r 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 University of North earoliaa. 
 
 Endowed by the Dialectic and Philan- 
 sthropic Societies. 
 
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THIS TITLE HAS BEEN MICROFILMED 
 
 This book must not 
 be taken from the 
 Library building. 
 
 ^orm No. 471 
 
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 ttmtmbvums 
 
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 tl|ts mpmortal 
 ia written 
 
Blacksburg-, S. C, 
 September 21, 1909. 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Armfield and Mrs. 
 E. M. Armfield, 
 
 High Point. N. C. 
 
 My Dear Friends : 
 
 In compliance with your request that I 
 prepare a memorial volume of your lament- 
 ed son and husband, I have sought to em- 
 body herein not only those facts of his life 
 well known in a general way to the public, 
 but also the generally unknown facts that 
 betoken the finer qualities of heart and 
 brain. Business activity was his conspicu- 
 ous characteristic to the larger world, but 
 in this memorial, which I here present, I seek 
 to emphasize those characteristics known 
 only to his inner circle and that endeared 
 him to them. In so doing I am but paying 
 just tribute to the memory of him whose 
 friendship I valued, and whose name is held 
 im high esteem by all who really knew 'him. 
 
 With great respect and personal esteem, 
 I am, 
 
 Very sincerely yours, 
 
 G. F. KIRBY. 
 
FORE WORD. 
 
 We A\'1io know the "Lig-ht of the World" 
 have a better faith Ihan heathen devotee or 
 ancient philosopher who die to live no more. 
 Men left to themselves can not pierce the 
 veil nor solve the mystery of life and death. 
 To ihim who can not perceive the divine 
 light that envelops the grave all is darkness 
 and chill-dread. For us the author of light 
 and life has robbed the grave of its victory 
 and death of its sting. The incarnate God 
 standing- forth in resurrected power and 
 glory proclaims man's immortality. 
 
 Whether in potter's field or rich mauso- 
 leum ; whether in fathomless ocean or 
 storied i-im ; whether sheltered by sculptur- 
 ed shaft or exposed to marauding beast, 
 the dust of prince and peasant is in the 
 keeping of him who holdeth all in the hol- 
 low of his hand. The dust of those we 
 love is not all that is left to us. The mem- 
 ory of their good deeds and loving pres- 
 ence remains with us as a sweet aroma un- 
 til our dust rests in the keeping- of earth's 
 bosom. The God who made us like himself 
 is pleased with the love that builds the 
 arch, that plants the flower, that inscribes 
 the word, that drops the tear in fond mem- 
 ory of the loved one gone before. 
 
ABOU BEN ADHEM. 
 
 Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) 
 Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, 
 And saw, within the moonlight in his room, 
 Making- it rich, and like a lily in full bloom. 
 An angel writing in a book of gold : 
 Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, 
 And to the presence in the room he said, 
 "What writest thou?" — The vision raised its 
 
 head, 
 And with a look made of all sweet accord. 
 Answer'd, "The names of those w'ho love the 
 
 Lord." 
 "And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not 
 
 so," 
 Replied the angel. Abou spoke low. 
 But cheerly still ; and said, "I pray thee, then. 
 Write me as one that loves his fellow men. 
 
 The angel wrote, and vanish'd. The next 
 
 night 
 It came again with a great wakening light. 
 And show'd the names whom love of < ii'd 
 
 had bless'd, 
 And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all tlu rest. 
 
Eugene Morehead Armfield was born in 
 Guilford County, North Carolina, September 
 twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and sixty- 
 nine at Saponaside, a country estate 
 belong-ing- to his father. Wyatt Jackson Arm- 
 field, the same being- a part of the orig-inal 
 grant of land to his ancestor, Joseph 
 Armfield, more than one hundred years 
 ago. Armfield is an honorable name 
 not in Guilford County alone, but in 
 other sections of the state as well. W. J., 
 the father of E. M. Armfield, is a man of 
 most sterling worth. In a long and success- 
 ful business career he has always been noted 
 as a man of transparent honesty ; and while 
 by industry and good business judgment he 
 has succeeded in building up a large fortune, 
 he has also preserved a character unspotted 
 in its integrity to bequeath to those of his 
 heart wlho may survive him. 
 
 Eugene was not less favored on his moth- 
 er's side. His maternal great, great grand- 
 father. Obed Britt, of Virginia, was of Eng- 
 lish-Welsh origin, but American in senti- 
 ment and in deeds. He threw himself whole- 
 heartedly on the side of the colonists during 
 the Revolution and served with loyalty and 
 distinction throughout the entire struggle. 
 During the earlier days of the Revolution 
 he was with Washington in the North, but 
 later came South under the command of 
 
General Greene, where he was engaged in a 
 number of battles. At Waxhaw, North Car- 
 olina, he received a wound from a sabre in 
 the hands of a British soldier of which he 
 was always proud. He was one of that gal- 
 lant army which so stubbornly opposed the 
 advance of the British at tihe battle of Guil- 
 ford Court House, and his was the pleasure 
 and privilege of witnessing the surrender of 
 Cornwallis at Yorktown. Soon after the 
 close of the War of the Revolution Obed 
 Britt was married to Miss Mary Smith, of 
 Goochland County, Virginia, and to them 
 were born two sons, Anderson and William, 
 who were the great grandfathers of Eugene 
 Armfield, for his grandfather, William O. 
 Britt, married his cousin, Miss Mary Britt, 
 daughter of William S. Britt. 
 
 Obed Britt, with :his two sons, Anderson 
 and William, moved from Virginia to Ten- 
 nessee in the year eighteen hundred 
 and eight, and amid the stirring 
 events of early Tennessee history these two 
 boys grew to manhood. They were engaged 
 in the Indian wars of that period, and were 
 with Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. 
 
 While the great, great grandfather and the 
 great grandfathers were distinguished in the 
 art of warfare, and served their country in 
 two great wars, fhe grandfather, William O. 
 Britt, was distinguished in the more peaceful 
 pursuits of life, he being the leading business 
 man in his section of the State of Tennessee. 
 
Mrs. Jennie Britt Armfield, mother of Eu- 
 gene Armfield, is a woman of rare qualities 
 of heart and head, together with some degree 
 of business sagacity inherited from her fa- 
 ther, which she in turn transmitted to (her 
 son. 
 
 In men, as well as in other animals, "blood 
 will tell," and with such a goodly heritage 
 in this respect, the remarkable career of 
 Eugene Armfield is not to be wondered at. 
 
 As a youth he was by nature fond of read- 
 ing and study, and made great progress in 
 the local schools and at Guilford College 
 before entering the University of North Car- 
 olina. It was the ambition of his youth and 
 early manhood to attain unto literary dis- 
 tinction, which ambition was nurtured in his 
 early years by favorable home sur- 
 roundings, and strengthened later by 
 contact with men of literary tastes 
 and attainments both at Guilford 
 College and at the University. He pos- 
 sessed discriminating literary taste, and has 
 always been, even when greatly engrossed in 
 business affairs, a lover of good literature ; 
 but the ambition of his youth was never at- 
 tained. Had he followed his early inclina- 
 tion for a literary career, there is no reason 
 to doubt tihat he would have achieved suc- 
 cess in this field of endeavor as he lid in his 
 chosen field of finance. Upon entering an- 
 other field of activity of course his pursuit 
 of literature became a secondary matter, but 
 
 10 
 
he never lost interest in intellectual work, 
 nor in the cause of education, and he contri- 
 buted to the advancement of the latter 
 cause both in money and in influence. 
 
 He had not the advantage of hig;h class 
 preparatory schools, yet he made such re- 
 markable progress that at the age of seven- 
 teen he entered the Junior class of the Uni- 
 versity of North Carolina, and graduated 
 two years later with the degree of Bachelor 
 of Arts. After his graduation, yielding to 
 the judgment of 'his father, he forsook his 
 literary inclination, and entered upon a busi- 
 ness career which in some respects has been 
 quite remarkable. A few months after his 
 graduation from the University ihe was elect- 
 ed Cashier of the First National Bank of 
 High Point, which position he held for 
 twenty years. He was quite young, it is 
 true, to be placed in so responsible a posi- 
 tion, but time proved that the Directors 
 made no mistake in their choice. He was 
 well equipped for this work, both througli 
 inheritance and in intellectual training, and 
 (he entered upon his work with that degree of 
 energy and enthusiasm that brought large 
 success to his institution. 
 
 His was an organizing genius and his vis- 
 ion of industry and commerce reached far 
 beyond the somewhat narrow confines of 
 High Point. First he desired to see his own 
 town prosper in material things, but with al- 
 most equal intensity he desired to see all 
 
 11 
 
other communities of his state prosper too. 
 His org-anizing- genius took shape in the or- 
 ganization, in other towns surrounding High 
 Point, of what is known as the Armfield 
 chain of banks, the location of which will 
 be noted later on in this sketch. Nor did 
 he stop at the establishment of these finan- 
 cial institutions, for he was a prime mover 
 in the organization of many manufacturing 
 and other enterprises that have largely 
 contributed to the material making of 
 High Point. He was ever ready to 
 bring the splendid resources of 'his bank 
 to the aid of any institution that was ''mak- 
 ing good." and he extended financial assist- 
 ance to many corporations and individuals 
 in time of great need. 
 
 So devoted was Mr. Armfield to his busi- 
 ness and so absorbed in it that he found 
 almost no time for things social, and remain- 
 ed a bachelor until he was thirty-seven years 
 of age. On the sixth dav of December, Nine- 
 teen hundred and six, he was married to 
 Miss Bessie Cecil, daug^hter of Rev. C. A, 
 Cecil, of Hig-h Point. 
 
 During his business career he was identified 
 with the following- industrial and financial 
 institutions : Stockholder and Director, High 
 Point Broom and Canning Company; Victor 
 Chair Company; High Point Metallic Bed 
 Company; Smith Furniture Company; High 
 Poit Trunk and Bag Company ; Rankin Cof- 
 fin and Casket Company; Lowe Trouser 
 
 12 
 
Company; Lindsay Chair Company; High 
 Point Overall Company. He was President 
 of the High Point Mantel and Table Com- 
 pany ; Grand Rapids Furniture Com- 
 pany; and Kearns Furniture Com- 
 pany. He was President of the 
 High Point Real Estate and Trust 
 Company ; Secretary and Treasurer South- 
 ern Live Stock Insurance Company; Peoples 
 Perpetual Building and Loan Association ; 
 Mechanics Perpetual Building and Loan As- 
 sociation ; Treasurer Carolina Life Insurance 
 Company and North Carolina Fire Insurance 
 Company, both of High Point; Director 
 Dixie Fire Insurance Company of Greens- 
 boro, North Carolina. He was Cashier of 
 First National Bank of High Point ; Presi- 
 dent Bank of Alamance, Graham, North Car- 
 olina, and also President Bank of Thomas- 
 ville; Vice-President Peoples Savings Bank 
 of Randleman, North Carolina. He was 
 stockholder and director of the following 
 banks: Bank of Montgomery, Troy, 
 North Carolina ; Bank of Raeford ; 
 Bank of Davie, Mocksville, North Car- 
 olina ; Merchants and Farmers Bank of Mar- 
 ion, Marion North Carolina ; Bank of Madi- 
 son, Madison, North Carolina; Bank of 
 Orange, Hillsboro. North Carolina; Com- 
 mercial and Farmers Bank of Greensboro, 
 North Carolina; American Exchange Bank, 
 of Greensboro; and Bank of Caswell, Milton, 
 North Carolina. All of these institutions 
 
 13 
 
profited both by his wise counsel and large 
 business connections South and East. 
 
 Successful as he was in the varied financial 
 and industrial enterprises he yet found time 
 to devote some attention to the cause of edu- 
 cation. He was a member of the Phi Gam- 
 ma Delta Fraternity while at college, and at 
 the time of his death he was a Trustee of 
 the University of North Carolina. His in- 
 terest in his Alma Mater and in the young 
 manhood of his state led him to endow the 
 Armfield Scholarship in that institution with 
 a gift of Six Thousand Dollars. He also 
 made substantial contributions to the "Gore 
 Memorial" Fund of the University of North 
 Carolina, to the State Normal College at 
 Greensboro, and to Elon College. Of all the 
 investments made by him none are so endur- 
 ing nor will ever bring in such valuable re- 
 turns as the gifts to the cause of education. 
 While he is dead his money thus invested is 
 ever active in helping each year to fields of 
 larger usefulness a half dozen or more 
 worthy young men and young women, Who, 
 without this, might never find an opportun- 
 ity for this preparation for life's work. He 
 was a member of the Board of School Com- 
 missioners of High Point at the time of his 
 death. His interest in the child life of our 
 state was manifest in ihis contributions to, 
 and active interest in, the North Carolina 
 Children's Home Society, being Secretary of 
 the organization. He was a member of the 
 
 14 
 
Modern Language Association of America. 
 The Pythian Knights and the Junior Order 
 of United American Mechanics numbered 
 him among their worthy members. 
 
 So conspicuous a figure in the financial, in- 
 dustrial and educational life of a state could 
 not pass from this life without stirring un- 
 usual interest and emotion far beyond the 
 confines of ihis own community, and the an- 
 nouncement of the death of Eugene M. Arm- 
 field brought sadness to the hearts of many 
 who felt the greatness of their loss; and 
 many distinguished men of the state, and a 
 great throng of High Point citizens who 
 knew and appreciated him, united in doing 
 honor to his name. 
 
 -o- 
 
 THE FUNERAL. 
 
 At ten o'clock on the morning of August 
 thirteenth, Nineteen hundred and eight, 
 the remains of Eugene Morehead 
 Armlield was conveyed from his home on 
 West Broad Street to the spacious auditor- 
 ium of the South Main Street Graded School 
 Building with a seating capacity of about 
 one thousand and which was filled to its 
 capacity. The active pall bearers were se- 
 lected from the ranks of the Junior Order i>f 
 United American Mechanics and were as fol- 
 lows: J. L. Sechrest, Robert Brockett. Dr. H. 
 C. Pitts, J. E. Kirkman, W. A. Ring, T H. 
 Spencer, J. L. Parrish and J. G. Leonard. 
 
 15 
 
The honorary pall bearers were : Dr. F. P. 
 Venable, President of the University of 
 North Carolina; F. C. Boyles, Cashier of the 
 Commercial National Bank of Greensboro, 
 North Carolina ; Neil Ellington, Presi- 
 dent of the Greensboro National Bank 
 
 of Greensboro, North Carolina ; Prof- 
 fessor N. C. English, of Trinity, North 
 
 Carolina; W. G. Ragsdale, of James- 
 town, North Carolina; J. D. Ross, of 
 Asheboro, North Carolina ; Prest. J. I. 
 Foust, of Greensboro Normal College; Prest. 
 W. T. Whitsett, Whitsett Institute, N. C. ; 
 J. G. Tomlinson, Troy, North Carolina; 
 J. O. Ragsdale, of Madison, North Carolina; 
 J. W. Lambeth and E. W. Gates, of Thom- 
 asville. North Carolina; and Dr. J. A. 
 Turner, Lee A. Briles, M. J. Wrenn, O. E. 
 Kearns, A. M. Rankin, N. W. Beeson, J. H. 
 Tate, W. Ray Newby, all of High Point. 
 
 16 
 
AT THE AUDITORIUM. 
 
 The beautiful floral offerings were banked 
 in front of the large platform and formed a 
 lovely background for the casket in which 
 lay all that was mortal of Eugene Armfield. 
 According to the request of the deceased, 
 the funeral services were conducted by Rev- 
 erend G. F. Kirby, of the Methodist church. 
 Mr. Kirby read scripture lessons from the 
 Ninety-first Psalm and from the Fifteenth 
 Chapter of First Corinthians, and announced 
 Reverend O. L. Powers, of the Baptist 
 Church, who prayed as follows : 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place 
 through all generations, before the moun- 
 tains were brought forth or ever Thou hadst 
 formed the earth or world, even from ever- 
 lasting to everlasting Thou art God. Thou 
 turnest man to destruction and sayest, Re- 
 turn ye children of men, for a thousand years 
 in Tlhy sight are but as yesterday when it is 
 passed and as a watch in the night. 
 
 Lord, we come today mindful of Thy 
 goodness and love. This to us is a myster- 
 ious and hard Providence ; and yet we come 
 not as the infidel or as those who would re- 
 bel and complain against Thee. We come 
 with bleeding- and broken hearts and with a 
 feeling that Thou doest all things well. 
 These things seem to be against us, but we 
 know that all things work together for good 
 to them that love God, to those who are 
 
 17 
 
called according to His purpose. We are 
 comforted in the thought that Thou art a 
 Father who loves better than any earthly- 
 parent and that these afflictions, which are 
 but for a moment, worketh out for us a far 
 more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 
 
 Our Father, we remember the aged father 
 and mother in our prayer. As they part to- 
 day at the grave help them to look to the 
 resurrection. May they be able to say with 
 thy servant of old, The Lord gave and the 
 Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name 
 of the Lord. 
 
 Remember the widow in her affliction and 
 loneliness, and be thou her companion and 
 comforter. Pour into her bleeding heart the 
 oil of Thy grace, and may it be sufficient for 
 her every need. May she be able to say, The 
 Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want ; yea, 
 though I walk through the valley of the 
 shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou 
 art with me ; Thy rod and Thy staiif they 
 comfort me. 
 
 Bless sisters and brothers. Speak to their 
 troubled hearts, and, in the absence of their 
 brother, come Thou great elder Brother and 
 fill his place. Shed the light of Thy wisdom 
 and love over this Providence that they may 
 see in it, God. 
 
 We pray for the unsaved, whether among 
 the loved ones or in this great company of 
 friends gathered here today to show their 
 sympathy and love for the deceased friend. 
 
 18 
 
O, God, speak Thou today to the thought- 
 less and careless, to the young and strong 
 and may Thy message be, Prepare to meet 
 thy God. 
 
 Again we pray t)hat Thy glory may come 
 out of this mysterious and sore Providence 
 and that men may honor Thee more. Bless 
 us and all the bereaved with Try presence 
 and companionship, we pray in Christ's 
 name, Amen. 
 
 After a solo, "One Sweetly Solemn 
 Thought," rendered by Mrs. G. F. Kirby, 
 Mr. Kirby spoke as follows : 
 
 Funeral Address. 
 
 Eugene Morehead Armfield was no ordi- 
 nary man. He was built after a large pattern ; 
 these statements being abundantly attested 
 by his achievements. At the age of thirty- 
 eight, w^hen most men are just beginning to 
 come into prominence, if prominent at all, 
 he had already accomplished in his chosen 
 field of activity, more than the larger part of 
 men accomplish during a long life period. 
 Coming to High Point a mere boy, not then 
 having reached his majority, just twenty 
 years ago, he has linked his name with a 
 large number of successful enterprises that 
 have done much toward making High Point 
 a prosperous city. A long list of manufac- 
 turing institutions owe their origin to him 
 while many more have received material as- 
 sistance through him in time of need. Be- 
 sides this he was financially interested in 
 more than a dozen banks situated in as many 
 towns in North Carolina, and was the mov- 
 ing spirit in the organization of most of 
 them. 
 
 In the early morn one hears the shriek of 
 
 19 
 
almost half a hundred whistles calling thou- 
 sands to remunerative labor, who after the 
 day is done return to their own homes, many 
 of which have been built through Eugene 
 Amfield's assistance, content and happy. If 
 these whistles could pronounce the name of 
 the man most responsible for t'heir pres- 
 ence here, it would be that of Eugene M. 
 Armfield. 
 
 His career has not been all prosperous ; 
 nor have his successes been scored as an 
 easy mark. He had his battles to fight, and 
 oftentimes they have been hard-fought bat- 
 tles. 
 
 He who sees only selfish, mercenary mo- 
 tives behind this remarkable business activ- 
 ity takes only a superficial view of the mat- 
 ter. Eugene Armfield's ambition was not to 
 build a great fortune, but great fortunes ; not 
 to enrich 'himself, but to enrich his home 
 town and the state that he loved ; and I feel 
 safe in sayine that no man in North Carolina 
 at the age of thirty-ei^ht has done so much 
 in this direction as he. There are men here 
 who owe their start in life to him. The town 
 and state are larger and better and more 
 prosperous because of his ambition, and his 
 brain, and his guiding hand. I believe he 
 would have been supremely happy could he 
 'have been instrumental in enriching every 
 friend whom he loved. If I be correct in my 
 contention as to the cause of his consuming 
 business activity, then certainly his labors 
 
 20 
 
were directed toward worthy, yea noble 
 ends. 
 
 Honest ! No man ever doubted his ihon- 
 esty. During- the latter days of last year we 
 had a long, heart-open conversation to- 
 gether. During the course of this conver- 
 sation I expressed to him my sorrow because 
 of some recent business reverses which he 
 had suffered. He turned to me and said, 
 "Yes, Kirby, it is hard, but I can say, as 
 one said many centuries ago," referring to 
 Job, "I have kept mine integrity;" and I 
 knew he had. He may ihave erred in judg- 
 ment, but his hand never closed upon an- 
 other man's dollar. 
 
 He did not pursue money for money's 
 sake, but for the sake of turning the wheels 
 of progress. He was a philanthropist of 
 the truest type. There was no sounding of 
 trumpets before him as he dispensed his 
 gifts great or small. One who was much 
 with him told me that never a beggar stood 
 before the wicket of his bank and turned 
 away empty-handed. Nor did he question 
 whv the need, but rather does my fellow man 
 need, and does he need now. 
 
 Just outside of his cashier's wicket was a 
 little cradle-bank bearing the picture of a 
 little babe with outstretched hands, the 
 property of the North Carolina Children's 
 Home Society, of whidh he was a member. 
 There it sat mutely appealing to all comers 
 for help. For a long time, before I learned 
 
 21 
 
to know him, I didn't think he cared about 
 what went into the bank, but he did. At 
 first, I did not think he cared for the young 
 men of North Carolina, but he did to the 
 extent of six thousand dollar to establish an 
 endowment fund for six scholarsihips at the 
 University of North Carolina. At first, I 
 thought that he cared nothing for the young 
 womanhood of North Carolina, but he did 
 to the extent of a scholarship mantained 
 for a number of years at the State Normal 
 and Industrial College for Women at Greens- 
 boro. And just here, I wisih to read some 
 letters that have come into my possession 
 since the death of my friend: 
 
 Chapel Hill, N. C, July 20, 1908. 
 Mr. Eugene M. Armfield, 
 High Point, N. C. 
 My dear sir — Please accept the thanks of 
 the committee for your contribution to the 
 Gore Memorial and for the kind expression 
 of commendation of Prof. Gore's services. 
 With best wishes, I am, 
 
 Very sincerely, 
 (Signed) LOUIS R. WILSON. 
 
 Elon College, N. C June, 22, 1908. 
 Mr. E. M. Armfield, 
 High Point, N. C. 
 My dear Mr. Armfield — I wish to thank 
 you for the two-thundred-fifty dollar sub- 
 scription made sometime ago to Elon Col- 
 lege. I assure you that this kindness on 
 your part is greatly appreciated, and the 
 "investment" will bring in good returns, 
 even in these hard times. 
 
 Cordially yours, 
 (Signed) E. L. MOFFIT, 
 
 President. 
 
 22 
 
Chapel Hill, N. C, July 24, 1908. 
 Mr. E. M. Armfield, 
 High Point, N. C. 
 Dear Mr. Armfield — I find of the men who 
 held your scholarships last year Mr. B. L. 
 Banks, Jr., Mr. J. B. Coghill. Mr. S. Single- 
 tary, Mr. J. B. Davis and Mr. J. W. Speas, 
 graduated in June, the latter at the head of 
 his class. He holds an assistant's place in 
 Latin for t^he coming year. I am glad that 
 these men all made such good records. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 (Signed) FRANCIS P. VENABLE. 
 
 Thus, 'through his beneficence Eugene 
 Armfield helped and will continue to help 
 to create a better citizenship in North Caro- 
 lina. I thought he cared little for preachers, 
 but on one occasion the officers of a little 
 mission church at the close of its fiscal 
 year lacked twenty dollars of paying up 
 their pastor in full ; one of these officers 
 stood before his cashier's wicket, and said, 
 "Mr. Armfield, we lack twenty dollars of 
 paying up our preacher, can't you help us 
 a little?" His reply was, "Willie, would 
 you feel good if you had it all in hand?" and 
 forthwith he handed him a check (ov the 
 twenty dollars ; and I was the preacher who 
 endorsed that check. I didn't know that he 
 cared for churches, but once a preacher of a 
 mission church wanted to enlarge his church 
 to meet the growing needs of his congre- 
 gation and was trying to raise four thou- 
 sand dollars. He had many subscriptions, 
 among them several for one hundred dollars. 
 
 23 
 
He showed the list to his friend Armfield 
 and acquainted him with his plans and pur- 
 poses. Mr. Armfield said, "I would like to 
 give you more than any one has subscribed, 
 but if you think it will make any one who 
 has subscribed less feel bad, just put me 
 down for one hundred dollars with the un- 
 derstanding that when you call on me for it, 
 it shall be two hundred and fifty dollars." 
 He sounded no trumpet before himself. 
 
 Up to the time of his last illness, at least, 
 he did not profess to be a Christian of the 
 orthodox type, but somehow in connection 
 with the foregoing facts, my mind calls up 
 that part of the Twenty-fifth Chapter of 
 Matthew where Christ represents himself as 
 saying to a part of the assembled hosts at 
 the final day of judgment, "Come, ye blessed 
 of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared 
 for you from the foundation of the world ; 
 for I was an hungered and ye gave me meat. 
 I was thirsty and ye gave me drink ; I was 
 a stranger and ye took me in, naked and ye 
 clothed me; I was sick and ye visited me; 
 I was in prison and ye came unto me." And 
 when the Master was asked, When saw we 
 thee in such condition and ministered unto 
 Thee? He replied, "Inasmuch as ye have 
 done it unto one of the least of these my 
 brethren, ye have done it unto me." At the 
 right hand of the Master some will stand to 
 testify, saying, Eugene Armfield clothed me, 
 
 24 
 
fed nie, educated me ; and I am not sure 
 that the good God stands much on ortho- 
 doxy 
 
 What I have said about my friend is all 
 good. The bad we leave unsaid forever. Hig 
 sins were as open as most men's virtues 
 are, but they go unrecorded for all time. 
 
 We know that toward the end he must 
 have been feeling after the God he knew 
 when a fifteen-year-old boy. A few days 
 before leaving ihis office for the last time he 
 asked ihis stenographer to take these lines ; 
 whether his own or another's I do not know ; 
 if another's the sentiment had become his 
 own: 
 
 "When we drift away from the light of day, 
 
 Like drift on a drifting stream, 
 Shall we live again? 
 
 What matters it then if we sleep and have 
 no dream, 
 For life is trouble and life is care, 
 
 With more of gloom than gleam. 
 So when we drift away from fhe light of day. 
 
 Let us plead and pray that sleep shall have 
 no dream." 
 
 And again just before leaving his office 
 for the last time, he said to his stenographer, 
 "I'll not get well, I'll not return to my work. 
 Pray for me," and quoted to her the last 
 lines of "The Choir Invisible": 
 
 May I reach 
 That purest heaven, be to other souls 
 The cup of strength in some great agony : 
 Enkindle generous ardor, feed pure love, 
 Beget tihe smiles that have no cruelty; 
 Be the sweet presence of a good diffused, 
 And in diffusion ever more intense; 
 So shall I join the choir invisible 
 Whose music is the gladness of the world."' 
 
 25 
 
The Interment. 
 
 At the cemetery The Junior Order of 
 United American Mechanics was master 
 of ceremonies, and the body was laid away 
 in the family mausoleum with their beauti- 
 ful ritual service. In the confines of this 
 city of the dead all is solemn hush but in 
 the near by city the shriek of whistle, the 
 hum of machinery, the tread of busy feet, 
 all bear witness to the energy and power 
 and impetus given by his master hand and 
 brain. From the fret and worry and turmoil 
 and strife of life thou are free. Till the 
 trump of God calls thee forth, rest ye. 
 
 26 
 
TRIBUTES. 
 
 The newspapers of his city and county 
 and state, and many friends in private cor- 
 respondence united in beautiful expressions 
 of sympathy and appreciation, thus giving 
 some degree of comfort to those whosie 
 hearts are sad. 
 
 Death of Leading High Point Citizen. 
 
 (Special to Charlotte Observer.) 
 High Point, Aug. 12. — Mr. Eugene More- 
 head Armfield died last night at his home on 
 Broad street at 8.15 o'clock after an illness 
 of two weeks from a serious liver trouble. 
 Mr. Armfield was in a critical condition 
 from the day he was taken to his bed. 
 
 Eugene Armfield was a man of 
 many good qualities and many acts of kind- 
 ness, mamy noble deeds of heart and hand, 
 of which the world knew little, have been 
 done by him. He was reserved in his ways 
 and did not attempt at show and there are 
 many who will read these lines who will 
 reflect and Jay a wreath of love and remem- 
 brance upon his bier today. The writer has 
 known Mr. Armfield for twenty years arnd 
 during that time recalls several instances 
 when he displayed that inner feeling of 
 brotherly love to his fellow man in a true 
 sense. No trumpets proclaimed the deed 
 but the hand and heart acted in response to 
 the nature within. Mr. Armfield was a 
 learned man. a brainy man in many respects. 
 He was well up on literature and the arts 
 and was a iteacher to the pupil on most any 
 question one may ask in ancient or modern 
 history or matters of moment. 
 
 He died in the prime of his life, 39 years 
 of age, and his untimely end causes the dark 
 shadows of sorrow to fall across the hearth- 
 
 27 
 
stone and reflect their sombre shadows over 
 city and state where he has many friends. 
 
 (Southern Furniture Journal.) 
 
 In the death of Eugene Morehead Arm- 
 field the city of High Point sustained the 
 loss of a citizen who figured most promin- 
 ently in its upbuilding. He> more than any 
 other man, assisted, with his ability and 
 capital, the development of this southern 
 furniture center. In his position as banker 
 (tie did everything in his power for the ad- 
 vancement of the furniture industry and 
 other enterprises that make this a com- 
 manding manufacturing center. He was in- 
 valuable not alone with money liberality, 
 but with level-headed advice and unfalter- 
 ing encouragement. Mr. Armfield was a 
 man of splendid intellectual endowment, a 
 brilliant North Carolina University graduate 
 and a man of unusual public spirit and great 
 capacity as an organizer. He was always 
 a warm friend of the Southern Furniture 
 Journal, and we esteemed him highly, and 
 deeply mourn his death. 
 
 "Gene" Armfield Dead. 
 
 (From Fairbrother's Everything.) 
 
 It was sad news to his many friends, the 
 announcement that "Gene" Armfield of 
 High Point had gone to the other side. 
 For some time 'his death was expected, 
 but when it came a few days ago, many peo- 
 ple were distressed. E. M. Armfield had for 
 twenty years been a forceful character in the 
 state of North Carolina ; he was yet this 
 side of forty, but he had done many things 
 in the financial world which excited favor- 
 able comment. 
 
 28 
 
Apart from his industrial enterprises and 
 banking institutions he was a man who saw 
 other things and had a 'humane side, lie 
 gave at one time $6,000 as an endowment 
 fund for the Library of English Philology of 
 the University of North Carolina, his Alma 
 Mater, He was also a trustee of that insti- 
 tution of learning and Secretary of the North 
 Carolina Children's Home Society — a most 
 worthy organization. 
 
 "Gene" xA.rmfield had his friends — staunch 
 and true, and like all positive characters had 
 his enemies who inspired him to do greater 
 things than he might otherwise have done. 
 Being human he had his weakness as other 
 human beings have had — but not all, he was 
 a friend of the distressed ; he was big-hearted 
 and charitable even to tihose not charitable 
 to him. The world is richer, because he 
 lived in it, and his friends will long regret 
 his departure. 
 
 THE STORY OF A FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 William Thornton Whitsett. 
 
 Eugene Morehead Armfield was one of the 
 most alert and eager students who gathered 
 upon the classic grounds of the University 
 of North Carolina at the opening of the col- 
 lege year in 1886. He had been in a most 
 excellent school for some years and was 
 w^ell prepared to enter the Junior Class at 
 the University. He was social, kind, and 
 cordial in disposition. i.nd broad and demo- 
 cratic in his ideas, and easily made friends 
 among both teachers and students. Al- 
 though he and I were both from Guilford 
 County we had never met before, but within 
 a few hours after our arrival upon the Hill 
 
 29 
 
we were acquainted and a friendship began 
 that continued without interruption until his 
 untimely death. In many of the relations of 
 college life we were thrown together inti- 
 mately, and he is connected with many of 
 the scenes and incidents that go to make the 
 story of our college days. 
 
 His preparation for tihe University had 
 been well done, and so he was not forced to 
 struggle with his lessons as many were ; 
 however, he was regarded as a good student 
 and was faithful to his class duties, seldom 
 absent from any recitations, and always 
 anxious to take a good stand in his work. He 
 read much, and was fond of the better side 
 of social life, and seemed to prefer this to 
 taking the highest rank as a student, as he 
 might have done, had he dhosen to pay the 
 price in toil and effort. His inclinations 
 seemed to be along the line of literar-" nur- 
 suits, and most of his college friends were 
 impressed with his love for literature, and 
 his disposition to praise the leaders in the 
 world of letters. He was even then debat- 
 ing in his mind as to whether he should join 
 the ranks of those who strive for gold, or 
 that lesser number who move the race 
 through achievements in fields of mental en- 
 deavor. This was a long battle with him, 
 and although he finally, after graduation, be- 
 came a leader in '^is chosen field of business 
 efi^ort, still he never fully lost this early in- 
 clinatic a to "follow knowledg-e like a sinking 
 star, beyond the utmost bound of Ihuman 
 thought." Even after graduation in 1888 he 
 seriously considered a trip abroad and a stav 
 of some time in Athens to indulge his taste 
 for classic art and Grecian literature, but 
 finally abandoned this thoup^ht +0 turn with 
 all his strong, -oung manhood to the pro- 
 
 30 
 
blems of finance and of business. lie often 
 discussed the influence of lite/ature, and had 
 a keen appreciation of what was best in 
 both English and American Hterature ; while 
 ihis attainments in the classics gave him an 
 insight into the treasures of past times. 
 
 We joined the Dialectic Literary Society 
 together, and the noble and unselfish nature 
 of Eugene Armfield was .never better shown 
 than in ihis frequent efforts to have his 
 friends chosen for the honors ofifered by the 
 society. Many who were members in those 
 days will recall some of the struggles over 
 society /honors, and, doubtless, none of the 
 boys of the days of '88 have yet forgotten 
 the unusual contest over the electio^n of rep- 
 resentatives that year, resulting for the first 
 time in the history of the University in the 
 selection of four instead of three men, and 
 no small part of this was due to the fact 
 that Eugene Armfield had determined to 
 have two of his friends as speakers that 
 year. In "college politics" 'he was a quiet 
 though powerful force. 
 
 When the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity 
 was re-established in the University young 
 Armfield was selected as one of the charter 
 members, and never did Phi Gamma have a 
 more loyal friend than he. On every i)roper 
 occasion he delighted to uphold her ])anncrs, 
 and was always ready witih voice or purse 
 to advance her interests. How the mind de- 
 lights to turn again to those happy days of 
 youthful dreams ! The fraternity hall each 
 week saw a happy gathering of congenial 
 spirits Paul Chatham, Henry D. Ledbetter. 
 Daniel J. Currie, and others now well known 
 in the life of the State, and we never met 
 
 3X 
 
but that Armfield was one of the most in- 
 terested "frats" of the entire gathering. 
 
 He was popular with the faculty, and was 
 careful to throw the weight of his influence 
 on the side of good order, and obedience to 
 regulations ; and so throughout his entire 
 college course he preserved his standing as 
 a good and faithful University man. 
 
 In June, 1888 he graduated and soon after 
 this entered upon his career as a banker to 
 which he devoted his life. He was success- 
 ful beyond most men of his age, and rapidly 
 rose in the confidence of the business world. 
 I met him from time to time each year after 
 leaving the University when he did, but was 
 never again thrown with him for the same 
 close personal contact that prevailed during 
 our college days. Serving together on the 
 Board of Trustees of the University he was 
 always a helpful member, andihis advice was 
 often taken upon matters that came before 
 that body. I recall many occasions when his 
 ideas as to fi.nancial matters were finally ac- 
 cepted, and he was generally regarded as 
 safe and sane upon matters of policy and fin- 
 ance that came before that body. 
 
 He was one of the earliest friends and or- 
 ganizers of the North Carolina Children's 
 Home Society and he often spoke of the 
 field that this and other like organizations 
 occupied, showing his interest in the unfor- 
 tunate and outcast. 
 
 As a good busneiss man he was prudent 
 and seemingly careful, but it was generally 
 understood by all his friends that no worthy 
 cause would be overlooked in its hour of 
 need if the attention of Eugene Armfield was 
 called to it. 
 
 32 
 
He often felt, like most men of capacity, 
 that he had failed in the exercise of his \a.T^- 
 est possible capacity for usefulness, and in 
 his conversation there was often a tinge of 
 sadness in that he had not done all he might 
 have done in life. His davs were not free 
 from mistakes and errors ; but those who 
 knew him best always felt that in mental 
 grasp and wide sympathy with many lines 
 of life Eugene Armfield was one of the 
 strong men of his time. 
 
 His Alma Mater, the University of North 
 Carolina, was ever dear to his heart ; and 
 his gifts to establislli better work in the de- 
 partment of English came at a time that the 
 University was greatly helped. He would 
 have done much more along this line if he 
 had lived. 
 
 As I write these lines in his memory my 
 every thought goes back to the days of boy- 
 hood! Eugene died long before his time. 
 
 "For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime. 
 Young Lycidas." 
 
 Again I recall him, as I often saw him, 
 mingling with affectionate consideration 
 among the members of his cultured family. I 
 see him at Saponaside, his father's country 
 home upon the banks of Deep River, nestling 
 amid its stately trees and evergreens, Eu- 
 gene the first born of the family, the pride 
 of his parents, one of 'he leaders in a home 
 life that was all that wealth and culture 
 could make it. He loved his dear ones at 
 home, and I have often heard him speak 
 with a tenderness of his father and mcUhcr 
 that could have come o.nly from a heart 
 filled with affectionate regard. 
 
 As I have said I did not keep in close 
 touch with my friend during the later years 
 
 33 
 
of his life, and know nothing of the details 
 that crowded his days during the years im- 
 mediately preceding his death. But my 
 mind loves to dwell upon the scenes of his 
 earlier days. His graduation ; the gift from 
 his parents of an elegant watch; his earlier 
 successes in business ; the day when life 
 held for him much of its charm and ro- 
 mance ; when castles were being builded be- 
 yond the hills of the-days-to-be ; these, and 
 a thousand other scenes come before me. If 
 my friend ever found the years to break 
 faith with his earlier dreams, still I delight 
 to think that he had these dreams ; bright, 
 vivid, and amid all the dross of days, I 
 still believe undying in brigthtness. 
 
 "Wben dreamy youth departs 
 
 It steals something from our hearts, 
 
 And it never comes again." 
 
 His grasp upon his friends was never bet- 
 ter shown than on the day of his burial. 
 The spacious hall of the largest auditorium 
 in his native city scarce could hold the 
 crowd that came to pay a last sad tribute 
 to his memory. The President of the Uni- 
 versity, the President of the State Normal 
 College, leading teachers, ministers, editors, 
 and business men from various sections, all 
 were gathered to testify that they in some 
 measure had been influenced or helped by 
 Eugene Armfield's life, or because of some 
 good deed of his had come to pay a last 
 tribute to his memory. 
 
 His generous heart is still forever, and 
 near the scene of his life's activities he now 
 rests in the silence of the City of the Dead. 
 In the name of a friendsihip that was un- 
 broken for twenty years I lay this humble 
 tribute upon his tomb. 
 
 34 
 
IN MEMORIAM. 
 (A. A. Young.) 
 
 There is no death — 'tis but a long-, last sleep 
 In preparation for an endless life. Why 
 
 weep? 
 Their sorrow's o'er, no more their burdens 
 
 bear; 
 They're waiting now for us. They vigil 
 
 keep. 
 There is ^no death — naught in this world 
 
 e'er dies. 
 Men live again in happier homes beyond 
 
 the skies. 
 Waiting the Judgment Day. When all shall 
 
 know 
 Their friends once more whom they have 
 
 left below, 
 But who will meet them when the dead 
 
 shall rise. 
 There is no death — in Paradise there'll be 
 Nothing but joy and peace. Then when 
 
 eternity 
 Shall daw:n, and the Great Judge shall come 
 To call the ransomed sinners to their home ; 
 We'll know there is no death — 'tis the soul's 
 
 liberty. 
 
 36 
 
RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 (Kearns Furniture Company.) 
 
 The following resolutions were adopted by 
 the board of directors of the Kearns Furni- 
 ture Company at a meeting held August 
 25th, 1908. 
 
 Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly 
 Father in his infinite wisdom to remove 
 from our midst our president, E. M. Arm- 
 field, therefore be it 
 
 Resolved. First, That while we bow in 
 'humble submissoin to the wise and unerring 
 dispensation of Providence, yet in the death 
 of E. M. Armfield, the directors have lost a 
 most valuable and efficient member and the 
 company a wise and capable president. 
 
 Resolved, Second. That the company deep- 
 ly deplores its loss and extends to the be- 
 reaved family and relatives its deepest sym_ 
 pathy. 
 
 Resolved, Third, That these resolutions 
 be spread upon the minutes of the com- 
 pany, a copy furnis'hed the family of the de- 
 ceased, and the High Point Enterprise for 
 publication. 
 
 G. A. Matton, 
 G. H. Kearns, 
 W. C. Jones. 
 
 (Bank of Randolph.) 
 Asheboro, N. C, Jan. 14, 1909. 
 Mrs. Bessie Armfield, 
 
 High Point. N. C. 
 Dear Madam : 
 
 At the annual meeting of the stockhold- 
 ers of the Bank of Randolph, the following 
 
 36 
 
resolutions were unanimously adopted : 
 
 Whereas, since our last annual meeting, 
 an All-Wise Providence has seen fit to re- 
 move from among us Eugene M. Armfield, 
 a shareholder and director in this bank since 
 its organizatioin; and, whereas, we desire to 
 express our appreciation of his efforts in 
 Ihelping to start this institution, and his 
 continuous interest and zeal for its success, 
 as well as our appreciation of him as a 
 prominent citizen of our State. 
 
 Resolved, First, Tihat in his death, in the 
 zenith of his usefulness, this bank has lost 
 a valuable member and director, each mem- 
 ber a true and loyal friend, and the State a 
 brig'ht and noble son. 
 
 Resolved, Second, That these resolutions 
 be spread upon the minutes and that copies 
 be sent to his family and to the Courier and 
 Bulletin and Higth Point Enterprise for pub. 
 lication. 
 
 T. H. Redding, Secretary. 
 
 (Peoples Savings Loan and Trust Co.) 
 
 Whereas, death has visited and removed 
 president, Eugene M. Armfield, therefore 
 be it 
 
 Resolved, by tlie officers and board of di- 
 rectors of the Peoples Savings Loan and 
 Trust Co., of Randleman, N. C, that as a 
 tribute of respect we close the bank during 
 business hours August 12th. That wc great- 
 ly deplore 'his untimely death, having recog- 
 nized him as one of the State's leading busi- 
 ness men. We cherish ihis memory. That 
 a copy of tihese resolutions be sent his bo- 
 
 37 
 
reaved family, High Point Enterprise, and 
 a copy be spread upon the minutes of this 
 institution. 
 
 JOHN J. NEWLIN, 
 
 Presideinit. 
 Wm. H. PICKARD, 
 
 Cashier. 
 
 (North Carolina Savings Bank & Trust Co.) 
 
 At a called meeting- of the Board of Di- 
 rectors of the North Carolina Savings Bank 
 and Trust Co., held August 13th, 1908, a 
 committee was appointed to draft resolu- 
 tions on account of the death of E. M. Arm- 
 field. 
 
 The committee reported the following, 
 which were unanimously adopted by the 
 board : 
 
 Whereas, it has pleased an All-Wise Pro- 
 vidence to remove from us by death E. M. 
 Armfield, a member of this body. 
 
 Therefore, be it resolved that in his death 
 this board has lost a faithful co-laborer and 
 wise counselor, the city of High Point a 
 citizen whose loyalty and devotion to her 
 financial and manufacturing interests has 
 been conspicuously intense and unselfish, 
 the State of North Carolina one of her most 
 patriotic soins, the cause of education a 
 strenuous supporter, and the unfortunate a 
 friend of unostentatious and wholehearted 
 liberality. 
 
 Resolved further; That a copy of these 
 resolutions be spread upon our minutes, 
 published in our city paper, and a copy be 
 sent to the family of the deceased. 
 S. L. DAVIS, 
 P. H. JOHNSON, 
 L. M. H. REYNOLDS, 
 Committee. 
 
(Chamber of Commerce) 
 
 At a meeting of the directors of ithc* 
 Chamber of Commerce. Tuesday evening, 
 Avigiist 1 8, the following resolutions were 
 presented by the committee and unani- 
 mously adopted : 
 
 Whereas, the Almighty Fatlier in his in- 
 finite wisdom, has taken from us Eugene 
 Morehead Armfield, a loyal and valuable 
 member of this organization, 
 
 Be is resolved, That in 'his death this or- 
 ganization has lost a valuable member, its 
 members a lovable companion, High Point 
 and Guilford County a public spirited citi- 
 zen, and North Carolina one of her most pa- 
 triotic sons ; 
 
 That in him mankind 'had a friend and 
 heilper, the cause of education a wise coun- 
 selor and philanthropist, the finances of 
 this community a rock of safety, and our in- 
 dustrial and mercantile institutions a con- 
 stant source of encouragement. 
 
 That a copy of these resolutions be pub- 
 lished in the High Point Enterprise, and a 
 copy be furnished Mrs. E. M. Armfield. 
 
 O. E. Kearns, 
 Robt. Brockett, 
 Thos. J. Gold, 
 
 Committee. 
 
 (North Carolina Fire Insurance Company.) 
 
 At a meeting of the board of directors of 
 the North Carolina Fire Insurance Com- 
 pany held in the office of said company in 
 High Point, August i8th, 1908, and a com- 
 mittee being appointed to draft certain reso- 
 lutions relating to the death of Eugene M. 
 Armfield, secretary and treasurer of said 
 
 3a 
 
company, the following resolutions were 
 drafted by said committee : 
 
 Whereas, Our Heavenly Father in His 
 wisdom, has removed from our midst our 
 very efficient secretary and treasurer, Eu- 
 gene M. Armfield, one to whom we could al- 
 ways look for counsel in time of need. 
 Now therefore be it 
 
 Resolved, That in the death of our es- 
 teemed brother this committee has lost a 
 valuable counselor and a lovable companion, 
 and the North Carolina Fire Insurance 
 Company it's originator. 
 
 That in him all men found a friend and 
 helper. Having a broad mind he was in- 
 terested in many lines of business, with 
 seeminglv, but one object, the betterment of 
 mankind, the helping of others. Though we 
 miss him, we hope our loss is his eternal 
 gain. 
 
 That a copy of these resolutions be pub- 
 lished in the High Point Enterprise and a 
 copy furnished the family, and the wife of 
 said deceased and the resolutions be spread 
 upon the minutes of said company. 
 
 W. N. ELDER, 
 J. M. MORRIS, 
 
 Committee. 
 
 (Guilford Council Junior Order of United 
 American Mechanics.) 
 
 The following resolutions were adopted 
 by Guilford Council No. 23, Jr. O. U. A. M., 
 August 14, 1908: 
 
 "Whereas, it has pleased our gracious 
 Heavenly Father in His infinite and unerr- 
 ing- wisdom, to remove from our midst our 
 
 40 
 
brother. E. M. Armfield, member of Guil- 
 ford Council, No. 23, therefore be it 
 
 Resolved, First, That while we bow in 
 humble submission to the wise dispensation 
 of an over-ruling- Providence in the death 
 of E. M. Armfield, the Council loses a good 
 member, and the County and State a good 
 and valuable citizen. 
 
 Second, That this Council deeply deplores 
 its loss and extends its deepest sympathy 
 to the bereaved family and relatives. 
 
 Third, That these resolutions be spread 
 upon the minutes of our Council, a copy 
 furnished the High Point Enterprise and 
 The Watchman for publication, and also 
 given the family of the deceased. 
 
 Fourth, That the charter of our Council 
 de draped for a period of thirty days. 
 
 D. C. ALDRIDGE, 
 T. H. SPENCER, 
 J. E. KIRKMAN, 
 
 Committee. 
 
 (Bank of Thomasville.) 
 
 At the annual meeting of the stockholders 
 of the Bank of Thomasville, the following 
 resolutions were unanimously adopted : 
 
 Whereas, Almighty God has seen fit to re- 
 move from us, since our last annual meet- 
 ing, Eugene Morehead Armfield, founder, 
 president and director of this bank since its 
 organization, and whereas, in his loss we 
 desire to express our great appreciation of 
 all the efiforts he put forth in helping to 
 start this institution and making it attain 
 the wonderful success it has, and is having. 
 his untiring interest and zeal for its 
 welfare, we desire to express our sin- 
 cere appreciation of him as one of the 
 
 41 
 
brightest, and one of the most prominent cit- 
 izens cur State has produced. As a financier 
 he had no superior, and his judgment could 
 always be relied upon. To enumerate all 
 that he did to advance the business interests 
 of this State would require a volume ; it 
 sufficeth to say he did all he could do to aid 
 in every legitimate way in the development 
 of the commercial interests of the State. 
 
 Resolved, That this Bank has lost a val- 
 uable officer, by his death, just in the prime 
 of life, every stockholder in this bank a 
 true and loyal friend, and the entire State 
 one of its most intelligent, useful and prom- 
 ising sons. 
 
 Resolved, that these resolutions be placed 
 oini the minutes of this bank, that copies be 
 sent to the bereaved family, and a copy be 
 sent to the newspapers for publication. 
 S. H. AVERETT, 
 CHAS. R. THOMAS, 
 
 Committee. 
 
 (Bank of Montgomery.) 
 At the annual meeting of the stockholders 
 and directors of the Bank of Montgomery, 
 Troy. N. C, held on the 15th day of January, 
 1909, a committee of two, to-wit : Mr. A. W. 
 E. Capel and Chas. A. Armstrong, was ap- 
 pointed to draft suitable resolutions of re- 
 spect to the memory of E. M. Armfield, de- 
 ceased. 
 
 Whereas, It has pleased the Supremej 
 Ruler of the Universe to remove from us 
 our esteemed and beloved friend, E. M. 
 Armfield, who was a stockholder and direc- 
 tor in this bank, and who departed this life 
 on the nth day of August, 1908, and 
 
 Whereas, It is our desire to add a tribute 
 of respect to the memory of our deceased 
 
 42 
 
friend and business associate, therefore, be 
 it resolved : 
 
 First, That in the death of E. M. Armfield, 
 the State, and particularly the community 
 in which he lived, lost a splendid, high- 
 minded, public-spirited, and benevolent 
 citizen ; one who exemplified in his daily life 
 the principles which we all hold so sacred: 
 friendship, charity, benevolence and busi- 
 ness emterprise ; and while the untimely 
 death of this splendid citizen has filled our 
 hearts with grief and sorrow, we bow in 
 humble submissoin to Him, "who doeth all 
 things well." 
 
 Second, That we tender the sorrowing 
 father and mother, wife, brothers and sis- 
 ters, and other relatives our deepest sympa- 
 thy; and realizing how inadequate words 
 are to heal afflictions like this, we point 
 them to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe 
 for the consolation which we cannot give. 
 
 Third, That these resolutions be spread 
 on the minutes of the Bank of Montgomery 
 and a copy of the same b? sent to the father 
 and mother, wife, brothers and sisters of the 
 deceased. 
 
 A. W. E. CAPEL, 
 CHAS. A. ARMSTRONG. 
 Committee. 
 
 Resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the 
 University of North Carolina on the 
 Death of Eugene Morehead Armfield. 
 The trustees wish to place om record their 
 sense of loss at the death of Eugene More- 
 head Armfield and their appreciation of his 
 services. 
 
 He was an alumnus of the Universtiy of 
 North Carolina of the class of 1888 and for 
 seven years a member of this body. Dur- 
 
 43 
 
ing this time he has been faithful in attend- 
 ance upon his duties and helpful in counsel. 
 Two years ago the legislature renewed his 
 appointment upon the board. 
 
 In 1903 he was appointed by the Governor 
 a member of the Visiting Committee and 
 discharged efficiently and well the duties 
 connected with the position. 
 
 I He has always been a loyal and devoted 
 son of the Universitv, and the Trustees 
 would express again their appreciation of 
 his generous gift to the library in endowing 
 the section of English Philology. 
 Therefore be it resolved: 
 First, That in the death of Eugene M. 
 Armfield the Board of Trustees and the 
 Universtiy have suffered the loss of a help- 
 ful counselor and a faithful friend. 
 
 Second, That Ihe Trustees tender to his 
 wife and family their sincere sympathy in 
 their bereavement. 
 
 Third, That this Memorial be spread upon 
 the minutes and that a copy be sent to his 
 family. R. T. GRAY, 
 
 JOSEPHUS DANIELS. 
 
 Resolutions of the Faculty of the Univer- 
 sity of North Carolina. 
 
 The death of Mr. Eugene Morehead Arm- 
 field on August II, 1908, was felt by the 
 faculty of the University as the loss not 
 oinly of a friend and co-worker but of one 
 whose efficient loyalty has meant a perma- 
 nent enrichment to the life of his alma 
 mater. 
 
 In his benefactions to the Universtiy Li- 
 brary Mr. Armfield proved himself an ex- 
 emplar of that method of beneficence by 
 which an institution can be most wisely and 
 
 44 
 
most efficiently served. While still living 
 he gave an adequate sum for the endow- 
 ment of a particular department of the Uni- 
 versity and he lived to see his example be- 
 come the basic idea for the increasing en- 
 dowment of a great Library Whose widen- 
 ing service will perpetuate not only his gift, 
 but the generous thought that prompted it. 
 The new Library as equipped and endowed 
 for its larger work is in a peculiar sense the 
 result of a movement to which he gave both 
 form and direction. 
 
 Resolved, therefore. First ; That in the 
 death of Mr. Armfield the State has lost one 
 of its ablest industrial captains, one of its 
 gentlest and most lovable men, one of its 
 most philanthropic citizens, and one of its 
 most potent influences for the upbuilding of 
 a wisely directed educational sentiment. 
 
 Second, That the University of North 
 Carolina will honor the memroy of Mr. 
 Armfield as an alumnus whose enlightened 
 generosity brought added renown to his 
 alma mater, increased power to do good, 
 and set an example of constructive loyalty 
 that the University will forever remember 
 with gratitude and aflfection. 
 
 C. ALPHONSO SMITH, 
 LOUIS R. WILSON. 
 
 45 
 
A memorial tribute to one loved and pass- 
 ed away is a very inadequate expression 
 of the depth of love and esteem that 
 prompts the writing, but it is gratifying to 
 those whose hearts are sorest. It is hoped, 
 however, that this may prove of benefit to 
 some whose eye may chance to fall upon 
 these pages. Ones good and bad is known 
 to those whose lives are contemporary, and 
 who are associated closely in business and 
 otherwise. May the virtues here recorded 
 excite the admiration of those who look for 
 examples of generous kindness, and thus 
 prove a lasting blessing to those who read. 
 May the achievements of one yet young in 
 years be an incentive to those who would 
 leave the impress of their character upon 
 the world. 
 
 46 
 
i 
 
 m