Friday. September 12, 1952
THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Carolina
Page Fifteen
Late George C. Graves W as Colorful
FijAure In Early Days of Carthage
Three Children Of ^
Pioneer Business
Man Reside Here
Penn Seawell, in the Moore
County News of September 4, has
an interesting story on the late
George C. Graves, prominent mer
chant and livery stable operator
in the early days of Carthage,
county seat of Moore, and father
of eight well-known citizens of
North Carolina, three of whom
live in Southern Pines. They are:
George C. Graves, Jr., ifenry L.
Graves, and Mrs. George ^Hein-
itsh. Southern Pines; Mrs. W. G.
Brown and Mrs. Charles T. Grier,
j Carthage; Mrs. Margaret Penn,
Fort Bragg; Mrs. R. N. Page, Jr.,
Aberdeen, and Mrs. Worth Miller,
Kinston.
Mr. Seawell’s story follows:
It is to be remembered that,
during World War 1 our old men
of today and the boys in olive
drab of that year received The
Moore County News in faraway
France and learned that, among
other things, Graves Co., offered
for sale in parthage fish on Fri
days. But even the men 'of that
conflict, including a first lieuten
ant in the air army, were babes
in the woods when the immortal
saga of George Calvin Graves be
gan.
George Graves, a man of illus-
tricus forebears and antecedants,
was the first druggist (or phar
macist! licensed in Carthage and,
■■it probably, one of the first in North
Carolina. He was a graduate
pharmacist and his prescriptions
were well compounded. He could,
in that era, also pull a tooth that
was aching or heal a horse that
was ailing. An all round good
merchant, he did much towards
the eyes out of the most bashful
swain and, if the wearer happen
ed to gyrate suddenly, to knock
his head off if he stood within
three feet and was not exception-
ably nimble in his foot work. But
this was only a small part of the
Graves enterprises.
In his livery and feed stable a
man or woman could rent a bug
gy, a phaeton, a two-seater, a
carriage or a phaeton-sedan. Eith
er of them could also obtain the
services of a horse to ride, com
plete with saddle, astride lor gen
tlemen and aside for the ladies as
the latter in those days never dis
played more than one-fourth inch
of her ankle except to her hus
band and then only after the nup
tials had been performed some
several years, or that is what they
say. At Mr. Graves’ stable you
could buy a horse, a mule, or a
knew horses from' front molars
to broomtail also had an automo
bile. Mr. Graves’ Case Four, de.
luxe model, which would fall off
the court bourse at the incredu
lous speed of thirty-five miles per
hour if given a good shove, never
theless beat that train into Pine-
hurst by minutes and left one in-
sulter with the old adage that he
who chuckles last chuckles best.
Mr. Graves had his share of bad
luck. A number of fires did him
much damage. He was also in the
sawmill business and many of his
mills and timber holdings were
destroyed by fire as well as his
livery stables on more than one
occasion. Yet he lived actively
until his eighty-fourth year when
his funeral was conducted at the
Presbyterian Church, in Carthage,
where he was an elder. Many hun
dreds attended his last rites to
team or stable full of either. You I pay honor and respect to this
could buy buggies, wagons, har
ness, saddles, bridles, whips, lap
grand old man of another age.
But the saga of George Calvin
robes, and even hay, corn and|*Graves is not ended. Besides
oats. Furthermore, you could do George, Jr., there are George, III.
your purchasing for cash or on
easy terms for it was “easy to pay
Graves’ way” even as it is today.
The store, with its assortment fore them,
of goods like a Sears-Roebuck
catalogue was located about
where the Moore Hardware,
Jane’s and Mack’s now are loca
ted on courthouse square and the
livery stabld was located on Bar
rett street, in Carthage, about the
equivalent of two city blocks
from his colonial styled mansion,
which he built for his bride many
years ago, and which still stands
a landmark of the success of this
indefatigable and conscientious
man who lived on the principle
that his family should always
have the best that his energies
and ingenuity could produce.
Mr. Graves was what is known
as a time merchant as many were
and George IV, and wagers are
Aberdeenian Wins
Bronze Star For
Heroism In Korea
A dangerous unusual four-man
patrol in Company I of the 5th In
fantry Regiment in Korea recent
ly bagged valuable intelligence
information and three enemy cas
ualties.
The patrol included: M|Sgt.
Richard I. Batchelor, son of Mr.
and Mrs. A. M. Batchelor, Rt. 1,
Aberdeen.
Oh July 5, the reconnaissance
patrol crossed Company 1 lines
with its mission to go out in front
of the main line of resistance ahd
take a good look around for ene
my activitiy. Advancing about
400 yards the patrol saw a group
of foxholes on the knob of a near
by hill. Previously the company
had noticed enemy activity near
that area. Positions were arrang
ed with foxholes on each side and
more on the high ground on top
of the knob.
Master Sergeant Batchelor ap
proached the foxholes on the right
to check for enemy while another
checked the foxholes on the left.
Batchelor then silently ap
proached the positions on the
enemy was killed on the first
burst, another wounded. A third
fled from the area but Pvt. L. O.
Parker, of Salt Lake City, killed
him with one shot.
Although the two remaining
enemy escaped, valuable informa
tion was found on the , bodies of
the dead.
Master Sergeant Batchelor was
awarded the Bronze Star Medal
for his part in the action. He was
cited for his skill in leading the
attack, and his “outstanding cour
age and unremitting devotion to
duty.”
More than two-thirds of general
fund revenue of the State of North
Carolina is spent on public educa
tion.
down that they wRl maintain and knob with his three men spread
excel the fine heritage that is be- out behind him. Sneaking to with
in 10 feet of the positions Batche
lor took a five-man enemy group
completely by surprise.
Standing up and yelling he op
ened fire with his carbine. One
Give your children a refresher
course in traffic safety as they
start back to school.
M/IRZAG’S
Your REMNANT SHOP in Jonesboro Heights, Sanford, N. C.
OFFERS YOU, FOR THE FIRST TIME
WASHaFLAN..$4.S0y(L
85% Wool, 15% Nylon, the completely washable flannel
For the Best in PIECE GOODS at the Lowest Prices
-Visit-
Phone 2-2091
Jonesboro Hts., SANFORD, N. C.
the upbuilding cf Carthage, called who were forced to wait
Moore and adjoining counties and
was well known and respected all
over the state.
During his early days in Car
thage he picked out one of the
belles df that time, sought after
her and won her in a relentless
struggle as he did everything he
set out to do. She was Miss Mar
for the money for their goods un
til a crop came around again or
until the debtor’s ship came in
According to Mr. Graves a great
many people who owed him
money were waiting for the safe
return of the Titanic. But the
merchant, shrewd as he was ac
tive, was not gullible enough to
garet McNeill, pretty and talented much faith in promises. The
chattle mortgage was his only de
fense, contrary to being fleeced
out of house and home, and it
worked a cross-fire in several in
stances.
When prices were low on com
modities raised on the farm there
was devastating ruin on the same
farm in the livestock market.
daughter of the late A. H. Me
Neill, longtime leader in the Dem
ocratic party, and for 32 years
clerk of the superior court of
Moore county.
Mr. Graves and the late Dr.
John Calvin Blue were married
to sisters, Margaret and Evaline
McNeill, in a double wedding cer
emony and it is rumored that thel^V^®®> horses, cows, hogs, and
reverend gentleman who per- chickens perished like flies in a
formed the ceremony got the freezing winter, particularly if
names all mixed up so badly, hav- their description appeared on the
ing Evaline married to George tace of his chattle mortgage. If
Calvin and Margaret married to ® man had two rnules or two hogs,
John Calvin,' that he had to start matter how similar in appear-
all over and do- it again. If this ^*^ce and disposition, it was a re-
had not been (done it is possible markable coincidence it happen-
that Miss Lessie would be Blue written in the
instead of Brown. chattle mortgage to Mr. Graves
A 1.-1 j that died an untimely death and,
A number of fine children were . , n ui a ai. a
A 1 /-I n at one fell blow, cut that mer-
born to Mr. and Mrs. Graves, all , / a « i.- i , a.,
, u 1. 1. 1 1.1 • chant out of his money and left
of whom have been valuable in au a? ai. / i ■
the social, religious and economic v ! deceased m
life of the state. But as this is '^“'^dion he
the story of the phenomenal life his obli-
j.1. u -x gatioii Until .another crop had
of George C. Graves, the elder, it , ivir ^
is best that the tale be exnedited P^®®ed. Mr. Graves, at the time
IS be^ that the tale be expedited, ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
and those who survive him be ex- , • n j a i.- , ,
I uncancelled mortgages which had
.never been satisfied.
Avenged Insulf
eluded until another chapter is
written.
Operated General Store
Mr. Graves store was primarily
for the sale of dry goods and no
tions, but he ^Iso offered milli
nery arid groceries. The old
timers recall that it was a general
store where you could buy any
thing from horseshoe nails and
guns with ammunition, to tender
steak at ten cents a pound, fab
ric for a dress or an Easter bon
net that was guaranteed to knock
Retail
Price
$2.10
Pints
$3.35
Fifths
86 Proof
M SnAIOHT WMSOn M IMS I
AH 4 yEARtOR;«IOU out: i
mmni t mBOBa, i
But a time merchant is a credit
man and, as Shakespeare has
said, “Neither a borrower nor a
lender be, for a loan oft loses both
itself and friend, and borrowing
dulls the edge of Husbandry.” Mr.
Graves, as every other man of
his era that furnished someone
something and took a very skepti
cal something as security, made
his enemies. He was no exception.
On one occasion it is recalled that
he received a telephone call from
one of these enemies. The old
Norfolk-Southern had a branch
line out of Carthage in that day,
which went to Pinehurst.
This worthy stated to Mr.
Graves that the train was pulling
out at that moment and that he
would be on it and that he want
ed to tell him, Mr. Graves, what
he thought of him. Then he added)
a vile name and hung up. |
All the way to Pinehurst he told I
his fellow passengers of the way
he “cussed put” George Graves!
and chuckled about it, boasting!
and ■ bragging until he reached!
the end of the line at Pinehurst. |
Still chuckling, he emerged from'
the coach to find none other than
George Calvin Graves, bristles
raised, waiting to receive him.
What followed is history. That
fellow got the soundest thrashing
ever administered to a man who
was still able to get up and run
away with a stern boot toe im
print on his posterior. Mr. Graves
was not afraid of anyone. And, if
anyone figured that a short cut
to an insult by the invention of
Alexander Graham B)ell would
work, he didn’t reckon far enough
on the slowness of the Norfolk-
Southern passenger train n,or up
on the fact that the man 'who
GET READY FOR
Mr. Winter is coming to your home soon. Are you prepared to greet him with
all the protection modern home building methods provide you with? Keep
your home warmer, more comfortable and with less fuel wasting by preparing
now:
/
Insulate and Cut Fuel Costs
Fuel savings are so great they pay for Insulation IN TWO SHORT YEARS !
COMPLETE SUPPLY OF HIGH QUALITY
BUILDING NEEDS
See l|s For Johns-Manville Rock Wool Batts, Johns-Manville
Asbestos Roofing, Siding and Asphalt Shingles
Just Received — Large Supply of METAL ROOFING
Most complete line of Yale Hardware in the Sandhills. Order your supplies here
and be certain of prompt delivery
ROCK LATH
CEMENT
BRIXMENT
PLASTER
BONDEX
APPLIANCES
AMMUNITION
BRUSHES
CUTLERY
FENCING
GLASS
GARDEN TOOLS
GARDEN HOSE
LAWN MOWERS
SPRINKLERS
HEDGE CLIPPERS
FEED - SEED
CARPENTER TOOLS
DOORS
WINDOWS
All Sizes
All Styles
1^
MINTS
Rye Grass Seed now ready for delivery. Azalea and Camellia Fertiliier in stock
HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES —FARM NEEDS
Pinehurst Warehouses, Inc.
'The Big Supply House of the Sandhills'
Phone 3412
PINEHURST, N. C.