Thomas Arthur Morphew was born in Ashe County, NC in 1867. He was educated in the schools and academies of Ashe and Watauga Counties. He attended the University of North Carolina, studied law under his brother, Judge John Finley Morphew of Marion, NC, and passed the bar in 1895. Mr. Morphew opened a law office in Robbinsville that same year, and married Miss Lillie Slaughter of Robbinsville in 1896. In 1903 Mr. Morphew moved to Marion, NC to become a lawyer for the Southern Railway and stayed until 1912. That year his wife died, leaving him with three small children (another son had died of appendicitis the previous year). Mr. Morphew returned to Robbinsville with his children so his wife’s two sisters could help him in their rearing. He continued as a railroad lawyer for many years, commuting by train to Asheville and Marion. He passed away in 1944.

Thomas Arthur Morphew

Theodore Moore Jenkins

Theodore Moore Jenkins was born in Buncombe County, NC September 25, 1887. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest College. He was admitted to the Bar in November 1916 and began the practice of law. And as of May 1972, 56 years later, he was still an active practicing attorney, the oldest active attorney in the 30th Judicial District. He served his state in the General Assembly for four terms. He was appointed to the State Budget Commission by Governor Morrison and served two years. He served as Assistant U.S. District Attorney, being the first west of Asheville to be appointed to this office. He served several terms as Mayor of Robbinsville. He was a Mason for more than 50 years and served as Master of the Robbinsville Lodge; he was also a member of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Patron. He was a Shriner and belonged to the Smoky Mountain Shrine Club. He also served as Councilor of the Robbinsville Junior Order. He is a member of the Robbinsville First Baptist Church and served for many years as Trustee. He was also at one time the principal of Andrews High School.

Andrew Raby practiced law in Graham County from 1906 to 1912. Later he moved to Etawah, Tennessee.

Jasper Newton Moody was born April 1870 in the Snowbird Section. He practiced law in Robbinsville from 1898 to 1913. He walked to Hayesville, North Carolina with his brother Harve to attend high school. He did his basic education work at Cullowhee and student law at the University of North Carolina. He moved to Murphy in 1913.

R. B. (Jack) Morphew was born November 11, 1901 in Robbinsville, North Carolina, a son of Thomas Arthur Morphew. He was educated in the schools of Marion and Robbinsville. He graduated from Tusculum College in 1925, and from Duke University Law School, passing the bar in 1927. He began the practice of law in Robbinsville as associate with his father until the elder Morphew's death in 1944. Jack Morphew continued the practice of law in Graham County until 1964. He suffered a stroke in that year and died in 1966. Mr. Morphew represented Graham County three times as Representative and once as Senator from this district.

Jasper Newton Moody

Robert Bruce Morphew

John H. Harwood was the son of Phildella Harwood born Oct. 28, 1879. He attended Cullowhee and Wake Forest. Later he studied law at Nashville Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1903. He practiced law with T. A. Morphew in Robbinsville. He served as tax auditor for the Federal Revenue Service, special attorney for the Inheritance Tax Department, Assistant Attorney General, and Judge of the Superior Court of the Twentieth Judicial District.

R. L. Phillips born April 7, 1879. Mr. Phillips lived in Robbinsville his entire life. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American war and served four years in the Philippines. He attended the Presbyterian Collegiate Institute here and the University of North Carolina. He obtained his license to practice law in 1906 and formed a partnership in Robbinsville with T. A. Morphew. He had practiced law in state and federal courts since that time and was one of the outstanding attorneys in the western part of the state. In 1913 he was elected to represent Graham County in the state legislature. He was known for his generosity and always contributed liberally to church and civic organizations.

Leonard W. Lloyd attended Robbinsville School and served four years in U.S. Marine Corps. He received his A.B. Degree from Duke University in 1951. In 1953 he received his L.L.B. Degree from Emory Law School and was licensed to practice law in North Carolina. He served in the General Assembly of North Carolina during the 1957, 1959, 1961 sessions.

John H. Harwood

R. L. Phillips

Leonard W. Lloyd