General Notes

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Dr.
"Robert Henry Hargrove, M.D. was born on a farm about fiv
e miles from Tarboro, N.C.  He attended high school in Tarb
oro taught by Frank S. Wilkerson  and received his academi
c training at Trinity College (Duke University).  He gradua
ted in medicine at the University of Maryland in 1877.  H
e did post-graduate work in the Bellevue Hospital Medical C
ollege, N.Y., giving special attention to surgical work.
After graduation he practice medicine in Rocky Mount, N.C
. and later moved to Robersonville, N.C. to make his home a
nd his contribution to the common good of the community an
d its people.
Dr. Hargrove's practice was in the "horse and buggy days,
" which saw him at his busiest with four horses.  He ofte
n drove them double on long trips, which extended over a ra
dius about 15 miles.  For many years he was the only docto
r between Williamston and Tarboro, and Hamilton and Greenvi
lle.
One of the incidents which his friends loved to hear him re
late concerned the time htat his horses jumped the bridge a
nd started upstream at the crossin of what is now known a
s Sam Everett's Creek. One of his closer calls happend whe
n attacked at Collie Swamp, although he was not hurt in th
e affray.
Dr. Hargrove was active in civic and fraternal affairs of t
he community.  He was a member of the Odd Fellows, Kappa Si
gma social fraternity, N.C. Medical Society of the United S
tates and Martin County Medical Society.  He served as th
e first president of the Martin County Medical Society whe
n it was formed in April 29, 1904.  he was also a member o
f other professional organizations.
He was an active member of the First Christian Church, serv
ing as chairman of the board for several years and as a Sun
day School teacher.  He helped to build every church that w
as built in the surrounding communites from the time he too
k up his residence there to the time of his death.
Dr. Hargrove served as a director of the Bank of obersonvil
le and was one of its early presidents.  He also served a
s President of the Robersonville Tobacco Warehouse Compan
y in the early 1900's.
Among the first in the Robersonville community, he built th
e first  brick store and laid the first concrete sidewalk
.  He owned the first automobile in Martin County.  This li
ttel red two passenger aubomobile created quite some excite
ment in its day.  It was shipped in by freight and a man ca
me all the way from Chicago to teach the doctor to drive
.  Many amusing stories have circulated throughout the sect
ion as to the reaction of the people and their team to thi
s new device.
Except for a brief stay in Kinston, N.C. where he practice
d with his brother Dr. W.F. Hargrove,  Dr. Bob Hargrove mai
ntained his office and practice in Robersonville until hi
s death on December 7, 1923.  His hobbies in addition to hi
s love of fine horses were fishing and hunting.  He was nev
er too busy to listen to or tell a good fish story.
Dora Mae Krider came to Robersonville as a high school teac
her in 1908.  She was the first Latin teacher in the Robers
onville High School.  Her higher education was received a
t Mont Amonena Seminary, Mt. Pleasant, N.C. and Claremont C
ollege, Hickory, N.C.  She was salutatorian of her graduati
ng class.
She was born in Rowan County, Providence Township near Sali
sbury, N.C. and was the daughter of William Robert Krider a
nd Georgia Ann Hudson.  She was confirmed in the Union Luth
eran Church at 13 years of age.  Her ancenstors had been me
mbers of this church since coming rom Pennsylvania to Nort
h Carolina in early 1700."
----Mae Krider Hargrove Pope