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

bank ana hUrranS anu SHOUTS were Tree
~ INDUCED in.
FIRST MERCHANTS.
The first merchants who established
themselves in Goldsboro. We're VIM.
Shading and Samuel Smith. who con
Quoted Il general merchandise trade, IN
a small frame building. Following them
was the firm of Peacock and Lane who
carried ON the same business. in Il frame
store at the corner of East Centre and
Walnut streets. In 1874 the question
of removing the county seat FROM
Waynesboro to Goldsboro was first .tgi-
tated, but met with strenuous OPPOSE
tion At this date Goldsboro was al
most wilderness, with population not
exceeding $50 souls. The friends of the
scheme however persisted in their IF
forts. and on the 9th day of January,
1916 the Legislature passed an act sub
hitting to the voters Of Wayne county
the question of removing the county seat
from Waynesboro to- Goldsboro. The
canvass was an exciting one, neighbor
was opposed to neighbor but the move
was defeated. In April 1916 Mr.. r. J.
Gregory located in Goldsboro and in lie
following year, entered into partnership
with Jno. b. Griswold, and began Il
mercantile business. Mr.. Jno. A. Green
also carried on business at the same tine
the two houses being the only stores in
the village.
WHEN INCORPORATED
On the 18th of January, 1917 an ait
of the Legislature was passed Moor
porating the town Of GoldsDoro and
during the same year the streets were
named by Judge james Griswold. 1t
has been asserted that the first general
survey of the town was made in 1874,
but were are unable to furnish any re-
liable information on this point. II is
however certain, that i'll the first ay
ing off of the town, each properly
holder employed his own surveyor,
and as a consequence there was a want
of system in the numbering of the
town lots. To remedy this deficiency
Judge Griswold, at the time of naming
the streets remembered the lots. Oh
the 18th of January, 1S47, the date of
the incorporation of the town, The
Legislature ratified an act, again sub
uniting the question of removal of the
county seat to Goldsboro, TO the vefers
of the county. This act provided thar
whenever IA majority of the Justices OF
the court of pleas and quarter sessions
for the county of Wayne, shall order the
building Of new court house. for said
county, it shall be the duty or said conrr
to appoint two inspectors, to superin-
tend the polls to be opened at each and
every election precinct in said county
of Wayne for the purpose of ascertaining
by ballot the will of the freemen Of said
county relative to the removal of the.
site of the court house and other public
buildings from Waynesboro to Colds
boro." Sec. IL: Provided that the hal
lot shall be, Removal" NO Removal. :"
Sec. ". Provided that said COMMITS
sioners or majority of them shall lay
off a site for said court house and Jail
not less than two acres nor more than
four in extent, within half mile Of The
hotel of Mrs Borden in the village or
Goldsboro." The election upon tnis
question was held in the summer of
1913, and one incident which occurred
just previous is worthy OF record An
ticipating the return of the volunteers
from the Mexican war, notice was given
that a grand dinner and barbecue wonid
be given on Il certain day prior to TIE
election. The citizens from every per
ton of the county assembled. The OBJ
ject was evidently to create senti-
ment favorable to Goldsboro but this is
only suspicion. However the dinner
itself is deserving Of mention in rs much
as the bill OF fare was of rather ggan-
tic character. The principal feature Of
the occasion was a chicken pie which
for its size should be noted to posterty
This affair was made in an iron kcetle
having capacity of 30 gallons. More
than 100 chickens were slaughtered for
its capacious jaws, but these being in
sufficient two hogs were added to the
mass, and one barrel of flour and man
ufactured into crust In addition TO this
delicacy there were slaughtered and bar
becued, one OK, nine sheep, and LOO
pounds of hogs One barrel Of whisley
was placed on tap. and LOO pounds Of
ice were exhausted. There is trldi-
tion that great part Of the ice was
placed in the surrounding wells with a