Abstract:
In the mid1880s, Leon F. Evans (1860-1940) got three people to plant eight acres of tobacco and to pay a Mr. Seal of Nash County for his idea of growing tobacco in Pitt County. Shortly thereafter, tobacco grew in popularity and more fields were planted. Consequently, Evans in 1886 built the first four curing barns in the county. In 1891, R. J. Cobb, R.S. Evans, and A. H. Critcher opened the Greenville Tobacco Warehouse (drawing available). Other warehouses soon opened.