 | History of Roanoke County |  |
JAMES R. TERRY
James R. Terry, one of Roanoke's progressive business
men, has been a resident of the city since 1880.
He was born in Pike County, Missouri, in 1864, being
a son of William L. Terry, a native of Pittsylvania
County, Virginia, who went to Missouri in the early
fifties, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. The
mother of James R. Terry was a Miss Smith, also a
native of Virginia.
When he came to Roanoke he was seventeen years
old, and first accepted a position as clerk in the store
of the late Peyton L. Terry for a period of five years.
He was then promoted and had charge of the wholesale
and retail dry goods business of Terry & Company
until 1887, when he embarked in business for himself,
handling coal, lumber, and builders' supplies. He
was also engaged in the contracting business.
In 1890 he became identified with the Home Building
and Conveyance Company, which conducted the
general business of building, buying, and selling houses.
He is now the General Manager of the Highland
Company, Incorporated, and is conducting the same line
of business. For many years he has been actively
identified with the real estate interests of the city. One
of his great achievements, being the part he played in
laying off and placing on the market of the Terry and
Ferguson addition, known for many years as Miller's
Hill.
In 1895 he was elected Treasurer and General Manager
of the property of the Iron Belt Building and Loan
Association, which position he held for six years, and
was later made receiver of that institution. For a
number of years he was President of the Roanoke
Grocery and Milling Company and has been quite
active in the development of the commercial interests
of the city.
In May, 1893, he was elected to the City Council
from the Second Ward, as a Democrat, and continued
in that body for a period of six years, the last three of
which he served as its President, being each time
unanimously elected. He devoted much time and attention
to civic affairs during his incumbency as
councilman and his services were duly appreciated,
not only by the important officials of Roanoke, but by
the citizens in general.
On the twenty-sixth day of July, 1889, he married
Alice M. Davis of Altoona, Pennsylvania. Two children
were born to this union; namely, Annie May and
Peyton L. Terry.
Fraternally he is a Mason, Knight of Pythias,
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, and Improved Order of Red
Men.
| History of Roanoke County | |