I am still working on gathering more information. Here is a glimpse into Mr. Derby's life.  More information will be posted soon.

Roger Alden Derby was born February 12, 1883 in New York City. Mr. Derby grew up in a privilege life style.  His father was an eye doctor.  Mr. Derby attended prep school and later went to Harvard graduating in 1905 with an A.B. Degree.  After many years of traveling and not being able to decide what to do with his life, Mr. Derby decided to pursue a career in farming. 

In 1911, Mr. Derby bought two tracts of land in rural North Carolina; one of about 2000 acres from J.A. Bostick for $9000 and one of 780 acres from A.J. McAskill for $7000.  These tracts of land were located near two of Mr. Derby’s former Harvard classmates’, Ralph Page and Raphael Pumpelly, peach farms.  While wait on a home to be built Mr. Derby resided in the Jackson Springs Hotel.

During his first year of farming, 1912, Mr. Derby experienced ideal conditions and raised “bumper crops of cotton, corn and everything else the Sandhills could grow.”

***Up From Mt. Misery by Chris Florance was used as a reference for this information.