The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-15
DEATH OF Mr.. NORWOOD GILES.
CLOSED A USEFUL CAREER AT 1880
O'CLOCK YESTERDAY MORNING.
Was a Native of Wilmington-Estab-
iished h Carolina Rice MiIls-Ac-
Mills Company - For Nearly Four
Years In New York as Secretary and
Treasurer of the Standard Rice Com
pany.

A wide circle Of admiring friends
throughout this city and section learn
with deepest sorrow Of the death of
Mr.. Norwood Giles, which occurred at
1870 o'clock yesterday morning at the
residence of Mrs. Mary B. Walker, 204
North Front street.
Mn. Giles had been very i'll for prob
ably three months, having been
brought from his home in New York
about fifteen days ago. His life had
been disDaired Of for probably three
days and death expected almost hourly,
but the announcement nevertheless
came as an especially sad blow to a
host of people who during a lifelong
acquaintance had learned to so much
admire him as a typical Christian gen.
tleman and able business a
Norwood Giles was born in Whining
ton November 10, 1916. His parents
were Mr.. William B.. and Mrs. Alme-
ria Reston Giles, who about 1848 re-
moved from Wilmington to Savannah,
where they remained until the close Of
the civil war.
Mr.. w. B. Giles, father of the de-
ceased, was an extensive lumber dealer
and was also for a number of years
president of the Wilmington and Man-
chester Railroad Company. During the
time that the family resided in Savan-
nah they spent their on
Wrightsville sound at the Giles sum-
mer residence, which they still own.
The first position of trust held by
Mr.. Norwood Giles was that Of super
~intendent's clerk for General William
MacRae, Of the Wilmington and man.
chester railroad.
Subsequently he engaged in the in
surance business with Mr.. William L.
Smith, the firm name being William L.
Smith & &C. Later it was changed to
Norwood Giles & Company, Mr.. Matt
Taylor succeeding Mr.. Smith as a mem
Der of the firm. There was a subse
uuent change in the business by which
Mr.. Giles became sole owner of the
business.
A few years ago Mr.. Norwood Giles
and Mr.. Pembroke Jones established
the Carolina rice mills in this city
There was a steady development of the
business. They built a mill in Wash
ington, N. c., and a little later a mil
at Goldsboro. Then they acquired large
mills in New Orleans and the style Of
the company was changed to the Ma
tional Rice Mill Company.
Fol the distribution of the enormou:
products of this combination the STAN
ard Rice Company was organized abou
four years ago and Mr.. Giles was made
secretary and treasurer. 1t was tn
duties of this office which necessitatet
NJ &c o~1 for0i1x
to New York nearly four years ago.
Wilmington a been blessed to ar
inestimable degree and in innumerablt
ways by the citizenship of Mr.. Nor
wood Giles. An especially notable
monument to his business sagacity ant
enterprise in public affairs is the board
of audit and finance, he having draft
ed the laws which govern this impor'
tant branch of the city government
and for several years served as chair.
man Of the board. Was indeed the frs
chairman serving in that capacity
until he was succeeded by Mr.. Richard
Jones.
He always manifested the deepest
interest in the welfare of the city anC
during h summer months since bus
mess conditions neceSSItated his resi-
dence in New York regularly visited
Wilmington, spending some time at the
Giles summer home on Wrightsville
sound.
Mr.. Giles was first married to Miss
Eliza M. Walker, daughter of MI. an6
Mrs. Thomas D. Walker. This union
was blessed with one child, a daughter
Mary D.. Giles, now Mrs. Nixon Davis
After the death of his first wife, Mr.
Giles was married in Raleigh ito Miss
Virginia Strong, daughter of Mr.. Geo
Strong, of Raleigh, who with two son:
survive him. They are Mr.. Norwood
Giles, Jr., who holds a responsible pc
sition in the New York office of thu
Standard Rice Company, and Mr.. Johr
Reston Giles, at present a student II
Columbia college. Mrs. Giles, her tive
sons and Mrs. Nixon Davis we're pres
ent when their beloved husband ant
father died yesterday, as was Mr.
Clayton Giles, the only surviving broth
err of the deceased. There are quite
a number of other bereaved relatives
all Of whom have the sincerest sympa
thy in their sad bereavement.
The funeral will be from
st. James Episcopal church at l.
o'clock tomorrow morning, Rev. Robt
Strange, D. D., the rector, officiating
assisted by DR.. Carmichael, of St
Johns church.
r. c. Strong, Esq, Mrs. Calvert a n
Miss Carrie Strong, respectively broth
er and sisters of Mrs. Norwood Giles
arrived yesterday to attend the flu
neral.