They are of historical value and interest, since they leave no doubt about the origin of this, the greatest southern business enterprise; an enterprise which has inaugurated and given impulse to the grand career of industrial development upon which the State has entered.
Mr. James R. Blacknall, a different name, the readers will notice, from the future proprietor of the great Durham factory--stated in his deposition that the first parties he ever knew to manufacture smoking tobacco at Durham were Morris & Wright, in the year 1860. This firm was succeeded in 1861 and 1862 by Blacknall & Morris, and during these latter years W. H. Bowles became a partner, when the firm took the name of Blacknall, Morris & Co.
In June 1862, W. P. Ward bought out Bowles; and John R. Green in November bought out Morris and Blacknall, when the firm became Ward & Green. They were equal partners, and engaged in the manufacture of chewing and smoking tobacco. This firm held together until sometime in 1864, when, perhaps in March, Ward bought Green out. Their business had been, mostly, the manufacture of chewing tobacco. Ward continued it until November 1865, when he in turn sold out to Green.
Up to this time there was but one tobacco factory at Durham, which place was little more than a way station on the North Carolina railroad, twenty-six miles west of Raleigh. The "factory" had the appearance of a cow-house, the top of which was scarcely ten feet above the ground, while around it, within a distance of a few hundred yards were perhaps a dozen small dingy dwellings, a country store or two, a smithy, and, as may be supposed, a whisky shop. Such was Durham, nineteen years ago, and for some years later. A more dreary, inauspicious outlook--one less calculated to inspire the hope of future developments cannot be imagined.
The frequent mutations in the proprietorship of the sole Durham tobacco factory, up to the close of the war, as above recounted, can leave no doubt that the business was far from being prosperous or remunerative.
But it seems that in the spring of 1865, an incident befell the establishment, such as, in the ordinary course of human affairs, is accounted a great disaster, but which in this case turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and the source of the greatest good fortune. In April of that year, it will be remembered, at the close of the war, and after the suspension of hostilities, the two armies of General Sherman and General Joe Johnson were encamped around Durham station. Green, who was then the owner of the factory, had stored away in his ware-house many thousand pounds of the finest smoking tobacco, which is grown no where else in such perfection, as in that vicinity. It is not in the nature of soldiers, at such a time, with pay-day remote, to stand on ceremonies; and "not to put too fine a point upon it," they helped themselves bountifully to Green's tobacco. He had not at that time adopted the famous Trade Mark, and it is to be supposed that he had not arrived at the perfection in the manufacture which his successors have attained to; but the inherent virtues of the old Granville and Orange weed could not be mistaken, or confounded with the inferior products of other less favored regions of the earth. The opposing hosts lay encamped in the vicinity of Durham station only a few days, but long enough to become familiar with the locality, and with the name of the tobacconist whom they had so liberally patronized. They were soon mustered out of the service by the belligerents and returned to their respective homes; not doubtless, without a pipe-full or two, in their wallets, at any rate with a lively recollection of the fragrant Durham antidote to all the imaginary ills that flesh is heir to. The
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