Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-21
RISING REIDSVILLE.
RICH NORTH CAROLINA TOWN.

dns'r,es- Lending Firms-Banking Inter
-Govsrnmeut.
Especial correspondence OF the Dispatch.l
kEIDsvILLE, n. c., June 20, 1885.
heidsyille, which is in Rockingham
county, n. c.. short distance from
Danyille, Va, like a number of other
towns in the Old North State that have
developed rapidly since the close of the
late war, owes its growth and pros
perity to the manufacture of tobacco
and til handling Of the leaf. Previous
to the war it had apparently no bust
ness outlook, and was known as a
country post-otfice and halfway station
on the stage line between DanyilIe and
Greensboro. 1t is on the Richmond and
Danyille road, and is one Of the growing
tobacco towns Of North Carolina. From
present indications it has before it a
bright future. In 1868. after the
completion Of the Piedmont road
known as part Of the Danyille sys-
TENT became one Of the principal
stations for shipping. In 1866 Major
NJ. Oaks, an official of the road, at
tracted by its natural advantages. and
believing that at some early day the
place would become a town of some
note, bought and built hotel on the
site on which now stands the Pied
mont Hotel. At that time there was
only one business-house in the place
which was that Of Lindsey & Reid,
and, much to the establishment Of the
people. shortly thereafter another COM
mercial house was opened. This was
looked upon as a suicidal move, as it
was thought one would more than sup
ply the wants Of trade. But others
soon followed, and in the year of 1871
the new era begun. In 1872 the first
tobacco warehouse was opened for
the sale Of the leaf, and the
amount sold exceeded the most
ssnguine expectation Of the citizens.
for many Of them looked upon the
building of warehouse by MessrS.
Oaks & Allen as ridiculous, and advised
against it. However, the proprietors
having met with success, others soon
followed, and shortly thereafter lots
increased in value. private dwellings
were erected, storehouses were built,
tobacco-factorieS and warehouses went
up as if by magic, and Reidsville
sprung from railroad station into an
incorporated town numbering $500
people. Its location is healthy, and it
is well supplied with pure water, and
is S43 feet above tide-water. The
town government consists of a mayor
and five commissioners, as follows
W. S. Allen. Esq, mayor; DR.. j. W.
Smith and Messrs. +. X. Harris, L. Il.
McCargo. X. Ellington. and d. Barnes,
commissioners. The churches are four
white and two colored /: Presbyterian,
Rev. d. |. Craig, pastor; Baptist, Rev.
b. II. Phillips; Methodist, Rev. d. II.
Burton Episcopal, - Clark. There
are two banks. The Bank Of Reds
yillo-Colonel A. j. Boyd, president /;
X. NJ. Sloan, caShier-commenced
business May, 1852. with an au-
thorized capital Of $500, 600, and paid
up capital of $4,000, and owes It's
origin to the citizens Of the town and
county, who had come to the conclu-
sion that Reidsyille ought not to de-
pend upon Greensboro, Danyille, and
other towns for banking facilities. The
Citizens Bank-lI. X. Scott, preSi-
dent; r. NJ. Cox. cashier--was or
gained this year, and was incorporated
by an act of the General Assembly.
with a capital of 100000, and with au-
thority to increase its capital to
100000.
The principal industries of Reds
Vile are, as before stated, the manuiac-
ture and handling of tobacco. The
tobacco that is brought to this market
comes from the counties of Rocking
ham, Stokes. Frederick, Clifford, Ala
nance, and Tazewell, in North Caro-
lima, and Patrick and Henry, in Vir-
ginia. 1t is Of higher grade, and is
used principally for the manufacture of
plug; but among it is to be found some
Of the finest smokers. The number OF
warehouses; is five, and the proprietors
of these establishments are live, ener-
getic men and experienced judges OF
the weed, who know its worth. and are
attentive to the interest of the planter.
The warehouses are The Real,
Smith, Pinnex a Co., prOprietors ;
The Eagle" Gucrrant a Black well ;
:. The STAR" Watt Brothers x War
mack; The Piedmont" Courts &
Andrews: " The Carolina" PnncX.
Williams Il Walker.
The manufacture Of tobacco is steadl-
" on the increase, and there are several
handsome factories to be seen that are
furnished with the latest and most I'M
proved machinery. Among the leading
manufacturers are F. r. Penn * Co.,
d. Barnes & Co.. \. II. Motley & Co..
Robert Harris N Brother, II. Sampson
4 Co., johnson, Hall u Co., Lindsey &
Rawley. A. j. Ellington X Sons. and
X. Z. Richardson. These make yariOu,
STYLES and grades of plug and twist to-
bacco-bright goods being a speciality
There are also several smohing-tobaccc
factories here. Large quantities of leaf
tobacco is shipped to Richmond, Dan
vile, and other cities.
There is no lag in the mercantile IN
terest. The merchants are live and
energetic, polite and attentive. and ever
ready to drive a trade, and Richmond
iobbing-houses sell them goodly num-
Der Of goods. Judging from the
amount of stock number Of the houses
here carry, they have closely studied
the wants Of trade and are able to sup
ply them.
The leading houses are F. NJ. Mat
thews & Co., j. W. Smith. Charles
Fetzer. A. ii. Michaels druggist. john
Barnes & Son. Lamberth a Williams,
Matthews * Williamson, Harris Bro
theirs & Stone. Whitseth & Grafton,
Samuel Smith, T. Il. McCargo Il Co.,
Terrell. Wall & Co., 5. n. White ~ Co.,
d. +. Morris, Terry, IIamlin 4 Scales
T. +. Moore, White 4 shelton, \. VI.
Burton, Waddell * Co. general mer-
char disc. Denny Brothers, Oyerman
4 Peay, Giles x Co. hardware, \. l..
Smith, ". b. Wray (cOnfectiOneries),