the field near Guilford Courthouse, then at old Martinsville.
C(<rn\vallis had heen attracted l(xi far from his supplies. It seemed at first that he had won the battle, but Greene had so weakened his force as to compel him to retire to Wilminj^ton. North Carolina, 'riuiice he went to 'S'orktown, \ir,i,nnia. and surreiulered.
Many American and English, soldiers died on the battlefield of Guilford Courthouse and in the county surroundinpf. New Garden Meetinefhouse was used as a hospital for the British. In the graveyard there are larpje square p^raves, under a great oak tree, containinq; the last of British soldiery on this territory.
r.REKN'K ANH CORN W.MJ.IS.
Between Cornwallis and Greene there seems to have been a difference similar to that between America and England. They were representative men, each of his.own country. Cornwallis was a member of the House of Lords, born at London, educated at the famous Eton College. City-bred men are different from those of the coujitry. So Cornwallis was true to his birth and his training when, at Brandy wine, he evinced much coolness and bravery. He could fight gallantly and show kindness too. In his encampment at Jamestown he pressed the mill into service, took all the meal, tlour, meat, wheat ; took the cow, the mother's last chance for feeding her children, Mrs. Judith Gardner Mendenhall demanded her cow of the General, saying that she needed it and must have it for the support of her children. Cornwallis had the cow re- turned and ordered the soldiers to let her alone. "He was an accomplished soldier. While he did not himself commit acts of cruelty, he allowed his subordinates to do so without rebuke."
Marching from the Battle of Guilford Courthouse through the state, he found disappointment instead of supplies awaiting him
28 GUILFORD COUNTY,
at Wilmington. He moved to Yorktown, where he was obhged to surrender. From Yorktown he was sent, in 1786, to the East Indies, as governor and commander-in-chief. He fought gallantly the Sultan of Mysore. Upon his return to England he was ap- pointed master-general of Ireland. Later he was minister pleni- potentiary to France. In 1800 he received the appointment of governor-general of India, where he died, in 1805.
So England regarded him as a brave soldier and a diplomat. He must have felt himself to be superior to the backwoodsmen and their rustic Rhode Island commander.
Nathaniel Greene had no special lordship to sustain. It re- quired great energy and wit on the part of Greene to meet an English earl and general with his well-trained body of soldiers, famous for their record — the best in the world at the time. They had fought with Wolf, with Wolf had scaled the Heights of Abraham. Greene knew that fight he must, and think as well as fight — something Cornwallis had done beforehand, so probably packed away his thinking cap. Greene and Cornwallis were about equally matched, except in this respect : Greene did the thinking, Cornwallis relied upon training.
Those daily readings of Greene, in his Rhode Island home, on the subject of military tactics, served to entertain and occupy his youth, like that of Napoleon on the Island of Corsica. 'But the real benefit came later v/hen, in the flower of his life, this fund of resourceful reading was like a mine of gold to America.
Greene and Cornwallis had been ordered South by their respective governments ; chance pitted them against each other. They resembled each other physically. Neither was over medium height, both broad-shouldered. Cornwallis was forty-three, Greene thirty-nine. An eye of each was impaired. One was America, fresh, resourceful, self-dependent, a maker, or shifter, of circum- stances. One was England, proud, sure of herself. Both had been at the Battle of Brandywine.
'Greene was born May 26th, 1742. His father was a miller, an anchor-smith, and a Quaker preacher. In early life he followed the plow
NORTH CAROLINA. 29
and worked at the forge. He had no educational advantages in his youth, was born and reared in obscurity. But Jie is an example of what good principles, native sense, industrious habits and careful improvement of time can accomplish. A British officer said. "Greene is as dangerous as Washington: he is vigilant, enterprising and full of resources. With but little hope of gaining any advantage over him, I never feel secure when fiicamped in his neighborhood.'" (Garden's Anecdotes, p 76.)
Battle is the game of chess nations play at. Had Greene lost this one. the poptilation of Guilford County and of North Carolina would prohably be today entirely different, for the ancestors of her people would have been mutilated or destroyed by Tories, dops and scavengers of war.
"Comwallis led a country dance;
The like was never seen, sir; Much retrograde and much advance,
And all with General Greene, sir. They rambled up and rambled down,
Joined hands and off they ran. sir; Our General Greene to old Charlestown
And the Earl to Wilmington, sir."
In Guilford and her neighbors the strife was kept well stirred. There were loyalists here true to the kingdom of Great Britain. These had property and did not like to see a change in government. There were also "Tories."' rapacious, wicked, who hated all Whigs and the American cause. Their leader was David Fannen, a scrawny, raw-boned man with the scaldhead, bitter, spiteful, re- vengeful with the soul of an Indian. His band of Tories was almost omnipresent in its cruelty to Whigs. The novel, "Ala- mance," by Dr. C. H. Wiley, gives a good idea of what the Tories were in Guilford County. Dr. Caruthers gives a good history of this period in his books, "The Old Xorth State," first and second series.
ai,ivX.\.\I)i;r M.\kTi.\.
(Extracts from Judge Douglas's Speech.)
Alexander Martin, one of Guilford's first great leaders, and hei first governor of Xurth Carolina, was of Scotch- Irish descent,
30 GUILFORD COUNTY,
his father being a Presbyterian minister. He was born in 1740, graduated at Princeton University in 1756.
In i772 he settled at Guilford Courthouse, then situated near the battlegrgand, and was later named Martinsville in his honor. When the Battle of Guilford Courthouse occurred he was a member of the Council Extraordinary; and in company with Dr. David Caldwell was present at the Battle of Alamance.
In 1774-75 he was a member of the Colonial Assembly from Guilford County. He was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Regiment from this State in the Continental line on September the first, 1775, and wa's promoted to the Colonelcy in 1776. He, with his regiment, was present at the Battle of Brandywine, 1775, where Lafayette was wounded, and was near him. In the attack of Washington on the British at Ger- mantown, he was present. His General, Francis. Nash, was killed.
In 1779 he was elected state senator from Guilford County, serving for a number of years. In 1780 he was speaker of the Senate. Upon the capture of Governor Burke by David Fannen, Alexander Martin suc- ceeded to the governorship. He was elected Governor of North Carolina in 1786 and 178.3.
In 1786 he was elected by joint ballot of the two houses of the General Assembly one of the five delegates to the Federal Convention, called to meet in Philadelphia to frame the Constitytion of the United States. The convention met May 25, 1787, and among the delegates from North Carolina Alexander Martin's name appears first.
Six times Governor of his State, once by succession and five times by direct election, Alexander Martin has left a record that has never been equaled.
In 1793 Governor Martin was elected to the Senate of the United States. He was a staunch Federalist and a friend of Washington.
At the general meeting of delegates at Newbern. on April 3rd, 177S, Alexander Martin was the delegate from Guilford. At the meting at Hills- b'orough, August 21st, 1775, Alexander Martin, Ransom Southerland, Samuel Parke Farley, Thomas Henderson. William Dent, George Cortner and Nathaniel Williams were delegates.
On April 4, 1776, at the meeting which placed the State in military organization, the Guilford delegates were Ransom Southerland, William Dent and Ralph Gorrell. The officers appointed for Guilford were : James Martin, Colonel ; John Paisley, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Thomas Owens, First Major; Thomas Blair, Second Major.
NORTH CAROLINA. 31
At the meeting at Halifax. November I2th, 1776, which formed the Constitution, the delegates from Guilford were: David Caldwell, Joseph Hinds. Ralph Ciorrell. Charles Liruce and I sham lirowdcr.
CLILFORU nATTLEGROUNl).
The orip^inator of the Guilford Battlegrouml Company was Jiulpe David Schenck, who, in 1882, came to Greensboro from Lincolnton, X. C. He was a brilliant man, interested in the devel- opment and up-buildinp of North Carolina, and for years worked ceaselessly toward that end. To him was due the early establish- ment of the Greensboro paraded schools. In 1886, October, he purchased the j^frounds on which this g^reat decisive battle of the Revolutionary War occurred ; to Jud^e Schenck is due the honor of rescuinc: the battlejii^round and its history from oblivion. He tauc^ht the history of the conflict of 1780 and '81 in North Caro- lina cflFectively. both by his pen and his redemption of the Guilford Batlle^c^round. Until he came this battlej^round, blessed by the blood of patriotism, was an old sedge-field of pines and briars, a tangled wilderness. Today everyone knows of the great Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The imposing monuments there will tell the youth for many a generation the history of North Carolina patriotism.
A charter from the Legislature of North Carolina was pro- cured at its session in 1887 and on the 6th of May, 1887, Friday, J. W. Scott, David Schenck, Julius A. Gray, D. W. C. Benbow and Thomas B. Keogh met in Greensboro and organized "The Guilford Battleground Company." Judge D. Schenck was elected president ; J. W. Scott, treasurer, and Thomas B. Keogh, secretary. Citizens of Greensboro responded liberally. Mrs. McAdoo-King was the only lady stockholder.
In 1889 the Legislature appropriated two hundred dollars annually to the support of the Guilford Battleground. The first monument, given by McGalliard and Huske, quarrymen of Ker- nersvil'.e, N. C, was erected in honor of Capt.mn Arthur Forbis,
32 GUILFORD COUNTY,
who was wounded and died on the field of battle, a brave soldier of Guilford County.
Governor A. M. Scales had prepared granite blocks, begin- ning with a base of five feet square and running up to two feet, in form pyramidal. This was erected "with joy" in the centre of the battlefield, near the railway, where all travelers might read : ''GuTLFORD Battle Ground, Thursday, March the 15TH, 1 781" — the Battle Monument.
Two natural springs of cool water on the grounds were de- veloped and beautified bv the Northern gentlemen, who were one with us in the great American cause — Mr. William P. Clyde, of New York, for whom Clyde Spring is named, and Mr. Leonidas W. Springs, of Philadelphia, for whom the twin, "Leonidas Springs," is named.
In 1891 the remains of Brigadier-General Jethro Sumner were re-interred in this hallowed mould of the Guilford Battle. That year a museum was built on the grounds, which has gathered many relics of the Revolution.
In 1892 Maryland Monument was erected, in memory of the Maryland Regimentals.
In 1893 The Hoi,t Monument was erected by Governor Thomas M. Holt.
The Oak Ridge students have erected a monument to the Bugler Boy of Light Horse Harry's Troops, who was killed near Oak Ridge Institute.
In 1900, James Hunter Monument was built (through the efiforts of Hon. Joseph M. Morehead), and the history of the Regulators established as the first patriots of American liberty. There are many 'other monuments. The Fourth of July is cele- brated each year. Thousands of people visit annually this scene of the Revolutionary War.
NORTH CAROLIX.
CHAPTER V.
MINUTE PACKET OF THE COURT OF PLEAS AND (4L'ARTER SESSIONS. 1782-1788.
The County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions was a con- tinuation of the Enghsh fomi of government. It met quarterly, in February, in May, in Aug^ust and in November. Three, five or more Justices of the Peace sat on the bench. Besides rendering judgment, tliey appointed county officers, to be confirmed by the governor, deeds were probated and wills were proven in their court. It was a quarterly meeting of the Magistrates' Court. (Nov., 1782. Book I in Clerk's office at the County Seat of Guil- ford.) This court, in time, became the Board of County Commis- sioners, which meets the first Monday in each month, and some- times in the middle of the month, composed of three citizens.
Thf County ta.x is laid by the Court to one shilling on every hundred pounds ta.xable property in the County. (Book in Clerk's office at Greensboro. Nov 18, 1782.)
Ordered that each constable who warned the inhabitants to give a list of taxable property for the years 1781 and '82 be allowed forty shil- lings. .■\lso each assessor be allowed the same. (17 Feb., 1783.)
Ordered that Col. John Peasly, Col. John Gillespie, John Forbes, William Kerr, Thomas Wiley, John Foster, Thomas Landwith. Moses Craner, .Vndrcw Wilson and John Mc.\doo be a Jury to lay out a road from the Highrock ford on Haw River to the County line at Elisha Mcndcnhall's Mill.
Daniel Allen, who was brought before the Court for speaking defama- tory words against the State, was fined twenty poinuls — (not paid).
.At a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, .\le.x Caldwell, William Dent. George Peay, Esquires, present: "William Dick is allowed £5, 4s, 4d for his attendance as Juror at Salisbury Superior Court, March term, 1780. (May 20, 1783.)
34 GUILFORD COUNTY,
Sprow Macay, Esq., is appointed attorney to act in behalf of the State in the County of Guilford.
For each district a constable and assessor were appointed. David Peebles is appointed in Mr. Bruce's district for the present year and Justin Knott constable for the same year. (David Peebles' son, Lewis, had a daughter, Patsey, who married Col. Walter McConnell, who was the father-in-law of C. N. McAdoo.)
At a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions begun and held for the County of Guilford, the third Monday in August, 1783; Present, Charles Bruce, William Goudy, James Brown, Esquires.
The last will and testament of James Mendenhall is recorded. Also an inventor\' of the estate of James Hunter, deceased, was returned in open court and recorded.
Ordered that Allen Unthank's tax for the year 1782 be remitted, it being proved to the satisfaction of the court that he was a balloted man to serve in the Continental service nine months and had paid his tax regularly until that year.
John Williams, Esq., is appointed attorney in behalf of the State for the County of Guilford.
Ordered that John Wilej' be allowed the sum of 40 shillings for his services in warning the inhabitants of Mr. Larkin's district to give a list of their taxable property for the year 1779.
John Gillespie, Esq., produced a commission from his Excellency, the Governor, appointing him Sheriff of this County of Guilford, and qualified as such by taking the necessary oaths prescribed by law for the qualification of Public officers and gave bond with security for the faithful discharge of his duty.
Ordered that the Collectors receive no more than a two-fold tax from those Quakers who are above fifty years of age and not exceeding four- fold from those under that age that have not given in a list of their taxable property.
Ordered that Alex. Caldwell and George Peay, Esq., be appointed a committee to settle with James Brown, Esq., former Sheriff of this County, who reported that they had done the same and that by the several vouchers produced there appeared to be a balance due the said Brown from the County £582, 8s, 3d, as per and filed. The same persons also settled with the said Brown for taxes.
Ordered that the following persons, to wit, Elijah Oliver, Thomas Cook, William Allen, William Stephens, Robert Coleman, Jeremiah Morris, John Nix, William Peay, Eli Surry, Derby Hoppen, David Walker and Jeremiah Johnson, be appointed patrolers in their several districts.
AOAV7/ CAKOLL\A. 36
Ordered that the sheriff or collector pay Thomas Blear one pound titteen shillings t(»r his attentlance as Juror at Salisbury Court in June, 1775.
F'resent Wni. Gowdy. Wni. Dent, Robert M. Kaniie, Alex. Caldwell, Adam Larkie. (Nov.. 1783.)
Ordered that Thomas Henderson have leave to remove the House, called the store house, that is now on the lot of James Buchanan to his own lot for the purpose of keeping the Records and other papers belonging to the clerk's office of said county.
The county tax is laid to one shilling for the present year.
Ordered that the Sheriff agree with some person to repair the Court house, erect a Barr and make report to ne.xt court.
Col. John Gillaspie, high sheriff of Guilford County, came into Court and excepted against the Jail.
Ordered that Thomas Henderson, clerk of Guilford County, be allowed 40 pounds for two years. The county is in arrears to him for extra services, and 20 pounds for present year.
Ordered that Robert Wiley be allowed £5, 17s, 8d, for his attendance at Salisbur>' Superior Court which met in March 1784. (May, 1784.)
Jes^e Benton, Esq., produced a license to practice law from their honors the Judges of the Superior Courts of Law and Equity. (Minute Bk. Court of P. & Q., 1781-8.^.)
James Hunter, Esq., being elected sheriff of this county, ordered that he be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to be commissioned for that purpose.
Jacob Brown. Wm. Crawford. Wni. Fathom and John McXary, Esqs., produced each a license with testimonial annexed agreeable to law from the honorable the Judges of the Superior Courts of Law and Equity, and were admitted to practice in this Court as attorneys at law.
Ordered that the sheriff summon all the Constables within this county to give their attendance with proper staffs, as wands, during the sittings of the County Courts to be held for this County during Term time, to do their duty in office or otherwise be subject to the pains and penalties of the law.
Thomas Archer, indicted for retailing liquors, came into Court and submitted and was fined.
License is granted William Reed to keep a Tavern at his own dwell- ing house, Francis McXary, his security. (May, 1784.)
In 1784 Thomas Henderson was Clerk of the Court.
At a County Court of P. & Q., present the worshipful Alex. Cald- well, Wm. Gowdy and William Dent. Agreeable to the petitions of Sundry Inhabitants, ordered that Peter Oneal have leave to build a Grist Mill over Prewit's fork of Hogan's Creek.
36 GUILFORD COUNTY,
On motion of John Williams., Esq., ordered that an instrument of writing or Duplicate of the last Will and Testament of Daniel M. Collom, Dec'd, be recorded (the original being destroyed by the British), which was proved in the open Court by the oath of Thomas Wratherford.
Ordered that Jehu ]\Iorton be fined 15 pounds for three profane oaths by him sworn in the presence of the Court and that he should be com- mitted till fine and fees be paid.
Ordered by the Court that Jehu Morton be committed to stocks for two hours and that the Sheriff summon a guard sufficient for that purpose and that any convenient fence be deemed stocks for that purpose or any other place of confinement.
Thomas Brown is appointed Overseer of the road from the Court House to the middle of Horsepen Creek and that he with the hands of Francis AIcNary, Widow Foster, John Hamilton, Nathan Brown and Capt. Wm. Dent keep the same in good repair agreeable to law.
"Ordered that in future each sheriff attend this court with a Wand of tough wood eight feet in length and one inch in diameter, and that each constable attend the courts with staff's neatly shaved 6^ ft. in length and iy'2 in. in diameter painted black on the head for 8 inches." James Hunter, High Sheriff. (August, 1788.)
Chas. Bruce and Wiliam Dent, Esqs., are appointed to superintend the next election for members for Legislature for this County.
Wm. Gowdy. Ralph Gorrell and William Dent were present at the term of Court. John Stokes, Esq., produced a license with a testimonial annexed from their honors the Judges of the Superior Courts of Law and Equity and was admitted to practice law accordingly. Ralph Gorrell, Esq., is by the Court elected Register of the County of Guilford. (Nov. 1784, Court of P. & Q.)
Ordered that the sheriff or some of the collectors pay James Brown £20, 6s, Sd, which appear to be due him from the settlement of his amount as former sheriff of this county. (Nov. 1784.)
Ordered that the County tax for the year 1784 be laid to one shilling on every poll tax and the same on every 300 acres of land. Andrew John- ston being of a proper age came into court and made choice of Henry Ross, William Gowdy, Esq., his security in the sum of 200 pounds for the faithful discharge of his duty. (Feb. 1785.)
■"Charles Galloway records his mark, to wit, 'a crop and slit in each year.' " (Each farmer had his stock marked.)
The Esquires present at this court of P. & Q. were Wm. Gowdy, George Peay and Adam Lackey. James Hunter is unanimously elected Sheriff of this County for the present year. (May 1785.)
corKTiicrsK OK (.rii.i-oui) cointv
NORTH CAROLISA. 87
On the petition of Suntlry of the inhabitants of the two Buff ilos, it is: Ordered that a road be laid off from Ralph Gorrcll, Esq., to Elijah Stan- ley's Mill and from thence to the Cape Fear Road and that the following Jury, to wit. Daniel Ciillaspie, John Foster, John Mc.^doo, John Mcb:ine, David McAdoo. James McAdoo, Francis Cummings, John Holt, John Orr, George Parks, Samuel Martin and James Butler, be a jury to view and lay ofT sai<l road and make report tlureof to next Court.
Nichlas McCubbin is appointed Overseer of the road from the Sorrow Town to Quaqua Creek; James McCoIium from thence to the County line of Caswell ; John Odell from the County line of Caswell on the Iron Works Road to William Bethel's Muster Ground; Natty Jordan frojn thence to the roads at Browder's Executor's; William Hickman overseer of Hen- derson's Road from Samuel Bethel's to Cantrel's Meeting House; Lawrence Bagston from thence to the Governor's Road ; David Suttlcs from Manlcave Tarrant's to Hugh Reeds'; and Hugh Reeds from his own house to Thomas Gray's. Jacob Williams' road.
Nathaniel Scales is appointed Overseer of the road from Sinythe's or to Dry Creek and the road from the Saura Town ford to the Vir- .;a line.
A deed of sales from James Buckhannon and wife to James McQuis- • :i for 60 acres of land was proved in open court by the oaths of James 1 ir.nlap and ordered registered.
Ordered that the sheriflF, or collector, pay Ralph Gorrcll. Eso.. £5. 6s, r his attendance as a Juror at Salisbury Court of Oj'cr and Terminer, . held for the district first of June, 1775.
Ordered that the SheriflF or collector pay Ralph Gorrcll. Esq.. £1, 12s, for blank books furnished his office as register.
Ordered that the Sheriff or collector pay Robert McKamie, Esq., £9, 3s, 4d, for his service done as Crowner of his county.
John Duke was sworn in as Juryman with Henry Whitesel, Thomas Green, George Glass. (Nov. 1785.)
Agreeable to an act of the assembly for appointing an inspection of tobacco at the Court hou.se of Guilford Co., Wm. Dent, E.sq., and Alex. McCain are appointed inspectors of the same.
Court house repaired. Ordered that the said Commission (William Dent. John Ilamilttm. William Duke) also engage with said workman who undertake the Court house to build a pillory and stocks for the use of the County.
On the resignation of Thomas Henderson as Ckrk of Guilford County, live members being pristnt, Thomas Leary is unanimously elected, into bond with William Dent .-.nd Thomas Henderson in the sum of two thousand pounds for the faithful discharge of his duty, etc.
38 GUILFORD COUNTY,
Hance Hamilton was by the Court elected Sheriff and that he be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to be confirmed. Accord- ingly the said Hance Hamilton Produced a commission from the Governor appointing him sheriff. Bond, £5000. (May 1786.)
James Buckanon submits to the court and is fined 40s for selling liquor above the rates.
Ordered that Abner Willis, orphan of Richard Willis, dec'd, aged 14 years, be bound to Edward Ryan until he arrives at full age, to learn the art and mystery of weaving, and the said Ryan engages to give the said orphan one horse to the value of 10 pounds, and learn him to read, write and cypher as far as the five Common rules in Arithmetic.
Ordered that the Sheriff or some Collectors pay Thomas Hamilton 48 shillings for his service in making the line between this county and Randolph County. (Laid off in 1779.)
"I do hereby certify that John Stockard appeared before me within the space of two or three months after Isham Lett had entered a Bay Gild- ing on the Stray Book in or about the year 1784 and the said John Stockard made oath that the said Gilding was his property." Given under my hand Feb. 24. 1787, Wm. Gowdy.
It is ordered that an issue to each Justice be made "that at the time of taking tax list they likewise take a list as law requires of the number of inhabitants m each district."
The county tax is levied at 2s, 6d, for the year 1786 on each poll and the same on every 300 acres of land.
Joseph Hoskins. Constable, enters into bond with the Court in the sum of 250 pounds for the faithful discharge of his duty, George Denny, his security. (May 1787.)
Ordered that John Hamilton and William Dent, Esqs., be allowed the sum of 16 pounds for running the dividing line between Rockingham and Guilford Counties, and that Richard Burton be allowed the sum of 40s for his services in carrying the chain in running the line between the Counties of Guilford and Rockingham. (Rockingham formed from Guilford in
1785-)
Rockingham being made for the Election of a sheriff for the year 1787 Hance Hamilton offered himself a candidate for the same who was unani- mously elected, five members being present.
Ordered that William Dent and Ralph Gorrell, Esqs., be appointed to settle with James Hunter, sheriff of said County, for the County tax for the years 1784- 1785.
Hance Hamilton produced a commission from his Excellency, Richard Caswell, Esq., appointing himself Sheriff of Guilford County, who took the
XONTH C.IROLI.SA. 3»
oath agreeable to Utw— who at the same time protested against tlic goal of the County. Joseph Hoskins and John Spruce qualified as deputy sheriffs for the County of (iuiltord.
Ordered tliat Thomas Smith, who was a continental soldier in the line of the snte. he allowed the sum of 15 pounds, it appearing that he lost one of his legs in the Battle at Utaws (Eutaw Springs?). .-Kged .28 years, left eye out. Capt. Porter Shaw repaired the Court House for 400 pounds.
"Andrew Jackson produced a license from the Judges of the Superior Court of I^w and Equity to practice Law and was admitted an attorney of his Court." (Nov. 1787.)
( .\ndrew Jackson was born at Waxhaw, N. C. He removed to Guil- ford County, X. C, read law at the home of Charles Bruce, at Summer- field, Guilford County. N. C, became constable in Guilford County, went to Tennessee with Judge McNairy, and afterward became President of the I'nited States, and the head and shoulders of the Democrat Party. While in Guilford he is said to have enjoyed the sports of cock-fighting and horse-racing. His old race paths are at Summerfield.)
Hance Hamilton re-elected sheriff. (May 1788.)
Ordered that Capt. Patrick Shaw be allowed to keep a tavern in his own dwelling at Martinsville.
40 GUILFORD COUNTY,
CHAPTER VI.
NOTES FROM THE MINUTE DOCKET. 1796-181I.
On petition of Alexander McKeen, Trustee of the Publick Buildings, ordered that the following repairs be made, viz, the goal to be weather- boarded and the doors made secure and a pair of steps made to ascend to the upper door; further that the window shutters of the Courthouse be repaired and the glass repaired that is broken out. Also that the steps of the Courthouse be repaired and the floor of the stocks new planked, the gullies by the goal to be stopped by a stone wall to be made low in the middle, and the Barr in the Courthouse to be made some longer and ele- vated about 18 in., with a step at each end and a platform from the middle to extend to the Bench on which the Clerk's seat and desk, or table is to be placed near to the Bench and a Jury box to be fixed on each side of said platform, between the Barr and the Bench to hold twelve Jurors, at least, with convenience, and the Banister or railing of the Bench are to be repaired. (November 1796, page 5. See Minute Docket in Clerk's office in Greensboro, N. C.)
In No-^'ember, 1796, there were summoned for the next term of court sixty-four Jurors. At this court twenty-nine deeds were acknowledged. (Page 7.)
Hance Hamilton and Cieorge Bruce, Esqrs., who were appointed at the last General Assembly Justices of the Peace for the County of Guilford, produced a commission from the Governor for the time being to that pur- port and took the necessary oath of office in open court, and took their seats accordingly. (Feb. 1797, page 11.)
For the year 1796 county tax was one shilling for one poll and one shilling tor every 300 acres of land. (Page 13.)
Ordered that the clerk give Public Notice for the inhabitants of this County to attend on the first day of next Court and every succeeding Court in order to do all kinds of County Business of a special nature as the Court will attend hereafter for that purpose and those that do not, ne.ed not expect to have such business done at any other period in the term. (Page 15.)
Ordered that the Sherifif hold an election for Wardens for the Poor on Easter Monday next, agreeable to Law or within the limits. (Page 15.)
NORTH C.lROl.L\.'i. 41
Z. D. Brn<lur was slioritT for 1795- At the February 1797 Term of Court 8t deeds were aunounced in open Court and ordered recorded.
(Page 15 ) . , .
Ahner Weatherly was electd sheritT for 1797. He received six votes, a maiority; seven votes were cast.
Ordered tliat the slierifT be directed to .idvertise for an election for Wardens of the poor held at the same time of next annual election. (May
1797. P'igi- -V) , , <• •
Ordered that the Clerk he allowed the sum of 20 pounds for services in 1796. Ordered that the SheritT be allowed X pounds for 1796. Ordered that the following Justices be appointed to take the lists of Taxables for the present year in the following manner and districts: "Adam Stevor for liis own and .\lexander Gray and Thomas Dick to take in .said Gray's and George Wilson's districts and north of Reedy Fork from the lower end of the County up to Samuel Thomp.son's Bridge, then along Dixes ferry road to where 1 sham Coffee formerly lived; Hubbard Peoples from Samuel Thompson's Bridge up to Reedy Fork to Scott's Mill, thence along the old road to Joseph Erwin's, thence down to said Coffee; Robert McKime, Hance Hamilton and Benjamine Beason to take in from said Leatt's Mill up including Jean's District and that of Lindsey's north of the old Salis- bury road.
Thirty-seven deeds were proven in open court this term. Abner Weatherly, shcrifT, came into open court and protested against the goal of this County, the same being insufficient in his opinion, (.\ugust
1797, page M)
John McMurray is appointed trustee fur the year 1796 who gave bond in the sum of 500 pounds. (Page 35.)
Ordered that the following insolvents be allowed to John Henley. Sherift for 1796. by the oath of Joseph Hoskins. deputy sheriff in Hubbard ' Peeple's District. Fifty-three deeds at this term of Court. (Page 37)
Also "the certificate of a procession made for William and Andrew Jackson on the 8ih day of June, 1797. all of which are filed with the petitions of the Court, (fees not being paid).
Gottlieb Shober. Esq., produced a license from their honorables, the Judges of the Superior Courts of this state, licensing him as an attorney in the County Courts of this state who it appeared had taken the oaths prescribed by law and was admitted accordingly." (Page 41.)
At the November Court of 1797 one hundred and twenty-one deeds were proven in open court and thirty-seven deeds the following February. U'age 48.)
42 GUILFORD COUNTY,
Abner Weatherly was re-elected Sheriff and allowed 30 pounds for year's service. Ordered that the clerk be allowed 22 pounds for his ex- officio services for 1797. (May 1798, page 65.)
John Hamilton proved a power of attorney from William Bridges to Andrew Jackson impowering him to make a title to David Dawson, Jr. Andrew Jackson proved release from Robin Weeden and Wife to Christian Full. (Page 69.)
Andrew Jackson, attorney for William Bridges, acknowleded a Deed from Daniel Daeson for 74 acres of land. At this court one hundred deeds were proveq.
Present at this term of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Samuel Lindsay, William Armfield, Matthew Cunningham. Abner Weatherly, Esq., (elected Sheriff by the Court) produced his commission from Gov. Saml. Ashe appointing him as Sheriff of Guilford County.
Ordered that it be entered on record that John Goodrich came into open court and acknowledged that he expected that some time ago in a quarrel he deprived John Wright, son of Francis Wright, of a small piece of his right ear.
William Farrington ^ Charged with passing base metal as money in
gtajg ( the similitude of a Spanish milled dollar.
William Farrington was bound over to Salisbury Superior Court. He gave bail of 100 pounds.
Forty-six deeds were reported at this court. In November Court thirty-seven deeds reported. Ordered that Duncan Cameron be appointed attorney to act for the State during this court. (August 1798.)
At this court were present Hance McCain, Hubbard Peebles, George Mendinghall, John Howel and Jonathan Parker. (Feb. I799-)
Abner Weatherly" was re-elected Sheriff unanimously at the May Court. William Armfield was appointed Trustee for Guilford County.
Ordered that George Rankin be appointed to procure and keep a proper standard of weights and measures for this county. (May 1799, page 102.)
John Plowel was appointed entritaker for Guilford. His duty was to keep ihe public and confiscated lands, and to sell them. His bond was 2,000 pounds. (Page 103. Page 113.)
Ordered that James Loum.er, a wounded soldier in the services of the United States, one of the militia of his state, wounded in 1779 in Ashe's Defeat in Georgia, being shot through the body and right arm, which was broken, rendering him incapable of pursuing his business as a blacksmith, be allowed the sum of 17 pounds 10 shillings per year and the certificate
.\Of:ril C.IROHS'A. 48
of same l)c made known to the C.cncral Assembly of North Carolina. (Nov. I79«j, paRC I2l.)
Ahncr W'eathcrly was unanimously elected Sheriff by the Court. Ordered tliat lieorpe Bruce, Samuel Lindsay and John Hamilton be appointed to jud^e the paper currency in the county agreeable to the .Assembly. William Armtield was appointed trustee for county.
Ordered that Charles Bruce, John Howel and John Hamilton be appointed a committee to establish a stanTlard'of weights and measures for this county which shall be a guide for the person appointed to regulate the same. (Feb. 1800.)
.•\t an e.xtra session of this court held in February, 1801. there were present (ieorge Bruce. John .Moore. Jester Knott, Zaza Brasher, David Price. Rol)ert Bell and William .\rmfield. Court called to try a negro charged with rape, sentenced to be hanged. (Page 156.)
.\t the May court, 1801, Abner Weathcrly was elected Sheriff, receiv- ing twelve votes out of si.xtcen cast.
The following Jury: Andrew Jackson, William Dick, John Wheeler, Thomas Rose, George Waggoner. George Starbuck, James Thompson, John Swicher. Zeal Shepherd. John White, Isaac Hiatt. (Page 16S. )
Ordered that the seven sets of the Acts of Congress (i Vol. lacking) furnished this county be distributed as follows: One set left in the office and the remainder to each three Justices, it appearing that there are seven- teen Justices in the county, and the broken set to go to the class of Justices that contains two. Justices are to be classed as follows: Ralph Gorrell, Roddy Hannah. Jonathan Parker ; David Price, George Bruce, John Moore ; James McNearry, Alex. Gray, Samuel Lindsay; John Howell, George Mtn- denhall. William Armfield ; William Gilchrist, John Cummings, Zaza D. Brasher; Jestin Knott, Robert Bell.
For 1801 the county tax was two shillings to the poll and eight pence for every 100 A.
George Bruce, David Price. Jestin Knott presided. Archibal.l Murpliy, Esq., produced license from the Judges of the Superior Courts of Law and Equity authorizing him to plead and practice law in the different Courts, on his taking the oaths by law he is admitted to practice in this Court. (May 180J, page 202.)
Andrew Jackson is appointed road overseer from Reedy Fork Bridge to the Widow Flack's branch. (Page 218.)
Ordered that Abner Weatherly, sheriff, be fined for swearing. ( Page 234)
Agreeable to an order of Court, the sheriff summoned a jury to inquire into the sanity of David Coble's mind, it being suggested to the
44 GUILFORD COUNTY,
court by Barnabas Troxlow that the said David was of mind,
wasting his estate. Twelve good men duly summoned in behalf find the said David Coble to be of sound mind and that he is not wasting his estate. (May 1803.)
On petition of Elizabeth Wheeler, widow, the owner of a slave called Saul, who has performed divers meritorious services, of fair and good character, it is ordered that the said negro Saul be let free and that he be called by the name Saul Wheeler forever hereafter. (Aug. 1804.)
Two indictments for retailing spirituous liquors by the small without license. Sixty-three deeds recorded. (x\ugust 1805.)
A bill of sale from Andrew Jackson to Latham Donnell of one negro woman slave was proven. (November 1805.)
(The word dollar is used instead of pound. Feb. 1806.)
Administration on the estate of Andrew Jackson, dec'd, is granted John Starrat and Edward Gran. (Aug. 1806, page 387.)
IMartinsville was the first county seat of Guilford, known in history as the scene of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The wealth of the town was, in 1806, as follows :
John Adam's lot 150 pounds
John Hamilton's lot 250 pounds
John Hamilton's lot, where he dwells 525 pounds
Charles Bruce's lot 200 pounds
Saul Cummings' lot 175 pounds
Robert Lindsay's lot 325 pounds
David Brice s lot 125 pounds
Sm.ith ]\Ioore's lot 275 pounds
James Cannon's lot 375 pounds
Robert Lindsay's dwelling lot ■ 400 pounds
John Hamilton's lot 40 pounds 10
Alexander Martin's lot 275 pounds
David Price's lot 43 pounds lO
Town lots 25 pounds
The Commissioners to appraise the property of Martinsville were John Cunningham. George Nicks, Geogre Swain. (Page 392.)
Thomas Dick, William Ryan and Abner Weatherly, Esqrs., are ap- pointed a committee to arrange and prepare a list of 'persons qualified to serve as Jurors in the Superior Court of Law hereafter to be held for this county and that they make report of proceedings at present term of this court. (Feb. 1807, page 398.)
Ordered that Thomas Dick, William Lease, William Ryan, Charles Bruce and Joseph Davis, Esqrs., be appointed commissioners for the build-
NORTH CAROI.l.W.-i. 45
ing of a new Courthouse and jail, hy plans aRrced upon l)y commissi. >iicrs. A sufficient tax was levied for 1S07-8-0-10. ( I'ane .v)-^. )
Elections were held at Martinsville. Jamestown and Findley Stuart's. I, Page 407.)
At a "County Court" for Guilford. .\t the May term for 1808 a plan of a town at New Courthouse was discussed. (November 1S07. page 4.^7.)
At this term Ahner Weatherly, who had been sluritT ten years, re- signed and James Dunning was elected for nine months. (August iSaS.)
At the term of Court held May, 1809, nt Martinsville it was an- nounced "the new courthouse in (ireensboro now ready for reception of court. The court adjourned from the town of Martinsville to the town of Greensboro (which was the centre of the county)" to meet at ten o'clock tomorrow, Friday, 19 May, 1809. (Page 465.)
The esquires present at the first term of Court held in Greensboro were John Starrat, Jonathan Parker, Joseph Gullet, George Swain, John McAdoo, Ephraim Burrow.
This court was interested in hying off new roads, appointing road overseers, palrollers. constables, binding out children, acknowledging deeds, electing county officers, levying taxes. They had only poll and land taxes.
46 GUILFORD COUNTY,
CHAPTER VII.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
Slavery, an institution bequeathed to us like the church, the state or other forms of mediaeval life, was the embryo of a parasite growing from the roots of our republic. In Europe this principle had the form of feudalism ; in America, that of negro slavery. Through this system in the south, negroes from African jungles were trained into a class of men with some degree of civilization. In its day, in the South, slavery was the greatest of blessings to the blacks.
Though the institution of slavery had a much stronger hold on industrial life in Warren, Halifax and other eastern counties, still there were many slaveholders in the eastern half of Guilford County, Among the files of the Greensboro Patriot may be found advertisements like the following, offering a reward of ten dollars for a "Runaway negro man named Dutchman, formerly called Caesar. About forty years old, five feet, eight inches tall, long head, and stooped shoulders, has a down look and 'zacly,' or 'zack- ly, sar," is a common word with him. He took different kinds of clothing, old suit of blue jeans, and striped pants, some coarse summer cloths, two hats and a cap."
A reward of fifty dollars was offered by another subscriber for a runaway negro from his master in Washington County, Vir- ginia : "On Sunday a negro named Mack, sometimes called Wil- liam, jet black, very free spoken, tw^enty-four years old, about five feet, eight or ten inches, he wears a blue jeans frock coat, tow- linen pantaloons and straw hat. It is probable he may have pro- cured a pass and aims to get to a free state or to North Carolina. The said negro can write a little. I will pay the above reward for
XOHril C.iROLlX.l. 47
the delivery of said slave to nie in Washington County, or half
the amount, if secured so that I may ^et him aj^ain."
Pat riot of 1845 : "In pursuance to a decree issued from the Court i.f Equity, we shall expose to public sale, to the hitjhest hitliler. on the credit of 9 months, at the late residence of William I'.ayles, dec'd, on 25th day of July next, the following U)T OF KF.r.ROES:
"Uen, Jim, Logan, Alsy. and Dicey, (two men, two women and one boy), all young and lively. The purchaser will be re- <iuired to give note and api)roved security.
"Wii.i.iAM A. Lash. "John Hannkr, "Admr. of \Vm. lloyles."
Now. there were those in Guilford County having decided conscientious scrui)les against all this business. The western part of Guilford County was peopled by Quakers, Englishmen coming by wa\ of Pennsylvania, and another type not so mild — the Nan- tucket Quaker, who came to this western part of Guilford about the time of the first brewings of the Revolutionary War. This section was. and is today, the centre of Quaker element in the state. For some reason, or impulse, the Friends, or Quakers, re- garded the freeing of the slaves as their own peculiar mission. In their yearly meeting as early as 1772. according to Stephen B, Weeks, Friends were discussing slavery and the sin of it ; and in 1774 they freed their own slaves. The North Carolina yearly meeting of Friends chartered a ship, called The Sally Ami, for the purpose of sending slaves to Havti, where they might be free. Captain Swain, of Guilford County, was the skipper of the boat. Slaves were bought and sent to Hayti. (Mrs. ^L M. Hobbs.)
Even earlier than The Sally Ann, soon after the Revolutionary War, societies were formed all over North Carolina to protect and restore to freedom those negroes kidn3i)ped and sold into slavery. In the first decade of the ninetenth century a society was organized in Guilford Countv. calle<l the "Manumission Societv of North
48 GUILFORD COUNTY,
Carolina." Its meetings were held in the Deep River section, and others besides Friends were members, among them many slave- holders, who eagerly discussed the question of slavery. There was at this time in Washington City a society for the colonization of "free people of color."
The Manumission Society of North Carolina sought to put an end to the slave traffic by allowing no more to be brought into North Carolina ; by allov/ing no slave to be exchanged from one master to another ; and by allowing all negroes born after a certain date to be free. By this means they would gradually promote emancipation, thus averting the disastrous consequences of releas- ing suddenly upon North Carolina civilization about 205,170 slaves (See Census of 1820-1830), of half-savage negroes.
The representative members of the Manumission Society were the Coffi.ns, the Worths, James and Richard Mendenhall. The active members numbered several hundred, many prominent slave- holders being members. A large per cent, of the people of North Carolina at that time v.-ere philosophizing about some scheme for the emancipation of slaves.
What to do with slaves when freed was a question. Emigra- tion to Hayti was encouraged. Many of this Society preferred that the negroes be kept in slavery to having them remain in the state when freed. They were all, however, abolitionists. (This information was given by Mrs. M. M. Hobbs.)
The Underground Railway, though in reality an outgrowth of the Manumission Society, was not connected with it. This was a secret organization, begotten in the ingenious brain of the Coffins, by which slaves were sent to the Northwest. The scheme remained a secret for a quarter of a century, in which time many a slave- holder found his number of slaves greatly diminished, and his negroes skipped and gone.
Note: Friends did not receive negroes into their denomination as did Presbyterians, Baptists and others. Who ever saw a negro who was a Quaker?
1 have several times heard Addison Coffin talk of the Underground Railway and how- it was operated. S. W. S.
XJkTIJ L.lKUUX.l. VJ
The first "Mcpot" of this "railroad" was in southwest Ciuil- ford County, not many miles from the Randolph Comity line. The nej^ro escapeil from his master by ni,u:ht, went to one of these "aj^ents." was concealeil by day in the hiproof of his house ; by niyb.t he was sent to the next "aj^jent's" home, and so to free territiiry. A system of nails driven in trees along; the way marked which fork of the roatl to take.
Slaveholders themselves indulj;ed in "heavy threats," which intimidated many non-slaveholders who knew nolhiu}:; whatever of the "L'nder^'round Railroad." Thouj^h these were innocent, they coulil not endure the sentiment. They, too, went to the Northwest. W hole counties in Indiana and Ohio were peopled by Guilford County stock and their homes were left vacant. What was the primary cause of this? Slavery. For forty years before the Civil War, slavery was a pretty hot subject in Guilford County. North Carolina. It was the conjunction of the "Nantucketers" and the Scotch- Irish.
The Census of 1850 brouj^ht out the fact that nearly one- third of the population of Indiana was from North Carolina, wlnle Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas each had a large number of Carolinians. In 1835 the res^ion in the far Northwest was opened for settlement and Carolinians were among the first to enter the new territory. In 1849 the gold fever excitei'nent in California attracted "Carolinians who became the first to blaze the way." Far up in North Dakota, near Uevil Lake, Addison Coffin found a colony of young men located and holding their claims. Their parents were from Guilford County, North Carolina.
The first emigrants went west by horseback, with pack horses, following the buffalo trails. These animals, now extinct, came to Guilford to feed on the great peavine pastures in the winter. In the spring they went again to the northward, fording the IhitTalo Creek, the Haw River, the Dan River, at the best fords. Buffalo
See Guiironl Colteeian, Vol. 4. published at Guilford Collcfce. Paper by Addi<^ort Coffin and Stephen B. Wccka on "Southern leakers and dlavcry.
60 GUILFORD COUNTY,
trails and buffalo fords were an advantage to those seeking outlet westward.
Many places in the west, in Indiana especially, were named for those places left in Guilford County. Knightstown, Ind., was named for a family of Knights living in west Guilford; Greens- boro, Ind., w^as named for Greensboro, N. C., it is settled by Guil- ford people; Center and New Garden townships were laid off in Indiana. (See Steven B. Week's "Southern Quakers and Slav- ery.") Whole families and monthly meetings went west from Guilford. Deep River Monthly Meeting, Dover Monthly Meeting, Springfield INIonthly Meeting, New Garden Monthly Meeting were impoverished by the constant drain of migration.
The town of Florence, in Guilford, went west almost bodily. Men living remember when Florence was a thriving little town; now it is a deserted village. Jamestown and Friendship have been depopulated in a similar way. Gardners, Dillons, Winslows, Hills, left almost all of them. About 1830, four hundred families went west from Guilford County. The efficient cause was slavery, the old. old story of the time.
Though Guilford was drained by migration to the west, she probably lost less wealth, and suffered less because of slavery than any other county in North Carolina. Look at her enterprise, her industrial development, her educational system. Compare her towns with those of Warren County, Halifax County, Edgecombe County and others that had an immense wealth in slaves. Though these counties are drowsily waking up, by the demands of the tobacco and peanut markets, still they have no such industrial foundation as Guilford. Why? Their industrial life received the greater paralysis at the loss of so much wealth. With Guil- ford it was not so. Guilford had not, in the first place, so much wealth in slaves to lose. Guilford men were already hardened to labor. Guilford was not "aristocratic." Guilford men had long ago learned to be self-reliant. Guilford had the crafts of New England firmly fixed in her industrial organism by the "Nan-
.\\ji:ri] L.iROLi.wi. oi
tucketers." Thoup:Ii there has been contendinpf and clashinjj. it was the contlict of ideas which always develops education. The wranijli'iiJ ^vas not wranp;ling destructive; it was the throbbing of lusty life. This chapter directly affects our industrial and educatitMial deveh^penunt. Thouij^h Guilford County lost a great many people before and since the Civil War because of the slavery question, still the foundation of her industrial life remained.
Addison Coffin, one of the leaders of the "Underground Rail- road." was also emigration agent from Guilford County to the Northwest. In iSC/\ once each month he was in Greensboro, X. C. for the purpose of conducting emigrants. Thousands of white people left this County under his guidance until he, in 1872. went out of the business. In May. 1866, he conducted over three hundred: in June of the same year, he conducted a troop of emi- grants, of which 300 were twelve years old and younger, 100 were three years old and under.
The data for this chapter has been collected here and there ; from Addison Coffin's Life, from sketches in the Guilford Co/- lci;iau, from the complete file of the Greensboro Patriot in the library of the Greensboro Female College, and from conversing with many people, Mrs. Mary Mendenhall Hobbs. Mrs. P. B. Hackney; and Addison Coffin's talks to the students at Guilford College.
J
GUILFORD COUNTY,
CHAPTER VIII.
THE PART OF GUILFORD IN THE CIVIL WAR.
To Governor Ellis's call to arms in 1861 the Guilford Grays at once responded. Of these, fifty men went into the Battle of Bristow Station, in the fall of 1863, seven men came out alive, and only three of these were unhurt. (Per Mr. Wm. Rankin.)
From the Roster of North Carolina troops in the war between the States during the years 1861 and 1865 it is learned that the following commanding officers and companies were from Guilford County and there were other soldiers besides these from Guilford County :
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT^ COMPANY B. — OFFICERS.
John Sloan, Captain; cm April 20, 1861 ; p Lieutenant-Colonel September
28, 1861. William Adams, Captain; cm September 28, 1861 ; pr from ist Lieutenant;
killed at Sharpsburg. John A. Gilmer, Captain ; cm April i, 1862, p from 2d Lieutenant. J. A. Sloan, Captain.
Wm. Adams, ist Lieutenant, cm April 20, 1861.
J. T. Morehead, ist Lieutenant, cm October 5, 1861 ; p Captain 45th Cal. 53d. John A. Gilmer, ist Lieutenant, cm January 6, 1862. Rufus B. Gibson, ist Lieutenant. Rufus B. Gibson, 2nd Lieutenant, p.
James T. Morehead, Jr., 2nd Lieutenant, April 20, 1861, promoted. John A. Gilmer, 2nd Lieutenant, April 20, 1861, pr —
TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, COMPANY E.
Columbus C. Cole, Captain, cm May 23, 1861, p Major Jime 13, 1862. Charles E. Harper, Captain, cm ]\lay 2t„ 1861, k June 30, 1862 at Frazier's
Farm; p from ist Lieutenant. Joseph A. Hooper, Captain, cm, — , w — at Seven Pines; r April 20, 1S63; p from 2nd Lieutenant.
Cm— Commissioned. K— Killed. R— Retired. P— Promoled: W— Wounded. Dt— Detailed.
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M.IKKI) MOdKK SCAI.KS.
GF.NKK.M. IN THK CdXKKI'KRATF. AKMY IN NORTHKKN VIKC.INIA,
W)VKRN«)R OF NORTH CAROLINA.
F.I.m-R IN THK FIRST l'RKSI»YTK.RIAN CHLRCH OF 0RF.F.NSB«)RO.
I.AWVFR-STATF.SMAN.
NORTH CAROUSA. 68
M. M. Wolf. Captain, cm June 30. 1862. w August 30, 1862. at Manassas; r
Sept. 15. 1863; p from 1st Lieutenant. R. W. Cole. Captain, cm Sept. 15, 1863, w at Chancellorsville. Charles IX Harper, 1st Lieut., cm May 2^. 1861. w and k. Martin M. Wolf, ist Lieut., cm. p and w. .\. J. Busick, 1st Lieut., cm Sept. 15. 1863, p from Sergeant. R. W. Cole. 1st Lieut., cm, p and w. W. H. Faucett, 2d Lieut.. May 23, 1861, dt to Comm. James M. Hanner. 2nd Lieut., cm May 2^, 1861 ; r July 21, 1861. John N. Nelson. 2nd Lieut., cm July 30. 1861, d November, 1861 ; p from
Sergeant. Joseph A. Hooper. 2nd Lieut. R. W. Cole. 2nd Lieut., cm June 3. ' ' C. Wheeler. 2nd Lieut., cm ; r Jan. 26, 1864.
TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, COMPANY M.
William L. Scott, Captain, cm June 4, 1861 ; p Lieut. -Colonel Feb. i. 1862. William S. Rankin, Captain, an .\pril 26, 1862; p Major, .August 28, 1862. John E. Gilmer, Captain, cm .\ugust 28, 1862; w at Fredericksburg. William S. Rankin, ist Lieut., cm June 4, 1861.
Wilson S. Hill, 1st Lieut., cm
John E. Gilmer, ist Lieut., cm April 26, 1862.
John S. Dick, ist Lieut., cm Aug. 25, 1862; w at Fredericksburg.
John Doggett, 2nd Lieut., cm June 4, 1861.
Andrew Summers, 2nd Lieut., w June 4. 1861.
J. A. Cobb.. 2nd Lieut., w at Winchester and Gettysburg.
S. F. Stewart, 2nd Lieut., cm
NINETEENTH REGI.MENT, COMPANY F.
Barzillai F. Cole, Captain, cm June 4, 1861.
P. .A. Tatum, Captain, p from ist Lieut; cm June 4, 1861.
N. C. Tucker, ist Lieut., cm June 4, 1861 ; p from 2nd Lieut; w.
J. .\. Hooper, 2nd Lieut. ; cm June 4, 1861.
FORTY-FIFTH REGI.MENT INFANTRY— FIELD AND STAFF.
John Henry Morehead, Colonel, cm Sept. 2, 1862; p from Lieutenant- Colonel; d at Martinsburg, Virginia. June 25, 1863; p from Captain of Company E, Second Regiment.
Charles E. Shober, Major, cm June 26, 1862; p from Captain of Company B; p Lieut.-Colonel of Second Battalion.
FORTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, CO.MPANY B.
Charles E. Shober, Captain, cm Feb. 15, 1862; p Major Sept. i. 1862; Lieut.- Colonel of Second Battalion.
54 GUILFORD COUNTY.
Samuel C. Rankin, Captain, cm September i, 1862; p from ist Lieut.; w
July, 1865. at Gettysburg. S .C. Rankin, ist Lieut, cm Feb. 15, 1862; p and w. James M. Wharton, ist Lieut, (cm Feb. 15, 1862), cm Sept. i, p from 2nd
Lieut. Charles W. Woolen, 2nd Lieut., cm Feb. 15, 1862. Henry C. Willis, 2nd Lieut., cm June 29, 1862, w. R. R. Sanders, 2nd Lieut.
FORTY-FIFTH REGIMKNT, COMPANY C.
James F. Morehead, p Captain, cm Feb. 15, 1862, p Lieut-Colonel of 53d Regiment, p Colonel.
Peter P. Scales, Captain, cm May 8, 1862, Virginia ; d of w received at Gettysburg.
Robert C. Donnell, Captain, cm Sept i, 1862.
Robert L. Morehead, ist Lieut., cm May 8, 1862; r Sept. 1863; p from 2nd Lieut.
Joseph Henry Scales, ist Lieut., cm Sept. i, 1863; p from 3rd Lieut., Vir- ginia.
FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT, INFANTRY — FIELD AND STAFF.
James T. Morehead, Jr., Lieut-Colonel, cm May 6, 1862, p from Captain of Company D, p Colonel.
FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT, COMPANY D.
David Scott, Jr., Captain, cm March i, 1862.
Peter F. Daub, 2nd Lieut, cm March i, 1862. (This Company from For- syth, Stokes, Surry and Guilford.)
FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, COMPANY F.
Rufus L. Hooper, Captain, cm Feb. 14, 1863. Joseph S. Ragsdale, ist Lieut, cm Feb. 14, 1863. Charles W. Ogbum, 2nd Lieut., cm Dec. i, 1862. Wm. H. Young, 2nd. Lieut., cm Aug. 13, 1863, p 1863.
(The above from Vols. H. and HL of N. C. Roster.) Johnson and his army for days and days poured in one steady stream into Greensboro, where he surrendered. Wheeler's Cavalry, Dibble's Divi- sion, was in Guilford also. The last meeting of the Cabinet of Jefferson Davis was held in Greensboro.
Note: Wars of mediseval Europe were fought along the lines of race or religion; Wars of modern history are industrial problems wrought out under restraint iind com- pulsion. The Civil War was fought along the lines of Southern institutions. That was the great problem of institutionalism versus individualism. The verdict of the western world is that the individual is above and better than all sorts of institutions. But the lives of men like Morehead, Gen Scales, Col. J. I. Scales, Gilmer, Gorrell, Vance, Maftatt, Lee and Jackson, and many another, will forever give the Southern cause and the South- ern army glory and dignity in the world. It is sweet and beautiful to die for one's country.
>- ' ;.. J. 1. si .\i.i;s.
KM I. SENT SOI.DIKR. LAWYER AND STATKSMAN
lUklNi, THE DARK DAV^ Of THE Sf)L'TH,
A I'ATRIOT WITH HONOK TKIKD.
NORTH CAROLINA. 66
CHAPTER IX.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
Guilford County, lyinj^: near the middle of the plateau region of North Carohna. is twenty-four by twenty-eifjjht miles, rectanp:u- lar. This is the watershed county of the State; Haw River and Deep River rise from the Oak Ridge elevation, but join in Chat- ham County, flowing to the ocean as the noble Cape Fear. The Dan may be called a Guilford river, because this land was once Guilford's. Draining part of Guilford's territory, the beautiful Dan flows north, joining at length the great Roanoke. The aver- age elevation of Guilford County is between 800 and 1,000 feet above tide. The mean temperature is 50 degrees. Roses bloom out of doors nine months in the year. Guilford County is almost a square. Her eighteen townships are rectangular. Fifteen of these are penetrated by one hundred and eleven miles of railway.
Guilford has always been a great public highway. Before railroads, the Salisbury and Petersburg stage coach line passed tlirough Guilford, as did also the Salisbury and Fayetteville road. And before these, the same roads were the great Trading Paths of the Indians. The Five Nations on the north ; the Tuscaroras, in their Kehukee and Toisnot rendezvous, on the east ; the Catawbas on the south ; and the Cherokees on the west, passed over the Trading Path in their commerce with each other, or with the whites. But the road was not original with them. They held it by right of comjuest from the buffalos, which fed all winter on the tall peavines growing luxuriantly and abundantly in Guilford. These early lords of the savannahs of Guilford left their name writ in the waters of the North and South Buffalo Creeks.
Peavines grew here tall enough to reach the shoulder of a
66 GUILFORD COUNTY,
man on horseback. (Col. J. T. Morehead.) Hawks, Swain and Graham say that: "Between the Yadkin and the Catawba were immense grazing grounds. The Reedy Fork was bordered by cane brake, within which game abounded." McAdoo's Woods was a resort for bear, deer, wolf and panther. C. H. Wiley and Addison Coffin agree iii saying that there were all kinds of game and fish in abundance. The Address on Alamance Church, by Dr. Wiley, shows ''that shad came up the Buffalo." At one time the crows and blackbirds were so numerous and destructive a law was passed that each m.an should kill so many. (Life of Caldwell, also Addison Coffin in Guilford Collegian, Col. Rec, Vol. 8.) A bonus was given for their skins. Before 1850 chestnuts were so plentiful that hogs were fattened on them. The ground where Greensboro is situated was, when the site was chosen, an unbroken forest with a thick undergrowth of huckleberry bushes, that bore a finely flavored fruit. Dr. Wiley, in his Address on Alamance Church, says : "That a scientific Englishman, who was in the Van Buren exploring expedition around the world, thought that he found more kinds of wild flowers in Guilford and the adjoining region than he had ever seen elsewhere."
There were only a few scattered oaks in Guilford previous to the Revolutionary War. (Col. J. T. Morehead and others.) These rolling plains, with fertile soil and temperate climate, fur- nished a good foundation for the earliest occupation of the Pioneer Settler. With the present staples, wheat, corn and tobacco, they cultivated flax, indigo, hemp, and made large quantities of butter and honey. Agriculture, mining, manufacturing and many of the occupations known to men have been followed here. On many of the old plantations were made most of the things of common use. vSalt, and on rare occasions, a pound of coffee, were bought.
Guilford has been a leading section in the South in the culti- vation of fruit. The early settlers brought with them from across the "Big Waters" seeds of the different kinds of fruits. To a Quaker woman is due the honor of bringing the first varieties of
NORTH CAROLINA. 57
fruits and j^arden seeds liorc. In 1790, says Addison Coffin in the Guilford Colli'^iau (\ol. 3, papc 175). Ann Jessop, a minister of Friends, went to Enjjland and returned two years later brinpinj; e^rafts of the standard fruits. Ahijah Pinson, an expert in praft- inp. did the work of successfully j^raftinpf her seedlinp^ trees in the spring of 1793. These varieties of apples were the "Father Abraham." "Red Pippin," "June-eating:." "Yellow Pippin," "Enj^f- lish Russett." "Horse Apple," "Pearmain." "\'andever."
While enduring hardships, the early settlers of Guilford were working out great problems that would reach far into the next century. Tliere are now about forty nurseries in the state. Four of these are around Greensboro — Pomona Hill, John A. Young, Lego, and X'andalia Nurseries. At the first railroad meeting in Greensboro, July 4, , Mr, Joshua Lindley came up from Chat- ham County bringing a crate of the first ripe peaches. Thev were considered very early, but at the present his son, Mr. J. Van Lindley. has developed the culture of that fruit so that peaches may be gathered from the trees in Guilford from June to Novem- ber. In the cultivation of fruits the name Lindley has stood for much. Joshua Lindley was the pioneer in the business in Indiana. (His son, J. \'an Lindley, Pomona Hill. N. C.) In 1850 he came to Guilford County. Pomona Hill is a continuation of his "New Garden Nurseries" and the "Mendenhall and Westbrook Nur- series." three miles west of Greensboro. In the last twenty-five years the old-fashioned pears have been replaced by the Oriental varieties, and the quantity greatly increased. Japanese plums have been introduced, which are more delicious and productive than the old. Guilford is the mother of the peach orchards of Georgia.
Though the soil of Guilford is well adapted to the cultivation of wheat, the old people say that their fathers and mothers rarely saw wheat bread except on Sunday. This was due largely to the want of a good thresher. The history of how the early Guilford people worked out the problem of threshing wheat is a good index to their power of industrial development. They at first spread the
58 GUILFORD COUNTY,
wheat on the barn floor and the horses were driven around to tread it out. Elihu Coffin made an improvement on this method by having his barn loft made with holes all over the floor for the wheat to drop through. So the horses were led upstairs to tread the wheat, the straw being left above, the wheat falling on the floor below. Dr. Swain had a means of threshing by rolling a big log over and over the scattered sheaves. John Ballinger run the first thresher. It was called the "chaff piler." The sheaves were run through it, the straw and wheat coming out together. The next improvement separated them by means of a trough, which carried the straw off, this being an invention of Addison Boren. (All these improvements were thought out by Guilford men.)
The wheat was harvested with a reap hook until in 1840 cradles were introduced. Matthew H. Osborn, a Guilford man who went to Kansas City, invented the reaper. Madison Osborn invented a thresher in 1842, called the "Osborn Thresher," or the "ground-hog." He lived about six miles west of Greensboro. Before the war of i860, three hundred bushels was an unusually large crop of wheat. In the vicinity of Deep River and James- town a thousand bushels is now raised by many farmers. On Mr. Ragan's farm near High Point, one of the best wheat farms in the state, forty-seven and one-half bushels has been raised to the acre. The farm yields three thousand bushels of wheat annually.
THE CRAFTS.
The industrial development of Guilford resembles that of New England. Whittier might have written his "Songs of Labor" for these people as well as for those of Massachusetts. The "Nan- tucketers" brought with them the handicrafts, and the idea of apprenticeship. New England ideas, transplanted from Old Eng- land. (See the Chapter on the Settlement of Guilford County.) Western Guilford is Yankee North Carolina.
The old records show (see Chapters V. and \'I. above), that the boys, and girls too, were trained in industrial pursuits, i. e..
NORTH C.-iROlJX.l. 69
"to learn the art and mystery" of weaver, tanner, hatter, plow or ^ninmaker. Guilford was the county ot jjuninakers, plowmakers, hatters, tanners, woodworkmen and other industries.
In the section of country between Guilford College and Hiph Point were many punmakers. Though this was under Quaker influence, a people opposed to war, still they seemed to think it the rijjht thinjj: to make puns. Ther-.' were the Wriphts. the .•\rmfields. the Lambs, the Ledbetters. the Stephens, the Couches, Dixons and Johnsons who made puns for the Regulators and Tories of the adjoining counties. The soldiers of the Rattle of Guilford C(Hirthouse used puns of home manufacture. Many rifles were made here. About the first puns with percussion locks were made by these people. '"The Guilford Rifle" was known in the other States.
The plows of Guilford attracted public attention. The metal, or cast-iron mould-board, succeedinp the wooden mould-board, was invented in 1830 in Guilford by Eli Puph, near Jamestown. The output of plows from his shop was about three dozen per week. The manufacture of plows was a repular business for years ; they were sold directly to farmers, beinp hauled by agents in wapons for many miles.
I have see.i an old hatmaker livinp a few miles from Greens- boro. He said that the makinp of hats in this county was once a fine busine.^s. It was usual to pet six, eipht or ten dollars in those days for hats. The hatters used the hides of rabbits, squir- rels, opossums, coons, foxes and sheep. The fur was trimmed v.ith a knife made for that purpose. A liquid was used on the fur. That mixture, just as fine as silk, was "bowed out on a bip hurl," like a counter. A linen cloth was used to raise it from the hurl. A rouplv awkward hand could not touch it without breakinp it all to pieces. With the linen cloth the fur was moulded into the shape of the letter \'. It was sized over the fire in a boilinp pot. "It would felt up fast, sometimes too fast." In a few moments it v.as touph as sole leather and could not be torn. These hats held
60 GUILFORD COUNTY,
water like a bucket. A ten-dollar hat lasted ten 3'ears, a two-dol- lar hat was made to last the purchaser two years.
The Mendenhall tanyard, as old as the county, is still doing business.
The greatest auger-maker in the State was j\I. C. Iddings. His augers and gimlets have been in use over seventy-five years. The Swains were chair and bedstead makers. The beds were made with high posts, with curtains aroimd the top, to be grace- fully looped back. The "Valance," or foot-curtains, were strung around the bottom.
Westbrook, the tailor, employed several hands in making suits for Guilford and neighboring counties.
Spinning wheels were made by Col. James Neeley. His flax wheels sold for four dollars, his cotton wheels for three dollars.
Ballard's soap yard and Beard's hat shop were industrial enterprises until the slavery question drove their proprietors west.
A notable example of old-time industries carried on by slave labor was at Jamestown. From 1820 to 1845 George C. Menden- hall had a large system of industrial labor on his farm. His slaves were all special workmen. Being taught a trade they worked at it, not running around from one thing to another. He introduced the system that prevailed among the white people. In his store a negro clerk sold and bought goods. His harness shop was kept by a slave, a set of whose harness before the War took first premium at the State Fair. His carpenter helped to build the capitol at Raleigh, N. C. His caterer was sent to wait on President Buchanan when he visited the University of North Carolina. George Mendenhall had a shoe shop; a work shop in which were made plows, rakes, hoes, etc.; a large flouring mill, cotton gin, tanyard and farm, all worked by specialW skilled negro slaves.
MINERALS OF GUILFORD.
The mining interests in this county have in the past been worked to some profit. In north Guilford is the iron zone. The
]. \ AN I.INDI liiMdNA, N. C.
A'()A'77/ CAROLINA. 61
old iron works existed in»the days of Greene and Cornwallis. In south Guilford is the pold zone. It is said that no jjold has been found north of the railroad in Guilford, but south of it ^old and copper ore are found. Tradition says that the Iiulians had some knowledge of gold in this section.
The following: is a copy of a letter written by Robert W. Hod- son and placed in my hands through the kindness of Mr. Phillip Horney Hodson.
Plainficld, Indiana, 5 nio., 24th, 1879. P. H. Hodson.
Dear Cousin : Thy letter reached in due time, I)ut from various causes, has not been replied to earlier. I have been from home and otherwise engaged. I have recently returned from Philadelphia, Pa., as well as some shorter visits nearer home.
My health is pretty good for a person of my age (in my 83rd year).
.•\s to thy inquiries relative to the gold mines in N. C. The mine where I worked was in my brother Jeremiah's land, I was only privileged to work on a certain part of it under a lease to my father, James Kersey, and myself.
1 think in the year 1825 my brother Jeremiah and I in prospecting along a branch found sonv.- particles of gold by washing the sand in a pan (a little previous I think some particles had been found on John Teague's land near by on another branch, perhaps by a \Vm. Jessup, which was afterwards known as the Homey mine). From some knowledge of the Geological stratas of the earth we coursed the vein over the high land to the next branch, thence up the hill some distance, where a ledge of quartz jetted out, not more than a foot thick, leading S. S. \V., the gen- eral course of ledges of rock in that section of the country. \Vc found some particles of gold in quartz.
After harvest that summer my brother and I commenced sinking a pit on the hill, went perhaps 15 or 18 feet deep, looking for larger pieces of gold than are generally found in the veins, but finding none then gave up the pursuit till next summer.
In the meantime I applied my mind closely to gain a knowledge of Geolog>'. .Mineralogy, and Metallurgy from the best books, papers and men. &c.. in my reach — the manner of gathering and working metals in Peru and elsewhere. Then we commenced work with a little better understanding of the manner of gathering gold in other countries by following the vein of quartz only, gathering the ore, crushing it in mortars, grinding it, &c., and
62 GUILFORD COUNTY,
washing with Mercury. We washed the ore first, then crushed and ground the residue. The gold in the ore was pure, but there was sulphates of various metals combined in the ore. When we succeeded in the work it produced a wonderful excitement. Men came from far and near, went to work sinking shafts at random and getting no pay.
The Horney mine was soon opened and worked with some success; and subsequently many other places in Guilford and Randolph Counties were worked for gold, though copper abounded in some of those mines.
I think gold was first found in Cabarrus County, in the southwest part of the State, in alluvial beds in larger pieces, some of those pieces very large.
We worked more or less of the time about four years in the mine. The value of the ore by the ton varied so much that I can make no satis- factory estimate of it. There were small beds in the veins very rich ; we called them pockets.
My brother-in-law and myself worked together, one dug ore, one hauled to the washing place and the other washed. Some days not make more than $i.oo to the hand, other days much more. The largest day's work we ever done, was to dig out the ore, haul it to the washing place and wash out a little over $90.00, or $30.00 to the hand. We only went a little over fifty feet deep while I worked the vein. The vein thickened from near a foot on the surface to near five feet in the bottom. We sold out, I think, in the spring of 1831 to Andrew Lindsay, James Robbins and Jesse Shelly.
Perhaps I need not say more at present. If we were together, we might speak of many things transpiring betwen '25 and '31 when I left Carolina for Indiana. I am so nervous it is difficult to write.
In love, thy cousin, Robert W. Hodson.
Among the older mines of Guilford County lying from six to twelve miles south and southwest from Greensboro, that were, previous to the Civil War or at one time, successfully operated for gold and copper, are "The North Carolina or Fentress Mine," "The Hodgin Hill," "The Fisher and Millis Hill Mine," "The Gardner Hill Mine," "The McCulloch or North State Mine," "The Lindsay Mine," "The Deep River Mine," "The Guilford Mine," "The Twin Mine," and some twelve to twenty miles north and east, "The Melvin Mine" and "The Gibson Hill Mine." These mines were worked to depths varying from fifty to three hundred
NORTH CAROLINA. 68
and fiftv feet, tlic quartz veins varying in width from one foot to twelve feet or more. They produced free millinp^ pold ores run- ning' from $2 to $100 per ton or more, and even a better average gratle of iron pyrites gold ores from which they were unable to extract the gold with the methods then known and used.
HISTCKV OF COTTON .M.\NL'FACTLRI NG.
North Carolina is the pioneer of the Southern States in the manufacturing of cotton. Feeble beginnings were made in Lin- coln and Edgecombe Counties, but these were unsuccessful. By these failures the cause was hindered rather than established.
Henry Humphreys, a citizen of Greensboro, was the first to demonstrate that cotton manufacturing might be carried on profit- ably in the South. He built and completed the Mount Hecla Steam Cotton Mill, in 1832. To build a cotton factory then was a great undertaking. The machinery had to be hauled in wagons either from Petersburg, \'irginia, or from Wilmington, North Carolina. Postage on letters was twenty-five cents. Mr. James Danforth came down from Paterson, New Jersey, to set up the machinery, and spent a year or so teaching the people how to run it. The hands were white people from the neighborhood.
A bill of lading for Mr. Humphreys' machincfy says that "seventeen bo.\es had been shipped on the Schooner Planet whereof Capt I. Cole is master for this present voyage now lying in the port of New York harbor and bound for Petersburg, \'a. Goods to be delivered in good order and well conditioned at the port of Petersburg, Va. (the danger of the seas only is excepted). Freight for said machinery is eight cents per cubic foot. These goods were insured, marine insurance, policy costing $1.25."
•Another letter bears date of August 5. 1835, Paterson, X. J. : To Mr. Henry Humphreys:
Wages with mechanics have advanced in a much greater ratio and there is a scarcity of workmen. Besides the Trades Unions have created throughout all the whole Northern and Eastern section of the country much insubordination. Workmen have struck in many places for a reduc- tion of the hours of labor. The cotton mill hands have been standing out for eleven hours per day for more than four weeks.
64 GUILFORD COUNTY,
We trust the reasons stated are sufficient to justify the increased price of the I20 spindle frames. Rogers, Ketchen & Grownor.
The mill was built of brick and contained four stories, with a basement. It was one hundred and fifty feet long by fifty feet broad. Tv/enty-five hundred spindles and seventy-five looms were run. Sheeting, shirting and osnaburgs were woven, and also cot- ton yarn, which was put up in five-pound packages and sold throughout the country round to be woven on old-fashioned looms. When the mill was first established the yarns were so popular that people from the country camped all around the fac- tory, v/aiting for the yarns to come off the machinery. Other products of the factory were hauled in large wagons to Virginia, Tennesseee, Kentucky and v/estern North Carolina.
This, the first cotton mill in this State, stood on the corner of Bell Meade and Green Streets, in Greensboro, N. C. Edwin M. Holt, who became the leading cotton mill owner in the State and in the South, learned the cotton manufacturing business from Henry Humphreys. (See a letter of Governor Thos. M. Holt's in the "History of Alamance.")
Currency was issued by Mr. Humphreys. This bore a picture of Mount Hecla Steam Cotton Mills. Fifty-cent bills, dollar bills and three-dollUr bills were issued in 1837. Many of these were made payable to Thomas R. Tate, his son-in-law.
At present Gieensboro is the home of one of the great cotton manufacturing plants in the State. Western Greensboro is a manufacturing city in itself.
The Proximity Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of colored cotton goods, was organized in 1895. Its ofiicers are:
Caesar Conk, President.
B. N. Duke, Vice-President.
J. W. Cone:, Secretary and Treasurer.
R. G. Campbell, Superintendent.
This mill began operations in the latter part of 1896, with about 240 looms, and now has 985 looms. The company employs
NORTH CAROLINA. 66
abcKit IK)0 people. The villajje immediately surrounding thamill contains about .^oo residences and a population of about 2.500. In the village there arc three churches of various denominations, and also a public graded school.
Hucomuga Mills, manufacturers of colored cotton goods, was organized in 1895 ?i"*l t>egan operations the same year. Its of- ficers are :
J. \V. Cone, President.
G. O. Coble. Vice-President.
Clarence X. Cone. Secretary and Treasurer.
J. H. Dennv, Superintendejit.
This mill contains 144 looms.
The Revolution Cotton Mills, manufacturers of cotton flan- nels, organized in 1899, began operations in 1900. The officers are :
E. Sternberger. President. S. Fk.xNK, Vice-President. H. Sternberger, Secretary and Treasurer. J. \V. Holt, Superintendent. This mill contains 374 looms.
The Coulter & Lowry Co. Finishing Works are also situated at Ureensboro.
The \-an De% enter Carpet Co. operates the onlv carpet fac- tory m the State.
The Minneola Manufacturing Company, of Gibsonville. began busmess m 1886 as a private company, of which B. and J A Davidson were the proprietors. In 1888 the company was incor- porated, with Mr. B. Davidson as president and J. A. Davidson as secretary and treasurer.
In 1862 Oakdale Cotton Mills were moved from Petersburg. \ a., to Jamestown, in Guilford County, where thev occupy the site of the old gun shops. In 1892 the original stockholders, ex- cept Mr. J. A. Davidson, retired, and Lawrence Holt became the president. Mr. Holt was succeeded in 1894 by Cxsar Cone and
66 GUILFORD COUNTY,
he in 1896 by B. Frank Mebane, of New York. The mill is equipped with a 200-horse power Corliss engine, 181 looms, 2,000 spindles, and employs 150 hands.
THE CIVIL WAR.
"After the War," men said, "fashions came and destroyed our peace." P'actoi y-made cloth and calico put an end to home- spun dresses. After the war cotton was per pound sixty cents in gold. A suit of clothes was worth a thousand dollars in Confed- erate money. Th2 soldiers turned farmers and wore out their army clothing in the cornfield. Men wore homespun hats and shoes with wooden soles. People practiced all sorts of economy. The wom.en of North Carolina, God's women, thought, planned and worked, during the War and while its darkest clouds were pass- ing over, they held the country together.
During the Civil War Guilford County was continually flooded with soldiers. Wheeler's Cavalry, Johnson's Army, Sher- man's, marched through. In 1865 the commissary stores at Mc- Leansville were destroyed for fear the Yankees would appropriate these supplies. A carload of shells was exploded, barrels and barrels of molasses and of whiskey were burst open. Hungry women dipped up molasses from the gutters in buckets. Hopeless m.en lapped up the liquor like dogs.
Though Guilford's life-blood was freely given to feed the awful fury of war, still her industrial life was not choked alto- gether. Her people did not have the greater portion of their wealth invested in slaves. Of course there were some large slave- holders here ; many were content with a dozen or so. One-third of the population was non-slaveholding, the western half of Guil- ford being largely Quaker. In Warren, Halifax and other eastern counties, many slaveholders owned one or two hundred slaves. When the crash came they suffered most.
The remarkable occurrences of nature affect industrial life. On the night of the thirtenth of September, 1833, "the stars fell."
NORTH C.tNOLLWA. 6T
Tlu' shower of luetfors hc^an about throe o'clock in the iiK^niiiitj ami lasted until day. Thousands of shootinp lights fell to the earth, "just like the snow" cominj? softly down. The "bip snows" came in 1854 and 1857. Ten-rail fences were covered out of sight. The snow in the roads r»?ached the side of a horse. In 1857 it bei^an snowinp: before Christmas, on Saturday, and for five Saturdays it snowed. Au<jitst 7. 1869, there was a total eclipse of the sun. ^~*-^
WOOD WOKKMA.NSIIII'.
In 1867 a barrel of shuttle-l;l(Kks made of persimmon wood, as an experiment, was shippetl from Greensboro to Lowell, Massa- chusetts. Prior to this all shuttle-blocks had been made of apple trees, very costly since apple trees must be planted and allowed to jjrow. To Captain W. H. Snow belonj^s the honor of the dis- covery that persimmon and dop^wood and some other North Caro- lina timber mij^ht be used for the manufacture of shuttle-blocks. The discovery meant thousands of dollars to the State as well as to this County, ijreat industrial activity and enterprise and more wholesome living. Captain Snow demonstrated to Guilford people the way to utilize the unbounded but hitherto untouched resources of th«ir forests. In 1872 he went to High Point and touched the corpse of industry and it sprang into life. (See Chapter XII. on the Towns of Guilford.)
NEWSP.M'ERS.
The newspaper, as invented in London by the scholarly Addi- son, was a factor in literature in which the drama, the theatre and society figured largely. Hut, according to American sentiment, the newspaper belongs to industrial development.
The Greensboro Patriot through fourscore years has been a factor in the life of Guilford County. 1821 was its birthyear and 't has since been continuously published. Its circulation is large; many homes in Piedmont Carolina would feel lost without its weeklv visits. The Greensboro Patriot mav be found in almost
68 GUILFCRD COUNTY,
complete file in the library of the Greensboro Female College. This paper was originated by C. N. V. Evans and Clancey, who were succeeded by William Swaim,. whose successors were Lyndon Swaim and M. S. Sherwood. Col. James A. Long, of Randolph, was at one time connected with it ; also Hon. D. F. Caldwell and A. W. Ingold. About 1867 Jam.es W. and Robert H. Albright, who had been publishing the Times on West Market Street, secured control of the Patriot and consolidated the two publications under the name of the Patriot and Times. One year later R. H. Albright sold his interest to J. W. Albright, who took Major P. F. Dufify, now political editor of the Wilmington Star, as an associate. The latter became sole proprietor about 1876 and remained so until 1880, when he was succeeded by R. G. Fulghum, who began a daily in connection with the weekly. The former lasted but six months. Mr. Fulghum died in 1885, but had been succeeded in 1882 by John B. Hussey, then librarian of Congress. In 1890 the paper became the property of Messrs. Bethel, Scales and Cobb. A daily edition was issued from May to November, 1890. Wallace N. Scales, who was one of the publishers, moved to Idaho and became county judge in that State. Mr. Bethel retired from the firm in March, 1890, and the remaining members continued to conduct the publication until 1891, when J. R. Wharton succeeded them. Among others who at some time were connected with the Patriot were Whitehead & Hemby. In 1893 the present owners, W. M. Barber & Co., became proprietors, and under their man- agement the Patriot has fully maintained its honorable record of the past and broadened its field of usefulness. It is a paper of the people, which is read at the hearthstones of Guilford County and goes to other counties and states to tell those who are bound by ties of consanguinuity and social or business connections of the weekly happenings in the County of Guilford. The staff is: W. M. Barber, editor ; Wm. I. Underwood, local editor ; and Wil- liam P. Turner, foreman.
The Daily Record was launched on the journalistic sea
(. M'T. W. M. SNOW, IIIC.ll IHMNT. N. C.
NORTH CAROLINA. 69
November 17, i8c)0, with Messrs. H. J. Elam and J. M. Reece as editors. It is a popular paper, orij^inally five columns, but its size has been increased at various times. At present it is an ei{jht- page, six-column evening daily.
The Brett iti^i^ Telegram was established in July, 1897, by the Telegram Publishing Company, with Mr. C. G. Wright, president. It was a six-column folio at first, but was enlarged in 1898 to a seven-column folio. It is a lively, up-to-date publication, gener- ously supported.
INTERNAL IMTROVKMENTS IN THE STATE INAUGURATED IIV GUILFORD MEN.
"Even as late as 1833, a committee of an internal improve- ment convention^ in their address, say, 'We have nothing that de- serves the name of maufactures. No process for changing the values of the raw materials are in use among us, except those effected by manual labor, or by machinery of the very simplest and commonest construction.' " — Dr. Wiley's North Carolina Reader, page 341.
About this time internal improvements was the line of cleav- age in politics ; the Whigs represented the progressive policy, the Democrats were conservative.
Among the names connected with this era in the industrial history of the State that deserve to be remembered are John M. Morehead. John A. Gilmer — both father and son — Calvin Hender- son Wiley and Nereus Mendenhall, all of them sons of Guilford.
That period from 1830 to 1840 was like a great storage bat- tery in the history of Guilford County and North Carolina, not only, but of the world as well. In 1833 slavery in all the English Colonies was abolished. In 1830 the first railroad was run. It went from Liverpool to Manchester. In this decade telegraph lines were first stretched, and the first steamship crossed the Atlan- tic. In this decade Tennyson, the Brownings, Thackeray, Dickens and Ruskin became famous. They were unknown before. Ameri-
70 GUILFORD COUNTY,
can literature was born in this period. Before it, Washington Irving had been the only one supreme writer in this country. But in this ten years Bryant, Holmes, Whittier, Longfellow and Lowell came into prominence.
It was in this decade that the "Internal Improvement" and "General Education" policies thrilled the souls of people in North Carolina. Governor Alorehead kept in close touch with the indus- trial development and studied English newspapers and English im- provement. About this time there first began to be in North Caro- lina, railroads, the public school system, colleges, asylums for the insane, the deaf and dumb and the blind, the penitentiary, cotton factories, banks, good roads and generosity.
The Legislatures of 1840 and 1848 deserve also to be com- memorated— the first for an act to establish eommon schools, always indicative of industrial and healthful feeling; and the other for an act for the charters of the North Carolina Railroad, the Fayetteville and Western Plankroad, "The Slackwater Navi- gation of the Cape Fear and Deep Rivers, and prospectively of the Yadkin, with a portage railroad connection with Deep River." In those days the impulse for more effective transportation was so great that the project for making the rivers navigable was entered upon with enthusiasm. The Dan River even was one on which was expended much means and labor without any adequate returns.
Governor John ]\I. Morehead, in his last message to the Legis- lature of North Carolina, urged upon that body the demands of philanthropy and statesmanship for the establishment of a state asylum for the insane, which had before been housed in jails. John A. Gilmer's speech in the Senate of North Carolina was a most earnest appeal in behalf of these vmfortunates. That noble and praiseworthy woman, Miss Dorothea L. Dix, of New York, had by her personal appeals succeeded in inducing the Legislatures of many states to make provision for the insane. It was through her efforts also that the asylums were built. The Home for the Aged
NORTH CAROUSA. 71
and Iiihrni of Guilford County was planned by no others than Dorothea Dix and Governor Morehead. Dr. Xereus Mendenhall lielpevl in a ^reat measure toward the founding and erection of the Insane Asylum at Morganton. probably the best institution of the kind in the South.
JOHN M. MOREHE.XD.
Governor John Motley Morehead was a man of action and of great affairs. State institutions, railroads and factories were intro- duced into North Carolina by his creative hand. Our educational ami industrial life received an im.pulse from this man that can never be lost.
John M. Morehead was born the fourth of July. 1796. the birthyear of the University of North Carolina, from which, in 1817, he was graduated, with John Y. Mason and James K. Polk. For one year he was tutor and later a trustee of his Alma Mater. Far more than is usual in this State, he was familiar with hcllc lettres, history, arts and science. In practical surveying he was an expert. On mechanics and architecture he was well informed. With Archibald D. Murphy he studied law and in 1819 he was licensed to practice. His contemporaries were Murphy, Ruffin. Settle and Yancey, an array of intellect sure to bring out the best in man, and soon, in the face of competition, he had built up a fine pra.ctice, with his brother, the Honorable James T. Morehead. In 1821, John M. Morehead was elected to the House of Commons from Rockingham County. In 1827 he represented Guilford in the Legislature. In 1840 he was the Whig candidate for governor of North Carolina, in competition with General R. M. Saunders, Democrat. They made the first canvass of the State for that office. In 1842 Governor Morehead was elected to a second term of office as Governor of North Carolina, this time in opposition to Hon. L. D. Henry.
In 1 8^8 John M. Morehead was president of the convention which nominated General Taylor for President of the L'nited
72 GUILFORD COUNTY,
States. In those days the South had great men in the pubhc Hfe of the nation. Henry Clay was a personal friend of Governor jMorehead. In the General Assembly of North Carolina of 1858- 59, Governor JMorehead fought the fight for the railroad system of this State, a fight of giants about a real subject. In the Peace Congress which met in Washington City in February, 1861, Gov- ernor Morehead, together with Judge Rufiin, Governor Reid, George Davis and Daniel M. Barringer, represented North Caro- lina. Governor Morehead went opposed to separation of the States, but he returned in favor of it, taking the cause of his native land.
At a meeting of the stockholders of the North Carolina Rail- road, held in 1855, in Greensboro, Governor JMorehead said, in his farewell address as president of the company: "Living, I have spent five years of the best portion of my life in the service of the North Carolina Railroad; dymg, my sincerest prayers will be offered up for its prosperity and its success; dead, I wish to be buried alongside of it in the bosom, of my own beloved Carolina." After the War, broken in spirits and with fortune impaired. Governor IMorehead died, twenty-seventh of August, 1866, a man who had lived a hundred years ahead of his time. He was buried in Greensboro, where a beautiful monument should be erected to his memory.
"When Spring with icy fingers cold
Returns to deck her hallowed mould,
She there shall press a sweeter sod
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod."
The Piedmont Railroad Company, at a meeting of its Board of Directors held in 1866 in Richmond, \^irginia, adopted the following resolutions : "Resolved^ That as a testimonial of our appreciation of the exalted talents and eminent services of the Honorable John M. Morehead, of North Carolina, in the con- struction of many of the most important railroads in his own state, but specially for the liberal views and unceasing efforts for the
NORTH CAROLINA. 73
])ast fifteen years to obtain the charter from the Legislature of his native state for the construction of this Road, the depot nearest Greensboro. North Carohna, and known as Sepinan, shall here- after be known and designated by the Company as 'Morehead Depot.' "
Governor Morehead was the friend of education. His earnest support was given to the efforts made for the public school sys- tem. Out of his own means he built Edgeworth Seminary for young ladies and gave it his personal attention. This was a school nnich in atlvance of the time in scholarship. In his young man- hiMxl he. with his brother, James T. Morehead, gave to his father- less brothers and sisters a liberal education.
With John M. Morehead's advent into the gubernatorial chair, the idea of internal improvements reached its high-water mark in North Carolina. The public school system was set upon its feet through the personal efforts of Dr. C. H. Wiley. Asylums were built for the insane and for the deaf and bumb and blind. Governor Morehead. John A. Gilmer, Miss Dorothea Dix and others combined their zeal for a Hospital for the Insane of the state, who had up to this time lain in jails without medical atten- tion, without care. The speeches of Governor Morehead and John A. Gilmer, two sons of Guilford, before the Legislature, are classic, equal to Cicero.
Governor Morehead was a man of action and business capacity. "The City of Jackson." in Rockingham County, showed his efforts at city-building. This would have been a great success had nature, too, done her part.
In 1842 people were discussing whether or not North Caro- lina should have a penitentiary. In his message Governor More- head directed the attention of the General Assembly to this sub- ject. John M. Morehead was the great industrial magnet of the state.
Ah ! this man was a man with a head, heart, hand- One of the simple, great ones gone Forever and ever by.
74 GUILFORD COUNTY,
He owned cotton mills, had many slaves, which was a paying- business ; was a large farmer, great lawyer ; but his great work for the state was better transportation, good roads, railroads. The work of building the railroad, beginning at Raleigh and Charlotte and working toward a common centre, met in January, 1856, near_ Greensboro. It was a gala day in the little city when the first train came in. The young ladies from Edgeworth Seminary had special privileges to go down and ride in on the first train. The people came from far and near to see carriages without horses. Prior to this the mail arrangements were as follows : Eastern, daily ; southwestern, daily ; western, three times a week ; Danville mail, three times a week. When the railroad was completed to Raleigh in 1840, the news was brought to Greensboro by a stage- coach driver. Fifty years ago it was thought dangerous to ride faster than ten miles an hour. Today Greensboro is probably the most accessible city of the state. The North Carolina Railroad, the Northwestern North Carolina Railroad, the main line of the Southern Railway, and the Atlantic and Yadkin Valley Railway meet at Greensboro. Forty or more trains come daily.
CORPORATIONS IN GUII.FGRD COUNTY.
Capital Stock.
American Lumber Co $ 20,ooO'
Brooks Manufacturing Co 5,ooo
Central Carolina Fair Association 3,50O
Cape Fear Manufacturing Co 10,700
Chisholm, Stroud, Crawford, Rees 15.000
Carolina Mfg Co 6,000
Cone Export and Commission Co tax 400
Eagle Furniture Co 35,ooa
Greensboro Lumber Co 15,000
Gate City Furniture Co 6,850
Greensboro Ice and Coal Co 10,000
Greensboro Furniture Mfg. Co 20,000
Gibsonville Store Co 3.50O
Globe Furniture Co 40,000
Goose Grease Liniment Co lO
NORTH CAROLINA. 76
Guilford Lumber Mfg. Co 27,400
Hucomuga Mills 7.500
Hunter Mfg. Co SO.ooo
Harry-Bdk Brothers 10,000
1 lagueMcCorklc Ory Goods Co 20,000
High Point .Milling Co 2.000
High Point Hardware Co 6.000
High Point CotVni and Casket Co 16.000
High Point Mantel and Table Co 15.000
High Point Clothing Co 7.500
High Point Trunk and Excelsior Mfg. Co 4.100
High Point Metallic Bed Co 10,000
High Point Shirt Mfg. Co 10.000
Home Furniture Co 43.000
High Point Chair Co 10.000
Johnson Bros. & Co 4.000
Julian Milling Co 5.300
Lindsay Chair Co 24.000
\'3n Lindley Nursery Co 40.000
Merchants* Grocery Co 18.000
Mount Pleasant Mfg. Co 37-20O
Mineola Mfg Co 40,000
North State Bobbin Co 3.050
Odell Hardware Co 49.500
Oakdale Cotton Mills « 50.000
Piedmont Cotton Co 5.000
Pomona Terra Cotta Co 25.000
Pro.xiiTiity Mfg. Co 150.000
Piedmont Shuttle Works 5,000
Piedmont Table Co 1 2.400
Revolution Cotton Mills 300.000
L. Richardson Drug Co 22,000
Sunmierficld Gun Club 300
J. W. Scott Co 30.000
Sherwood Bobbin Mfg. Co 6.000
Simpson-Shields Shoe Co 18.000
Snow Lumber Co 75.000
Snow Basket Co 3.500
Southern Chair Co 20,000
Tucker & Irwin 2,000
Tate Furniture Co 48,000
76 GUILFCRD COUNTY,
Tomlinson Chair Co 9,ooo
Vanstory Clothing Co l8,ooo
Victor Chair Co 1,250
West End Land Co 2,400
Ward Shoe Co 3,000
Wakefield Hardware Co 12,100
Welch Furniture Co 15,000
NORTH CAROUSA.
CIIATTKR X.
HISTORY OF EDUCATION I.N GUILFQKD tol NIV.
Prior to the Revolutionary War the classical school of Dr. David CaUlwcll was the centre of educational work in the state and in the south. The early settlers brou.s^ht with them love of cuUure. The education of the orphan children was cared for by law and manual training given them.
The old Minute Rooks of Pleas and QCiartcr Sessions have many in- stances of children being bound out to a master, who would give them a certain number of months at school and "to learn them the art and mystery of weaving," or farming, or coopering, etc.. and give them freedom dues, a set of tools and a suit of clothes. The masters agreed "to find tliem suf- ficient dyet and lodging and give them learning as the law directs." One record shows the boy should get "one suit on and off when free" and "learn the art and mystery of a tanner."
In the Minute Book of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of 1784, page 82. in the office of the clerk at Greensboro, N. C, is shown that Mary Carnaham, aged ten years, was bound to Andrew Carnaham until she arrive at the age of eighteen years. Her guardian promised then to give her a cow and calf and spinning wheel, also he promised to give her a year|s schooling as soon as possible.
In November, 1784, it is ordered that William Millon, orphan, aged thirteen years the fifteenth of February next, be bound to John McBride until he arrive at tlie age of twenty-one years, to learn the art of a cooper, and the said John McBride dotli here agree to learn or caused to be learned the said apprentice, \Vm. Millon, to read, write and cipher as far as the rule of three, before he is free, and at the time of his freedom to give him one good suit of clothes and a set of tools."
Minute book of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions. May, 1799: "Ordered that Abigal Perr)', aged eight- years, an orphan, be bound to Capt. Patrick Shaw until she arrive at the age of maturity agreeable to law, at and before which time he is to learn her to read the Bible and also the different arts of a spinsttr and to give her a full suit of dollies, win 11 free. exclusive of her common apparel and also a new tlax wheel."
78 GUILFORD COUNTY,
Minute Book, August, 1804, page 300: "Ordered that a child of color, aged six years, named Hannah, free born, be bound to James Dicks until she arrives at the full age of eighteen years. He is to teach her to read and to give her freedom dues."
From Colonial days Guilford County has been foremost in educational work in North Carolina. Presbyterian and Quaker have been alike zealous in the cause. Soon after building homes in the pioneer country, churches and schools were erected. As in the Old Country, Church and State had been united, so in this New Country Religion and Education were at first closely allied. The preacher was most often teacher as well. In 1766 or '67 Dr. David Caldwell established his classical school in Guilford County, at that time the northeastern part of Rowan County, about three miles from the present site of Greensboro. This became the most noted school of the South. For many years "his log cabin college served for North Carolina as an academy, a college, and a theological seminary." An able Presbyterian divine, the Rev. E. B. Currie, says that "Dr. Caldwell, as a teacher, was probably more useful to the church than any one man in the United States."*
"Five of his scholars became governors of different states ; many more became members of Congress ; and a much greater number became lawyers, judges, physicians and ministers of the gospel. It would have been a credit to any man to have been the instructor of such men as Judge Murphy, Judge IMcCoy, John M. Morehead and others."
The most illustrious names in the educational history of North Carolina are the names of David Caldwell, from 1766 to 1824; Dr. Calvin Henderson Wiley, from 1840; and Dr. Charles D. Mclver in later years, upon whom the sacred mantle has descended.
DR. DAVID CALDWELL.
David Caldwell, the son of a Scotch-Irish farmer, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, March the twenty-second,
* See the Hist of Education in N. C, by Charles Lee Smith, page 2".
XORTH C.-IROLLWA.
19
1723. After receiving the riuliments of an education, he bepan hfe as a carpenter, working at tliis trade until his twenty-sixth year. Decithnj; to become a minister, his tirst steps were to obtain a classical education. For some time he studied in eastern Penn- svlvania at the school of Rev. Robert Smith, the father of John W. Smitli. president of Hampden-Sydney College, and of Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, D. D., at one time president of Princeton College. Before entering college David Caldwell taught school one or more years.
At the time he entered Princeton, "candidates for admission into the lowest class must be capable of composing grammatical Latin, translating X'irgil. Cicero's Orations, and the four Evan- gelists in Greek."
His biographer. Dr. Caruthers, relates that: "An elderly gentleman of good standing in one of Dr. Caldwell's congregations stated to me * * * that when a young man Dr. Caldwell was spending a night at his father's one summer about harvest, and while they were all sitting out in the open air after supper • * * Dr. Caldwell observed that, so far as his own experience had gone, there was nothing unwholesome in the night air; for while he was in college, he usually studied in it and slept in it, during the warm wcathtr, as it was his practice to study at a table by the window, with the sash raised, until a late hour, then cross his arms on the table, lay his head down and sleep there until morning. This was not very far behind the most inveterate students of the seventeenth century, * * * and a man who had strength of constitution to pursue such a course of application, though of moderate abilities, could hardly fail to become a scholar." See Caruther's Caldwell, page 20.
In 1 761 he graduated at Princeton. For a year he taught at tape May, then took a graduate course and acted as tutor in languages as well at Princeton.
At a meeting of the Presbytery held at Princeton. 1762, David Cald- well was received as a candidate for the ministry. In 1763 he was licensed to preach; in 1764 he labored as a missionary in North Carolina, returning to New Jersey m 1765. being ordained to the full work of the ministry, he immediately returned to North Carolina, where he labored as missionary, until March 3, 1768, he was installed as pastor of the Buffalo and Alamance congregations, of Guilford County.
Dr. Caldwell was one of the first Presbvterian ministers to
80 GUILFORD COUNTY,
make the state his permanent home. His history is identified with the reHgious and educational history of the state more than is that of any other one man of the eighteenth century.
Dr. Caldwell was one of the first Presbjiierian ministers to make the State his permanent home. His history is identified with the reHgious and educational history of the State more than is that of any other one man of the eighteenth century.
In 1766 he married the daughter of the Rev. Alexander Craighead, and as the salary from his churches was not sufficient for the support of a family, it became necessary for him to increa.se his fortune. He established the first institution for the higher education that achieved more than local fame. The average attendance of students was from fifty to sixty, a large number for the time and the country. The school was not interrupted by the war until 1781, the students being in the American army. The number was small until peace.
Judge Archibald D. IMurphy, in an address before the literary societies of the University of North Carolina in 1827, referring to the facilities for higher education before the opening of the University in 1795, said : "That the most prominent and useful of these schools was that of Dr. David Cald- well, of Guilford County. The usefulness of Dr. Caldwell to North Caro- lina will never be sufficiently appreciated. The facilities of the 'school were limited. His students were suppHed with a few Greek and Latin classics. The students had no books on history or miscellaneous literature. There were indeed very few books in the State, except in the libraries of lawyers who lived in the commercial towns." "I well remember that after completing my course of studies under Dr. Caldwell I spent nearly two years without finding any books to read, except on theological subjects. * * * Few of Dr. Caldwell's students had better opportunities of get- ting bookj than myself. At this day, 1827, when libraries are established in all our towns, when every man has a collection of books, it is difficult to conceive the inconveniences under which young men labored thirty or forty years ago."
During the Revolution, Dr. Caldwell was in the prime of manhood and his service to the state was of great value. Hated alike by Tories and British, he was driven from home and to escape his enemies was forced to spend many nights, in the forest. His library and many valuable papers which he had prepared were destroyed. They tried to seduce him with British gold, but
NORTH CAROLINA. 81
neither persecution nor money could shake his loyaUy to the cause of America. "Dr. Caldwell was a memher of the State Convention of 1776, which drew up the 'Bill of Riijhts' and^ framed the Con- stitution. He was a member of the convention to consider the Constitution of the United States, in 1778, where he took a decided stand as an advocate of states' rig:hts." When the University of North Carolina was erected he was urjjed to accept the presidency. In 1810 the institution conferred upon him the dep^ree of Doctor of Divinity.
Dr. Caldwell died the twenty-fifth of Aufjust, 1824. It is said that "time-worn veterans in the service of their country, men who have stood firm ap^ainst the intrigues of ambition, who have fous:ht tjie battles of freedom and maintained the rijjhts of the pc<iple in the halls of our National Legislature, year after year, until they had grown gray in the service, have been known to shed tears at the mention of his name, when passing in public convey- ance by the place where his remains lie buried, and by the church" in which they had heard him preach. (Caruthers' Caldwell, p. 36.)
The work of Dr. Caldwell had carried the educational devel- opment near the beginning of Dr. C. H. Wiley's work for the state. Now let us go back to bring forward another thread in the educational growth in this County. During the last decades of the eighteenth century Richard IMendenhall was demonstrating Quaker patriotism by teaching at night for si.xteen years in his store at Jamestown, furnishing books and tuition free of charge. Young men, old men and boys, busy struggling with the problem of existence, were taught the rudiments of education. Richard Mendenhall, himself a classical and mathematical scholar of ability, inspired a love of culture. A monthly paper. The Public School Journal, published by him, was probably the first paper in the South in the interest o( education.
From 1820 to 1830 George C. Mendenhall was the most prominent man in this section of the state — lawyer, farmer, wealthy slave-owner and teacher. On his farm the negroes were
82 GUILFORD COUNTY,
trained as special workmen ; carpentry, harnessmaking, shoemak- ing, tailoring, cooking, agriculture, reached a high state of per- fection. The problem of the education of the negro was solved.
"Tellmont," the law school of George C. Mendenhall (for -white students), was situated on a beautiful knoll on his farm at Jamestown. Long cedar avenues leading up to it were terraced and the grounds rendered otherwise attractive. Some of the State's eminent lawyers here received instruction for their life- work, Judge Dick, Judge Armfield, ^Ir. Simmons of Montgomery •County, and others.
About 1830 Horace Cannon taught in "the little brick school house" at New Garden. His school was largely attended. He gave instruction in philosophy and Brown's English Gramhiar. (His son, Joseph G. Cannon, is a leading Republican in Congress from Illinois.)
In 1833 a classical school for males was founded as Greens- boro by the Orange Presbytery, called Caldwell Institute. Rev. Dr. Alexander Wilson, a man of high scholarship from Ireland, became principal, with Rev, Silas C. Lindsay as assistant. After two years Rev. John A. Gretter was added to the faculty. In 1844 Prof. Ralph H. Graves succeeded him.
About this time the school was moved from Greensboro to Hillsboro, N. C. The Greensboro High School was chartered to take its place, with John M. IMorehead, John M. Dick, John A. Gilmer and others as trustees. Its principal. Rev. Dr. Eli W. Caruthers, was, like Dr. David Caldwell, a graduate of Princeton, and the pastor of Buffalo and Alamance churches. He wrote a life of Dr. Caldwell and history of the "Old North State," valuable contributions to the North Carolina literature. In no small way did he serve the people of the state. A classical school at Old Ala- mance church was taught by him.
The decade from 1830 to 1840 in North Carolina was full of effort and enthusiasm for education. In this period Baptists, Methodists, Presbvterians and Friends each resolved that educa-
XORTH CAROLIX.l. 88
tion was the question of paramount importance, and the demoni- national colleges of the State were foumled ; Wake Forest, in 1832 ; Trinity Collej;e. in 1838; Davidson Collepfe, in 1836: New Garden Boarding: School, in 1837; Greensboro Female College, in 1837. Of these five denominational colleges in the state, two were in Guilford County — Xew Garden lioarding School and Greensboro Female College. Xew Garden lioarding School became, in 1888,
GUII.I'ORD COULKCK.
Six miles west of Greensboro, on a beautiful, undulating plateau, is located Guilford College, or Xew Garden r>oarding School of Friends. For a hundred years the Yearly Meeting, the highest authority of the Society of Friends in the State, was held here. ( Since 1881. High Point has been the scat of that assembly.)
Guilford College had its origin in a deep religious concern for the education of the members of the Xorth Carolina Yearly fleet- ing and for the' promotion of the Society of Friends. Nothing less powerful than religion could have sustained the worthy men and women in their struggle against poverty and indifference for the establishment and maintenance of this school for their own children and for future generations. Steps prelimmary to its erection were taken at the Yearly Meeting of 1830. Subordinate meetings were asked to report the following year upon the charac- ter of the schools attended by the children of Friends, of Friends' children of school age. and tlic number of these not in school. The subordinate meetings reported that : "There is not a school in the limits of the Yearly Meeting under the care of a committee either of monthly or preparative meetings. The teachers of Friends' children are mostly not members of the Society and the schools are in a mixed state; which brought the Meeting under exercise for a better plan of education, and Dougan Clark, Jeremiah Hub- bard, Nathan Mendenhall, Joshua Stanley and David White were appointed to prepare an address to the subordinate meetings on the subject of schools."
84 GUILFORD COUNTY,
That address contained the following high estimate which Friends have in regard to education : "We believe that the Chris- tian and literary education of our children, consistent with the simplicity of our profession, is a subject of very deep interest, if not of paramount importance, in supporting the various testi- monies that we profess to bear to the world, and even the very existence and continuance of the Society."
A committee was appointed to receive subscriptions for the establishment of a boarding school, and $370.55 was received that year. Another committee was appointed later to digest a plan relative to buying a farm on which to locate the school. In 1832 $1200 was subscribed, and a plan of operation was proposed. This plan was that a small farm be bought, buildings erected for the accommodation of fifty boarding pupils. The institution should be near a meeting house, "somewhere within the limits of New Garden, Deep River, Western, or Southern Quarterly Meetings." The farm was not to be located on a public road, it was to be provided with an orchard to furnish fruit for the students, and a pasture for cattle for the convenience of the institution ; the farm was to be in a healthful neighborhood and watered by a con- stantly running stream. The farm, the orchard, the dairy, the running brooks and the healthful environment have always been marked features of this school.
A committee, appointed by the Yearly Meeting, consisting of tw^o men and two women from each of the Quarterly Meetings, decided upon the location, appointed the superintendent and teachers. This was probably the first time it was ever seriously proposed to appoint women for such duties in North Carolina.
Each monthly meeting within the limits of the Yearly Meet- ing was to select one man or woman who would be willing, when sufficiently educated, to teach in the primary or monthly meeting schools. These were to be educated at the expense of the monthly meeting, or from the general' fund of the Yearly Meeting, if the parent or guardian were unable to pay.
In 183.^ the school was located at New C.anlcii. A cliartcr from the General Asscnihly was obtained through George C. Mcn- denhall. that year a member of the Senate of North Carolina. In 1834 Klihu Cotlin donated a tract of seventy acres of land, adja- cent to that first bouj^ht. Interest in the school was not confined to the North Carolina Yearly Mcetino;. Interest in education was the chord of vibration between North Carolina Friends and those of England. Philadelphia and elsewhere. In 1834 English Friends had given $2000 for buildings; in 1837 Joseph John Gurney, of England, gave $500, one-half of which was to be used as the trustees saw fit, tjie other half in aiding the children of Friends unable to meet the expenses of their education. Through the gifts of English Friends "early provision was made to defray the expenses, wholly or in part, of ten children at the school. This assistance was given for several years at a period in the history of the school when, but for this aid, "the attendance would have been discouragingly small." George Rowland, of New England Yearly Meeting; Roland Green, of Rhode Island; Francis T. King, a noble philanthropist of Baltimore; New York Yearly Meeting, Philadelphia Friends and others have given large contributions. At present the school is well endowed.
"Of the members of North Carolina Yearly Meeting," said President Hobbs in his address on August 23, 1883, before a students' reunion, "no one. perhaps, exerted a greater influence for the school at home and abroad than Nathan Hunt. An emi- nent minister of the gospel, he used his extraordinary eloquence to aid the effort which was being made for the establishment of a higher institution of learning."
Destined not to close its doors though Civil War raged wild, and the slavery question drove many from this high and quiet place, though Poverty howled about it like a hungry wolf. New Garden Boarding School was opened ist of August, 1837. Fifty students were in attendance the first day — twenty-five boys and twenty-five girls — second in the United States in regard to co- education, Oberlin College being first in that respect.
86 GUILFORD COUNTY,
Dougan and Asenath Clark, two well-known and accom- plished Friends, were the first superintendents. The first teachers were Jonathan L. Slocum. of Providence, R. I., governor of the boys' school; Catherine Cornell, governess of the girls' school; Harriet Peck and Nathan B. Hill.
The various buildings of GuOford College are Founders' Hall, Khig Hall, named for Francis T. King; Archdale, for Governor John Archdale, our Colonial Quaker Governor; the Y. yi. C. A. Hall, and Memorial Hall, built by Messrs. B. N. and J. B. Duke, in memory of their sister, Mary Elizabeth Lyon.
For a decade before the Civil War the school was harrassed by financial matters. In i860 the sale of the property was pro- posed. Friends, North and South, rallied to its support. New Garden Boarding School was the only school of its grade in this State to withstand the Civil War without the loss of a day, con- tinued without interruption on a gold basis. Isham Cox was a great friend of the school, helping to reHeve it of debt. Jonathan E. Cox, for many years, was interested in disbursing the debt.
JONATHAN E. COX.
Born in the County of historic Panquotank, inheriting the equanimity and spiritual life of a Quaker ancestry, Jonathan E. Cox was born twenty-first of January, 1818, the son of a widowed mother. While a boy on the farm he was an industrious worker, and accumulated with his own hands a comfortable living. He had great strength and endurance, his physical manhood he regarded as holy and he was a man in the happy union of constitu- tional harmony. When he was forty-one years of age he was elected superintendent of New Garden Boarding School and re- moved with his wife and four children to Guilford County for the purpose of educating his children. Seeing the oncoming cloud of war, he hoped to remove to the Western States. But in two years the Civil War broke upon the South, the darkest day for the Quakers of North Carolina. Jonathan Cox was determined
NORTH CAROLINA. «7
to emigrate with his family whin nu-ii Hkc Francis T. King said to him that in view of the $18,000 deht on the school and the war, the institution wouUl have to he'' sold, uidess Jonathan Cox would take the school upon his own responsibility. A hasty council was held. Xereus Mendenhall, Isham Cox and Jonathan Harris were found willing to stand I)y the school, and Jonathan Cox assumed the whole resixMisihility of maintaining the institution.
Jonathan E. Cox did what no other man in North Carolina could do — he preserved a high-grade school during the Civil War without the loss of a day. This was due no less to his business ability than to his tact and smooth temper. With his means he helped many a youth in this State to an education. He gave away his fortune in the support of the school where for fourteen years he was super'ntendent. For this cause he gave away the best of his life.
In 1888 the school was chartered as Guilford College. Three courses of study are given : Classical, Scientific and Latin-Scien- tific. The bachelor's degree in Arts and in Science is conferrecf after a course of four years. Guilford College was the first and only school in the State for many years ofTcring women the advan- tage of Greek culture and higher mathematics.
Among the best friends of the institution have been the Men- denhall family, the Cox family, Jesse M. Bundy, Dr. Joseph Moore. Francis T. King, Dr. J. C. Thomas, Jeremiah Hubbard and many others.
Representative students of this school arc: Dr. A. Marshall KUiott of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Nereus Mendenhall. Dr. Dougan Clark of Indiana, Judge Blair of California, Mr. B. G. Worth. Captain James X. Williamson, Mr. L. Banks Holt, ex- 1 ieutenant-Governor Reynolds and others.
LEWIS I,VXDO.\ IIOUUS.
The first president of New Garden Boarding School after becoming Guilford College, in 1888, was Lewis Lyndon Hobbs.
88 GUILFORD COUNTY,
He was born in Guilford County, the youngest son of Lewis anrl Phoebe Hobbs. He was prepared for college at New Garden. In 1872 he entered the Freshman class at Haverford College, Penn- sylvania. At Haverford he received the degree of Bachelor in Arts, and later, Master in Arts. In 1876 he returned to New Gar- den Boarding School as Professor of Greek and Mathematics. In 1885 Dr. Joseph Moore, of Indiana, became president of the school, and Prof. Hobbs taug-ht Latin and Greek.
Not only has President Hobbs been president of Guilford College since the trustees secured the charter raising the standard for higher education m the State, but he has also been clerk of the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends. Clerk of this body corresponds to the office of Speaker of the Senate in the Legisla- ture. President Hobbs is most thoroughly conversant with his^ church, its needs and its members. His work on educational mat- ters, however, has been felt beyond the limits of the Yearly Meet- ing. After the death of Dr. Nereus Mendenhall he filled the vacancy caused thereby in the County Board of Education ; he also was for four years a member of the State Board of Examiners. President Hobbs is a young man, quiet, unassuming, but a close thinker and an unceasing, effective worker for education, standing among the foremost in North Carolina in the warfare for culture, education, strength and beauty of character.
GREENSBORO FEMALE COLLEGE.
(See "History of Church and Private Schools" by Prof. Raper of the University of North CaroUna, pages 202-210.)
The year 1837 marks an epoch in education in Guilford County. Not only was New Garden Boarding School opened for students, but also steps were taken for the erection of Greens- boro Female College. The members of the Methodist Episcopal Church sent a petition ( See Hist, of Education in N. C. by C. L. Smith, p 120) to the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, asking that a college, under the auspices of the denomination, be established at Greensboro. This year the North
NORTH CAROLINA. S9
Carolina Conference began its separate existence. Greensboro Female College is of the same ajje as the Conference. In 1838 the North Carolina Conference secured a charter for the institu- tion from the State Legislature, so this school has the honor of being the first chartered college for women in North Carolina, ud with the exception of the Wesleyan Female College at Macon, ' .oori^ia, the first sou'h of the Potomac.
The Church bought two hundred and ten acres of land in •h;- western limits of Greensboro, and in ihc centre of a beautiful ark on West Market Street the school was erected. The intelli- gence and social refinement of the people of Greensboro determined the location. In April, 1846, the College was opened, with Rev. Solomon Lea as its president. His successors have been: Rev. William Albert Micajah Shipp, Rev. Dr. Charles F. Deems, Rev. 1<. M. Jones. Dr. B. F. Dixon. Dr. B. L. Reid, Dr. Dred Peacock, Mrs. Lucy Roberson.
.\mong the best friends of the institution have been the great
nd good Dr. C. F. Deems, J. S. Carr, T. U. Jones, J. A. Odell,
'r. Sidell, Mrs. Susan Mendenhall and Mrs. Ann Rumpass. The
'umnae from 1S48 to 1863 numbered 191 ; from 1863 to 1873. 51 :
irom 1873 to 1897, 428. These graduates are to be found all over
the South, many in the North and West.
At commencement, 1902, Mrs. Lucy H. Roberson, having been unanimously chosen by the trustees of the College, was inaugurated as president to succeed Dr. Dred Peacock. The alumna? and friends of the institution hailed with enthusiasm President Roberson's inauguration. Woman as president of a college in North Carolina is a new departure, opening a wider field and new incentive to woman's work in behalf of education. The library of this College is considered the best collection of books and papers on North Carolina history.
EDC.EWORTII SEMINARY.
In 1S40 Edgeworth Fe.m.\le Semkv.xrv was established by Governor Morchead. On a centrallv located site he erected a four-
90 GUILFORD COUNTY,
story brick building. Miss Ann Hodge was chosen principal. Among the teachers were Misses Emily Hubbard and Eliza Rose, Misses Nash and Kollock, Rev. Mr. John A. Gretter. Professors Breite and Brandt were instructors in music.
Dr. and Mrs. D. P. Wier succeeded Miss Hodge. After them came Rev. Gilbert Morgan and wife, who introduced the collegiate plan with four classes and preparatory department to train young girls to enter the lowest classes. The expenses for board and tuition were $150: wax-works, $20; shell-work, $20; silk and worsted work, $10. In the first collegiate year were taught Arith- metic, English, Latin, and Greek Grammars ; . Spelling, analysis and dictionary; Geography, History of United States, Book of Commerce, Mythology, Jewish Antiquities, Watts on the Mead. French, Latin or Greek Ivanguages, with one ornamental branch,, and lectures on Self Knowledge and Self Culture. Some of the women of the best intellectual culture of the State have matricu- lated at Edgeworth, who in their old age were women of marked scholarship. They enjoyed mathematics and even worked prob- lems in Calculus for pleasure. A gold medal for especial excel- lence through a four years' course.at Edgeworth Seminary is pre- served at the State Normal College, a relic of the thorough edu- cation of young women in Guilford County before the days of railroads.
Li 1850 Prof. Richard Sterling succeeded Mr. ^lorgan at Edgeworth Seminary. The school was closed in 1862 by reason of the War. In 1868 Rev. J. M. AL Caldwell, grandson of Dr. David Caldwell, conducted Edgeworth Seminary until 1871, when Edgeworth died and passed into history.
NORMAL SCHOOL AT HIGH POINT.
In 1880 Major William Bingham Lynch founded an excellent School at High Point. A brick house was provided, 100 feet long- by 47 feet wide, four stories, capable of accommodating 125 board- ing pupils. It was destroyed by the War.
Note: For much of the above information see Educational Report for North Caro- ina, by C. H. Mebane, for 189ti-'97-'98.
NORTH CAROLINA. 91
In 1880 Major William niiiKliani Lynch founded an excellent military school at High Point, but it scx>n closed.
Tim Co%fMON ScHOOi System of North Carolina went into operation in 1840 with the administration of Governor John M. Morehead. who was much interested in educational development. This was the era of internal improvements. Dr. Nereus Menden- hall. a Guilford man. was also one of the architects of our public schcKil system. lUit Dr. C. H. Wiley was the main spirit and became the first Superintendent of Public Instruction in North Carolina.
Dk. Wii.kv wa-^ born in the neitjhborhood of old Alamance Church. The Rankin and Wharton families of Guilford County arc his relatives. Dr. Calvin H. Wiley was a Presbyterian minis- ter, statesman and educator. The present system of public educa- tion in this State was organized by his efforts. Before the days of railroads he visited every county in the State from sea to mountains in the mterest of schools. The Fir.st Annual Report of the General Superintendent of Common Schools of North Carolina, by Calvin Henderson Wiley (the year 1854, page 8), states these facts : The Common School System went into opera- tion in 1840. The Literary iJoard was made the chief executive head until 1854, from which Hoard not a single report or an official statistic appeared.
The whole income of the public schools of the United States, in 1850, aside from that raised by taxation or donations, was two millions, five hundred thousand dollars. The income of the Pub- lic Fund of North Carolina, aside from swamp lands and county taxes, was equal to one-twentieth of the whole. The Legislature, by granting of lotteries and corporate privileges, was. the only substantial aid to the cause of general instruction. Judge A. D. Murphy, in 18 19, made report for education, but it passed soon from public mind.
Dr. Wiley says: "I felt, too,— not .t pleasant reflection to a sensitive mind — that while I was spending freely in books, in postage, in travels and
92 GUILFORD COUNTY,
neglecting more profitable sources of revenue, and not saving much of my salary, some were thinking I was growing rich on the public money, and robbing the schools which had lost many thousands for the want of a more efficient organizer, and which contributed to my salary about 50 cents each, or in the ratio of three-fourths of one cent to the child, while I was trying to save twenty times that amount to each on the single small item of books alone."
'■'Such was the prospect on one side, on the other were tempting pecuniary inducements to resign. Very strong financial considerations had to be sacrificed by my continuance in office. I felt that to resign would at once create confusion and a want of confidence in the system, and that the eyes of many were turned to me in hope while those who elevated rne to office had reason to expect my best exertions to the last and under all temp- tation."
The popular will is represented in the District Committees selected by the people ; these Committees chose the teachers, while, at the same time, they are limited in their choice. A County Com- mittee of Examination is appointed to pass on the merits of all teachers, and only those having the certificates of the committee are allowed to draw public monies. A tolerably wide margin is allowed this Committee to discriminate as to the merits of teachers so as to suit all classes. From this method good results are ex- pected. The certificate shows on its face whether the holder takes the lowest or the highest or an intermediate place.
(By R. D. W. Connor, Superintendent Oxford Graded Schools.)
"The work of Calvin H. Wiley was essentially that of an originator and organizer. Beginning with practically nothing except opposition as a foundation, he built up by his own power, often unassisted, a flourishing system of efficient schools. Although the strain of the terrible days follow- ing the war broke down the system he had founded, so strongly had he laid the foundation, so well had he builded, so deeply had he instilled into the minds of the people the common school idea, that it proved but a temporary suspension. With the rescue of the State from the hordes which were sucking her life-blood, came the opportunity to redevelop her resources. Far-sighted statesmen and leaders clearly foresaw that the first essential for development was universal education. Upon the apparent ruins of Wiley's system, they founded our present growing, influential public school system, with many of the improvements which Wiley himself would have adopted had he held the helm."
•KKSIM'.NT I.. I,. Ilor.liS.
NORTH CAROLINA. »:^
"When Dr. Wiley took charge of the educational interests of the Stnte he clearly perceived two important things, heretofore passed hy with- •r notice: first, that before a system of schools coiild he successfully tiblished the adult population must he educated to believe in public educa- tion and to act upon that belief; second, that he must educate, train and equip a full supply of efficient teachers. These two things done, then it would be time to consider the details of the system. He bent all his energies toward a''Coinp'ishing these ends."
"He resorted to every conceivable method of reaching the great mass
of the people. Personal visits, newspapers, circulars, private and public
' rtcrs, ringmg and eloquent speeches — all were brought to his use in edu-
ing the people. He succeeded beyond his fondest hopes. Nothing better
phasires the success of his labors than the fact that with every nerve
-.lined to meet the demands of war. the people were willing to strain a
•lie further in order to continue the operation of their schools."
"In the training of a sufficient force of teachers Dr. Wiley adopted as his motto. "Scatter judiciously over the State good copies of any good work ■1 education and it will create a revolution.' He began his work with less n a thousand old-field teachers, whose ideas of teaching were that the ■cher must be merely a recitation-hearer and a thrasher of boys. Bcs'des •ing this force to be used in the work he was compelled to furnish a pply of two thousand new ones. His plan for doing this cannot be ex- plained here. It is sufficient to say that after five years of labor he supplied to the State more than three thousand well-equipped, trained, enthusiastic instructors. What a powerful influence this force had on the development of the State it is impossible to estimate, no little part of that quality which made our State 'First at Pethel ; last at Appomalto.x,' was due to this trained army of devoted worker.s. When wc think of the work done by Calvin H. Wiley and his splendid school system, it does not seem strange that North Carolina rallied so soon after a destructive war in which she had spent her life-blood freely, and has had such marvelous success in building up her resources. Back of all her wonderful development in other matters as well as in school affairs, lies the solid foundation of Dr. Wiley's ;J<8 schools and his trained force of teachers."
"Our people are just beginning to awaken to a knowledge of Dr. Wiley's gre.Ttncss and of his wonderful work. Our educators have long been working under his influence without knowing it. When they fully realize what his labors have meant in the past to their work, his influence will spread as it ought to do and continue to grow until it pervades the rank and file of all who arc interested actively in our material, intellectual and moral welfare."
94 GUILFORD COUNTY,
•'In this great educational campaign now arousing our people to a full sense of their educational duties and responsibilities, it would be a fitting time for the teachers to whom it properly .falls to start a movement for the erection of a monument to Dr. Wiley as a testimonial of their recognition and appreciation of his great efforts and results. A resolution looking to this end will probably be introduced in the meeting of the Teachers' Assem- bly and it is to be hoped that it will receive the earnest and active support of that body — such a movement would do much for the cause of education by showing to the people that teachers honor their educational heroes and demand the same from others. No North Carolinian better deserves such honor than Calvin H. Wiley, for no man has better served his State."
In 1853, Guilford County had seventy-two Districts; five thousand, nine hundred and eighty-nine children reported; three thousand, five hundred and forty-five children taught; average time, four and one-half months; average salary, for men, $17.00, for women, $14.00. The number of teachers licensed was fifty- seven males and nineteen females.
Guilford County has at present about ninety public schools for white children and thirty for colored. The salary of teachers and the length of the school years is about the same as it wa^ in
1854.
In May, 1874, Greensboro voted a special tax for the support of its public schools. So much in sympathy with the movement were the people that only eight votes were cast against the tax.
The first graded school in the state was established in Greens- boro in 1875. Mr. J- R- Wharton was the first superintendent until elected County Supervisor of Schools. Prof. J. A. Grimsley served the graded schools as superintendent for ten years. His successor is Mr. Edgar D. Broadhurst. The number of children enrolled in the three schools for whites under his supervision ex- ceeds the number of children reported in Guilford County in 1854.
Guilford County is not only the first in the State to establish graded schools in the larger towns but also the first to establish rural graded schools. In the neighborhood of New Garden in
AORTIl CAROUX.l. »•>
icpi a tax was voted for the New Garden ^^raded schools. At SunimerfieUl and Urown's Summit a similar plan is in projrrcss. In April, i<>02. a meetin?; held in the interest of education at Greenshoro donated $8,050. iti addition to the tax money, for rural puhlic schools.
The Board of .Mdermen and the Chairman of the School Committee of Greensboro were interested in jjettint; a more suit- able school building and in 1887 the handsome building on Lind- say Street was comi)leted. In May. 1891, the corporate limits of Greensboro were extended, and in that year graded schools were provided for both white and colored children. In May, 1893, Ashboro Street School was built.
The graded schools enrolled during the first year. 1875. one hundred students. In i8t)7 there were enrolled i.oc)6 white chil- dren and 452 colored. Ninety-five per cent, of white children between the ages of six and sixteen are in school.
The High I'oint graded school was established the first Mon- day in May. 1897. when the citizens of High Point voted $10,000 for the erection of buildings and equipments. It opened the 20th of September. i8()7. The following is a brief history of its growth: Its enrollment the first day was 386, which increased during the year to 476. It began the second year with 479 I)upils and ended with 562 ; the third year, with 568 and ended with 5f)8; the fourth year, with 559 and ended with 662; the fifth year with 670. and will end with about 725. The increase the first year was c)o pupils : the second, 83 ; the third. 30; the fourth, 103 ; the fifth. 55. and a real increase for the four years of 339.
O.VK RIDC.E INSTITLTK.
In 185 1. Jesse Benbow. .-Mien Lowery, Dr. John Saunders, Jas. B. Clark. Thomas J. Benbow and Samuel Donnell. of Oak Ridge; .Archibald Bevil. of Hillsdale; Wyat Bowman, of High Point, feeling the need for a preparatory school for young men, founded Oak Ridge Institute. P>y a majority of one, the present
96 GUILFORD COUNTY,
beautiful location was selected. From this knoll, with its majestic oaks, the peaks of the Blue Ridge mountains may be seen. From this knoll as a watershed the Haw River and the Deep River rise and, winding each its separate way, they unite in loving embrace and flow to the sea as our noble Cape Fear River. This is one channel by which the heart of Piedmont Carolina reaches the East. The natural beauty of Oak Ridge is fine, probably the most pleas- ing in the County of Guilford.
Dr. Saunders was the first chairman of the Board of Trustees ; Dr. Charles F. Deems was chairman ex-officio, then president of the Greensboro Female College, a man who did much for edu- cation in North Carolina, and became pastor of the Church of Strangers of New York City.
Oak Ridge Institute first opened its doors to students in Feb- ruary, 1852, with Prof. John M. Davis as principal. Fifty students greeted him. Among them were INlr. Rufus Benbow, of Oak Ridge, and Dr. Morris, of Forsyth County. Although students came from North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina. Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, the school was not a financial success. At the outbreak of the Civil War the students numbere(^ about one hundred. Hon. John A. Gilmer, Sr., addressed the people of Oak Ridge on the coming storm of war. All but three students volun- teered.
Tn 1866 Prof. O. C. Hamilton, a graduate of Trinity College, was chosen principal. He found the building burned, probably by an incendiary, before reaching his charge. Obstacles did not daunt the courage of Oak Ridge. The new trustees added to the old board were Messrs. W. O. Donnell, J. F. Hoh, C. R. Benbow, Charles Case, A. J. Rolling, Thomas Graham, Charles Wilson, J. S. Brown, John King, R. A. Blaylock and Thos. J. Benbow. They erected a new building.
In 1869 Prof. Pendleton King, a graduate of Haverford Col- lege, librarian of the State Department at Washington City, was principal of Oak Ridge. After him the school declined until
NORTH CAROLINA. 97
1875, when Prof. J. A. Holt brought energy to it and the influence of Mark Hopkins, his teacher and friend. In 1879 Prof. M. H. Holt became junior principal. As the school grew year by year, new and more spacious buildings were erected, wood giving place to brick. In 1891 a large, three-story building, containing a V. M. C. A. hall, library, gymnasium and class rooms, was built and christened "Holt Hall."
For twenty years this institution, under the present manage- ment, has been giving young men thorough commercial training. It is this training which has made a place for Oak Ridge Institu- tion. This influence is felt in every trade centre in this State. Her graduates are everywhere.
To Professor J. Allen Holt and his brother, Prof. Martin H. Holt, is due the credit of contributing to North Carolina the Rugby of the State. This is a business age ; everything seems to turn on the pivot of the dollar, even religion, etiquette, good prin- ciples. Death and the Grave have to do with money, the one great basis. Therefore a business education, to know not only the classics but also to understand people in business and how to clinch a bargain is of great importance. With a keen eye Oak Ridge has seen the point of contact between the scholar and the world. Therefore they seek to unite in their students what is best in the old idea of culture together with business ability.
The Holts come of a race remarkable for business capacity. They were born in Alamance County, near the battleground of the Regulators. In Colonial days Michael Holt, their forefather, lived here, a fanner, innkeeper, large land-owner, man of wealth and of aflfairs in the State. His descendants have made of Ala- mance County and the State a great manufacturing centre. "Isaac Holt, the son of Michael Holt, married Lettie Scott. Their son, Thomas Scott Holt, married Sallie Foust. She was the niece of George Foust, who married Maria Holt, sister of Isaac Holt. John Foust Holt, of Alamance County, married Louise Williams, of Rockingham County." This is the direct line of descent of the
98 GUILFORD COUNTY.
professors of Oak Ridge, showing who they are and at the same time giving an index of the success of the school.
Prof. T. A. Holt was born in 1852. For many years he has been chairman of the Board of Education of Guilford County. His name was prominently before the people for State Superin- tendent of Public Instruction at the last convention. He was president of the Teachers' Assembly in 1901.
Prof. M. H. Holt was born in 1855. When a member of the Legislature in 1893 he served as chairman of the Committee on Education. From 1893 ^o 1897 l^^ wgs a trustee of the State University. He has been for some time director of the North Carolina School for the Deaf and Dumb, at Morganton. For years he has been on the township board and public school com- mittee. In 1875 and 1878 Professors J. A. and AI. H. Holt came to Oak Ridge.
Fifty years ago Oak Ridge Institute was founded. This year, 1902, its year of jubilee is celebrated.
WHITSETT INSTITUTE.
Thirt>--eight years ago there was established a school which became later, Whitsett Institute. Located in Southeast Guilford, on a beautiful plateau eight hundred feet high, the institution was built, looking toward the southeast over a beautiful expanse of open country, like a rolling savannah. About the buildings and westward are great oaks of nature's own, a reinforcement against the ttmiultuous world beyond. The landscape offers philosophic repose and sweet peace. Nature has contributed her advantages luring youth to health, to beauty and to thoughtfulness. Tw^o or three miles away the lonesome whistle of the train blows at Gib- sonville, the nearest station. The village of Whitsett without the student is deserted, like an oasis without the songs of birds or merry antics of animals. Nothing there tempts the youth to waste his time. To study is the natural way at Whitsett.
Toward the south is Southern Pines ; toward the west is
XORTH C.IROIJ.\.-l. W
Aslifvillo. The soil of Whitsctt is loam, not red clay. I'lowcrs bloom and the t^rass y:ro\vs tall.
Country life reduces the expenses of the student away at school. Courses for business, teaching or ct)llege are offered both boy and girl, young men and young women. In 1900 the student body numbered 329. with room for more. Still a beautiful new buiUling is being erected. 80 by 100 feet, furnishing every modern convenience for school work, library, chapel, reading room, society halls, gymnasimu and nnisic rooms. At the State Fair, held in Raleigh, this school was awarded two elegant diplomas, one for •'i'.est General Display by School" and another for "Ilest Com- mercial Display."
Rev. r.rantley York. D. 1).. "the founder of Trinity College," and Charles H. Mebane. one of North Carolina's best Superin- tendents of F'ublic Instruction, and of Guilford County by birth, have helped by years of teaching and superintending to build uj) this institution.
William Thornton Whitsctt is a native of Guilford County, North Carolina. He attended the public schools of his native county and was prepared for college by private tutors. He was educated at North Carolina College and the University of North Carolina. He has been president of Whitsctt Institute since 1888, is a trustee of the University of North Carolina ; member of the Southern Historical Association, Washington. D. C. ; secretary of the North Carolina Association of Acadamies; member of the American Authors" Guild. New York ; member of the School Directors of Guilford County; member of the .\merican Academy of Social and Political Science. Philadelphia. For three years he was secretary of the North Carolina Teachers' Assemblv.
THK AC.KICII.TLU.M. .\NI) .M IX HAN ICAI, COI.IJCC.F, or r.KKKXSnORO.
The Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race was established by an act of the General Assembly of North Carolina, ratified 9th of March. i8<)i. The financial support of
100 GUILFORD COUNTY.
the school is derived from the United States, under an act of Congress known as the "Morrill Act," passed August 20, 1890. The citizens of Greensboro donated twenty-five acres of land and eight thousand dollars to be used in the construction of buildings. In 1893 the General Assembly appropriated ten thousand dollars. Substantial buildings have been erected. They have about two hundred students. Its president is James B. Dudley, A. M. of Shaw University, A. M. of Livingston College, teacher in public schools 1 876- 1 880, principal of Peabody graded school 1880- 1896. He is a blessing to his race.
Fully 80 per cent, of the colored people in this State live in the country and subsist on agriculture. The future of the colored race in the South depends upon the ownership of farm lands and their intelligent and skillful treatment by colored farmers. This field is free from competition and race feeling. Owners of large tracts of land now yielding nothing are only too glad to rent them to the skilled farmers who graduate from an agricultural college, and also provide him with stock and implements of husbandry. The young man who leaves this college with honor, a good charac- ter and a well-trained mind, who is familiar with science and art relating to his calling in agriculture, mechanics or any of the trades, will not be compelled to canvass the country seeking em- ployment. Capital will be looking for him to place him in charge of land and stocks, to handle machiner.v and direct unskilled labor. Wherever skilled labor is found among producers, turning the wheels of industry that increase the wealth of the world, there will be found graduates of the Agricultural and Mechanical College. The reputation of the Agricultural and Mechanical College is extending over wider fields. Immediately following the infor- mation that the College had received notice of the awarding of a silver medal on the account of its exhibit at the Paris Exposition, comes information from another remote section, showing the rec- ognition of this institution elsewhere.
"President Pulido, of San Chez, Mira, Philippine Islands,
fr
C^
JdNATIIAN K. COX,
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writes that he intends to have his son enter the 'famous college of Greenshoro' al)out the first of April. He will make arrange- ments for his son to remain here until graduation,"
Hknxktt Coi.i.EC.K was opened in the city of Greensboro in 1873 by the Treedmen's Aid and Southern Education Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. North, one of forty-six such in- stitutions founded and sustained by that church. About 1876 the institution became a boardins: school in a larp:e four-story brick buiidincr. and chartered under the laws of North Carolina. It is situated on the outskirts of Greensboro. Its president is Rev. J. D. Chavis. a neg[ro man reared in Guilford County. The classics and mathematics are tau.yfht. It is co-educational.
Near Bennett Collcj^e is the Kent iNnrsTuiAi. Homk for CouoRED Girls, under the support of the Woman's Missionary Society of the M. E. Church. North, Troy, N. Y.. Conference. This Home was dedicated May 2, 1887. Industrial traininj:;: for sixteen girls is yearly given. The superintendent is a white woman from the North, Miss Carrie L. Crowell. They have also a teacher of sewing and a primary teacher. The building erected for this home is of brick, neat and convenient. A new and larger house will be erected soon. Servants from this home are well recommended.
Till-: STATI- NORMAL AND 1N'DUSTRL\L COLLEGE.
When the South began to recuperate after the paralysis of Civil War and of slavery and her people had a little easy leisure in which to think, they gave their attention to education. Thought- fully and with great earnestness a few men in the State studied the great plan of education, as developed in other lands. They soon came to the conclusion that teachers should understand their I)rofession before being allowed to practice, that the minds of chil- dren were just as sacred as their bodies. The quack physician had long ago been relegated to the dark corners.
Institutes were held for the training of teachers in the court- houses in manv counties in the State. These institutes were usu-
102 GUILFORD COUNTY,
ally in session for two weeks in July and August. During the years 1889 and 1890 the Board of Education sent out two men as Institute conductors to visit every county in the State and hold in each an institute lasting one week. The two men sent by this Board were Dr. Chas. D. Mclver and Dr. E. A. Alderman. They aroused a love for learning and a desire for reading and study among the teachers. Page's "Theory and Practice" and other books on pedagogics were placed in the hands of teachers, many of whom had never seen a book on teaching, though they were "duty-loving and duty-doing men and women."
To quote from the report of Prof. J. Y. Joyner to the Super- intendent of Public Instruction (See report 1897-98, p. 964), he says : "To one who, for the past fifteen years, has been engaged in this educational work, and who, during each year, has mingled much and talked much, publicly and privately, with all classes of our people in the interest of public education, there is noticeable a very marked and hopeful change in their attitude toward the public schools. This change has come about so gradually that many whose work has not kept them in touch with the educational sentiment of the State are not conscious of the extent of it."
Out of these institutes for teachers the feeling grew and there arose a demand for a State Normal and Industrial College for the education of young women, giving them thorough training in the science of teaching, and instead of a few weeks of training in their profession, to give them four years of instruction at much less than cost, at prices within their reach.
At the Teachers' Assembly, which was the congregation of the Teachers' Institutes, the first formal step was taken toward the establishment of a Normal College. The teachers passed reso- lutions, in 1886, asking for this institution, and they appointed a committee to memorialize the General Assembly.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chas. D. Mclver, the propelling spirit of the movement, was studying the system of the education of women. His determinative wisdom and zeal fought the fight before the
NORTH CAROLINA. 108
General Assembly for the higjher and better education of her women by the State. By his persistent energy and logic the North Carolina State Normal and Industrial College was estab- lished in 1 89 1. The time was hastened throughout the whole State by the teachers, the King's Daughters, the Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union and the Fanner's Alliance. Dr. J. L. M. Curry made a strong appeal for the cause. The citizens of Greensboro gave $30,000 for its location. Mr. R. S. Pullen and Mr. R. T. Gray, of Raleigh, and others donated the land — ten acres. During the ten years of its existence hundreds of young women who could not have gone elsewhere have been sent out into this State and everywhere as most efficient teachers and as cultured women in every walk of life. The course of study has been arranged for meeting the needs of young women in North Carolina and it embraces the Normal Department, the Commercial Department and the Department of Domestic Science.
At the comencement of 1902 of the State Normal and Indus- trial College at Greensboro, President Mclver presented the fol- lowing report, which embodies the history and the wonderfully successful career of that great school:
"Ten years ago on this hill, then a bleak and barren ten-acre lot— the gift of Mr. R. S. Pullen, Mr. R. T. Gray, Mr. E. P. Wharton and others, with $30,000 voted unanimously by the far- sighted citizens of Greensboro to secure the location of the institu- tion, and with an annual appropriation of $10,000, voted by the General Assembly of 1891 to aid in the employment of a faculty, the State Normal and Industrial College began its work.
"In 1886 the North Carolina Teachers' Assembly, then in session at Black Mountain, passed resolutions asking for the establishment of a normal college and appointed a committee to memorialize the General Assembly. Each succeeding Teachers' Assembly for five years passed similar resolutions and appointed similar committees to present the question to our law makers. In his biennial report to the General Assembly the late Hon. S. M.
104 GUILFORD COUNTY,
Finger, then Superintendent of Public Instruction, urged the im- portance of establishing the institution. But it was at the session of 1889 that the question really came before the General Assembly for serious consideration for the first time. A committee from the Teachers' Assembly, consisting of Charles D. Mclver, chair- man ; E. G. Harrell, E.' P. Moses, E. A. Alderman, Geo. T. Win- ston, D. Matt. Thompson and Mrs. J. A. McDonald, presented in person and urged the adoption of a bill establishing a training school for teachers, and this bill, in spite of active and intense opposition, passed the Senate by a large majority, and failed in the House by only a few votes. Had this bill become a law the institution would be co-educational.
"Before the meeting of the next General Assembly in Janu- ary, 1891, Governor F.owle had in his message urged the establish- ment of the institution. In the meantime, the King's Daughters had petitioned the Legislature to establish an indusrial school for girls. The North Carolina Farmers' Alliance, in 1890, at its annual meeting at Asheville, had passed strong resolutions asking the State to aid in the higher education of girls and women of the white race as it was already aiding in the education of white men, negro men and negro women. Hon. J. L. M. Curry, agent of the Peabody Fund, appeared before the General Assembly and made an earnest and powerful plea for the establishment of a normal college, and through him the Peabody Fund has always given substantial aid to this institution.
"By 1891 the North Carolina Teachers' Assembly had decided that it was wise to eliminate the co-educational feature, and in- structed its committee to that effect. This committee suggested the establishment of a normal college with industrial features, whereupon the act establishing the State Normal and Industrial College was passed and an annual appropriation made for its maintenance.
FACULTY.
"In choosing the Faculty of the College the Board of Direc- tors has selected those who in their judgment could best carry
NORTH CAROLINA. 105
out its policies. Neither peopraphical. iu»r political, nor denomina- tional influences have dtV'ided their selection of teachers.
"The charter Faculty of the College numbered twelve, besides the assistants. Of these twelve, ei^ht— Misses Boddie, Bryant, F.^rt. Kirkland and Mendenhall. and Messrs. Forney, Brown and Mclver— are members of the present faculty. Three other mem- bers of the present faculty — Misses Allen, Jamison and Lee — answered to the first roll-call of students in 1892. The college now has a faculty and executive corps numberinj^ thirty-six. Its teachers have come from all sections of the country. Four-fifths of them are Southern people, most of these having received train- ing in both Southern and Northern colleges, and more than one- half of them have been native North Carolinians. It has been a young company of aggressive workers, representing in their train- ing several State Universities, the leading normal colleges of the country, and such institutions as Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Welles- ley, Bryn Mawr. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and sev- eral Furopean universities. The Governor has recently called Mr. James Y. Joyner, IVofessor of Knglish in the State Normal and Industrial College, to the State Superintendency.
STUDKNTS.
■'For the past nine years the average number of students in the college has been about four hundred and twenty-five. This number will not materially change until more dormitory room shall have been provided. The total matriculation for the past ten years has been about 2,200, about 450 of whom have been in the college this year. Of the 1,750 who have left the college, 68 have died, leaving about 1,700. One thousand and five hundred of these have reported to me during the past two months, and more than (16 2-^ per cent, of them have taught school. I have asked each student to give the number of pupils taught by her. The aggregate number reported is, in round numbers, 130.000. It is natural to suppose that some of these children have been taught
106 GUILFORD COUNTY,
at different times by two or more representatives of the college. Deducting, therefore, 30,000 for duplicates, this would mean than 100,000 children have been taught by students.
"As the finances of the institution have justified it the Board of Directors has increased the physical equipment. Beginning in 1892 with dormitory capacity for less than one hundred and fifty boarders, with only fifteen recitation rooms in the college building, including the chapel, the president's office and the physician's office; with a teaching force of fifteen, including assistants, and with an enrollment of two hundred and twenty-three students, the college has steadily developed until at the end of its tenth year it has dormitory accommodations for three hundred boarders, twenty-five recitation rooms and offices in the college building and fourteen rooms in a practice and observation school building, a teaching force and executive corps of thirty-six, and an enroll- ment of about four hundred and fifty regular students, besides about three hundred pupils in the practice and observation school. Instead of ten acres of land the college now owns one hundred and thirty acres, and instead of five buildings owned and rented it now uses eleven buildings. Instead of looking upon a bleak hill of clay and briars its students enjoy, to some extent, looking upon growing trees and grass and flowers, and, by the generosity of Mr. George Foster Peabody, we have the immediate prospect of a beautiful park, plans for which have already been made.
"Representatives of the college are working in twenty-three of the States of the Union and the District of Columbia. In nearly every leading city from Greensboro to Boston representatives of the State Normal and Industrial College can be found working as teachers, students, stenographers, bookkeepers or trained nurses.
"The State Normal Magazine, a self-supporting publication, has been the work of the faculty and students of this college. The best educational journal ever published in the South and now one of the leading educational journals of the country, was established and managed by our Professor of Pedagogy in connection with
NORTH CAROLINA. H)7
his work licre. Several texl-bnoks that liave received ^a-nerous recognition throitfjhout the country have been published by inem- l)crs of our faculty. The Audubon Society and the Association of North Carolina Women for the Betterment of the Public School Houses of the State are two State organizations which have resulted from the work of the faculty and students of the State Xormal ami Industrial College.
'"This college has given some prestige to North Carolina's name beyond the borders of the State, and has had the good for- tune to interest influential people in the educational development of the State which it serves. In the ten years of its existence it has become as strongly entrenched in the regard of the people of North Carolina as if it had an hundred years of history behind it. Ii> this short period it has enrolled 2,500 students, every county in the State has been represented in its matriculates, and ninety per cent .of its graduates have taught or are now teaching in the schools of the State. About every year witnesses an addition to the buildings of this institution, made necessary by its increased attend- ance and its growing usefulness. Only about two months ago the cornerstone was laid for the Curry Building, a practice and observation school, and a new Alumni Building is to be erected during the coming year.
15ENEFACT0RS.
"This report would not be complete without some reference to tlif special benefactors of the institution.
"Within the past two years Mr. George Foster Peabody, of New York, donated $11,000 to the State Normal and Industrial College ; $5,000 of this is to be used for developing the Peabody Park, named for the great philanthropist, George Peabody, who in 1867 gave to the public schools of the South $3,000,000.
"The Students' lUiilding is a gift to the college which means more than any single donation of money. It represents the affec- tion and loyalty of its daughters and those whom they have been
108 GUILFCRD COUNTY,
able to interest in their Alma Mater. The gift of $i,ooo from Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Bailey, who lost their only two children while students at this college, was made as a subscription to the Students' Building. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have also established a permanent scholarship to be known as 'The Sarah and Evelyn Bailey Scholar- ship.'
"Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Buxton in 1893 established the 'Jarvis Buxton Loan Fund' of $100 in memory of their little son. Soon after this Mr. and Mrs. Josephus Daniels established the 'Adelaide Worth Daniels Loan Fund' of $100 in memory of their little daughter. These funds, while small, have aided in the education of several students. In 1896 General and Mrs. Julian S. Carr established the Xida Carr Fellowship Fund,' the income of which is $200 a year. This has made it possible for from two to four people to remain in college each year since that time, who could not otherwise have done so. Much help along this line has been provided by the two literary societies, by the Alumnae Association, and by the Woman's Education Club. Charles Broadway Rouss, of New York, gave one hundred dollars to be used as a loan fund to the daughter of a Confederate soldier.
"The State wants this institution to be good enough for any of its citizens, and the expenses low enough for all. The purpose for which the institution was created is clearly stated in section 5 of the act establishing it. It is as follows :
" 'Section 5. The objects of this institution shall be (i) to give to young women such education as shall fit them for teach- ing; (2) to give instruction to young women in drawing, telegra- phy, typewriting, stenography and such other industrial arts as may be suitable to their sex and conducive to their support and usefulness. Tuition shall be free to those who signify their inten- tion to teach, upon such conditions as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.'
'Tt is the general purppse of the institution to give such edu- cation as will add to the efficiency of the average woman's work,
NOKTH CAROLINA. 109
whatever mav be her field of labor. To that end there are three distinct departments in the course of study : the Normal Depart- ment, the Domestic Science Department, the Commercial Depart- ment."
It is well to close this chapter with a few facts relatinjjj to the Southern Hducation hoard, of which Dr. Chas. D. Mclver is secretary, having the oversiijht of the work of this Hoard in North Carolina.
The Southern Education Hoard consists of twelve members. They are Robert C. Oj^den. president ; George Foster PealwDdy, treasurer: Charles D. Mclver. secretary; E. A. Alderman. W. H. I'.aldwin. Jr.. Wallace lUittrick, J. L. M. Curry. Charles W. Dab- ney. H. 1'.". Frissell. H. U. Hanna. W. H. Page and Albert Shaw. The Board was created and organized last November in accord- ance with the platform and resolutions adopted at the fourth annual meeting of the Southern Educational Conference at Win- ston-Salem a year ago. April lyoi. The work undertaken by this lioard is that of agitation and stimulation of all efforts toward universal education in the .Southern States. It does not make any gifts to any educational institutions whatever. It has sufficient funds to aid in a campaign for local taxation and for the better- ment of public school facilities in several of the Southern States.
So far its chief work has been done in Virginia. North Caro- lina and Louisiana. It began to arrange for continuous cam- paigns in these States in January. It has also done some work in the State of Georgia, and is planning to aid in public educa- tional campaigns in South Carolina. .Alabama and Mississippi.
.Ml the campaign work of the Southern Education Board is under the immediate direction of the Southern members of the Southern Education }^>oard. The field work is in charge of three district directors, I3octors Alderman, Frissell and Mclver. Dr. Charles W. Dabney is Director of the Bureau of Investigation and Publication. His chief assistant is Professor P. P. Claxton, and he is also aided by Professor J. D. Eggleston and an efficient corps
110 GUILFORD COUNTY,
of clerks. Rev. Edgar Gardner Murphy, of Montgomery, Ala., is the executive secretary and personal representative of President Robert C. Ogden, wherever his services may be needed, whether in New York or in visiting the various offices in the South.
Dr. F. S. Dickerman and Dr. Booker T. Washington are doing special work for the board as field agents, the latter being the special adviser in regard to educational matters relating to the colored race.
Hon. J. L. M. Curry and Messrs. Alderman, Dabney, Frissel and Mclver constitute the general campaign committee, and have direction of all the work of the Southern Education Board.
The plan and work of the Southern Education Board is merely an extension of the campaign work that has been done for many years in the towns and cities of the Southern States by the Peabody Board under the guidance of the General Agent, Dr. J. L. M. Curry.
Many of these men and those composing the Southern Edu- cation Board are Southern people; some of them born here, and some having resided here for several years. Having seen the heavy load we are carrying, especially in maintaining a double system of public schools for two races, and recognizing the neces- sity for continuing this double system, they would like to aid us in carrying that burden, exactly as the Peabody Fund aided nearly every town and city in North Carolina to carry its burden when the latter were establishing their graded schools.
The General Education Board, with headquarters in New York, is composed of ten men, five