Lacy, Drury, 1802-1884

Drury Lacy of Prince Edward County, Va., studied at the Union Theological Seminary in Virginia; was minister at Presbyterian churches in New Bern, N.C., 1834-1837, and Raleigh, N.C., 1837-1855; served as president of Davidson College, 1855-1860; lived in Warrenton, N.C., 1861-1862; and served as chaplain at Confederate military hospitals at Raleigh and Wilson, N.C., 1862-1865. During 1866-1878, he taught at Peace Institute, where his wife was Lady Principal. He married first Williana Wilkinson (1806-1846), and second, in 1849, Mary Ritchie Rice, both of Virginia. Also represented in the collection is Lacy's oldest daughter, Bessie (1832-1900). In 1853, she married Thomas Webber Dewey (1827-1875) and moved to Charlotte, N.C., where he was a banker.

Drury Lacy, son of Drury and Anne (Smith) Lacy, Prince Edward County, Va., studied at the Union Theological Seminary in Virginia; was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at New Bern, N.C., 1834-1837, and of the Raleigh Presbyterian Church, 1837-1855; served as president of Davidson College, 1855-1860; as home missionary, Orange Presbytery, living at Warrenton, Va., 1861-1862; and as chaplain at Confederate military hospitals at Raleigh, N.C., and Wilson, N.C., 1862-1865. Three sons served in the Confederate army. During 1866-1878, Drury Lacy served as supply pastor for churches in Orange Presbytery and taught at Peace Institute, where his wife was Lady Principal. He married first Williana Wilkinson (1806-1846), and, in 1849, Mary Ritchie Rice, both of Virginia.

Drury Lacy's oldest daughter Bessie (1832-1900) attended Miss Taylor's school in Raleigh and Edgeworth Female Seminary in Greensboro, N.C., and continued her education in the home of her cousin, Dr. Moses Drury Hoge, in Richmond, Va. In 1853, she married Thomas Webber Dewey (1827-1875) and went to Charlotte, N.C., where he was a banker. She was organist at the First Presbyterian Church, taught classes, was librarian of the Public Library of the Charlotte Library Association from its inception in 1891, and was the inspiration for the Saturday Morning Literary Club.

Drucy Lacy's other children included James Horace Lacy (1835-1852); Drury Lacy, Jr. (1839-1869); William Sterling Lacy (1842-1899); Presbyterian minister Singleton Wilson Lacy (1845-1862); and, with his second wife, Agnes Lacy (b. 1852); Benjamin Rice Lacy (b. 1854); and John Holt Lacy (b. 1856).