Four
HISTORICAL AND INDUSTRIAL EDITION OF THE GASTON PROGRESS
coming to Gastonia Mr. Rutter was con
nected with a number of plants in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and
came here most highly recommended
from Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.
Since then he has been actively iden
tified with the public works of the
place.
FORD UNDERTAKING COMPANY.
MORRIS
BROTHERS DEPARTMENT
STORE.
This is emphatically the day of the
department store, and the community
that cannot support several or more
of a high class character, must be
placed on the list of unprogressive and
unenterprising towns. Gastonia has
no place on this list either as regards
department stores, or in any other
jmrticular. She has for instance in the
establishment of Morris Brothers,
corner of Main and South streets, one
of the largest, most complete and up-
to-date department stores in the Caro-
linas. With the prestige of a Quarter
of a century of fair and square dealing
behind it, this enterprise is still one
of the most modern stores that can be
found anywhere, and has fully kept
pace with the phenominal growth that
is fast placing Gastonia in the front
rank of North Carolina cities. And
^o one firm in this section has taken
d more prominent part in this up-build
ing than have Morris Brothers, who
came here wlien the present thriving
metropolis of Gaston county was
scarcely more than a country village,
and by their energy and enterprise
built up a great and ever growing
business. The home of the Morris
Brothers department store is a hand
some two story brick structure, 30 feet
on Main street, and extending back
along South a distance of about 95 feet,
providing a floor space of nearly 5,000
square feet for the display of the im
mense stock of seasonable goods with
which it is kept constantly stored. The
various departments, dry goods,
notions, shoes, hats, clothing and gen
tlemen’s furnishing goods, are in
charge of experienced salespeople who
are familiar with the needs of the
people of this section and quick to an
ticipate them. It is by these methods
of doing business that the store has
made and kept its prestige as a leader
Chas. Ford, Manager.
Undoubtedly one of the most diffi
cult occupations in public life is that
pursued by the funeral director and
embalmer, and the man who follows it
for a livelihood must have special
qualification if he hopes to make a
success. The undertaker must, to be
successful, be a man of fine judgment
and discrimination, much tact and a
student of human nature, all of which
qualiflcaties are possessed by but few
men. The Ford Undertaking Company,
incorporated, of which Mr. Charles
Ford is the manager as well as secre
tary and treasurer, conducts the lead-
school commissioners, but he rarely
has to refer to his books to answer the
hundreds of questions he is called
upon to answer every day. Mr. Rankin
has made himself almost indispensable
and is the ideal man for the important
position he holds, and to which he
was elected five years ago. He is now
serving his third term. Mr. Rankin is
quite a young man to hold the place he
does having been born in Belmont,
March 14, 1885. When he was about
18 years of age* he left the home farm,
after having received an excellent edu
cation at the old Belmont Academy,
and became assistant postmaster at
Belmont, while scarcely more than a
boy. After serving in this position for
about 18 months, he decided to go west
OFFICE OF THE FORD UNDERTAKING COMPANY
ing undertaking establishment in this
city and section. Mr. Ford has had a
long and valuable experience, having
been for 14 years connected with the
Ai'mstrong Company, whose business
was bought out by the present concern
which was incorporated in 1907. By
strict attention to business he has
been given by far the larger percent
age of the business in this vicinity and
this has been growing larger each year
as the people have realized and appre
ciated his abilities as a funeral
director. Mr. Ford is a kindiy, court
eous and considerate gentleman, and
has, during the many years he has
and for nearly a year he resided at
Bandera, Texas, but the call of home
was strong and he returned to his na
tive county, becoming a deputy under
sherifl: C. B. Armstrong, resigning to
accept his present position.
room, the soda water fountain is one
of the handsomest in the state, and
nothing has been left undone to make
the surroundings most pleasant and
attractive to patrons. Recently a num
ber of booths have been erected where
a degree of privacy may be had by
customers, while partaking of the re
freshing beverages served or waiting
until prescriptions are filled. Al
though a complete stock of beautiful
and useful articles such as toilet sets,
combs, mirrors, brushes in endless
variety, manicure sets, confections,
perfumery, and all such articles kept
In a first class drug store are to be
found here, the fact that this is a high
class prescription pharmacy has al
ways been kept to the front, the other
departments being complete but of
secondary importance. “Purity” has
always been a motto followed at this
pharmacy and none but the freshest
and best are purchased from the lead
ing manufacturing chemists after hav
ing passed the vigorous gaunlet of the
pure food law. The store conducted
by the Torrence Drug Company was
established 29 years ago by Frost Tor
rence & Company, and on February
27, 1911, it was incorporated. Frost
Torrence is the president, Joseph H.
Separk secretary and treasurer, and
W. F. Michael, general manager and
buyer. Mr. Torrence is the dean of the
pharmacists of this section, was born
in the county and is secretary and
treasurer of the Avon Mills, president
of the Gastonia Ice & Fuel Company,
and connected with other enterprises.
Mr. Separk is one of the energetic
business men and “civic wires” of the
city, has for years taken a most active
part in making known the advantages
of Gastonia ,to the country, is mayor
pro tem, a member of the board of
aldermen and secretary and treasurer
i I! M ”
!ffi, W M M
-
THE GASTONIA BUSINESS COLLEGE
stantly grown in popularity, no better
evidence could be found as to its re
liability and the fact that it has always
treated its patrons in a fair and square
manner. Unless this had been the case
10 years, during which time it has con-
they would long ago have been obliged
to retire from business on account of
A. J. SMITH.
jiisured
Register of Deeds.
Not many offices in the county are
of greater importance than that of
Register of Deeds, and the fact that
Mr. A. J. Smith has been selected to
fill the position for the fifth term is
the best evidence that he has been
faithful to his trust, and is fe^inently
qualified io perform the dutiefe develv-
ing upon^im. Mr. Smith cust-
similar papers execi^
County .an,!! they are reCc
offer. h6 has in vogue an: excellent
filing system, and the books and re
cords are in excelent sha^ej conven
iently arranged so that chey . can
easily be referred to by those seeking
information. One of the most import
ant duties of the office is that of com
puting the taxes for the county prop
erty owners which are then turned
over to the sheriff who makes collect
ions, and transmits the money to the
treasurer. Mr. Smith was born on the
present site of Belmont in 1862, before
the town was founded. He afterwards
became its mayor, serving several
terms and making a most excellent
record for himself as an executive.
He has also served as magistrate.
Mr. Smith is progressive and always
ready to aid any worthy cause for
Gastonia’s good.
in his
business methods. The store and ot-
flce have ceased to be a kindergarten,
and the business college now supplies
trained people capable of performing
e'. ery duty. The man or woman with
a college diploma is given the prefer
ence every time. Although it is not
yet quite a year old, the Gastonia
Business College is already a i)ro-
nounced success and has enrolled stu
dents not only from the city but from
a number of the surrounding towns.
This is one of the healthy, sturdy in
stitutions that is destined to keep pace
with the phenominal growth of the
town if it does not out-strip it, judging
from the progress that has been made
since its organization. The college is
located in the new Long building on
west Main street, and the principal,
Mr. C. M. Robinson, is one of that type
of young business men who are doing
so much to push Gastonia to the front.
His school has both day and night
classes, students can enter at any
time, there are no vacations, and the
courses are from two to three months
according: to the
C^
STORE OF THE TORRENCE DRUG COMPANY
of the Gray Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Michael Is a thoroughly practical
man and has been in the drug business
for the past 20 years.
A. J. KIRBY & COMPANY.
TORRENCE DRUG COMPANY, Inc.
OLD AND RELIABLE DRY GOODS HOUSE OF MORRIS BROTHERS
through all these twenty-five years.
There has never been a slip back
ward, no standing still, “forward” has
always been the motto, and that this
policy has been appreciated is evi
denced by the generous patronage be
stowed on the firm by the discriminat
ing people of this city and section.
The Snowflake Steam Laundry, of
which the son of one of the proprietors
is managing-owner, has a branch at the
store. The members of the firm are:
S. M. and B. T. Morris, brothers, who
came here from Dallas, the old county
seat, 25 years ago, and started busi
ness on a modest scale. They did their
full share as good citizens in aiding
in every way in the growth of the
town, and have always been among its
most prominent busines men. For 15
years Mr. S. M. Morris has at various
times served on the board of alder
men, and is at the present time a mem
ber of that body, and a most useful
one on account of his experience and
energy. He represents the Second
ward and is also street commissioner,
having under his particular supervis
ion all the thoroughfares of the city, a
duty he performs most creditably so
far as the appropriation at his com
mand will permit. Mr. B. T. Morris
'has also been all his life deeply inter
ested in everything that appertains to
the good of the city, and he and his
brother work hand in hand for the wel
fare of the town.
been in the business, thoroughly
demonstrated to the public that its
wants will be attended to in a first-
class manner and at reasonable cost.
He is a native of Gaston county. Mr.
Boyce, the president, is one of the most
prominent business men of Gastonia,
is treasurer of Gaston county, is cash
ier of the First National Bank, a
member of the board of education and
is connected with a large number of
local enterprises. Mr. J. 0. White, the
vice-president, is also one of the most
active business men of the city, being
president of the Modena Cotton Mills
and a member of the board of alder
men.
Prescription Druggists.
The oldest and at the same time one
of the most modern pharmacies in this
city and section is that of the Tsii^
rence Drug Company, corner Main and 
South streets. It has a floor space of
3,300 square feet in which to display
one of the finest stock of goods ever
brought together in a city of the size
of Gastonia, and to carry in an im ^
mense business extending throughout>.„
this section. The interior is finished In
stained carved quartered oak, the
beautiful plate glass show cases
stretch nearly the entire length of the
Pianos and Organs, Sheet Music and
Musical Merchandise.
No home of refinement and culture
can be said to be complete unless it is
supplied with one or more musical .n-
struments for there are few families
that have not at least one member
with musical talent who can supply
the others as well as visitors and
friends, with unlimited pleasure. The
organ and piano are by far the most
popular of all instruments, and on
account of economy of manufacturing
in large quantities and the introduc
tion of improved machinery the prices
have of recent years been so greatU
reduced that families with the most
limited incomes are enabled to pur
chase high-class instruments. Located
here in Gastonia is the piano and
organ warerooms of A. J. Kirby &
Company, at 124 Main street, who have
for a long time supplied the people of
this part of the Carolinas with
splendid instruments at a reasonable
cost when the grade furnished is con
sidered. When a firm has conducted
business successfully for a period of
the lack of patronage. Age in a firm
is one of its best recommendations.
Mr. Kirby represents the W. W.
Kimball Company of Chicago, the
largest manufacturers of pianos and
organs in the world, and thousands of
the most eminent professional music
ians have been glad to give unsolicited
testimonials as to the high class of the
product of these immense factories
which cover acres. On account of the
great output the company is able to
place on the market a superior instru
ment at a low price and ample capital
ent and the studies taken up. The
rates are most reasonable when
high-grade of instruction given is cJ
sidered and a feature possessed by few
colleges is that all necessary books and
stationary are furnished without extra
charge. For shorthand, typewriting,
English, spelling and business corres
pondence there is a special rate of
$35; bookkeeping, arithmetic, pen
manship, commercial law, typewriting,
and business correspondence, special
$35; and the two courses combined,
$65. These are special summer rates
and should by all means be taken ad
vantage of by those who desire a good
business education at a small expen
diture of money. The college is equip
ped with every convenience for study,
the staff of teachers is experienced
and capable, and the rooms are well
KIRBY’S PIANO HOUSE
JOHN R. RANKIN.
City Clerk.
There is no man in the employ of the
municipality who has so many varied
duties to perform as Mr. John R.
Rankin, the first and only city clerk
that Gastonia has ever had. In the
absence of the mayor from the city
hall he is to all intents and purposes
in charge, and has to have every detail
of the various departments at his
fingers ends. And he does to the won
der of all who are not aware of the
wonderful memory Mr. Rankin possess
es, and his special qualifications for
the position he holds. He is the keep
er of the city records, being clerk to
the board of aldermen, and also to the
Special
Newspaper Editions
Railway and Steamboat Booklets.
Summer and Winter Resort Liter
ature. City Exploiter. Manager
of Political Campaigns. ILLUS
TRATOR and GENERAL BIOG
RAPHER.
Albert E. Walker
Charlottesville, Va.
Highest References from Leading
American Newspapers
Correspondence solicited. Send for me.
enables it to sell on the installment
plan as well as for cash on the most
reasonable terms. Mr. Kirby, who is
a native of Greenville, S. C., has been
in the business for a number of years,
and is acquainted with its every detail.
Since making his home here he has
made a host of friends throughout this
section, and his reputation as a fair
and square merchant is of the highest.
GASTONIA BUSINESS COLLEGE.
Open all Summer.
C. M. Robinson. Principal.
This is emphatically the era of busi
ness. It is the age of commerce, and
the young man or woman who has
been properly trained has an advan
tage over the one who has not that
can scarcely be overestimated. The
business man of today has no time to
train his employees, he is too busy,
and when they come to him for em
ployment he expects them to know
furnished, lighted and ventilated. Mr.
C. M. Robinson is a practical business
man. He is a native of Rockingham
county and after attending the public
schools and Wake Forest College he
graduated from Lee’s Business College
at Charlotte. For eight years he was
bookkeeper in a large cotton mill
office in the meantime making a close
study of modern business methods.,
One of his assistants. Miss Gertrude
Barber, who has charge of the short
hand department, is an acknowledged
expert and one of the most proficent
shorthand writers in the state. Mr.
Robinson, since making his home here,
has made a host of friends and is noted
for his public spirit and progressive
ways.
Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties
were pioneers in building good roads,
and perhaps in no section of the United
States are found as many miles of
good public highways as is seen in
these two counties.