The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-20
The KEENAN, HOMESTEAD
Soon to be the Scene Of the Kenan-
Flsgler Nuptials.
CHARTERS FOR TWO RAILWAY LINES
The Building Of Either Would Give New Life 10
The Town. Some Of Its Distinguished
Men. The James Sprunt
Institute.
Especial to News and Observer. J

topSSldl 10 news ana ODSerVef.)
kenansville, N. c., June 19.-Here and
there in this eastern country nature has
reached forth her arm and buildcd well
and beautifully, giving the people of Tie
level lands glimpse of what she has
done In the Land of the Sky" In our
travels through this section it is a pleas
ant relief to come up with rolling hills
dotted with massive oaks, stately elr.s
and bubbling springs OF pure crystal
water. This suggests what one may fiod
in the location of Kenansyille. The little
town is splendidly situated upon several
hills. each of which is beautifully shaded
and here We find the homes of the excel
lent people making the population of the
capital Of Duplin. In the very heart of the
town at the base OF one of these hills
is gushing spring of pure water, as
clear as crystal, flowing at the rate of
several gallons per minutes, and here
the people come and drink of nature
healthgiving beverage. This is said to
be the healthiest spot IN the county. Sur
rounded, as it is, with fertile fields whose
soil is adapted to the cultivation of any
crop, Kenansville would make an ideal
like the oversight ana cultivation of
special crops. 1t is the oldest town in
the county and was named for the Kenan
family. who have ever occupied strorx.
hold in the affections of the people, many
Q fthem having been again ard again hon
cred with prominent official trusts.
In this connection 1t may be said that
the talk of the little town is the APP
phfpcr mo IF Mo- T
Kenan, the accomplished daughter OF. w.
K. Kcnan, OF the distinguished family, to
Henry M. Flagler, the multi millionaire
railroad magnate and Standard oil man,
which marriage is to, take place here at
the old Kenan homestead within the next
few weeks. This property has just I'M
dsrgone q thorough overhauling, the
painters tiush having lief. its imprint
both inside and out. What : delightful
spot this IS and could be made to spend
the eventide OF declining years. Should
this man of millions decide to locate here
and call in the landscape gardener and
put out some of his surplus how proudly
would the hand OF nature respond to the
hand of the artist, the one rising with
the other, the twain supplying a town N
beauty and bealthfulness surpassed by
lntl VI uo Oluti ANVil-
ansville only needs the developing hand
of enterprise and wealth to be the gar
den spot OF the whole east.
Already there exist charters for two
railways. the Kenansville Air Line and
the Duplin Onslow Railroad Company. The
building Of either would give an easy
outlet for the product of neighborng
field and forest and soon new life would
- Of I,,,,,
bred population would grow and expand
and become a yerftable little metropolis
with her splendid advantages. The people
are Of noted hospitality and culture.
Along the fight of years since the chair
man OF the board of county commissioners
cast the deciding vote naming tiis, rather
than Sorecta the county seat. Kenans-
vile has been a place of leading and
influential men. Among these, Rev. Jas.
Sprunt, Judges Oliver Allen, VIM. r..
Allen Kedar Bryan and the Messrs. W.
r. and Thos. S. Kenan. Here resided, too,
for years. the late Col. VIM. A. Alien, q
lawyer of splendid abilities and Dromi-
nept in The affairs of State n hia day.
BY the way, / have just visited the cid
Alien office. I have not darkened it's
doors since the days of childhood when
I used to visit Col Allen on errands con-
nected with legal matters. On the walls
OF this office is pencilled its every occu-
pant In order these were: David Reid,
". j. Houston. Captain Co. l. n. G. Cav
airy, killed In war; Houston and Allen,
w A. Allen, w. A. Allen & Son, o. H.
Allen and w. r. Allen, Allen & Ward,
Allen Carr, Allen & Carlton-the last
named DeLeon Carlton, the son of an
I'D school mate, today holding the fcrt.
There lived here also the late Rev. j.
Dick Stanford, who represented the ooun-
ty for twenty eight consecutive years in
the Legislature. The mercantile interest
is limited to three firms. These exists here
a splendid morality The Methodists, Pres
byterians and Baptists7-each have
church building The James Sprunt lnsti-
tute--a female Seminary-is located here.
This property is prettily situated and |
am told adjoining property has been re-
Gently purchased that will make the site
more advantageous still and that decided
improvements will soon be made. Near,
Ia an old Indian burying ground, place
Of interest around which cluster many
startling. tales dating back to the days
OF The Fed Men. kenansville is an hour s
drive from Warsaw or Magnolia and has
Telephone connection with the last named.
/ Grove in from Warsaw and enjoyed the
ride, stopping at intervals en- route where,
reaching from the roadway, | broke many
limbs laofen with huckleberries. the gem
tleman who accompanied me and myself
picking from the bush and eating ms we
travelled The huckleberry growth ex-
tends for miles throughout this section
with buyers stationed at various cross
roads. The crop this year is said to be
4he heaviest for years.
RIVENBARK.
=
The Salisbury Daily Sun says that DR..
Geo. r. McNeill, who was killed by Prof.