Newspapers / The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, … / June 27, 1940, edition 1 / Page 34
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STHBj ^ -. «s^-* fCoaUnned i^nt p«ca..MTen) ^ —- 4 -Ktteadcd ttft eommon HtuMds *“• kia .oonaii’. He %• foad of otadoor ezerotea and . Mii^tad In kaBaUn*. " In H«1 ka jit^nntaw^ an . Mlvata in a eanalrj e(Mpan;r ka- ■V W formed ky T. N. Ommpler, ■, J^ upon tke or«anlaatlon of the fDinpasy ^ he was elected ■ nret JUantenai^ ICpch caution was "emed In. aolectliig the company; -•rarjr member was strong and •oidierly. In the latter part of 1861 Col. Cowles company marched to Cen- •^Jfct^ine, then the seat of the war, Vhere the First N. C. Caralry be- eame a part of the First Caralry Kegiment of the Confederate snny, and waa connellA^'wlth l&e army of Northern^ Vjb^nia nntil the surrender. Cowlee was promoted to Major and later-to Colonel of his Regiment. Hls .dhshing bravery and courage won the admiration of hls superior of ficers so much that In the First Maryland raid he was put In com- Btand of the extreme advance ^vard of the cavalry by Stewart. 7n return he was placed In com- oand of the extreme rear guard. At Auburn, where Col. Thomas ihtfln fell, Cowles rallied the men and continued the charge. At Brandy Station he led the ekarge that drove the 10th New Tork Cavalry out of line and to the rear. He followed them up for several miles toward Kelly’s Ford, capturing Maj. Forbes, UaJ. Gregg’s commissary and Wm. Buckly, private correspon dent of the New York Herald, and Dthers, whom he successfully brought out, though at the end of ihe charge he was entirely wlth- fti the enemy’s lines. In the begin ning of the charge, Preston Hampton, son of Wade Hampton, Joined Cowles tor a short dls- tSance but hls horse was shot from ander him and when he had ob- :aiiied another horse he found chat hls squadron had passed a- kead and that Gregg's entire col umn was moving down the road Jh the direction that Cowles had just gone. As Hampton could not jEjoin the squadron, he returned tt) the Confederate lines and re ported (hat Cowles was surely captured. When Cowles attempted to re trace his steps he was met by a Confederate coming at lull speed with the news that a large body jf Federal cavalry were in the road a short distance off. coming in that direction. Cowles passed with his men and prisoners through the field and across a deep stream where there was no fiord; he crossed safely and just In time to witness the advance of General Gregg’s column at the point in the road where Cowles hlad left. At the beginning of the battle Mine Run General Ewell was In weed of a competent officer to Jake command of the skirmish line In his front and requested. » General Stuart to suggest the % man. General Stuart detailed Cap- teia Cowles lor the duty and dl- rected him to take in addition ( ” cavalry he would find with Gen- ■ srai Ewell one hundred picked men, which he did, quickly Join- rag General Early. He went to the front and established hls skirmish line and next morning met the enemy's advance gallant ly checking its movements every inch of the way to the Confed erate main lines. In this engage ment he received his first wound by a mine ball through the body. Hls wound was thought to be fa tal but the following spring ha rejoined hls command In time to take part in the first of that memorabl'i campaign of 1B64, and was in command of the right wing of General Gordon’s forces at Brook church near Richmond, -where Gordon fell. He continued ^fn active service until the 3lst of March, 1865, when, in leading a desperate assault on the right of the enemy near Petersburg, and after hls horse was shot leav ing him on foot and knee deep m water he waa shot in the head. Those who saw him thought he was killed and he was left un- oonscious to fall Into the hand of the enemy. He was taken to the hotpital where he heard the news of the surrender of Lee. It happened that he met there an officer of his own name and prob ably hls kinsman, Maj. Cowles, of the Federal army, who promised Him the best treatment and who allowed him and a number of his ttdends to go home on parole. Colonel Cowles took the boat for Norfolk under guard. At Norfolk he was Imprisoned for a day, then he left for New Bern. He was badly treated on the vessel and he eame near being thrown over board. At New Bern, by the aid ef a friend, he managed to get across the Federal Unas. He went to Raleigh, then to Salisbury ■with Thsd Coleman. ’They reached nird creek in private conveyance and attempted to walk the rest of war to 0Ute«vUle, but it was too mnch for «en who apparent- Ijr were nearer their grave*'than Mtelr homee. When wlthlii three nllee of ^teprUle,. aIoI. Covlee Offered a tMupr fS.OO to graeit- back ahd f 10.60 In ConMerate money to take them to StateevUle, and after mnch persuasion pre vailed npon the farmer to-comply. Cowles finally reached Wllkes- horo. At the close of the war he came home poor, and In addition -.he was suffering intensely from the wounds reoei.red March Slat, 1865. As soon as health would permit .he began the study Of law under Judge Pearson, hls room mate being Hon. Charles Price, of Salisbury. After obtaining license In 1868 he located In Wilkesboro and im mediately entered into a lucrative and successful law practice. This waa during the dark days of North Carolina, and he had stood by hls State in time of peril and war so in the great political hat- ties in 1868 and 1870 he did not shrink duty or reapotaibllUy, but entered actively Into the cam paign and did good work for hls party. In 1862 he waa elected Reading Clerk of the State Sen ate. In 1874 he was elected So licitor of the 10th Judicial dis trict, which office he held till 1879, and was an able and fear less prosecuting officer. In 1882, he was nominated by the Democrats for the Legisla ture, and although he waa de feated, he made a campaign that won a great reputation for him. In 1884 Colonel Cowles was nominated for Congress And waa elected by a handsome majority. He entered hls duties as Con gressman March 4th, 1885, the same day President Cleveland was first inducted into office. He was re-elected in 1886, 1888 and 1890. and voluntarily withdrew In 1892 before any county conven tions were held. He represented hls district' with fidelity and credit during the eight years In Congress, al ways glad to attend to any busi ness for any of his constituents, and was no.ted in Washington for his interest in and fidelity to hls constituents. As a commander he ranked a- mong the best in the state, and during the four canvasses he made for Congress he made many able and interesting speeches. After his retirement from Con gress he devoted himself to farm ing and was one of the best farm ers in the county. Colonel Cowles was twice mar ried, first in 1870 to Miss Cora Worth, of Ashe county. She died in 1877. By that marriage two children survive—Carrie Lizzie who married T. B. Finley and Cora who married J. A. Gaither of Newton. In 1883 Col. Cowles mar ried Miss Lura Bost of Newton, who survives him with six chil dren. On the 30th day of December, 1901, with scarcely any warning, -death claimed him as a victim. He was taken with pneumonia on Saturday and died on the follow ing Monday. He was buried in the Wilkesboro cemetery. REV. GEORGE W. GREENE By Prank B. Hendren The subject of this sketch was born in Watauga county. He came to Wilkes and took charge of Moravian Falls Academy upon its completion about the year of 1877, and remained there for a- bout fifteen years. Under his prlncipalship the school enjoyed a high degree of popularity, be coming the leading school in all this section. Many of the officials and leading business men of the county received their education under the tuition of Prof. Greene. It Is to he doubted if any other man ever gave a greater impetus to the educational progress of the county. He Is a ripe scholar and a man of unsullied honor. He is at present a missionary of the Bap tist church to China. DR. TYRE YORK Dr. Tyre York, son of Mike York, was born at Rockford, Sur ry county, in 1836. He was edu cated in the common schools of his county. He studied medicine at the Charleston Medical Col lege, from which institution he is a graduate. He was married to Eliza Crumpler, of Surry county, daughter of TTiomas Crumpler and sister of the famous T. N. Grumpier. By this union was horn three children—all girls. The oldest married Hllllary Cocker- ham; the next married M. F. Bry an, and the third married Benja min Taylor, of Alleghany county. About 1869 Dr. York located in the Traphill section where he practiced his profession and tend ed his farm. When the Civil ]5Yar broke out, he being a physician was exempt from military serv ice. He was very friendly to those who chose to conceal themselves In the mountains and caves rath er than enter the army, and he wonld go to their dens to give them medical attention In the time of affliction. Many a poor soni was kept out of the army by hls certificates of nnsonhd health. Immediately after the war Dr. York sold hi*'property at TravUll ture home. In the evening tho Doctor returned;, Mrs. York had fMfahed her washing and the clothes were hanging out to dry. The Doctor had seen enough of Arkansas and was satisfied that Wilkes was the best place to live, and without waiting for the clothes to dry, he pulled up his tent anj started back to Wilkes. After he returned from his Arkansas trip he purchased a farm a mile and a half from Trap- hiU and here he lived ever since, except what time he was In the Legislature and Congress. York has always taken a lively invest In politics, and In 1870 he was elected to the Legislature. He was again elected to the same position in 1887. He was elected to the State Senate in 1879 and Republican candidate for Gover- also in 1881. In 1884 be was the Republican candidate for gover nor and made a brilliant cam paign but was defeated by Alfred M. Scales, the Democratic candi date. In 1882 he was elected to Congress as an independent. In starts for the Stito of. Ar- InWjiM^tb toako hia tntara homo.; lla jidut hls vlf« and •torfeG « th«. loaf Jojiiib^ to a IN^Itof tk«y roaeb^ thA stnippi ttoMA oani their arrival Mrs. Tork. 6sgaa washing some of th^r clothes that had baea soiled during the journey and the Doctor started for a day’s tour In Arkansas where 4 ■M kAAraa eleot^%AMlln^^ voder the shado^ A the tower' 'tial Elector for the 4th S: bi €!»•, tof monntatna xoand ahoat Us coqntrjr home.. He le sarnnnded by OJialfttofMa mbt York It remarkable for Ui lilt, anil he ^ hot artthhold i^ friends who love hfsS'-toV kM Ipinf to his tumUltist' i^ssith^ wtfoitB to their behalf wh0e«:i ^ alwtifii atttocted the v croird on the ba^k of the •'Eatoitf'^erJBMI hhi|i)kes> told Inhls.*-own Waters." III. thf morataiH?«tter|kltotoat «nd tamlUar way, always iin>n8htj“8iae-spllttinig laughter. Pnbllo speakers};;’; and especially polttlclans often reiterate -bfa jokes, and It is only necessary to say that they are Doctor York's they intended to make their fu-, to assure the closest attention. After Dr. York was elected to Congress and was making ar rangements to start to the Nation al capital he Included among hls vesture a pair of hip boots made by a first class country boot and shoe maker. This is told to show the Doctor in his simplicity, rep resenting hls constituents as they were. Dr. Tork was the owner of a mule that was almost as celebrat ed as the Doctor himself. Tbs mule was known as “General Jackson.” York rode “General Jackson’’ on hls campaign tours, and they were the subjects of much comment both among the pecHple and In the newspaper. 'The newspapers sometimes had car toons of Dr. York riding “Gen eral Jackson.” It has been told that York rode "General Jackson” all the way to Washington to at tend as a member of Congress, but I am Informed that that statement Is untrue. “General Jackson” died a few years ago and York has quit politics and Is content to live quietly on hls farm pnbUe otfleial and for Hgr'jnor tteridnal ssrftces to ttnte of ft- oicttoii. —Vi • ^ MOin^BD WMOW -4 The subjeek.ol'jlhis aketek. afid the first of the'ftokee tomflp toat was afterwards tOsp|^ as Important part in the,jiMin of Wilkes countywas bom on th« 18th of March, 1748. Be «nt««4 the Amerleaa'Wnnyv dutaf. the RevoIutlonaiT warwnd wm tkfcen prisoner near Norfolk In 1774, being then only fourteen yean of age, and was confined aa a prisoner of war for seven nonthi on a-British war ship. > Mohtford Stokes was Clerk of the County Court of Rowan boun ty for several years when . that county embraced the territory of Wilkes and other countlee in this section. He was also Clerk of the State Senate for a nomber of years, where he was very popular. Montford Stokes was the first and only man to refuse a seat in the United States Senate. He was elected to that position while he was Clerk of the State Senate but refused to accept. In 1816 he was again elected to fill the Important position of United States Senator; this time he accepted and served in that branch of the National Legislature until 1825, when he voluntarily retired. After hls retirement from the ; Swufe' StokSwint- iead the Uto of f Got. StitoM. Uttoop Op his. Mcyrhs Roagf pUn- m (foif knewn M tM> SiNC meitM ffito), bet 4he peolili effle «*!)- ed Mm intf-pnblleMirvioe iiuid to 1881 elseted him to the. State Beaate.,;to:k888, he^’wae elected to the'^SMae of Ommoim. and alik' In I' *n 18S6, he-waa elected '^ver- for of’’Wdfth Carolina, i twit re signed lb 1481 t» accept'thk.JlBr pointoient Preeldeat'v. Ji&k- son as ladla^Agent in Arkansas, where he until hls dsath In 1848 ft Port^lbsoB.’ On Dec. 17th, 1842, Hon, D. M. Barringer Introduced the fol lowing resolutions In the House of Commons: ' “Whereas the House of Com mons have heard with regret of the death of BSx-Oovemor Mont- tord Stokes, whose life has been connected with, for more than half a century, the history of North Carolina, and has occupied many distinguished stations in her gift, therefore resolved unan imously. “That as a mark of respect to the memory of Montford Stokes, this House do now adjourn until Monday morning,'tea o’clMk.’’ I am sorry that I am unable to give more information of the public life of this man, but it has been Impossible to obtain further data. Governor Stokes was one of the great men of his time. From the account of his public services given in this short sketch, it will be seen that he felt the responsibility of his po- stttfS^ Svs th«;ffrly Mttlfnr of .wnkaij of Hugh MoMgomsfn oM |«i hairs who tnhg^lted Jka~ ravtoa Inwib to^;WUiteS} amh lag Marly tea t|u>faabd ac^-^ this union iraa bon Mratfo^ 4^1^ nay Btoka* on Oci, 4^ 1414: ; Oovarnor Stokto :.^^ fond-^of card-paylng,'*^t3(i he WM at-Ford Gibson, aftef Ing aheant from home for i years, hls only son, Sidney, him a visit. Sidney called at th«;j bouse whsre hia father waa tag and waa Informed he waa ' stairs playing cards. Sidney j up to the room and found father seated at the card teUib.' Governor Stokes at once recoglf:. nlzed his son but was so desplF" absorbed in the game that hg; only said, “Hello Sid, U tha't you? Have a seat. I’ll be thronghr’j here In a few minutes.” After thw game was ended be gave Sidney a royal welcome. C. O. PETTY (Od,) One of the smartest negroes of the 19th century was a native o4 Wilkes county. That negro vrMi| Charles Calvin Petty. He waa born-' in the year 1850, about four mllM eaet of Wilkeeboro, and was the son of Jordan and Fannie Petty. ■ He was educated at Biddle Uni versity and was a graduate of that institution. Early In life he associated him self with the M. B. Zion churoh. He began his career as preacher at Charlotte, and «is- (Contlnued on page 1, Sec. 5) WELCOME Make Your Plans To Celebrate With Us And Share Our Hospitality rFiE ANNIVERSARY L L L L RATIONS The History Of North Wilkesboro Represents [50 Years Of Community Progress Through Co-operationi Our Bank is proud of its record of 48 years of service in the upbuildio^ of our town and surrounding commiinity, and we pledge a continuance of our efforts for future progress Our United Community is something to which we look upon with pride, for it repre- senta the efforts of 50 years of association and striving for a greater North Wilkesboro and Wilkes county. We have ac complished much . . . and we will accomplish even greater success in our commercial, business, social and religious ef forts through the continued united efforts of our citizenship. Our county and town have many advantages to offer the homeseeker, business man, and manufacturer, and we wel come the opportunity to be of service to any who are interest ed. Ample Funds Available In keeping with the growth of our town and community, our bank has shown steady progress in building up reserves ample to meet the needs of our customers, and we invite applications for constructive purposes where a loan would be of assis tance in furthering the progress of the individual . . . which in turn would benefit the community we serve. Feel free to make use of any of our banking services— CHE5CKING ACCOUNT — SAVINGS ACCOUNT SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES Counsel Gladly Given On Any Business Transaction — Officers — J R. HIX, President W. D. HALF ACRE, Vice-President S. V. TOMLINSON, Vice-President R. W. GWYN, Cashier W. W. STARR, Assistant Cashier J. G. McNEIL, Assistant Cashier ' W. B. GWYN, Assistant Cashier —Directors — J. R. HIX R. W. GWYN S. V. TOMUNSON W. D. HALF ACRE R. G. FINLEY E. M. BLACKBURN J. E. JUSTICE, Jr. RALPH DUNCAN RESOURCES OVER $1,950JK)0.00 NORTH WILKESBORO, N. C ESTABLISHED IN 1892 ■■ ■■ MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 27, 1940, edition 1
34
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