The City of Randleman is located on the banks of Deep River and the rolling land extending beyond. A search for the best and cheapest means of obtaining operating power has from its earliest days played a predominating part in influencing the location and growth of this town, or city as the charter reads. Peter Dicks found just that when he harnessed the rippling waters of Deep River to power his grist and oil mill, the town's first industry. The early settlers came frond miles around to bring their corn and wheat to be ground into meal and flour, their cotton ginned and its seeds ground and pressed into oil by the Dicks' Mill. From this little mill Randleman grew to attain the position in 1890 of being the largest town in Randolph County.

Other men who dreamed of large manufacturing plants found the cheap and efficient water power of good old Deep River a godsend and soon a number of large textile plants sprang up in Randleman. Since a majority of their early stockholders lived in New Salem this little village might easily have been the benefactor but for the influence of the river.

DICKS' MILL

Peter Dicks built a grist and oil mill, just below the present concrete bridge over Deep River on Highway 220, in the early 1800's. Gradually as a few people began to settle near the mill the section began to grow and was called Dicks' until 1848 when the Union Factory was built.

PETER DICKS

Peter Dicks may be said to have laid the corner stone of Randleman when in the dim and distant past he put a. little grist and oil mill on the banks of Deep River and the place became known as Dicks' Mill.

Peter Dicks was a man of affairs as counted in his day. He was a farmer and owned large tracts of land; he was a merchant, operating a store in the then thriving village of New Salem. He served in many public affairs from the founding of the County of Randolph, having been Clerk of the Court of Equity and Commissioner, or Justice. He was one of the founders of New Garden Boarding School, now Guilford College, and throughout his life remained trustee of the school. In addition he was a minister of the Society of Friends and overseer of Center Monthly Meeting.

He was a man of sound sense, good judgment and sterling integrity. He died in February, 1843, and is buried in Center Meeting House graveyard.

He was the progenitor of a large family connections of which are now living in this and other states.

UNION FACTORY

In the year 1848 the following men formed a company and built a cotton mill naming it The Union Factory: Jesse Walker, James Dicks, William Clark, Joseph Newlin, Charles W. Woolen, Samuel Hill, David Coltrane, S. D. Bumpass, Jonathan P. Winslow, Jabez Hodgin, Dougan Clark, Elihue E. Mendenhall, William Hinshaw and Nathan B. Hill. Joseph Newlin was Secretary and William Clark was Agent.

The Union Factory was located just north of Dicks' Mill on the bank of Deep River.

Below is a letter written by William Clark and gives an idea as to the product of Union Factory:

UNION FACTORY
3rd - 24th - 1856

Respected Friend:

Isaac Jarrett. By request of Wm. Wiley I inform thee that the kind of goods thee described and desired him to get for thee, the Union Mfg. Co. does not make anymore. I make 4/4 heavy sheeting, 7/8 sailing and cotton yarn from No. 4 to 14, any of which kind of goods we would be pleased to furnish at any time.

Very truly thy friend,
WILLIAM CLARK, Agt.
UNION MFG. COMPANY—New Salem,
Randolph County, North Carolina.

P. S.—Wm. Wiley will take this letter up.—W. C.

In 1868 the Union Factory having met with reverses was sold to the highest bidder and was bought by George W. Swepson, who sold it to John B. Randleman and John H. Ferree.

JAMES DICKS

James Dicks, son of Peter Dicks, was born at Center, Guilford County, May 18, 1804, and died in Randleman, October 14, 1883.

He was one of the original builders and stockholders of the Union Factory at Randleman. He was also an extensive planter and successfully tilled the soil. He was a gentleman of acknowledged intellectual abilities and possessed considerable wealth and at the beginning of the war in 1861 he was appointed commissioner to collect supplies for the Confederate Army. He and his parents before him were members of the religious Society of Friends and to this faith he remained a member while contributing generously to the building of churches of other denominations. He was highly esteemed by all for the rectitude of his life and his many deeds of kindness.
______________

(Copied from Biographical Sketches of Men of Randolph County, 1890.)

WILLIAM CLARK

William Clark was born October 22, 1808. He married Louisa Worth January 23, 1834, and settled in New Salem and engaged in the mercantile business and in addition became a stockholder in the Union Cotton Mill. He removed his house to Union (Randleman) and lived where the present Woolen place is.

He was agent for the Mill. In 1860 he moved to Indiana and continued his mercantile business.

He was a descendent of Col. William Clark who fought in the Revolutionary War. The family were members of the Society of Friends, belonging to Centre Monthly Meeting. Later they were members of Marlboro Monthly Meeting, being transferred April 4, 1818.

William Clark and wife had a large family, seven sons and five daughters and their descendents are active business and professional men and women throughout the West.

RANDLEMAN MANUFACTURING CO.

In 1868 John B. Randleman and John H. Ferree purchased the Union Factory from George W. Swepson and the name was changed to Randleman Manufacturing Co. Several new buildings were added to the original Union Factory by Mr. Randleman and Mr. Ferree.

JOHN B. RANDLEMAN

John B. Randleman was born September 11, 1827, in the part of Stokes County which is now Forsythe. While a rather young man he received good experiences in several cotton mills.
He purchased the Union Factory in Randleman July 7, 1868.

While working at Newlin's Factory Mr. Randleman was married to Miss Julia E. Duke. To this union were born three children, Alice, Ida Josephine and C. C. Randleman.

Mr. Randleman died in 1879 and was buried in St. Paul's cemetery.

JOHN H. FERREE

Secretary and Treasurer Randleman Manufacturing Co.—Born June, 1839, at Morganton, Burke County—Son of Rev. Joseph D. and Mary E. Morrow Ferree. His father was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal South and for twelve years Clerk of Superior Court of Burke County being elected to the first in 1844 and again in 1848.

The Ferrees are of the old Hugenot stock and of French descent. The grandparents emigrated to this country from France a number of years prior to the Revolution and his grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and for several months a prisoner of war and after the close of the war located in Burke County and engaged in farming.

The Rev. Joseph Ferree was a man of deep piety, refinement and ability, honored as a citizen and loved and respected as a Christian gentleman. He died 1875.

John H. Ferree is what may be appropriately termed the architect of his own fortune, having very limited educational advantages as a boy.

In 1854 he began as salesman in the store of W. C. Erwin where he worked six years. In 1860 due to physical inability he was prevented from service in the Confederacy. He was determined to do his mite to the cause he believed sacred, and got a position with the Commissary Department with the Government. A position which he held for two years. In 1865 he began the Merchandise business with T. R. Caldwell and E. S. Walton. After one year he sold out, moved to Norfolk, Va., and engaged in the shoe business with L. L. Brick for two years then returned to his native state.

In 1868 he located in Randleman and engaged in the manufacture of cotton fabric in co-partnership with John B. Randleman and organized the now well known Randleman Manufacturing Co. He was elected Secretary and Treasurer after the death of Mr. Randleman in 1879 and had entire control of the business. This company and others built in 1879-80 the Naomi Falls Cotton Mill in Randleman and Mr. Ferree was President and large stockholder. Also Secretary and Treasurer of Plaidville Manufacturing Co. and Secretary and Treasurer of the Southern Plaid Manufacturing Association.

Notwithstanding his many interests he found time to devote to the civil interests of his county, in the capacity of County Commissioner in 1866 (error in date). He was Director of Greensboro Female College and Trustee of Trinity College.

Mr. Ferree is regarded as one of the most discreet and able business men of the State. In social and religious point of view he has proven himself a blessing to society and the church. He was of an amiable disposition and always acting fun. A high sense of honor and duty, he was a model type of lofty manhood.

He was married April 10, 1873, to Miss Alice, daughter of John Banner and Julia E. Duke Randleman of Randleman, Randolph County. Three children, Julia Antoinette, John and Mary A.

He was for many years an active and official member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and for several years Superintendent of the Sunday School of St. Paul's.

Mr. Ferree died in March 1898 and is buried in the family plot at St. Paul's Church.

Copied in 1941 from Historical and Biographical Sketches, 1890.

NAOMI FALLS MANUFACTURING CO.

In 1878 Mr. Randleman suggested to Mr. Ferree that they build another mill on the shoals just below the Randleman Manufacturing Co. and that they get J. O. Pickard, Logan Weaver and Amos Gregson to form a company with them, however, Mr. Randleman died before the company was formed. In 1879 John H. Ferree, J. E. Walker, J. 0. Pickard and Amos Gregson formed the Naomi Falls Manufacturing Co. and the Naomi Mill was built. The mill was completed and on February 24th, 1880, it was dedicated to the service of God by Dr. Braxton Craven and is believed to be the only case in history where such a dedication has taken place.

Randleman, N. C., November 29, 1881. Mr. R. P. Dicks,
Sherman, Texas.
My Dear Cousin:

I am now connected with the above cotton mills and have been since it was built. You will recollect the old swimming hole a few hundred yards below where the old Factory stands, on the river here you will find Naomi. A one story building 307 feet in length by 54 feet wide. We operate 4608 spindles and 118 looms, all of the most improved machinery. We are turning out 5000 yards of plaids per day and 2200th of warps No. 14's. We have two more new enterprises under way in our county, one at Hopper's Ford and the other at Diffee's Ford about five miles southeast of here. All of the other old Cotton mills, the names of which you will recollect, are in full blast, and doing well. Randolph has become quite a manufacturing county and building up generally, her financial condition is healthy and by the way, I would about as soon wind up my "yuthy" career within her borders as anywhere. Our people as a general thing are learning to think more of themselves and are becoming more industrious from year to year and the stamp of improvement is seen in every direction.

Hadn't you better come back to Carolina and link your destiny with ours. I would be more than glad to see you a Citizen of our Commonwealth again.

Can you give me anything definite about B. W. Burkhead. We are anxious to know whether he is living or not.

Your relatives well and doing well.

With kindest regards to yourself and all the family, I am,

Your cousin,

J. E. WALKER

In 1882 R. P. Dicks returned to Randolph County and assumed control of the Naomi Falls Manufacturing Co. and was appointed Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Dicks successfully operated the mill until his death. He was succeeded in the management of the mill by his son-in-law, Stanhope Bryant.

ADDRESS BY DR. BRAXTON CRAVEN
DELIVERED IN YEAR 1880 ON OCCASION OF NAOMI FALLS MILL DEDICATION

Following is the address delivered by Dr. Braxton Craven in February, 1880, on the occasion of the dedication of Naomi Falls Factory, at Randleman. Dr. Craven, the founder of Trinity College, was at the time its President. The address is reprinted from the Asheboro Courier of Tuesday, February 24, 1880.

During a life of considerable length and breadth of experience and in labors various as most men meet, I have never before been circumstanced as I am today. This is something new in the rapid stride of progress, a new encampment of the Lord's hosts, and yet in every sense proper and becoming. We are for the first time in this country, formally and professedly to dedicate houses and machinery to the service of God. We are to ask, and I hope obtain, the Divine blessing upon capital and product, upon the owners and all who shall herein do faithful work.

I offer these circumstances as excuse, for to some extent departing from the usual routine of religious service, giving the exercises of the hour a caste in keeping with the novel elements of the occasion.

I confess myself strangely moved, and seem to hear voices from the long ago, and feel some thrills of heart that I once knew in my boyhood. Some twenty miles below this place, I was born within a few hundred yards of this river; during all my youth, I lived in sight of it and was rarely too far away to hear its roar. Hence again today, "McGreggor's foot is on his native heath." I knew almost every shoal and pool and rock along this splendid stream long before those grand men that started these great improvements ever dreamed that the roar of spindles would be the noblest music of the river. They were splendid men, worthy to found a great manufacturing interest known all over the country, and worthily followed by others who have gone beyond the hope of the founders. There was Elisha Coffin, a finished example of the old-time gentleman; successful in business, hospitable in the genial old fashion, amicable in manners, and kind to all who needed help.

There was Phillip Homey, a man whose heart was young when his body was old; he made money and spent it or a part of it as true man should; he was an ardent friend and supporter of the church; his table was always spread for the hungry; his sympathy was rich toward all who needed it, and every body called him friend.

There was Henry B. Elliot, one of the noblest of Randolph's worthy citizens. He had something of the bearing of an English nobleman, but with all the thoughtful courtesy and self-sacrificing generosity of a warm hearted, true man. He was gifted in intellect, finely cultivated in extensive learning, and enthusiastic in everything that seemed to promise good to the country. He took a large interest in affairs, and seemed quite as anxious to make fortunes for others as for himself. I knew him once in the press of personal duties, to drop all and come to the aid of a friendless boy in a dark bitter hour. That aid was life and hope to the boy, though he could never give anything in return, but the gratitude of a thankful heart.

John B. Troy was another and not the least of those noble men. He was a man around whom communities grow and flourish; his opinions, decisions and advice were valuable in the public courts of the country, and among citizens and neighbors generally. He was a noble, large hearted man, competent and ready to aid in all plans and measures of public utility; and specially gifted in encouraging and helping forward all who were trying to rise to better conditions. He was a genuine Christian man, valuable as a referee in matters of controversy, useful in almost every office of the citizen, and made an impression upon the affairs of his times, that will long remain among this people.

Jonathan Worth was another of those sterling men, whom the citizens of his county will not soon forget, and whom history will staunch, honest man, and the excitement of political life, in which for many years he acted a prominent part, and the love of money, common to most men, and every influence that turns men from the right, all failed to place one stigma upon Jonathan Worth. Among all the honored dead, he stands as a peer with the best. He had much to do in inaugurating the first movement of progress in this county. He will ever be honored by all the citizens not only as a Governor of the State, but as adorning the relations of private life.

George Makepeace came upon the scene of action somewhat later than others named, but deserves a monument of equal magnitude. He was emphatically a manufacturer. He knew what was to be done and how to do it. He was the very genius of organization, and few men could govern men, women and children with less annoyance or greater effect. In spirit and life, he was a model man; quiet, considerate, cool-headed and warm-hearted, he said and did the right things at the right time, and always with the happiest results. He helped quietly but much, the number of boys and girls he assisted is known to none but the Deity; when any one halted in despondency he stood above beckoning them onward. He was a rare good man. He loved his factory children, and to him they went with their troubles. He was never too busy to hear them, and rarely failed to send them away with a smile on their faces. I never was in his employ but by a generous act of kindness done to me, when all help seemed to fail, I have had a better and more successful life. Honor and blessing to the name of George Makepeace.

Jesse Walker was especially interested in this place, and was one of those public spirited citizens that benefit whole counties, and give their lives to the good of the times in which they live. Free from all selfishness, and ready to meet differences of opinion with fairness and candor, he was always in demand devoted much of his time to public duties, and no small amount to personal matters in which he had no private interests. He was wise in council, prudent in management, patient in opposition, and in all respects a perfect gentleman. His heart was full of sympathy for others, and when any were oppressed he never failed to stand by them in person, encouragement and money. An appeal to him never failed to be heard, and few ever left him without more light on the journey. His brain was large, but his heart was larger. He was a good man, a blessing to his county, and sowed fields of good that are still ripening amid these hills and vales. Even little acts of kindness filled the spaces between the larger deeds, and many are living here and elsewhere who revere his memory. I delight to pay tribute to a man so noble, for I as well as others received large benefit from his kindly offices. May he long be remembered and honored by us and all the people.

Samuel Walker, a public spirited and largely gifted young man, died in the opening day of a prosperous and honorable career. Of him the public expected much. His energy, keen insight into business, broad grasp of commercial thought, and true perception of the tendencies of trade, promised a successful, useful and distinguished man. We remember him and honor him for what he was and what he would have been.

To these may be added William Clark, Joseph Newlin and Samuel Hill, who with Jesse Walker, Dr. C. W. Woolen and Jabez Hodgin were the originators of Union Factory.

As to living men who have contributed much to the manufacturing interest of this county, added largely to the general improvement and are the pride of the people, some other day and occasion will do them honor. Out of a host I may dare to mention Alfred Brower, A. S. Horney, James Dicks, John H. Ferree, Dr. Worth, Dennis Curtis, Hugh Parks, George Henry Makepeace, the Odells and 0. R. Cox.

JOHN B. RANDLEMAN

At this time and place, and before this audience, composed of men and women who know the practical side of work, and can appreciate working-men; and have seen what brain and pluck can accomplish for the growth of the country and the good of the citizens, it is specially appropriate that I should offer some tribute to John B. Randleman. John Banner Randleman was born in Stokes County (now Forsythe) N. C., September 11, 1827. In his eighth year his father died, depriving him of all the help that might come from a father's head and heart and hand. He attended Sunday Schools and Day Schools, such as that country had, and as opportunity offered or permitted till he was seventeen years old. That was not much of educational facility compared with the results that followed. Beginning in his eleventh year, he carried the mail on horseback from Germantown to Rockford, thirty miles, going on Saturday and returning on Sunday, and attending school during the week. This duty he faithfully performed for four years, through all changes of season, hot, cold, wet, dry, frost, snow, sunshine and storm: thus showing the beginning of that grip and pluck that afterward characterize the man, and by this means aiding his widowed mother in the support of the family. Even then he showed noble principles, and dauntless perseverance. At the age of seventeen he went to the Salem Cotton Mills and there studied and learned the structure and operation of machinery under Eli C. Rominger, the first pupil that excellent machinist ever had. He remained at Salem Cotton Factory two or three years, and then went to High Falls Factory as Superintendent. This was rather a remarkable promotion for a man so young, and with so few advantages, and yet it was fully justified by results. After remaining here a few years, he went to Newlin's factory; from there back to High Falls, and from that place to Holt's Factory on Haw River, where he remained and worked during the war. While at Newlin's he was married to Miss Julia E. Duke, who truly and faithfully and bravely fought life's battles with him and saw the victory of success before his sun went down, and who, with their two daughters and son, survives him and are known to all. At the close of the war, Mr. Randleman was in business in Haw River, for two or three years; and though doing well in this, it was clearly not his life work; he was born for a different vocation.

He purchased Union Factory and moved here July 7th, 1868. In September of the same year John H. Ferree came and united with him, their joint capital being small for such a work and with and from such a basis, this immense improvements and mammoth business has arisen. It is astonishing even to the most successful business men and the whole country affords few parallels. Brain and labor, enterprise and endurance have here made a record to be seen and read by all men; an honor to the men, the County and the State.

J. B. Randleman was one of those men who come into human affairs at rare intervals, and accomplish results beyond all expectation or calculation, at places where no one expects them, and by means open to all, but used by few. Like all really great men who have made a permanent impression on human affairs, he was thoroughly natural, never affecting or using the artificial in manner or contrivance; he was direct and decisive, having no circumlocution either in words or actions, and he was tremendously in earnest, never wasting time or dealing in pretence, but showing by every move of the hand or flash of the eye the greatness of purpose and force of execution. His grasp and force of intellect were of the highest order; he thought comprehensively, clearly, and logically; he saw every item in the detail of his affairs, knew every element that entered or could influence the results of his work connected all together with an intelligence so clear and practical that his books could almost have been posted in advance of the business done. He knew his work and his work knew him; rocks and currents, wheels and bands, spindles and cotton seemed to obey his will as well as his hand. His capacity was in the highest form of manufacturing genius, competent to grasp and analyze theory and abundantly able to execute it in the most effective way. He was one of the gifted men, who boldly face all difficulties and triumphantly win success against all odds, and seek no crown but the blessings of their own worthy deeds. He was a true, honest, square man with no hidden flaws, no varnish, and no pretence. If he had faults they were on the outside, open to all and too honest and generous to rankle in the hearts of others. His successes were so great and wonderful, that his failures should neither be found nor remembered. His plans, organizations and works, while surely business-like in character, had a strongly marked religious tendency, and an upward force in civilization. Every yard of cloth made in his mills, had in it some threads spun by the angels. Those who worked with him and for him from the smallest girl or boy to the oldest man, insensibly moved toward a higher life. Somehow the life force of Mr. Randleman was of a higher moral cast than he himself ever thought, and made others seek to better themselves for this world and the next. The very hum of machinery was economically and morally helpful, and those who heard it moved upward to better morals and manners, sought nobler associates and companions, and noted their progress by improvement in appearance and property.

He himself was the impersonation of improvement and growth, and from him eminated a constant force that elevated his surroundings to higher altitudes. "Take him all in all, we shall rarely see his like again." He was in the highest, best sense a valuable man; he did good for himself, but that good spread out over the vast spaces helping and improving others. I delight to know him for his true manhood, his language of soul, his princely liberality, his warm heart, and for the mighty blows he struck for honor and success of toiling men and women. In his presence labor was respectable and the laborer held up his head with the noblest; the hard hand was not ashamed of itself, the working dress made no apology, and merit had its full reward. J. B. Randleman was a peer of the noblest in the best type of the true citizen. I and you and all this country will hold his name forever in memory as a hero of the head and heart and hand. Children's children will speak of him in these mills, in the roar of these sounding falls, and in the shadows of these everlasting rocks. The grave cannot hide the works or hush the murmur of applause down the coming generations. During the last five years he was a greatly changed man, and seemed to be striving hard to be ready for the great change. He sought piety himself and encouraged it in others, and was not displeased when the shout of happy souls rang out in the hum of his mills. He left those behind with the hope of meeting him in the better land.

But he is gone, and being dead he yet speaketh in a thousand voices to all who still remain. As long as this river runs may these mills run on. May his successor receive his mantle with all its power, and add thereto all the force of his own ability, and have on him and his and all his works the richest blessing of the Lord Jehovah.

TEXT
EARTH'S RICHES

O Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.—Psalm 104.

1. The earth has an abundance for all man needs or can want. Bread, clothing, houses, public works, ornament, religious tendency.
2. It requires brain to find it and use it. All classes need more general improvement, especially working men. Studying, reading.
3. It requires good morals to make it beneficial.
    1. Sin is a terrible expense.
    2. A waster of time.
4. Nothing can succeed without God's blessing. We must have
    1. Honesty.
    2. Truth.
    3. Kindly consideration.
    4. Discipline.
    5. Good domestic life.
    6. God's blessing.

Then shall the Psalm of life begin.

*  *  *  *  *

By request of the owners and proprietors of this property, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, I dedicate this House and all machinery connected therewith to God, for the purposes and uses of Christian work. May nothing evil be found herein, may everyone connected herewith be blessed in all good, and may blessing of the true God be upon this company, and hence may all people know that God dwelleth in factories as well as churches.

End of Part I (More later)