Injured by a Runaway.

_____

   Selma, N. C., Jan. 1.—(Special.)—This morning while Messrs. H. D. Hood and W. H. Hare were out driving the horse became frightened and bolted, and in jumping from the buggy Mr. Hare sustained very painful injuries. Mr. Hood escaped with only a very slight shock.

http://www.silverspiralarts.com/keyword/buggy;drawing;illustration;art;1800s/

[News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) 2 Jan 1900, Page 1]

COLD BLOODED MURDER.

__________

Mr. James Blackwell, Flagman on the A.C.L.,

Shot and Killed by a Tramp Near Dunn, (Harnett Co.), N. C.

—The Murderer Escaped—A Posse in Pursuit.

            One of the most cold blooded murderers which has occurred in this State for some years was committed between Benson (Johnston Co.,) and Dunn, N. C., last Saturday night. The unfortunate victim was Mr. James Blackwell, of Foreston, S.C., flagman of the A. C. L. fast mail No. 35 and a most estimable young man. The crew of train No. 35 had been caused considerable trouble and annoyance since leaving Wilson (Wilson Co.) by several tramps, and Conductor McDonald had thought himself rid of these unpleasant and unwelcome passengers, until entering Mingo swamp (Harnett Co.), between Benson and Dunn, about twelve minutes to one o’clock, when engineer Donlanson discovered two of the tramps clambering from the tender to the baggage car. Upon reaching the water tank the train was stopped and the crew was stationed on different parts of the train to prevent the tramps getting aboard again. The most reliable statement of the shooting is that the two tramps came to that portion of the train where Flagman Blackwell was stationed and were endeavoring to get back under the train, and when stopped one picked up something from the ground, saying, “There’s — — who put us off,” whereupon Flagman Blackwell replied that it was not he but the conductor. The other tramp then spoke up and said, “I’ll fix the — —,” and pulled his pistol and fired, hitting Mr. Blackwell, the ball entering his bowels, killing him in a very few minutes.

         Engineer Donlanson hearing the firing ran back to where Mr. Blackwell was stationed, enquired the cause of firing and Mr. Blackwell’s reply was his last words on earth, “I am shot.” The train was hurried to the next station, where a doctor was secured, but too late to render any assistance, as the unfortunate victim died between ten and fifteen minutes after being shot.

            During the excitement which occurred immediately after the shooting the murderer took to the woods. The tramp was very grimy and dirty, making recognition quite difficult, but he is believed to be a man by the name of Gill, who has caused the conductors on the southern Railway between Durham (Durham Co) and Raleigh (Wake Co.) much trouble, and who is said to have been very insulting to several ladies in Johnston county.

            A special train with a posse of determined men and several bloodhounds was sent from Florence and reached the scene of the crime about six hours after the dastardly deed was committed, and are scouring the country in search of the murderer.

            The unfortunate victim’s remains were carried to Fayetteville (Cumberland Co.) Saturday night, prepared for burial and sent to ?? Sunday night, his brother accompanying them.

            Mr. Blackwell was about 27 years of age, unmarried and highly esteemed by his employers and all with whom he came in contact. He had recently, from his savings, purchased a farm at Foreston, S. C., and placed his father upon it. The A.C.L. authorities have offered a reward of $250 for the capture of the murderer.

            It is reported the bloodhounds and posse tracked the murder to the Cape Fear river near Fayetteville, where, it is thought, he crossed the river, and it is to be hoped that he will be caught, and justice will soon be meted to him in the manner he deserves.

[Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, NC) 17 Aug 1897]

Home Made Coffins.

            Before the Civil War, and for some time after it, nearly all coffins used in this section were made at home and by hand. In nearly every neighborhood one or more men would keep some coffin lumber on hand. In very many cases old men would have lumber sawed and placed away under shelter to make coffins for themselves, their wives or any other members of the family who might die. In a few cases men had their own coffins made and sometimes several years before their death. We have heard of men lying down in their coffins to see if they would fit. The custom of making coffins at home has been abandoned around Smithfield (Johnston County). We have heard of only one case in the last decade.

            Mr. J. H. Rose informs us that the custom still prevails to some extent around Benson. Sometime ago he sold a burial robe and trimmings worth more than thirty dollars for a home made coffin. At another time he furnished a hearse to haul a home made coffin. Several years ago Mr. Lazarus Stewart, who lived in Harnett county, near Benson (Johnston County), decided he wanted his coffin made from a large pine which stood near his barn. Last fall Mr. Stewart died at a time to throw this work on Sunday. On a Sunday morning his neighbors met and cut down the large tree and hauled the timber to Mr. W. R. Denning’s saw mill. The sawing was done and the coffin was made on Sunday.— Smithfield Herald.

https://woodswork.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/coffin-sketchup-1-0011.jpg

  [The State Journal (Raleigh, NC) 2 Feb 1917]

THE AIRSHIP VISITS WILLIAMSTON

__________

(Special to the [Wilmington] Messenger.)

            Williamson [Martin County]  N. C., April 14 [1897].—The mysterious airship seen at Wilmington and other points was observed here last night about 9 o’clock. When first noticed it appeared as a black mass against the moon-lit sky, going slowly from South to North. Its altitude was not great, being near enough to enable the observer to discern outlines of its rigging with the naked eye. As it passed over the town it ascended rapidly and a brilliant light was thrown out far ahead of it. The light was seen by some who could not, on account of the great height it had attained, catch the faintest glimpse of the aerial machine. If it should appear again there will be many to behold it as people are much interested and will watch for its re-appearance. — News and Observer (Raleigh, NC) 16 Apr 1897

_________

            The airship was first seen in North Carolina at Wilmington [New Hanover County] about April 5, 1897. The Semi-Weekly Messenger of that city reported that hundreds of people watched as the brilliant mass floated from east to west across the sky. “Many persons saw net-work about the aerial wonder.” Watchers with field glasses observed its wires, ropes and rigging and all were amazed by its powerful searchlight.

            The mysterious airship was next seen at Goldsboro [Wayne County] about April 9^th or 10^th. The Press-Visitor of Raleigh [Wake County] said: “Those who saw the object describe it as a great light moving rapidly from east to west.”

________

Found at http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/oddities/airship.html

            On April 13 The Press-Visitor in Raleigh carried the following article:

THE AIRSHIP.

_____

Arrangements Made for Its Appearance Tonight.

            The Press-Visitor this afternoon completed arrangements by which the air-ship will appear over Raleigh at 3 o’clock tomorrow morning.

            Efforts were made to secure its appearance here on a dark night, but the dates were all taken save tonight. This will prevent Raleigh, owing to the moon-light, from having quite as good a view as some other towns.

________

            Apparently the mysterious airship had an identity by this time. The Press-Visitor reported that many saw the airship pass over the city. It was identified as “the first automobile dirigible balloon ever invented which is a success. It is simple in its construction. It consists of an elliptical gasbag 128 feet in length and a car weighing 45 pounds. It is constructed on the aeroplane system, and operates perfectly. [This is 6 years before the Wright brothers first flew an ‘aeroplane’ over the sandy beach of NC.] The machine is operated by an electric storage battery and propeller. Its lifting power depends upon the number of cubic feet of gas in the bag."

            This announcement this did not stop the speculation. The airship continued to be spotted and by the time it was seen over Kenly [Johnston, Wilson Counties] about April 22, watchers saw sails and (very clearly) two men. 

            The Kenly sighting was the last reported in local newspapers throughout the months of April and May of 1897. The excitement had run its course.

Among the Country High Schools

(Excerpts From Principals' Preliminary Reports for the Fall Term, 1913.)

BEAUFORT COUNTY

Principal A. W. Davenport, Pantego High School.

     Library and office room added. Betterment Association has made about $20.00 and bought six new stools, cost $50.00. Prospects are very bright for good year.

BERTIE COUNTY 

Principal J. B. Thorn, Jr., Aulander High School.

     $12,500 worth of bonds voted for a new building to be erected next year.

     Prizes offered for best piece of needle work and also handicraft. Two literary societies. School in a flourishing, prosperous condition

CRAVEN COUNTY

Principal, W. G. Gaston, Dover High School

     We need a dormitory very badly and we expect to have on in the near future. This is a find location for a High School. We have a large field to draw from. With little effort the attendance could be increased 50 per cent., I believe. We have had to turn down numbers, because we have no place for them. Our present capacity is reached. Our school has never been in better shape. There is no finer school community in North Carolina than Dover.

Dover High School, Craven County
Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rural_public_high_school,_Dover,_
Craven_County,_NC_(6797187875).jpg

EDGECOMBE

Principal L. L. Hargrave, Battleboro High School.

     Spelling, writing, drawing, nature work, and sight-singing are taught throughout school course. Twelve pupils take typewriting. Physical culture is given free to school.

     Three more recitation rooms have been added this fall, one of which is fitted up for science. Sixty-five dollars has been contributed for apparatus for science classes.

     Within two years the school has about doubled in pupils, has doubled in teachers, and has more than doubled in classrooms. We now have two flourishing literary societies. 

GRANVILLE COUNTY

Principal R. P. Crumpler, Knap of Reeds High School.

     We have a piano and a music department this year.

HALIFAX COUNTY

Principal John T. Cobb, Enfield High School.

     There exists the heartiest co-operation between the school and the community. The Betterment Association is an active factor here and does great good. The trustees have ordered the fourth year to be added to the high school course, making the school run as a four-year high school.

Consolidated School, Halifax County
Taken from Eastern North Carolina Where Prosperity is Perennial INVITES YOU! http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/ncencyc/ncencyc.html

JOHNSTON COUNTY

Principal S. E. Leonard, Kenly High School.

     School has use of dormitory free. Superintendent rents out rooms, employs a matron and runs a regular boarding house. He either makes or loses as the funds are his and not the school's. Five of the teachers and a number of pupils live in dormitory.

MARTIN COUNTY

Principal W. H. Mizelle, Robersonville High School.

     Since the close of school the latter part of April of this year, our trustees have added to the school building one new room, enlarged two others, tinned the roof of the entire building, painted the walls and ceilings of two rooms, put in seven coal stoves, furnished nicely the one new room, and done considerable general repair work. They have also improved the school ground.

NASH COUNTY

Principal Arnold W. Byrd, Mt. Pleasant High School.

     The dormitory is managed by a matron assisted by the principal and the assistant teachers.

     A Betterment Association has been organized and is doing valuable service for the school. Through its efforts we have secured a school farm.

Principal H. A. Nanney, Red Oak High School.

     The dormitory and mess hall are managed by a matron. Board is given at club rates, or at actual cost. A room rent fee of 50 cents a month is charged each student.

     We will vote on $10,000 worth of bonds Dec. 5 for the erection of a new school building. We hope to establish a Farm Life School next year in connection with the school. (Bond issue carried Dec. 5.

Principal J. I. White, Whitakers High School.

     Organized two literary societies, one for each sex. Have an excellent reading room. Increased our library. A very live Betterment Association, which employs and pays a music teacher. Attendance good. The first month we did not have any tardies and only seven absentees. Only eleven tardies last month.

Consolidated School, Nash County
 Taken from Eastern North Carolina Where Prosperity is Perennial INVITES YOU!
 http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/ncencyc/ncencyc.html

PERSON COUNTY

Mrs. J. A. Beam, Principal, Bethel Hill High School.

       We have had some work done on our building and have put in  some equipment, but we greatly need a dormitory. We could easily double our attendance if we had it.Several boarders are scattered through the neighborhood now.

Miss Allene Patton, Principal, Bushy Fork High School.

       The school building was painted during the summer.

WAKE COUNTY

Principal T. E. Story, Bay Leaf High School.

     The dormitory is run by Mr. H. P. Thompson, one of the trustees. The dormitory alone just cost $1,750, but the lot (4 1-2 Acres) and a storehouse that is on it all cost $2,750.

Principal M. B. Dry, Cary High School.

     Boys pay matron of boys dormitory $9.00 a month for table board, and they pay the school $1.50 for room rent. Girls pay $8.25 for table board and $1.75 a month for room rent in the girls’ dormitory.      We are putting up a new school building, which, together with the dormitories, will cost $33,000. The old school building will be converted into 40 rooms for dormitories for boys. We are now paying rent on the girls’ dormitory, but we are going to buy it and enlarge it so as to accommodate 60 or more girls.

     We have bored a 200-foot well on the campus which will furnish 20 or more gallons of water per minute.

WARREN COUNTY

Principal E. P. Dixon, Wise High School.

     We have a hotel here for dormitory, but we are not using it. We started to open it, but the county took the appropriation from us so we could not secure another high school teacher. We let it stop. The County Board promises to give us the appropriation this year. What will be done I do not know.

WILSON COUNTY

Principal C. O. Armstrong, Bock Ridge High School.

     We are now converting old school building into dormitory. A part of fund raised by private subscription, and for remainder an application was filed for a loan.

[Taken from The North Carolina High School Bulletin, Volume 5: edited by Nathan Wilson Walker. January 1, 1914: University of North Carolina]

Vicks VapoRub and the Joshua Vick Connection

As Told By Durant Vick

            Joshua and Rosetta Vick had three children: Eudora Laurinda, George Davis and Edward Warren. George, who was my Grandfather, was also a doctor in Selma.

            Rosetta Richardson Vick’s brother, Lunsford Richardson, Jr., finished at Davidson College and came to Selma, Johnston Co., NC to teach at the private school. After four years, he realized that there was little money in teaching. He had $600 so he purchased a drugstore owned by Dr. Joshua Vick and an associate for $450 in 1880. With the extra $150, he restocked the store.

            Lunsford Richardson roomed at my great grandfather’s [Dr. Joshua Vick] home in Selma on Massey Street and paid $10 per month rent. Joshua and Lunsford became good friends.

A Move

            After ten years in Selma, Lunsford Richardson felt that a larger area was needed so he relocated to Greensboro, NC. He and partner John Fariss bought the Porter and Tate drugstore on Elm Street and renamed it the Richardson-Fariss Drugstore. One of his employees was William Sidney Porter who was later known as O. Henry, the writer.

This ad appeared in the Greensboro Telegram on 16 February 1911.

            Lunsford Richardson was an innovator and he began to develop medicinal products or home remedies which he sold in the drugstore. In 1894, he introduced a product that was to make him a fortune, a cure for croup. It was first named “Richardson’s Croup and Pneumonia Salve.” This name was too long and did not have a good marketing ring to it. The name was later changed from Richardson’s to Vick’s, which was subsequently trademarked by Mr. Richardson for his products. According to family lore, the name Vicks was selected to honor his brother-in-law, Dr. Joshua Vick.

            After the name was changed to Vicks, the product we know as Vicks VapoRub was first called Vick’s Salve or Vick’s Magic Salve, but it was later changed back to Vicks VapoRub. As to how the name VapoRub was derived, I do not know but the combination of the two techniques of external medication — stimulation and inhalation were certain described with the word —VapoRub.

A New Business

            In 1898, Richardson’s interest in making remedies prompted him to sell his share in the thriving drugstore to his partner and start a new company, Lunsford Richardson Wholesale Drug Company, with three employees, in Greensboro. Richardson quickly tired of fighting with the other stockholders in the company about what to do with the profits. While he wanted to put any profits back into the business to finance more advertising, they wanted them as dividends. As a result, Richardson sold his share of the business in 1905.

Richard Lunsford
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23084881

Junk Mail

            Richardson took his savings and opened a new business, Vick Family Remedies Company, this time owned solely by him. He made a number of different remedies under the Vicks name, and marketed them in twenty surrounding counties. In 1905, Mr. Richardson convinced the Postal Service to allow him to mass-mail his advertising circulars simply to “Boxholder” instead of individuals. Because this marked the first such mailing, Mr. Richardson gained the dubious distinction of also being known as “the father of junk mail.

            Despite his hard work, Lunsford Richardson’s new business did not prosper, and he began to run out of savings. In 1907, he asked his oldest son, Henry Smith Richardson (1885 -1972), who worked in New York, to be advertising and sales manager for the fledgling company in hopes that his son could rescue it.

New Ideas

            Smith Richardson was an aggressive Salesman and an innovative advertising manager. He traveled all over North Carolina, and then the southeast, from drugstore to drugstore, and country store to country store, selling VapoRub. First he and the sales force traveled by horse and buggy, and then by Model T Ford. For his efforts, Smith Richardson was made a partner in 1911. His prescription for a healthy company was to focus its efforts on selling the product that brought in the most money, Vicks Croup and Pneumonia Salve. By 1911, the other remedies had been dropped, and the company had changed its name to Vick Chemical Company and its product’s name to the catchy Vicks VapoRub.

Found at Center for Creative Leadership
http://www.ccl.org/leadership/research/history/creation.aspx?pageId=1682

Advertising Innovations

            The company’s advertising strategies were revolutionary. Vick Chemical Company was one of the first businesses to use such techniques as road signs, store displays, street car advertising, “mark out” slogans, and free samples. When the company began expanding its territory north and west, it was one of the first companies to take advantage of Rural Free Delivery, by sending samples through the mail.

Early Vicks Products

            My brother, Charles Vick, from Richmond, dropped me a note concerning a copy of L. Richardson Drug Company letter from Dec. 1901. It listed the Vick products as follows: Vick’s Yellow Pine-Cough Syrup, Vick’s Carolina Dead Shot Vermifuge, Kaduk Headache Powders, Vick’s Little Liver Pills, Vick’s Electric Hot Drops, Vick’s Tar Heel Sarsaparilla, Vick’s Croup Salve, Vick’s Aromatic Wine Cod Liver Oil with Malt Wild Cherry and Hypophosphates, Vick’s Turtle Oil Liniment, and Vick’s Perfected and Tasteless Pure Castor Oil.

This ad appeared in the Greensboro Patriot on 28 February 1906.

[This Story first appeared in The Connector, newsletter of Tar River Connections Genealogical Society, in the Fall 2007 issue. Durant G. Vick, great grandson of Joshua Vick, provided most of the information, including material from the Richardson family book Annals of an American Family.  The Smithfield, NC website was also helpful.]

Plea for Aid
Local Militia in Dire Straits

War of 1812

The following counties of the Detached Militia were called into service at Norfolk, Virginia by orders in September of 1814 - Bertie, Chatham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Wake, and Warren. Those from Chatham, Orange, and Person were ordered to return to their respective homes before they arrived at Gates Court House, the place of rendezvous.

ADDRESS

To the citizens of the counties of Hertford, Bertie, Martin, Northampton, Halifax, Nash, Edgecombe, Johnston, Warren, Franklin, Granville and Wake, and to the patriotic citizens of North Carolina generally.

The undersigned take the liberty of addressing you in behalf of the volunteers and drafted militia, detached from the several counties above named for the service of the United States, and now stationed under your command at Norfolk. — It is known to you that these men were suddenly called from their homes, without being afforded an opportunity, and many of them not possessing the ability, to make the necessary preparations for a six months tour of duty at an unknown season. The United States do not furnish clothing to the militia in their service—most of your friends and neighbors, therefore, who have repaired hither, to the post of danger, are entirely destitute of the clothing necessary to protect them from the inclemencies of the approaching season. Already they have suffered much from the want of these conveniences which their situation required, and we take pride in saying they have born those sufferings with a cheerfulness, patience and constancy, highly honorable. It will be impossible for them, however, to withstand the rigor of the approaching season unless they are provided with blankets and comfortable woolen clothing.

The only means by which we believe the wants of these troops can be speedily and effectively supplied, is by the appeal which we now make to your benevolence, patriotism and humanity—an appeal which we are sure will not be made in vain. We cannot believe that your patriotism will suffer the brave men, who have marched with such alacrity to the post of danger, and who are willing to risk their lives in their country’s defense, to perish by the severities of the season for want of the common conveniences of life… when it can be so easily afforded—We seek voluntary contributions from you, therefore, either in woollen clothing and blankets, or in money, at your discretion. Let receivers be appointed in each county, and let them transmit, without delay, the amount received, together with the names of the generous donors, to one of the field officers, who will be responsible for its faithful distribution. You will thus enjoy the sweet reflection of having snatched from the grave many a suffering soldier, and of having performed your duty to your country, to your friends and neighbors, whose gratitude will follow you through life.

We are, with sentiments of the highest respect, Your obedient servants,

D. McDonald, Col. 1^st Reg. NCDM

A. Joyner, Lieu. Col.

Jos. F. Dickinson, Major

John C. Green, do. (?)

James Iredell, Captain

John J. Inge, Captain

John Bell, Captain

Harry Bryan, Captain

John Green, Captain

Isaac Watkins, Captain

John L. (?) Laughter, captain

John F. (?) Walker, Captain

H. G. Williams, Captain\

Cantonned near Norfolk, 20 Oct 1814

[Political Synopsis, 17 Nov 1814, Tarborough and North Carolina – The War of 1812 website: http://www.carolana.com/NC/1800s/antebellum/war_of_1812_military_units.html]