Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-03-28
W. c. LEAK---A Sketch Of His Life
wv. N. EVERETT


doc Leak born June 49, 1863 in the big white house
which stands the rghthand side of the sandh leading
to Just after you cross the long shallow ford and go up
He died the day of last January While yet child
until he died ', ,''o'~ ~ ''ON 0O''
educated the private that dayhere were
public schools know them nowat first in oneeacher
schools mainly owned and by ladies who down from
Virginia When about twelve old he entered the Rocking
ham Academy red frame building situate where this building
stands He had the benefit of such doughty instructors
Sshe Se MS'0 Buckle fame Andre" Macmillan and George
Education administered in two those days. by the
m ia m ana o a sro e
sued through hem but Doc had certain fixed standards which he
used him. Amongst boys easily first They came
to understand that they could depend him. that he did not give
His an "Open Sesame to many boy in this negbor
hood for could ayt matered not how harbraned the
moved all obstacles fell down.
In 1882 he entered Bingham School at Mebane then the
Of man he was and accorded to him his proper place in
the college life Never man to bend the suppant knee that
college activities To establish this contention only to
ton two Incidents In his sophomore yeara that time and
military office within the gift Of the faculty and
captain Of the college nine an office within the gift Of the
and his baseball nine never suffered defeat.
Mehodca always he divided his college days certain
another bart the pursuit of the knowledge in
another part for college athletics and another part for the study
the Chief study Of mankind is man &c. while he kept on fa
lar terms with his books he soon came to have wide under
them he knew their weaknesses and could strengthen them
Before he finished his college he had opportunity
into the Bank of New Hanover at Wadboroat that time
the only bank between Wilmington and Charlotte and far
between Raleigh and Columbia There was laid the broaod
foundation of his business After few months he came
home and went into the office of the Pee Dee Manufacturing
Company.
am permitted only touch upon his splendid business
because the DEVELOPMENT of that side of his life has been
assigned to Mr. Gore Suffice to that besides being actively
in enterprises which made for the upbudg of
his town and county, the development of the Pee Dee Company
claimed his chief interest When Col Walter Steele died. Doc
written its books $125OooOo When his utmey death
rendered the property to it's owners was written at
but the places where stocks bought and sold after paying
substantial dividends the value of the property
written at over million dollars for its stock was sold at the
courthouse door, last at three dollars for one
AS imam iveth not by bread alone name which has
to dwell the mmortas the of his accomplish
ments stopped here should lift hands in sadness we say
"Ill fares the land to fastening ills prey,
Where wealth accumuates and men decay"
But we do not stop here do not have stop here The only
embarrassment feel in having to select but few incidents
out of life lived for others with which develop theme Rob
Roy you know founded his life force His philosophy
clearly expressed by Mr. Wadsworth as he says
"The creatures of the food and field
And those that travel on the wind,
With them no strife can last they live
In peace of mind.
For why! Because the good old way
Sufices them; the simple plan
Of let him take who has the power
And let him keep who can
Since then said Robin right is plain,
And longest life is but day,
To have my ends maintain my rights,
I'll take the shortest way
And there amongst those rocks he lived,
In summers sun and winters
The eagle he lord above
And Rob was lord below"
Doc realized he held within his grasp all the e
of power AS writer has said since his death do
believe he stopped to consider what weight his influence
exered on the life around him. For his life founded on
higher lava law old time and responsive the
child in this school, unchangng the changeless hills
reduced to terms of simple understanding by Savior when