Benjamin R. Lacy

Benjamin Rice Lacy (born June 19, 1854 in Raleigh , North Carolina , † February 21, 1929 ) was an American railroad worker and politician ( Democratic Party ).

Career

Benjamin Rice Lacy was born in 1854 to Reverend Drury Lacy II. (1802-1884) and his second wife Mary Richie (1816-1880), née Rice, in Raleigh. He had four siblings. His grandfather was Reverend Drury Lacy I (1758–1815), President of Hampden – Sydney College . Benjamin Rice Lacy is descended from Thomas Lacy I (approx. 1649-1750) on his father's side, who immigrated to the colony of Virginia from Wales around 1680 . On the maternal side, Benjamin Rice Lacy was the grandson of the Presbyterian Reverend Dr. Benjamin Holt Rice and his wife Martha Alexander from Virginia . The Lacy family were Presbyterian . 1855 the family moved to Charlotte ( Mecklenburg County ). His father was named president of Davidson College - a Presbyterian liberal arts college founded in 1837. Benjamin Rice Lacy spent his childhood there, which was overshadowed by the civil war. After the war ended, the family moved back to Raleigh, where both of his parents taught at the Peace Institute - a Presbyterian school for women's education that eventually became today's William Peace University . Lacy visited 1868 Preparatory School of RH Graves in Graham ( Alamance County ). From 1869 to 1870 he then went to the Bingham School in Mebane (Alamance County). Lacy was a railroad worker for many years. As an apprentice he worked in the stores of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad in Raleigh. In the course of time he worked as a squad driver and for 15 years as a train driver. During this time he became a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

On June 27, 1882 he married Miss Mary Strudwick Burwell (1859–1960), daughter of John Bott Burwell (1834–1904) and Rebecca "Irene" Spragins Burwell (1839–1879). The couple had seven children: Mary (1883–1978), Irene (1884–1934), Benjamin Rice junior (1886–1981), Frances (1888–1982), Nancy “Nan” (1890–1968), Agnes (1892– 1989) and Thomas Allen (1897–1983)

Lacy served as Commissioner of Labor in North Carolina from 1893 to 1897 and from 1899 to 1901, and as State Treasurer of North Carolina from 1901 to 1929 . Lacy passed away about a month after taking his oath of office for his eighth term as State Treasurer. In his first report as State Treasurer, he wrote about the discovery of an embezzlement that began years earlier.

“When I was installed in this office, I retained the clerks who had served under my predecessor until my appointees were sufficiently familiar with their duties to perform them with ease and accuracy. ... It is fortunate for the State that I did in this instance, for it resulted in the early discovery of a systematic fraud which had been practiced for five years, and the recovery of $ 16,060.04 for the State. The State's money was obtained by Major Martin, Institutional Clerk, by altering checks passing through his hands and making corresponding forced balances in his books. The first altered check he attempted to use under the new administration resulted in the detection of the fraud, his confession of guilt, conviction and sentence to the State's Prison for ten years. "

“When I took this post, I kept the staff who had served under my predecessor until my co-workers became familiar with their duties so that they could perform them with ease and accuracy. ... Fortunately for the state, I discovered a systematic fraud at the start of my tenure that had been practiced for five years and resulted in the recovery of $ 16,060.04  for the state. The state funds were embezzled by Major Martin, an institutional clerk, by amending the checks that went through his hands and paying corresponding pluralities into his own pockets. The first amended check that he tried to redeem under the new administration led to the discovery of the fraud, his confession of guilt, the conviction and the sentencing to a prison term of ten years in the state prison. "

During the last eight years of his tenure, North Carolina embarked on an unprecedented expansion program in which the State Treasurer was responsible for millions of dollars. His agency managed $ 50 million in road construction funding approved by North Carolina voters in 1921. In addition, $ 20 million was spent on building the school during this period.

Lacy took a delegate at three Grand conventions of B. of LE Alderman part in the city of Raleigh. He was a member of the Freemasons , the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Order of United American Mechanics .

Honors

In 1928 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in law from Davidson College.

literature

• A Manual of North Carolina Issued by the North Carolina Historical Commission for the Use of Members of the General Assembly Session 1913 , EM Uzzell & Co State Printers, p. 242

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Drury Lacy II. In the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
2. ^ Mary Ritchie Rice Lacy in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
3. ↑ Drury Lacy I. in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
4. ^ Mary Strudwick Burwell Lacy in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
5. ^ John Bott Burwell in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
6. ↑ Rebecca "Irene" Spragins Burwell in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
7. ↑ Mary Lacy McAden in the database of Find a Grave . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
8. ↑ Irene Lacy Rose in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
9. ^ Benjamin Rice Lacy junior in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
10. ^ Frances Lacy in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
11. ↑ Nancy "Nan" Lacy in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
12. ↑ Agnes Lacy Lane in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.
13. ↑ Thomas Allen Lacy in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved August 19, 2017.

Web links

• Benjamin R. Lacy in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• North Carolina Department of State Treasurer - Benjamin R. Lacy