University of North Carolina Library

JARVIS, Thomas Jordan, a Senator from North Carolina; born in Jarvisburg, Currituck County, N.C., January 18, 1836; received his early schooling from his father; graduated from Randolph-Macon College, Virginia, in 1860; served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War as a captain and was permanently disabled in the right arm; member of the State constitutional convention in 1865; moved to Tyrrell County in 1866; opened a store and studied law; admitted to the bar in 1867 and commenced practice; member, State house of representatives 1868, 1870, and served as speaker in 1870; moved to Greenville, N.C., in 1872; member of the State constitutional convention in 1875; elected lieutenant governor of North Carolina in 1876; became Governor February 5, 1879, when the Governor resigned, and was elected Governor for a full term in 1880; United States Minister to Brazil 1885-1889; appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Zebulon B. Vance and served from April 19, 1894, until January 23, 1895, when a successor was qualified; chairman, Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment (Fifty-third Congress); trustee of the University of North Carolina and East Carolina Teachers College at Greenville, N.C.; resumed the practice of law in Greenville, N.C., and died there June 17, 1915; interment in Cherry Hill Cemetery.