The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

synonymous with enterprise and integ-
1ity.
\ special feature of the bank is their
absolute fire and burglar proof vault,
which like everything else about the
bank, is up-to-date and protected by all
that human ingenuity can accomplish
for the protection of money or yaIuables.
Among the correspondents of the bank
are the National Bank of the Republic,
Of New York; the Bank OF North AM
erica, OF Philadelphia; the Merchants
National and the Equitable National OF
Baltimore the Merchants and the State
Bank of Virginia., Of Richmond; the
City National, of Knoxville, Tennessee,
and the Louisville National Banking
Company Of Louisville, Kentucky. The
bank enjoys a large list OF depositors,
not only locally, but throughout Western
North Carolina.
The vast success Of the bank is direct
ly traceable to the excellent management
of that well known and popular gentle
man.
CAPTAIN JAMES p. SAWYER.
President Of the institution. His abil-
ity as one of the ablest fnanciers in the
State is thoroughly recognized and appre-
ciated. 1t has been his ambition to es-
tabiish a bank which should be known
far and wide for the honesty and faith
Of its merits and in this he has been am
ply successful. Mr. Sawyer is a North
Carolinian by birth and first saw the
light of day at Edneyyile, Henderson
county, February 9th, 1887. During the
civil war he served the Confederacy as
a member of Company A. 25th North
Carolina Infantry. He was promoted
from AN orderly sergeant to commissary
of his regiment, with the rank of cap
tain. He saw a great deal of service
Subsequently he resigned and took the
place Of shipping agent for the State at
Saltville, Virginia, in 1862 He was
captain of a battery until 1864 and then
re-joined mis- old regiment at Petersburg.
remaining with it until the surrender, at
which time he was acting as adjutant
of the regiment.
After the surrender he returned to
Asheyille and engaged i'm the mercantile
business. This he still follows under
the name of the JAMES Il. SAWYER
CARPET HOUSE.
He was President Of the Bank of
Asheyille in 1879 and filled that position
for ten Years, resigning in 1889. When
the bank was re-organized he was elect
cd President and has filed that posi-
ton ever since. He is Treasurer of the
Asheville Board Of Trade Aside from
his business duties, Mr.. SAWYER has nj
ways taken an active interest i'm Asha-
ville's fire department, one of the best in
the South, and has occupied the position
Of chief Of that department since its
organization, seventeen years ago If
is due to Mr. Sawyer that the depart
ment has been brought up to its present
high state Of efficiency. The department
IS equipped with three hose coniponies
and one hook and ladder company, with
ample parapheuaGa. III has q member
shop Of fifty and is volunteer depart-
ment Mr.. Sawyer is mem
Der Of the State Frenan's AS
sociaticm For the past sixteen
wears he has been director Of the
State Hospital at Morganton ana for
eight years President of the BOARD
He is President of the Children's Homo
He is prominent in Odd Fellowship. WAS
two years ago Grand Master of the Odd
elbows Of the State and present Grand
Representative Of the State of North
Carolina. In 1861, january 4th. he was
joined IN Wedlock to Miss Mamie &. Cas-.
ton ana this union has been blessed win
ilYe children, four Of whom are living
Mr.. y. = Coke, yice-President. is 4
resident of Philadelphia. and is we'll and
favorahy known throughout this sec-
ton
Mr.. J +, Rankin. cashier IS one of
the best known financial men in Western
North Carolina He is man of fine
business ability and mas held the posi-.
tlon rs cashier of the bank since its or
ganization.
When but year old, that was in 1916,
ms parents moved to Asheville, and here
our subject was reared and educated
subsequently he engaged in the mercan-
tile business until 1885, when he became
Vice President of the Bank Of Asheville.