This document can be found at the Lincoln County Historical Association, the Alfred Nixon Collection.
IN MEMORIAM
VARDRY ALEXANDER MCBEE
1818-1904
In the death of Mr. McBee Lincolnton loses its oldest citizen, and one of its most venerable land marks. At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17th, 1904, as the sun was sinking behind the western hills, and the shadows falling upon the earth the summons came, and he "was gathered to his fathers" like a sheaf of golden grain, ripe unto the harvest.
Mr. McBee was of Scottish descent. His father was Vardry McBee and his paternal grandfather, Vardry McBee. Each of these are deserving of more than passing mention.
His grandfather came from Virginia. They were of a highly respectable family and belonged to the Society of" Friends."
They settled in what is now upper South Carolina, but was then considered in North Carolina.
Vardry McBee' s name appears several times in our early court records. He was a constable of Tryon county as early as 1770. When the war of Independence came he threw aside the Quaker and became a soldier in the American army.
He was captain of a company of militia for several years. After the fall of Charleston, Captain McBee joined the "over Mountain men," and was one of the immortal heroes of King's Mountain. In this famous engagement he was in the thickest of the fight; and, his was one of the several Deckards fired at Colonel Ferguson, when that bold Briton in his dash down the rugged mountain side, fell pierced by many bullets.
Captain McBee owned much valuable lands in the Spartanburg district, including the ''Limestone Springs," but lost it soon after the Revolution.
Vardry McBee, the son, was born June 19th , 1775, and remembered many of the thrilling incidents of the American Revolution. The "Battle of Cowpens" was fought within a few miles of his father's house and he remembered hearing the firing of the guns, and seeing the American Cavalry in pursuit of Colonel Tarleton and the British troops after their defeat: He remembered three of Gen. Clarke's wounded soldiers being brought to his father's, bloody and almost lifeless, carried in front of three horsemen, and hanging across the pommels of their saddles. One of these was Gen. Clarke's brother. He was kindly nursed by the family, and afterward married one of Mr. McBee's sisters.
In 1794, Mr. McBee came to Lincolnton to learn to be a saddlemaker under the direction of his brother-in-law Joseph Morris. At that time he had less than one dollar; as a saddler he laid the foundation for the immense estate he accumulated. He afterwards engaged in the mercantile business in Lincolnton for several years. In 1804 he married Miss Jane Alexander, daughter of Colonel Elias Alexander, of Rutherford County, N.C. Through a long life this most exemplary lady showed the wisdom of his choice, and contributed much by her care, wisdom and prudence towards the acquisition of his large fortune.
In 1805, Mr. McBee discontinued the mercantile business and invested in a farm, and house and lot in Lincolnton, and kept private entertainment for many years. In 1812, he was elected Clerk of the County Court of Lincoln, which high office he held continuously for twenty-one years, discharging his duties with satisfaction of the community. Mr. McBee remained loyal to his first occupation and whilst clerk continued an establishment of that king through life. In 1815 he purchased what proved to be a princely estate of several thousand acres in and around the picturesque mountain village of Greenville, S.C. paying therefore the sum of $27,500. On this property Mr. McBee erected several flouring mills, a paper mill, also an extensive cotton and woolen factory. Some of this land which cost him two or three dollars per acre he sold for two or three hundred dollars per acre. He gave lands worth several thousand dollars for male and female colleges, and donated sites for the Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches in Greenville. But the crowning act of his life in this respect was the subscription of fifty thousand dollars to the Greenville and Columbia Railroad, the largest individual subscription ever made to a railroad in the United States up to that time. His habits were temperate and methodical. He was a man of great industry and activity. He retired early and arose before daylight. Most of the day was spent in the saddle. A thorough businessman, Mr. McBee made his impress deep and strong on all the material interests of his country as capitalist, financier, railroad president, manufacture merchant, farmer, and in his contributions to all charitable and useful objects that appealed to his judgment for support.
To Mr. and Mrs. McBee were born the following children: 1, Joseph Gallishaw; 2, Malinda Penelope; 3, Silas Leroy; 4, Luther Martin; he married Miss S.B. McCall; 5, Hannah E; 6, Patsy A., married, T.C. Carson; 7, Vardry A.; 8, William Pinckney, married Miss H F. Butler; Vardry E., known in railroad circles as Bunch McBee, is their son; 9, Alexander, married Miss Henrietta D' Ayley.
Mr. McBee moved to Greenville S.C. in 1836; and died there January 23rd, 1864, in the eighty ninth year of his age.
His consort, Mrs. Jane McBee, survived him but a few weeks. She was born May the 1st, 1783, and died March the 13th 1864, in her eighty-first year.
Her family, the Alexanders, were the old Revolutionary Whigs, and she inherited the sterling virtues of her forefathers.
Besides each other they rest in the beautiful cemetery of the Episcopal church in Greenville, where they were interred with the impressive ritual of the Episcopal Church.
Of such noble sires was Vardry Alexander McBee, the subject of this sketch. Mr. McBee was carried to his last resting place from the same house in which he first saw light, and this old mansion was his home through all the days of his long life. Here he was born 17th April, 1818, and was therefore aged 85 years and 16 months. He well deserved the length of days vouchsafed those who obey the divine injunction "Honor thy father and thy mother." His parental devotion was deep and strong, and to the last he spoke of his father will all the tender affection, respect and veneration, that is to beautiful to see in little children; and in conversation with intimate friends oft spoke of his father's works, and quoted his observations; and, this to me was always a mark of true nobility.
Mr. McBee after attending the Academy in Lincolnton and other schools, including that of the celebrated Frenchman P.S. Ney, whom he believed to be the renowned marshall, entered the university at Chapel Hill in 1837, and graduated in the class of 1841.
After graduation he read law, and obtained license, but never engaged actively in the practice, but this training was of good service to him through life.
Mr. McBee was a conservator of the best history and traditions of the past. At the same time he kept abreast with the spirit of progress. When the old W.N.C. plank road was built from Lincolnton to Charlotte he was one of the largest stockholders. He served many years as treasurer of the Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad. He was a stockholder and director of the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad, and in its location, building and management took a deep interest. His father assisted in the erection of the Male and Female Academies in Lincolnton and was one of the original trustees of each. In both of these Mr. V.A. McBee was a trustee. He represented Lincoln County one term in the General Assembly, but is best known to the people of the county at Large as Clerk of the Superior Court. He filled this important office at three different times. He was first appointed by Judge Person in 1847, and elected to a full term in 1849. He was again appointed by Judge Bailey in 1860, and resigned in 1861 to become a candidate for the legislature to fill out the term of Col. John F. Hoke, then in the army. He was elected without opposition. He was again appointed Clerk by Judge Shipp in 1882, and the same year elected to a full term without opposition or canvass. Mr. McBee never electioneered for a nomination and was never an office seeker.
He was happily married to Miss Mary E. Sumner, of Lincolnton, 16th December 1847, and their wedded life was beautiful and happy. She was the daughter of Prof Benj. Sumner, then in charge of both the male and female academies in Lincolnton; she was born in Gates County, N .C., 11th January 1829.
To them were born the following children: 1, Malinda, died in infancy; 2, Jane, married Capt. J.G. Justice; issue, one daughter, Lizzie, wife of W.B. Grimes of Raleigh; after the death of Captain Justice she became the wife of Beverly Cameron Cobb, Esq.; 3, Dr. Sumner McBee; he married Anna Cameron, daughter of Judge W .M. Shipp; 4, Silas, n ow editor of the Churchman, New York City, and trustee of his alma mater, the University of the South; he married Miss Louise Post; 5, Sallie, wife of James T. Williams of Greenville, S.C,; 6, Vardry, of Ronda, N.C.: married Annie Joyce Gwyn, of Wilkes County; 7, Mary, wife of Judge W.A. Hoke of Lincolnton, N.C.; 8, Annie, wife of Rev. W.A. Guerry, Chaplain University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.; 9 , Thomas, of Brookhaven, Miss.; he married Sudie W., daughter of Judge A.C. Avery, of Morganton, N.C.; 10, Martha, wife of W.E. Mikell, Professor of law, in the University of Pennsylvania.
His home life was beautiful. He was a model husband and kind father. He loved his children and they were devoted to him. The golden anniversary of his wedding was quite an event in the social life of Lincolnton, when the town bore testimony of its esteem for the couple who had trod life's pathway together for fifty years. A further incident of the celebration was the marriage of their daughter Mary to Judge W.A. Hoke on that day.
In his youth he was active, erect, and graceful, and he remained so. He was fond of horses and a good rider. He was a great reader and kept abreast with current events.
A few years ago he suffered a great affliction in the loss of his eyesight from cataract. An operation, in Atlanta, gave him some relief. He could read after this by the aid of powerful glasses, and was able to recognize his friends, and to the last derived great pleasure by having some member of the family read to him. This was one of his greatest trials, but he bore it with cheerfulness and patience.
The lawyers, judges, and noted men of a former generation stopped at his fathers, and this gave him an extensive acquaintance with the public men or the past.
Between his residence and the railroad was a plat of blue grass sown by his father, one of the first lots sown in the State. Mr. McBee made this an object of his sacred care, and never allowed it to be turned by a plow, and there can be seen today the same grass sown by his father in his youth.
He had an illimitable fund of anecdote and reminiscence, and his pleasant humor remained until the last.
He was a man of decided convictions and had the courage to express them but was ever kind and considerate. He was the soul of courtesy, kind-hearted, benevolent, and charitable to all men, and was esteemed for his gentle, genial spirit and upright life.
After retirement from the office of Clerk Superior Court, he spent a quiet, peaceful life, in the enjoyment of the blessings that came to him in a ripe old age. While in feeble health for some time, the immediate cause of death was an attack of pneumonia.
When the weather permitted, he spent much time on his front piazza where he became a familiar figure, always delighted to greet his friends.
Mr. McBee's last will and testament, written by his own hand, is remarkable for its brevity and conciseness; the entire instrument follows:" I will all my estate, real and personal, to my wife Mary Elizabeth McBee, this 31st day of May 1888-V.A. McBee,"
Mr. McBee was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church, and one of its vestry, of which he had been for many years senior warden. He helped build St. Luke's, in this was married, and in his family plat, in this church yard beneath the limbs of a wide spreading oak he was laid to rest with the impressive, ceremonies of the church. On account of the illness of the aged rector, Dr. W.R. Wetmore, the services were conducted by Revs. J.A. Weston, of Hickory, assisted by Rev. D. T. Thompson, of Gastonia, and Rev. J.C. Seagle, of Lincolnton.
The pallbearers were C.W. Wrenshall, R.M Roseman, J .C. Quickel, J .E. Love, A. Nixon, and Hugh Jenkins.
After the obsequies tender hands banked his grave with beautiful flowers.
It was my privilege to enjoy his friendship during the last quarter of a century and I esteemed him one of.nature's noblemen, who "bore reproach the grand old name of gentleman."
Lincolnton, N.C.
Feb'y 22nd, 1904
A. Nixon