davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28
.FRANkLINSVILLE MILLS
WHERE HUNER, HE Il EG ULA-
OR, MADE HIS DARING
RIDE DOWNA PRECIPICE.
ONCE DEDICATED TO VAL0R.

Now Dedicated by the Parks and
Moffitts to Industrial Progress--The
FranklinsviiIe Mills Built in IS4O,
and With the Exception of Four
Years, From 1851 to 1856, the Fac
tory Has Been in Continuous Opera
ton Ever Since.
The mills of the FraDklinsville Manu-
FEATURING Company, situated on Deep
river at Franklinsville, Randolph county,
were erected IN 1916 and are among the
banner mills of the State. On the OPP
posite side of the river from this mill is
what is known as Faith Rock" down
the steep, rugged slopes of which Hun
ter, the brave Regulator, rode in front of
a band of Fanning's Tories. Tanning
had left his foaming steed for a moment
unguarded. Hunter came up, mounted
the horse and dashed away. "Oatch the
scoundrel, but save the horse" Tanning
shouted to his Tory troops. Hunter ap
preached the precipice with the Tories in
hot pursuit. He looked neither to the
right FOR to the left, but pu ting spurs to
the horse, both horse and rider glided
down the precipice hundred and fifty
feet, descending at an angle of 40 de
grees. The print of the horses shoe
can be seen on the rock to-day. The
horses OF the Tories, and the Tories them
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28
THE RANDOLPH MILLS
OLDEST COTTON MILL BUILDING
NOW STANDING IN
THE STATE.
A NEW FACTORY NOW BUILDING.

Dir. Hugh Parks, the Secretary and
Treasurer of This Successful Factory
Has Been the Manager of the Concern
Since 1858, 800 SpindIcs and II2
Looms Now In the Mill.
On Deep River in Randolph county, a
few miles above Ramseur, are the mills
of the Randolph Manufacturing Com
pany, formerly known as the "Island
Ford Mills" This is probably the oldest
mill building now standing in the State,
and the fates have decreed that it shall
not stand to see the flowers boom again,
for the architects and brick layers are
building long, new brick walls all about
it, and so soon as new floor space is
ready, the quaint old wooden building
will tumble to the tune of the new order
of things, and give way to modern ar
chitecture and convenience 1t is a
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

esting. IL t1e main, manufacturing cot
ton has been family affair Father and
son, brothers AID cousins, uacles and
nephews, have as rule been the mana
ging spiriCs la other cali1gs, the boys
20 into several professions, bat when q
man goes into the cotton mill business
he soon brings into it ali The members of
the family. 1t shows that it Is q business
that has fascination as we'll dividends.
Mr.. Hugh Parks is among the foremost
men in Randolph, and for almost half a
century has been among the most useful
ones. In his sermon, dedicating Naomi
factory in 1880, the late Braxter Craven,
d. D., LII. D., named Mr.. Hugh Parks
as Que among the most prominent "liv
ing men who have contributed much to
the manufacturing interests of this
county, added largely to the general i'm
provement, and are the pride Of the pee
pile" To have deserved this tribute by
the great preacher, the mosf eminent
divine Randolph has produced, is an
honor that sp3aks trumpet tongued of
the virtacs and the good deods of Mr..
Parks.
The product OF the mills has
always been popular, and AS rapidly as
spindles and looms can prepare it for
market, purchasers are waiting to take it.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28
AT NAOMI FALLS
WHEELS ARE WHIRLyNG AT THE
SPOT WHERE NAOMI WISE
WAS MURDERED
THE SAD, ROMANTIC STORY.

II Has Often Been Told and Written-~
The Waters in Which Naomi was
Drowned Now Turn the Wheels that
Keep Thousands of Busy Spindies
in Motion Turning the Cotton OF Car
DINA Into the Finished Product A
Story of Industry.
~ hear only the cries Of Naomi
Wise. Thus spake dying murderer
far away from the scene where the
cries of his victim had fallen on his
ears. His name was Lewis and he was
a native of old Salem, in Randolph
county. There lived also a beautiful
girl, Naomi Wise, who loved Lewis not
wisely but too well "We will go to
Asheboro and be we'd, he said to her
one day, and her breaking heart for a
moment throbbed with joy. She rode
behind him on a spirited horse. Deep
river flows between old Salem
and Asheboro, and there was a
fordiog place at a point where now
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

could govern men, women and children
with less annoyance CT greater effect. In
spirit and life, he was a model man,
quiet, consid5rate, cool headed and
warm-hearted, he said and did the right
things at the right time, and always With
the hapolest results
Mr.. Geo. Makepeace was the father of
Mr.. G. Fl. Makepeace, the cotton mill
architect and builder now of Providence,
r /.
Cedar Fills and its urloundings are
rich in interesting biography and indus
trial "reminiscences. The Cedar Falls
Mills were here before Greensboro, Char
lotte, Wilmington, Rockingham, Fay
etteville or Raleigh had a railroad It's
founders were Henry B. Elliott and Phil
ip Horney.
OF these men DR.. Craven said in the
sermon referred to:
There was Philip Horney, a man
whose heart was young when his body
was old; he made money and spent it, or
part of it, as true man should; he
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28
NaOm3 msV6D2 Randolph and Tbe Cedar FALLS

messed the rushing torrent and made it
obedient to the viii of man.
In addition to the advantages afforded
By the empower, there is another ad-
vantage enjoyed by the owners and ope-
ratiyes of Randolph mills, a blessing
which is above al wealth and all other
earthly things, to wit: good health and
good climate. Situated on the banks Of
a narrow, clear, rushing stream, among
the hills that have never known what
malaria is, those who find occupation
here are free from the effects of extreme
heat, extreme cold, or q malarial atmos-
pbere. The healthfulnass Of the Deep
River country has had almost as much
to do with the success of manuf9c ,ures
as he splendid water power. The water
power is the basis upon which the Ran
dolph mills originally rested, and it is TO
day a great factor in its success, but God
was more than good TO this people when
to this basis for successful manufactur
ing he added the blessing of healthy
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

integrity, of broad mind, liberal views
and aggressive spirit.
He has in the Cedar Falls mills 4 900
| spindles and is now erecting a new mill
W, ich will contain 200 looms. In mill
No. /, be makes wars and yarns of a
| character that commends them to the
best weave mills of the county.
| The 200 looms in the new mill
will make these wsrps and yarns into
brown sheetings and fancy figured white
goods. The new mill is really a new
plant growing out of the Cedar Falls
Manufacturing Company. It is located
few feet below Mill No. /, and its ma
chinery will be turned by the waters of
Deep river,
The officers of the Cedar Falls Manu-
featuring Co are Dc. J. N. Worth,
President; O. R Cox, Secretary and
Treasurer; s. II Howard, Superint endent.
The company has in it ten shareholders,
among them are Mr. G. Fl. Makepeace
Rev. W. M. Curtis, ". Il Parks, Mrs.
A. Fl. Worth, DR., John II. Worth, and
Mr.. Cox.
The Cedar Falls Company has caught
the impetus of the times and Us splendid
new plant is result
Mr. Cox, who came as clerk, is now
the managing genius and largest stock
holder Of the property. He has
climbed steadily to the top, and is an
other one of those sturdy young Caro-
linians whose grit, energy and integrity
are types for emulation by the young
men Of the South He might have
obeyed the demands of his political
friends and remained sheriff of his
county, or, mayhsp, occupied other po-
liioal positions In these he could have
probably fed himself and his people,
political friends would doubtless have
paid him honor, but he would lot now
be furnishing profitable employment to
one hundred and fifty people. He would
not have organized and successfully man
aged hundred thousand dollars of cap
ital, and with it built, equipped and con-
Quoted an industry that's credit to the
State and monument to him.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

was an ardent friend and supporter OF
the church; his table was always spread
for the hungry; his syn patty was rich
toward ell who needed it, and every
body called him friend.
There was Henry B. Elliott, one Of
the noblest Of Randolph's worthy citi-
IONS. He had something of the bearing
Of an E lglish nobleman, but with all the
thoughtful courtesy and self-sacrificing
generosity of warm hear ted, true man.
He was gifted in intellect, finely cult
waited in extepsv3 learning, and enthu-
siastic in everything that seemed to pro-
mote good for the country"
Cedar Falls takes it3 name
from clus er Of nalestic
oadars that grow around rugged shoa!
in Deep River. and is situated about
midway between R4ndleman and Ram
s9ur, and Immediately on the line O.
what is known as the factory branch of
the Cape Fear aud Ysdkin Valley Rail
road. 1t combines reliable water
power, splendid mill building sites with
good railroad facilities, and is therefore
one Of the best cotton mill properties in
the State.
1t was during the year 1869 hat Mr..
O. r Cox, the present manager and princi
pal owner of the property, came to Cedar
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

climate %At the best, confinement in fac
torres or stores Cr law offices has ten
deucy to make men and women less
robust than those who work ia Gods
sunshine in the farms and fields; and
great manufacturing establishments
flourish best wEere the bTeezss are mcst
health giving In this particular, the
Randolph mill people are most happy,
and the health of the men and women
operatives is the best and pleasantest
evidence of this healthy section of our
commonwealth.
The Randolph is one OF the dozen pros
porous cotton mills whose machinery
runs in obedience to the de-
mands OF the waes Of Deep
river, and forms a link In that busy
chain Of cotton mill activity, stretching
from Randleman to Ramseur IL has in
ope alton now $500 spindles and 112
looms and employs $50 operators making
yarns and shirtings When it was first
erected in 1850 it had 81 looms
and no spindles. 1t has kept
steadily going and steadily grow
ing, and now proposes to establish
itself in comfortable and cOmmOdious
brick buildings, add more spindles
and more looms all this to be done
from its own profts-take on new
energy and new yigor and take posi-
ton in the front ranks Of the great cot
ton mill procession that is marching to
complete victory in North Caro-
lima. The Randolph Company
has abundant water power, easily con
trolled, and always reliable, and with
its new plant will soon begin another
half century of profitable and valuable
existence. Mr. W Henry Parks is the
president Of the Randolph Mills, and a
valuable aid to his uncle in their man
agement.
Toe fact tba: Mr. Hugh Parks has
made his nephew president of this mills
illustrates phase of cotton manufactur-
ing in North Carolina that ia most inter
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

quaint old factory building, and forms
one of the most interesting chapters in
the industrial history Of the State.
Mr.. Hugh Parks, whose striking
picture adorns our Cotton Mill
edition, is the ruling genius at the Ran
dolph Mills. He came here IL 1853, and
in partnership with Geo. W. Williams,
the late j. D. Williams, of Fayetteville;
the late J. NJ. Coffin, of Salisbury, and
/. FL. Foust, of Randolph county, bought
the Island Ford property. Father Time
has claimed all the members Of the firm,
except Mr. Parks, with whom renewed
vigor and activity seem to come with
increasing years. Taking the manufac
ture of cotton as his life work he has ap-
piled himself to mastering the science in
its various details, and both wealth and
well -merited fame have c5me to him as
reward for his untiring zeal and en-
ergy. He is no, only the principal owner
of Randolph Manufacturing Company,
but is largely interested in other mill en-
terprises ard business undertakings He
has been secretary and treasurer of the
Randolph Manufacturing Company for
thirty.seven years aud has planted the
ente rises on basis as fen as are the
rock-rbb ID banks of the busy stream on
which il is situated
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

Falls. He came as a clerk in the com
pany's store at very small salary. He
made himself an essential individual fac
tor in the business, as well as a valuable
and popular citizen of the county. In
1876 he was elected sheriff of the county
without his solicitation. Before his term
expired he resigned the office TO become
Secretary and Treasurer and general
manager of the Cedar Falls Mfg 90.
which company had been organized the
year previous and bought the Cedar
Fails property. For seventeen years he
mas held this responsible position, en-
larging aud increasing the capacity and
usefulness Of the enterprise, paying good
wages to his c. la5orer5 and good divi-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

sTANHoPE BRY>NT, Treas and Mgr.
is built the town of Randleman, but
the town of Randleman was not there
then; the rustling trees and rushing
waters and the low deep winds sounded a
solemn requiem as they approached the
river. The wounded heart of the trusting
girl was beating with new hope, but the
black heart of her betrayer grew blacker.
Suddenly hating in the middle of the
stream he dismounted, tore the trem-
bling girl from the horse and buried her
beneath the waters A struggle, few
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

The success which has attended the
career of Mr.. Parks is worthy Of more
than a passing allusion. 1t is history
of how an intelligent and active man can
use the forces of nature which men of
less wisdom and industry have permitted
to pass on to the sea unimprovcd. The
water power utilized in 'Ghe Randolph"
and other cotton mills in Randolph,
while exceptionally fine, has become
more noted than Others equally AS good
because such men as Mr.. Parks har-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

selves faltered at the crest Of the hill,
while Hunter and his captured Tory
nag escaped across the river. And the
brave deed has been often written and
related
Hunter made history then, and dedi-
Gated the spot to deeds of valor. The
Moffitts, Russells, Parkses and others have
during these past fifty years been making
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28
equipment

bag looms ard manufacture seamless
bags for the trade. This valuable prop
erty is Owned by Messrs. Benjamin
Moffitt, W @. Russell, Hugh Parks, OF
Frankllnsville, and Mrs. E. E. Moflitt,
of Raleigh. The officers of the
company are Mr.. Hugh Parks, pres
iden.; Mr.. Benjamin Moffitt, Secretary
Treasurer The office force is augment
ed by those clever gentlemen, Messrs.
W. 9 Russell, Erastus Parks and
Mr.. Stewart, while eighty opera
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

Q. K COX Secretary and Treasurer.
dends to his co owners and laying foun-
dations for still greater achievements.
Mr.. Cox is practical mill man with
all the word implies. His practical
training has been attained around
the spindles. He is likewise
al experienced and successful
executive officer, a gentleman of strict
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

faint screams and all was over. Lewis
was c2ught but escaped punishment; he
was caught again, aquiited and went
to western State. Here he lived and
died. On his death-bed he confessed that
he had drowned Naomi Wise, and de-
clared that as death approached he
could hear only the cries of his victim.
That was many years ago, and during all
those years this plant on Deep River
has been known as Naomi Falls
at is said that in the dusk of evening,
the following little song may be heard
about the river, in accents sweet as an
gels sing:
Beneath these crystal waters,
A maiden once did lie,
The fairest of earth's daughters,
gem TO deck the sky.
In caves of pearIed enamel
We weave an amber shroud
For all the foolish damselS
That dare to stray abroad.
We live in rolling pillows,
We float upon the mist,
We sing on foaming pillows:
Poor Naomi of the past.
OnJaly 7, 1879 the Naomi Falls Manu-.
featuring Co WAS orga nized, and with
in fifty feet O where the victim o. this
tragedy was murdered stands the Mao
mi CJttoa Mitls, one OF the most SUE
cessful cotton factories in the State.
The mills were first built by Mr.. J.
Randleman, Mr. John H. Fsrree and
Others. Mr Randleman, for whom the
town Of R4ndleman is named, was a
strong character and 2 useful citizen
When Naomi F4ctory was finished be
invited Rev b. Craven, president Of
Trinity C1llege, to dedicate the factory
in sermon, thus expressing his resolve
that il should be conducted on christian
principles. Ia the opening Of his sermon,
DR.. Gre en said: ID lring life of con
siderable IL. b and breadth OF expert
ence, and In .abors various as most men
meet, | have never before been so cir
cumstanced "a / am today. This il
something new il the rapid stride OF
progress, a new enG3mpment of the
LORDS hosts, ana yet in every sense il ID
proper and becoming. We are, for the
first time in this country, formally and
professed.y TO dedicate houses and ma
chinery TO the 2erglea Of God. We are
to ask, and ! hope obtain, the OBTAIN, The
Divine blessing upon capital and product,
upon The owners and all who shall herein
do faithful work The d. dicatory words
NAV be interesting:
By request of the owners and proprietors
OF this property, in the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Ghost, / dedicate this
house and all machinery connected there
with 10 God, for the purposes and uses of
Christian work. May nothing evil ever be
found herein. may every one connected
herewith be blessed in all good, and may
the blessing Of the triune God be upon this
company, and hence may all people know
that God dwelleth in factories as well as in
chIxches
A controlling interest in this fac
tory was subsequently sold TO the late
r p. Dick, who was the successful man
ager CT the mills until his death, few
years age. Cept Dicks was one of the
smartest and most capable mill men in
the State. He had travelled extensively,
was well informed upon all subjects, was
masterful man, full of public spirit
and progress. He was succf d ID in the
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28
CEDAR FALLS MFG CO
RANDOLPHS'S FIRST HOME OF
THE SPINDLE AND
THE LOOM.
FIFTY YEARS OF SUCCESS

The Midway Mill Of the Becp River
Group~-Its Past History and Future
PrOspects-~It Has Been the Training
School for Successful Cotton Mill
Managers, and Among the Most
Prominent of These is its Present
Manager, Mr., o. II. Cox
The Cedar Falls Manufacturing Com
pany is ripe with age, prestige and
prosperity. 1t was away back in 1848,
the first mill was built at this point, and
for these forty seven years he winds
that blow through the venerable cedars
that grow here have been vibrating
with the music of machinery. G dar
Falls has been for nearly half a
century training school for
some factory men who are to-day
among the South's leaders. 1t was
here that Mr.. J. NJ. Odell learned
the practical part Of the cotton mill bust
ness. 1t was here that II. b Elliott, the
first man that ever inspired the building
of a cotton mill in Randolph county,
lived and pr1spered, aud beneath these
cedars sleep the remains of this pioneer
and benef .ctOr. Il was near here that
the late George Makep3ace was reared
OF hin the late 3 aXtOn Craven said, in
his sermon d,d.cating the Naomi Cotton
Mills:
George Makepeace was the very
genius of organization, and few men
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-28

BENJAMIN LoFFITT, Sec aud Treas.
history also and re dedicating Franklins
vile to deeds of industrial thrift and
Material progress. The Franklin7ville
Manufacturing Company is engaged in
the manufacture gagps and yaras and
have complete and thorongh machinery
equipment. The company ha3 also forty
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-14

the STATE. express and railroad epus-
pany sfferx s1ers IN a rewar's of sz<sa
for Cosk's capture.
In an EnseTvle. With The captured barzsit
81 Roswell he acknowledged himself as
fsllE cook ard said that when captured
ne was en- his way to OLD Mexico ard
meant to auis the highway business. He
cossziasia3 ssThe officers have me and Will
take me back where am known. and
there Is no use for me 30 deny Il. but
don't give me bell Ike the other fellows
have for ] have NOT committed half the
crimes that are charged 20 me. I have
done al my work on the open highway.
never killed any ore, nor have l ever
robbed a poor man. unless Il vas
OF g horse and feed that was compelled
10 have when dossging the officers. Ny
brother Jim was never contested with
my train robb@ries. and had nothing 10 do
with the Rock TssanSt or Texas & Pacific
hold-ups nor the sRnta Re from Fort
Worth. but did rob the train at Red Fork.
Five other boys were with me had
nothing TO do with rhe bank robbe-ses. 1
was not IN but one robbery, and, IL In
dicted for that under the name Of Ell
Cook. Will plead guilty"
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-14
BiLL COOK IN JAIL.
The Notorious Outlaw Taken hv Sur
priss ia New Mexico.

Santa Re. y. NJ. jan is-tss4tea States
Marshal Hail To-Day received a ,liSxssteA
from Sheriff (. & Perry. Of ssaaves euan-
~. who yesterday captured .I.l Co>ss, the
notorious Oklahoma OUTLAW. stating thar
tAe prisoner had tssea safely safssfsa IL,
the county sasi at Resv Ell this forenaen
Tae outlaws capture. VAS effected M an
ISOLATED cattle ranch few miles south
east 81 ola F,srt Ss,meer. Perry and two
deputies wefe Ia SgasSh og horse thieves
east - Fort SssMner YESTERDAY
when ShSriT Perry met and rec.
ssgnssess Cook al the gsrst glance. t.eseSer
than a HASH Ferry aad his asea had
their Wholesalers un. ana Geek Was ~
thoroughly surprised khat he lost his
nerve ard. although he NA4 {wo six
shooters soo0t his waist, his bands went
no Al The Command oE the Sseysg. fiassa-
SNifS wSFe eat cn his wrists anal D. aas
mounted zna strapped on his own horse
watch was sQssna ile3 ea the taa!aS ~cse
tAs cabin oae tlopaty lea the Animal
Nsi's Sheriff Perry ARIA his o<her deputy
sesso behind them. TaSus tire trin ia
ROSWELL was made. a distance OF atty
ssSf miles Marshal Nall expects "a
Is"ss fsoEa sae United States district ~.
tvsueys OF oiSsaAassA. Arx.. asd Yexas
se "fsoEa BE wired las, nisht. aane.,nn-
US Ssce1's capture. II is said teas vita