A HISTORY OF SELMA,
NORTH CAROLINA (Page 1)
A child of the Reconstruction Era, Selma developed into a
community in an area that had long been settled by prosperous
farmers--and some not so prosperous. These settlers had no
"Indian problems," no rocky fields to clear only the great
forests that served as a valuable source of revenue for the
early colonists here.
A brief
look at the early history of this section shows that prior to
the arrival of the first settlers, Ulster Scots and
Englishmen, the Tuscarora Indians were the dominant Indian
tribe. However, as North Carolina became increasingly settled
along the Coast, the previously peaceful tribe became hostile.
In the terrible Tuscarora War of 1711 - 1713, which erupted
in the New Bern area and spread over the territory, the
Tuscarora were finally defeated; most of them left the colony,
moving to New York to join their relatives, the Iroquois.
As the
choice lands in the Albemarle region and around New Bern
became scarce, colonists moved inland. Thus the Neuse River
became a favorite "road" for settlers who wished to come to
the area that is now Johnston County. Others came overland
from the Albemarle section that already had "run out" of
choice land. In 1746, the county of Johnston was created,
largely from Craven, and the line which divided Lord
Granville's grant from the larger territory owned by King
George (by purchase of the shares of Carolina owned by seven
of the eight Lords Proprietors) split Johnston County almost
in half. Those living in the royal colony were ruled by royal
governors, Including Gabriel Johnston for whom the county was
named. Those in the Granville grant had no direct governor,
since the owner had agents selling his land and collecting
rents. In 1777 Smithfield was granted a charter by the
Assembly sitting in New Bern.
In the
Revolution the name of one man stands out, for he has
descendants living here today. John Grady was the only Patriot
killed at the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge near Wilmington,
where on February 27, 1776, Patriots (who wanted independence)
and Loyalists (who were loyal to Great Britain) engaged in a
brief but fierce battle. This, the first battle of the
American Revolution in North Carolina, resulted in the rout of
the Loyalists. The monument at Moore's Creek Park bears John
Grady's name and his descendants are the Grants of the Selma
area and the Grady’s of eastern North Carolina. .
A FARM ECONOMY
During
the years preceding the War between the States there were some
large plantations in this section; primarily, however, the
economy was based on fairly small farms tilled by people of
yeoman stock. It is believed that this type of farming
accounts for the fact that the percentage of Negroes in the
population is smaller than that in some other sections of
eastern North Carolina. Records show that in 1815 Johnston
could count 2,790 slaves having a total value of nearly
$600,000. In that same year the land was valued for taxation
at $846,865. Thirty-five years later there were 4,663 slaves
to 8,900 whites and 163 free Negroes.
Subsistence farming continued throughout the early period with
the county producing fair amounts of corn, wheat, oats, cotton
and wool. Tobacco is not listed in an 1850 report, although it
is known that this crop had been grown in the county at an
earlier period. In addition, residents added to their living
by producing and selling naval stores. Thus turpentine stills
and tar kilns were located at many spots throughout the
county. The Neuse River was used for transporting these
products to New Bern for sale. Along with naval stores, the
settlers also saw in the great forests a source of income in
the cutting of lumber; as a result lumber rafts floated down
the Neuse in an ever-increasing stream. By the early 1900's,
lumbering was a source of supplementary income for the farmer.
Cash crops did not become important until the 1880's at which
time the county was the fifth largest cotton-producer in the
state. By 1897 tobacco began to take its place in the economy
as cotton prices dropped. A look at some of the earliest
residents of Selma shows that many came as a result of naval
stores and cotton.
RAILROAD
IS IMPETUS
(top)
The
impetus for the settlement that became Selma came from a plan
the General Assembly in 1848 worked out to build a railroad.
The legislators promised that if citizens would provide a
million dollars for this venture, the state would furnish two
million. Then the North Carolina Railroad would be built from
Charlotte to Greensboro; thence to Raleigh, connecting with
the Raleigh and Gaston Road; and on to Goldsboro, connecting
with the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad there. That section
of track from Raleigh and Goldsboro was to open Johnston
County to all of the benefits that "modern" transportation
provides. The 223-mile railroad was opened to trains in 1856.
Of the many towns, which sprang up along the route, one was
Selma just eleven years later. For the first time farmers and
tradesmen of this area had a "road" on which to ship out goods
and produce and receive much needed supplies from other
areas.
MITCHENER’S STATION
About a
mile and a half west of what is now Selma, the old Louisburg
to Smithfield stage road was crossed by the new railroad. At
this strategic point Mitchener's Station became a focal area
for shipping. Here farmers gathered not only to send and
receive goods, but also to market their produce at the station
itself. Miss Amma Stancill tells of hearing her mother say
that she and Miss Stancill's grandmother walked from their
home one and a half miles northeast of Selma to Mitchener's
Crossing where they bought supplies and sold eggs, butter and
milk.
It was
also from this station that soldiers moved off to the War (War
between the States) and later returned to their run-down farms
and homes. John Mitchener, a boy of twelve at the time,
reported hearing the sound of guns as they were fired in the
last great battle, of the War at Bentonville, just twenty
miles south of Selma. Monroe Pittman, who lived some five
miles north of Selma, also told of having heard the gunfire.
And Miss Flora Hatcher relates that her father, Hardy Hatcher,
when returning from the war, got off a flatcar and walked home
to his farm which was five or six miles north of Selma.
According to Mrs. J. P. Temple, her father John H. Parker ran
away from home at 15 to join a beloved older brother who had
been called into service. "Due to his age my father was put in
the band where he soon earned the sobriquet of Bugler Parker."
He was with General Lee when he surrendered at Appomattox
Court House in 1865, Mrs. Temple states.
SIPHONING BRANDY
John
Mitchener also related an interesting story con concerning
Mitchener's Station, which he pointed out was built by the
North Carolina Railroad Company out of long leaf pine lumber.
I will state that the old building had a Confederate War
record All plantations were assessed one tenth of everything
raised on the farm for government purposes. This of course
included apple brandy. Several barrels of this brandy were in
the depot waiting for shipping orders, and all, to save room,
were standing head on or head up as you may have it. Soldiers
camping near there took in the situation, and with tubs,
canteens, and buckets went under the floor and into the
barrels above and drew every drop of brandy out, and it was
not discovered until loading time and hands were setting the
barrels in box cars for shipment. No arrests were made.'"
SHARP COMES TO AREA
When
Col. John W. Sharp (or Sharpe), a Confederate veteran, came
to this county in the fall of 1866 seeking consignments of
naval stores and cotton for his firm in Norfolk, Virginia, he
became interested in locating a town at the Station. However,
investigation showed that the lands around the depot belonged
to the minor heirs' of Agrippa Mitchener. Steps were taken to
get an order of sale of the lots, but this took time because
of the estate laws. In the meantime, Col. Sharp met Mr. Daniel
Sellers who owned much of the land south of the railroad here,
purchased 50 acres (some reports say 200 acres) from Sellers,
and started a movement to have the depot moved to its present
site. In spite of efforts by Thomas H. Atkinson, Sr., an uncle
of the Mitchener heirs, to clear the Mitchener land titles for
sale, Col Sharp was able to have the station moved. The
original depot was moved to the place where it now stands as a
part of the Southern freight depot on Railroad Street.
The
newly purchased property was platted by Surveyor Charley
Massey, and on May 1, 1867, a public sale of lots was held.
This was a gala occasion as crowds came to the area for a
barbecue, the sale, and a dance that night. Incidentally, very
few lots brought as much as $100.00. Thus Selma was born on
May 1, 1867-born at a barbecue, sale and dance held in the
passenger-freight depot.
NAMING THE TOWN
(top)
Along
with Col. Sharp, new residents of the prospective town were
Captain A. M. Noble and Samuel Hines Hood, early merchants.
Some other families moved into the area and soon decided their
community needed a name. The pioneer residents held a meeting
at which Mr. Noble and Mr. Hood voted in favor of naming the
place Sharpsburg. Mr. Sharp said, "I'll be damned if you do."
Whereupon they said.” All right; you suggest a name." Mr.
Sharp thought for a minute or two. Finally he said, "Well,
I'll tell you, boys. I've got a lot of affection in my heart
for my old hometown of Selma, Alabama; and if you fellows
wouldn't object too strenuously, I'd like to name this-here
place Selma, in honor of the place where I was born." Mr. Hood
said that it was all right with him, and so did Mr. Noble, and
the name of Selma was officially adopted. It also has been
pointed out that Mr. Sharp disliked the name of Sharpsburg
because he had fought there during the War.
Among
other early residents were Capt. D. H. Graves, a Union Army
officer, who came South to buy cotton and to find a better
climate for his wife, and whose daughter Leone, was the first
girl born in Selma; Henry Millender, the first railroad agent
and the first postmaster listed by the U. S. Post Office
Department; Jackson Rains, a farmer and merchant whose son,
Ira Thaddous, was the first boy born in Selma in 1871. Ira
Rains just died in 1959.
Streets
of Selma often have been named for well-known residents.
Examples are Sellers, Parker, Richard's Alley, Green, Waddell,
and Webb.
1869 A BUSY YEAR
By the
year 1869, Selma was a busy community, according to Benson's
Directory. Listed were one church, Episcopal; one hotel owned
by John W. Sharp; one lawyer; John W. Sharp. Manufacturers
included the Selma Iron Works, seven turpentine distilleries
in area owned by Thomas Oliver and Bro., Daniel Sellers, J. G.
Rose, D. W. Adams, Allen Johnson and Son, C. P. Kenyon, and
William J. Beard. Merchants listed as owners of general stores
were J. S. Book and Co., S. H. Hood, A. M. Noble, and C. E.
Preston. J. C. Colyer was proprietor of a grocery store. The
Frost Iron Mine near Selma was said to be inexhaustible. In
addition, there were two saw mills owned by Wilson and Waddell
and R. H. Page. J. M. Richardson ran a tannery. Miss Carrie
Hood was postmaster; no physicians were listed. Some prominent
farmers were David Turner,' Daniel Sellers, J. W. Sharp, A. M.
Noble, J. W. B. Watson, Perry Godwin, Joseph Richardson, and
Milton Richardson.
FORMAL EDUCATION BEGINS
In
that same year, 1869, formal education began in Selma. A small
private school was started in a shanty on the corner of what
is now Massey and Anderson Streets, the present location of
the James Person home. In 1871, Professor John C. Scarborough
was in charge of the school, assisted by his wife. Within a
short period of time several other private schools began
operation. Dr. Wade Atkinson's mother, Mrs. Tom Atkinson,
taught in a building where Charlie and Ellen Talton lived on
the corner of S. Sumner and Noble Streets. Miss Margaret
Etheredge was a pupil there at one time.
The year
1872 saw Selma developing as a real town with the chartering
of the First Baptist Church (white). The 'name later was
changed to the Selma Baptist Church. This first church was
located on the corner of Watson and Sharp Streets. I n that
same year came the chartering of the Masonic Lodge and further
growth of businesses in the area; including barrooms, a
government distillery located west of town, and a township
clerk, Simon Godwin. Other firms and persons listed in the
1872 Directory were E. S. Moore, lawyer; W. H. Avera, S. H.
Hood, and J. Rains and Brothers, general store merchants; C.
H. Harriss and J. W. Vick, physicians; W. H. Avera and W. J.
Barrow Co., turpentine distilleries; James H. Sasser,
Primitive Baptist minister; Ray Phillips, Free Will Baptist
minister; William B. Harrell, Missionary Baptist minister. The
Selma Academy was also listed.
It must
be noted here that when the original townships were formed,
Selma Township included parts of Pine Level, Micro and
Wilson's Mills. Therefore the names of merchants and farmers
in these areas often are included in early township records.
SELMA CHARTERED
(top)
February
11, 1873 was a red letter day as Selma received its charter
from the General Assembly 0f North Carolina. Page 388 of the
General Sessions Laws-Private-of 1872-73, Chapter XVI states:
An Act to Incorporate the Town of Selma, in the County of
Johnston. Section 1. The General Assembly of North Carolina do
enact, That .the town of Selma, in the county of Johnston be
and the same is hereby incorporated by the name and style of
the town of Selma, and be subject to the provisions contained
in chapter one hundred and eleven of the Revised Code Sec.2.
That the Corporate limits of said town shall be as follows:
one. half mile square making the railroad warehouse the
geographical centre. Sec. 3. The officers of said corporation
shall consist of a mayor, four commissioners and a marshal."
According to John Mitchener, the surveyor's description of
Selma stated: "to find the beginning corner of the town of
Selma commence at the' warehouse or depot now being moved from
Mitchener depot and measure so many chains and links towards
Goldsboro, and then at right angle to the road and from the
center of said road 100 feet to a stake, the beginning corner
of the town of Selma." Mitchener pointed out that the center
of the railroad is about five inches further South owing to
two changes of the gauge after placing the town, and because
the depot has been moved west one-half the length of the
building. Capt. A M. Noble was elected the first mayor of the
incorporated town, and its slogan was" A Healthy Place to
Live." This slogan may surprise those who have read early
historical references to the swampy condition of the town and
to railroad ditches in which people fished and gigged for
frogs.
A NEW SCHOOL
The
value of education continued to be uppermost in the minds of
Selma residents, for in 1875 John A. Waddell moved here, built
a home and established a pay school upstairs with a Miss
Faison as the first teacher. Margaret Waddell, one of John
Waddell's daughters, also taught here. A year later, in 1876,
the Masonic Lodge granted the use of the lower rooms of its
building for a pay school (expenses paid by student fees) to
Ben Hatcher. Several Masons served on the Board of Trustees of
that school.
Another
church, the Methodist, was started in 1878 when a lot in Selma
was given by John A. Waddell and his wife Susan and the Wilson
Lumber Company of Wilson's Mills. Prior to this time, as.
early as 1869, Methodist congregations had been meeting near
Selma; however, the wooden church constructed on the lot at
the corner of Sumner and Anderson Streets was the first within
the town itself. Members of the building committee were Dr. J.
W. Vick, chairman; John A. Mitchener, treasurer, and W. t.
Graves, secretary. The present brick church, built in 1910,
occupies the same lot.
According to the North Carolina Directory of 1877 - 78, Selma
Township magistrates were W. J. Barrow, E. S. Moore, Theo
Hinnant, Henry L. Watson, and Willis Gerald. W. A. Joyner was
a Selma lawyer. Two ministers listed were 'Noah Adams,
Primitive Baptist, and Ray Phillips, Free Will Baptist.
Operating general stores were W. H. Avera, W. J. Barrow, A. B.
Creech, D. H. Graves, S. H. Hood, R. J.
Lassiter, W. Millender, Jackson Rains, P. M. Stuart, Webb &
Twisdale and John W. Wiggins. J. A. Waddell operated a saw
mill and D. W. Adams, W. J. Barrow Co., and D. S. Stewart were
listed as turpentine distilleries. The physicians were R. J.
Noble and J. W. Vick.
WHERE
VICKS STARTED
(top)
In 1880
Mr. Lunsford Richardson II, after graduating from Davidson
College and teaching for four r years, came to Selma to visit
his sister, Mrs. Joshua W. Vick, and her husband Dr. Vick. The
visitor, who had been interested in chemistry during his
college days, found here a small drugstore owned by two
physicians, Dr. Vick and Dr. Noble. These doctors wanted to
sell their business; therefore Richardson purchased the firm
for $450.00. It was here that he concocted a salve, which was
used to rub on persons with heavy chest colds or pneumonia,
and he sold it in jars in his
pharmacy. In 1891 Mr. and Mrs. Richardson moved to Greensboro
purchasing the drugstore of S. W. Porter. As time went on he
prepared different combinations until there were 13 medicines
known as the Vick Family Remedies. In 1911 the name was
changed to Vick Chemical Company. The name "Vick" trademarked
by Mr. Richardson for his products was adapted because it was
shorter than Richardson and also as a compliment to his
brother in law, Dr. Joshua Vick. The trademark featured a
triangle, in each corner of which appeared a picture of one of
the Vick children (George, Ed, and Dora). The trademark still
shows the triangle but the pictures have been removed. Today
the firm is the Vick Chemical Company, a division of the
Richardson-Merrill Company.
THE ACADEMY
One of
the most famous educational institutions in North Carolina,
the Selma Academy, was built in 1880 by John A. Waddell in the
oak grove where the home of the late Charlie Waddell now
stands on Webb Street. The first principal and teacher of this
private institution was Henry Louis Smith of Greensboro, who
later served as president of Davidson College and Washington
and Lee University. His brother, C. Alphonso Smith, also later
taught here. Areas of preparation in the Academy included
Primary, Intermediate, Higher English, Algebra, Geometry,
Bookkeeping, Ancient and Modern Languages, Music, and Physical
Training. Room and board were available for $10.00 per month
from the families of Mrs. S. C. Waddell, Mrs. C E. Preston,
and Messrs. Henry Hood, Simon Godwin, and John Allen.
A
brochure describing the Academy stated that "the new school
building is large, well ventilated, and commodious. It is
furnished with the Triumph Study Desks," which were "carefully
made with a view to obtaining the correct physiological curves
of the body:' This school prepared many boys and girls for
college work; at the same time it observed the Victorian
proprieties of the day including a high plank fence
separating the boys' 'and girls' playgrounds.
Although
Selma had only 700 inhabitants at that time, the quality and
reputation of the school was such that students from adjoining
counties of Wake, Wayne, Wilson, and Franklin attended; and
the membership at one time reached 100 pupils. Several
children from Pine Level and Wilson's Mills walked daily to
school.
Among
those known to have attended the Academy were: Johnnie
Waddell, Herbert Preston, Eddie Edgerton, Miss Leonie Graves,
Miss Nannie Richardson, Miss Rosa Waddell, Miss Annie Waddell,
Miss Azzie Patterson, Miss Lizzie Preston, George Vick, N. R.
Pike, Nelson D. Wells, J. L. Jones, Miss Florence Moore,
Vernon Howell, Edwin Moore, Clarence Graves, D. B. Oliver, Ira
Rains, Misses Omega and Ida Oliver, Miss Claudia Rains, Miss
Dora Vick, Victor and Ernest Graves, Fred M. Hood, Miss Louie
Parker, Misses Julia and Mamie Tuck, Sidney and Claybourne
Tuck, Misses Annie and Sarah Stancill and Charlie Stancill,
and Miss Nancy Hocutt. I n the Raleigh News and 0bserver of
June 17, 1922, Editor Josephus Daniels had an editorial,
"Selma and the Smiths," in which he paid tribute to the
impression made by these two brothers on the Selma community.
A SCHOOL FOR NEGROES
It is to
be noted that in 1880 a two-room Negro school was started in
Parker's Filed back and to the left of the present Richardson
B. Harrison School site. The highest grade was the sixth, and
at one time the teachers were Professor W. S. King and Mrs.
Roberta Bunn. Some of the pupils who attended were Nellie
Hastings, Lizzie and Luvenia Price, Bertie Chizel, Viola and
Effie Smith. The boys and girls played separately as they did
in most schools of this area. The water supply came from a
pump and the students drank from a dipper dunked into a
bucket.
In
1880 Dr. Crawford was a physician in Selma.
By 1884,
Branson's North Carolina Directory listed Dr. R. J. Noble as
county coroner, J. C. Hartsell as'Meth odist minister, Simon
Godwin and A. ,1/1. Noble as pro prietors of Godwin and Noble
hotels, and H. D. Hood as owner of a boarding house. The three
physicians were R. J. Noble, J. W. Vick, and J. R. Todd.
Merchants were A. B. Creech, Y. J. Lee, general stores; E.
Creech, lumber; W. L Graves, insurance and sewing machine
agent; D. H. Graves, hardware and general store; S. H. Hood,
fertilizer and general store; Miss M. C. Hood, milliner; L.
Richardson, drugs; Jackson Rains, grocery and liquor; J. W
Vick, fertilizer and general store; J. W. Woodly, livestock.
Manufacturies included: blacksmithing and wheelwrighting, John
Graham, E. C. Hailey; contracting and building, W. S. Bain.
Prominent farmers were J. A. Mitchener, W. S. Eason, J. A.
Waddell, E. S. Moore, B. Thompson, B. O'Neal, William
Richardson, Jesse Pulley; James Hinnant, T. T. Godwin, W. S.
Elson, McNab Earp, R. Stancil, B. Creech, Daniel Sellers, J.
A. Blackman, R. J. Noble, J. B. Blackman, and H. Pittman. Two
years later in 1886, P. B. Kyser began Selma Drug Company
here. He was the father of the famous band leader Kay Kyser,
who was born after the family moved to Rocky Mount Mrs. Kyser
was the daughter of Mr. Howell, the Baptist minister in
Selma.
THE ACL
(top)
When the
State of North Carolina encouraged companies to build
railroads in the 1880's by excusing some of them from paying
taxes and permitting them to charge rates as high as they
pleased, over fifteen hundred miles of railroad were then
built during that decade. Construction on the north-south
railroad through this area began in 1885 when the Atlantic
Coastline decided to shorten its route from New York to
Florida by cutting out the dogleg from Wilson to Wilmington
and constructing a short cut from Contentnea to the PeeDee.
Misses
Amma and Sarah Stancill stated that several miles of this
track were laid in Johnston County by two of the county's
oldest citizens, Mr. Reddick Stancill, overseer, and Mr. John
Underhill. A section ran through farms of Barnabas Creech,
Underhill and Stancill, and from near Micro to near
Smithfield. The father of Mr. Henry Lee Boney also helped to
construct the railroad through this area. The Misses Stancill
recalled, "There were days when not only forests had to be
burned and cleaned away for the track to be laid, but when
sharp-edged cattle guards and many long and short bridges were
built for protection of stock which roamed at large. They had
neither tractor nor bulldozer for construction work, but hard
labor by hand accomplished through the use of horse, mule and
oxen to lay the heavy cross ties and iron track to Selma where
the Union Station holds its depot on the ACL Railroad running
north and south."
In 1887
when the ACL was started across the land of John Archibald
Underhill, he donated the land to the company and contracted
to grade the bed across his own land and to furnish the
lightwood cross ties which were hewed by hand. He also sold
cordwood to the company for firewood. An amusing situation
existed concerning Mr. Underhill's trips to Wilson, He would
walk to Micro to catch a train rather than buy a ticket at
Selma because, "I am not going to pay to ride on my own land."
Mr. Underhill, who moved to the Selma area about 1874,
purchased his 400-acre farm from Iradell Godwin for $8,000,
or $2.00 per acre, and paid for it the first year by selling
turpentine and cord wood.
FIRST NEWSPAPER
The
first account of a newspaper is the Selma News, which was
being published in 1887. Nothing is known about this paper,
although it is listed in records in the library at UNC-Chapel
Hill.
The
first Baptist Church was organized by Negro leaders under a
brush arbor near the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad which was
under construction in the late 1880's. After holding services
here for quite some time, members moved the church to the
present site, the land donated by Ella Smith in 1890. The Rev.
Essex Blake was the pastor.
By 1892,
the Atlantic Coast Line track running from Wilson to
Fayetteville and Florence, S. C. had been completed, crossing
the North Carolina (Southern) Railroad tracks in Selma. This
made the town a genuine crossroads for major north-south and
east-west traffic. For many years after this, two train stations
operated: one for the North Carolina, the freight and passenger
station being in the same building at present site of freight
station, and one for the ACL. Passengers changing from one to
the other had to walk or hire a hack to transport them and their
luggage to the other station.
EDUCATION CONTINUES
Education
never was far from the hearts and minds of local citizens. In
1886, a pay school was in operation on Green Street with Mr. Bob
Eason as superintendent. At about the same time a free school
was in operation in a building on the south side of Noble and
Sumner Streets. This was a three-months school with Mr. Pope as
principal, Nannie Richardson, Sarah Stancill, a Mr. Dalrymple
and others as teachers. Some of the students were Pat, Emma,
Minnie, Louise Parker (Mrs. J. P. Temple); John, Noble, Emma,
and Effie Blackman; Herman and Bill Hines; Henry, Howard,
Pauline, Annie Hood; Hazel, Maurice, Robert Waddell; Joseph,
Maggie, Vick Whitley; Ellen, Willie, Lomie Talton; Joseph, Jim,
Winnie Peedin; Henry P. Underhill; Richard, Herman, Daisy
Oliver; Kelly, Thomas, Minnie Lee Peedin; Bradley, Windley,
Hughes Pearce. (These names were listed in the J. B. Waddell
History of Selma.)
In 1901,
the pay school, which originally faced Green Street, was turned
to face Waddell Street, additions were made to the building, and
it was run as a free school. During this latter period, the
principals included Professors Hassell and later Frederic
Archer. Later this building was moved across the railroad and
became the Negro school near the site of the present Richardson
B. Harrison School.
PROMINENT CIVIC LEADERS
(top)
The
Biennial
Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for 1889-1890
listed H. A. Foushee as principal of Selma Academy and gave its
enrollment as 65. Benson's Directory of 1890 listed town
officers as J. H. Parker, mayor; Walter Preston, clerk; Joshua
Creech, constable; S. H. Hood, Do H. Price, Jack Rains, and J.
N. Wall, commissioners. McNab Earp was the policeman. Township
magistrates were E. S. Moore, A. M. Noble, W. F. Gerold, B. L.
Aycock, John H. Parker, C. F. Kirby and P. B Corbett.
The same
directory lists P. L. Hermon as the Methodist minister and J.
K. Howell as the Baptist. Simon Godwin and A. M. Noble each
owned hotels and H. D. Hood, a boarding house. John Graham and
E. C. Hailey had blacksmithing and wheel righting
establishments.
Merchants
and tradesmen of the period were B. t. Aycock, H. Gerold, S. H.
Hood, Oliver and Futrell, B. S. Liles, Jesse E. Owens, J. H.
Parker, Jackson Rains, general stores; J. H. Johnson, general
store and saloon; Paul B. Kyser, general store and drugs; H. l.
Nichols, depot and, express agent, telegraph operator; J. H.
Parker,livery; N. V. Peele, boarding; L. Richardson, drugs,
general store and fertilizer; Webb, Tisdale and Co., cotton
buyers; T. H. Whitley, saloon; Winston Bros., general store and
cotton buyers; J. L. Edgerton and L. H. Atkerson, corn and flour
mills; J. Rains, grist mill.
THREE DOCTORS HERE
Three
doctors listed were R. J. Noble, J. R. Todd and J. W. Vick.
There was a change of postmasters with Miss Carrie Hood going
out in 1889 and Josiah Stancill taking over that year. Mrs. J.
K. Howell was principal of the Selma Female School. Teachers
here during 1890 were Miss Robena Atkinson, Miss Allie Broadwell,
J. H. Broadwell, R. R. 'Eason, C. F. Kirby, Miss Mary A.
Atkinson, C. L. Stancill, Miss Sarah K Stancill, R. L. Atkinson,
W. O. Holt and M. M. Turner.
Prominent
farmers in 1890 included B. S. Aycock, J. A. Blackman, Barney
Creech, W. S. Eason, D. H. Graves, S. H. Hood, N. J. Howington,
J. K. Howell, C. F. Kirby, W. T. Kirby, E. S. Moore, R. J.
Noble, A. M. Noble, Bridgers O'Neal, J. H. Parker, Hill Peeden,
W. R. Peeden, N. Pittman, Harrison Pittman, F. G. Price, Jackson
Rains, J. C. Scarborough, Reddick Stancill, J. A. Underhill, J.
W. V'ick, C. B. Waddell, Robert Watson, Elisha Grant, Jr.
SIX years
later, 1896, Selma's town officers were N. E. Edgerton, mayor;
W. H. Hare, clerk; J. A. Hinnant, constable; T. H. Whitley, J.
W. Futrell, Charles Talton, R. J. Noble, commissioners;
magistrates: C. F. Kirby, A. M. Noble, E. S.Moore, Thomas
Hinnant, P. B. Corbett, W. H. ,Hare (Selma), W. f. Gerald,
Gibson Fitzgerald, D. B. Oliver (Pine' Level). Selma and Pine
Level were still in the same township.
Ministers
included E. B. Blake, First Baptist Church; J. G. Pullian, Selma
Baptist; and Solomon Pool, Methodist Mrs. Page operated Page
Hotel and Mrs. G. A. Tuck, Winston House. M. V. Green was
proprietor of Patent Chill Cure, and Lynn Bros. operated a steam
planing mill.
BUSINESS CONTINUES TO GROW
New
businesses listed since 1890 included: C. C. Barbour, cotton
buyer; B. H. Bunn, barber; W. B. Driver, general store and
grocery; N. E. Edgerton, depot agent for ACL; Edgerton and Hare,
drugs; W. H. Etheredge, general store; J. W. Land, Western
Union; J. W. Lyles, general store; J. B. Massey, Southern
Railway agent; J. W. Miles, general store; E. F. Pate, night
Western Union; N. O. Rich ardson, general store; N. B. Snipes,
general store; J. W. Spice, Western Union; Charles Talton,
jewelry, J. W. B. Watson, corn and flour mill; James Holt, grist
mill. Palmer
Dalrymple
was principal of the Selma Academy.
Teachers
in area in 1896 were: Joseph R Atkinson, A. S. J. Atkinson, J.
R. Atkinson, C. A. Corbett, Miss Annie Dalrympll!, H. E. Earp,
Jesse Garner, Elisha Garner, James Garner, .E. A. Garner, Miss
Minnie H. Moore, J. B. Mozingo, Charles Hichardson, Nannie
Richardson, Cora Richardson, Miss Annie Stancill, George
Stancill, Alonzo Stancill, A. e. Stancill, Miss Julia Tuck,
Wingate Underhill, Laura J. At. kinson, Rose B. Atkinson,
Roberta Bunn, Lougenia Lock. hart and J. A. Smith.
BASEBALL IMPORTANT
(top)
A major
recreational feature of the time was baseball. In 1897 the team
was composed of the following players: Cleon Parker, J. Sam
Mitchener, John Lee, S. R. Lee, Mr. Shaemaker (a cobbler), Will
Brinkley, Hugh Mitchener, Lee Fuller, Mr. Reynolds, Dr. R. J.
Noble. Little Sam Mitchener was mascot of the team, which played
only eight games a year. Selma's chief rival was Clayton.
Social
life centered around gay parties. A society item from the Selma
Journal of 1898 reports a party at Institute Hall given by the
young men of Selma, honoring
three
'fair and fascinating" young ladies of Raleigh, Misses Helen
Allen, Mamie and Eula Jones. Among those present were O. l.
Fuller with Miss Eula Jones, "Pat" Parker with Miss Mamie Jones;
E. W. Vick, Miss Helen Allen; C. Oakley, Miss Annie Hood; G D.
Vick, Miss Mamie Tuck; H. H. Preston, Miss Rosa Richardson; R.
A. Ashworth, Miss Julia Tuck; Misses Mabel Horner, Julia
Etheredge, Hazel Waddell, Louie Parker, Foy Lynn, Dora Jenkins,
Emma Parker, and a host of "stags."
BUSINESS BOOM UNDERWAY
Business
continued to boom during this period just before the turn of the
century. A Twentieth Century edition of the News and Observer in
August 1899 included a detailed description of Selma and its
businesses. A lyrical but far from objective reporter began his
story: "Prosperity and peace reign supreme at Selma-Selma the
coming town of this section of the State. A town of beautiful
homes, intelligent and wide-awake citizens who are doing all in
their power to push Selma to the front and to the observant
visitor it will be seen that eventually they must be
successful." Further more the people of this section are in an
excellent condition, funds are ample and they do not hesitate
to make investments."
This same
article pointed out that the population was 1,000 and these
citizens are "Law-abiding, intelligent." Four churches, white
Baptist and Methodist; Negro Baptist and Methodist were noted.
Concerning schools, the reporter stated: "In the matter of
school facilities, Selma is thoroughly abreast with the times.
In addition to a well conducted free school, the Selma
institute is situated here. This institution is considered one
of the best educational factors in the 5tate." Taxes were
extremely reasonable, 16 2/3 cents per $100 valuation and 50
cents “on the poll.”
In this year
the Selma Oil and Fertilizer Works was incorporated with a
capital stock of $100,000, M. ‘C. Winston serving as president
and N. E. Edgerton as ecretary. Equipped with modem machinery,
the mill had a capacity of 40 tons of meal and 100 tons of
ammoniated fertilizer per diam,
TOWN
LEADERS FEATURED
The News and
Observer featured short articles on R. J. Noble, M. D., who was
then the Grand Master of Masons of North Carolina; M. C.
Winston, the largest merchant; W. H. Etheredge, owner of a large
mercantile establishment; J. M. Vinson, owner of a heavy and
fancy grocery firm; and Hare and Eason, dealers in drugs and
druggist’s sundries.
In looking at
the extensive growth of Selma in these years before the turn of
the Century, it is important to remember that most of the
town’s business and social life still was going on south of the
railroad
ENTERING
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
As the new
century opened, Selma felt the effects of a turn down in the
economy with cotton selling for 5 to a cents a pound. It was
reported that an eighteen and a half acre farm was not
acceptable as security for a $300.00 loan. However, this
depression did not stop the growth of the community, for in 1901
Selma Manufacturing Company was organized and three months later
declared a two percent dividend., This firm, with M. S. Winston
as president, had a general wood and blacksmith shop and
manufactured buggies and wagons.
According to
Mr. Joe O’Neal who came to Selma in 1900, there was little on
the north side of the railroad tracks. He further stated that
the area of the present Norton’s Store was a very popular spot
since it was known as the “showground” area. One of the most
fascinating things there was a merry go round which came in with
the circus season.
In that same
year, 1901, social life of the community included a
presentation of “Diamonds and Hearts” by the Selma Dramatics
Club at Academy Hall. Taking ,part were Mrs. J. A. Spiers, Miss
Fanny Jackson, Miss Nannie Richardson, Miss Lelia Parker,’ Mr.
W. Hare, Mr. H. Preston, Mr. W. H. Call.
PUBLIC
SCHOOL SUCCESS
(top)
On. May 8,
1901, the Selma Public School taught by Miss Nann’ie,
Richardson, assisted by Miss Mallie Preston and Miss Lelia
Parker, closed after a busy eight months. This was said to be
the largest school ever held in Selma, with 150 children on the
roll. In that same month the town elections drew sparks with the
graded school as the main issue. An opposition ticket was
formulated but never did get into the running. R. B. WhItley was
elected mayor; Clarence Richardson, W. H. Hare, Y. D. Vinson,
and W. B. Driver, commissioners. C. G. Wiggs was named
constable. A vote on a
graded school. Tax, 20 percent on the $100 valuation of property
and 60 cents on the poll, carried 155 to 19. A week later the
trustees of the Graded School met and elected Thomas Candler,
superintendent; Jesse A Williams, Stella Passmore, Nannie
Richardson, and Marion Preston, teachers.
Also in 1901,
a three-room school building stood near the site of the present
R. B. Harrison School. Ouincy Mials is said to have been the
first principal and three teachers were
employed.
Another
highlight of 1901 was the letting of. contracts to build two
tobacco warehouses which were to be finished for the opening of
sales on August 1. D. H. Price was the contractor.
TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPH
Although the
local train station had telegraph facilities early in Selma’s
history, the first evidence of a local telephone system is 1901
when the Selma correspondent to the Smithfield Herald complained
in his column that poles and lines were in bad condition and
were falling on streets and roads, tripping horses and hampering
the movement of buggies by blocking roads. Thus it is apparent
that the telephone lines had been up for some years prior to
this date.
In 1900,
according to Miss Blanche Mitchener, a line from Raleigh through
Clayton connected with Selma, and the Wyoming Hotel was on this
line. Mr. Ellis was in charge of the line here at first,
followed by Miss Mann, Miss Essie King, and in 1905 Miss Blanche
Mitchener, then by Mrs. Nannie Bailey and later by Mrs. Mozelle
Bailey, who remained chief operator until the system was changed
to dial. By 1905 Selma was a very important office for long
lines, since every line had to be connected here. Until 1910
cutovers were made through the local switchboard; at that time
AT&T moved its own crew and equipment to Selma because of the
heavy load. Selma, New York, and Atlanta, Ga., were all
classified as No. 1 offices. By 1932 AT&T had seven or eight men
here and the local and long’ distance office had eight or ten
girls at work. The dial system was installed in 1953; on January
20, Stacy Canady, president of the local Chamber of Commerce;
placed the first call through the new system.
Mr. Norman
Screws was in charge of the AT&T office in 1912. Others
connected with the office at different times have been Messrs.
john C. Diehl, Charlie W. Scales, Bernard Dubois, Howard Gaskill,
James L. Mc Millan, J. S. Carty, and Ben Brantley. The AT&T
office was discontinued about 1962.
ANOTHER
BUILDING BOOM
A building
boom hit Selma early in 1902. The board of directors of the Bank
of Selma decided to begin work on a building to be finished in
April. Construction also was underway on Winston’s new brick
store and Charles Talton’s jewelry store. In addition, W. H.
Stallings of Clayton announced plans to open a hotel in the old
Hood House, stating moreover that he would keep horses for the
convenience of the traveling public.” Later in the summer the
committee to locate the Masonic Temple decided on the corner
occupied by Raleigh Savings Bank of Raleigh as the site of their
new structure. A group of citizens that same summer organized
The Selma Furniture Company to make and sell furniture.
Society
sparkled as a Bachelor Maid’s Club was organized, with no names
of members being released to the public. They and their escorts
attended a concert given by a cowboy elocutionist. In September
a social event was the wedding of Miss Fannie Littlepage Jackson
and Mr. William Henry Call, who were married by the Rev. K. D.
Holmes at the residence of the bride’s parents.
THE YACHT
CLUB
(top)
Present day
Selma citizens who wish to enjoy a boat ride find that they must
haul their, “yachts” to the nearest lake or seacoast. But in
1902 Selma had its own club and yacht. On July 11 of that year,
according to a society note in The Smithfield Herald, Messrs.
Robert Millard Nowell, capt., W. W. Hare, mate; George D. Vick,
ensign, and Dr. J. W. Hatcher, purser of the Selma Yacht Club,
left the county bridge over the Neuse near Selma on their yacht
the Julia Fuller for New Bern.
At this time
only about twelve residences were located in west Selma. The
Southern Railway coal shute was in west Selma and the Southern
shops and water tank were located just east of the company’s
freight station. The streets were dirty and muddy after rains
and planks served as stepping stones. Streets were lighted by
kerosene lamps that had to be lighted each nightfall. Pigs and
cows were free to roam at will. One of the colorful characters
at this period was an old Negro called “Uncle Bunn,” who lighted
the street lamps and sold buns and rolls.
A local
resident became active in state politics when C. W. Richardson
was elected to the state Senate in November, going to Raleigh
in February of 1903 to look after “the interest of his
constituents.”
Selma Baptist
Church, which had been chartered in 1872, was the scene of an
organizational meeting of the Johnston Baptist Association in
1903. In that same year tobacco warehouses were in operation on
Raiford and Webb Streets, and A. B. Baxter and Company, New York
brokers, opened a stock and cotton exchange under the management
of E. F. Pate. The company had direct private wires to New York
and Chicago.
HORSELESS
CARRIAGE—A MENACE?
The first
“horseless carriage” was brought to Selma early in the century,
a gift to Mrs. N. E. Edgerton from her father, Mr. Wynn. This
White Steamer apparently did not cause alarm for no records of
antagonism toward the new machine exist. However, in 1905
alarmed merchants rose up to meet a crisis when the first
internal conbustion engine automobile was purchased by Mr. C.
P. Harper and Mr. Hugh L. Mitchener jointly. Accounts from that
period stated that the new and noisy contraption alarmed
pedestrians and frightened horses and mules. Merchants saw dark
days ahead because farmers would not bring their produce to
town—an egg shortage developed. The town fathers passed an
ordinance prohibiting any automobile from being driven along the
main business streets of Selma. Mr. Harper and Mr. Mitchener
immediately hired a lawyer to see if this new ordinance could be
operative; they were relieved to learn from their counsel that
they could drive anywhere they liked because there was no state
statute governing automobiles.
NEW
BAPTIST CHURCH SITE
During the
year of the auto crisis, the present Selma Baptist Church site
was purchased. On March 16, the Selma Cotton Mill began
operation with A. J. Rose as the first superintendent. Also in
the early years of the Twentieth Century Episcopal services
were started here during the ministry of Mr. Samuel Hanft,
pastor of St. Paul’s in Smithfield. At first the group met at
the home of Mrs. Georgianna Winston Tuck. Finally a mission was
organized and a building erected, funds for the structure
donated by the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Diocese. The church was
called St Gabriels. In 1946 this church building was sold to O.
Vernon Wiggs after the three remaming members of the
congregation (Mr. Tuck, Mrs. Julia Ashworth, and Mrs. Mamie
Candler) were transferred to St. Paul’s. This building is now
the home of Mr. and Mrs, Wiggs on Waddell Street.
WYATT
MEMORIAL (top)
One of the
BIG days in Selma’s history was July 24, 1907. According to John
Mitchener, more people came to Selma that day than ever before,
and the number has been exceeded only one time since. The
occasion was the launching of the campaign to raise funds for
the erection of a statue to Henry Lawson Wyatt of the Edgecombe
County Guards, who was the first to give his life in the War
between the States. He died as a result of wounds suffered at
Big Bethel in Virginia on June 10, 1861. On the day of the
fund-raising launching here, the Edgecomb Guards came to Selma
and presented a sham battle on the grounds opposite the Baptist
Church Festivities began at noon and lasted until midnight Five
counties were represented at the occasion; W. A. Stewart of
Dunn delivered the talk. First contributors to the fund were
John Mitchener, $5.00; Col. Ashley Horne, $25.00; Gen. Julian S.
Carr, $25.00; and Captain Bob Ricks, who was with Wyatt when he
fell, $1,000. The movement was popular from the first and within
five years, on June 10, 1912, the statue was unveiled on the
capitol square in Raleigh.
A letter to
Mr. Mitchener from Chief Justice WaIter Clark of the North
Carolina Supreme Court on June 18, 1912, stated: “I congratulate
you upon the wonderful success of the movement which you
originated. The statue is generally deemed, I think, the very
best piece of art in the: Capitol Square. You have also achieved
the unique distinction of causing a statue to be erected to a
private soldier:
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