The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1885-07-29
4 PIONEER IN TRADE.
]. W. CARR, oLDEsT MERCHANT
e s-rs OF CHAPEL HILL.

I J. W. CARR, 1.-THE oLDEsT MERCHANT
~ --~s OF CHAPEL HILL.
| We could write no name more
familiar to the people Of Orange,
Durham aud neighboring cou mites
than. that of Carr" it is q synonym,
too, of earnest and successful busi.
ness. effort, and so the RECORDER
Improves this opportunity to refer
somewhat toJ. w. Carr, Esq, row he
Oldest established merchant Of Orange
county. OF this county. Mr.. Carr Is a
native, and fifty years ago the 4th Of
last December he first made Chapel
Hill home. His worldly possessions
comprised little more than the clothes
be wore, but he had an abundant re-
serve capita In the form Of "pluck"--
Of determination to succeed, and when
he entered the employ Of N. ]. King,
In 1884, as clerk, his prospects were
no brighter than arc those ofthousands
of other clerks Of to-day. He showed
business apsitude--he saved his earn
ings, and two years la.er, or In 1885,
he was taken into partnership with his
old employer, and, slngularly enough.
In adopting firm style the junior
partners name came first-the firm
name read Carr q King.
They were general merchants-they
controlleda trade from near and afare,
and long before Durham wasdreamed
Of Carr & King were controlling the
major portion Of the trade Of all this
sectien.
Ever since 1884 Mr.. Carr has re-
mained actively connected with the
trade Interests Of Chapel Hill, though
we may add, as matter Of fact, that
during about two years Of the late war,
his business transactions were Of title
or no consequence; virtually he was
out Of trade. But with the return O.
peace lie resumed his old-time busi,
ness, aud new, although his hair Is
silvered with the weight Of Il years,
he still remains one Of the active mer'
chants of Chapel Hill; at the same
time he appears to have lost none of
the enthusiasm or the business enter
prise that characterized him forty years
ago. ~~*r 5@ d. ~@
During the 40 years that Mr.. Carr
has been q merchant here, dating from
his first partnership he has had the
following named partners. N. J.
King, Jones Watson and W. M. Davis
later, say 1866, or 1867, Mr.. Carr's
son, Julian s. Carr and Capt. J. F.
Freeland were admitted partners I'M
der the firm style Of Carr, Freeland
& Co., and since 1868 Mr.. Carr has been
alone. ~ - ..+
Beside giving special attention to
his mercantile affairs Mr.. Carr has also
found time in which to serve the pub.
lie in official capacities. Under the
| old constitution he was q member Of
the Special Court for fifteen or twenty
years; he has served as County Com.
missioner, and for a long term of
years he was q Magistrate. He has
also been and is a working and ear
nest member Of the Methodist Church
of Chapel Hill, has taken decided in.
terest in educational matters, and
any fair minded biographer, writing
Of him, must accord J. w. Carr
a prominent place among the leading
citizens Of Orange county, who have
for upwards Of half a century worked
earnestly in promoting the interests
Of their native county and State.
Though having passed the allotted
"three score years and ten" Mr.. Carr
doesn't look it, nor do his actions be.
token it. Thanks to a very recent
display of enterprise upon his part
Chapel Hill now boasts possession Of
a tobacco fue factory, for the main
tenance of which Mr.. Carr supplies
the capital. What Durham owes in
a measure to him is illustrated by
the great w. 7. Blackwell & Co.,
Tobacco Factory Of which his son,
Julian S. Carr Is managing partner.
Mr.. ]. w. Carr believed in the enter.
Prise, furnished the needed capital to
his son and from a comparatively
small affairin 1868, with total capital
Of scarcely more than $4,000 il has
grown to be the largest concern Of
its kind In the world. This factory
has made Durham, and so we say
that Mr.. j. w. Cars action had last.
ing effect upon the fortunes Of the
city.
Mr.. Cars trade now, as hereto.
fore, Is general merchandise. As a
merchant no one could be more liberal
than he, and at the same time he
tries to be just. He cheerfully ex-
tends credit to a. worthy poor man,
but he has no patience with triaers,
and when he gives credit he expect;
the debtor to pay. His long bust.
ness experience has not robbed HIN
Of all confidence in humanity, al
though it Is q fact that his lOsse,
have been very considerable. He
has, as o merchant, passed through
several business panics, but he ha'
withstood them oil. He has paid
dollar for dollar upon his indebted
ness, and as man and as q merchant
he has achieved reputation o