History of Jarvisburg, (Currituck County) North Carolina United States of America

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Thomas Jordan Jarvis, governor of North Carolina, was born in Jarvisburg, Currituck county, N.C., Jan. 18, 1836; son of the Rev. Banister H. and Elizabeth Jarvis, and grandson of Thomas Jarvis. He was graduated at Randolph-Macon college, Va., in 1860. In 1861 he entered the Confederate army as a private and was made first lieutenant in the 8th North Carolina regiment. In 1863 he was promoted captain, but his right arm being shattered by a bullet, he was obliged to retire from the service. He served as a member of the state constitutional convention in 1865, became a merchant, and while in business studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He was elected a representative in the state legislature in 1868, was re-elected in 1870, becoming speaker of the house, and was a presidential elector in 1872. He was married, Dec. 23, 1874, to Mary, daughter of John Woodson. He was a member of the state constitutional convention in 1875, and in the following year was elected lieutenant-governor of North Carolina. In 1879 he became governor by the resignation of Governor Vance, elected to the U.S. senate, and in 1880 he was elected governor for the term expiring in 1885. He was appointed U.S. minister to Brazil by President Cleveland, serving 1885-89, and in April, 1894, on the death of Senator Vance, he was appointed by Governor Carr U.S. senator, his term expiring March 3, 1895. He was a delegate at large to the Democratic national convention of 1896. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1884, and was elected a trustee of that institution in 1883.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Jarvisburg, (Currituck County) North Carolina

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