Rockingham County NcArchives Biographies.....Ivie, Allan Denny ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 17, 2008, 1:57 pm Author: Leonard Wilson (1916) ALLAN DENNY IVIE LEARNED in the law and successful in the practice of his profession; eloquent and forceful in oratory; an advocate of higher education in the rural districts; and friend of the workingman, ever ready to give of his time and means to the promotion of the people's interests; such is, in brief, the personality of the Honorable Allan Denny Ivie, of Leaksville, North Carolina. Responding to every call to serve in official capacity in giving the County of Rockingham and the State of North Carolina the best possible administration of the laws, and in securing better legislation, the citizenship of Mr. Ivie, Senator from the nineteenth Senatorial district, is a valuable asset to his adopted County and State. Senator Ivie was born in Patrick County, Virginia, May 3, 1873, a son of William Sterling and Sarah J. Elizabeth (Scales) Ivie; a grandson of John W. Ivie, of Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and later of Patrick County, Virginia, and a great-grandson of Peter Ivie, of English descent, who lived in Dinwiddie County. On his mother's side he is descended from a long line of professional men, some of whom have been prominent as makers of history. His great-great-grandfather, John Scales, lived and died in Rockingham County, North Carolina. He married Lydia McClarg, a French lady, by whom he had six sons and two daughters. One of these sons, Peter Scales, great-grandfather of Mr. Ivie, married Annie Walker, whose mother was Susan Warren, a member of the Warren family of Revolutionary fame, among whom were Colonel James Warren and General Joseph Warren, whose service at Bunker Hill is perpetuated in American history. Dr. James Warren Scales, son of Peter Scales, married Mary Lodoskie Mebane, and their daughter, and only child, Sarah J. Elizabeth Scales, was the mother of the subject of this review. His paternal ancestors were largely men of commercial tendencies and of sterling qualities, and, with such blood coursing through his veins, it is not surprising that Allan D. Ivie, while yet a boy, showed forcefully the signs of ability which had characterized his forbears. He attended, in early life, the public schools. He continued his education at Oak Ridge, North Carolina, a preparatory school for boys, from which he entered the University of North Caroline, where he completed his education, graduating from both the literary department and law school. His school life was marked with success and many honors were bestowed upon him. He distinguished himself by winning both the Orators' and Debaters' medals, and was chosen to deliver at the University an oration at the annual College Commencement. His address at this time not only pleased his colleagues, but attracted State-wide interest, being printed in full in the leading dailies of the State, receiving editorial comment as having for the first time brought to the attention of the State a thought and message that none other had done. Together with his literary success, his conduct was so irreproachable and his moral standard so high that in his second year at the University he was elected President of the Young Men's Christian Association, an honor that did not usually come to a student until his third or fourth year. Leaving the University in 1902 he obtained license to practice law and located at Leaksville, his home town, where he has resided since a boy, his father having moved from Virginia to North Carolina in 1S92. He soon established a lucrative practice and became prominent as an advisory lawyer, and in pleading at the bar. He feels deeply the interest of his clients and though he will fight hard for their interests, he honors his profession and ever strives to keep it on a high plane. In the beginning of his career he put into matters of small interest a zeal and effort that soon brought him more important issues. Though not active in politics Mr. Ivie has always taken a keen interest in matters of State which engage the attention of politicians. A Democrat in principle, he believes that government belongs to the people and should be administered for their welfare. He has never sought political preferment but has a high conception of the duties of citizenship, and believes that a citizen should render public service when called on. Therefore, when unanimously tendered the nomination for the State Senate, in 1910, he felt that duty demanded its acceptance. He entered the campaign with an ardor that resulted in his election by a large majority over his opponent, the incumbent of the office at that time. Though new in legislative experience he soon showed himself to be a man of parts and took an active interest in all matters of public welfare, serving on the most important committees. He showed especial interest in legislation looking to the advancement of the masses; namely, public schools, agricultural development and the bettering of the laboring people. The legislation that brought most prominence to him was a bill shortening the hours of labor for working people in manufacturing enterprises. Having promised in the campaign to work for this he bent his every energy to write it into law and led the fight to a successful conclusion, winning at the end of a hard contest an overwhelming victory. His speech closing the argument for the bill brought to him congratulations from the opposition. He was returned to the Senate in 1912 by an increased majority. His campaign speeches were very effective, free from abuse, convincing and appealing to the highest in man. In the session of the General Assembly of 1913 he took an active part, served on important committees, and introduced many bills of importance to his State. He was Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and introduced amendments of far-reaching import to the Constitution. He was one of the twenty appointed on a commission to revise the Constitution and propose amendments thereto. His efforts in the Legislature have had marked success both in accomplishment and in appreciation by his constituents. The same zeal that has characterized Mr. Ivie's professional and public career also marks his Christian life. For years he has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Though his life is very full he has given liberally of his time and means to the church and community, serving faithfully where duty calls, believing that the result of true Christian experience means service to humanity. He was President of the first Sunday-school Association organized in his county. He is one of the strong arms of the temperance cause. He was active in the campaign for State-wide prohibition in North Carolina and was one of twenty-five selected in 1913 to represent his State in presenting to Congress a petition and request for the submission to the State of a Constitutional Amendment for nation-wide prohibition. In fraternal circles Mr. Ivie is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. A member of the law firm of Johnson, Ivie and Dalton, Mr. Ivie finds his chief delight and recreation in farming and stock-raising. He is Vice-President and director of the bonding institution known as the "Imperial Trust and Savings Company." October 11, 1905, Mr. Ivie married at Reedsville, North Carolina, Miss Annie Elizabeth McKinney, daughter of Joseph Thomas and Emma (Harris) McKinney, and. the following children were born: Allan Denny, Jr., born 1907; George Harris, born 1910; Joseph McKinney, born 1912. Mr. Ivie is a lover of country life and is much interested in conditions conducive to rural welfare. He believes that our public educational system should include a system of scientific training in agriculture and domestic science. Reared in the country it seems that nature has molded this man after its own fashion. Great principles dominant in his life as a boy have remained with him to be the crowning glory of his manhood. He is a man of deep convictions, modest and retiring; and has in an unassuming way performed the duties which have devolved upon him with force and energy. The surname Ivie also appears in English records spelled Ivey and Ivye. Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, England, appear to have been the original seats of the family. Their coat armor is thus heraldically described: "Gules a lion rampant, or, "Crest: a demi lion rampant or, supporting a staff raguly vert." Additional Comments: Extracted from: MAKERS OF AMERICA BIOGRAPHIES OF LEADING MEN OF THOUGHT AND ACTION THE MEN WHO CONSTITUTE THE BONE AND SINEW OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY AND LIFE VOLUME II By LEONARD WILSON, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSISTED BY PROMINENT HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WRITERS Illustrated with many full page engravings B. F. JOHNSON, INC. CITY OF WASHINGTON, U. S. A. 1916 Copyright, 1916 by B. F. Johnson, Inc. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/rockingham/photos/bios/ivie35gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/rockingham/bios/ivie35gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 9.5 Kb