History of Randleman North Carolina

The Rotary Club of Randleman compiled a History of Randleman in 1944. The History, together with a reprint of “The Story of Naomi Wise” and “Reminiscences of Randolph County” was published in the interest of preserving the early life of Randolph County, and as a club project.

The story of Naomi Wise apparently made its first appearance in the Greensboro Patriot in April, 1874, written by Charles Vernon. It is believed that Dr. Braxton Craven, then President of Trinity College, used the pen name Charlie Vernon and it is the opinion that Dr. Craven wrote the original story of Naomi Wise.

The History of Randleman begins with the founding of the Dicks Grist Mill by Peter Dicks in 1800. The settlement was then known as Dicks. Peter Dicks himself was a farmer and operated a general store in the village of New Salem. He served in many public affairs, the most important of which was probably his assistance in the founding of the county of Randolph. He served as clerk of the court of equity and also served as commissioner, or justice. He was an ardent Quaker and was one of the founders of the New Garden Boarding School, which is known later as Guilford College. He was also a minister of the Society of Friends and overseer of the Center Monthly Meeting.

Contents

History

1. Naomi Wise, 1
2. Poor Naomi, a poem, 20
3. Minute Book, February Term, 1815 Extract, 21
4. History of Randleman, 23
5. The City of Randleman, 32
6. Dick’s Mill, 32
7. Randleman, 1962, 51
8. The Old Bell, 52
9. Randleman Public Library, 53

People

1. Peter Dicks, 32
2. James Dicks, 32
3. William Clark, 33
4. John B. Randleman, 33
5. John H. Ferree, 33
6. James E. Walker, 34
7. Rev. Amo Gregson, 35
8. James Oliver Pickard, 36
9. Robert Peele Dicks, 36
10. Stanhope Bryant, 37
11. J. C. Watkins, 37
12. R. P. Deal, 37
13. S. G. Newlin, 37
14. A. B. Beasley, 38
15. P. C. Story, 38
16. Arch Nixon Bulla, 39

Manufacturing and Businesses

1. Union Factory, 39
2. Randleman Manufacturing Co., 39
3. Naomi Falls Manufacturing Co., 39
4. Powhatan Mill, 40
5. Coming of the Railroad, 40
6. Randleman Hosiery Mills, 40
7. Plaidville Mills
8. Marie Antoinette
9. The Randleman Store
10. The Bank of Randleman, 42
11. Randleman Chair Company, 42
12. The Peoples Bank, 42
13. Randolph Grocery Co., 42
14. Deep River Mills, Inc., 43
15. Commonwealth Hosiery Mills, Inc., 43
16. Mace Manufacturing Co., 44
17. Randtex Mills, Inc., 44
18. Randolph Lingerie, 44
19. Laughlin Full Fashioned Hosiery Mills, Inc., 45
20. Burlington Mills, 45
21. Randleman Paper Box Manufacturing Co., 45
22. Adorable Hosiery Mills, 45
23. Randleman Mills, inc., 45
24. Wee-Sox Hosiery Mills, 46
25. Cone Mills, 46
26. J. P. Stevens Co., 46
27. Sunset Mills, 50
28. The Scottish Bank, 51
29. United Brass Works, Inc., 51

Churches

1. Mt. Lebanon, 46
2. St. Paul, 47
3. Naomi Methodist Church, 47
4. The Christian Church, 48
5. The Pilgrim Holiness Church, 48
6. First Methodist Church, 48
7. The Baptist Church, 48
8. Randleman Friends Meeting, 49
9. The Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 49

Civic Organizations

1. The Randleman Lions Club, 49
2. The Rotary Club of Randleman, 49
3. The Randleman Chamber of Commerce, 50
4. The Woman’s Club of Randleman, 50
5. Randleman Business & Professional Women’s Club, 50

Source

Rotary Club of Randleman. The Story of Naomi Wise and the History of Randleman. Randolph, North Carolina : Rotary Club of Randleman, 1962.