The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1888-09-08
CAPT. NJ. G. TOMS.
Democratic Candidate for Senator
fthe 41st District.

Capt. Toms was born in the valley
of Cane Creek in Buncombe county
in 1843 where he resided on the farm
of his father till he was about fifteen
years of age. His life up to this
time was employed in pursuits similar
to those Of the other boys of his
neighborhood. He worked on the
farm during nine months of the year
and attended an old field school dur
ing the remainding three months, but
as manhood began to approach, he
was placed in that excellent, even
famous school of by-gone days main
tanned through many years as the
Reems Creek High School. While
there his progress was such that he
became the favorite of teachers and
school-mates.
Upon the breaking out of the war,
he had just made arrangements to
enter College, but he, like many of
his school-mates, shouldered his mus
ket in defense Of his country, and
while yet in his teens his soul was
fired by the boom of cannon and
musketry, which at that time BAN
ished from the midst of all our citi-
zens thoughts of peaceful employ
ments, and like his fellow citizens,
young Toms dismissed business and
pleasure and threw himself into the
struggle with all the impetuosity
which patriotism and youthful ardor
can inspire.
He entered the Confederate SER
vice in 1861, snlisting in the Bum
combe Rifles, Gen. D. H. Hills old
regiment, and did valiant service till
the end of six months for which he
had enlisted. His time expired while
the army was at Yorktown, Va, and
the regiment was disbanded at Rich
mond. Capt. Toms returned home
on a visit to his parents and at once
joined the Goth North Carolina regi-
ment and from that time to the day
of surrender he was constantly en-
gagged. He was present at and par
ticipated in the battles of Murfrees =
boro, Jackson, Miss, and Chica-
mauga. He was with jackson in all
the hard-fought battles between
Missionary Ridge and Atlanta He
was conspicuous for his bravery in
the engagements at Jonesbore, Frank
lin, Columbia, and Nashville, Tenn,
Columbia, S. G., and BentonsVille,
NC. He was slightly wounded four
times, but was never disabled so that
he could not remain at his post. He
returned home at the end of the war
almost penniless, but not diseart-
| ened.
In 1867, he located in Henderson,
vile, where he engaged in business
and afterwards with Col. V. Riply,
one of the oldest and most successful
merchants in Western North Carroll
ma, and at the latter gentleman's
death, he succeeded to al fine business
which by his executive ability and
fine ffnanciering, he has not only
kept up the old standard i,ut has ac-
tuallye increased in many 1"ld This
has been done by total absence of
anything akin to. opprcssiveness, as
/ the poor of Henderson county have
always found in him stauneh friend.
who would always devise ways and
means to keep them IN the neceSsa
ries of life while the crops were grow
ing.
Capt. Toms is now IN the posses
sion of an ample fortune, enjoys the
confidence of both his political asso-
ciAtes and opponents, and if elected,
which is a. foregone conclusion, he
will make US q Senator capable of
accomplishing vast and lasting good
I.for the people of this district. -
Raynesvillc Courier.