The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-03-09
GOVERNOR RUSSELL OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
A Sketch of the Life and Character Of
of His Ancestors.

In my communication which ap-
peared In your valuable paper or Fec
ruary 9, 1897, 1 stated I would write
more fully hereafter relative to the life
and character of the Hon. David w.
Sanders, Palo Alto, Onslow county,
N. c., who was the grandfather of
Gov. Russell, and also Of the Governors
father, Daniel L. Russell, Sr. As a
business man, none could eXcell him.
He would get ahead of lawyers and
Judges. The writer has mingled with
Governors of the State, Senators of the
United States, Judges of the Supreme
Court, members Of Congress, mem
bers of the State legislature, State eff
GERS and county officers, from them
down to his own grade, but he has
never yet een a man among them all
the equal of Hon. David W. Sanders
for the power Of forming ideas, mind
and understanding. He overiowed,
so to speak, with intellect. 1t vas
born in him-and what was remarka,
BILE about him, he was self educated,
for / received it from his own lips that
he never went to school but fourteen
days in his whole life, and yet he wrote
a splendid hand, and could converse on
history, geography, grammar, law,
chemistry, etc. He was elected clerk
of the old county courts in OnsloW
county for four terms.
Oaalow sent as her delegates to the
State Convention to change the State
Constitution, on 4th of June, 1885,
David W. Sanders and John a.
Averitt, Sr. Sanders was g justice Of
the Peace for Onslow up to his death,
served on the finance committee for
years and on the board of education,
he triumphed in every position. He
was the head and front of the commit
tee that built OnsloW's present brick
courthouse about the year 1848 "a
useful man, he was, in every position,
and one who succeed in amassing a
vast fortune. The writer was appointed
by the court as the justice of the peace
and Anderson CostOn and A. J. Murrill
as free holders to allot and lay eff his
widow, Mrs. Alsey Sanders, her years
support, and we allowed her the round
sum of ten thousand dollars for her
n years support, and reported it to
court and the court confirmed our re-
port. He owned land in divers places
In the county, turpentine still in Swans
bOro, and loaded vessels at SWansboro
for direct shipment to New York. He
speculated in naval stores, cotton and
farm products, turning everything he
touched into money, or causing it to
advance his estate in some way. He
was worse than Napoleon at the battle
of the Pyramids if his business did
not move. He sent for Doctor Chat
man once, while sick, from New Berne,
The doctor remained all night and the
next day On the second morning the
doctor rose to see his patient, when 10!
and behold! he was up and gone off 8
Or 10 miles away to n of his turpen
tine distilleries. He had an only son,
Isaac B. Saunders, a graduate and one
who had taken law as his profession, |
and be anticipated sending mis- son
Benjamin, with a white servant, to
take a trip around the world to see the
different forms Of government, and to
store his mind with useful knowledge
gained by actual observation in trav-
cling, then return home to devote bis
time and talent to the practice Of law
when death entered and took his joy
and his pride away; and the broken
column standing in the iron enclosed
grave yard at Hickory Hill, on Star
keys Creek, IN Onslow, by his fathers
and mothers graves marks the spot
where, earth to earth, dust to dust and
ashes to ashes, is his resting place /
He had an only daughter, whose name
was Caroline. She was the mother of
the Governor. I remember we'll when
Daniel L Russell, ST., married her.
Sanders was one of the Governors
Council from Onslow during Gov.
Graham's term as Governor of North
Carolina.
He was an ardent admirer Of Henry
Clay and voted the Wing ticket. His
credit Yves unbounded. The bank in
New Berne, N. @, would discount his
note at almost any time for 500. 600 at
q pop. His fine house at Palo Alto.
now owned by Mr.. David s. Ames, is
yet standing. Most all the other fine
dwellings, built in Onslow county in
ante bellum times have been burned
down.
David W. Sanders was a most pow
erful man on the stump and at the |