The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-14
THE Ntws AND Obs ERvER, SUNDAY MANCH -. 1897.

1 RlYp mercantile mouse vi Ltdh N 2htiInhd
Of Wadesboro, large cotton factors and
| dealers in general merchandise and
| farmers supplies. MIR. Leak is also
largely engaged in agricultural pursuits
He is still a stakeholder and director of
the First National bank and at his re-
| tirement as president, the vacancy was
filled by~he election of his brother, Mr.
Jno. ID. Leak, and w. l.. Marshall, the
former teller, was advanced to the posi-
| ton of cashier.
Mr.. Leak was born in Wadesboro in
| 1855, and was educated at Bingham's
and at Randolph Macon College. He
has been engaged in banking for twenty
| years and is prudent, careful and sue
cessful business man. He has never been
| active in politics, and yet he has been
| at all times a liberal contributor of his
| means and his time to the cause of good
government as represented by the Demo-
cratic party, of which party he is an I'M
swerving adherent.
Mr. Leak has made his county and
his State an able and valuable represen-
tative and returns TO his business ayoca-
tons with the plaudits of his constit-
uents, who will doubtless call him again
many times to serve them in positions
of honor and of trust
/ HON. GIBSON JAMES.
Fender county politics are generally
very nearly on a pivot, and the man who
gets elected ON any ticket must be little
stronger than his party. On the registra-
ton in Pender the Republicans had, dur
ing the past election slight majority,
yet, partly because Of the untiring ener-
gies of that gallant band of Fender Dem
ocrats, and partly because of the popular
ity of Mr.. Gibson James, Fender was rep
resented by a staunch Democrat, and that
Democrat was Mr.. James.
/ Mr.. James is Il native OF Pender, or
that part OF the county that was formerly
New Hanover.
/ He was born in 1854, and reared on q
farm. He is yet engaged in farming, and
at the same time he is an extensive mer-
chant, miller and naval store manufac-
turer.
His wife was Miss Annie Belle Murray,
OF Dupln county, and five children bright
en- their comfortable rural home at Maple
Hill, Pender county.
Mr.. James was rocked in the cradle of
Democracy. and has been at all times a
hard fighter for the party, it's principles
and nominees. His advent into the Leg
held public office, and his liking is more
for his home and his business
than it is for politics. He has been
exceedingly watchful Of the best interests
of his people. and his State. and the prob
ability is that his people viii insist again
that he shall pay the capital city bien-
NAL visit.
JOHN WALTER WATTS.
Many of the older men in the State
will remember Reuben Watts, Of Alex
ander county, one of the best men that
ever lived in the State, and one of the
most honest and conscientious men that
ever sat IN its legislative halls. He was
here in 1875 and 1887.
John Walter Watts, the present mem
Der of the House from Alexander, is a
noble son of that noble sire. He was
born in 1862, and is a native of Alexan-
der county.
He went to school at TaylorsyiIle and
almost before he was a man his friends
were pushing him to the front in the
public affairs of his county. In 1890 he
was elected sheriff, and was reelected in
1892, and again in 1894. But his people
wanted his valuable services in a more
him out of the sheriff's Office and COM
missioned him to come to Raleigh and
help make the laws of the State, or rather
to help make such laws as were whole
some, and to aid in the defeat of those
that were unwise, and right manfully
has he obeyed their mandate. Mr..
Watts is quiet, conservative man, but
one of the strictest attendants upon the
sessions Of the House and his commit
tees. He speaks but little, but what he
says carries weight with it, and his votes
are on tie right side Of every question
His popularity in his county is attestea
by the fact that he has never been de-
feated and is the only Democrat thar
has been elected in his county for four
years.
Mr.. Watts was married in December,
1882 to Miss Ellen Il. Rogers, of Alex
ander, and has FIVE children. He lives
on beautiful and productive farm situ-
ated along the foothills of the pictures
que Brushy Mountains.
JOHN CANNON BUNCH.
Mr.. Bunch was the first Democrat
that responded to every roll CALL for his
was the first Democratic name on the
roll, and whenever the name of Bunch
was called and AYE" or mo" was
sounded, you might know the sentiment
OF staunch Democrat had been re-
corded. Mr.. Bunch represented Gull
ford county in the House by probably
the slimmest majority that ever backed
a legislator. 1t was awful close voting
in Guilford county during the past cleo
ton, and Mr.. Bunch beat his opponent
only one vote, but that one majority was
sufficient to enable him to kill every par
tisan vote OF his Republican colleague,
and to keep his county from having to
shoulder the responsibility Of distasteful
legislation.
4 Mr.. Bunch is a native OF Guilford
county, and is So years of age. He is
farmer in the strictest sense OF the
term, and not by profession. He was a
county commissioner for six years, and
was one Of the best officials the county
ever had.
He was nominated for the House by