DR. J. B. ALEXANDER.
THE HISTORY
Of Mecklenburg County
Krom 1740 to 1900.
BY
J. B. ALEXANDER, M. D.,
Charlotte, N. C.
190a
CHARLOTTE. N. C:
Oeskrvek Printing House.
1902.
V --^
COPYRIGHT 1902
BY
J. B. ALEXANDER, M. D.
h-
Index to IllustraLtiorvs.
The Author , Frontispiece
Aiap of the County Page i
Dr. D. T. Caldwell 70
Margaret Alexander Lowrie 135
Samuel J. Lowrie, Esq 136
Capt. John Walker 137
James Davis 139
Dr. Isaac Wilson 149
William Maxwell 152
Dr. Samuel B. Watson 156
Robert Davidson Alexander 159
Adam Brevard Davidson 164
W. F. Phifer 168
Col. Zeb Morris 172
Gen. W. H. Neal 175
Brawley Oates 177
Dr. David R. Dunlap 178
Rev. W. W. Pharr, D. D 180
Dr. W. A. Ardrey 182
Lieut. Gen. D. H. Hill 186
Dr. Robert Gibbon 190
Maj. Jennings B. Kerr 195
Gen. Rufus Barringer 197
Senator Z. B. Vance 209
Hon. James W. Osborne 231
Rev. A. W. Miller, D. D 258
Mecklenburg County Court House 376
Index.
Preface Page 3
— Early Settlement 9
'-Early Recollections of Charlotte. . 12
May 20, 1775 25
Martin's Historical Account of the Declara-
tion of Independence 28
Prominent Men who Took an Active Part. . 33
The Celebration of May 20, 1775, in the Year 1825 42
A Historical Fact Not Generally Known 47
Troops Furnished for the War of 1812-14 52
Members of General Assembly from 1777 to 1902,
Inclusive, and Time of Service 58
County Officers and Time of Service 61
Rev. Alexander Craighead 66
Dr. D. T. Caldwell 71
Lives and Peculiarities of Some of the Signers. . 73
Some of the Bar One Hundred Years Ago. ... 91
President James Knox Polk 95
William Davidson 97
Gov. Nathaniel Alexander 98
Maj. Green W. Caldwell 99
The Opinion of the Ladies 100
Matthew Wallace and George Wallace loi
Adam Alexander 104
Humphrey Hunter 107
PI ope well Church and Graveyard 115
The Part Mecklenburg Took in Mexican War. . . 118
Banks and Banking. 119
Some of the Prominent Citizens in the First Half
of the Nineteenth Century 120
The Champions of the County 123
Blind Dick 124
Negroes Before the War Between the States. . . . 125
INDEX. Ill
State Laws Before the War in 1865 Page 129
Biographical Sketches 131
The Central Hotel 194
The Charlotte Hotel 195
Rufus Barringer, of Cabarrus and Mecklenburg. . 197
The Great Commoner, Z. B. Vance 209
Calvin Eli Grier 222
Matthew Wallace and Family 225
Capt. John Randolph Erwin 227
Hon. James W. Osborne 231
Rev. John Hunter 234
The Hunter Family 235
The Descendants of Some of the Famous Men
who Fought in the Revolutionary War 237
Many Men Who Sustained a Splendid Reputation
as Ministers of the Gospel in the Various Years
of the Nineteenth Century
Rev. John McCamie Wilson, D. D 252
Rev. A. W. Miller, D. D 258
Two Church Sessions Act as a Unit 261
Methodists in the County 264
Roman Catholic Church 271
The Associate Reformed Presbyterians 272
The Lutheran Church 276
The Baptist Denomination 277
The Rock Springs Burying Ground 279
Sugar Creek Church 281
Steele Creek Church ^ 286
Providence Church 291
Flowers Now and One Hundred Years Ago 295
The Old Four-Horse Stage 297
Lee Dunlap Kills James Gleason 299
Mint Built in 1836 ' 302
The Two Town Pumps 303
Public Works in Charlotte Fifty Years Ago. . . . 304
Changes in Mecklenburg in the Last Century. . . . 308
Healthfulness of Mecklenburg 311
IV INDKX.
Snow on the 15th of April, 1849 Fa^^ 313
Aurora Borealis as Seen in October, 1865 314
Stars Fell in the Fall of 1833 315
The Passing of an Aerolite From West to East. . 316
Earthquake Shocks in 1886 317
Progress 320
Gentlemen and Ladies Before the Civil War 323
Patrol in Slavery Times 329
Roster of Confederate Troops 333
Reconstruction Times in Mecklenburg 361
Last Chapter of Mecklenburg History 370
Appendix 385
MECKLENBURG COUNTY
PREFACE
To those who do me the honor of reading the history as
prepared, it is necessary that I should say I am indebted in
greater or less degree, to Foot's Sketches of North Carolina,
Wheelers History of North Carolina, Martin's History,
written between 1791 and 1809, but not published till a later
date; also I am indebted to manuscripts of Mrs. H. M. Ir\nn,
deposited in the archives of the Mecklenburg Historical So-
ciety; also largel}^ to manuscripts of Lyman Draper, of
Wisconsin. Prof. Draper spent much time and took great
pains in looking up the early history of Mecklenburg, and
left no stone unturned that might throw light on the char-
acter of those early patriots, who risked everything to estab-
lish independence. This was indeed a bold act, to sever all
relations with the mother countiw. knowing that not to suc-
ceed, meant death on fhe gallows. Tbe Rubicon was
crossed, and they could not go back. Patriots of the county
held many meetings and debated the question earnestly be-
fore the final meeting in Charlotte on the 19th and 20th of
May, 1775. All the costs were counted, and each one knew
what the consequences would be if they should fail. They
were in desperate straits — either to live as slaves and sub-
mit to all the indignities of a subjudicated province, or make
a declaration of independence, maintain their freedom by
force of arms, trusting in the God of right. This last re-
solve was adopted, success was achieved, and Mecklenburg
occupied the foremo'st place for patriotism in all this mights-
continent. Strange that a history of so^ remarkable a coim-
tr)' should have been neglected so long, and only here and
there a fugitive piece has been preserved; many things of
note were enacted by patriots more than a century ago that
are now faded from memory, that s'hould have been pre-
served by those who lived at that time. It has been
4 HISTORY OF
characteristic of North Carolinians to make history, but not
to write it.
Tn writing- the History of Mecklenburg County, I find
it very difficult not to trespass on the confines of neighboring
counties, and not to follow people who have gone out from
our borders. The history of a State, or a county, is almost
entirely the history- of the people who constitute the inhabi-
tants; all that part of Mecklenburg county, or the greater
portion of the county, was settled with the Scotch-Irish,
but the part that was given' to form Cabarrus, had many of
German extraction. This eastern border was trimmed in
1 79 1, and the southeastern section was lopped off to form
Cabarrus coimty,was peopled with the Scotch-Irish, the same
people that populated Mecklenburg.
In the years 1830 to 1855, quite a large emigration of
our people to all of the Western States was effected, that was
to the detriment of our county, but tended to the advance-
ment O'f all the interests of the States to which they migrated.
From the latter period, but a small per cent, moved away —
in comparison to the number that moved previously. From
the location, being placed in the southern part of the Pied-
mont section, filled with the best of immigrants from Ireland
and Scotland, inheriting a love of freedom that had come
to them through a long line of ancestors who had suffered
much, for their love of freedom to worship God according
to the distates of their consciences, they were exceedingly
fortunate in having Mr. Alexander Craighead, providen-
tially sent to instruct them' how to resist all kingly oppres-
sion, both in ecclesiastical and civil affairs. Notwithstand-
ing he ceased from his labors nine years before the great
convention of May 20, 1775, the doctrines he advocated
with so much earnestness from the pulpit, and in 'his pas-
toral visits, found lodgment in good and honest hearts
of all the people who sat at his feet and learned of
him. Through the instruction given by this great man,
though rejected by Maryland and Pennsylvania, and urged
to leave these States, was gladly accepted by the people here,
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 5
whereby the county of Mecklenburg became the cradle oi
liberty for the Western world. The seven churches he was
instrumental in forming, contributed most of the men who
signed the immortal Declaration 'of Independence.
It is now the part of patriotism for the descendants of
those w'ho endorsed the work of that ever memorable 20th
of May, as well as the descendants of the committee who
signed the famous resolutions then adopted, to hold them
up as patriots in deed, who- took a decided stand for lib-
erty more than a year before the colonies declared them-
selves free and independent of Great Britain.
This act is enough for any people to be proud of, and had
it occurred in ancient times, the participants would have
been knighted, if not deified. And it is with sincere regret
that any citizen of Mecklenburg county sibould deny the
truth of so well established a fact, by records of court, the
statements of several oi the signers themselves, and by men
who were not participants but were present ; two of wliom
were Maj. Gen. Joseph Graham and Rev. Dr. Humphrey
Hunt'^r, both of whom were present, but not signers, both
being under age, but both in the patriot army.
The love of counti*>', which has always been a crowning
virtue in the people of Mecklenburg, could be seen in the
Revolutionary period, and in the war O'f 181 2-14, when
England claimed the "right of search;" in the war with
Mexico, and last but by no means least, the war between the
States, w'hen our county sent to the front more than 2,700
men. S'he is always first in a good cause, and last to let go.
For the last forty years she has devoted ber w'hole attention
to building up her shattered fortunes, and educating her
children. For seven years after the close of the war be-
tween the States, not a public school was taught in the
county ; our people needed schools, but we lived for a while
under the iron heel of despotism. But, now we hear of ed-
ucation on every side, and civilization is progressing with
steam and electricity, so it is hard to keep up with the pro-
cession. Our old civilization is fast disappearing, giving
6 HISTORY O?
way for the new. War is no longer a coveted art in the
South, but its opposite is in the lead, and peace will soon
have her victories that will far exceed those that formerly
belonged to the red flag of war.
The middle of the last century brought in many changes
in the workings of our civilization; ooir people till then
nearly all lived on their farms, raised their own supplies,
save their sugar, coffee, salt, molasses, etc. All of our or-
dinary clothing was spun and woven at home. Every com-
munity had its own tanyard, and every farmer (of conse-
quence) had their own shoemaker. In fact we were able to
live within ourselves. The women knit all our hose; if
flannel shirts were needed, they were made of home-made
flannel. A great deal of attention was paid to the raising
of sheep ; fine wool was in demand for making fine flannel,
and for making wool hats. Much attention was' given to
procure the best breed of hogs, cows, horses ; even attention
was given to the best strain of poultry, chickens, turkeys,
geese and ducks. We did not have such a variety to select
from, but the poultry and hogs did not have cholera; and I
never heard of cows being affected with pihthisis, or con-
sumption. The last twenty-five years have added to the ills
of humanity, as much as to the sufferings of the domestic
animals.
The affection known as "appendicitis," was unknown
twenty-five years ago, even in the medical books, but has be-
come quite common not only in Mecklenburg, but through-
out the country. This is probably offset by smallpox be-
coming mild, and is dreaded not so much as measles ; hence
it is but little talked about, although it has scarcely been ab-
sent from Charlotte in the past six months.
It is well for the children to know the history of Mecklen-
burg, for no other territory of the same size in the United
States has such a glorious record to hold before her people.
Charlotte was properly named by Lord Cornwallis, "A Veri-
table Hornets' Nest," and she will ever be jealous of her
rights, in whatever way or form she may be attacked. Let
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 7
her children learn her history, and it will be safe from those
who would traduce her fame. There is no' safer custodian
to preserve her priceless treasure than the descendants of
those heroes who won for us the Constitutional Liberty
we enjoy to-day.
J. B. A.
Charlotte^ N. C, August^ ipo2.
THE HISTORY OF
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
Early Settlement.
With what complacency we ccmld look back upon the
■early years of our county, if a memorandum had been kept
of the first inhabitants, what they did, how they educated
their children, hoiw far apart the neig-hbors lived, their first
temples of worship, how services were conducted, did the
aborigines join in the praise to God, the giver of life and
every blessing, or did they sullenly look on as if they were
infringing upon their inalienable rights, as if they were
taking unwarranted liberties that no one had ever dared to
do before. The settlement of the State began near the coast
and gradually extended west. The eastern section of the
State was populated a century before Mecklenburg was
named, or steps were taken to lay ofif meets and bounds to
form a county. In that early period there was no occasion
for hurry, and everything moved slowly.
But few people moved to this section of the State prior
to 1740, that is between the Yadkin and Catawba rivers.
The boundary of Mecklenburg was marked off in 1762 —
that is, the eastern, southern and western borders ; the north-
-ern or northwestern was not marked ofif, but was left open
to see where it would be settled up, so as to draw the boun-
dary line. In the next twenty years there was a great im-
migration to this settlement from Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania, and a few from Ireland and Germany. And in 1762
Avhen the boundary lines were run, quite a population occu-
pied the territory that was called Mecklenburg county, and
its county seat was called Charlotte in honor of the reigning
family.
Not until 1742 did the tide of immigration turn toward
this part of North Carolina, and even at this period it was
light to what it was twenty years later. In 1750-56, many
lO HISTORY OF
people of more than ordinary standing, thoug-ht to improve
their condition in many ways by seeking homes in the Pied-
mont region that is now traversed by the great Southern
Railway, between the Yadkin and Catawba. In this early
period, about 1740, a man by the name of Thomas Spratt,
said to be the first who ever crossed the Yadkin with wheels,
settled near where Pine^-ille is now located; and his
daughter, who married William Polk, the first white child
born in what was afterwards called Mecklenburg, between
the Yadkin and Catawba rivers.
This must have been a lovely picture, when the whole
country was covered with tall grass, the wild pea vines and
the flora that was indiginous to the soil, disturbed only by
the wild Indian and the great herds of buiffalo and deer, and
such wild animals and fowls as found a congenial home in
90 temperate a climate. At this period every branch, creek
and river was aHve with fish ; and as they sported in the clear
waters in the balmy springtime, they seemed to join in with
all nature to invite immigrants into this lovely country.
In 1740, this part of the State was wholly unorganized,
with only here and there an immigrant or settler. A school
house or a 'house of worship was then not dreamed of. In
1752, Rev. John Thompson, a preacher of the Presbyterian
faith, held service under a wide-spreading oak near the
house of Richard Barry, fourteen miles northwest of where
Charlotte was ten years later laid off, and established as the
county seat of Mecklenburg. This was on the Beattiesford
road in the direction of the mountains.
About this time several young men came into this neigh-
borhood and located. The most prominent of whom was
Samuel Wilson, from England. He was highly educated,
a man of considerable wealth ; in fact 'he belonged to the
upper class in England, and was visited by his kinsman, Sir
Robert Wilson, of aristocratic lineage; but in those days it
took so long to cross the ocean, the visit was never repeated.
Samuel Wilson's first wife was Mary Winslow, a
daughter of Moses and Jean Osborne Winslow. His second
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. II
wife was the widow Howard (we could not find out her
maiden name). His third wife was Margaret Jack, a sister
of James Jack. His first and third wives were of the best
families in America, and I have reason to believe his second
— from her posterity — was equal to his first and last. Maj.
John Davidson married Violet, a daughter of the first wife.
John and Mai-\' Davidson, children of Robert Davidson and
Isabella Ramsay Davidson, of Pennsylvania, after their
father's death, moved into North Carolina on the Yadkin
near w'here the town of Salisbury now stands. Here the
widow Davidson married Mr. Henry Henry, a graduate of
Princeton, who was engaged in teaching in that section.
Here John and Mary were educated, and John learned the
blacksmith trade, and when he reached his majority he and
his sister Mary moved from Rowan to Mecklenburg in 1760,
just in time to secure an elegant home om the Catawba river,
four miles west of where Hopewell church was built two
years later. From this aliiance of John Davidson and Vio-
let Wilson sprang, a posterity of as good people, and proba-
bly as numerous as can be found in the State. They were
very intelligent, believers in education, were very industrious
and were noted for accumulating property. They exer-
cised quite a beneficent influence in their section of the
county, and were friends to internal improvement.
Ea.rly Recollections of ChoLrlotte.
My earliest recollections of Charlotte and the inhabitants
of the town will scarcely go back to the fortieth mile-post
of the Nineteenth century. I was born ten miles north of
the town, one mile from where Alexandriana Postofihce was
kept for one hundred years. But alas, alas, the time came
when the people could no longer spell Alexandriana, and
the old revolutionary postofihce had its name changed to
Croft. It has but one redeeming trait — it is short and easy
to spell and that is considered of vast importance in this
money-loving age. But it is lacking in euphoney, and more
than that, the first original name of the postoffice had many
interesting reminiscences clustering around its antiquity that
were interesting to those who cared to preserve historic
facts. But we live in an age that cares for none of these
things. Tt is only here and there that we meet with those
who love to look towards the setting sun and gather up his
effulgent rays as he goes down and bids good night to the
gorgeous day of a well-spent life, where these glories will
forever bloom and be appreciated by those spirits who dared
to be free. I am aware that many persons have but little
respect for what they are pleased to call a rehas'h of olden
times, that are now considered antiquated fables. But in
speaking of my earliest recollections of Charlotte and the
people who lived in the town, I know yoii will excuse me
if I also bring forward the names of some who lived in the
county. In fact, Avhen I first remember the town, it was a
small affair, although it had been in existence eighty years.
At this time I presume it numbered not more than 1,500 in-
habitants, counting slaves and all. For the first fifty years
of Charlotte's existence, not a denominational church was
established in the town, but all denominations used one
church in common.
The Hon. William Davidson o-ave the lot for a cemeterv
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I3
and I presume he gave the lot where now stands the First
Presbyterian church ; at any rate a house for any person to
worship, without regard to what denomination should con-
duct worship. What year this was begun, I cannot say ; but
it was prior to i8t8. The lot and church did not pass into
the hands of the Presbyterians until the summer of 1832.
While the congregation enjoyed the stated preaching of
Mr. jNlorrison once in three weeks, an interesting revival oc-^
curred among the people in which 'he was assisted by Messrs.
Furman and Barns, of the Baptist Church, and by Rev. Mr.
Levenworth. On the fourth Sabbath O'f August, 1833,
thirty-six persons connected themselves with the church,
which was at that time organized, and David Parks and
Nathan B. Carroll were appointed elders. Rev. Mr. Leven-
worth was engaged in teaching a female school of a high
order. The academy — a large brick structure — occupied
the lot now owned by Mr. J. H. Carson. He was employed
as stated supply, or pastor of the Presbyterian church. At
this time no other denomination had a foothold in the town.
About 1840 a Baptist church was built on Fourth street
(which in a few years was sold to Alexander Springs and
moved to Third street, nearly op'po'site the new court house),
and a new brick church built on the corner of Brevard and
Seventh streets. The prominent members when first started
were Rev. Joe Pritchard, father of the late Rev. Dr. Pritchard
(and I will mention the fact that he was a great believer in
Millerism; he afterwards moved west). Rev. Dr. Pritch-
ard, who recently died, served the church very acceptably
for several years and was much esteemed by all classes.
Dr. Steven Folx and his family. Dr. Torrence, Wm. Cook,
Mr. Boon (who kept a shoe store), Benjamin Smith, and
Leonard Smith, with their families, were prominent mem-
bers of the Baptist church about 1855, and later Rev.
Jones organized the Baptist church at this point. During
the days of reconstruction, j86^-'yi, great uneasiness was
felt for fear the negroes should be influenced by the Yankees
to appropriate the church and all its property for their use.
14 HISTORY OF
That was a time in which might made right in ecclesiastical
affairs as well as State rule. But they' fortunately were in-
duced to build in another quarter of the town. The)' (the
white people) had about seven white heads of families and
several hundred negroes — tog-ether the whites were in a
hopeless minority. However, the denomination has pros-
pered as a Christian people should.
The Methodist church here appears to have started about
1845. Dr. David R. Dunlap, a highly educated gentleman
of the old school, had been raised and trained in the Pres-
byterian Church, married a Miss Jennings, and after her
death he was so well pleased with her family, that he mar-
ried a sister of his first wife, which was against their rules
of church government, and consequently he was turned out
of the church. He therefore cast about in his mind wliere
he should go; he did not wish to join the Baptists, and he
could not ask the Presbyterians for reinstatement, conse-
quently he believed the time had come for the establishment
here of the Methodist Church. Dr. Dunlap and Mr. Lead-
well were probably the first members, and in a short time
more were added to their numbers ; and they built a church
on the corner of College and Seventh streets, and have con-
tinued to flourish as an evangelical church should do.
Although they had much to contend with, they have been
abundantly blessed.
The Episcopal church commenced laying the foimdation
for a local habitation three quarters of a century^ ago. They
occasionally had preaching in the common house of Avorship,
which was for all and every one who chose to worship, until
1832 ; after this they were without a place till a lot and small
house on West Trade street was secured about 1845.
'J'he A. R. Presbyterians and Lutherans were last getting
a start, but in later years have made a growth that has been
by no means disheartening. The Roman Catholic Church,
as an organization at least, is second only to the Presbyte-
rians in having an early start. In the latter part of the
Eighteenth and first part of the Nineteenth century, no great
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 1 5
progress was made in the relig-ioiis life. On a pag-e close
to the beginning of the Twentieth century, I will have more
to say with regard to the religion of the towii.
PHYSICIANS.
Charlotte has never been afflicted with a dearth of physi-
cians, as far back as we can trace a doctor's practice. In
1815 Dr. McKenzie was the leading physician for a number
of years ; and from the reputation that he sustained, it is
inferred that he was well qualified for the responsible posi-
tion he occupied. In 1822, Dr. D. T. Caldwell commenced
the practice of medicine. He formed a partnership with
Dr. McKenzie. One of the partners would go and see the
patients on the south of town, and the other would go and
see those on the north side. They would see all the patients
every other day. This was the era of bleeding. Dr. Cald-
well said that if he met a fresh case and failed to bleed from
any cause, he felt sure McKenzie would bleed him to-mor-
row. If any case was doubtful, they would compromise by
leeching. Forty years ago it was a common sight to see
two or more jars two-thirds full of water with a quantity
of leeches floating about ready for use, in the drug store.
Dr. Dunlap came later to Charlotte, and built up a lucra-
tive practice, which he held for many years. He told me
he was once sent for to see a man w'ho had been tapped for
dropsy, and his doctor got tired going so often to tap him,
and had roughened a goose quill by scraping it both ways
and then inserted it so the fluid would nui out as fast as it
would collect. Of course it lighted up an inflammation that
soon carried him off.
Dr. Tom Harris came about 1840. or probably earlier.
He was a large, fleshy man, immensely popular, did a large
practice. He died early, in the midst of his usefulness.
He and Drs. D. T. and P. C. Caldwell had formed a partner-
ship that was not only pleasant, but profitable. They had
several young men prepare for the medical college, and I
l6 HISTORY OF
never knew one to fail that had this trio for preceptors. Dr.
C. T. Fox, Dr. Robert Gibbon. Dr. Macilwaiine, were all
just budding into practice as the century was half over.
Drs. Gibbon and Fox were active members of the profes-
sion, and lived long to enjoy the honors of their patrons and
reap the benefits of a well-spent life. Dr. Macilwaine did not
remain long in Charlotte — went to Florida.
Dr. J. M. Davidson spent a long life here, but only en-
gaged in the practice of medicine more as a past-time than
as a life pursuit. Gibbon and Fox were the only ones w'ho
pretended to surgery% or were equipped for whatever came
along. It was my fortune to be with Dr. Gibbon during
the war between the States — in the same brigade with him' —
and I can say without hesitation, he was the finest operator
in surgery that I have ever met with. He was ambidex-
trous, never thought of turning the patient around, but
would simply take the knife in the other hand.
Dr. E. H. Andrews, a dentist, came to Charlotte about
1846, from Virginia — educated in Baltimore. He was a
man of pleasant manners, and well qualified for dental work.
He kept his home ofifice here, but traveled over several
counties. He was quite a mineraligist, had a collection
worth several thousand dollars. He was fond of talking
mineralogy, and spent much time conversing with his friends.
In his time there was not much dental work to do. The
civilization of the present era will have much to be thankful
for, for tlie work furnished the dentists of the Twentieth
century.
About this time (say in 1845) the business part of town
was small indeed. The grocery business was undeveloped,
or rather we should say was unthought of. Salt, whiskey,
molasses, sugar, and cheese was about all the groceries that
were usually kept in an inland town. These were kept in a
dry goods house. Nearly everything that a farmer wanted
could be found in an ordinary store. Irwin & Elms kept
where Woodall & Sheppard now have a drug store; Leroy
Springs in the east corner, where R. H. Jordan's drug store
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 1/
is now ; H. B. & L. S. Williams, Richard Carson, one door
south ; Mr, Allison, where Burweil & Dunn now have a drug"
store ; David Parks, where Gray-Reese Drug Co.'s store is
now. I think these aibout all the mercantile houses in the
town. At this time probably every store was hung
overhead with bales or bunches of yam for the chain or
warp of a web; nearly ever}^ farmer's wife had a loom to
weave cloth for all on the farm. In the early part of the
century nearly ever article of clothing was spun and woven
at home ; and during the Confederate war oiir soldiers were
largely clothed with the "fruit of looms," made by the good
women of the South. The old fashioned loaf sugar wrapped
with twine around blue paper, was hung overhead. This
sugar was known as loaf sugar, and used on Sunday morning
to sweeten "bought" tea, and probably a little of it was used
to sweeten morning dram of brandy or rum. Before the mid-
dle of the century almost every gentleman kept his decanters
filled up and every person (of respectability) was invited
to take a social glass. But those days of close friendship
by neighborhoods 'have passed, and the yoimg people know
but little of the customs that ceased fifty years ago. Dry
goods stores all kept iron — that is bars of iron, slabs of iron
for making bull-tongues ; large slabs, eight to twelve inches
wide by one inch thick, for big, heavy plows, one or two-
horse plows. These were for breaking the ground and pre-
paring it for crops. At this time the blacksmith was looked
rpon as an artist. There was no such thing as a hard-
ware store. The smith had to forge out of the raw material
every tool that was used in cultivating the farm ; shoes and
nails to protect the horse's feet; and every binge for the
doors and window shutters, and every nail to build the
house, and to put on the roof with. It was a tedious job to
make nails for a large roof and all the fastenings. All large
farmers had a screw plate for cutting screws for their plows
and wagons. The civilization is very different now from
what is was in the early years of the century. Cooking
pots and ovens and lids, a big fireplace and sometimes a
1 8 HISTORY OF
Dutch oven, were the only cooking vessels then in use in
either town or country. Often the cooking utensils were so
scarce that the same skillet would have to do double duty, as
heating coffee water, then bake the bread, and last, fry the
ham. But the people never thoug'ht it a hardship, for they
never heard of any other way and were happy to continue
in the way their parents trod many years before. It is only
the restlessness and dissatisfaction with their condition that
make improvements.
As the Avomen of our country constitute the best part of
our population, I will mention names and facts of those who
exercised an untold influence on the fashions and learning of
both town and county, in the first half of the Nineteenth
century. There may have been an earlier caterer to ladies'
fas'hions than Mrs. Porter, but if so no record has been pre-
served. She had her millinery shop on the west side of
North Tryon street, near the Hunt building. She had a
great many 'hot house plants in boxes, a lemon, an orange
tree — in fact the house was filled with rare plants, besides
a feathered songster that appeared to be the pet of the shop.
I was 8 or ID years old, and probably rode behind my aunt
for company, hardly for protection, to town to get the latest
and' prettiest fashions for ladies wear, and probably to have
some work done. Ladies in town and country were in the
habit of doing their own sewing, except 'on rare occasions,
when they would call on an expert. Weddings were as
popular in the first half of the century as in the closing years.
It was a rare occurrence to marry in a church, or to go on a
bridal trip after marriage. Horseback riding was the only
way of traveling sixty years ago, and but few ladies would
prefer a trip of this kind to rounds of pleasure, as were fre-
quently given in many houses in a neig'hborhood, lasting a
week.
Fema'le education was not encouraged with much spirit
during the first seventy-five years of Charlotte's existence.
In this early period, when children of school age were not
so plentiful as in later years, they always had mixed schools.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. IQ
People who were in affluent circumstances, and could afford
to give their daughters a higher education tTian could be
obtained in the common schools of the country, had a fine
opportunity to patronize the Moravian school in Salem.
This institution was much sought after and patronized from
the Potomac to the Rio Grand, in the first half of the cen-
tury. But here for the same reason that male schools did
not flourish, we might say that female schools lagged behind.
Mrs. S. D. Nye Hutchison, a Northern lady who had earned
quite a reputation as a teacher in Raleigh artd other places,
was induced to teach here, with Miss Sarah Davidson as
music teacher. A suitable house was erected on the square
now occupied by Mr. J. H. Carson^, and the school com-
menced in 1836. For some three years the school was well
attended, and was regarded as very prosperous. After
Mrs. Hutchison ceased to teach, Miss Sarali Davidson con-
tinued to teach music for many years. In May, 1846, the
Rev. Cyrus Johnston was called to the pastorate of the Pres-
byterian church and also took charge of the female school,
with Miss Sarah Davidson. This school was nm with more
or less regularity till Mr. Joihnstoo was removed by death.
Male schools in the town were not first-class. Occasion-
ally an excellent teacher was employed for a term or two,
but not for a permanent school. A teacher by the name of
Murphy, in the early forties, gave general satisfaction for
a term or two; then a man by the name of Denny for a
short time gave general satisfaction, but thinking that a bet-
ter paying school could be had oiit in the county, he en-
gaged a school in Steel Creek, but being under the influence
of an evil star, he unmercifully whipped a small boy, for
which his father fell afoul of him with a wagon whip and
lifted him every step for fifty yards, when' the father gave
out; but our quandam teacher did not stop this side of Guil-
ford.
Also the services of Mr. Alison were secured for a short
time, and several others whose names I cannot now recall.
To perpetuate the history of a town, county or State, it is
20 HISTORY OF
necessary that a chair of history, or some fundamental law
of the land be enacted to take note of the passing events in
each county of the State, so that important steps or epochs
be not loiSt, and the people be posted as to what is good,
and warned against what is bad.
Gen. D. H. Hill, Gen. Jas. H. Lane, and Col. C. C. Lee
taught a first-class military school here just before the Con-
federate war, in which not only the teachers, but their pupils
took a very' active part. Col. Thomas was principal of the
military academy after the war, when the reconstruction
times were over. Before we have finished this episode, in
a more appropriate place, we will recur again to this most
remarkable time that has never had its parallel since civili-
zation dawned upon the Anglo-Saxon race.
In the earlier years of the country — say from 1780 to
1840 — there was a fine school run at all the seven churches
through the county, and consequently when these congrega-
tional schools were kept in full blast, but little opportunity
was left for a school in the village. From the location of
these seven churches it is evident that Mecklenburg was bet-
ter off in the way of schools than probably any other county
in the State.
In this day of the most advanced civilization the world
ever saw, if our people would only reflect that their ancestors
one hundred years ago eat out of pewter dishes, drank their
dittany or sassafras tea out of the plainest delft, used an
iron or pewter spoon, the most ordinary knives and tvvo-
prong forks made of iron with buck-horn handles. A fam-
ily was fortunate to have any kind of table cutlery. Most
people used their fingers. Up to 1845 steel knives and two
prong forks were used by the most fashionable and wealthy
people in our midst. All the silverware used prior to 1850
was made at the homes of wealthy people. Silversmiths
traveled about and got jobs wherever they could find work,
carrying their tools with them. The inhabitants of Char-
lotte town were like their country cousins, only dependent
on them for what they had to buv. But in the olden times
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 21
every good citizen expected to cultivate a farm, raise his
own cows, hog-s and chickens. Up to the middle of the last
century, Charlotte furnished a very limited market for coun-
try produce. Until the advent of the railroad, which first
entered the town in 1852, but little was brought here for
sale. Ever since then it has grown to be a market for every
thing that is raised, for home consumption or shipped to
larger markets. During the first half of the Nineteenth
Century cooking utensils were as scarce and as difficult to
get as convenient tableware. When brass kettles were first
used only the wealthy, or those in easy circumstances could
afford to use them, but had to be careful not to leave any-
thing acid in them, but were useful in many things around
the fireplace where cooking was being done. The Johnnie
Cake was extremely fashionable by the well-to-do, but it
has almost disappeared as cooking utensils have multi-
plied. It was made of corn meal, salt, lard, and made up
with hot water or milk, and baked on a board set before the
fire leaning against a sad iron, rock or brick. As soon
as well browned, it was buttered and served hot.
Waffle irons were considered necessary before you could
have a well appointed cook-kitchen. People were as expert
at preparing an elegant dinner, or setting a beautiful supper
table one hundred years ago as now, although they did not
have the conveniences that we now think are necessities.
It is important to mention the court house, the place where
justice has been meted out between man and man for such
a length of time, and ])unishment for offences against the
peace and dignity of the State. The first court house ever
built in the county was in the public square where Trade
and Tryon streets cross. It was built upon square posts, or
columns, some eig'ht or ten feet high, then built up with
hewn logs a convenient height. This house was honored
with being the birthplace of the first Declaration of Inde-
pendence that was ever flung to the breeze in the western
world. It afterwards witnessed a hard fight and bloodshed
22 HISTORY OF
between the American and British forces on the 26th of
September, 1780. By being built upon posts, any one in
passing could have a s'helter to protect them from sunshine
or rain. This house was built about 1767, and was replaced
by a brick one in the year 1810, when it gave way to an up-
to-date one on West Trade street, in 1845. Here the courts
were held for more than fifty years. This house was used
for public meetings of various kinds, such as county political
conventions, public speakings, railroad meetings and rail-
road speeches ; in fact for a long time it was as a public hall,
and was free to all.
The new court house just finished as the Nineteenth Cen-
tury was about to close, was btiilt on the ground where
formerly stood Queen's Museum, an educational institution
that the patriotic people of Mecklenburg tried hard to estab-
lish on a firm basis, but England refused to grant a charter.
Although it was in charge of graduates of Princeton, Dr.
McWhirter and Ephraim Brevard, M. D., and other men
of ability, but it had not encouragement from' home influence
But one young man ever received a diploma from the insti-
tution, and in September, 1780, when Lord Cormvallis
visited town. Queen's Museum was used as a 'hospital, and
the yard as a burying ground for their soldiers that were
killed in battle, and were picked off by the ever vigilant
patriots. In digging the foundation for the present court
house, several skeletons were exhumed which called to mind
the stirring times that occurred one hundred and twenty
years ago. Now the grounds are graced by a handsome court
house, with all the recent apartments for filing away papers,
court records in fireproof vaults, that will probably answer
all purposes for another century.
MONUMENT TO SIGNERS.
Immediately in front of this majestic building has been
erected a handsome monument commemorating the memory
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 23
of those immortal signers of the Declaration of Inctepend-
ence of May 20, 1775.
This monument ought to have been erected one hundred
years ago, before those old heroes who participated in the
great event had all passed away.
In the first fifty years of the Nineteenth Century there was
not a man in the coimty who had the bold effrontery to deny
the action of those patriotic men ; but now to deny the dec-
laration of May 20, 1775, is fashionable wnth those who do
not want to know the truth.
The old pillory and stocks passed away with State's
rights, so with the \yhipping post. The people who tri-
umphed in the war between the States — who believed that
"might made right." and acted accordingly, and so many
thousands, or I say truthfully, hundreds of thousands were
guilty of stealing, thinking that some day they would be
held amenable to the law, they forbade corporal punishment,
such as whipping or cutting off the ears, putting them in the
stocks lest they should start a race whose backs and ears
wore the brand of infamy. The penitentiary has been sub-
stituted for all these forms of punishment, and has proved
much less effective than the old fashioned way of applying
the lash to the bare back, as in ante-bellum times. Since our
people have become somewhat Yankeeized, there is consider-
able opposition to capital punishment or hanging; but the
common people are disposed — in flagrant cases — to take the
law into their own 'hands and mete out justice swiftly. We
cannot say when the old jail, at the comer of Try on and
Sixth streets, was built, but it served the purpose for many
years, with stocks and whipping post in the yard, w'here
every one who wanted could see. The gallows was out in
the eastern part of the city, at that time an old field. Up to
the war all executions were public, believing the example
would have a wholesome effect on the multitude; but it is
not a settled question yet how the extreme penalty of the law
should be carried out, so as to be a warning to others. The
24 HISTORY OF
old prison has been converted into two handsome stores on
the ground floor, and the second and third stories for a first-
class boarding house. All west of this point fifty years ago,
except the First Church lot and cemetery, was old field and
chinquapin bushes.
Ma.y 20. 1775.
Mecklenburg- county was populated with a race of people
not a whit behind any others on the American continent.
They were independent by nature, having no one to lean
upon or to appeal to; they were considering well the ques-
tion if they had not paid taxes long enough to the mother
country, and had received but oppression when protection
was looked for; they got weary of being taxed and never
represented in their Parliament. In 1758, Rev. Alexander
Craig-head was driven from Maryland for preaching against
kingly authodty. He supposed that he would find friends
ini Pennsylvania, but his hopes were soon dispelled, for he
was promptly told that such doctrine was disagreeable, and
that he must move on. The tendency at that time was to
move South, not to get too far away from the coast. Mr.
■Craig-head came down into North Carolina and accepted a
•call from Rocky River and Sug-ar Creek churches. This
was three years before any church was organized in all this
.section of country. With the help of Revs. McWhirter, Mc-
Aden and other missionaries, the noted seven churches
were organized in 1 762 or thereabouts, .at all of which places
it is more than probable that Mr. Craig'head preached. He
wa's a man of great energy. Wherever he could get a con-
gregation he would preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and
instruct the people that it was their duty to resist tyranny;
that we should resist paying taxes without representation.
Here he found willing and eager listeners. In 1762 the
county was surveyed and soon a county government was or-
ganized. Among the first things done was to lay off mili-
tary precincts, and enrol all the males from 18 to 45 tc
T^ear arms as the militia of the colony. These companies
were permitted to elect their own officers, to serve as long as
their physical condition permitted.
The best men in the county were elected officers in the
26 HISTORY OF
militia. Another committee was appointed called "The
Committee of Safety," to look after the 'safety of the coun-
try. When the county was well org-anized, the great leader,
Mr. Craig-head, was called home after a life well spent in
laying- the foundatioo for American independence, 1766.
His body was laid to rest in the first graveyard of Sugar
Creek church. Has Meckleoburg ever had his equal to
point out the way to independence, to a representative gov-
ernment, one that is the friend of the oppressed and that
has grown in one hundred and twenty-five years to be the
first power in wealth and influence in the world? Mr,
Craighead's influence can only be measured by what fol-
lowed. He laid the foundation of its future greatness.
After 'his demise, the good men that he had trained in both
religion and patriotism, consulted often, in regularly ap-
pointed places, what would be best for the country, which
was fast ripening into freedom, and soon toi take her place
in the great family of free and independent States.
Mecklenburg was more fortunate than other counties, in
that her citizens had been taught that liberty and independ-
ence were necessary to achieve the highest aims in life. The
frequent conferences were held by the leaders of public opin ■
ion where it was convenient. Three of the noted places where
this Committee of Safety were in the habit O'f meeting was at
the residences of Robert Irwin, of Steel Creek ; Abram Alex-
ander, of Sugar Creek; and John McKnitt Alexander, of
Hopewell. Here at these places was the question of inde-
pendence discussed, and the people were gotten ready for
action. The militia officers were men of rank, elders in the
church, were leading men, justices of the peace, ministers of
the Gospel, etc.
Everything, both public and private, tended to Independ-
ence. In the year 1771, the people of Alamance were so
oppressed with high taxes that they rebelled against Gov-
ernor Tryon. The country was wild with excitement, and
the men organized companies to defend themselves against
the royal troops from New Bern. In the meantime Meek-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 27
lenburg was not idle, but sent troops to aid the patriots of
Alamance; but the battle was over and the patriots routed
before the Mecklenburg contingent arrived. Hence our
troops returned, and as evidence that they would bear true
allegiance to Great Britain in the future, the governor had
them sworn to support the crown. This oath was the source
of much trouble to the conscience of many good people,
when, a few years later, they were about taking steps to
dissolve all ties that bound us to the mother country. They
were at last persuaded that vVhen England had ceased to
protect them, they were under no obligations to abide by the
oath formerly taken ; that a contract broken by one side
ceases to be binding on the other. This solution gave gen-
eral satisfaction to every true patriot.
In the summer of 1771, the good people of Lincoln county
gave a picnic to the people of that county. The excitement
in Mecklenburg arising from swearing her militia to bear
true allegiance to the crown, could not be passed over in
silence. So, when the day for the picnic came, a large party
from Mecklenburg rode over with flags flying, made of
white cloth with black letters, so that they could be seen, "In-
dependence." This was received as an insult, whereupon a
general fisticuff fight ensued, which shows plainly that Mr.
Craighead 'had not labored among the Dutch of Lincoln
county, to show them the truth as it appears frorri Scrip-
ture and comimon sense.
This was a time that required the services of the best of
m.en to be on the Committee of Public Safety, to be at the
head of the militia, and at every position in the county. The
county had great reason to be proud of her men, and loves to
point back to her noble women who sacrificed every com^
fort to aid her soldiers in gaining her independence. The
Committee of Public Safety notified the commissioned of-
ficers when they were expected to meet in Charlotte, to take
specific action on the state of the countr}^ Matters seemed
to grow more threatening with each year ; whatever part of
the coimtry was oppressed, was considered a thrust at Meek-
28 HISTORY OF
lenburg, for whatever was hurtful to one part was felt by
all. In other words, we felt the necessity of making com-
mon cause against a common enemy.
The Committee of Public Safety notified the commis-
sioned officers and as many others as could attend to be in
Charlotte on the 19th of May, 1775.
[Copied From- Francois Xavier Martin's History of North
Carolina, From the Barlicst Period.]
"Imperfect as the present publication is, it began to en-
gage the attention of the writer as early as the year 1791.
At that period the Legislature of North Carolina afforded
him some aid in the publication of a collection of the statutes
of the Parliament of England then in force and use within
the State. In preparing that work, he examined all the
statutes from Magna Charta to the Declaration of Independ-
ence, and an arrangement of all those which related to
America, afforded him a complete view of the colonial sys-
tem of England. In 1803 he was employed by the same
Legislature to publish a revisal of the acts of the General As-
sembly, passed during the Proprietary, Royal and State
Go^^ernm'ents, and the local information he acquired in car-
rying into effect the intentions of those who employed, sug-
gested the idea of collecting materials for a history of the
State; and when afterwards he 'had the honor of represent-
ing the town of New Bern in the House of Commons, he
was favored with a resolution of the General Assembly,
authorizing the Secretary of State to allow him access to
the records of his office. In the speeches of the Governors
at the opening of the sessions of the Legislature, he found
a reference to the principal transactions during the recess,
ar d there were few important events particularly relating
to the State, which left no trace on the Journals of the Legis-
lature or the proceedings of the executive. * * * Xbe
writer imagined he had collected sufficient materials to jus-
tify the hope of producing a history of North Carolina worth
• MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 29
the attention of his fellow citizens, and he had arranged all
that related to transactions, anterior to the Declaration of
Independence, when, 1809, Mr. Madison thouofht his ser-
vices were wanted, first in the Mississippi territoiry and
afterwards in that of Orleans ; and when the latter territory
became a State, the new government thought proper to re-
tain him. He had entertained the hope that the time would
arrive when disengaged from public duties, he might resume
the work he had commenced in Carolina; but years have
rolled away without bringing on this period; and a shock
his health lately received during the year of 'his great climac-
teric, has warned him that the moment is arrived when 'his
intended work must engage his immediate attention, or be
absolutely abandoned. * * * The determination has
been taken to put the work immediately to press in the con-
dition it was when it reached New Orleans. This has pre-
vented any use being madfe of Williamison's History of
North Carolina,, a copy of w'hich did not reach the writer's
hands till after his arrival in Louisiana. The expectation
is cherished that the people of North Carolina will receive,
with indulgence, a work ushered to light under circum-
stances so untoward."
Martin, the historian, further states the conditions w'hich
led up to the appointing of delegates to the convention that
paved the way to independence. This all occurred prior to
1809, after which date he ceased to write any historical
reminiscences O'f the country, being so engaged for the wel-
fare of the purchase ; being a native of France, and other-
wise well qualified for the position, he was kept until all
difficulties were adjusted and amicably settled. His health
gave way, and he was unable to return to historical work,
as he desired to do.
In the western part of the province the people were still
eager in their resistance. In the m'onths of March and
April, 1775, the leading men in the county oi Mecklenburg
held meetings to ascertain the sense of the people, and to
confirm them in their opposition to the claim of the Pariia-
30 HISTORY OF
merit to impose taxes and regulate the internal policy of the
colonies.
At one of those meetings, when- it was ascertained that
the people were prepared to meet their wishes, it was ag-reed
that Thomas Polk, then colonel commiandant of the county,
should issue an order directed to each captain of militia, re-
questing him to call a company meeting to elect two dele-
gates from his company, to meet in general committee at
Charlotte, on the 19th of May, giving to the delegates ample
power to adopt such measures as to them should seem best
calculated to promote the common cause of defending the
rights of the colony, and aiding t'heir brethren in Massachu-
setts. Col. Polk issued the order, and delegates were
elected. They met in Charlotte on the day appointed. The
forms of their proceedings and the measures to be proposed
had been previously agreed upon by the men at whose in-
stance the committee were assembled. The Rev. Hezekiah
Jones Balch, Dr. Ephraim Brevard, and William^ Kennon,
an attomey-at-law, addressed the committee, and descanted
on the causes which had led to the existing contest with the
mother coimtry, and the consequences which were to be ap-
prehended, unless the people should make a firm and ener-
getic resistance to the rig'ht which ParHament asserted, of
taxing the colonies and regulating their internal policy.
On the day on which the committee met, the first intelli-
gence of the action at Lexington, in Massachusetts, on the
19th of April, was received in Charlotte. This intelligence
produced the most decisive effect. A large concourse of
people had assembled to witness the proceedings of the com-
mittee. The speakers addressed their discourses as well to
them as to the committee, and those who were not convinced
by their reasoning, were influenced by their feelings, and all
cried out, "Let us be independent ! Let us declare our inde-
pendence and defend it with our lives and fortunes !" A
committee was appointed to draw up resolutions. This
committee was composed of the men who planned the whole
proceedings, and who had, already, prepared the resolutions
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 3I
which it was intended should be submitted to the general
committee.
Dr. Ephraim Brevard had drawn up the resolutions some
time before, and now reported them, with amendments, as
follows :
Resolved, That whosoever directly or indirectly abets, or
in any way, form or manner, countenances the invasion of
our rights as attempted by the Parliament of Great Britain,
is an enemy to his countr}', to America and the rights of
man.
Resolved, That we, the citizens of Mecklenburg county,
do 'hereby dissolve the political bonds which have connected
us with the mother country ; and absolve ourselves from all
allegiance to the British crown, abjuring all political connec-
tion with a nation that has wantonly trampled on our rights
and liberties, and inhumanly shed the innocent blood of
Americans at Lexington.
Resolved, That we do declare ourselves a free and inde-
pendent people ; that we are and of right ought to be a sov-
ereign and self-governing people, under the power of God
and the general congress ; to the maintenance of which inde-
pendence we solemnly pledge to each other our mutual co-
operation, our lives, our fortunes and our most sacred honor.
Resolved, That we do hereby ordain and adopt as rules
of conduct, all and each of our former laws, and the crown
of Great Britain cannot be considered hereafter as holding
any rights, privileges or immunities among us.
Resolved, That all offices, both civil and military, in this
county, be entitled to exercise the same powers and author-
ities as heretofore; that every member of this delegation
shall henceforth be a civil officer, and exercise the powers of
a Justice of the Peace, issue process, hear and determine
controversies according to law, preserve peace, union and
harmony in the county, and use every exertion to spread
the love of liberty and of country, until a more general and
better organized system of government be established.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted
32 HISTORY OF
by express to the President of the Continental Congress^
assembled in Philadelphia, to be laid before that body.
These resolutions were unanimously adopted and sub-
scribed by the delegates.
Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 20th of
May, 1775:
Abraham Alexander, Chairman.
John McKnitt Alexander, Secretary.
Ephraim Brevard, Secretary.
Rev. Hezekl\h J. Balch, Charles Alexander,
John Phifer, Zaccheus Wilson, Jr.,
James Harris, Watghtstill Avery,
William Kennon, Benjamin Patton,
John Ford, Matthew McClure,
Richard Barry, Neill Morrison,
Henry Downes, Rorert Irwin,
EsRA Alexander, John Flenniken,
William Graham, David Reese,
John Queary, John Davidson,
Hezekiah Alexander, Richard Harris, Jr.,
Adam Alexander, Thomas Polk.
James Jack, of Charlotte, but afterwards living in
Georgia, was engaged to be the bearer of the resolutions to
the President of Congress, and directed to deliver copies of
them' to the delegates in Congress from North Carolina.
The President returned a polite answer to the address,
which accompanied the resolutions, in which he highly ap-
proved of the measures adopted by the delegates of Meck-
lenburg, but deemed the subject of the resolutions prema-
ture to be laid before Congress. Messrs. Caswell. Hooper
and Hewes forwarded a joint letter, in which they compli-
mented the people of Mecklenburg for their zeal in the com-
mon cause, and recommended to them the strict observance
of good order; that the time would soon come when^ the
whole continent would follow their example.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 33
On the day the resolutions were adopted by the delegates
in Charlotte, they were read aloud to the people, who had
assembled in the town, and proclaimed amidst the shouts
and huzzas, expressing the feelings and determination of ail
present.
When Capt. Jack reached Salisbury on his way to Phila-
delphia, the general court was sitting, and Mr. Kennon, an
attorney-at-law, who had assisted in the proceedings of the
delegates at Charlotte, was there in Salisbury. At the re-
quest of the judges, Mr. Kennon read the resolutions aloud
in open court to a large concourse of people. They were
listened to with attention and approved by all present. The
delegates at Charlotte being empowered to adopt such
measures, as in their opinion would best promote the com-
mon cause, established a variety of regulatious for manag-
ing the concerns of the county. Courts of justice were held
under the direction of the delegates. For some months
these courts were held in Charlotte, but for the convenience
of the people (for at that time Cabarrus formed part of
Mecklenburg), two other places were selected and the courts
were held at each in rotation. The delegates appointed a
committee of their own body v^ho were called a "Committee
of Safety," and they were empowered to examine all persons
brought before them charged with being inimical toi the com-
m.on cause, and to send the military into the neighboring
counties to arrest suspected persons. In the exercise of this
poAver, the committees sent into Lincoln and Rowan counties
and had a number of persons arrested and brought before
them. Those who manifested penitence for their Toryism,
and took an oath to support the cause of liberty and the coun-
tr}^ were discharged. Others were sent under guard into
South Carolina for safe keeping. The meeting of the dele-
gates at Charlotte and the proceedings which grew out of
that meeting produced the zeal and unanimity for which the
people of Mecklenburg were distinguished during the whole
of the Revolutionary War. They became united as a band
of brothers, whose confidence in each other and the cause
34 HISTORY OF
which they had sworn to support was never shaken in the
worst of times.
The history of the convention that convened in Charlotte
on the 19th and 20th of May, 1775, is detailed by an edu-
cated lawyer — Francois Xavier Martin^ — a native of France,
lived in New Bern, was frequently a member of the North
Carolina Leg-islature, was in close contact with the history
of North Carolina from 1 791 -1809, when he was employed
by Mr. Madison, as an attorney, to proceed to New Orleans
and the Western purchased territory ; that he was well quali-
fied for the work, and also to write history. And we un-
derstand' that previous to 18 19, the Mecklenburg Declara-
tion of Independence had never been called in question in
any manner. Some of the signers lived and were able to
travel around in the county for nearly fifty years after the
great epoch. Maj. John Davidson lived till 1830. Surely
the people oi Mecklenburg, with all of its boasted intelli-
gence, would have discovered the fraud before forty years
had passed over us, or if it was necessary tO' bolster up the
famous son, Mr. Jefferson, of an adjoining State. Another
quotation and that will suffice :
The following persons attended the meeting at Hillsboro
August 21, 1775, to consider the state of the country:
Thomas Polk, Jobn Phifer, Waightstill Avery, Samuel Mar-
tin, James Houston, and John McKnitt Alexander.
To the meeting at Halifax, 4th of April, 1776, she sent
John Phifer, Robert Irwin, and John McKnitt Alexander.
(The county was ever jealous of her rights, in sending her
best men as delegates to see that her rights were maintained
at all hazards. The following instructions were given to
the delegates from the people, being found among the old
surviving papers of John McKnitt Alexander. He is the
author of them, dated ist September, 1776.)
Instructions for the delegates of Mecklenburg county :
"i. You are instructed to vote that the late province of
North Carolina is and of right ought to be, a free and inde-
pendent State, invested with all the powers of legislation,
(u,
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 35
capable of making laws to regulate all its internal policy,
subject only in its external connections, and foreigfn com-
merce, to a negative of a Continental Senate.
"2. You are instructed to vote for the execution of a Civil
Government under the authority of the people for the future
security of all the rights, privileges and prerogatives of the
State, and the private, natural and unalienable rights of the
constituting members thereof, either as men or Christians.
If this shoidd not be confirmed in Congress or Convention,
protest.
"3. You are instructed to vote that an equal representa-
tion' be established, and that the qualifications required to
enable any person or persons to have a voice in legislation,
may not be secured too hig'h. but that every freeman who
shall be called upon to support government either in person
or property, may be admitted thereto. If this should not
be confirmed, protest and remonstrate.
"4. You are instructed to vote that legislation be not a
divided right, and that no man, or body of men be invested
with a negative on the voice of the people duly collected, and
that no honors or dignities be conferred, for life, or made
hereditary, on any person or persons, either legislative or
executive. If this should not be confirmed, protest and re-
monstrate.
"5. You are instructed to vote that all and every person
or persons seized or po'Ssessed of any estate, real or personal,
agreeable to the last establishment, be confirmed in their
seizure and possession, to all intents and purposes in law,
who have not forfeited their right to the protection of the
State by their criminal practices towards the same. If this
should no be confirmed — protest.
"6. Yon are instructed to vote that deputies to represent
this State in a Continental Congress be appointed in and by
the supreme legislative body of the State, the form of nom-
ination to be submitted to, if free, and also that all officers
the influence of whose is equally to extend to every part of
the State, be appointed in the same manner and form — like-
36 HISTORY OF
wise give your consent to the establishing the old political
divisions, if it should be voted in convention, or to new ones
if similar. On such establishments taking place, you are
instructed to vote, in the general, that all officers who are to
exercise their authority in any of said districts, be recom-
mended to the trust only by the freemen of said division' —
to be subject, however, to the general laws and regulations
of the State. If this should not be substantially confirmed —
protest.
"7. You are instructed to move and insist that the people
you immediately represent be acknowledged toi be a distinct
county of this State as formerly of the late province, with
the additional privileges of annually electing in their own
officers, both civil and military, together with the election
of clerks and sheriffs, by the freemen of the same. The
choice to be confirmed by the sovereign authority of the
State, and the officers so invested to be under the jurisdic-
tion of the State and liable to its cognizance and inflictions
in case of malpractice. If this should not be confirmed,
protest and remonstrate.
"8. You are instructed to vote that no Chief Justice, no
Secretary of State, no Auditor-General, no Surveyor-Gen-
eral, no practicing lawyer, no clerk of any court of record,
no Sheriff, and no person holding a military office in this
State, shall be a representative of the people in Congress
or Convention. If this should not be confirmed — contend
for it.
"9. You are instructed to vote that all claims against the
public, except such as accrue upon attendance of Congress or
Convention, be first submitted to the inspection of a commit-
tee of nine or more men, inhabitants of the county where
said claimant is a resident, and without the approbation of
said committee, it shall not be accepted by the public, for
which purpose you are to move and insist that a law be en-
acted to empower the freemen of each county to choose a
committee of not less than nine men, of whom none are to
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 37
be military officers. If this should not be confirmed — pro-
test and remonstrate.
''lo. You are instructed to refuse to enter into any com-
bination of secrecy as members of Cong-ress or Convention,
and also refuse to subscribe any ensnaring jests binding you
to an unlimited subjection to the determination of Conigress
or Convention.
"i I. You are instructed to move and insist that the public
accounts fairly stated shall be regularly kept in proper
books, open to the inspection of all persons whom it may
concern*. If this should not be confirmed' — contend for it.
"i2. You are instructed to move and insist that the power
of County Courts be much more extensive than under the
former Constitution, both with respect to matters of prop-
erty and breaches of the peace. If not confirmed — contend
for it.
"13. You are instructed to assent and' cou'sent to the es-
tablishment of the Christian religion as contained in the
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and more briefly
comprised in the thirty-nine articles of the Church of Eng-
land, excluding the 37th Article, together with all the arti-
cles excepted and not to be irhposed on dissenters by the
act of toleration, and clearly held forth in the Confession
of Faith compiled by the assembly of divines at Westmini-
ster, to be the religion of the State, to the utter exclusion
forever of all and every other (falsely, so-called) religion,
whether Pagan or Papal, and that the full, free and peace-
able enjoyment thereof be secured to all and every constitu-
ent member of the State as their unalienable right as free-
men, without the imposition of rites and ceremonies,
whether claiming civil or ecclesiastic power for their source,
and that a confession and profession of the religion so es-
tablished' shall be necessary in qualifying any person for
public trust in the State. If this should not be confirmed —
protest and remonstrate.
"14. You are instructed to oppose to the utmost any par-
ticular church or set of clergymen being invested with power
38 HISTORY OF
to decree rites and ceremonies and to decide in controversies
of faith to be submitted to under the influence of penal laws;
you are also to oppose the establishment of any mode of
worship to be supported to the opposition of the rights of
conscience, together with the destruction of private property.
You are to understand that under modes of worship are
comprehended the dijfferent forms of swearing by law re-
quired. You are moreover to oppose the establishing of an
ecclesiastic supremacy in the sovereign authority of the
State. You are to oppose the toleration of the popish idola-
trous worship. If this should not be confirmed, protest and
remonstrate.
"15. You are instructed to move and insist that not less
than four-fifths of the body of which you are members shall,
in voting, be deemed a majority. If this should not be con-
firmed, contend for it.
"16. You are instructed to give your voices to an<i for
every motion and bill made or brought into the Congress or
Convention, where they appear to be for public utility and
in no way repugnant to the above instruction.
"17. Gentlemen, the foregoing instructions you are not
only to look on as instructive, but as charges to which you
are desired to take special heed as the general rule of your
conduct as our representatives, and we expect you will exert
yourselves to the utmost of your ability to obtain the pur-
poses given you in charge, and wherein you fail either in ob-
taining or opposing, you are hereby ordered to enter your
protest against the vote of Congress or Convention as is
pointed out to you in the above instructions."
Never was there advice more timely given than is re-
corded in the above seventeen paragraphs, by John McKnitt
Alexander, the secretary of the noted and eminently patri-
otic Convention, that cut loose all the bonds that united us
with England, the first convention of the kind ever held in
America or the world. The declaration issued by this Con-
vention is the admiration of the present generation, and will
be of generations to the end of time — the first Declaration
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 39
of Independence in America. At a hasty view, this declara-
tion made by a colony on the Western frontier of our Ameri-
can province, may seem rash and unreasonable; but when
the race and the creed of the people, and their habits, are
taken into consideration, we wonder at their forbearance.
This classic declaration expressed a deep settled purpose,
which the ravages of the British army, in succeeding" years,
could not shake. Neither the Cong-ress of tbe United Prov-
inces, then in session, nor the Congress of the Province of
North Carolina, which assembled in August of the same
year, were prepared to second the declaration of Mecklen*-
burg", though the latter appointed commiittees of safety in
all the counties, similar to the committee of Mecklenburg.
The papers of the Convention were preserved by the secre-
tary, John McKnitt Alexander, till the year 1800, when they
were destroyed, with his dwelling, by fire. But the Rev.
Mumpihrey Hunter and Gen. Graham, who both had heard
the Declaration read' on. the 20th of May, 1775, had ob-
tained copies, which had been preserved, and Mr. Alexan^
der gave one himself to Gen. Davie sometime previous to
the fire.
The reason for the obscurity in which the proceedings of
the Convention in Charlotte were for a time buried may be
found in the facts — first, the cotmty in which they took place
was far removed from any large seaport or trading city;
was a frontier, rich in soil and productions, and men, but
poor in money; with no person that had attracted public
notice, like the Lees and Henry, of Virginia, for eloquence ;
or like Hancock, of Massachusetts, for dignity in a public
assembly, or Jefferson, for political acumen; and, second,
the National Declaration in 1776, with the war that fol-
lowed, so completely absorbed the minds of the whole nation
that efforts of the few, however patriotic, were cast into the
shade. In the joy of National Independence, the particular
l>art any man or body of men may have acted, was over-
looked ; and in the bright scenes spread out before a young
republic, the colonial politics s'hared the fate of the soldiers
40 HISTORY OF
and officers that bore the fatigues and endured the miseries
of the seven years' war.
Men were too eagfer to enjoy liberty and push their specu-
lations to become rich, to estimate the worth of those
patriots whose history will be better known by next genera-
tion, and whose honors will be duly appreciated.
Some publications were made on this subject in the
Raleigh Register in 1819, and for a time public attention
w-as drawn to the subject in different parts of the country-.
About the year 1830,, some publications were made, call-
ing in question the authenticity of the document as being
neither a true paper, nor a paper of a true convention. Dr.
Joseph McKnitt Alexander, a son of the old secretary, in-
heriting much of the spirit of his father, felt himself moved
to defend the honor of his father and the noble men that
were associated in the county of Mecklenburg. Letters
were addressed to different individuals who either had taken
a part in the spirited transactions of 1775, or had beeni spec-
tators of those scenes that far outstripped in patriotic daring
the State at large, or even the Congress assembled in Phila-
delphia. The attention of all the survivors of revolutionary
times was awakened ; their feelings were aroused, and they
came on all sides to the rescue of those men who had pledged
''their lives, their fortunes, and their most sacred honor."
The Rev. Humphrey Hunter, \Vho had preached in Steel
Creek many years, within a few miles of Charlotte, and for
a number of years in Unity and Goshen, in Lincoln county,
sent to the son a copy of the Declaration, together with a
history of the Convention, of which he was an eye witness.
Gen. Graham, who had grown up near Charlotte, had been
high sheriff of the county, and was an actor in the Revolu-
tion, and an eye-witness of the Convention, did the same.
Captain Jack, who carried the Declaration to Philadelphia,
gave his solemn asseveration to the facts as an eye-witness
of the Convention, and as its messenger to Congress. Jdhn
Davidson, a member of the Convention, gave his solemn tes-
timony, writing from memory, and not presenting copy of
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 4I
the doings, but asserting the facts and general principles
of the Convention. He also had a son born on the 20th of
May 1787 — the twelfth anniversary, whom he called "In-
dependent Ben," in honor of the day. The Rev. Dr. Cum-
mins, who had been educated at Queen's Museum, in Char-
lotte, and was a student at the time of the Convention!, af-
firmed that repeated meetings were held in the hall of
Queen's Museum by the leading men in Mecklenburg, dis-
cussing the business to be brought before the Convention
when assembled. Colonel Polk, of Raleigh, wlio was a
youth at the time, and who repeatedly read over the paper
to different circles on that interesting occasion, affirmed and
defended the doings of his father, at whose call, by unani-
mous consent, the delegates assembled. Many less known
to the public, sent their recollections of the events of the 19th
and 20th of May.
Mrs. Susan Smart, whose maiden name was Barnett, was
born between Charlotte and Pineville, afterwards married
Smart. When this noted convention met in Charlotte, she
being 13 years old, was present with every one else able to
get there, and bore witness to the enthusiasm of the crowd
in "throwing up of hats," many of them falling on house
roofs, where it was difficult to get them down.
The Celebration of the 20th of May, 1775. in the
Yestr 1825, and Wha^t Took Place on that
DoLte.
A description of a celebration of the 20th of May as given
in the Catawba Journal, Charlotte, 1825, which was a
v/eekly paper published under the direction of Lemuel Bing-
ham. The description is as follows :
Charlotte, Tuesday, May 1825. — Mecklenburg Independence.
"The celebration which took place in this town on the 20th
instant was equal to, if it did not surpass, anything- of the
kind ever before witnessed here. The day was fine and
not uncomfortably warm, and at an early hour a large con-
course of people, strangers and citizens, had assembled to
honor the day. At 1 1 o'clock a. m. a procession was formed
under the direction of Col. Thomas G. Polk, on^ the street
south of the court house. Capt. Kennedy's company of
cavalry and the Fayetteville Artillery, under the com^mand
of Capt. Thomas Polk, in front, citizens and strangers next,
and lastly, a band of Revolutionary veterans, sixty or
seventy in number, wearing badges with the figures '75
stamped on them. The procession then moved to the Pres-
byterian church, which, though spacious, was crowded to
overflowing, and mimbers found it impossible to procure
seats. The exercises at the church commenced with prayer,
replete with genuine piety and ardent patriotism, by the
venerable Dr. Humphrey Hunter. This was succeeded by
appropriate music from the band, after which the Declara-
tion of Independence by the citizens of Mecklenburg was
read by the same reverend gentleman. An oration was then
pronounced by Mr. Monson, which rivetted the attention
of the audience and caused tears to trickle down the fur-
rowed cheeks of numbers of the war-worn and hoary-headed
MKCKLENBURG COUNTY. 43
veterans. Tlie orator did ample justice to his subject. He
depicted in animated colors the undaunted patriotism of our
forefathers, whom no difficulties could dishearten, no terrors
dismay, no privations subdue; v^ho, looking" only to the jus-
tice of their cause and the wrongs they had received, indig"-
nantly renounced their allegiance to a government w'hose
protection was felt only in the injuries which it inflicted,
and whose paternal regard was evinced only in systematic
attempts to wrest from them all that they held valuable as
nien who claimed freedom as a birthright and to reduce
them to a stage of bondage worse than death. His address
to the patriotic band w'hose venerable forms were before
him, and whose snowy locks and bended frames formed such
a striking contrast to the picture he had sketched of their
youthful strength and vigor, was peculiarly appropriate and
pathetic, and excited emotions in every breast which miay
be easily imagined, but not described. The address, in
short, was well conceived and happily executed, and we re-
gret that it will not be in our power to lay it before our
readers, as the author has declined the request of the com-
mittee to furnish a copy for publication. The exercises
at the church were closed with music and discharges of can-
non, and the Revolutionary veterans returned in procession,
escorted by the military.
"No one present at this celebration could have been en-
tirely unmoved by the recollections and associations con-
nected with it. The occasion was peculiarly calculated to
produce an intensity of feeling, and to elicit reflections at
once pleasurable and profitable. It w^as the fiftieth anni-
versary of an event of which the citizens of Mecklenburg,
without the imputation of vanity, might justly be proud; it
was a fit occasion of joy and gratitude, rejoicing and praise;
but at the same time the reflection could not but arise in
many a bosom that but few, very few, of the numbers then
assembled to commemorate it, would live to witness its re-
turn. Fifty years hence, and of the multitude then present,
the greater part will be reposing beneath the clods of the
44 HISTORY OF
valley; dust will have returned to dust, and the spirit to Him
who g^ave it.
Such a reflection was well calculated to moderate the feel-
inig"s, to induce a soberness of mirth, and to impart an in-
terest to the scene at once peculiar and impressive. About
4 o'clock p. m., a large number sat down to a dinner pre-
pared by Dr. Henderson, in the beautiful grove on the col-
lege green. Gen. George Gra'ham officiated as president,
and Mr. Isaac Alexander as vice president. After the clotb
was removed, the following toasts were drunk, interspersed
with patriotic songs and accompanied with discharges of
cannon :
1. "The day we celebrate." On that day the republican
banners were unfurled in Charlotte, independence declared
by the patriotic citizens of Mecklenburg, absolving them-
selves from all allegiance to Great Britain. May the noble
deed be engraven on the hearts of all present, and the guilded
pages of history transmit it to posterity.
2. "The patriots who signed the Mecklenburg Declara-
tion of Independence, the 20th of May, 1775." We honor
them for their firmness, love them' for their virtues and ven-
erate them for their patriotism.
3. "The memory of those heroes of Lexington, Mass.,
who first sealed the broken covenant with their blood, and
absolved all allegiance with mother Britain."
4. "Onr country and our government." The genius of
Columbus, the patriotism of Washington, the philosophy of
Franklin, the wisdom of Jefferson and compatriots, have
erected a fabric that will last till time shall be no more.
5. "The heroes of the Revolution." While we hold in
sacred remembrance those that are gathered to their fathers,
let us not fail to cherish in our heart's core the scattered
remnants that yet survive.
6. "The Presidents of the United S'tates." An able
statesman, may the administration prove that the confidence
of Congress was not misplaced.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 45
7. ''The descendants of the patriotic members of the
Alecklenburg delegation who declared independence."
Let no mean hope your souls enslave,
Independent, generous, brave.
Your fathers such examples g-ave —
And such revere.
8. "Popular elections." There purity and frequency are
the best security for the safety of our republican institutions
and the strong-est barrier against the encroachments of
tyranny.
9. ''Internal improvements.*'
10. "Andrew Jackson." He has filled the measure of
his country's story; he is the friend of the people — the peo-
ple are his friends.
11. "Bolivia and the independent provinces of South
America."
12. "Washington and Lafayette."
13. "The Fair Sex." Beauty and booty, the war cry of
slavery — protection to beauty, the watchword of freemen.
By Dr. James G. M. Ramsay, of Tennessee: "Gen.
Thomas Polk and Dr. Ephraim Brevard." — The first
bosoms that ever glowed with the joyous anticipation of
American independence.
By Wm. Davidson, Esq: "Henry Clay." — ^The great
orator of the west, an able statesman and independent as h
man — shielded by virtuous patriotism, he is impregnable to
the shafts of malice.
By Col. T. G. Polk : "The political prospects of Henry
Clay."
Like the dew on the mountain,
Like the foam on the river,
Like the bubble on the fountain —
They are gone and forever.
By the Hon. H. W. Conner : "General William David-
son," who fell at Cowan's Ford, bravely fighting for the
rights and liberties of his country.
46 HISTORY OP
By J. H. Blake, Esq. : "Henry Clay." — Tlie undaunted
champion of universal liberty.
By Capt. Thomas I. Polk : "The next President of the
United States."
By L. H. Alexander: "Andrew Jackson and Wm. H.
Crawford."
Copied from the same journal of May 24, 1825.
"The fiftieth anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration
of Independence was celebrated in this place on the 20th in-
stant. Not being able to procure a copy O'f the toasts in
season for this week's paper, and other causes intervening
to render a postponement necessary, we s'hall defer a partic-
ular account of the proceedings until our next, barely men-
tioning at this timie that the celebration throughout was
worthy the occasion and honorable to the public spirit and
patriotism of Mecklenburg. The "toasts" indicate the
presence in this semi-centennial celebration of men of both
parties, who, however much they differed on other matters,
seemed to have met on common ground. Of the partici-
pants in these memorial ceremonies a large number appear
to have been old soldiers of the Revolution."
At that date, as I ascertain by a paragraph in the Journal
of May 10, 1825, the only survivor of those who issued the
resolutions of May 20th was David Reese, then living in
Cabarrus. It is also evident that the 20th of May 'had been
commemorated in a similar manner in previous years.
A Historica.1 Fa.ct Not Gei\era.lly Known.
The fate of the original Declaration of Independence, en-
acted in Charlotte on the 20th of May, 1775, to be of
any historical importance, is not without its parallel in his-
tory, for in an article by W. L. Stone, in the July number of
Harper's Magazine (1883) we find the following recited on
the subject of signing of the Declaration of Independence
of July 4, 1776:
"In thinking of that instrument, one is apt to call up be-
fore him an august assemblage gravely seated around a
table, with declaration spread out upon it, and each member
of the Continental Congress in turn taking a pen and with
great dignity affixing to it his name. Nothing, however,
can be further from that which actually took place, very few
of the delegates, if indeed any, signed the original document
on the 4th, and none signed the present one now in Inde-
pendence Hall, for the very good reason that it was not then
in existence.
"On July 19th, Congress voted that the Declaration be
engrossed on parchment. Jefferson, however, says that
New York signed on July 15th. Consequently, New York
must have signed the original Declaration before it had
gone into the hands of the engrosser. On what day the
work was done by the copyist, is not known. All that is
certainly known, is that on August 2nd Congress had the
document as engrossed. This is the document in existence
now in Independence Hall. It is on parchment or some-
thing that the trade calls parchment. On that day (August
2nd) it was signed by all the members present. The origi-
nal Declaration is lost, or rather was probably purposely de-
stroyed by Congress. All the signatures were made anew.
When the business of signing was ended, is not known.
One, Matthew Thornton, from New Hampshire, signed it
in November, when he became a member for the first time.
48 HISTORY OF
And Thomas McKean, from Delaware, as he says himself,
did not sign till January, 1777. Indeed, this signing was,
in effect, what at the present day would be called a 'test
oath." The principles of many of the new delegates coming
into Congress from the different States, were not known
with certainty — some of them might be Tories in disguise —
and thus each one was required, on first entering Congress,
to sign the Declaration. In January, 1777, an authenti-
cated copy, with the names of all the signers, was sent to
each State for signatures — a fact which may have put a stop
to the business of signing. It shows, however, the little in>
portance that was attached to this ceremony, that Robert R.
Livingston was one of the committee of five that reported
the Declaration, and yet did not sign it, unless his signature
is lo'St with the original document.
"The truth is the Declaration of Independence was con-
sidered at that time of much less importance than now, nor
did the signers dream of its becoming a shrine almost of
worship at the present day. It was like the Scottish Cov-
enants of the previous century, which so strongly tinctured
the Mecklenburg Declaration of May 20, 1775."
The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is so well
authenticated that it takes a man of more than ordinary
nerve power to deny, in the presence of the descendants of
those great and good men, who sat at the feet of Alexainider
Craighead and learned of him those Bible and political truths
that were established with the freedom and independence of
our happy country. Bancroft says : "The first public voice
in America for dissolving all connection with Great Britain,
came not from the Puritans of New England, the Dutch of
New York, nor the planters of Virginia, but from Scotch-
Irish Presbyterians."
Rev. Alexander Craighead exercised a most wonderful
influence in Mecklenburg county — before the county was
laid off — both for Church and State. In 1755 he and his
friends came to Rocky River and Sugar Creek, and there he
taught the people the great truths of the Gospel and o-f
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 49
Liberty, which are indissolubly connected. Presbyterian^
ism and RepubHcanism best flouish together. In the de-
cayed monarchies of Europe, the hard and rigorous laws by
which the people are held under priestcraft, are inimical
to the growth of free governments. Mr. Craighiead was
the main leader in building the seven first churches in this
county. They were all established about 1762, but it is
more than probable that they had stands, or groves, for
three or five years earlier. "Over twenty of the members
of the Convention of Charlotte, who on May 20, 1775, pro-
<luced the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence,
were connected with the seven Presbyterian churches of the
county, two of which were Rocky River and Sugar Creek.
From these two the other five took "life and being." Such
were the men who, when informed of the troubles "to the
eastward," rallied to the cry : "The cause of Boston is the
cause of all."
With Craighead they held that the right of the people
were as divine as the rights of kings, for their fathers, and
they themselves had often listened in rapt attention to his
thrilling eloquence, and felt as if himself were he on whose
sole arm hung victory. Although Mr. Craighead died be-
fore the convention of May 20, 1775, at Charlotte, yet to
the whole American Nation should revere his memory as the
fearless champion of those principles of civil and religious
freedom, which they now enjoy, and which first found ex-
pression from his old comrades in the immortal Declara-
tion, the true date of which, in the language of another,
"Has been as clearly established as the given name of any
citizen then living in the county."
The Rev. Dr. A. W. Miller in a sermon delivered at
Charlotte on May 14, 1876, most truthfully used the follow-
ing language :
"If to the people of Mecklenburg county Providence as-
signed the foremost position in the ranks of patriots, a cen-
tury ago, let them never cease to hallow the memory of
that illustrious hero, the Rev. Alexander Craighead, who
50 HISTORY OF
prepared them for it, at so great toil and pain, and for years
and years diligently sowed the seed that produced the glo-
rious harvest. No ordinary work was given him to do, and
no ordinary training and discipline fitted him for it.
"Deeply imbibing the spirit of the Scottish Covenant,
contending earnestly for the descending obligations of those
covenants upon all w^hose ancestors were parties to the same,
and insisting upon making the adoption of the solemn
League and Covenant a term of communion for members
of the church in the colonial as well as the mother country,
testifying continually to the Headship of Christ over the
State, and the responsibility of all kings and rulers to Him,
a failure of whose allegiance to Him would forfeit the alle-
giance of the people to them; proclaiming everywhere these
good old doctrines, with a fidelity, and a courage, and a
zeal, and a constancy, that ought to have secured sympathy
and commanded admiration. Instead of this, he expe-
rienced the usual fate of those who are in advance of the
age. He was opposed, resisted, denounced as an extremist
and ultra reformer, calumniated as an agitor, and even cen-
sured by the General Synod of the Presbyterian Church.
It was not until he came to North Carolina that he found
a congenial element which he could mould and train success-
fully in devotion to principles bearing fruit in splendid
achievements, which now, at this anniversary season, in an-
other city, are commanding the homage of the representa-
tives of the world — so successfully trained — that Charlotte
occupied the front rank more than a year in advance of Phil-
adelphia, the latter on May 20, 1775, counselling submis-
sion, the former declaring independence, and so Mecklen-
burg became the leader of the land."
Amiong the notable celebrities of Mecklenburg county
was Susan Smart — nee Barnett — remarkable for her great
age and her accurate and vivid recollections of the events
of the Revolution. Her father was John Barnett, who
imigrated from Ireland, and who married Ann, the daughter
of Thomas Spratt, one of the earliest settlers of this county.
MECKLKNEURG COUNTY. 5I
Thomas Spratt was the first who crossed the Yadkin river
with a wag-on ; and tiie first court ever held in Mecklenburg
county was convened at his house. Susan Barnett was
born in 1761, and her sister Mary was the first white child
born between the two rivers, the Catawba and the Yadkin.
She married Capt. Thomas Jack, who has been previously
spoken of. Capt. Jack was the bearer of the Mecklenburg
Declaration of May 20, 1775, to the Continental Congress
at Philadelphia. Mrs. Smart was present at Charlotte on
this glorious occasion, and many persons now living- have
listened with great pleasure to her glowing and graphic
accoimts of the enthusiasm which perv^aded the whole com-
munity. It was truly a day of "throwing up of hats,"
many of which she stated, fell on the roof of the court house.
Miss Susan Barnett married in 1775, Georg'e W. Smart,
who died in May, 1809. The house she occupied was built
by him. She had always been in the habit of entertaining
travelers, as she lived on the public road. William H.
Crawford always stopped at her house on his way to and
from Washing-ton, and was highly esteemed by her. She
used to say, "I have rarely been from home, but I have
known well two of our Presidents, Andrew Jackson and
James K. Polk. Little Jimmy Polk used to pass along- this
road often to school, barefooted, with his breeches rolled
up to his knees. He was a mighty bashful little fellow."
Georg-e W. Smart was elected to the Legislature in
i8o4-'5-'6, served three terms, and had for his colleag-ues
Gen. George Graham and Judge Samuel Lowrie. Meck-
lenburg had giants in those days.
The Wa^r q/ 1812-1814.
The war between England and the United States was
caused by English sailors deserting their vessels and ap-
plying for positions ini America's merchantmen. The
English Government claimed the right to search American
ships for their deserters. This was resisted, and war re-
sulted, which lasted till the 8th of January, 1815, when
Jackson won his signal victory at New Orleans. This is not
the time or place to give history other than what pertains to
our county, but will run the risk of adverse criticism.
The six New England States were opposed to this war,
and refused to give either men or money to prosecute it ; and
towards the close they determined that if the government
did not stop the war they zvould secede. (If secession was
right in 1814, what was wrong with it in 1861 ?) We wish
to perpetuate the memory of those who were patriotic
enough to fight for the United States, hence we insert the
roster of Mecklenburg's five companies that participated in
the war of 1812-1814.
SEVENTH COMPANY.
{Detached from the First Mecklenburg Regiment.}
Douglass, Joseph, Captain; Kary, Wm. M., Lieutenant; Walker,
Wm., Ensign; Brevard, Hamden, First Sergeant; Gibony, David,
Second Sergeant; Brown, Samuel, Third Sergeant ; Barrett, Wm. M.,
Fourth Sergeant; Allen, Thomas, First Corporal: Solon, John, Sec-
ond Corporal; Pitt, Isaac V., Third Corporal; Duckworth, Robert,
Fourth Corporal.
Private Harrison, Adam, Todd, Hugh,
Wiley, Hugh, Elliott, Hugh,
Moore, James, .limison, Arthur,
Caldwell, John, Parish, Nicholas,
Hood, Junius, Walker, Andrew,
Alexander, David, Rod en, Upton,
Parker, James, Wilson, David B.,
Wallace, Matthew, Love, Joseph,
McRea, Thomas, Cunningham, Jacob I.,
• Phillips, John, Harris, Hugh.
Farr, Henry, Alexander, Eli,
MKCKLENBURG COUNTY.
53
Johnston, Mitchell,
Lucas, Allen,
Downy, William,
Graham, Samuel,
Bushbey, Will..
Shepherd, Thomas,
Lane, Andrew M.,
Worsham, Alexander,
Weir, Howard,
Sullivan, William,
Beaty, Isaac,
Bingham, Joseph,
Sharply, William,
Greggs, Hugh,
Erwin, Francis,
Mason Richard,
Elliott, John B.,
Darnell, John L.,
Cameron, William,
Hutchison, Samuel J.,
Clark, Joshua,
Hutchison, James,
McLure, John,
Darnell, John.,
Thompson, Benjamin,
Moore, Alexander,
Smith, Alexander,
Darnell, William,
Darnell, David,
Sloan, Allen,
Fat, John,
Ferret, John,
Henderson, David,
Garreston, Arthur,
Robertson, Will.,
Summimer, James,
Solomon, Drury,
Holmes, Hugh,
McLilie, ,
Stevenson, Hugh,
Munteeth, William,
Scott, Will.
Alexander, Palan. — 76.
EIGHTH COIMPANY.
{Detached from the Second Mecklenburg Regiment.)
Wood, Robert. Captain; Shever, Jacob, Lieutenant; Mape, Peter.
Second Lieutenant; Wilson, John, Ensign; Flenigan, William, First
Sergeant; Hooker, .John, Second Sergeant; Barns, John, Third Ser-
geant; Watson, .Tames, Fourth Sergeant; Hammons, John, First
Corporal; Dafter, Obed, Second Corporal; John, Will, Third Cor-
poral; Hart, Charles, Fourth Corporal; Stewart, Allen, Drummer;
Rice, John, Fifer.
Private Walker, James,
Brown, John,
Flenigan, Robert,
Sharp, William,
Flenigan, Elias,
Cheek, Randolph,
Flanigan, Samuel E.,
McCallok, Elias,
Stewart. W. Andrew,
Wiley, Samuel,
John, Ash,
Sharp, Cunningham.
Wiatt, John,
Black, John,
Benbow, Paten,
Bryan, Joseph,
Purvis, Antheris.
Clontz, Henry.
Crowell. Charles,
Cuthbertson, John,
Lemmon, Wm. L.,
Flow, John,
Starns, Jacob,
Bold, Robert,
McLoyd, Daniel,
McReley, Roderick,
Stunford. Moses,
Broom, Allen,
Lancey. Charles,
None, John,
Belk, Brelon,
Holden, Samuel,
Prifley, Valentine,
Flenigan. Michael,
Moser, Henry,
Coughran, Eli,
Robei-tson, James,
Redford, William,
Shanon, Robert.
Barns, William,
Morris, Solomon,
Pirant, William.
54
HISTORY OF
Pool. William,
-— Jesse Yandles,
Rea, Will,
Henley, Thomas,
Ormand, Samuel,
Fobes, John,
Ormand, Adam,
Howai-d, Lewis,
McCorcle, John,
Levey, Will M.,
Thompson, James,
Long, John,
Miller, Thomas,
Givens, Samuel,
Martin, William.— 71.
NINTH COMPANY.
(Detached from the Second Mecklenburg Regiment.')
Qarretson, John, Captain; Wiley, Isaac, Lieutenant ; Sims, Nathan-
iel, Ensign: Lawyer, Archibald, First Sergeant; Dixon, Ire. B., /Sec-
ond Sergeant; Smith, William, Third Sergeant; Kimmons Joro,
Fourth Sergeant; Mays, William, First Corporal; Holbrooks, John,
Second Corporal; Kiser, Frederick, Third Corporal; Grady, Andrew
il.,Fourt7i Corporal; Kenty, George, Drummer; J slcoout, John, Fifer.
Priyate Irwin, John,
Harris, Samuel H.,
Ross, James,
Harris, Houston,
Alexander, John,
Harris, Isaac,
Alexander, Laird,
Campbell, Cyrus,
Cochran, Robert M.,
Morrison, John,
Morrison, Robert C,
McCain, Hugh,
Bost, Daniel,
House, Jacob,
Miller, Henry,
Rinehart, Jacob,
Rowe, Henry,
Bost, Michael,
Light, John,
Carrigan, Robert, Sr.,
Carrigan, Robert, Jr.,
Gayler, Theophilus,
Carrell, John,
Hamilton, Joseph,
Houston, David,
iNeels, Andrew,
Neele, James,
Flemming, George,
Icehour, Martin,
Dove, George,
Smith, William,
Linker, George,
Smith, Daniel,
Barnhard, John,
Fink, Son,
Carriher, Andrew,
P1nk, Phillip,
Taylous, John S.,
Johnston, John,
Johnston, Rufus,
Black, David H.,
Black, John,
Biggers, Johnston N.
Newitt, William,
Right, George,
Gilmore, Josiah,
Martin, Edward,
Kelley, William,
Wines, William,
Keelough, Ebenezer,
Hall, James,
Gaugus, Jacob,
Goodnight, John,
Adam, Freeze,
Fereland, John,
Click, John,
Chapie, Jesse,
Sneed, Keuben,
Goodman, John.
McGraw, James,
Walter, Charles,
Shank, Martin,
Luther, Daniel,
Simmon, Jacob. — 78.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
55
MUSTKR BOLL.
Of the Detached Militia, Organized in August, JSl/f.
Montford Stokes, Major-Oeneral; Jeremiah Slade and J. A. Pear-
son, Brigadier-Generals.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY TROOPS — FIRST REGIMENT.
Wilson, James, Captain; Boyd, Thomas, Esq., First Lieutenant;
Blacwood, Joseph, Second Lieutenant ; Price, Isaac, Third Lieuten-
ant; Hutchison, Charles, Ensign.
PriTate Carson, William,
Winens, John,
Garner, Bazilla,
McCombs, James,
Bamett, John,
McKelvia, William,
Hawkins, John,
Barnett, Amos,
Alexander, Ezekiel,
Shelvey, William,
Harrison, John C,
Means, James,
Hope, Thomas,
Caldwell, Robert,
Price, John,
Parkes, John, Sen.,
.Johnston, Samuel, Jr.,
Wallis, William, jr.,
Wallis, Matthew, Jr.,
Parks, Samuel,
CaldweL, Robert, Jr.,
Wynns, Ann,
Sadler, John,
Barnhill, John,
Julin, Jacob,
Henderson, James,
Love, Christopher,
McCracken, Elisha,
Dunn, Robert, Jr.,
Parish, Andrew M.,
Dunn, William,
Lewing, Andrew, Jr.,
Perry, Francis,
Farra, John,
Lewing, John,
Carothers, James,
Dinkins, James,
Bingham, Robert, Jr.,
Johnston, John,
Johnston, William,
'Neely, Samuel,
Reed, David,
Whitesides, Joseph,
Miles, Augustus,
West, Matthew,
Connel, Thomas,
Benhill. William,
McKnight, Robert,
Michael, Baker,
Baker, Abei,
McDowell, Hugh,
Kerr, William,
Foard, John,
Baker, Aaron,
Walker, Andrew,
Porter, James,
Beaty, John,
oigham, Samuel,
Pelt. Simon \ .,
Beaty, John,
Jackson, Peavon,
Blackburn, John,
Wilson, John, Jr.,
Brown. John,
Norman, Wm. S.,
Baxter, Daniel,
Wilson, Benjamin,
Elliott, Thomas,
Conner, James,
Davis, Daniel,
Elliotr, William,
Hartly, Richard,
jjuckworth, GTeorge,
Meek, James,
Alexander, James,
Jones, Joel,
Sloan, James,
Morrison, Isaac, Jr.,
Parker, John,
Mentith, James,
Williams, Joseph,
Prim, Andrew,
Osborne, Robert A.,
White, John,
Chanels, Michael,
Steel, John,
McKellerand, Joseph,
Goforth, George,
56
HISTORY OF
Alexander, John D.,
Ferrell, Gabriel,
Irwin, Giles,
Ferrell, John,
Wallis, Joseph,
Hunter, Henry, Jr.,
Ferrell, William,
Steel, James,
Gray, Nelson,
Montgomery, Robert,
Peoples, Richard,
Braddy, james A. — 105.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY — SECOND BEGIMENT.
Moore, David. Captain; Wilson, John, First Lieutenant: Reed,
Solomon, Second Lieutenant; Williams, John, Third Lieutenant;
Alexander, Albertes, Ensign.
Private Barfleet, Richard,
McCall, Matthew,
McCall, James,
Thompson, Henry,
Stewart, Alexander,
Cherry, William,
Robertson, James,
Yandles, Samuel,
Harbeson, James,
Shelbey, William,
Freeman, Gideon,
Morrison, John,
Allen, John,
Forsythe. John,
Barnes, James,
Purser, Moses,
Barns, Micajah,
Wilkinson, Osburn,
Allen, Robert,
Vinsent, Groves,
Helmes, William,
Helmes, Charles,
Stams, Frederic,
Starns, Nathaniel,
Shehorn, Morris,
Yerby, William,
Rone, James,
Belk, John,
Rich, Daniel,
Junderbusk, John,
Flowers, Henry,
Ya,ndles, David B.,
Alexander, Salamacnus,
Alexander, Abdon,
Smart, Osburn,
Smart, Elisha,
McCulIock, John,
Cook, Robert,
Hanson, Steven,
Craig, Moses,
McCoy, William,
Howard, Robert,
Woodall, vVilliam,
Gray, Jacob,
Howie, Aaron,
King, Andrew,
jb'insher, Joshua,
Rape, Samuel,
Rener, Samuel,
HamDleton, James,
Vick, Moses,
Phillips, John,
Train, James,
Berns, George,
Fisher, William,
Button, Daniel,
McAlroy, Hugh,
Ivey, Jesse,
Hanley, John,
Spravey, Benjamin,
Reed, Joseph,
Karr, Aaam,
Matthews, john.
Parks, George,
Reed, William,
Downs, William,
Taylor, "Wilson,
Maglauchlin, Joseph,
Maygeehee, William,
Hargett, Henry,
Hargett, William,
Helmer, Joel,
Crowell, John,
Chainey, Peter,
Harkey, David,
Tuter, George,
Stilwell, Elias,
Morrison, James,
Harkey, John,
Rogers, James,
Harrison, Robert,
Hodge, John,
Lambert, Richard,
fa.tory, David W.,
Tomberlin, Moses,
Reak, Edward,
MI'CKIvKNBURG COUNTY. 57
Morrison, Neel, Dennis, Charles,
Costley, James, Neel, Samuel,
Cochran, Thomas S., Fuller, John,
Houston, Wm., Jr., — ~ Shaw, James,
Cochran, Robert, Webb, Lewis,
Wilson, Hugh, Story, James, Sen. — 105
Hood, Reuben,
The younger clas.s of those who may see proper to pertise
this History of Mecklenburg-, cannot but see that this
glorious county has always done her duty when the honor
of the country Avas assailed, or our liberties were in jeop-
ardy. She promptly sent forward 425 men, and partici-
pated in the strife till the war closed at New Orieans, more
than two weeks after peace was made. Neither steam nor
electricity had then been harnessed for the civilization of
this country. We were then but getting started in the race
of nations.
The Members of the GeneraLl Assembly Fronn
1777 to 1902, Inclusive, and Time of Service.
YEARS. SENATE. HOUSE.
1777. . Jno. McK. Alexander. . .Martin Phifer, Waightstill Arery.
1778. .Robt. Irwin Caleb Phifer, David Wilson.
1779. .Robt. Irwin Caleb Phifer, David Wilson.
1780. .Robt. Irwin Caleb Phifer, David Wilson.
1781.. Robt. Irwin Caleb Phifer, David Wilson.
1782. .Robt. Irwin Caleb Phifer, David Wilson.
1783. .Robt. Irwin Caleb Phifer, David Wilson.
1784. .James Harris Caleb Phifer, David Wilson.
1785. .James Hari-is Caleb Phifer, George Alexander.
1786. .James Mitchell Caleb Phifer, George Alexander.
1787. .Robt. Irwin William Polk, Caleb Phifer.
1788. .Joseph Graham Joseph Douglas, Caleb Phifer.
1789. .Joseph Graham Geo. Alexander, Caleb Phifer.
1790. .Joseph Graham Robert Irwin, William Polk.
1791. .Joseph Graham Caleb Phifer, William Polk.
1792. .Joseph Graham Caleb Phifer, Jas. Harris.
1793. .Joseph Graham Charles Polk, Geo. Graham.
1794. Joseph Graham Charles Polk, Geo. Graham.
1795. .Robt. Irwin Charles Polk, Geo. Graham.
1796. .Geo. Graham David McKee, William Morrison.
1797. .Robt. Irwin James Connor, Nathaniel Alexander.
1798. .Robt. Irwin James Connor, Hugh Parker.
1799. .Robt, Irwin James Connor, Sherrod Gray.
1800. . Robt. Irwin Charles Polk, Hugh Parker.
1801. .Nathaniel Alexander . . .Charles Polk, Alexander Morrison.
1802. .Nathaniel Alexander .. .Thos. Henderson, Alexander Morri-
son.
1803. .Geo. Graham Thos. Henderson, Alexander Morr
son.
1804. .Geo. Graham Samuel Lowrie, Thomas Henderson.
1805. .Geo. Graham Samuel Lowrie, Geo. W. Smart.
1806. .Geo. Graham Samuel Lowrie, Thomas Henderson.
1807. .Geo. Graham John Harris, Thomas Henderson.
1808. .Geo. Graham John Harris, Geo. W. Smart.
1809. .Geo. Graham Thomas Henderson, Hutchins G. Bur-
ton.
MKCKI.KN^BURG COUNTY. 59
YEARS. SENATE. HOUSE.
1810. .Geo. Graham Thomas Henderson, Hutchins G. Bur-
ton.
1811. .Geo. Graham Jonathan Harris, Henry Massey.
1812. .Geo. Graham Jonathan Harris, Henry Massey.
1813. .William Davidson Cunningham Harris, Jonathan Har-
ris.
1814. .Jonathan Harris William Beattie, Geo. Hampton.
1815. .William Davidson John Ray, Abdon Alexander.
1816. .William Davidson Joab Alexander, John Wilson.
1817. . William Davidson John Rhea, Jno. Wilson.
1818. .William L. Davidson . . .John Rhea, Jno. Wilson.
1819. .Michael McL,eary John Rhea, Miles J. Robinson.
1820. .Michael Mclyeary John Rhea, Miles J. Robinson.
1821. .Michael McLeary John Rhea, Samuel McCombs.
1822. .Michael McLeary John Rhea, Matthew Baine.
1823. .Michael McLeary Thomas G. Polk, Matthew Baine.
1824. .Michael McLeary Thomas G. Polk, Matthew Baine.
1825. .William Davidson Thomas G. Polk, Matthew Baine.
1826. .Michael McLeary Wm. J. Alexander, Matthew Baine.
1827. .William Davidson Wm. J. Alexander, Joseph Black-
wood.
1828.. William Davidson Wm. J. Alexander, Joseph Black-
wood.
1829. .William Davidson Wm. J. Alexander, Evan Alexander.
1830. .Joseph Blackwood Wm. J. Alexander, Evan Alexander.
1831.. Henry Massey James Dougherty, Jno. Harte.
1832. .Henry Massey James Dougherty, Jno. Harte.
1833. .Washington Morrison.. .Wm. J. Alexander, Andrew Grier.
1834. .Wm. H. McLeary Wm. J. Alexander, J. M. Hutchison.
1835. .Stephen Fox J. A. Dunn, J. M. Hutchison.
1836. . Stephen Fox J. A. Dunn, J. M. Hutchison, G. W.
Caldwell.
1838. .Stephen Fox G. W. Caldwell, "^Jas. T. J. Orr, Caleb
Erwin.
1840.. J. T. R. Orr G. W. Caldwell, Jno. Walker, Benj.
Morrow.
1842. .Jno. Walker Jno. Kirk, Jas. W. Ross, Caleb Er-
win.
1844. .Jno. Walker Robt. Lemmons, J. A. Dunn, Jno.
Kirk.
1846. .Jno. Walker Jno. W. Potts, Jno. N. Davis, Robt.
Lemmons.
1848. .Jno. Walker J. K. Harrison, J. M. Davis, J. J.
Williams.
6o
HISTORY OF
YBARS. SENATE. HOUSE.
1850.. Green W. Caldwell Jno. K. Harrison. J. J. Williams, E.
Constantine Davidson.
1852. .Green W. Caldwell W. Black, J. A. Dunn, J. Ingram.
1854. .Jno. Walker W. R. Myers, W. Black.
1856. .W. R. Myers W. Matthews, W. F. Davidson.
1858. Wm. F. Davidson H. M. Pritchard, W. Wallace.
1860. .Jno. Walker S. W. Davis, J. M. Potts.
1862. .Jno. A. Young J. L. Brown, E. C. Grier.
1864. .W. M. Grier J. L. Brown, E. C. Grier.
1866. .J. H. Wilson R. D. Whitley, J. M. Hutchison.
1868. . Jas. W. Osborne R. D. Whitley, W. M. Grier.
1870. .H. C. Jones R. P. Waring, J. W. Reid.
1872. .R. P. Waring Jno. E. Brown, S. W. Reid.
1873. .R. P. Waring Jno. E. Brown, S. W. Reid.
1874. .R. P. Waring Jno. E. Brown, S. W. Reid.
1875. .R. P. Waring. J. E. Jetton, J. Sol. Reid.
1877. .T. J. Moore Randolph A. Shotwell, W. E. Ardrey.
1879. .S. B. Alexander W. E. Ardrey, J. E. Brown.
1881 . . A. Burwell A. G. Neal, E. H. Walker.
1883.. S. B. Alexander J. S. Myers, T. T. Sandifer, W. H.
Bailey.
1885.. S. B. Alexander W. E. Ardrey, H. D. vStowe, R. P.
Warring.
1887.. S. B. Alexander J. T. Kell, J. W. Moore, E. K. P.
Osborne.
1889.. J. Sol Reid N. Gibbon, J. Watt Hood, Jas, C.
Eong.
1891.. W. E. Ardrey R. A. Grier, J. Watt Hood, W. D.
Mayes.
1893. .F. B. McDowell Jno. R. Erwin, Hugh W.Harris, J. L.
Jetton.
1895. .W. C. Dowd J. T. Kell, J. D. McCall, Jno. G. Alex-
ander.
1897. .J. B. Alexander M. B. Williamson, W. S. Clanton, W.
P. Craven.
1899. .F. I. Osborne Heriot Clarkson, R. M. Ransom, J. E.
Henderson.
1901.. S. B. Alexander C. H. Duls, W. E. Ardrey, F. M.
Shannonhouse.
T3he County Officers a-nd the Time They
Served.
SHERIFFS OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
Thomas Harris was the first sheriff of Mecklenburg.
How long he serv^ecl cannot be positively stated, as the books
were not kept accurately for a number of years.
The following list is probably the best that can be given :
Thomas Harris was appointed sheriff "in good old colony
times, when we lived under the king," just at what date we
cannot say, but he performed the duties of the office before
1774, and for some time afterwards.
James White, Esq., was elected sheriff in July, 1779, by
the County Court, which was composed of twelve magis-
trates. They required a bond of $2,000, to be given once
a year.
The following is a list of those who constituted the court :
Abraham Alexander, Hezekiah Alexander, David Reese,
John McKnitt Alexander, Edward Giles, Robert Irwin,
John Ford, Adam Alexander, Robert Harris, Robert Har-
ris, Jr. These were present at the court, and they elected
the sheriff; in fact, they took the oversight of the entire
county. There was ten or twelve men in the county who
appear to have taken control over the courts and administer
justice as they deemed right and proper. They were cer-
tainly wise men, and did that which was for the best inter-
ests of all the people. John McKnitt Alexander, Thomas
Harris and David Wilson were appointed by the court to
dispose of the confiscated estates in Mecklenburg county —
the estates of Tories. Money was depreciated to a great
extent. The county Court allowed the assessor $30 per
day in 1779. In 1780 and 1781, $100 per day. It was
worth about $1.00 to $100.
62 HISTORY OF
Thomas Polk was elected sheriff in 1781, and resigned
in 1782.
Major-General Joseph Graham became sheriff of Meck-
lenburg county some time after the Revolutionary war was
over, and it is not known how; long he sei-ved, l>ut it is
more than probable that he served only four or five years,
for he was State Senator from this county in 1788-'! 794,
seven years. (In the year 1814 he received the strong
solicitations of the Governor of North Carolina to command
a body of men, with the rank of General, to aid Gen. Jack-
son in quelling an outbreak of the Indians, which he did at
the battle of the Horse Shoe.) He moved over into Lin-
coln county, where he engaged in the iron business.
Sheriff Wilson probably succeeded him for quite a num-
ber of years, and gave satisfaction to the people of the
county.
Col. John Sloan came next into office, with like results;
that is, satisfaction to the tax payers.
Joseph McCaughneyhey ruled as sheriff, with old "Uncle
Billy Todd'' as deputy, for a number of years. We can be
more particular in recent dates.
Thomas N, Alexander, from. 1838 to 1854.
E. C. Grier, from 1854 to i860.
W. W. Grier, from i860 to 1862.
R. M. White, from 1862 to 1872.
M. E. Alexander, from 1872 to 1884.
L. A. Potts, from 1884 to 1885 (died).
\\'. F. Griffith, from 1885 to 1886.
T. S. Cooper, from 1886 to 1888.
Z. T. Smith, from 1888 to 1898.
N. W. Wallis, 1898.
The people of Mecklenburg county have reason to be
proud of their chief executive officers for more than one
hundred years. Every one has gone out of office doubly
as strong as he entered on his duties.
mb:cki,enburg county. 63
county treasurers.
Prior to the year 1868, the duties of taking care of and
disbursing the money of the county devolved upon the
sheriff, or some one appointed by the old County Court,
which never ceased until the rights of the county, with those
of the State, were denied the people, when the government
was torn up by the roots in 1865, then everything was
changed.
Then they elected their first county treasurer, and it would
be only justice to say the county never did herself more
honor than when S. E. Belk was put in charge of the finances
of the county.
The first treasurer was a soldier in the war with Mexico
in 1846 and 1847. He came out of the war with a clean
record and stood well with the people. In 1861 he volun-
teered in the Confederate army, was elected Captain of a
company from Mecklenburg county and assigned to the
Fifty-third Regiment, North Carolina Troops, where he ac-
quitted himself most gallantly. Towards the close of the
war Capt, Belk had the misfortune to lose an arm at the
shoulder, from which woinid he suffered a great deal, and
at times would become irritable, for which he would apolc^-
gize most humbly.
Capt. S. E. Belk. from 1868 to 1884.
J. H. McClintock, from 1884 to 1894.
E. H. Walker, from 1894. He is still in office.
J. H. McClintock served for ten years and, like his prede-
cessor, fought in the Confederate army till he lost an arm
in the service of his country. He went to school, gradu-
ated at Davidson, then taught school, and served his coim-
try in whatever way the county desired his services.
REGISTER OE DEEDS.
The office of Register of Deeds was probably the first of-
fice ever established in Mecklenburg county. We see it
6:4 HISTORY OF
stated in the court house records that Robert Harris was ap-
pointed in 1763, in the year when Mecklenburg county was
legally set apart from Anson. The county was recognized,
the meets and bounds declared by the surveyor in 1762,
but not confirmed by the authority of the colony of North
Carolina until 1763, when the machinery of the county was
put in motion. Hence we find that —
Robert Harris was appointed in 1763 ; served till 1792.
John McKnitt Alexander, from 1792 to 1808.
Wm. B. Alexander, from 1808 to 1836.
The next four years were filled by the sheriff.
F. M. Ross, elected, 1840 to 1870.
Wm. Maxwell, from 1870 to 1884.
J. W. Cobb, from 1884 to 1898.
A. M. McDonald, from 1898; continues in office.
The seven men who have held the office of Register of
Deeds for one hundred and forty-five years show plainly that
patriots indeed had the oversight of all that pertained to the
welfare of the county. The men who have exercised the
functions of office for the last fifty years, were equal in
point of integrity to any men in any period of the county's
history. Mecklenburg is exceedingly fortunate in always
being able to furnish men capable to fill any position with
honor to themselves and credit to their county. May she
ever be so fortunate.
CLERKS OF THE COUNTY COURTS.
The system of keeping the records of court previous to
1836, makes it very difficult to know for a certainty who
was clerk of court at a given time; hence the clerks of the
County Court will be given only from 1836:
Mr. Brawley Oates served from 1836 to 1842.
Charles T. Alexander from 1842 to 1845.
Brawley Oates, from 1845 to 1854.
W. K. Reid, from 1854 to 1862.
Wm. Maxwell, from 1862 to 1868.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 65
After this date the old county Court, known as the Peo-
ples' Court, was done away with by the order of Gen.
Canby, the Yankee general who happened to be in com-
mand at the time, although his headquarters were in Charles-
ton, S. C. All the duties of this court were merged into
the Superior Court. Soon the docket was so large we had
an Inferior Court established to try the smaller cases. Then
afterwards the Criminal Court was inaugurated. Now we
have these two courts in the county.
SUPERIOR COURT CLERKS.
Jennings B. Kerr served from 1842 to 1865.
Mortimer D. Johnston, from 1865 to 1866.
E. A. Osborne, from 1866 to 1875.
John R. Erwin, from 1875 to 1886.
J. M. Morrow, from 1886 to 1899.
J. A. Russel, from 1899; still in office.
The county is to be congratulated on her long line of good
men for clerks. In all the multiplicity of clerks and other
county officials since the county was first formed, we have
had none but the best of men. Every officer has rendered a
satisfactory account of his stewardship.
Rev. Alexander Craighead.
Mr. Craighead came to America in a time that was auspi-
cious for the work that the march of events was marking- out
for him to engage in. From the most reliable authority we
are led to date Mr. Craighead's admission into the ministry
in 1736. He was born in Ireland, and possessed in a large
degree the characteristics that are peculiar to the Irish peo-
ple. Being an exceedingly zealous man, of an ardent tem-
peraiment, devoted to the work of the ministry, he was noted
for preaching sermons peculiarly calculated to awaken
careless sinners. He was accused of irregularities before
his Presbytery in 1740. No immoralities were alleged
against him, or false doctrines dharged on him; the com-
plaint was against various proceedings thought to be irregu-
lar. Ttie Presbytery was unable to make any conclusion
of the matter, for while the majority were against him, his
vehement appeals to the public turned the sympathy of the
community in his favor. The charge of irregularity he re-
butted by the recriminating charge of Pharisaism, coldness
nijd formality, and in the ardor of his defence he was not
veiy measured in his epithets and comparisons. Probably
the principal cause of the disagreement was Mr. Craighead
was oipposed to British rule, opposed to one church having
advantages over another. He believed in a separation 0"f
Church and State. About this time he was directed by the
Presbytery in Cumberland, January, 1758, to preadh at
Rocky River, on the second Sabbath of February, and at
other vacant churches till Spring.
At the meeting of the Presbytery in April, a call from
Rocky River was presented for the services of Mr. Craig-
head. He accepted the call and requested installation,
which was attended to soon afterwards. It appears that
this was the first c'hurch established in the upper country.
"In this beautiful, fertile and peaceful country, Mr. Craig-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY, 67
head passed the remainder of his days in the active duties of
a frontier minister of the Gospel, and ended 'his successful
labors in his Master's vineyard in the month of March,
1766, the solitary minister between the Yadkin and Ca-
tawba. In this retired country, too, he found full and un-
disturbed exercise for that ardent love of personal liberty
and freedom of opinion which had rendered him obnoxious
in Pennsylvania, and was in some measure restrained in
Virginia. He was ahead oi 'his ministerial brethren in
Pennsylvania in his views oi civil governmeriit and religious
liberty, and became particularly offensive to the governor
for a pamphlet of a political nature, the authorship of which
was attributed to him. The Synod disavowed both the
pamphlet and Mr. Craighead, and agreed with the justice
that it was calculated to forment disloyal and rebellious
practices, and disseminate principles of disaffection.
In Carolina he found a people remote from the seat of au-
thority, among them the intolerant laws were a dead letter,
so far divided from other congregations, even of his own
faith, that there could be no collision with 'him on account of
faith or practice; so united in their general principles of re-
ligion and church government that he was the teacher of
the whoile population, and here his spirit rested. Here he
passed his days ; here he poured forth his principles oi reli-
gious and civil government, undisturbed by the jealousy of
the government, too distant to be aware oi his doings, or
too careless to be interested in the poor and distant emi-
grants on the Catawba. Mr. Craighead had the privi-
lege of forming the principles, both civil and religious, in
no measured degree, of a race oi men that feared God, and
feared not labor and hardship, or the face oi man; a race
that sought for freedom and property in the wilderness, and
having found them, rejoiced — a race capable oi great ex-
cellence, mental and physical, whose minds could conceive
the glorious idea of Independence and whose convention an-
nounced it to the world in May, 1775, and whose hands sus-
tained it in the trying scenes of the Revolution."
68 HISTORY OF
Previous to the year 1750, the immigration to this beauti-
ful, but distant frontier, was slow and the solitary cabins
were found upon the borders of prairies and in the vicinity
of canebreaks, the immense ranges abounding with wild
game, and affording sustenance the whole year, for herds
of tame cattle. Extensive tracts of country between the
Yadkin and the Catawba, now waving with thrifty forests,
then were covered with tall grass, with scarcely a bus'h or
shrub, looking at first view as if immense grazing farms
had been at once abandoned, the houses disappearing, and
the abundant grass luxuriating in its native wildness and
beauty, the will herds wandering at pleasure, and nature re"-
joicing in undisturbed quietness. At the time of the settle-
ment of Mr. Craighead, the county of Anson extended in-
definitely west, having been set off in 1749 as a separate
county. In the year 1762, the county of Mecklenburg was
set off from Anson, and took its name in 'honor of the reign-
ing house of Hanover; and the county seat, in the boimds
of Sugar Creek congregation, and about three miles from
the church, was called Charlotte, in honor of the Princess
Charlotte of Mecklenburg. There were seven congrega-
tions in a short time, in Mecklenburg, except a part of Cen-
tre, which lay in Rowan — now Iredell — and in their exten-
sive bounds comprehended almost the entire county, viz. :
Steel Creek, Providence, Hopewell, Centre, Rocky River,
Poplar Tent and Sugar Creek. From these came the dele-
gates that fonned the celebrated convention that met in
Charlotte on the 20th of May, 1775. In this old grave-
yard of Sugar Creek church, where Mr. Craighead preached
the most of his time, is certainly a spot of remarkable inter-
est. It was 'here in 1 766 that this wonderful man was given-
sepulcher. Borne to his grave on two sassafras hand-spikes,
and one placed at the head and one at the foot of the grave,
both grew into large trees; but in the course of time they
have fallen; they have been sawed up into lumber and
church furniture made of them. The grave is now marked
bv a neat slab of marble, with an iron fence around the
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 69
grave. A cenotaph has been erected in the cemetery in
Charlotte to his memory, but not one person in a thousand
oif those who visit the city are ever told that such a man
ever lived, or see the monument to inquire "What does this
mean, or what good did he effect?" We hold that much
of the spirit of Independence that was exhibited in Char-
lotte in May, 1775, was the result O'f his teaching.
Although he died nine years before this convention met,
yet his doctrine was gladly received, and bore fruit to the
good of this people. His grand-son. Rev. S. C. Caldwell,
preached in Sugar Creek from 1792 to 1826, and did much
work in building up Hopewell and Mallard Creek, organized
and built up Paw Creek, and devoted considerable toward
building the church in Charlotte, although the church in
Charlotte was not organized till 1832. Rev. Dr. Hall Mor-
rison preached at Sugar Creek for several years after Mr.
Caldwell died in 1826, and then in 1837 was elected Presi-
dent of Davidson College. The next minister at Sugar
Creek was Rev. J. M. M. Caldwell, a great-grand-son of the
first minister, Mr. Alexander Craighead. Who shall say
that the covenant of God is not visited from the fathers to
the children, in the infinite mercy of God ? Another name,
which will never be forgotten in Mecklenburg, although on
a very humble stone in "this city of the dead," is Abra'ham
Alexander, the chairman of the convention of the 20th of
May, 1775. Not only was he an active patriot, but an ac-
tive member of Sugar Creek church.
A large number of the descendants of Hezekiah Alexan-
der — a brother of John McKnitt Alexander — still live in
the county, but are not sure whether their ancestor was
buried in Sugar Creek or Hopewell. Strange that such
carelessness should have been permitted, but such is the
fact in every church yard in the county. The posterity of
these early patriots have ever been our best class of citizens,
as pertaining to both Church and State. And it is a noted
fact that no descendant of a Revolutionary hero bore arms
against his home, or took sides with the Federals to destroy
7C HISTORY OF
the civilization of the South. The blood of 1775 continued
to tell from 1 861 -'65. People who were Todes in the first
revolution had descendants who were Tories in our last. In
the early part of the Nineteenth century, Archibald Frew
built probably the finest house in the county. Mr. Frew
was visited by misfortune, and the residence passed into
other hands. Dr. D. T. Caldwell became owner of the
place, and his son, R. B. Caldwell, and his sister, Miss Alice,
live there. The place now appears to be of the fashion that
was in vogue three quarters of a century ago. Descend-
ants of some of the old settlers are still in the neig'hborhood,
viz. : Robinsons, Barnetts, Alexanders, Hendersons, etc. It
was here, on the highway that Col. Locke was killed Septem-
ber 26, 1780, after the fight in Charlotte; also' where Gen.
Graham was severely wounded, and was taken care of by
"Aunt Susey," when quite a young girl.
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DR. D. T. CALDWELL.
Dr. D. T. Caldwell.
Dr. D. T. Caldwell was the son' of that eminent divine,
Rev. S. C. Caldwell, and Abagail Bain, daughter of John
McKnitt Alexander. Dr. Caldwell was boirni about 1796.
He was educated by his father at Sugar Creek church.
From there he went to the University. He was in college
with President Polk and other men who occupied high posi-
tions in both church and State; he graduated about 1820.
He studied medicine under Dr. McKenzie, and after attend-
ing lectures in Philadelphia, he practiced with him. He
often said one of them would go 00 the north side of town
one day, and on the south next day. By this arrangement
each one would see all the cases every other day. Bleeding
was the order of the day, and if Dr. Caldwell failed to bleed
a fresh case, he felt sure Dr. McKenzie would not pass him
by. Doctors were not plentiful in those early days, and a
man who was qualified for the profession had no idle time.
Dr. Caldwell would frequently ride out to his father's to
get a night's sleep. In 1826 he married Harriet, a daughter
of Hon. William Davidson, who filled many offices of public
trust. Dr. Caldwell continued to do a large practice for
many years, was very popular and much respected. Has
now but three of his children living. His son. Dr. William
D., died many years ago. He was a soldier in the Trans-
Mississippi army. Baxter was in the army of Northern
Virginia. He lives on the old homestead, niever married;
is an excellent farmer. His sister. Miss Alice, keeps house
for him. Mrs. S. J. Donald, nee Miss Sarah Jane Cald*-
well, lives in Greensboro, happily situated. Dr. D. T. Cald^
well lost his wife in the terrible epidemic of erysipelas in
1845 that proved a scourge to the people of the northern
part of the county, that will be talked oi till all the witnesses
are removed by death. He was an elder in Sugar Creek
church from an early period, and was a most exemplary man
72 HISTORY OF
in all the walks of life. His second wife was a Miss Hutch-
ison, of Rock Hill, S. C, a most excellent woman. She had
but one daughter, who miarried Mr. Walter Rawlinson.
She left three children and died young. Dr. Caldwell died
December 25, 1861. A good citizen.
f5he Lives and Pecviliarities o/ Some c^f the
Signers o/ the Decla-ration of Independence
of Ma.y 20, 1775.
As Col. Tom Polk lived ten years after the independence
of the United States was established, he entertained Gen.
Washington in 1791, in Charlotte, when on his southern
tour; Avas one of the most prominent and popular citizens of
our county, his reputation was cleared of every stain, and no
one dared to calumniate his revolutionary record. He died in
1793, and his wife Susannah, who preceded him many years,
was buried in the old cemetery of Charlotte back of the old
church. He had much to do with those early patriots in
securing' independence for the people of Mecklenburg, and
through them for the people of the Western world. Suf-
ficient credit cannot be given the plain people for the noble
stand they maintained in those years of trial.
MAJ. JOHN DAVIDSON.
As for Maj. John Davidson, a signer of the Declaration
of Independence of Mecklenburg, every one who knew him
could attest that he was not only the truest of patriots, but
one of the most devoted of Christians. He lived to extreme
old age, far into the Nineteenth century, lacking but three
years of attaining his one hundredth birthday. He was
born in Cecil, Md. While but a small boy he lost his father,
and his mother, whose maiden name was Isabella Ram-
say — with her two children, John and Mary, moved to
Rowan county and purchased a farm. Here she found a
fine school to educate her children, and for the teacher there
was a mutual attraction, which resulted in a marriage be-
tween Mrs. Davidson and Mr. Henry. When John became
of age he moved to Mecklenburg with his sister Mary, to
keep house for him. He was a skillful blacksmith, and for
74 HISTORY OF
many, many years followed the trade. Blacksmithing at that
period was a lucrative business, and competition was not
close as it g"ot to be in after years. He married an English
lady — Violet, a daughter of Samuel Wilson — ^who was a
near kinsman of Gen. Wilson, in whose veins flowed the
blood of royalty. Their royal kinsman, Sir Robert
Wilson, made them a visit once before the Revolutiooary
war, but never repeated it. He prospered far beyond
his compeers, and took a great interest in developing the
iron industry of the country after the war. He ai>-
pears to have lived an exemplary Christian. Some inci-
dents are related illustrative of his character. His oldest
grand-daughter (a noted beauty) married a distinguished
and wealthy South Carolinian, William Edward Hayne.
This led to more gay company in the old homestead than
usual ; and sometimes the guests differed widely from their
host in manners and opinions. On one occasion a party of
gentlemen who had adopted the principles of French phi-
losophy then so prevalent, were visiting at his house. Know-
ing that they were avowed atheists, and believing that his
father's evening devotions would only subject him to ridi-
cule, one of the younger Davidsons suggested that, for once,
they be omitted. But such was not in keeping with the in*-
dependent and conscientious character of Maj. Davidson.
When the hour for retiring came, he said quietly, "Gentle-
men, it is always my custom to close the day with Scripture
reading and prayer in my family. If you choose to be
present, you are most welcome to do so. If not, you can
retire to your own rooms." They decided to remain, and
for once in their lives listened respectfully on bended knees
to an earnest prayer from the lips of a very earnest wor-
shipper.
Another grand-daughter, a gay yoimg girl who was moth-
erless and consequently much at his house, had the usual
dislike of young ladies for early rising, and consequently
she was sometimes late at morning prayers. The grand-
father was usually very patient, but at last administered a
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 75
mild rebuke. He said : "Mary, I hope you will marry some
one who will make you come to prayers." The hope seemed
to be prophecy, for she married the Rev. Dr. R. H. Morri-
son, who during* his long life, was especially strict in ren
quiring every member of his family to be present, at both
morning and evening prayers. Notwithstanding this (or
let us say, in consequence of it) he was the most tender and
devoted of husbands and fathers. Maj. Davidson's last
years w^ere spent at the home, and in the devoted care of his
youngest daughter, Elizabeth. She married William Lee
Davidson, the youngest son and namesake of her father's
old friend, the officer w'ho fell at 'his post of duty at Cowan's
Ford, and whose death at the hands of a Tor}^ ought to pro-
tect him from all subsequent misrepresentations.
Maj. Davidson was a man of wealth, attended strictly to
his own business, and was very industrious and spent no
money foolishly. His slaves were native Africans, bought
from the New England slave ship which landed their pitiful
cargoes on the wharfs of Charleston, S. C. That was the
Pandora's box from which issued untold evils to our people
one hundred years later. Although it was a master stroke
to civilization and Christianized the cannibal tribes of Af-
rica.
During the time of African slavery in the United States,
there was 700,000 converted to Christianity from "hoodoo-
ing" cannibals. Greater progress was made here with the
slaves than was effected by the missionaries of all other
Christian nations in their home country. But their free-
dom was a great blessing to the white people of the South.
How gentle and faithful and affectionate t'tey became to
their Christian masters and mistresses. And it seemed
natural for them to hate "poore white trash." In fact the
negroes of the rich had but little time for the negroes of
those who owned but two or three.
Maj. Davidson's title was first conferred upon him by
Gov. Tryon, and afterwards re-conferred upon him by the
Provincial Consrress. His home was about fifteen miles
76 HISTORY OP
northwest of Charlotte, near the Catawba river; and his
sons located themselves on adjoining plantations. The old-
est son, Robert (called Robin), married Margaret Osborne
(known far and near as "Aunt Peggy ") . She was the grand-
daughter of Alexander Osborne and Agnes McWhirter.
''i'he second son, John, (commonly called Jacky), married
Sarah Brevard, grand-daughter of John Brevard and Jane
McWhirter. "Jackey" had the most stentorian voice in the
State. He could deliver a message two miles by calling out.
The third son, Benjamin Wilson (named in honor of his
grand uncle, Benjamin Wilson, of England, who was the
father of Gen. Sir Robert Wilson), married Elizabeth Latta,
and lived about seven miles east of his father. Benjamin
was called "Independence Ben" because he was born on May
20, 1787. The three elder daughters of Maj. Davidson mar-
ried distinguished rebel officers, Captain Alexander Bre-
vard, Gen. Joseph Graiham, and Dr. William McLean, who
was an army surgeon. Another daughter, Sarah, married
Rev. Alexander Caldwell, son of Rev. David Caldwell,
D. D., of Guilford, who suffered almost martyrdom for the
sake of independence.
T'hey had two sons and one daughter — probably the
most remarkable family, not only in Mecklenburg county,
but in North Carolina. They were noted for their mental
calibre, their mind appeared to grasp whatever subject or
problem came within their reach, and when once fixed in
their mind, was there never to be forgotten. Their energy
and industry was unsurpassed, and their influence was felt
for miles around them. Mr. D. A. Caldwell, one of the
brothers, was a man of great determination, always ready
to contend for what he considered was right; he was any-
thing else than a policy man. He possessed that mould of
features that was peculiar to men of a former day, that de-
noted friendship, decision of character, and did not know
what fear was ; and wa,s the very soul oi honor.
When the Confederate soldiers were wending their way
home, the war being over, a captain and twelve men — cav-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. JJ
airy — rode up and said they would stay all nig-ht with him ;
in the meantime one of their horses became so badly found-
ered that it was impossible for it to travel, so the captain
looked around at Mr. Caldwell's stable and selected his fam-
ily carriage horse, and said he would be obliged to take it.
Mr. Caldwell told him he could not spare that horse, but
was willing to let them have another horse that was not so
valuable. The captain said nO', "I must 'have the bey horse."
I was immediately sent for, and hastened to his aid. He
met me at the back dootr and told me he wanted me to wit-
ness what was about to transpire. We walked to the front
door where the captain and his men were saddling their
horses. The captain spoke kindly, or rather I should say,
politely, "Mr. Caldwell, you have entertained us kindly, fed
our horses, showed us all the courtesies we could expect, but
necessity knows no law; I will certainly take the bey
horse." Mr. Caldwell replied, "I will kill whoever puts his
hand on my horse." The captain said, "There is thirteen of
us and but one of you. Would you sacrifice your life for a
horse ?" "Not for a horse, but for the principle of the thing,
I will do it quick." The captain told his troopers to let the
horse alone. These three — the Caldwell branch — lived to an
average age of 90 years, and their offspring still inherits all
the fine qualities of their ancestors.
The youngest daughter, as before stated, married Wil-
liam Lee Davidson. So that no family in the county was
more thoroughly identified with the achievement oi national
independence. Maj. Davidson shared the labors of his
newly purchased slaves, and instructed them personally in
every branch of plantation work. And he did everything
so well with 'his own hands that his grand-sons would laugh
and say : "Grand-father can do everything in the world, ex-
cept shear a sheep." He had tried to assist in the sheep-
shearing, and failed so signally that it was a standing joke
in the family ever afterwards. His handsome old brick
mansion, built after the close of the war, was unfortunately
destroyed by fire a few years ago, but his plantation is still
yS HISTORY OF
in the hands of his descendants. His grave and that of his
wife may still be seen near his homestead.
HKZEKTAH ALEXANDER.
Four of the six x\lexanders who signed the Mecklenburg
Declaration were so well known in the county that they are
still spoken of with reverence and affection. We, know
just where their homes were, and their graves are with us to
this day. The principal transactions of their lives are re-
corded in history. But of the other two, Ezra and Charles,
diligent enquiry has revealed nothing that is satisfactory from
the oldest citizens. One informant was under the impres-
sion that they lived within the bounds of Providence, and
were neighbors of Ezekiel Polk, and like him, were atheists.
If this is true, they probably emigrated with him to Tennes-
see, carrying with them their circulating library or infidel
literature, and so both they and their books disappeared and
were a g:vod riddance to their fellow citizens. Hezekiah
and Joim McKnitt Alexander were brothers, and were near
kinsman of the Brevard family. Hezekiah Alexander was
bcrn in Pennsylvania the 13th of January, 1722. By the
Provincial Congress at Hillsboro (21st August, 1775) he
was appoiinted with Griffin Rutherford, John Brevard and
Benjamin Patton and others a Committee of Safety for the
Salisbury District, which included Mecklenburg within its
bounds. In April, 1776, he was appointed with William
Sharp, again on a Council of Safety — an evidence of the
great respect inspired by his intellect and integrity. He
afterwards held the position of paymaster to the Fourth
Regiment of North Carolina Continentals, of which Thomas
Folk was colonel, James Thackston lieutenant-colonel, and
William Lee Davidson major. In November, 1776. he
was elected a member of the Provincial Congress from
Mecklenburg with Waightstill Avery, Robert Irwin, John
Phifer, Zaccheus Wilson as colleagues, w'hich assembly
formed the Constitution of North Carolina. He died in
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 79
1801, and is buried in Sugar Creek church graveyard. His
house, a stone building of good proportions, is still stand-
ing, about four miles from Charlotte, near the old Potter
road, a highway that was in use before our town was laid
off or located. The old house has a great cavern of a cellar
where traditio'n says Mrs. Hezekiah Alexander used to store
the rich products of the farm, many jars of honey being part
of their contents. Just in front of the cellar door is, or used
to be, a large flat stone ; and upon this stone the British sol-
diers broke all the jars of honey which they could not carry
away with them. They would not leave anything for the
old rebel and his family. There is a beautiful spring near
the house with a stone arch built over it, a stone spring house
for dairy purposes, whose size indicates that milk, butter
and cheese must have been so abundant as to require con-
siderable room.
Like all the colonial homes, a meadow was near by — ^prob-
ably once smooth and green and a thing of rare beauty ; but
now defaced with corn furrows and rough stalks of stubble
left by the last crop. Tradition states that the two daught-
ers of Hezekiah Alexander were very beautiful women.
Mrs. Captain Cook, who was deputed by the town to enter-
tain Gen. Washington when he was the town's guest in 1791,
was considered a good judge of female beauty, having seen
much of the world, and she said she had never seen any
beauties who equaled these two Misses Alexander. One of
them married Charley Polk and met a very tragic fate.
Her husband was cleaning his gun in her room (where she
was sitting with her child in her arms), when it went off and
killed her. He subsequently announced his intention of
marrying his beautiful sister-in-law, but her brothers ob-
jected very decidedly, and his own brothers also interfered
to prevent the marriage, and he had to give it up. Dare-
devil as he was, he could not dare everything. The lady
died unmarried. Waightstill Avery, the friend of Hezekiah
Alexander, made his home at his house during 'his residence
in Mecklenburg, and rode into town every day to his law
'8o HISTORY OF
office. The sons of the family did not think it safe to re-
main at home during the occupation of Charlotte by the
British, as foraging- parties might be expected at any time,
but of course had to return occasionally for their supplies ;
and their mother used to hang a signal from one of the upper
windows when she thought it safe for them to come home.
On the walls of the house may be seen the date oi its erec-
tion, 1774.
JOHN m'kNITT ALEXANDER.
No man in Mecklenburg county in Colonial times seems
to have had more of the confidence and love of his fellow-
dtizens (or rather fellow sufferers) than John McKnitt
Alexander. His devoted piety, his open-handed and never-
ceasing hospitality, and excellent good sense made him a
leader among the best class of the community. His grand-
son, Dr. J. G. M. Ramsay, the well-known historian of Ten-
nessee, tells that when Ochiltree, the traitor, found that
Cornwallis was preparing to leave Charlotte, he knew that
the citizens would punish him as he deserved, for accepting
from the enemies of his country the office of Quartermaster
after having signed the Mecklenburg Declaration of Inde-
pendence. He had grcwn rich in his mercantile dealing
with the Mecklenburg people and was loath to leave the
property he had accumulated here. He determined to ap-
peal to John McKnitt Alexander for protection, as being
the kindest-hearted and most influential man in the county.
So, on the night previous to the evacuation he mounted his
horse and rode nine miles up what is called the Statesville
road to the house of Alexander, but found no one at home
except Mrs. Alexander and her children and servants. She
knew him well, having bought goods from him for years as
a merchant, and refused to admit him and refused to tell
him where her husband was. He pledged the honor of a
British officer that his intentions were good, and reached
his sword to her through the window as a guarantee of his
MKCKLKNBURG COUNTY. 8l
truth. Mrs. Alexander's pity was aroused and she agreed
to send for her husband, who was at one of the many mili-
tary camps then dotting the country. This one was Maj.
Sharp's, the one nearest his own house. Her little daughter
Peggy, a girl of thirteen, attended by a faithful slave,
Venus, was sent to bring her father. On returning home
w^ith the child, Ochiltree threw himself upon his protection,
asking security for person and property, after the British
army had left. But all the milk of human kindness had been
turned to gall in the patriot's heart. The former friend ana
colleague had sinned too deeply to be forgiven. He said:
"Ochiltree, if I had met you anywhere else, I would
have killed you ; in my own house your life is safe. But I
advise you to cross the Yadkin before daylight, otherwise
you will never witness another daylight. Your life is for-
feited." The panic-stricken traitor knew that if John Mc-
Knitt Alexander had no pity on him, nobody else would, and
he took his advice and fled. That was the last seen of
Ochiltree. It was reported that he reached Wilmington
safely and afterwards escaped to the coast of Florida. Pre-
vious to this time, Ochiltree had been sending out foraging
parties to every plantation which he knew so well, to obtain
supplies for the British troops. No man was base enough
to sell to him, and many poor soldiers paid their lives for
being his messengers. McKnitt Alexander was wealthy,
and the produce of his plantation was very great. He said
to his foreman, "Cato, the moment you see the red-coats
enter our lane, run quick and set fire to the stock yard and
barn. Duncan Ochiltree shall not have one bundle of my
fodder." And in loyalty to his master, Cato and Ruth did
actually burn to ashes the whole result of a year's labor.
The delegates from Mecklenburg who were elected to
the Provincial Congress which met at Halifax 1776, were
John Phifer, Robert Irwin, and John McKnitt Alexander.
He was secretary to the convention in Charlotte which de-
clared independence. He was treasurer for the two Synods
(then united in one) of North and South Carolina. His
82 HISTORY OF
house was headquarters for the clergymen of his church,
and hence his daughters naturally married the pastors
of the surrounding congregations, Rev. James Wallis, of
Providence, and Rev. Samuel Craighead Caldwell, of Sugar
Creek.
Like the other colonists of means, he educated his oldest
son Joseph McKnitt Alexander, at Princeton. A list of
the Princeton graduates of Mecklenburg would be quite a
long one. The Alexander plantation when Cato and Ruth
burned the stock yard and barn, was said to be the largest
in the county ; and in those days large estates in land was the
rule rather than the exception. Wheeler calls Thomas
Polk's estate "princely." But the McKnitt Alexander place
was said to be ten miles square. John McKnitt Alexander
was a member of the convention which formed the State
Constitution; and in 1777 we find himi in the State Senate,
while Waightstill Avery and Martin Phifer were members,
the same date, of the House of Commons. This was his last
appearance in public life. He was buried at Hopewell
church, one of the seven noted churches of Colonial times.
His sister, Mrs. Jamima Sharp, is buried at Sugar Creek.
She used to say her nearest neighbor on the north was eight
miles distant, and southward and eastward, fifteen miles.
Just think of the loneliness and desolation of that Indian-
haunted region and what these people were willing to en-
dure for conscience sake.
John McKnitt Alexander's eldest son Joseph, a graduate
of Princeton, married Dovey, the daughter of Moses Wins-
low, and the grand-daughter of Alexander Osborne and
liis wife Agnes McWhirter. The second son, William
Bane, married Violet, a daughter of Maj. John Davidson.
Both are said to have been very beautiful women. In Colo-
T'ial days, Mecklenburg was renowned for beautiful women.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 83
''sacred to the memory of JOHN m'kNITT ALEXANDER,
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIEE JULY ID, 1817, AGED 84."
By his side is buried his wife, Jane Bain, who died
March i6, 1798, aged 30 years. Two sons, Joseph Mc-
Knitt, M. D., and WilHam Bain Alexander. The first mar-
ried Dovey Winslow, who died September 6, 1801, aged 25,
leaving one son, Moses Winslow Alexander, M. D.
Dr. Joseph McKnitt Alexander was born in 1774 and died
Octc^ber 18, 1841. His son, Moses Winslow Alexander,
was born ]\Iay 3, 1798, and died February 27, 1845. The
children of William Bain Alexander, who married Violet
Davidson, a daughter of Maj. John Davidson, were four-
teen in number, seven sons and seven daughters:
1. Joseph, married Nancy Cathy; moved to Alabama in
1835- '
2. William B., married Clarissa Alexander.
3. Robert D., married Abigail Bain Caldwell.
4. Benjamin Wilson, married Elvira McCoy.
5. James McKnitt, married Mary Wilson.
6. George Washington, married first Sarah Harris ; sec-
ond, Gillespie; third. Jetton.
7. John Ramsay, married Harriet Henderson.
8. Jane Bain, married Capt. John Sharp.
9. Margaret Davidson, married David R. Henderson.
10. Rebecca, married Marshall McCoy.
11. Sally Davidson, never rnarried.
12. Abigail, married Henderson Robertson.
13. Betsy, married Dr. Isaac Wilson.
14. Isabella, married Dr. Calvin Wier.
This is copied from Wheeler's Reminiscences, published
in 1884. Persons desiring it carried out still further, have
plenty of data to draw from.
ABRAHAM ALEXANDER.
The home of Abraham Alexander was about three miles
northeast of Charlotte, and was known in the neighborhood
84 HISTORY OF
as Alexander's Mill. It is now very difficult to locate the
exact spot; it is only by referring to old papers and land
deeds that the old place can be recognized. An old excava-
tion almost filled with the washings of the surrounding soil,
is the only vestige of the Colonial home. It is now a very
desolate looking spot; but when forest trees crowned the
hills around the little valley, once smooth and green, and
the now vanished spring bubbled at the foot of a gentle slope
upon which the dwelling stood, and sent forth its sparkling
brook to meet the larger stream which turned the mill wheel
it may have been a very charming place. The grand-son,
Elias Alexander, built a handsome brick house on another
portion of the estate which is still standing. From all we
can learn of Abraham Alexander, he was a quiet. God-fear-
ing man, and much belcved and respected by his neighbors.
When he rode through the forest on that balmy May morn-
ing to take his seat as chairman of the Mecklenburg Conven-
tion, he probably had not the faintest idea that he was
making a name in history for himself and his family. He
no doubt thought he was doing his simple duty as an humble
Christian citizen. Verging upon three score years of age,
he had no youthful enthusiasm for new ways. But he had
sat reverently under Craighead's ministry, and probably
imbibed every one of his political opinions. We can im-
agine his soliloquy as he jogs along to the stormy meeting
before him. He may be saying to himself: "The Bible
certainly commands us to submit ourselves to 'the powers
that be;' yes, yes, to 'the powers that be.' But the ques-
tion is, what and who are the powers that be! If we are
stronger than our oppressors, are not we ourselves the pow-
ers that be ? And is it not sinful supineness to neglect to ex-
ercise the powers that God gives us? We can try it any
how, and the effort to free ourselves will be an appeal to
God, and He himself shall decide the question." And here
we will imagine that he meets his neighbors Hezekiah Alex-
ander from the neighboring farm, bound like himself, to the
meeting in Charlotte and they begin to discuss the ques-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 85
tion, "I wish our old pastor Craighead was alive now to ad-
vise us what to do." "I know very well what he would ad-
vise us to do," answered Hezekiah. "He would preach us a
sermon on the duty of putting down bad rulers and substi-
tuting good ones. We are commanded to put men into
power who hate covetousness. Now you know very well,
neighbor, that sole object of the many deputies who rule
us in the King's name, it; to enrich themselves as fast as pos-
sible at the expense of the public. We are commanded to
have men of truth as rulers— -our royal governors are liars,
promising redress and never keeping their word. We are
commanded to have able men to rule us. And according
to all accotmts, our King George is anything but an able
man. At least he is not able enough to save us from op-
pression by his deputies." And so these Bible taught men
come prepared to do their duty — humbly, reverently, we
hope prayerfully. They ride together into' Tryon street and
dismount at the gates of Queen's College. (The people
never took kindly to the new name of Liberty Hall, and
through all subsequent changes called their institution
Queen's College.) Had the men who met them that day
been endowed wnth the gift of second sight, they would have
looked forward to the death of State's Rights upon the very
spot where Independence was born ; for here in Tryon street,
Charlotte, Jefferson Davis made his last public address as
President of the Confederate States. State's Rights lived
less than one hundred years, and died an awful death, in-
cluding various battles at the North, but their full strength
was only shown when their own colony was invaded.
Abraham Alexander was too old for military service, but he
was none the less a hero and true patriot. He lived long
enough to see his hopes realized in the establishment of
American Independence, His tombstone may be seen in
the cemetery of Sugar Creek church, overshadowed by a
splendid oak, and bearing the inscription, "Let me die the
death of the righteous and let my last end be like his."
86 HISTORY OF
DR. EPIIRAIM BREVARD.
The Brevards were i Rowan family, and the only member
that we can claim is Dr. Ephraim, who married in Meck-
lenburg- and became a citizen of this county. The Os-
bornes were also Rowan people, and the Lockes and Bran-
dons and Sharps and Winslows. George Locke, however,
we may partly claim, as he died upon our soil and in de-
fence of our county. The saddest history in our revolution-
ary annals is that of Dr. Brevard, our martyr. Locke died a
fearful death, cut to pieces by the sabres of Tarleton's dread
and merciless drgoons, Avhile vainly trying to shield him-
self by holding up his rifle. His death agony, however,
was short, while Brevard died by inches in all the long an-
guish of a barbarous imprisonment. The horrible prison
ships of Charleston were meant to be death-traps. Bad
food, worse water, and still worse air, were the fiendish
agencies used to kill hundreds of men and unnumbered
broken hearts of widowed women and orphaned children.
So strange and terrible are the vicissitudes of nations.
So many truthful and able pens have told the histor)--
of the convention, that it need not be repeated here, as it
has a place set apart for it, separate and distinct, as this
chapter tells more of those who participated in this wonder-
ful convention. After it the people felt themselves free ot
all royal authority ; and they arrested and punished all who
maintained that the British government was still in force.
The Queen's College students were full of republican
ardor, and formed themselves into a military company in the
following year, February, 1776, to assist in defending our
maritime frontier. The victory at Moor's Creek, intelli-
gence of which met them at Campbleton, rendered their
campaign and their vacation a short one. But each one of
these students did good service in other fields subsequently.
Wm. Richardson Davie, John George and Joseph Graham,
Francis Locke, Paul Phifer, Wm. McLean were only a few
of the youths who were educated in Charlotte, although
MKCKL,KNBURG COUNTY. 8/
some of them i ftervvards supplemented their education at
Princeton and Philadelphia. The snow campaign under
Gen. Rutherford kept our county busily excited for some
portion of the same year. Rutherford was a Rowan citi-
zen, and therefore we make no claim to one leaf of his bril-
liant laurels, but many Mecklenburg men fought under
him (our county and Rowan forming one military district)
and helped in putting down the Scovillite Tories and the
Cherokee Indians. The campaign was sharp and bloody,
but completely successful.
In the three or four following years Mecklenburg men
fought the Tories wherever found. The longing for home
killed some, for people in those days loved home with a ten-
derly passionate affection, which we migratory, travel-loving
people can scarcely understand. How O'ften I have heard
of old people longing to behold the old spring which ran
near the father's door; and shedding tears of joy at again
listening to the old familiar hymns sung in the country
churches when they were children. They were like the old
Scotch woman, dying in the slums of London and asking
her pastor with her failing breath if he thought the dear
Lord would allow her to go by her old highland home on
her way to heaven. An old woman in Mecklenburg county,
who was married while young and moved West, spent her
life in the far West, returned in her old age and was so re-
joiced to get home that she said now she was ready to die.
The wish was granted, and she was buried with her kindred
and friends in the old cemetery in Charlotte. Dr. Brevard
was one of these tender, loving natives. In his childhood
his love for his little sister led him to perform an act of hero-
ism which cost him the loss of one of his eyes. Returning
from school one evening, he heard his sister scream; her
clothing had caught fire from one of the numerous brush-
heaps which always made the pioneer's newly cleared
ground so picturesque a scene. Rushing to her assistance,
and entirely forgetful of his own safety, he struck his eye
against a bough and received so severe an injury that the
88 HISTORY OF
sight was destroyed, and he went through life with only one
eye. Of course, a man of such loving and self-sacrificing
disposition would naturally have devoted friends; yes,
friends who were ready to die for him. One of his patients
— an old woman — hearing of his sufferings in prison, deter-
mined to go to Charleston and do what she could for him.
Other women in Mecklenburg had sons and brothers in the
dreadful prison ships, and they formed a party to go down
and offer themselves as nurses. They set out on foot, trav-
eling through a thinly settled country which afforded little
or no accommodations to wayfarers; but they struggled
bravely on, laden with medicines and hospital stores, and at
length reached their destination. Oh, the brave, tender,
noble women of revolutionary days ; working women, home-
spun-clad, but rich with all the sweet attributes of sanctifiea
womanhood. Bible-loving, church-going women, who were
willing to endure all things in the path of duty. Mrs. Jack-
son, the mother of a subsequent President, was one of these
Charleston nurses, and was so broken down by her efforts
that she died on the way home. Died in a tent which had
probably been furnished them by some of our own soldiers,
to shelter them from the weather. She was buried by the
roadside, and the spot is now forgotten. The British evac-
uated Charleston in May, 1782, but our local historians say
that Dr. Brevard was released in 1781, and if that is true,
he was probably exchanged for some noted prisoner in
the hands of the Americans. Once free, his great desire
w^as to reach his loved home, his reverend old mother and his
motherless child. In those days there were no conveniences
for travel. Our hardy ancestors made long journeys on
foot — at best they traveled on horseback, or Avagons without
springs. So our dying hero set out from Charleston to
reach home. The long, wearisome journey, with failing
strength and failing nerves and no hope of rest until he
reached home. What a tedious, suffering struggle it was.
But love conquers all obstacles. He must get home — must
see his mother and his child, and the beloved scenes of his
MKCKIvENBURG COUNTY. 89
childhood. He reaches Charlotte at length, where his happy
young married days had been spent, and where his wife,
Mary Polk, was buried ; but his mother's . house was still
twenty-five miles further on — the original home had been
burned by the British soldiers, but another stood upon the
loved spot.
Thank God the vandal avengers could not destroy the
landscape of wood and meadow and of firm, white sand
where his mother, in the absence of primary books, had
taught her children to read by drawing the letters and words
with a pointed stick. The mother, Jane McWhirter, came
of a noble family whose blood had flowed in martyrdom be-
fore they crossed the Atlantic. She and her sister Agnes
(Mrs. Alexander Osborne) lived on neighboring plantations
in Rowan — now Iredell county. Their old mother lived
with them, and their brother. Rev. Dr. McWhirter, an in-
timate friend of Gen. Washington, was sent south by Con-
gress to animate the Southern colonies in defence of their
homes and their religion. And here we would say that to
be consistent, Christian ministers must always preach
against war, except in extreme cases. Undoubtedly our
Lord commands us to resist not evil, but in defence of home
and women and children and Bible truth, we may resort
to arms. The Scotch, the Scotch-Irish and the English
Puritans held the same views on these subjects.
To talk to them of the "pomp and circumstance of war"
was useless labor — mere clap-trap. Glory won by conquest
was equally opposed to these principles. Brute courage was
essentially unmanly. But to die in defence of God's Bible
truth, that was another thing. They could not obey God
unless they had political and religious liberty. Dr. Bre-
vard and his fellow prisoners had the comforts of believing
that their martyrdom, cruel as it was, was securing for
their fellow countrymen the great boon of a righteous gov-
ernment and an unfettered church.
Dr. Brevard was one of the leading spirits of the Meck-
lenburg Convention that set in motion the liberty we
90 HISTORY OF
achieved in the eighteenth century. He thought much and
clearly upon the subject, and Foote gives a long paper of
instructions to our legislative delegates, written by him.
Worn out by disease and fatigue, he reached the house of
his friend and kinsman, McKnitt Alexander, and could go
no further. We hope his mother and daughter reached
his bedside before his death, but history gives us no par-
ticulars. His long sufferings ended there, and Foote says
he was buried at Hopewell church. Others say his body
was brought to Charlotte and buried beside his wife in the
grounds of Queen's College. As these grounds were used
for a burying place for the Cornwallis soldiers, it seems
scarcely probable that our noblest hero should be laid be-
side them. Especially as the town had a cemetery of its
own in which his wife's mother was buried, and two years
later her father, Gen. Tom. Polk. So we are compelled to
think there is some mistake about it, and that both he and
wife are buried in our old church cemetery in Chariotte.
Some o/ the Ba.r One Hundred Years Ago.
HON. SAMUEr. I.OWRIE.
He was a native of New Castle county, State of Dela-
ware, born May 12, 1756; son of Robert and Elizabeth
Lowrie. When a child his parents moved to Rowan county
and he was educated at Clio Academy, Iredell county, by
Rev. James Hall. He studied law in Camden, S. C, and
was elected to the House of Commons from this county in
1804, 1805 and 1806, when he was elected a judge of the
Superior Court, which he held until his death, on the 22nd
of December, 181 8. He married in 1788 Margaret,
daughter of Robert Alexander, who left him with several
children; and second time, 181 1, he married Mary, daughter
of Marmaduke Norfleet, of Bertie county. He was a man
of most engaging manners, a fine conversationalist, very
learned in the law. His judicial district covered a great
deal of territory, extended down into the eastern counties.
Some of his descendants still live in Mecklenburg. The
family were noted for intellect, both men and women, and
v/ere looked up to as leaders of thought, and were critics of
more than ordinary ability, especially the female members
of the family.
JOSEPH WILSON, ESQ.
A most distinguished lawyer and statesman, resided and
died in Charlotte, which for many years was the scene of his
services and honors. Joseph Wilson's early education was
as good as the country afforded. He was under the care of
Rev. David Caldwell, and by the advice of Reuben Wood,
he studied law. He was licensed in 1804, and came to the
bar at the same time Avith Israel Pickens, of Burke county,
afterwards Governor of Alabama. By the perseverance of
his character, the force of his intellect and steady applica-
92 HISTORY OF
tion he arose to eminence in his profession. He settled for
a while in Stokes county ; he represented that county in the
State Legislature in i8io'ii-'i2. He distinguished him-
self by his warm advocacy of the war with England. About
this time he made his home in Charlotte; was elected Solici-
tor of the Mountain Circuit, then embracing nearly all the
western part of the State. His unsurpassed zeal and in-
domitable energy with which he discharged his duties of
this responsible position, when the country was swarming
with law-breakers, in bringing them to punishment, was in-
deed a hazardous undertaking. More than once was his
life threatened for upholding the majesty of the law. He
continued in this office until his death, which occurred in
August, 1829. He left quite a large family, who inherited
largely their father's talents. His daughter, Catharine,
married William J. Alexander, Esq., who was as profound
a lawyer as his accomplished father-in-law. Another of his
daughters, Miss Roxana, married Dr. P. C. Caldwell, the
most distinguished physician in the county. Miss Cousa
Wilson, another daughter, who was never married, but par-
took largely of the intellectual qualities of her father. Of
Mr. Wm. J. Alexander's family much could be said of the
mental attainments, and of the brilliancy and beauty of the
women. Miss Mary Wood Alexander was admired by the
most talented young men of the town, but she thought best
to remain heart-whole and fancy free, and applied herself
to the education of young girls, fitting them to fill useful
stations in life. Miss Laura also remained single, and
applied her talents on the stage, where she shone brilliantly
for a while, but her sun went down when her friends thought
she had scarcely reached half way to her meridian. Both
sons, William and Joseph, attained honorable positions in
the Confederate army, and proved themselves worthy of
their parentage. Their father, W. J. Alexander, attained
a reputation as a lawyer, but few men ever reach. Early
in the latter half of the last century he and his family moved
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 93
to Lincoln county, where he remained until he died. His
brother, Washington Alexander, also a lawyer, lived here,
was well known as an advocate, did much practice in the
forties, but did not have the great reputation of his brother
Julius.
In 1846, at a gala day in Charlotte, when the town was
crowded with negroes, one man was overheard to say : "I
believe there are negroes enoug'h here to pay all of Julius
Alexander's debts," and some one replied, "I think it doubt-
ful."
JAMES W. OSBORNE.
James W. Osborne began the practice of law about 1830.
He was much sought after to take capital cases. It was
conceded that if Mr. Osborne could not clear a case of mur-
der, or any other capital case, he must be guilty. Besides
his logical powers of reasoning, he was the most eloquent
lawyer that ever appeared at the bar in the western part of
North Carolina. He was an elder in the Presbyterian
Churdh and often attended church courts, and was by no
means a silent member, but took an active part in whatever
pertained to the spiritual welfare of the church. He left a
record as a jurist that any man might well be proud of. His
memory should be cheris'hed by the people of the town and
county, and his character emulated by the youth of the State.
His widow still lives in the city at a good age, surrounded by
her son's family and hosts of friends to cheer her in her
declining years.
J. HARVEY WILSON.
Mr. J. Harvey Wilson, another lawyer of eminence, came
to the bar about the same time and took a high stand with his
brethren, and also with the people.
He came oi a lineage that would have pushed to the front
94 HISTORY OF
a man of less natural ability. He was a son of the Rev.
John McCamie Wilson, D. D., who was regarded as a
preacher of wonderful power, and had much to do in form-
ing- the sturdy character of the people of this section. Blood
will tell by cropping out in after generations; so we are
always glad to know that our ancestors were of good blood.
At this time we will only speak of those w'ho held promi-
nent positions before the century was half over.
President Jatmes Knox Polk.
When 1 1 years old his father, Samuel Polk, moved to
Tennessee, and sent his son James K, Polk, at a proper age,
back to North Carolina to the University at Chapel Hill,
where he graduated with the highest honors of the Univer-
sity. It is said that he never missed a college duty in four
years. In those honest days no wonder he became Presi-
dent of the United States. There is no other man, for
whom is claimed three distinct places of birth, in Mecklen-
b)urg county. Each one appears to be well authenticated.
On the south side of Big Sugar Creek, near the present town
of Pineville, was where Samuel Polk lived; that was the
place he took his wife when married; hence the neighbors
say here was the birthplace of President Polk. Again, Mrs.
Susan Smart, the same girl who was present on the 20th of
May, 1775, then known as Susan Barnet, in 1848, told Har-
vey Wilson, Esq., an eminent lawyer, that President Polk
was born in the house occupied by Richard Carson, now
owned by L. W. Saunders. The child had an enormously
large head when born — so much so that all the old women
and the doctors thought that he would be an idiot, or had
dropsy of the brain. When old Mrs. Smart heard the re-
port of the child being an idiot, she at once ordered her
carriage and drove up to Charlotte to see the baby for her-
self. When she went into the house she saw no signs of a
Ijaby, and she asked the young mother where the baby was.
She told her it was in bed. "Well, I want to see it." Mrs.
Polk went to the bed and brought the child out for Mrs.
Smart's inspection. After a thorough inspection, Mrs.
Smart said: "Your child is all right, and will some day
be President of the United States." Mrs. Polk was
delighted at the prophecy, and fifty years later Mrs. Smart
was equally elated at the young man's success.
Mr. James P. Wilson has just given me this version,
96 HISTORY OF
and was 16 years old when he heard Mrs. Smart relate the
story to his father.
An Irish family by the name of Alcorn, living fifteen miles
northwest of Charlotte, who came to this country about a
century ago, with three children; when the oldest girl was
about 13 years old, she was hired to nurse the baby, and
wait on Mrs. Polk when not busy with the child. Many
years afterwards, when the girl had become an old woman,
she said it was a common thing for a young woman to go
back to her mother to be confined with her first child. Mrs.
Polk came back to be with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James
Knox, between Hopewell and Huntersville. This is where
they lived and died. A tombstone in Hopewell graveyard
marks the place where they were buried.
This very plausible version of his birthplace was given by
my venerable friend, E. A. McCauiay, Esq., who married a
daughter of the nurse of the President. The child and nurse
are now both in the spirit land, where no anxiety about the
place of either birth or death will cause a trouble to dis-
quiet their never ending repose.
William Davidson.
William Davidson lived and was a very active man in
the first half of the Nineteenth century. He was a man of
much wealth, owned many neg-roes, was public spirited, and
did much for the county. Mr. Davidson represented Meck-
lenburg in the State Senate for several years; first in 1813,
then in i8i5-'i6-'i7-'i8, again in 1825, and then in
i827-'28-'29. He also served several sessions in Congress.
His family moved in the best circles. His daughter, Har-
riet, married Dr. D. T. Caldwell, who practiced medicine in
Charlotte for many years, and raised a worthy family. An-
other married a Mr. Blake. They had one son and two
daughters. They were a handsome trio. The son was edu-
cated at Annapolis and served in the United States navy in
the war with Mexico, and afterwards till 1861, when he
joined the Confederate States navy, and soon died with hem-
orrhage of the lungs. The young ladies passed away early
in life. Miss Sarah Davidson, another daughter, was gifted
with more than ordinary talents; she was well educated
and admired for her mental attainments, especially in music.
She taught music for a number of years, and gave such
satisfaction that she held a high place as a teacher of music
in the opinions of eminent people. He left one son, Wil-
liam, who was not equal to his father, either mentally or
physically, yet he was in the Legislature, a lawyer, and
later in life a Justice of the Peace, who did a great deal of
business. All the older members of the family have passed
away, and but few people now living in the county have any
knowledge of the Davidson family. Something more than
half a century ago the Davidson family lived in a large
frame building on the southwest corner of Trade and Tryon
streets, now occupied by Burwell & Dunn's drug store. All
that property — the entire front on Trade street down to
Church street, has long ago changed owners, and is now
busy with a rushing trade.
Governor Nathaniel Alexander.
Of all the eminent men raised or lived in Mecklenburg
county, but two were ever elevated to the executive chair.
Z. B. Vance, the pet of the State, when the man with the
iron heel had the State by the throat in 1876, was elected
Governor. At this juncture the State was drawn from the
clutches of those who were thriving upon her downfall and
humiliation.
Gov. Nathaniel Alexander was a native of Mecklenburg.
He Avas a physician by profession, but there is no evidence
that he ever practiced. He appears to have been politically
inclined, for he was elected a member of the House of Com-
mons in 1797; a member of the Senate in 1801, and re-
elected in 1802. In 1803 to 1805 he was a member of Con-
gress, and he was in 1805 elected Governor of the State.
He served but one term, and there is no evidence that he
ever courted popular favor after this. He married a
daughter of Col. Thomas Polk, of more than ordinary fame
in Mecklenburg county. He left no children — neither son
or daughter — to inherit his name, or to keep his fame fresh
as it passes down the stream of time. He was a man of
much personal worth and respectable talents. He died and
was buried in the old cemetery in Charlotte.
Gov. Nathaniel Alexander was one of five sons of the
famous Moses Alexander. Gov. Alexander had a brother,
William Alexander, who married Elizabeth Henderson.
From such a parentage, we are not surprised that Gov.
Alexander should have been the peoples' choice for Chief
Magistrate, as Gov. Vance was in 1876, when the people
did not know which way to turn to preserve our liberty, or
escape a doom that was worse than Poland at its last over-
throw in 1790. "Man's inhumanity to man has caused
countless thousands to mourn."
Maj. Green W. Caldwell.
Maj. Green \Y. Caldwell, long a resident of Charlotte,
but not a native, was born in Gaston, or rather Lincoln
county, near Tiickasege Ford, on the Catawba river, the
13th of April, 181 1. We have no knowledg^e of his early
education, but he studied medicine with Dr. Doiierty near
Beattie's Ford, and practiced with success. But, becoming
dissatisfied with the early choice of professions, he aban-
doned it for that of the law. At about this time he moved
to Charlotte. In 1836 h > was elected a member oi the
House of Commons, and was re-elected in i838-'39 an'd
1840, and in 1841 he WcS elected to Congress, where he
served but one term. H:s practice of law was eminently
satisfactory. In 1844 ht was appointed superintendent of
the mint in Charlo'tte. In 1846 he was the unanimous
choice of his party (Democratic) for Governor, but this he
declined. When the war with Mexico was declared, he at
once resigned his appointment of superintendent of the
mint, and volunteered for the war. He secured the ap-
pointment of captain of a company of dragoons, with E. C.
Davidson, J. K. Harrison and Alfred A. NoriTian as lieuten-
ants. This was a new experience for the men ; but South-
ern patriotism is the ruling passion with our young men.
A company of young men was soon formed, and they were
soon off "for the wars again," with high hopes and bright
anticipations.
The company did not see much fighting, and when the
war was over, the most of them returned, and when the
South had to defend what their fathers won in the revolu-
tion more than seventy-five years before, they entered the
Confederate army, where they found real war. To-day
there are exceeding few to tell the tales they heard in the
capital of the Montezumas. Sergt. D. C. Robinson is the
only one of the old guard now living in Charlotte who fol-
lOO HISTORY OF
lowed Maj. Caldwell to Mexico. In 1849 he was elected
to the Senate, with two of his officers in the lower house,
viz., Davidson and Harrison. In a progressive country-
like ours, how soon are the acts of the foremost citizens for-
gotten.
THE OPINION OF THE IvADlES.
The following paragraph was found in the South Caro-
lina and American Gacette, from the 2nd to the 9th of Feb-
ruary, 1776:
"The young ladies of the best families of Mecklenburg
county, North Carolina, have entered into a voluntary asso-
ciation that they will not receive the address of any young
gentleman of that place except the brave volunteers who
served in the expedition to South Carolina and assisted in
subduing the Scovalite insurgents. The ladies being of
the opinion that such persons as stay loitering at home when
the important calls of the country demand their military
services abroad, must certainly be destitute of that nobleness
of sentiment, that brave, manly spirit which would qualify
them to be defenders and guardians of the fair sex. The
ladies of the adjoining county of Rowan have desired the
plan of a similar association to be drawn up and prepared
for signature."
Matthew Wa.llace a-nd George Walla.ce.
George Wallace, his mother and two maiden aunts, and
three orphan children, (their father, John, having died in
Ireland, their mother had been raised up in the Roman Cath-
olic faith, remained in Ireland), came over to America and
landed in Philadelphia in 1784. The widow appears to
have been willing for her children toi cross the ocean in pur-
suit of a better country, and she married a second time in the
old country. Matthew Wallace, who was a brother of George,
came across the ocean with his wife and six children, and
landed in Charleston, S. C, in 1789. They had one child
bom after they came to this country. We are not informed
how the two families came to meet in Mecklenburg, when
George came by the way of Charleston in 1784, and Mat-
thew by the way of Philadelphia in 1789. But whether by
chance or by appointment, they agreed to settle in the fertile
region that is watered by the streams that help make Mc-
Coffin's Creek. They came over to this cotmtry immedi-
ately after the Revolutionary war, when the country was
wild, the untamed savage still roamed in the great forests
and over the prairies, where the buffalo was still seen, and
the deer was a frequent visitor in sight of the emigrant's
cabin.
One of the noted men of the times was Matthew —
"Shacklen" was his nick-name. He was a son of Alexan-
der, a brother of old Matthew ("Wheelright Jimmy") Wal-
lace, who was known far and near by his occupation, who
was a son of George Wallace. Boston Wallace, who died in
1897, was a man oi fine sense, had no hesitation in express-
ing his opinion on any subject with which he was acquainted
without regard to whom it affected. He was a bold, blunt
man ; was a prohibitionist from principle, and could not toler-
ate a man who would run"fast and loose," or who could court
favor by sacrificing principle. He was a son of Alexander
I02 HISTORY OF
Wallace. The Wallace family were fond of perpetuating
the names of their ancestors. Mr. "Bob" Wallace, of East-
field, is a son of MatthcAv Wallace, Avho was a son of John,
who came across the ocean in childhood.
EXTRACT FROM THE WRITINGS OE ALEXANDER WALLACE.
"The old set of Wallaces first emig^rated from Scotland
to Ireland, and from Ireland to America just at the winding
up of the Revolutionary war. The first set came in 1784,
and the next set in 17S9. It was said by the old set that
they left none of their relations of the name of Wallace in
Ireland.
"Jane Alexander was the name of my great-grandmother,
which v/as the great-grandmother of my little boy, William
Alexander Wallace; and she was buried at Sugar Creek
church, with all her children, except my grandfather, Mat-
thew, and he is lying at Sardis church. Matthew was the
name of my great-grandfather. He Avas buried in Ireland.
The tall, the wise, the reverend head, must lie as low as
ours.'' Alex Wallace.
"JaneAlexander was the maiden name of my great-grand-
mother, who married Matthew Wallace, who was the father
of the first named Matthew Wallace. Catherine Sullevan
was the maiden name of my great-grandmdther, who mar-
ried Alexander, or John Wallace — not certain which name.
She was the mother of Margaret, Robert and Alexander.
She was left in Ireland; her husband lived there. This was
after the Wallaces brought her children to America. The
old 'set' brought their certificate of church membership
with them. They were Psalm singing Presbyterians, and
their descendants to the present day still hold to only the
singing of Psalms."
The Wallaces are amongst our best people, but the men
were not noted for their piety, but were noted for energy
MECKI.KNBURG COUNTY. IO3
and tlirift. All were in easy circumstances, and were noted
for their liberality, for being first-class farmers, and several
of them became very wealthy. During the war between the
States, they acted the part of patriots. Mr. William Wal-
lace, a grand-son of Matthew Wallace, was amongst the
finest looking men in Lee's army, and he made a splendid
reputation as a cavalry figfhter; and, like many of our best
men, his body was left on the field. They were a family of
large people, many of them were very fleshy — not unusual
to weigh 250 poim'ds.
It was common to distinguish the different members of
the Wahace family who were called Matthew by giving
them a nick-name, "Shacklen" Matthew, "Bachelor" Mat-
thew, "Devil" Matthew, etc. "Devil" Matthew was a very
powerful man, and was selected in 1845 to gtiard the mint.
At that time there were but three mints in the United States,
and consequently the mint was looked upon as a place of
much more importance then as money was coined here,
than it is now, as only an assay office. Fortunately nothing
occurred while guarding the mint to test his metal, or we
might have quite a racy story to write.
Adatm Alexa^nder.
Adam Alexander, one of the signers of the Mecklenburg
Declaration of Independence and still further known to his-
tory for his military services, was born in Pennsylvania
September 28, 1728, of Scotch-Irish parents.
He married ]\Iary Shelby, of Holston county, Maryland,
of a family which gave to the cause of independence in the
war of the Revolution the names oi Gen. Evan Shelby and
of Col. Isaac Shelby, one of the heroes of the battle of
King's Mountain, and afterwards the first governor of Ken-
tucky.
About 1750, when many settlements oi Scotch-Irish Pres-
byterians were being made in North and South Carolina, the
Alexanders came to Mecklenburg county. There were sev-
eral branches of the family. Adam Alexander settled in
that section of the county now known as Clear Creek. He
and his family were members of the old Rock Spring Pres-
byterian church, where before the Revolution a pious con-
gregaition worshipped, mingled with their de\^otions prayer-
ful appeals for the final deliverance of their country from
the approaching conflict of arms in a righteous cause.
On December 18, 1775, Adam Alexander was, by the
Provincial Congress, held at Johnston Court House, ap-
pointed Lieutenant-Colonel of a battalion of minute men,
with Thomas Polk as Colonel and Charles McLean as
Major. In the latter part of May of the same year, and at
the suggestion of Colonel Polk, two delegates from each of
the companies of the county militia met at Charlotte with
power to take such action as might seem advantageous to
the colonies. The name of the subject of this sketch ap-
pears in the list of those patriots who drew up and signed
the resolutions which constitute the famous Mecklenburg
Declaration of Independence.
During the rebellion of the regulators, he, with other
mec.kle;nburg county. 105
officers, were ordered to bring their troops to join Gov.
Tryon in Orange, now Guilford county; but finding
their men so averse to fighting against their brother colo-
nists, they sent the following letter to the Governor :
Gen Waddeix's Camp,
Pott's Creek, loth May, 1771.
By a council of officers of the Western Detachment : Con-
sidering the great superiority of the insurgents in num-
bers and the reso'lution of great part of their own men not
to fight, it was resolved tliat they retreat across the Yadkin.
Wm. Lindsay, Robert Shaw,
Adam Ai^exander, Griffith Rutherford,
Thomas Neel, Samuee Spencer,
Fr. Ross, Robert Harris,
Samuel Snead.
On the 4th of April, 1776, he was appointed Colonel of
Mecklenburg county by the Provincial Congress held at Hal-
ifax. He was a brave and energetic officer and his name
is found in nearly every expedition which marched from
Mecklenburg county to oppose the enemies of his country.
He was for many years before and after the war an acting
Justice of the Peace. His name is frequently seen in records
of church as well as of State, and tradition speaks of him as
bearing an excellent character.
A stone marking his grave beside that of his wife in the
old Rock Spring graveyard bears this inscription, appro-
priate to his life and character as a patriot and soldier:
^'Colonel Adam Alexander, who departed this life November
13, 1798, aged 70 years 7 months. The last enemy that
shall be destroyed is death."
Adam Alexander had six children, three sons and three
daughters — Evan Shelby, Isaac, Charles Taylor, Sarah and
Mary.
His eldest son, Evan Shelby, was a graduate of Princeton
in 1787, a lawyer and a member of the Ninth Congress from
IC6 HISTORY OF
Salisbury District (i8o5-'o9), vice Nathaniel Alexander
elected governor. He died in 1809, comparatively young-
and unmarried. The other sons, Isaac and Charles Taylor,
have descendants now living in this county, some of whom
bear the name of Erwin.
Of the daughters, the eldest, Sarah, married Captain John
Springs and has many descendants, chiefly through her
daughter, Mary A., who married her cousin, John Springs,
a son of Captain Richard Springs, of York comity. South
Carolina. She has descendants also through her son, Wil-
liam Polk Springs, who married another cousin, Margaret
Springs.
Some of the descendants of Adam Alexander now living
in this section, besides those bearing the names of Alexan-
der, Springs and Erwin, are of the families of Colonel Wil-
liam R. Myers, Colonel A. B. Davidson, Rev. Dr. Samuel
Pharr and Dr. Charles Harris.
References: Wheeler's History of North Carolina, Hun-
ter's Sketches of Western North Carolina, Family Record.
— Contributed by Miss Sophy Myers.
Humphrey Hunter.
But few persons in North Carolina have deserved more
of their country than Humphrey Hunter, in his youth or
his young- manhood, or in his maturer years. No one is
more deserving of a pag-e in history, as one who contended
for the freedom of his country, or as a preacher of right-
eousness. He was born on the 14th of May, 1755, in the
vicinity of Londonderry, in the North of Ireland, the native
place of his father. His paternal grandmother was from
Glasgow, Scotland, and his maternal grand-father from
Brest, in F^rance. The blood of the Scotch and the Hugue-
not was blended in Ireland, and the descendant emigrated
to America and flourished in the soil of Carolina,
Deprived by death of his father in his fourth year, yofung
Hunter embarked at Londonderry with his widowed mother
for Charleston, S. C, on the 3rd of May, 1759, on board the
ship Helena. Arriving on the 27th of August, the family
in a few days proceeded to Mecklenburg county. North
Carolina, where the mother purchased land in the Poplar
Tent congregation, and remained for life. As the enjoy-
ment of civil and religious liberty was one of the principal
causes of his mothers emigratioii, it is not wonderful that
yoimg Hunter grew up with a spirit jealous of encroach-
ment from the English crown.
From the time of his reaching Mecklenburg till his twenr-
tieth year, little is known of him. We are left to the con-
jecture that he grew up familiar with all the labors and
privations of a frontier life, by which he became fitted to
endure the fatigues and sufferings of a military expedition.
He attended the convention in Charlotte May 20, 1775, as
one of the numerous crowd of spectators assembled on that
exciting occasion. In his account of the meeting prefixed
to his copy of the Declaration of Independence, he thus
writes concerning the battle of Lexington, which took place
on the 19th of April:
"That was a wound of a deepening, gangrenous nature,
I08 HISTORY OF
not to be healed without amputation. Intelligence of the
affair speedily spread abroad, yea flew, as if on the wings of
the wind collecting a storm. No sooner had it reached
Mecklenburg than an ardent, patriotic fire glowed almost in
every breast; it was not to be confined; it burst into a flame;
it blazed through every corner of the county. Communica-
tions from oue to another were made with great facility.
Committees were held in various neighborhoods ; every man
was a politician. Death rather than slavery, was the voice
comparatively of all."
Soon after the Declaration of Independence, a regiment
was raised in Mecklenburg, under Col. Thomas Polk, and
Col. Adam Alexander, to march against some Tories who
were embodied in the lower part of the State. Mr. Hunter
went as a private in the company of Capt. Charles Polk,
nephew of Col. Thomas Polk. The Tories dispersed at the
approach of this force, and the regiment speedily returned
without bloodshed or violence.
Mr. Hunter then com^menced his classical education at
Clio Nursery (now Iredell), under the instruction of Rev.
James Hall. The following certificates, preserved by Mr.
Hunter, show the order of the congregation, and the care
with which the morals of the youth were watched over by
church officers and instructors in schools. The first appears
to have been required for his honorable standing at Clio's
Nursery :
"This is to certify that the bearer, Humphrey Hunter, has
lived in the bounds of this congregation upwards of four
years, and has behaved himself inoffensively, not being
guilty of any immoral conduct known to us, exposing him
to church censure, and is free from public scandal.
"Given under our hands at Poplar Tent this i8th day of
October, 1778.
"James Alexander,
"J. Ross,
"Robert Harris,
"Ruling Elders."
MECKLKNBURG COUNTY, IO9
When General Rutherford collected a brigade from
Mecklenburg, Rowan, and Guilford counties to repel the
aggressions of the Cherokee Indians, Mr, Hunter received
a commission of lieutenant under Capt, Robt, Mayben, in
one of the three companies oi cavalry that formed part of
the corps. The campaign was successful, the Indian forces
were scattered, and their chiefs taken. After this cam-
paign, Mr. Hunter resumed his classical studies at Queen's
Museum! in Charlotte, under the care of Dr. McWhirter, who
had removed from New Jersey to take charge of that insti-
tution, with flattering prospects. Of the moral and reli-
gious character of the young man, the following certificate
in the handwriting of his instructor is testimony, viz. : That
the bearer, Humphrey Hunter, has continued a student in
Clio's Nursery from August, 1778, till last October; that
he applied to his studies with diligence; was admitted to
the sacrament of the Lord's Supper in Bethany congrega-
tion; has during the aforesaid time conducted himself as
a good member both of religious and civil society, and is
hereby well recommended to the regard of any Christian
community where Divine Providence may order his lot — is
certified by James Hall, V. D, M., Bethany, January 12,
1780,
In the summer of 1780, Liberty Hall Academy, or
Queen's Museum, as it was originally named, was broken
up by the approach of the British army under Lord Com-
wallis, after the surrender of Charleston, and the massacre
of Buford's regiment on the Waxhaw, and the course of
study was never resumed under the direction of Dr. McWhir-
ter, who returned to New Jersey. Upon the breaking up of
the college, the young students were commended to their
parents and guardians, and the older were urged to take
the field in the cause of their country. It is not to be sup-
posed that young Hunter required much urging to take up
arms with his fellow citizens of Mecklenburg, who five years
before had pledged "their lives and their honor." Upon
the orders of Gen. Rutherford to the battalions of the west-
no HISTORY OF
ern counties of the State, a brigade assembled at Salisbury.
For the first three weeks Mr. Hunter acted as commissary,
and afterwards as lieutenant in the company of Capt.
Tliomas Givens. Having scoured the Tory settlement on
the northeast side of the Yadkin, the forces under Gen.
Rutherford joined the army of Gen. Gates at Cheraw. On
the morning of the i6th of August, the unfortunate battle
of Camden took place by the mutual surprise of the march-
ing armies ; and the forces under Gates were completely
routed. Gen. Rutherford was woimded and taken prisoner
with many of his men. Mr. Hunter, soon after his surren-
der as prisoner of war, witnessed the death of the Baron
de Kalb. He tells us he saw the baron, with suite or aide,
and apparently separated from his command, ride facing the
enemy. The British soldiers clapping their hands on their
shoulders, in reference to his epaulettes, shouted, "A gen-
eral, a rebel general." Immediately a man on horseback
(not Tarleton) met him and demanded his sword. The
baron, with apparent reluctance, presented the hilt, but
drawing back, said in French, "Are you an officer, sir?"
His antagonist, perhaps not understanding his question,
with an oath, more sternly demanded his sword. The baron
dashed from him, disdaining, as is supposed, to surrender
to any but an officer, and rode in front of the British line,
with his hand extended. The cry along the line of "A rebel
general," was speedily followed by a volley, and after riding
some twenty or thirty yards, the baron fell. He was im-
mediately raised to his feet, stripped of his hat, coat, and
neck-cloth, and placed with his hands resting on the end of
a wagon. His body had been pierced with seven balls.
While standing in this situation, the blood streaming
through his shirt, Cornwallis, with his suit, rode up, and
being told that the wounded man was DeKalb, he ad-
dressed him: "I am sorry, sir, to see you; not sorry that
you are vanquished, but that you are so severely wounded."
Having given orders to an officer to administer to the neces-
sities of the wounded man as far as possible, the British gen-
MKCKLENBURG COUNTY. Ill
eral rode on to secure the victor>% and in a little time the
brave and g-enerous DeKalb, who had seen service in the
armies of France, and had embarked in the cause of the
American States, breathed his last.
After seven days confinement in a prison yard in Cam-
den, Mr. Hunter was taken, with about fifty officers, to
Orang-eburg-, S. C, where he remained without hat or coat,
until Friday, the 13th of November, about three months
from the time of his captivity. On that day he went to
visit a friendly lady who had promised him a homespun
coat. On his way he was met by a horseman of Col. Fish-
er's command, who accused him of being- beyond the lines,
and sternly ordered him back to the station, threatening
him with confinement and trial for breach of his parole.
Hunter explained and apologized, and promised, but all to
no purpose. "To the station," "Take the road/' Up the
road went the rebel Whig, sour and reluctant, and made
indignant by the frequent goading" with the point of the
Tory royalist's sword. Passing a larg-e fallen pine, from
which the limbs had been burned, he suddenly leaped the
trunk. The horseman fired one of his pistols, missing his
aim, and leaped his horse after him. Hunter adroitly leaped
the other side the trunk, and began throwing- at the horse-
man the pine knots that lay thick around. The second pis-
tol was discharged, but without effect. By a blow of a
well directed pine knot, the horseman was brought to the
ground, and disarmed by his prisoner. Hunter returned
the Tory his sword on condition that he should never, on
any condition, make known that any of the prisoners had
crossed the forbidden line, or any way transgressed, promis-
ing himself to keep the whole matter of the late encounter
an inviolable secret.
On the following Sabbath a citation was issued by Col.
Fisher, directing all militia prisoners to appear at the court
house by 12 o'clock on Monday. The affair had been dis-
covered. During the contest the horse galloped off to the
station with the saddle and holsters empty, and when the
112 HISTORY OF
dismounted rider appeared a little time afterward with the
bruises of the pine knots too visible to be denied, the curious
inquiries that followed baffled all his efforts to concealment.
It was soon noised abroad that one or more of the prisoners
had broken parole and attacked an officer. The report
reaching the colonel's ears, the order was issued for their
appearance at the court house. On Sabbath night Hunter and
a few others, expecting close confinement would follow
their assembling on Monday noon, seized and disarmed the
guard and escaped. He was nine nights in making his
way back to Mecklenburg, lying by during the day to avoid
the patrols of the British, and sustaining himself upon the
greenest of the ears of corn he could gather from the un-
harvested fields.
In a few days after his return home, he again joined the
army, and became a Lieutenant of cavalry under Col. Henry
Hampton, and attached to the regiment under Col. Henry
Lee, received a wound i\ che battle at Eutaw Springs, where
so much personal bravery was displayed. His military
services closed with that campaign, and he returned home
with a good name, his bravery unquestioned and his integ-
rity unsullied.
He resumed his classical studies at the school taught by
Rev. Robert Archibald, near Poplar Tent, as appears by
the following certificate in the irregular hand and crooked
lines of his preceptor, which is the only evidence at hand oi
the classical school in that congregation immediately after
the war :
"Mecklenburg, N. C, .
"This is to certify that the bearer, Humphrey Hunter,
has been some years at this school in the capacity of a stu-
dent, and during the term has conducted himself in a sober,
genteel and Christian manner; and we recommend him as
a youth of good character, to any public seminary where
Divine Providence may cast his lot. Certified and signed
by order of the trustees, this 3d day of November, 1785.
"Robert Archibald, V. B. M."
MECKLKNBURG COUNTY. II3
A college diploma from Mount Zion College, at Winnes-
boro, S. C, 1785, accredits him with a good preparation to
enter upon the study of the ministry, which he had in view
for several years, but was more or less interrupted by the
war. Having pursued the study of theology about two
years under the Presbytery of South Carolina, he received
license to preach the Gospel in the following words, viz. :
"The Presbytery having examined Mr. Humphrey Hun-
ter on the Latin and Greek languages, the sciences and
divinity, and being well satisfied with his moral and reli-
gious character, and his knowledge of the languages,
sciences, and divinity, do license him to preach the everlast-
ing Gospel of Jesus Christ ; and affectionately recommend
him to our vacancies.
"James Edmunds, Moderator.
"Robert Haee, Presbt. Clerk.
"Bullock's Creek, Oct. 15, 1789."
For the first fifteen years of his ministry he preached in
a number of places in York District, S. C, also in Lincoln
county. In 1805 he settled in Steele Creek, and there he re-
mained till the year of his death, 1827. Here he was buried
with the people, among whom he had labored for more than
twenty years. His tombstone bears the following inscrip-
tion :
"Sacred to the memory of Rev. Humphrey Hunter, who
departed this life August 27, 1827, in the 73d year of his age.
He was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to America at an
early period of his life. He was one of those who early pro-
moted the cause of freedom in Mecklenburg county May
20, 1775, and subsequently bore an active part in securing
the independence of his country.
"For nearly thirty-eight years he labored as a faithful and
assiduous ambassador of Christ, strenuously enforcing the
necessity of repentance, and pointing out the terms of sal-
vation. As a parent he was kind and affectionate; as a.
114 HISTORY OF
friend, warm and sincere, and as a minister, persuasive and
convincing. Reared by the people of Steele Creek Church."
He had certainly deserved well of his country, and it not
only was proper, but highly creditable to the citizens of
Mecklenburg to keep his memory always green for what he
did for his country one hundred years ago.
In his preaching he was earnest, unassuming, and often
elocjuent. Possessing a strong mind with powers of origi-
nality, and trained by the discipline of a classical education
under men capable of producing scholars, he consecrated all
his talents and acquirements to preach the everlasting Gos-
pel, counting all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus. He possessed in a high degree
a talent for refined sarcasm ; and his answer to trifles with
his office or the great truths of religion, and sticklers for un-
important things was a shaft from this quiver that pierced
to the marrow. His benevolence as a minister, and his ten-
derness as a neighbor forbade its use in his social' inter-
course. Honest objections and difificulties arising from
want of knowledge or proper reflection, he would meet
kindly with truth and argument; sophistry and cavils he
considered as deserving nothing but the lash which he knew
how to apply till it stung like a scorpion. He was a just
man. The mould in which he was cast, that peculiarly be-
longed to men of that period, is now obsolete, and we rarely
see one who approaches it.
Hopewell Church a-nd GraLveya.rd.
Among the earliest settlements in the western part of
North Carolina, is Hopewell Church. For many months
before a building was erected for a place of worship, the
people would assemble at or near this place to discuss mat-
ters pertaining to the welfare of the country, as well ais to
hold religious services, as they could get a supply from some
passing missio^nary. The first church was built in the year
1765, ten miles northwest of Charlotte, and two miles east
of the Catawba river. The first house was built of logs, an'd
shaded on all sides, so as to be comfortable for women who
had yo-ung children to look after without disturbing the con-
gregation; also to entertain large crowds who at that time
thought it no hai^dship to ride horseback ten to fifteen miles
to church.
In 1830, or thereabout, a very handsome brick house took
the place of the first, and about i860 it was enlarged and
capacious galleries were added. The old graveyard is full
of historic interest.
Rev. John Williamson was pastor of Hopewell from 1818
to 1842. His wife sleeps beside him. They were worthy
people. As far as it is known, he was the only minister
who has ever been buried here. Hopewell has always been
blessed with preachers well equipped for their work, and
gave general satisfaction.
The Hopewell section was thinly populated in 1750, by
people moving from Pennsylvania and Maryland hunting a
congenial climate to build their home. Richard Barry is
said to have moved here many years preceding the Revo-
lutionary war ; but we are toild that he was 55 years old when
he participated in the battle of Cowan's Ford; that he and
his friend, David Wilson, carried the body of Gen. W. L.
Davidson, who was killed February i, 1781, and prepared it
for burial in Hoipewell graveyard. In this spot it has ever
Il6 HISTORY OF
rested, without a marble shaft or even an humble stone, to
mark the spot where one of the noted patriots of Meck-
lenburg is buried, who gave his life for the freedom of
America. It is a shame that the United States, the richest
and most po'werful nation on the face of the earth, who pays
its most ordinary officers from one thousand to fifty thou-
sand dollars a year, and not contribute one dollar to mark
the graves of Gen. Davidson and Gen. Nash. A bill was
recently introduced in Congress to erect a monument over
each of their graves to cost $5,000 a piece, which was de-
feated. If they had been from the New England States,
government appropriations would have been made, that
every school boy or girl would have been familiar with
their military powers.
A noted character of the Revolutionaiy days was Capt.
Francis Bradly, a true patriot, who took an active part in
the skirmish of Mclntyre's Branch and was murdered No-
vember 14, 1780, by a small band of Tories. Physically he
was said to be the strongest man in the county.
Here alsoi is the grave of John McKnitt Alexander, the
secretary of the noted convention that met on the 20th of
May, 1775, and made the first and the most defiant Declar-
ation of Independence that ever was thrown to the breeze in
America, or in the world. Around his grave are a host of
his posterity. His two sons. Dr. Joseph McKnitt, and Wil-
liam Bane Alexander, and one sister, Rev. Mrs. S. C. Cald-
well, and a great congregation of their descendants. In
the fourth generation from the old secretary, we see the
name of Capt. Francis Ramsay Alexander, a great-grand-
son of John McKnitt Alexander — killed in front of Peters-
burg, Va., in one of the terrific battles in June, 1864. We
see here another evidence that the patriots of 1775 would
leave indelible impress of patriotism through many genera-
tions. Blood will tell. The most numerous persons are of
the name of Alexander in this city of the dead. Now but
comparatively few of the old family of Alexanders are in the
settlement. They have moved to other sections, and Strang-
MECKIvENBURG COUNTY. II7
ers have moved in. T'he Barrys have all gone; the David-
sons and Torrances, and Sam Wilson's posterity are fast
.disappearing-; and their lands have passed into hands of
strangers. All the great forests have been cleared up, "the
cattle upon a thousand hills" have disappeared ; the fish that
stocked every creek and branch in great abundance, are no
longer to be seen ; and the deer and wild turkey that were in
former years so plentiful, now only exist in stories of a
past age. The w^hole face of the country has been changed
within the memory of an average life time. Here lived
Maj. John Davidson, a signer of the immortal document,
the Declaration of Independence. He was in a number of
engagements with the British and Tories. In after life he
went into the iron business with his son-in-law, Capt. Bre-
vard. From this neighborhood came Gen. Joseph Graham,
who was present in Charlotte on the 20th of May, 1775, and
testified as to the truth of the Declaration of Independence.
After he gallantly served in the war of Independence, he be-
came the sheriff of Mecklenburg county. His brother.
Gen. George Graham, was a true patriot. He came from
Pennsylvania in 1764. He was educated in Charlotte at
Queen's College, and in 1775 he and a few others rode all
night to Salisbun', seized the Tory lawyers, Dunn and
Booth, brought them to Mecklenburg, thence they were car-
ried to Camden and imprisoned.
When Lord Cornwallis lay in Charlotte (1780), Gen.
George Graham was very active in attacking his foraging
parties. He was one of the band of twelve who forced the
British, who had four hundred in their foraging party, to
flee in such haste that they reported to their commander
"there was a rebel behind every bush." He was a Major-
General of militia of North Carolina. For many years he
was clerk of the court of the county, and was frequently a
member of the Legislature. He died in 1826, and was
buried in the old grave vard in Charlotte.
15he Pe.rt Mecklenburg Took ii\ the War With
Mexico.
North Carolina furnished one regiment of infantry only,
to prosecute the war with Mexico, but Mecklenburg took no
part in the formation of the regiment. The county raised a
company of Light Horse, Capt. A. J. Harrison and Lieut.
E. C. Davidson being commissioned to organize a company
of Dragoons. When the company was full, they went to
Charleston, S. C, and were conveyed by transports to Vera
Cruz. They were in no such battles as we had in Virginia
in i86i-'65, but did much service in guarding wagon trains
and skirmishing with the enemy. The company returned
home, having performed their duty, and were honored by
the people at home and the ofHcers honored with seats in the
State Legislature.
Banks and BaLnking.
Independence was declared for fifty years before a bank
was ever opened in Charlotte to transact business; prob-
ably it was not needed at an earlier period. In the earlier
years of the century, except in seaport towns, there was
comparatively but little money in circulation, and but little
trade was effected. The first in Charlotte was a branch of
the State Bank in 1834. It did some business, in a general
way, but issued no bills less than $3.00. Each State issued
bills for its own use. but nearly all were discounted more or
less. South Carolina money commanded a higher premium
than most any other State.
In 1853, the Bank of Charlotte started to do business,
and had a fine beginning. Henry B. Williams was presi-
dent, with Wm. Lucas cashier. Some changes were made
afterwards and all monied institutions went up when the
Confederacy fell. We were then poor indeed ; no banks, or
money deposited of any kind. Those who had been our
richest men and were able to help those who were not so
fortunate, were now on a par with our poorest.
In the course of a few years our people seemed to take on
new life; farm produce commanded good prices, and if the
Yankees had not molested our people, we would have seen
better times.
Tate & Dewey's Bank started to do a considerable busi-
ness, put out bills with a free hand, and the people encour-
aged the bank by depositing there all their surplus. Its
career was short. Mr. Dewey died and the bank collapsed ;
no assets of any consequence were left; many people lost
heavily; the bubble burst and a nine-days' wonder was all
that was left.
Sonne aj the Prominent Citizens in the First
Hatlf of the Nineteenth Century.
About the year 1830, Chevalier de Riva Finola, an Italian
nobleman, was sent here as the president of a mining- com-
pany. He was an expert as a mining engineer, but we are
at a loss to know how long his stay was protracted, or what
success he had. Probably not a dozen men in the county
have ever heard his name. While here he lived in the
house that was afterwards occupied by Joseph Wilson, the
great lawyer and solicitor, and for many years by W. J.
Yates, the well-known editor of The Charlotte De7n\ocrat.
Recently the house has been moved back on West Morehead
street. Seventy years ago an Italian of royal blood lived
in Charlotte, and employed a mulatto barber by the name
of Paulidon Brickett, to shave and dress his hair every
morning. So the plain people of Mecklenburg had a live
prince among them, who moved about in European fashion.
Humphrey, Titus and Edward Bizzell moved to this
county probably somewhat later; but Edward Bizzell was
mayor of the town for a short time just after the war. They
were natives of New York. They came as mining experts,
and were very liberal in spending money for the company.
They got possession of several large tracts of land, but did
not have good titles. What is known as Bizzell's Mill, was
one of their places. This mill was in operation before the
Revolutionary war, and is where Lord Cornwallis got his
grinding done during his short stay in Charlotte. They
have gone the way of the world without leaving any posterity
to perpetuate the name. In company with them came a
man named Penman. He was a native born Eng-lishman,
stood well with the nobility, and was sent over here to take
charge of some gold mines that were supposed to be very
rich, and some of them sustained the character for half a
century that was given them ; but probably more money was
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 121
Spent in developing- them than they ever yielded their
owners.
Penman was a large, red-faced, typical Englishman, and
was used to being waited upon. He brought his body ser-
vant with him, a man by the name of Goodluck. Every
morning the servant would groom his master with as much
care as our former slaves would our race horses ; then saddle
his master's horse and mount his own, riding a respectful
distance behind, but near enough to take his master's horse
the moment he would light. This was the usual pro-
gramme. At any rate, this kind of service was kept up for
several months. Wherever Penman would turn, Goodluck
v/ould have to be on hand to obey every behest.
Mr. David Henderson, a near neighbor, suggested to
Goodluck that he was as free as Penman, and he was not
obliged to wait on him ; in fact, he advised him not to make
himself a "nigger" for any man. Goodluck at once quit
his employer. James P. Henderson — a distant relative of
David Henderson — thought he knew a good thing when he
saw it, immediately applied for the vacant place and was
accepted, and was duly inducted into the office of 'Squire for
the Knight of the Golden Dream around Charlotte. This
was an era of gold hunting that has only been rivaled once
in fifty years. Tames P. Henderson was not ashamed to
work for money in a legitimate way. This service lasted but
a short time. He married a woman of brilliant mental at-
tainments — a daughter of Dr. Matthew Wallace — raised
four children far above the average in mental acumen.
Capt. Penman had an associate or fellow helper, by the
name of Penworthy, in his mining operations. They were
a lively pair, and spent their money most lavishly, not to see
how much good they could do, but to see how good a time
they could have. It has always been the same old story,
that every dollar made by mining, it cost ten dollars to
get it.
About 1845, Capt. Penman abandoned mining and set his
face towards the ministry, after being converted to the
122 HISTORY OF
Methodist faith. He then became a preacher — a winner of
souls for the Kingdom of Christ. In the latter part of his
life he behaved very civilly and did not need so much wait-
ing on. The two women who lived with him, and whom
he passed off as his sisters, are now forgotten, "having
neither name nor place" to let those who come after know
that they ever occupied a place in the county. Mining for
gold was carried on very extensively in the first twenty-five
years of the century, but their methods were very crude, and
unsatisfactory. Costly machinery was not put in the shafts,
as the time for heavy expense had not arrived, for when a
profit was not yielded directly, it was considered that much
was lost.
^he Champions of the Northern and Southern
Parts of the County.
In tlie iirst part of the century it was the custom of the
times for each section of the county to have one man who
was noted as the champion, or "bully," of his precinct.
At a general muster of the county, in which both the in-
fantry and cavalry participated, in the presence of an im-
mense crowd, in the year 1835, j^st east of the present site
of the Episcopal Orphanage, met the two "best men," or
champions of the county. The sporting characters were
not long in spotting their game. Arrangements were soon
made for "Devil" Matthew Wallace and Frank Nealy to
fight till one or the other hollered out "enough." A ring
was quickly made, the combatants stripped to the waist,
judges were appointed to see that no foul play was taken
by either side. It was then announced that the fight would
begin at the signal. In a twinkling, the time-honored gen-
eral muster came to a close, every man seemed to break
ranks on his own authority and a grand rush was made for
the arena of the athletes, where two modern Hercules were
striving for the mastery. Boys and young men climbed
trees that grew near the spot that they might witness the
terrific combat. Almost at the beginning of the contest
Nealy threw (or knocked) Wallace down, and rained terriffic
blows in Wallace's face, while Wallace let his blows into
Nealy's sides and chest. Nealy was considerably taller
than his antagonist, but Wallace was the heaviest, and said
to be double-jointed. He had double breasts, well devel-
oped. When thoroughly exhausted, Wallace hollered
"enough." They were separated, laid in the shade and
sponged with cold water. They were both covered with
blood. In one hour Wallace proposed to fight it over, but
Nealy was too exhausted, and declined.
Blind Dick.
However humble an individual may be, we must not for-
get that he is a part of the whole, and may be known to all
the citizens of a small town, especially if respectful and
makes himself useful. Long- before the middle of the last
century, in the heyday of American civilization, the man
blind Dick was probably the most noted negro in the county.
He was a slave, the property of Lawyer James Hutchison.
He was a noted landmark in the town for more than twenty
years before the great civil war, and lived for several years
afterwards. His master gave him his time and protected
him from evil-disposed persons. He contracted with sev-
eral persons to feed and water and curry horses, carry fresh
water to a nimiber of rooms or offices, black boots, make
fires and do sundry turns. He went about everywhere by
himself, feeling his way with his stick. Almost every per-
son in the county knew Blind Dick. He was very polite
and respectful to every pne, and every one wished to help
him along, so he was well cared for. Once while carrying
a bushel basket of fine apples on his head along the street, a
gentleman standing in his door reached up and picked an
apple off the basket, which Dick at once perceived, and
struck with great force where he supposed the offender was
who had taken the fruit that had been entrusted to his care.
Dick was regarded as honest, and always bore a good name
from white people.
H the great events that occurred in the county should be
preserved with fidelity, why should those of lesser grade be
passed over in silence. It is our desire to treat all subjects
fairly ; even slavery that we not only tolerated, but defended
for one hundred and fifty years.
Negroes Before the Wa.r Between the States.
From the lime Mecklenburg county was the home of the
Caucasian race — long- before the meets and bounds of the
county were designated or cut off from Anson, the negro
was employed as the slave of white men. At that early day
they were not numerous according to population, but as the
population increased they became more numerous. The
price in the early times for a grown negro, either man or
woman, did n.ot exceed three hundred dollars; but before the
Nineteenth century was half over, the price of a good look-
ing man or woman would range from $1,000 to $1,800. The
market price varied according to the price of sugar, rice,
tobacco and cotton. In this county it was no uncommon
thing to find the finest blacksmiths, carpenters, tanners, shoe-
makers, and in fact all kinds of mechanics among the slaves.
In the rice plantations of South Carolina, the great cotton
fields of the more tropical States of the South, and wherever
the negroes were worked under the overseers of the South-
ern States, they did not have the advantages that were to be
had in Mecklenburg, where none of the great crops were
raised to the exclusion of the cereals. But few large slave
holders — compared to those who owned but a few, or none
at all — lived in the county. In the first sixty years of the
century, scarcely a half dozen people in the county were fed
in the Poor House. Now in the beginning of the Twenti-
eth century about sixty — on an average — find quarters there,
of both white and black. The population of both races have
increased rapidly in the last forty years. The negroes have
increased in an accelerated ratio in the last twenty years,
owing to the rapid increase of population of Charlotte as a
commercial and manufacturing centre.
The negroes are abundantly provided with church and
school facilities, although they were denied the privilege
of going to school or acquiring an education when in a state
126 HISTORY OF'
of slavery. Now they are on an equal footing with white
children, in educational advantages, as the State provides
public schools.
But to speak of the negro in slavery in the county, was
the object in view, that the young people might understand
they had more real enjoyment prior to 1865 than they have
ever had since.
The affection that existed between master and slave was
wonderful indeed. It was common when the white chil-
dren should be sick, for the negroes to show a great deal of
solicitude for the little one's welfare. Whfen B. A. John-
ston volunteered in the Confederate army, Company C,
Thirty-seventh Regiment, Mrs. Johnston sent the family
servant, Lige, to wait on and to nurse him in case of sick-
ness. In May, 1864, Lieut. Johnston was killed and the
enemy held the part of the field where he fell. When the
news was carried to the rear and Lige was told of his mas-
ter's death, c.nd his body was in the Yankee lines, he cried
like a child and said : "How can I go home to mistress and
master, and leave Mars Alic's body in the hands of the en-
emy. I'd rather die than tell them."
They were true to their master's interests during the
war. During all these four years of war, when only the
old men and women were left at home, not a woman was in-
sulted, or a house was burned by negroes; but things were
as quiet and orderly as if the men were at home and no war
in the coimtry. Their behavior was unparalleled in the
annals of our country for more than one hundred years.
Strange that they should aid in perpetuating their bond-
age by their good behavior and raising good crops to feed
the Southern army.
It is characteristic of the negro to be happy when well
fed, well clothed and not oppressed with over work. The
fiddle and the banjo were their instruments of music, and
when not forbidden, one-half of the night was consumed in
social enjoyment. In ante bellum times the principal ration
issued the slaves was corn bread, fried bacon and butter-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 1 27
milk for breakfast ; boiled bacon, cow peas, corn bread and
vegetables for dinner; and for supper, bread and milk. On
this diet thsy were able to do heavy work, viz., cut (with a
scythe and cradle) one hundred dozen of wheat, or make two
hundred rails in a day, which was an ordinary task. They
increased rapidly and their children seldom ever died. Their
mistress took the oversight of the babies, while their mothers
would be in the jfield. The negroes were peculiarly subject
to typhoid fever epidemics, and proved fatal in many
cases. Since their freedom they do not have it. In slavery
they were almost free from consumption; now a large part
of them die with it. Their diet has a great deal to do
with it.
The negroes in the time of slavery were emphatically reli-
gious people. Often carried away by their emotions, they
were easily thrown into a state of enthusiasm or excitement
that rendered them oblivious to all else for the time. Some
times they would simulate a condition of trance, and remain
in a semi-conscious state for hours. This state of mind
would last but a few days, when they would regain their
usual happy condition. They attended the churches of the
white people. There was no such thing in slavery times as
negro churches. It was usual to build a gallery in every
church for the accommodation of the negroes. On com-
munion Sabbaths, or other days when camp-meetings were
held, very large crowds of them would be present, and
dressed in their best clothes, could excel the whites in gal-
lantry and general attention to the women. This was their
happiest time. There was not a half dozen cruel masters in
all of Mecklenburg county. A man that was cruel to his
negroes was taboed by the white people in general, and
would not oe received into polite society. In the fall of the
year, when their crops would be gathered, long piles of com
drawn into the barn yard and prepared to be shucked by
all the hands in the neighborhood — the expectation of the
rich supper that awaited them, premised by a treat of the
best whiskey or brandy (that could be bought for 35 cents
128 HISTORY OF
a gallon) that produced lively anticipations. The heap was
soon divided, the two captains chose their men, a lively corn
song was raised, and with great animation the long pile of
corn was quickly shucked, with loud huzzars and great re-
joicing of the victors. After their vociferous rejoicings
had subsided, they would wend their way to the supper
table where a bountiful repast awaited their arrival. When
all had partaken of the bounty, they were assigned to a room
where the furniture had been removed, when the fiddle and
the banjo played "Old Jimmie Suddentie," and other pieces
suited for the "light fantastic toe." This was kept up till
midnight, when they would all disperse and go to their
homes. These were the happiest days of the race; and it is
a great consolation to the people of the South that the pres-
ent deplorable condition of the negro cannot be laid at our
doors. "Shake not thy gory locks at me; thou canst not
sav I did it."
J3he SiZk.\Q Lqlws in the First Half ^f the
Nineteenth Century.
In the first half of the 19th century the State laws were
much more strict and rig"id than they were at its close.
Many offenses were then not noticed. A thief was more apt
to get the penalty of the law than a homicide or even a mur-
derer. As civilization grew older, the branding iron was fre-
quently called in to mark the man guilty of manslaughter.
It was also called into requisition for perjury, but more fre-
quently the punishment for false swearing was to nail the
lobe of the ear to a whipping post and cut the ear from
the head. For manslaughter, the side of the face, or the
palm of the hand was strongly bound to the railing by
leather straps, when the branding iron, with the letters "M.
S." heated red hot, was held 011 the cheek or in the palm of
the hand, till the criminal or his attorney would say three
times, "God save the State." But however glib with the
tongue the attorney might be, the smoke arising from the
quivering flesh would reach the top of the court room, or
"The Temple of Justice."
The lash was the only remedy for stealing, and was
often made use of for minor offenses. Thirty-nine was the
limit, but in bad cases the whipping could be repeated in ten
days. Imprisonment for debt was very common, keeping
the debtor in prison for thirty days ; then if he could swear
he was not worth 40 shillings, he was released, and no
further prosecution could be had against him, but was free.
The whipping post, the stocks and pillory, branding irons,
were institutions that proved a holy terror to law-breakers
in general, and were kept on the statute books for the benefit
of the unruly until 1867. While we were under military
despotism during reconstruction days, our people were for-
bidden the use of corporeal punishment.
As a substitute, though a poor one, we made use of the
130 HISTORY OF
chain gang, and as soon as possible the penitentiary was
gotten under way. Then was inaugurated a "School for
Scoundrels."
Mecklenburg has reaped her full share of the evils of such
an institution. The penitentiary costs very heavy, and is a
foot ball to be kicked about by whichever party has the
power of filling the offices. But for the last twenty years
since the county has engaged in building and constructing
Macadamized county roads, wherever the nature of the
crime will admit of it, the criminal is made to work for the
county. Where the crimes have been very heinous, they
are sent to the State prison. But no punishment is so cheap
or so effective as the stocks and whipping post. But we
have to keep up with the procession. At this stage of civiliza-
tion it was customary to adopt the easiest and quickest way to
take game without regard to damages that may be sus-
tained by other people. In the early part of the century it
was very common for people to go deer stalking; that is, to
hunt deer with a pan of fire fastened with a strap on the
back between the shoulders, with rich pine laid across the
pan to make a brilliant light, so that the eye was blinded by
the dazzling torch so that the hunter could come up close
and ''shine their eyes;" could take good aim, and have no
■difficulty in taking their game. But this plan had its draw-
backs as it is impossible to tell by the "shining eyes"
whether it was a calf, sheep, colt or deer. Consequently a
■special law was passed against fire hunting, making it a mis-
demeanor, punishable with thirty-nine lashes on the bare
back. It soon broke up this style of hunting. Many of the
little misdemeanors, more annoyances than loss of property,
were subject to whipping at the discretion O'f the magis-
trate's court. But in many cases the thief was permitted to
run away, commonly called "taking leg bail." But old
things have passed away and all things have become new.
Biographical Sketches.
GEN. GEORGE GRAHAM,
He was a resident of Mecklenburg-, and a brother of Gen.
Jo'Seph Graham. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1758,
and came with his mother and family to North Carolina
when about six years old. He was educated in Charlotte,
and at an early age espoused the cause of his country. In
1775, he, with a few others, rode all night to Salisbury,
seized the Tory lawyers, Dunn and Booth, brought them
to Mecklenburg, and from thence they were carried to Cam-
den and imprisoned. When Cornwallis lay at Charlotte,
he was very active in attacking his foraging parties. He
was the leader of the attack at Mclntyre's, six or seven miles
from Charlotte, on the Beattie's Ford Road, and actually,
with twelve men, compelled the foraging party of four hun-
dred English, to fall back in utter confusion. He was
Major-General of militia of North Carolina. For a long
time clerk of the court, and often a member of the Legisla-
ture. He died the 29th of March, 1826. He was buried
in the old, or first cemetery in Charlotte. The following
inscription is upon his tombstone :
"Sacred to the memory of Major-General George Gra-
ham, who died on the 29th of March, 1826, in the 68th year
of his age."
He lived more than half a century in the vicinity of this
place, and was a zealous and active defender of his country's
rights in the Revolutionary war, and one of the gallant
twelve who dared to attack, and actually drove four hun-
dred British troops at Mclntyre's, seven miles north of
Charlotte, on the 3d of October, 1780. George Graham
filled many high and responsible public trusts, the duties
of which he discharged with fidelity. He was the peoples'
132 HISTORY OF
fiiend, not their flatterer, and uniformly enjoyed the un-
hmited confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.
WM. LHE DAVIDSON.
Wm. Lee Davidson, Esq., was a son of Gen. Davidsom,
w'ho was killed in the battle of Cowan's Fofd, and lived near
Davidson College; in fact, the colleg^e was called for his
father, and he did much to help get it in working order. He
was a man of fine intellect, and did much for the county,
but being a Whig in politics, was in a hopeless minority. In
1850 he moved to Alabama, and engaged in planting cot-
ton. He was a large and successful farmer. He was mar-
ried twice, but raised nO' children. He died about the
close of the war, in 1865. He was an enthusiast in silk cul-
ture in 1845. He planted an orchard of (multicaulus)
mulberry trees to feed the silk worms. He was very suc-
cessful in raising the worms and also in having the co-
coons spun, but could not find a market for the product, and
of course, the industry was abandoned. This was a great
"fad" over the country that yielded but little fruit, but left
an experience that has served to warn against indulging in
an industry that failed to- "pay."
PATRICK JOHNSTON.
Patrick Johnston, a native of Ireland, came to this coun-
try in 1787; was an expert weaver by trade. He married
Miss Annie Wall. They worked hard and were saving, and
soon accumulated a handsome estate. He had three sons
and two daughters. James Johnston and Houston John-
ston lived near the home place, between Beattie's Ford and
Davidson College. They were good citizens, accumulated
propertv, were large tax-payers, but were a s'hort-lived fam'-
ily.
Mary married Samuel Lowrie, a son of Judge Samuel
Lowrie, and lived on the Beattie's Ford road, seventeen miles
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I33
northwest of Charlotte. Mr. Lowrie died in Missouri in
1846, of yellow fever, and Mrs. Mar)^ Lowrie died in 1849,
leaving four sons and ome daugfhter. The sons all volun-
teered in the army. Houston, a captain in the Sixth Regi-
ment, N. C. T., was killed at Sharpsburg, Md., September
ij, 1862. Lieut. Jas. B. Lowrie was killed at Gettysburg
July 3, 1863. Capt. Patrick J. Lowrie died at Wilmington,
N. C, 1862, of yellow fever. Samuel Lowrie, the only
one of the four who lived through the war, resided in Flor-
ida and died in 1892. Miss Annie Wall Lowrie married
Dr. J. B. Alexander and lived near the old homestead for
more than thirty years. She was very popular with her
neighbors, and was much missed by her friends when she
and her husband moved to Charlotte in 1890, to be with
their daughter. Annie L. Alexander, who was a graduate in
medicine, and located here to practice her profession. And
I would mention the fact that s'he was the first Southern
woman to take a degree, or practice medicine in the South-
ern States. She graduated at the Woman's Medical Coilege
of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, in 1884. Since the ice
has been broken, and women have been admitted to practice
medicine on an equality with men, they have now first-class
colleges in a great many Northern cities and admit them to
ail medical colleges in the South on an equality with men.
His two daug'hters^ — Rachel married Sidney Houston,
who lived in Iredell county, and' had two sons, James and
George Houston, who were first-class men, and raised fami-
lies who were useful citizens. Mr. James Houston married
a daughter of Wm. Patterson, a prominent citizen, south of
Beattie's Ford. Mr. Patterson was an active Justice of
the Peace, a man of influence, and was held in repute in this
end of the county. His daughter Margaret was well known
and appreciated by a large circle of friends. She has spent
a long life in doing good to others.
One daughter of Mr. Patterson. Lenora. iniarried Joseph
M. Wilson, Esq., who is also a prominent Justice of the
Peace and farmer, and has taken an active part in schools
134 HISTORY OF
and church ; and has raised a worthy family of children. His
wife is still living, in feeble health, but can look back on a
well-spent life.
LOUIS JETTON.
Mr. Louis JettO'n, a descendant of the French Huguenots,
came into this county in the latter part of the Eighteenth
century. His son, Alexander Brevard Jetton, lived to be
an old man, who exemplified in his life the religion 'he pro-
fessed, was held in much esteem by all who knew him. His
name is transmitted by one son, J. L. Jetton, an educated
gentleman, and has educated his six children that they may
prove to be worthy of such ancestors. Mr, Jetton and his
wife are still living, and enjoy the fruits of a well-spent
life. He was twice a member of the Legislature, when the
honor was forced upon him. He now resides near David-
son.
HUGH TORRANCE.
Hugh Torrance came to Mecklenburg in the latter part
of the Eighteenth century, and settled in the Hopewell
neighborhood. He was an extensive farmer, and married
the widow of Col. Falls, who was killed in the battle of Ram-
seur's Mill, in Lincoln county, in 1781. He built a very ele-
gant brick mansion that will compare favorably with the
most aristocratic residences in the city or county. Mr. Tor-
rance was a native of Ireland, and had the "push" that was
characteristic of the early emigrants o-f the Scotch-Irish
people. They were a money-making and church-loving peo^
pie ; consequently they were not willing to stop' short of in-
dependence, and Mecklenburg will ever be proud of the fact
that her early settlers were of the stamip that loved liberty
and freedom. One son, James Torrance, was the only
fruit of this marriage. Both Mr. and Mrs. Torrance died
in February, 1816. Their elegant home was left to Mr.
MISS MARGARET A. LOWRIE.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I35
James Torrance, who added largely to; his estate — both in
land and negroes. He was married three times, had a large
family who have scattered off, till now but twO', the young-
est sons, live in the county. The old county seats that have
been in the family from the time the lands were first entered,
are now fast passing into the hands o>f strangers, and will
soon be unknown to the children of the original oiwners.
Richard and John, two' of the youngest of the thirds genera-
tion, are now among the oldest men of the county, and will
soon have passed fromi the land holders of the county. As
there is now a craze for all the educated classes, and the
property holders to move to towns, where they can have the
advantages oi schools and society. Mr. Ric'hard Torrance
and family now live in Charlotte, but cultivates his farm
with tenant labor. For more than one hundred years our
lands have been cultivated by slave labor, but for nearly
forty years freed labor, or free labor, has been depended on,
which has been so unreliable that the best element on the
farms, with the employers, have moved to the towns.
MARGxXRET ALEXANDER LOWRIE.
Without an effort on her part there were but few women
in the county who exercised a more healthy or helpful influ-
ence. When a young lady, rich and beautiful, came of a
family of great culture and influence, she was looked up to
and courted by the many for her smiles of approbation.
Her company was always sought for. She never consid-
ered any one an inferior who supported a good name and
was careful to preserve it. She was a daughter of Judge
Samuel Lowrie, who was a native of Delaware, and was a
son of Robert and Elizabeth Lowrie. When a child his par-
ents moved to Rowan county, and he was educated by Rev.
James Hall in Tredell county.
In 1804, 1805 and 1816, he was elected a representative
in the Legislature of North Carolina. In 1806 he was
136 HISTORY OF
elected judge of the Superior Court, which position he held
until he died, which was in 1818.
He married Margaret, daughter of Robert Alexander.
The fruit of this marriage was Robert, Samuel, Polly (mar-
ried Dr. Dunlap), Lilly (married Brawley Oates), Eliza
and Margaret. In 181 1 he married Mary, daughter of
Marmaduke Norfleet, of Bertie county, N. C. From: this
marriage there was but one daughter, Rebecca, who mar-
ried Rev. John Robinson, an Episcopal minister, who located
in Huntsville, Ala. But few of the family are now left to
speak of their history. Miss Margaret Lowrie was a great
favorite with young people, and always had a crowd to
visit her. Her sister Eliza, who was never strong, lived
with her. She was a great reader just for her own pleasure,
and let Miss Margaret do the housekeeping and the enter-
taining of visitors. In her old age she never forgot that
she was once young, and had much charity for the young,
and sometimes in a sly way would tell how the boys would
come "a-courting." It always appeared to furnish her
pleasure to tell about Speight McLean and Joe Alexander
coming on Cupid's errand. She received offers of mar-
riage when she was quite old, but she would laugh and say :
"It is time now to turn these little episodes over to our
juniors." In these prosaic times it would be well to have
some of the "old issue" to come along again.
SAMUEL J. LOWRIE, ESQ.
He was one of the most brilliant lawyers that Mecklen-
burg county ever produced. . He was the son of Dr. Robert
Lowrie, and he a son of Judge Samuel Lowrie, of Mecklen-
burg county. He was born to an inheritance of legal talent.
The women possessed literary talent of a high order, con-
nected with grace and beauty of person. Mr. S. J. Lowrie' s
father died quite young, had but two children, Samuel and
Robert. Their mother married a second time, and Samuel
J. Lowrie came to Charlotte to live with his aunts, maiden
SAMUEL J. LOWRIE, ESQ.
CAPT. JOHN WALKER.
MKCKLENBURG COUNTY. I37
ladies, who lived with their brother-in-law, Dr. David R.
Dunlap, and frequently with Brawley Oates, another broth-
er-in-law, who lived in a large lot on the eastern comer of
Seventh and Brevard streets. And, by the way, it is said
Miss Lilly Lowrie, afterwards Mrs. Oates, was the prettiest
woman in Mecklenburg. Mr. Oates was engaged in the of-
fice of the County Court Clerk, and took his nephew as a sul>-
stitute in the office with him, and for several years he worked
there and read law. He was not only thoroughly drilled in
the science of the law, but was well acquainted with the
practical workings of the law. After obtaining his license
to practice law, he was taken in partnership by Hon. J. W.
Osboirne, who was a prince among lawyers. After a few
years he took an office by himself, and did not devote him-
self as assiduously to his practice as his friends desired. He
was the peoples' favorite, and his services always in de-
mand. The war came on and he plead his avoirdupois was
against his marching. He was too heavy for cavalry ser-
vice, hence he chose the navy. He was sitationed in Charles-
ton harbor, where the duties were light and no marching
to do. His legal talents accompanied him to the navy; here
be was employed to defend a poor seaman who had stricken
an officer. The penalty was death, but he gained an acquit-
tal for his client. Once he wanted a furlough, and he wrote
the clerk to know how many cases he was to appear for in
the Superior Court. The clerk replied 150 cases; either
for or against most every case on the docket. He got his
furlough. His opportunities were very great. He outlived
his aunts and all of his near kin, yet he was scarce forty
when death claimed a most brilliant lawyer, in 1870.
CAPT. JOHN WALKER.
In any State of the Union, Capt. Walker would have
taken a prominent position. Nature had chosen him for a
leader of men. He was not a polished man, with a surface
education, but he had a strong mind, well balanced, fearless
138 HISTORY OF
in contending- for what he beheved was right. He was one
of the most influential citizens of Mecklenburg- county. He
entered public life in 1840, as a member of the General As-
sembly of North Carolina. He there drew the attention of
the county, by his close attention to business, particularly to
the welfare of Mecklenburg. He was sent to the Senate in
i842-'44-'46-'48. Again Senator in 1854, and the last time
in i860. Six times a Senator from this county betokens
great popularity. He was given the pet name of "The
Great Wheel Horse of Democracy." He was an active Jus-
tice of the Peace; was for a long time chairman of the
County Court, and was able to dispense justice without so
much red tape. He was a good man to have in a neighbor-
hood. He appealed to reason, and prevented many a trivial
law suit by a timely word of advice, that otherwise would
have engendered a bitterness that would have lasted more
than a generation. He understood the common law, and had
no hesitation to enforce it, and believed that all — both rich
and poor — should be treated alike. He believed in being fair
in debate, and he would force his opponent to be fair, or else
he would drive him to the wall. He was strictly in his ele-
ment when he had a "foeman worthy of his steel."
After the war, in the days of reconstruction, he was shorn
of his strength. Much of his property was gone; he was
placed under the ban; he was not allowed to vote; if he was
worth $20,000, unless he could get a pardon ( ?) his prop-
erty would be confiscated. His proud spirit could not brook
such treatment. He lived but a short time. Reconstruc-
tion laws bore heavily upon him.
It took a man of iron nerves to undergo the so-called re-
construction days. He was elected an elder in Sardis
church when but 20 years old. But for the sake of peace
and harmony, he, with his son. Rev. James Walker, and
several other prominent members, removed their member-
ship to Sharon, where he continued to exercise the office of
ruling elder until his death.
Capt. Walker was married three times. First he married
JAS. H. DAVIS.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 1 39
Miss Susan McCullough, She bore him two children, Rev.
James Walker, and one other son who died in childhood.
His second wife was a widow — Jane Harris — who bore him
no children, although she had two^ by a former husband.
His third wife was Miss Sophonia White. She did not bear
any children.
Capt. Walker was a representative man of the old school,
when the peoples' verdict was the law of the land, from"
which no one deemed it a hardship or ever thought of an
appeal. He lived in a time when a case of extreme poverty
was unknown in the county, unless it was from' sickness or
self-imposed. During his day the production of cotton was
comparatively, in its infancy; raising negroes, hogs, cattle
and horses and mules ; they did not care so much for money,
as to have that which could be turned into money. Our
whole system of farming and civilization was changed by
the reconstruction. Capt. John Walker was born February
22, 1801, east of Charlotte, about eight miles. Here he
kept his home all his life when not engaged in the business
of the State. He died September 8, 1876. His life was a
useful one. When not engaged for the State, he was look-
ing after the interests of his family, the church, and the
county. The county could well say he was jealous of the
best interests of Mecklenburg, and of the church.
JAMES DAVIS.
Mr. James Davis was the son of Watson Davis, of Provi-
dence congregation, where he lived and died early in the
Nineteenth century. James, the subject of this sketch, had
one brother who also lived in Providence, named Samuel
Davis. He had a daughter who married her cousin, Mar-
cellus Davis, who lives in the town of Charlotte.
Mr. James Davis lived some six miles southwest of Provi-
dence church. He married a Miss Lee, an aunt of D. P.
Lee, amongst the best people in the county. Mr. Davis was
a farmer of splendid attainments. He studied the needs
140 HISTORY OF
of his soil and put in practice his conclusions. Persons who
knew him well, said he was a bold buyer, or seller, as the
case might be. He would buy a plantation ready stocked
with horses, mules, cattle, sheep and hogs, and farming
tools, and negroes enough to cultivate it. A big trade of
this kind would not cause him to lose an hour's sleep. He
was always cool, and if he could see a fair promise to realize
a handsome profit, he was quick to strike a trade. He
always rode a magnificent horse, and was a fine rider. He
owned several large plantations, and they were well stocked
with the best the country afforded. Of course we are speak-
ing of things as they appeared then. The civilization of
ante-bellum days was very dififerent from what it was at a
later day. In the former period a man of means had no
hesitation about making debts ; for the number of slaves he
had were regarded the best of collaterals, and he could
always get as much time as he wanted. He had all his
stock, of every kind, well protected against the cold of win-
ter ; abundantly fed, so that they were always ready for ser-
vice. His negroes were well cared for, in sickness and
health. It was his opinion that all stock was profitable in
proportion to the care that Avas bestowed upon it. This
was before cotton became king of products and king of com-
merce. In 1852 a wealthy man in south Iredell county said
the most profitable stock to raise in this country was
"negroes and hogs."
Mr. Davis was a staunch supporter of the war. He be-
lieved in raising all the supplies the army should need, both
what was necessary to feed the soldiers in the field, and sup-
ply their families at home. He first gave his son, a boy of
seventeen, to the Confederacy, all the horses and mules he
could spare from his farm, paid more than the tenth of all
his meat and bread and feed for horses. During the last
two years of the war his granaries were so much frequented
by the soldiers' wives, especially from Union county, that
they called it "going down to Egypt." They would fre-
quently come in large companies, a soldier's wife or
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I4I
daughter driving a one-horse wagon, sornetimies an O'X, or a
mule; and none turned away without a load. Whatever
would satisfy hunger and render the people comfortable,
was poured out without stint. If the wealthy people of our
Southland had been as patriotic as Mr. Davis, there would
have been fewer desertions from the Confederate army.
Mr. Davis owned about three hundred negroes, and of
course had no hesitation about contracting a debt with all
these collaterals behind him ; but when the war ended disas-
trously to the South, and swept away the very foundations
on which the finances of the State, or the Confederacy was
built, it cast a gloom over the people that they could not
shake off at pleasure. The younger people could start in
anew, but those who were in the evening of life were not able
to stem the adverse current as it rushed madly on to over-
throw all of our civilization.
It was morally impossible for a man, a large planter,
owning, a vast number of slaves, to regain his hold on the
financial touchstone, when all had been swept away, an
army of adventurers were hanging on his every turn, hoping
to pick his financial carcass, as he recuperated his shattered
fortune.
Young men endowed with a superabundance of energy-
can sometimes rebuild a lost fortune under adverse circum-
stances ; but when the evening shadows grow long, and hopt-
is crushed, and only defeat stares him in the face ; all incen-
tive to action has subsided, energy is gone, and he gradually
sinks into a premature grave. In this way have many en-
tered the future state who otherwise might have reached
a green old age. Old age that comes with stealthy steps,
hardly pausing as each year goes round, comes naturally,
has many sweets to make bright and gladsome the counte-
nances when all goes well ; but we can only see poverty and
wretchedness, when the bitter cup is pressed to our lips, and
we are made to drink to its dregs, and there is nothing left
us but the quietude of the grave.
Many cases of this kind will have to be answered for at
142 HISTORY OF
the shrine of truth and justice. Our Southern people faced
the defeat with wonderful courage. Many of our old men
were so paralyzed, not by defeat so much, as by the petty
tyrants who thought to lord it over their superiors in virtue
and all that constitutes true manhood.
Mr. James Davis was surrounded by the best people in
the State — Mr. W. M. Matthews, Wm. McKee, Wm. Ar-
drey, M. D., Capt. W. E. Ardrey, John Rhea, Robert Grier,
Elam Sample, Neil Morrison. The names of such men to
constitute the neighbors of James Davis, is prima facie evi-
dence that he was more than an ordinary man ; and his deeds
of charity in cases deserving it, will live long after his face
is forgotten.
W. J. YATES EDITOR AND PRINTER.
Mr. Yates was born in Fayetteville, N. C, in 1827. Work
was as natural for him as laziness is for some people. He
loved to work to accomplish certain aims. He most cor-
dially despised idlers, and laid to the charge of idleness pov-
erty and all its train of evils. He entered the printing of-
fice of the North Carolinian at an early age, and by industry
and frugality, was enabled to buy the paper, which he again
sold and in 1856 moved to Charlotte and bought the Char-
lotte Democrat. This was his idol — the apple of his eye.
He could suffer the loss of anything else rather than have
his paper evil spoken of. In 1881, October ist, the Sotith-
ern Home was consolidated with the Democrat and pub--
lished as the Home-Democrat, Mr. Yates retiring from ac-
tive management of the same. In the interval he was res-
tive and his oft repeated assertion, "I cannot stay out of this
office," led him in February, 1884, to again assume his
wonted po'ssession — a good editor, he loved his profession.
He made a financial success of his paper and by economy
and judicious business management, accumulated a hand-
some competency. He earned his money in Charlotte, and
invested it here, having no use for any enterprise outside of
1'
I
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I43
the State. A loyal North Carolinian, familiar with her his-
tory and conversant with the record of her people.
He was president of the Board of Directors of the Insane
Asylum at IMorg-anton, and a Trustee of the University at
Chapel Hill. Pronounced in his opinion, he held his con-
victions with a strong and unyielding grasp, his superior
judgment wielded an influence in the councils of which he
was a member. His individual characteristics were mani-
fest through the columns o-f his paper. Liberal, he gave
unostentatio'usly ; his private charities amounted to a large
sum ; the veriest tramp never appealed in vain, the gift often
accompanied with expressions of his contempt for idleness.
The poor will miss his generous hand. Simple in taste,
plain in habits, he was intolerant of display and pretence ; a
good citizen, one whom the community will miss. The
press of North Carolina has lost its oldest and most valued
editor. Peace to his ashes. He was well suited for the
times in which he lived. He died October 28, 1888.
SHERIEE MARSHALL ALEXANDER.
He was one of the most popular men of Mecklenburg
county. He was a gentleman of the old school — never
forgot the training he received in ante-bellum days ; always
cheerful, and ever ready to help an old Confederate.
In speaking of Mr. Alexander, we must say that there
were in his life and career far more noble qualities than one
would suppose who was not intimately acquainted with him.
He was a man of fine intelligence, possessing a warm heart.
At times he appeared rough and harsh, but it was because
you did not know him. There was a vein of quaint humor
running through his character that made him friends wher-
ever he moved. He was a gallant soldier in the late war,
and occupied the position of Lieutenant in Company B,
Fifty-third Regiment, North Carolina Troops, Gen. Daniel's
Brigade, Rodc's Division. He was captured at Gettysburg
144 HISTORY OF
and sent to Johnston's Island, and not exchanged, but re-
mained there till the war was over.
In 1872 he was elected sheriff of Mecklenburg county,
which office he filled with entire satisfaction for 12 years.
He made a faithful officer, always among the first to settle
with the State; yet he was indulgent and the tax payers of
this county speak of his administration of the office in the
highest terms. It was a common saying on the streets that
he was "the best sheriff the county ever had." (But the
county has never had an inferior officer of any kind since the
days of reconstruction.) He was cut down in the prime of
life, when his usefulness was at full tide, his wife having
preceded him some time. He was about 50 years old.
Every one said "Marshall Alexander was an honest man."
He was just and straightforward in all his dealings; he was
always ready "to render unto Caesar the things that belonged
to Caesar." He was a conscientious man and was as true to
his convictions as the needle is tO' the pole. He was open
and candid. Had no . petty spites or harbored a mean re-
venge. He died peacefully and calmly. His life ebbed out
like the fading light of day. The whole county feels the loss
of a friend. But everything terrestrial must fade and disap-
pear. He died in 1886.
DR. J. M. STRONG.
John Mason Strong was born in Newberry county, S. C,
September i, 1818. He was the only son of Rev. Charles
Strong, of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church,
and Nancy Harris Strong.
Charles Strong died July 20, 1824. His wife survived
him until November 8, 1842. They had five children — but
one son — the subject of this sketch. John Mason entered
Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa., in 1839; graduated
in 1 841 under the presidency of Dr. Matthew Brown. He
read medicine under Dr. John Harris, of Steele Creek, and
attended a course of lectures at Charleston, S. C, but gradu-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I45
ated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., in
1847. His first and only home was in Steele Creek,
where he was reared and where he practiced medicine
for over fifty years. He was a ruling elder in Steele Creek
A. R. P. Church and throughout his long and singularly
useful life was one of the staunchest of churchmen. He
was a "pillar of the church," being prominent always in its
councils and affairs. He served as a surgeon in the late
war, and was considered one of the ablest men, profession-
ally, in the service. He was called in as an expert to settle
the difference among the local doctors in the smallpox epi-
demic of 1850 in Charlotte.
Dr. Strong was twice married. Plis first wife was Rachel
Elenor Harris, daughter of Dr. John Moore Harris. They
were married April 7, 1851. She died May o.'j, 1880, leav-
ing five children. In vSeptember, 1883, Dr. Strong married
Miss Nancy Grier, of Steele Creek, who survives him. He
was one of the most prominent men in the county. His
integrity was above question, his piety an example to all,
and his ability of the class that made him easily one of the
best physicians of the county. He kept up with the prog-
ress of the science, held to that which would counteract
disease and benefit his patient. He was an all-round man,
and was prepared for any emergency. He reached a ripe
age, and was an honor to his profession and to the county
of his adoption. He died March 22, 1897.
JUDGE SHIPP BORN NOVEMBER IQ, 1819, DIED 189O.
"Judge Sliipp was a man of wonderful popularity, both
as a judge and as a citizen. In the former capacity he was
conceded to be one of the finest judges of law known to the
State. He was, on all occasions, a modest man. Often-
times subject to unjust criticism, he always presented the
even tenor of his way and in the end he was always vindi-
cated. It was seldom indeed that one of his decisions was
146 HISTORY OF
reversed. As a judge he ranked amongst the foremost ol'
the State.
As a citizen, Charlotte was proud of him. A genial man,
upright in all the walks of his life, both private and public,
his death is a loss to the State and will be mourned not only
by Charlotte, but by every town and hamlet in the State.
He was graduated at the University in 1840, delivering the
salutatory address; was admitted to the bar in 1842; prac-
ticed in Lincoln and the mountain district. At the beginning
of the Civil War he was elected captain of a volunteer com-
pany in Hendersonville, and served in that capacity in Vir-
ginia until he was elected Judge. In 1870 he was nominated
by the Democratic party for Attorney-General on the ticket
with Ho'U. A. S. Merrimon, candidate for Governor, etc.,
and Avas the only Democrat elected. He practiced law in
Charlotte from 1872 to 1881, when he was appointed by
Governor Jarvis judge of the Superior Court to succeed
Hon. David Schenck. He was re-elected for eight years in
1882. He was a member of the Legislature before the war.
He was twice married, first to Catherine Cameron; sec-
ond, to Margaret Iredell, daughter of James Iredell, at one
time Governor of North Carolina and United States Sena-
tor.
"Judge Shipp was one of the best informed lawyers in the
•State. He had a marked legal mind, he reasoned closely,
and as a jurist was eminent. He had no superior on the
bench. He was fond of history and literature of our lan-
guage, especially the standard works. He was interesting
and alive in conversation, and had much wit and humor."
The Charlotte bar met and attended his funeral in a body,
and passed appropriate resolutions on the great loss they
had sustained in the death of Judge Shipp. But his useful-
ness was not confined to Mecklenburg county, but extended
to all parts of the State. He died in 1890.
MECKIvEN^URG COUNTY. I47
COL. WILUAM JOHNSTON.
One of the foremost citizens of Mecklenburg county, who
was born in Lincoln county March 5, 181 7, and belonged to
one of the best families in that county. He was educated at
the University of the State. He studied law under Judge
R. M. Pearson, was licensed in 1842, and located in Char-
lotte, where he continued to reside to the end of his life. His,
residence was somewhat of the olden style, verv- large and
roomy and elegant.
He was an ardent Whig during the decade preceding the
war between the States, and with great ardor espoused the
cause of the South. In 1856 he assumed the presidency of
the Charlotte & South Carolina Railroad Co., and by his
ability as a financier and manager, put the road in a prosper-
ous condition. This road proved of great benefit to the
Confederate government during the war until destroyed by
Sherman in 1865.
In 1859 Col. Johnston inaugurated the Atlantic, Tennes-
see & Ohio Railroad, and completed forty-six miles of con-
struction, when the war came on and put a stop to the work.
Col. Johnston was an ardent supporter of the Southern
Cause. He was twice sent as a delegate to the conventions
called for the purpose of considering Federal relations, and
at both he strongly advocated North Carolina withdrawing
from the Union.
In March, 1862, he was a candidate for Governor, but he
had as an opponent Zebulon B. Vance, then a colonel in the
Confederate army, by whom he was defeated. He, how-
ever, rendered the Confederacy throughout the war great
service in the transportation of men, ammunition and sup-
plies. At the close of the war he succeeded in getting the
Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta road completed from
Columbia to Augusta, and to-day it stands as a monument
to his sagacity and business ability. The story of Presi-
dent Davis' arrival in Charlotte, and the startling news it
was destined he should hear in this city, is known by the
148 HISTORY OF
older citizens; but as a matter of history for the younger
generation, as well as being one of the most interesting
events in Col. Johnston's life, is told here. Just after peace
had been declared. President Davis arrived in Charlotte
April 18, 1865, and was met by Col. Johnston. He was
taken to the home of a man by the name of Bates, who'se
guest he was, and who lived on the corner where the ex-
press office now stands. A crowd had gathered on the cor-
ner to greet Mr. Davis, who stood on the steps of the house
making an address. A telegram was passed to him. He
read it, and his face assumed a serious expression, and
passing the telegram to Col. Johnston, who stood by him,
he retired into the house. In the crowd was Bates. He
reported to the United States Government that President
Davis had spoken exultingly when he read the telegram
which announced Lincoln's assassination. Subsequently,
Col. Johnston volunteered, when President Davis was under
arraignment by the government, to go to New York and
furnish the facts to Davis' counsel.
Col. Johnston was married in 1846 to Miss Anna Eliza
Graham, daughter of Dr. George F. Graham, brother of
Wm. A. Graham, and to them were born Julia M., wife of
Col. A. B. Andrews, of Raleigh; Frank G., Cora J., wife of
Capt. T, R. Robinson; W. R. Johnston. Mrs. Johnston
died in 1881. The children all survive except Mrs. Robin-
son.
Col. Johnston was one of Charlotte's wealthiest citizens.
He owned valuable property here and in Memphis.
Col. Johnston was elected Mayor of Charlotte and served
as follows: from May, 1875, to May, 1887 — missing two
years. He served four terms, giving great satisfaction.
The town prospered under his administration very greatly.
He was a wise financier, and used the peoples' money most
judiciously, solely for the benefit of the town. He died in
1896.
DR. ISAAC WILSON.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I49
DR. ISAAC WIESON.
(A practitioner of Medicine from 1825 to 18 y 5.)
The subject of this chapter was a son of Sherifif Wilson^
and a nephew of that eminent minister, Rev. John McKamie
Wilson, D. D., who was regarded as one of the greatest
preachers of his day. Rocky River was his church and
home for a number of years. He was so intimately con-
nected with the people of Mecklenburg that no apology is
needed for mentioning his name or his greatness. Dr.
Isaac Wilson studied medicine under Dr. D. T. Caldwell.
He did not have the advantages of attending a medical col-
lege, or one of the recent kinds of hospitals, but he gained
his knowledge from medical works and bedside experience.
His practice covered a large expanse of territory. One day
he would start out on the west side, on the next he would go
on the east side — so that he was able to see all of his patients
once in two days. He carried a very capacious pair of sad-
dlebags, which were replenished every morning with such
things as were expected to be needed. One thing in par-
ticular was never left out, viz. : his cupping Jiorn. Seventy-
five years ago it was very fashionable to bleed in all diseases.
Dr. Wilson was not noted for bleeding, but if he did not
bleed, he always cupped, hence his horn was never forgotten.
It was taken from the head of a two-year-old heifer, scraped
so thin you could easily see how much blood was drawn. A
nice piece of ivory or horn closed the large end, with a few
tacks or wire, and the small end with beeswax, punctured
with a pin — through this hole the air is sucked out, and
with the teeth the wax is made to fill the hole, and the blood'
i? now poured out in sufficient quantity to relieve the patient.
Dr. Wilson was well known in the northwestern half of
the county. In those days when physicians were few and
far between, their practice was necessarily extensive; and it
was common for a doctor not to see his patients oftener than
once in two or three days. In 1830, before quinine was
150 HISTORY OF
discovered, or had been put on the market, barks (Peruvian)
was the great remedy to stop chills with. In virulent cases
a "bark jacket" was worn. In many cases grow round
(eupertoriumperfolliatum) a plant growing in marshy places,
was extensively used; but we must not suppose the doctor
carried all these plants with him, but they could be obtained
at almost every house. He was immensely popular, was
invited to all the parties, dinings, weddings and entertain-
ments. One hundred years ago a doctor was about on a
par with the preacher. Dr. Wilson was a Justice of the
Peace, and was often called on to officiate in marriages
when the preacher was absent.
Dr. Wilson was married three times. His first wife was
a daughter of Wm. B. Alexander — Elizabeth. They had
six children. The two youngest — Gilbreth and Thomas —
died in the hospital in Richmond, Va., time of the war,
1862. Joseph Mc. and J. A. Wilson have families, and are
farming. Their sister, Isabella, of more than ordinary tal-
ents, married Mr. Andrew Parks — died a few years ago in
Statesville, leaving but three children. Dr. J. M. Wilson,
another brother, a polished gentleman, who was well edu-
cated, graduated from Davidson in 1853, took a fine stand
in class; taught school a short time, studied medicine and
graduated in Charleston, S. C, in 1857; did a large and suc-
cessful practice; was not strong physically, and in 1898
wound up his course, a successful life.
Dr. Isaac Wilson's second wife was Miss Rebecca Mc-
Lean, a daughter of the revolutionary surgeon. Dr. McLearL,
who married a daughter of Maj. John Davidson — Mary (or
Polly). She had no children. She was a most estimable
woman, not of a ro'bust constitution, and lived but a short
time. His third wife was a widow by the name of Mcin-
tosh, from Alexander county. She was also a lovely
woman and adorned the society with which she mingled.
The evening of their lives was spent happily together.
Having served his generation well, having waited upon the
people for half a century, having to call him blessed, at
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 151
peace with all men, he laid down the burden of life with a
bright hope of happiness in that world beyond the grave.
He received a very productive farm from his first wife's
father, twelve miles northwest oi Charlotte, west of the
Atlantic, Tennessee & Ohio Railroad. Here he built and
improved the place, and had a most desirable residence.
Dr. Wilson lived in the best part of the Nineteentli century.
The great wilderness which existed at the beginning of the
century, gradually began to give way, houses sprang up,
fields were cleared, churches and school houses dotted the
face of the county, industry accomplished wonders in the
lifetime of one man. Dr. Wilson's life of seventy-five
years saw wonderful changes in this county, all tending for
the good of the county ; best of all the changes, was putting
up the stock in pastures, and turning out the fields. Tim-
ber was getting scarce as he neared the end of life, and it
was meet that we should cut off the expense.
The expense of keeping up miles of fencing and annual
repairs, amounted to vast sums of money; and our labor
being freed, there was no other way left for the people to
do but to keep better stock and less in numbers, and throw
our cultivated lands outside. After a few years it gave per-
fect satisfaction. This grand movement in the march of
civilization took place about the time the old doctor finished
his course. From 1840 to 1850, the shooting match was
common for beef or turkey. In this sport Dr. Wilson often
indulged. He was not only an expert with the rifle, but
was particularly fond of the sport. At this time the people
had not learned how to preserve ice, consequently but a
small piece of beef could be taken care of by one family;
hence the necessity of having a large number to participate
in the match.
Fox hunting was another grand amusement that Dr. Wil-
son often joined in with great pleasure. He kept a good
pack of hounds, and any time in the fall or winter months,
when not engaged professionally, he would indulge in the
chase. Often he has been seen to lead in the chase, with
152 HISTORY OF
half a dozen sportsmen and twenty dogs. When a red fox
was raised, the chase was kept up for several hours, as that
species are much longer-winded than the grey. With the
passing away of Dr. Isaac Wilson, so also the sports he
loved so well have been forgotten, remembered only by the
older people. The shooting match is now obsolete, and the
fox hunting with the winding horn and pack of dogs is an
exercise of the past.
WILLIAM MAXWElvL^ ESQ.
As a general rule, we do not see or appreciate the true
worth of our public functionaries until they are removed
from the sphere of their usefulness. While the memory of
Esquire Maxwell is still fresh in the minds of the people, it
is well to rehearse what endeared him to the people of Meck-
lenburg'.
He passed away on the 26th of October, 1890, after
having spent a useful life for his family, for the county, and
for the church. His was a well rounded life, devoied both
to church and State.
Esquire Maxwell was in his 82nd year. He was born at
what is known as the old Maxwell place, seven miles east
of Charlotte, on September 9, 1809. He was the third son
of Guy Maxwell, who emigrated to this country from
County Tyrou, Ireland, in 1795. Esquire Maxwell was
twice married. His first wife was Mary E. Johnston, a
sister of Nathaniel Johnston. She died a year after her
marriage. His second wife was Nancy A. Morris, daughter
of Col. Zebulon Morris, who with three children — Col. D.
G. Maxwell, W. C. Maxwell, Esq., and Miss Carrie Max-
well, survive him. Esquire Maxwell was long in public
life in this county, and his official career was untarnished.
He was for a loug time a member of the old County Court,
and was also its chairman. In 1862, Mr. William K. Reed
resigned as clerk of the court and Esquire Maxwell was ap-
pointed to fill out his unexpired term. That tegan Esquire
WILLIAM MAXWELL, ESQ.
^■^ OF THE '>'A
UNlV£::::iTY J
MFXKLENBURG COUNTY. 153
Maxwell's reign as a court house official. He continued
as clerk of this court until it was abolished in 1868. Then
he was appointed Register of Deeds to fill the unexpired
term of F. M. Ross. He was subsequently repeatedly
elected to that office until December, 1884, when, feeling the
cares of old age pressing upon him, declined to again be-
come a candidate, and retired to private life. Esquire Max-
well was prominent as a church man. For thirty years he
was. an elder in Philadelphia Presbyterian church, and was
for twenty-five years an elder in the First Presbyterian
church of Charlotte.
FUNERAL OF MR. MAXV/ELL.
"The funeral service's over the remains of the late Wil-
liam Maxwell were conducted from the First Presbyterian
church. A very large concourse of people, turned out to
pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of
the lamented dead, the main body of the church being
crowded. The body was inclosed in a very handsome cas-
ket covered in black broadcloth, and the top was hidden
under a mass of white flowers. Rev. Dr. Miller, the pas-
tor of the church, preached an impressive sermon, and at
its conclusion the body was escorted to Elm wood, where it
was interred. The large crowd present eloquently attested
the esteem in which the deceased was held .by the commu-
nity."
THE ElETir REGISTER OE DEEDS.
Mr. Maxwell was the fifth Register of Deeds of Mecklen-
burg county, which position he held from 1870 to 1884.
His immediate predecessor was F. M. Ross, who held the
office from 1840 to 1870.
The first register was Robert Harris, who was in office
from 1763 to 1782. John McKnitt Alexandet succeeded
Mr. Harris, and was register ten years. In 1792 Wm. Bain
Alexander succeeded his father, John McKnitt Alexander,
154 HISTORY OF
and how long he had the position there are no records to
tell; but between Wm. Bain Alexander's incumbency and
that of IMr. Ross, who came into office in 1840, there was a
time the duties of Register of Deeds was performed by the
county clerk, or the clerk of the Superior Court. It is evi-
dent, however, from the great amount of registering done
by Wm. Bain Alexander, that he held the office many years.
The registering work done by Mr. Maxwell is in a neat,
strong, clear hand, and denotes method and accuracy. The
present register, Mr. Cobb, who succeeded Mr. Maxwell,
says that the latter was one of the best registers any county
ever had. He never left anything undone from one day to
another. He was popular with all classes.
SUGAR DUUN.
This account of Sugar Dulin was foiuid among the papers
of the late Wm. Maxwell, he having been administrator of
Sugar Dulin. It was written upon foolscap paper and
doubtless with a quill pen, as that was the only kind then
in use. Notwithstanding the bad spelling and the extrava-
gant use of capital letters, the handwriting is plain and of
systematical form, and in fact will compare favorably with
the handwriting of the majority of the business men of to-
day. He was of great individuality. Many of his quaint
sayings are to this day quoted by the old people in the neigh-
borhood in which he lived. He often remarked that he had
more sense than King Solomon, for Solomon did not know
for whom he was laying up riches, but that "he knew that
he was laying them up for a set of d — d fools." It is said
that Sugar Dulin' s father, Thomas Dulin, was so fond of
sugar and rice that he gave the name of Sugar to one son
and rice to the other. Rice Dulin moved in early life to
Charleston, S. C, where he accumulated a considerable
amount of property. Sugar Dulin came to Mecklenburg
county and bought a large body of land ten miles east of
Charlotte, where he lived and died about 1845. He was
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I 55
a member of Pliiladelphia Presbyterian church, and is buried
in the old cemetery at that church, twelve miles east of
Charlotte. As the autobiography states. Sugar Dulin had
a great many descendants, and in fact, they were so thickly
settled near Philadelphia church that the section was
called Dulintown. The Dulins were all noted for their
physical courage, and while they did not have the reputation
of being "bullies," yet if any man was looking for a fight,
he could always be accommodated by a Dulin; and in ante-
bellum days at almost every session of our old coimty courts,
some of the Dulins were charged with assault and battery,
but one of the r'ame has never been known to have been in-
dicted for a felony.
In the war between the States there were seven Dulins in
Capt. D. G. Maxwell's company (H, Thirty-fifth North
Carolina Regiment), and but two of them came home after
the surrender, snd they both were wounded.
The life movements of Sugar Dulin from birth to extreme
old age :
He lived in Mecklenburg from 1791 till his death, which
was almost a half century. He was a law-abiding man and
a good citizen. This brief account is given in his own spell-
ing, and distribution of capitals :
N. B. — I was Born in onslow County, No. Carolina, the
23rd Day of April, 1763 as my parents sd any How Before
I mind & they Settled within Two miles of where Trentown
in Jones County stands, & they sd Before I mind they moved
Ten miles Higher up within one mile of old Dane! Shines &
there I was Raised & lived until I went to the army & never
father from Home than to Nubern until I went to the army
& then I made it my Home until I was married, and then I
lived in sd County until 1791. I Removed to Mecklenburg
County on the place I now live on. Now this the ist Day
of April, 1835 against the 21st of this Instant I have lived
in Mclinburg County, No. Carolina. Forty Two years, &c.
156 HISTORY OJ?
Done with my own Hand & the leading men of this
County may Due the Ballance as to my Carretter &c.
Sugar Dulin.
I Have Hved with one wife going on 5 1 years & we Have
Raised Five Sons & five Daughters & we this Day counted
our Grand Children & we make them 94 that our Sons &
Daughters has had & we Counted 13 great grand Children.
This the 20th of March, 1837, Sugar Dulin.
These people lived in Philadelphia congregation, owned a
large tract of land, raised fine crops O'f grain, hogs, cattle,
horses and sheep, were all round good citizens, and raised
a numerous posterity; were ever ready to contend for the
right. Not one of the name was ever indicted for a disrepu-
table transaction ; never gave an insult, but was quick to re-
sent one.
dr. SAMUEL B. WATSOKT.
Dr. S. B. Watson, of Philadelphia neighborhood, in this
county, passed away at his home on the 24th of August,
1895, in his 90th year. He practiced medicine sixty-seven
years. The oldest practitioner in the State, venerable in
years and in the service of his fellow man.
Dr. Watson was born in York county, S. C, December
17, 1805, and with his father — Robert Watson — moved to
Charlotte in early boyhood. He graduated from the Charles-
ton Medical College in 1828, and with Httle interruption,
has practiced his pro'fession until within a few days of his
death.
Dr. Watson was a plain, blunt man, simple in all his
habits and temperate in all things.
He possessed in a marked degree the qualifications of the
true physician. With untiring devotion to his profession
and zeal for the relief of the sick and suffering, he faithfully
and successfully practiced medicine over a large territory of
DR. SAMUEL BROWN WATSON.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 157
rough country for three score and seven yeais, and many
to-day of the fourth and fifth generations of his patrons are
ready to rise up and call him^ blessed. Dr. Watson was pos-
sessed with a remarkably retentive memory. He could re-
call with vividness the diseases and remedies of more
than half a century and held tenaciously to many principles
and practices in medicines he obtained by personal, practi-
cal experience at the bedside. He never compromised the
truth, nor became the apologist of error. He had the can-
dor to tell his most intimate friends their faults. But few
persons have approached so near the centenarian in years
with so few blemishes in bis character considered either as
a professional man, or as a Christian; and we doubt not
that at the last summons from the Great Physician to come
up higher, he received the welcome plaudit : "Well done good
and faithful ser^^ant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord."
REV. DR. T. H. PRITCHARD.
One of the most devoted and cooscientious pastors that
was ever in Charlotte. His father was a mechanic, and
worked at his trade here for many years before the Civil
War. The doctor was loved by all the people of the city;
particularly by the children. He could be grave and sedate
as occasion demanded, or be jovial at the festive board,
and always the favorite with boys. He was immensely pop-
ular. He appeared as much at ease in his neighbor's pulpit
as in his own ; so that wherever a guest, he had a royal wel-
come. He died in Wilmington, and when the train bearing
his remains arrived in Charlotte, the people turned out to do
him honor without regard to denominatiou. On May 24,
1896, the last sad tribute of respect was paid to the deceased.
The First Baptist church was exquisitely draped, and flow-
ers — the symbol of the Resurrection — were in profusion.
Dr. Taylor, president of Wake Forest College, was the
first to lay his tribute of affection as it found vent in words,
on the bier of his life-long friend. He expressed gratitude
158 HISTORY OF
for the man as he was ; for the triumph of his life and death.
"He was a many-sided man," said he, "and a man who
would have been a gentleman even if he had not been a Chris-
tian; as it was, he was a Christian gentleman. He was a
man who never outgrew the child, nor child-like simplicity.
He was genial, sweet and pure. A current of humor flowed
continuously from his heart, and a remarkable thing about
it was that it was always pure. I never heard him tell any-
thing that could not be said before the most modest woman.
He was one of the most useful men in the South. The State
owes him a debt of gratitude it can never pay for the cam-
paign he made in the cause of education when president of
Wake Forest College. I thank God for his life work and
his victory."
Dr. Preston followed Dr. Taylor, and spoke simply and
yet tenderly and beautifully of the deceased. He said : "It
is given to few to have such a funeral as this. Perhaps
many of you will never see such another, I will not refer
to the great deeds of Dr. Pritchard, but to one peculiar some-
thing about him which always struck me as forcible, and
that was the large number of warm personal friends he had.
Had such a wide and loving heart, and expressed his af-
fection so genuinely. What would have seemed insincere
in others was perfectly genuine and correct in Dr. Pritchard.
No man ever had more friends, and that is the highest
tribute that can be paid. I come with a special message and
tribute from the First Presbyterian church to lay on his bier,
for he was a child of our own Sunday School. He used
often to say to me with a twinkle in his eye, "I know the
Shorter Catechism, for I learned it under those old trees,"
pointing to the church yard. Another remarkable thing
about this man was his great power of attracting children.
He kept young, and made himself so attractive to children
that they all loved him and to-day there would be a thousand
children in this audience if there was room for them. I
want the children to always think of him by the familiar
name they called him on the streets. Dr. Preston closed by
R. D, ALEXANDER, ESQ.
MKCKLKNBURG COUNTY. 1 59
urging the members of Tryon Street church to honor the
dead pastor by doing what he would have them do.
Rev, Dr. Bowman paid a most feeling tribute to his de-
ceased brother. "A great man," said he, "lies fallen in our
midst. He was great in the way the Master was great. We
find in this man characteristics which were Christ-like. I
am here to bear witness of his faithfulness, of his genial,
kind heart and great efficiency. I have had the blessed ex-
perience of knowing consolation and comfort from him."
]\Tay God give us grace to follow him and spend our ener-
gies as he did for the glory of God and the good of our fel-
low men.
Rev. L. C. Hoffman and Rev. Atkins and Rev. Turrentine
also took part in the solemn sendees. Buried in Elmwood.
ROBERT DAVIDSON ALEXANDER.
To write of persons that you have known intimately for
one-fourth of a century, it is almost like communing with
the dead. Mr. Alexander was the third one of the fourteen
children of Wm. B. Alexander, and a grandson of John Mc-
Knitt Alexander. The subject of this sketch was born in
the old homestead, on the 9th day of August, 1796; was
given a common school education that was built upon and
improved during his whole life. He was not so fond of the
fox chase, deer hunting, and the sports the young men en-
gaged in; but rather would devote his spare moments to
reading the New York Christian Observer, the Intelligencer,
the great organ of the Whig party, and kindred literature.
He was a well informed man on the great topics of the day,
both civil and religious, and was fond of discussing im-
portant questions. It always afforded him pleasure to at-
tend church, courts, presbyteries and synods. He was a
Justice of the Peace for about forty years. In his day a man
was appointed for life, or good behavior, unless he should
desire to resign. He did pretty much all the business in his
section of the county. For many years he was a member of
l6o HISTORY OF
the county court; emphatically the peoples' court; many
were the conveniences, in the first place it coist but a trifle,
all small offences could be disposed oi. This court could
not try civil cases where large amounts were involved ; but
in criminal cases, except murder and arson and probably
some others, they meeted out justice without quams of con-
science. Whipping, branding, stocks and pillory were the
usual punishments, and the man so punished generally left
the state.
He generally kept a fine orchard of all kinds of fruit; also
kept enough of bees to furnish all the honey his family
would consume.
Mr. Alexander married the youngest daughter of Rev.
S. C. Caldwell, Abagail Bain, in 1829. He built a home
ten miles from Charlotte, one mile northeast from the old
homestead, where John McKnitt lived, and exercised such
a healthful influence upon the patriot cause during and after
the Revolutionary war. He built up a handsome compe-
tency from a well tended farm. Before the days of rail-
roads, when everybody traveled horseback, or in a private
conveyance, he was never known to refuse lodging to a
traveler. He did not keep a "Hostlery," but took in and en-
tertained people as a Christian duty. He had five children
who lived to be grown ; the oldest son, Rev. S. C. Alexander,
D. D., is now living in Pine Bluff, Ark. ; is an evangelist of
the Presbyterian Church, has labored in many of the South-
ern States, and consequently is well known. A sister of his,
Agnes, married Dr. W. B. Fewell, of South Carolina; raised
an interesting family. She died in 1897, ^S^*^^ ^5- Sbe was
an excellent Christian woman. Dr. J. B. Alexander prac-
ticed medicine in the northern part of Mecklenburg for the
third of a century — was a surgeon in the Confederate army
— in 1890 moved to Charlotte. In 1858 he married Miss
Annie W. Lowrie, of this county. She died February 27,
1893. Bore him six children — ^but four are now living. Their
second daughter was the first woman south of the Potomac
-Dr. Annie L. Alexander.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. l6l
She is located in Charlotte, and has succeeded equal to ex-
pectations. W. D. Alexander, Esq., lives in his father's old
residence, and represents his father in his magisterial capac-
ity, is an excellent farmer and wields a good influence in
both church and State. His first wife was a daughter of
Dr. J. G. M. Ramsay, of Tennessee. She left four children,
who are now grown ; the daughter married a Mr. Johnston,
of Lincoln county; Dr. James R. Alexander has lately
moA^ed to Charlotte. The two younger sons, William and
Lattimer, are both in Charlotte engaged in profitable work.
Both are nice, well behaved young gentlemen. The young-
est daughter of R. D. Alexander, Lottie, died soon after her
education was completed in 1878.
Mrs. Abagail Bain Alexander was more than an ordinary
personage; her parentage, and the exalted positions of her
brothers in the legal profession, one, Walter P. Caldwell, of
Greensboro, and Septimus Caldwell, of Granda, Miss.
Both brothers were great lights in the profession of law;
five brothers of no mean ability, as ministers of the Gospel,
who early in life moved to the Southwest, where they exer-
cised an influence for good that will extend through many
generations. Mrs. Alexander, when married, took her
youngest brother, Walter, then a small boy but four or six
years old, and raised him as if her own child, his parents
being dead. She was first in all cases of sickness or dis-
tress; she was welcome in every house where gloom had set-
tled. She was broad in charity to other denominations,
particularly to the Methodists. She often worshipped at old
Bethasda. The people there were poor and ignorant, and
had all confidence in her, and applied to her for help in their
spiritual perplexities. This was a mutual pleasure for her
to give and they to receive.
The yoimg people were fond of her society ; always cheer-
ful and happy, there was a kind of contagion that young
folks were fond of.
She was fond of horseback riding, and all her visiting
among the sick or well in the neighborhood was on horse-
l62 HISTORY OF
back. In the early years of the century all classes rode
horseback. Women thought it no hardship to ride six to
eight miles to church, and carry a baby on their lap. When
the distance was not so great, they would take one also on
behind, tied to the mother with a large handkerchief, or
with a hank of yarn. The old-fashioned gig was used by
the well-to-do classes. In the country many persons walked
to church and rested their horses. Mrs. Alexander survived
'her husband nearly twenty years. In 1889 she entered her
rest, being 80 years old. Her childrens' children were old
enough and in after years with a full heart, called her
blessed.
HON. R. p. WARING.
Capt. Waring was a native Virginian; came of the old
English stock that believed it as essential to cultivate the
mind as to train the body. His first wife was a daughter of
Lewis D. Henry, of Raleigh, N. C. In 1850 he first moved
to Charlotte; just before this he obtained license to practice
law, and opened a law ofiice here to grow up with the people,
and to identify himself with the best interests of the county
and State. Smallpox broke out here in 1851, when many
people were affected, some died, and terror seized the whole
county. The terrible scourge breaking out the next year
after Capt. Waring's appearance, has served as a marker in
the last half of the Nineteenth century. The disease has
not been wanting here for the last six months, and the
most nervous people have not lost an hour's sleep on ac-
count of the epidemic, it is so mild.
Capt. Waring commenced editing the Demdcrat in June,
1852. He was a success as an editor. If he had put all
his time to his paper instead of attempting to run a law
office at the same time, his success would have been com-
plete. He was elected county attorney in 1855, and gave
universal satisfaction. He was made elector in 1856 on the
National Democratic platform for the election of James
Buchanan president.
MECKI.ENBURG COUNTY. 163
In 1859, he was elected county attorney the second time,
which showed how popular he was before the war. He
soon resigned his office of county attorney to accept a consul-
ship in the Danish West Indian Islands, which important
position he held until war had been declared against the
South, when he immediately came home, barely escaping
arrest in New York, as he had to come that way to get
home, and render an account of his consulship.
When he reached home his country was one vast camp,
one side determined to subdue and conquer the South; the
South as fully determined to defend that which was achieved
by our forefathers in the Eighteenth century. He raised
a company, went to the front and fought gallantly for the
cause of the South. When the war was over, he came back
home and edited the Times. He was a bold and fearless
writer, criticised the reconstruction plans by which they in-
tended to humiliate our people; he denounced the govern-
ment they inaugurated as a "military despotism" instead
of a republic. For this crime (f) he was arrested in the
dead hours of the night, carried off to Raleigh, tried by a
military court, sentenced to pay a fine of $300.00 within
five days, or be imprisoned for six months. This fact and
others of a similar nature could be narrated, that were per-
petrated on our people six months after the surrender, when
we thought the civil courts were enough to take cognizance
of the infraction of laws.
The county had every confidence in Capt. Waring, and
had him frequently to head the ticket for the Legislature —
twice in the House of Commons and four or more times in
the Senate. He was a man of ability and unswerving hon-
esty and patriotism.
For a number of years he was judge of the Inferior Court.
He held the position until this court was done away with.
During the entire time he gave great satisfaction, and the
rapid dispatch of business. His services were secured to
canvass the county for the contribution, or the taking of
stock in the Charlotte and Atlanta Railroad, by Mecklen-
164 HISTORY OP
burg- county. The wisdom of building- this road has been
amply shown by the benefit it has been to the city. In every
position that Capt. Waring has occupied, his services have
always been endorsed by the people of the county.
ADAM BREVARD DAVIDSON.
Mr. Davidson was well known not only in Mecklenburg
county, but all throug-h Western North Carolina as the fore-
most farmer in this part of the State. He was also well
known in South Carolina and Georgia, for his fine cattle,
especially for his herd of Devons and Durhams.
Until the war between the States, Mr. Davidson was prob-
ably the most wealthy man in the county. When a young
man he married a daughter O'f Mr. John (commonly Jack)
Springs, of South Carolina. His father gave him the large
and elegant brick dwelling house built by Maj, John David-
son in 1787. Here Mr. A. B. Davidson lived and raised a
large family, and accumulated a large estate. He was very
liberal in his support of Hopewell church and all benevolent
objects. He was always an ardent Whig, was a firm be-
liever in the doctrine of internal improvements; subscribed
largely to building railroads, had large amounts in cotton
mills in Augusta, Ga., contributed of his wealth to build
the A. T. & O. Railroad, and since the war crippled every
one so severely, he urged the county to vote $300,000 to
build the Atlanta road and rebuild the Statesville road. This
road bed was taken up — that is the iron and cross ties — to
build the road from Greensboro to Danville, which was
deemed a necessity dliring the war. Mr. Davidson lost by
the war, and by security for his friends, four-fifths of his
estate. He was worth prior to 1865, a half million of dol-
lars. He was a very busy man, as he always looked after
bis own affairs. He employed overseers on his plantations
where everything was raised or made that was used on his
farm. Farming w^s very different fifty years ago from
what it is now. Whatever was necessary to feed the stock,
A. B. DAVIDSON, ESQ.
MKCKLKNBURG COUNTY. 165
the hands and the family, to clothe and shoe the family, was
raised on the farm. Every farmer of any consequence nad
one of their slaves for a shoemaker, one a carpenter and a
blacksmith, a woman for a weaver. So nothing was to buy
but salt, sugar, coffee, molasses, etc. Store bills amounted
to but little, and when bread and meat had to be bought, it
was looked for in the coimty. A doctor's bill could not
well be avoided; but the doctors in those days had some
conscience, and were as successful then as fifty years later.
Mr. Davidson did not have the advantage that his younger
brothers had in the way of education; but he had a large
amount of common sense, listened to what other people ex-
pressed, then drew his own conclusions and was rarely
wrong.
Some twenty years before he died, he became thoroughly
disgusted with free labor. He moved to Charlotte and quit
the farm. Pie owned quite an interest in city property, and
confined himself to improving his property here and rented
the farms not given to his children. Before he died his
noted old home, "Rural Hill," was burned; the old home-
stead and surroundings were not kept in the repair of forty
years ago; the old place is much changed, and in fact bears
but a faint resemblance to what it was when Mr. Davidson
looked over some three thousand acres of land, and slaves
enough to keep it in splendid repair, and have the large
pastures filled with mares and colts, and the finest of cattle,
sheep and swine. Our old civilization has been swept away,
and we are living under the new order of things.
Mr. Davidson's mother was Sally Brevard, a daughter of
Adam Brevard, who was a brother of Dr. Ephraim Brevard,
the draftsman of the Declaration of Independence. A story
is told that one morning after a hard rain, Maj. John Da-
vidson called his son Jacky (who in after years was the
father of Mr. A. B. Davidson), and told him: "While the
ground is too wet to plow, go and get your horse saddled
and get yourself dressed and go over to Adam Brevard's
and court Sally; I think she will make you a good wife.
1 66 HISTORY OF*
Now you have no time to fool about it; the ground will be
dry enough to plow by to-morrow." Jacky went like a duti-
ful son, and Sally acquiesced in the proposition. They lived
d long time, led a useful life and raised a large family of
children. The subject of this sketch being the eldest, he
was born March 19, 1808, and died July 4, 1896.
In the long ago it was not uncommon for families to
iiove private burying grounds before churches were so
rumerous, or rather before any were built. Maj. John Da-
vidson had a private plat a little west of the front of his
house, probably started before the one at Hopewell church.
Nearly the whole of the Davidson family are entombed
there. Maj. Davidson's sister, Mary, who married John
Price, is buried at Baker's graveyard, about five miles to-
wards Beattie's Ford. It is overgrown with large trees of
many varieties. Some old stones, grey rock, covered with
moss, render the letters unintelligible. The old resting
place is now forgotten by all save a few who live near it.
Two desolate places for so important personages to occupy,
Maj. John Davidson, a signer of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, at one place, and his sister at another,
PATRICK HARTY.
Patrick Harty and wife came from Ireland to America in
the year 1820. They crossed the Atlantic ocean in a sailing
vessel and landed at Charleston, South Carolina, where they
stayed but a short time, when he was induced to move into
the up country. The neighborhood is now, as then known,
as Coddle Creek, where there is a church by that name. He
worked there at his trade' — brick mason and plasterer. He
die' not stay there long as work was more plentiful in Meck-
lenburg, so he moved his family to Charlotte and worked
aiound through the county.
The people in the eastern part of the county, in Clear
Creek Township, employed Mr. Harty to build Philadel-
phia church. It is a fine structure for that period. The
MECKI^ENBURG COUNTY. 167
people of that section were skillful and industrious farmers,
therefore they put up a building- in keeping with their ability.
Mr. Harty never put up a shoddy job. Mecklenburg county
employed him, as an expert, to look after the building of the
court house on West Trade street, in 1845; but the county
has disposed of it for a new one that is better and more up-
to-date, on South Tryon street. Mr. Harty became
thoroughly identified with our people. He raised and edu-
cated his children here at home, three boys and four girls, all
useful citizens. His son William, for a number of years,
clerked for various merchants. In 1846 he clerked for Hen-
derson & Smith, at Davidson College. He was a popular
salesman and efficient in his work. Mr. John Harty was a
carriage maker in the town, did excellent work. For a long-
time his shop was on the corner of College and Trade. This
was before the cotton market was developed, when corn
and wheat was grown up to Harty's shops. Harty owned
the lands contiguous to his shop, and was at that time con-
sidered of little value only as farm lands.
Mr. Harty made vehicles upon honor. If he sold a buggy
and harness, he would warrant it to stand three years, but
he would charge from $150 to $200. His buggies were
known to last, with ordinary care, from ten to fifteen years ;
but in those days they were not in every day use.
Mr. Harty was at one time in partnership with Mr.
Charles Wilson. They were the principal carriage makers
in all this section of country. James Harty began clerking
in a store while a mere boy. He proved an expert in this
line of business, and he followed it until he could operate a
store of his own. He probably had the first china store in
the city. He married a daughter of Dr. Frank Ross, and
raised an interesting family. He is one of the old land-
marks of the tOAvn. He has hosts of friends, and is often
appealed to for information relating to events that occurred
fifty or more years ago.
l68 HISTORY OF
THE CAMPBElvL FAMILY OF MECKIvENBURG.
Duglas Camipbell came from Scotland in 1720, and settled
in Pennsylvania, where he had many descendants. It is not
known in what year Alexander Campbell came to this
county, but it is certain that he came prior to 1775. He en-
tered a larg-e tract of land south of Hickory Grove church.
Alexander W^allis now lives on a part of it, six or seven
miles east of Charlotte. Alexander Campbell had two sons,
John and Isaac, and one daughter, who moved West. Isaac
Campbell was born in 1780, and died in 1854. He was
twice married, his first wife being Catharine Orr. She died
before she reached middle life, in 1820. Isaac Campbell's
second wife — whom he married twenty years after the death
of his first — was a Miss Johnston, who was the mother of
our countyman, Mr. Joe Lee Campbell, of Clear Creek
Township. John Campbell had quite a large family — ^John,
Frank, Mark, Henry, Robert and Joab, and two daughters,
Abigail marrying a Mr. Taylor, and Dorcas married a
Smith, the mother of ex-Sheriff Smith.
Isaac Campbell's first wife — Catherine Orr — had a
daughter, Lydia Campbell, who was the mother of our ven-
erable friend and fine soldier, Julius P. Alexander, in the
Confederate army. Frank Campbell was a mo'St efficient
elder in Hopewell church. In the early part of the century
the Campbell's were among the most active supporters of
the church at Sugar Creek, bore an active part in all educa-
tional enterprises, and whatever would tend to build the in-
terests of the county.
W. F. PHIFER.
WiLUAM FuLENWiDER Phifer was a prominent citizen
of Charlotte, from 1850 until his death, 30th December,
1882. He was born in Cabarrus coimty February 15, 1809,
and was a descendant of Martin Phifer, who came from
Berne, Switzerland, and was a member of the Provencial
W. F. PHIFER.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. l6g
AsFembly at New Bern, and is honorably mentioned in the
Colonial Records.
MARTIN PHIFER.
Martin Phifer had three sons : John, who was one of the
signers of the Mecklenburg- Declaration of Independence;
Caleb, who represented Cabarrus county almost continu-
ously for many years in the Legislature, and Martin Phifer,
who was a Captain of Horse from Mecklenburg county in
the Revolutionary Army, and is spoken of by other writers
as Colonel Phifer, He had extensive grants of land in Tert-
nesse'e, upon which some of his descendants still live.
President George Washington, in his Southern tour,
stayed over night at Cold Water, the home of Colonel Mar-
tin Phifer.
George Phifer was at one time Clerk of the Court of Ca-
barrus county, and he was the son of Martin Phifer, and the
father of the subject of this sketch.
W. F. Phifer, as he signed himself, was a planter, this
being the occupation of all his ancestors, though he began
life in Cabarnis as a merchant and was associated with the
late R. W. Allison, Esq.
He completed, his education at Hampden-Sidney College,
Va., and his frequent trips to Northern markets, most of the
way on horseback, broadened his views and observation.
He was first married to Sarah, daughter of Colonel Rob-
ert Smith, who died, leaving one daughter, Sarah Smith
Phifer, who married John L. MoTchead, Esq.
He then became associated with his brothers, and moved
to Alabama, and engaged in cotton planting for several
years. On the loth of April, 1849, he married Mary Martha
White, daughter of W. E. White, Esq., of Fort Mill, S. C,
and soon thereafter he brought back his slaves and farming
equipments, and settled not far from where his life began.
He revolutionized the cultivation of cotton in this section of
the countrv.
170 HISTORY OF
Near and in Charlotte he purchased a tract of land known
as the Lucky estate, and other lands, and predicted, in spite
of the jeers of his friends, a great future for this town, and
said he, "In later years there will be houses and streets
where my plantation now lies, for," he continued, "the pros-
pect for a city is better than any I saw at Atlanta, on my
horseback trips to Alabama."
The house now owned by Mr. Wm. Holt he built, and
most of the brick was hauled from Cabarrus county. This
house was prominently situated in a five-acre square,
bounded by Tryon street and College street. Twelfth street
and College avenue, afterwards called Phifer avenue, by
the Board of Aldermen, in his honor. "I will not live," Mr,
Phifer said, "to enjoy much of the refreshing shade, yet I
will plant trees and others may enjoy them." And these
beautiful oaks stand now as a monument of his thoughtf ni-
nes s.
He donated half of the land upon which now stands the
Presbyterian College for Women, and for this he was given
a complimentary share of stock in the school, and this stock
was afterwards donated by his heirs to the present corpora-
tion.
He had great love for order and the beautiful, and em-
ployed a landscape gardener to beautify his yard and lay off
the walks, and in this yard are found the most beautiful of
the native trees. The color effect of the foliage of the
Autumn was taken into consideration.
He disliked crooked lines and gave his land to straighten
a street on his neighbor's side. The regularity of that part
of the city known as Mechanicsville, is in striking contrast
to some other parts of the city.
At the beginning of the Civil War, he was a man of con-
siderable fortune, which he had amassed in farming ; and, be
it said to his praise, almost every slave he owned remained
with him for the first two years of their freedom and always
spoke of him with love and respect.
He was always a Democrat in politics, and was an enthu-
mkcklenburg county. 171
siastic Southem'er. Thoug-h too old for service in the war,
his home was always open to the hungry soldiers, who in
the latter part of the war filed in almost daily to have their
wants supplied. Mr. Phifer was a m'an of generous im-
pulses and was loyail to his friends.
Mr. Green Caldwell was superintendent of the United
States Mint, and one Sunday the Charlotte Grays captured
the Mint. This caused much comment by the people, as
they went to church. This came near being very disastrous
to Mr. Phifer, for when the war closed, he was sued by the
Government, as Mr. Caldwell's bondsman, and judgment
was obtained for $25,000.00. However, through the aid
of powerful friends, a relief bill was procured through Con-
gress. Otherwise the remnant of his estate would have been
swept away.
General Beauregard had his headquarters (and many of
his staff were with him) for more than a month at his house,
and though there was much confusion incident to the tur-
moils of war, yet neither he nor his wife ever complained,
but accepted the situation gracefully and did all in their
power to make the time agreeable for the warriors, and
often the music of the evening was hushed to hear read some
dispatch foreshadowing the fall of the Confederacy.
The headquarters of the army moved to Greensboro, and
President Davis came to Charlotte and Mr. George A. Tren^
holm and wife became the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Phifer.
The last full meeting of the Confederate Cabinet (and,
in the recollection of the writer, all were present) was held
in the West room up stairs in the house now owned by Mr.
Wm. Holt.
l^he cause of its meeting there was the fact that Mr. Tren-
holm, the Secretary of the Treasury, was ill and confined to
bed. Mr. Trenholm tendered his resignation, which was ac-
cepted. President Davis then moved south and another
meeting was held near Fort Mill, S. C, under an old sassa-
fras tree, in front of the old home place of W. E. White,
Esq., (the father of Mrs. Phifer), and which Captain S. E.
172 HISTORY OF
White, a brother, declares that this was the last Confederate
Cabinet meeting.
By the second marriage of Mr. Phifer, to Mary Martha
White, there are seven living children. Sons, William
White, RoDert Smith, George Martin and Edward White.
Daughters, Mrs. M. C. Quinn, Miss Cordelia White and
Mrs. Wm. G. Durant. — Contributed by W. W. Phifer.
COL. ZEB. MORRIS.
CoL. Zhbulon Morris was born April 23, 1789, and died
May I, 1872. He was the youngest son of William Morris
and Elizabeth Ford Morris, the daughter of John Ford,
Esq., one of the signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of
Independence. He was born, lived and died on the same
plantation, a part of the old Ford estate, ten miles east of
Charlotte, on the Lawyers' Road. He was married to
Martha Rea, the daughter of the Hon. John Rea, January
13, 1814. He was a remarkable man in a great many re-
spects, as gentle and amiable as a woman and as bold and
fearless as a lion. As deputy sheriff of this county, on one
occasion he arrested a desperado, who swore that he would
kill the first man who attempted to arrest him. Col. Morris
handed his pistol to a man who had accompanied him and
advanced unarmed on the desperado, who threw down his
gun and said, "Zeb Morris, you are the only man who could
have arrested me alive."
Col. Morris owned a great many slaves, to whom he was
very kind, and they showed their attachment to him by re-
maining on his plantation after the surrender. He owned
about 1,500 acres of land, was a lover of fine horses and a
most graceful rider. In fact, it was a common saying —
when anyone rode well — "he sits in the saddle like Zeb Mor-
ris."
Below are two obituary notices, one by Rev. R. Z. Jo'hn-
ston and the other by the late Wm. Yates, editor of the Char-
lotte Democrat :
COL. ZEBULON MORRIS.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. I73
This man's death will carry sadness and sorrow to many
hearts. He was an old man — 83 years and 7 days — and it
would be difficult to point to another whose death would
sadden so many homes in our community. He lived fifty-
eight years and three months with the wife of his youth, who
survives him at the advanced ag-e of 76 years. He raised
a large family, and had 46 grandchildren, 26 of whom are
living, and 18 great grand-children, 15 of whom are living.
Children and grand-children live in this county and adjoin-
ing counties, in easy communication with the old family res-
idence. Great was the lamentation to-day over one so
agreeably connected in these dear and tender relationships,
when his familiar face was seen for the last time, cold in
death, in the spacious family hall, and
" The knell, the shroud, the mattock, and the grave ;
The deep damp vault, the darkness, and the worm,"
told us how "the fashion of this world passeth away."
That dear old home — the dearest spot on earth to so many
loving hearts, the scene of so much pleasure in former days
— is dismantled. Though the day has been one of the live-
liest of the season, even the beautiful lawn around the man-
sion and the venerable oaks that shade the old spring, and
the orchards, seemed to put on mourning, and the birds
seemed to sing
" How vain are all things here below.
How false and yet how fair!
Each pleasure has its poison too,
And every sweet a snare."
Col. Morris lived to look upon strange faces in familiar
places, and to feel like a lonely representative of a former
generation. That venerable, faithful and useful man, and
his life-long family physician, in whose arms he may almost
be said to have fallen asleep, Dr. Samuel Watson, and a
few others, whose locks are white and whose infirmities are
multiplied, are all that remain to tell us of better days. O
how can those who knew him afiford to give him up !
174 HISTORY OF
" Our dearest joys, and nearest friends,
The partners of our blood.
How they divide our wavering- minds,
And leave but half for God !"
He was a successful man; though living- on thin land,
nothing ever went lean and hungry about him. Constant
in his friendship, liberal to the poor, just in his dealings,
true to his engagements, kind to his children and servants,
tender in his feelings, and generous with his hospitality, he
was a gentleman always and everywhere. His piety was
unassuming, but deep, and the Philadelphia Church has
buried a constant and substantial supporter.
The I St day of May, 1872, will long be a melancholy day
to pastor and people. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and
He shall sustain thee." May this promise moderate the sor-
rcws of the mourners in this melancholy event, till "they
that weep be as though they wept not;" and "God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes ; and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any
pain." R. Z. J.
DIDD.
In this county, o-n the ist instant, after a short illness, Col.
Zebulon Morris, in the 83rd year of his age. Up to within
a few weeks of his death Col. Morris was a man of extra-
ordinary physical and mental ability. He raised a large
number of children, men and women of respectability and
worth, and Hved to see them all settled in life, and his grand-
children and great-grand-children starting out in the jour-
ney of this world's trials and crosses. Col. Zeb Morris was
no ordinary man, as the writer of this paragraph knows.
He was faithful and true as a man and friend, as an old-line
Democrat and patriot, and as a consistent member of the
Presbyterian Church, always a firm friend of the right and
an enemy of wrong doing in any shape. He leaves a large
number of relatives and friends in this county to mourn the
death of a true man and a good citizen. Mecklenburg
\
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A«^ • ^
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i^L
GEN. WM. H. NEAL.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 1/5
county 'has, indeed, lost a devoted husband of 55 years
loving intercourse. Peace to the good old man's ashes.
Editor Democrat.
gen. wm. h. neal.
Gen. William H. Neal was born in the extreme south-
em part of Mecklenburg county, near the Catawba river,
in the year 1799, and died in the year 1889. He died at his
residence within a few miles of the place of his birth. Gen.
Neal was married in 1819 to Miss Hannah G. Alexander,
and from this marriage were born the following children,
namely :
Samuel Wallace Neal, now deceased, who lived and died
in Indian Territory; Dr. Thomas C. Neal, who was a well
known physician of Mecklenburg county and who died in
1901 ; Susan Emily Neal, who married the late Rev. Walter
W. Pharr, and who is now living in Charlotte; Mary Ade-
line Neal, who married the late Capt. M. H. Peoples, who is
now dead ; Nancy Elvira Neal, who married the late Robert
W. McDowell and is now deceased; W. B. Neal. now de-
ceased; Louisa A. Neal, who married the late Rev. J. B.
Watt, and is now living in Steele Creek township; and Pres-
ton A. Neal, who is now living in Rock Hill, S. C.
Gen. Neal's first wife died a number of years before his
death, and he afterwards married Mrs. Martha D. William-
son, who survived him, but there were no children born of
this marriage. Gen. Neal was always one of the leading
and prominent citizens of Mecklenburg county.
For many years he was a general of the old Ante-Bellum
Militia, and it was in this way that he acquired the title by
which he was always known. He was a County Commis-
sioner for a number of years and always took an active in-
terest in public affairs. He was one of the very first in
this State to engage in the cotton manufacturing business
and for a number of years before the war he successfully
operated a cotton mill on the Catawba river near his home.
176 HISTORY OF
He was a devoted member of Steele Creek Presbyterian
Church, and always took an especial pride in his church.
As soon as he reached manhood he married and built him
a home on a tract of land adjoining his birthplace, and it
was here that he spent all the years of his long and useful
life. He was always interested in anything pertaining to
machinery and during his whole life was engaged in operat-
ing a mill of some kind or other; before and during the war
operating a cotton factory and a flour mill, and after the
war operating a flour mill.
In an unostentatious manner he spent his life and he was
a man of highest character, standing and integrity in his
county and community.
THK GARRISON FAMILY.
Joseph Garrison was the progenitor of all of the name
in the county. He came from Pennsylvania in the latter
part of the Eig'hteenth century. He entered a large amount
of land in Mallard Creek section, and divided it out among
the early settlers, in order to have neighbors.
Mr. Garrison built the first bridge over Mallard creek, be-
tween Mallard Creek church and Back Creek church. The
descendants show a piece of his old family Bible, probably
two hundred years old. His children were David, Joshua,
John, Arthur, James, Jane, and Sarah, None of these left
issue, except James, who died at 65, in the year 1854. His
daughter, Viney, married George Monteeth, and then moved
West. Sarah married James Robinson and died in the east-
ern part of the county.
W. Manson Garrison married and moved to West Ten-
nessee ; L. S. Garrison died young, and left one child ; B. H.
Garrison married Mary Ann Hunter, daughter of Robert
Hunter, had eight children — some of whom were in the
Confederate Army. He is now in good 'health, but in his
90th year. Has been an active magistrate until recently;
MR. BRAWLEY GATES.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 177
has always been an active supporter of good g-overnment,
of both church and schools.
Samuel A. Garrison, his brothr, has led a peaceful life,
raised an excellent family, and has always patronized the
best schools, and, like all the family, helped build up the
interests of the county. He was twice married, both times
to a Hunter, and raised eleven children, all good citizens.
He is now in 'his 84th year.
W. G. Garrison also is still living, in the 82nd year, hale
and hearty. He has four children living, all useful citizens.
David B. Garrison, the youngest of the family, lost his leg
in Virginia, where so many were killed and wounded con-
tending for our rights. Has three children now living, and
do much to make his last years pleasant. The Garrisons
were good people, very much like the descendants of the
early settlers of the county. Mecklenburg county was for-
tunate indeed in the class of her early pioneers.
BRAWEEY GATES.
Mr. Oates was a native of Cleveland county, was the son
of good people, but not embarrassed with wealth. He prob-
ably came to Mecklenburg about 1830 or 1832.
In 1836 Mr. Oates was elected clerk of the County Court
and served continuously till 1842. Charles T. Alexander
succeeded him for the place till 1845, when Mr. Oates won
the position back again and held the office till 1854. His
health had now become very feeble from a pulmonary effec-
tion, which rendered him^ unable to attend to the duties of
the office. He moved to Florida and the climate agreeing
with his weak lungs so well, that he attended to his farm
for eighteen years, enjoying a pretty fair state of health.
Mr. Oates was a native of Cleveland county; he moved to
Charlotte while quite a young man. He courted and won
Miss Lilly Lowrie, a daughter of Judge Lowrie. A farm-
er's son of Cleveland county won a bride from one of the
most aristocratic families of Mecklenburg. This was be-
178 HISTORY OF
fore the advent of railroads, and Mr. Oates wanted to take
bis wife over to Cleveland county to visit his people. They
were traveling- in a gig, and just beyond the Catawba river
at Beattie's Ford, their gig gave way and Mr. Oates had to
go to a house close by for assistance. During his absence,
a party of her acquaintances returning from Catawba
Springs, were astonished to meet Miss Lilly alone in the big
road, and asked what it meant. She replied that "she had
married Brawley last evening, and was just going up to see
old Oates and family." They had a jolly time on the high-
way.
They had two daughters and one son. Margaret mar-
ried' Mr. Charles E. Spratt, a courtly gentleman who is
spending the evening of his days with his daughter, Mrs.
VanLandingham, in the city. It is said that he and his wife
were the most handsome couple that ever lived in Charlotte.
Mrs. Mary Eliza Agnew moved to Florida and soon passed
away. The son, Dr. David Oates, served throug'h the war
of 1 86 1 -'65, and moved to Alabama, where he lives in single
blessedness.
DR. DAVID R. DUNLAP.
Rev. Alexander Craighead had one daughter, Rachel,
who married Rev. David Caldwell, of Guilford county,
and one daughter, Jane, who married Mr. Dunlap, who
lived in Anson county, who were the parents of Dr. David
R. Dunlap, of Charlotte, N. C. He came to Mecklen-
burg in the first years of the Nineteenth century. He was
armed and equipped for the practice of his profession, and
made quite a reputation; was often called in consultation
with the celebrated Dr. Charles Harris, of Cabarrus county,
whose fame as a surgeon was co-extensive with State. Dr.
Dunlap was at one time called to see a patient down in Clear
Creek. When he got there he was informed Dr. Harris
had been to see him a few days previous, and tapped the
patient for dropsy, and inserted a goose quill, roughened at
DR. DAVID R. DUNLAP.
MECKI.ENBURG COUNTY. 179
both ends, so it would noit slip in or out. The man was
evidently not good pay. He practiced medicine for a
long time, probably forty years; he retired before 1850. He
was clerk and master of the Court of Equity for a great
many years. His daughter and his nephew, S. J. Lowrie,
did all of his writing for fifteen years before bis death,
which occurred in 1865. He was very efficient in his office,
keeping all his papers in the best of order. He was three
times married. First he married a Jenkins from Anson
county, and she lived but a short time, had one son amd
died. The doctor in the goodness of his heart, took for his
second wife a sister of his first. This being contrary to the
rules of the Presbyterian Church at that time, the}^ cast him
out. He then joined the Methodist Church, and became
the pioneer leader of Methodism in Mecklenburg county.
He engaged in a correspondence with his former friends
and kinsfolk, who were Presbyterians, that was not com-
mendable on either side. About this time Dr. D. T. Cald-
well had a son to die. He and Dr. Dunlap haid not been on
speaking terms for years, and Dr. Dunlap came to visit him
in his affliction. Dr. Caldwell met him at the door, both
shed tears of reconciliation, forgot the past, and were the
best of friends in all their future life.
Dr. Dunlap having lost his second wife, turned his at-
tention to a daughter of Judge Lowrie, Miss Polly, and
was accepted. Together they entertained their host of
friends, watched after the interests of their church; their
house was the stopping place for all the ministers in passing
to and' from their conferences. In that day the Methodist
church was emphatically nursed on horseback ; and it is also
remembered that if their ministers were not well paid, they
were well fed, and their horse was well cared for. It was
a common saying fifty or seventy years ago, "As fat as a
Methodist preacher's horse," when talking of animals in fine
condition.
The last Mrs. Dunlap had but one child, a daughter. She
grew up to be a very handsome woman, and what is better,
l8o HISTORY OF
of brilliant intellect. She, like father, was devotedly at-
tached to the Methodist church. She married Dr. Edmund
Jones, of Morganto^n, but he did not live long, and she re-
turned to her father's house. She continaied with her
father till 1858, when she contracted a second marriage
with Col. T. H. Brem, a most excellent gentleman and large
merchant of the city. Dr. Dimlap went to live with his
daughter, Mrs. Brem, where he spent the evening of his
days. He died in the 84th year of his age in 1865, honored
and loved by all the town and many hundreds in the county.
His daughter soon foliowed, and his son, Hamilton, who
lived in Alabama, have joined him in the spirit land. Meck-
lenburg has never had a better citizen than Dr. David R.
Dunlap; nor one who contributed more by precept and ex-
ample, to teach morality and a pure Christianity. A cheer-
ful disposition was as ever present with him, as his shadow
when the sun was shining. After having practiced medi-
cine foT a great many years, passed safely through many epi-
demics, he was attacked with ordinary whooping cough
when 70 years old. He is said to have whooped as clear as
a child of ten. It is strange that he was always proof
against the disease when often exposed to it, and yielded to
its attacking power when he thought he was immune. But
it left no bad effects behind.
REV. W^. W. PHARR, D. D.
It might be said with propriety that he was a native of
this county. He was born in Cabarrus county, an off-shoot
of Mecklenburg, in the year. 181 3, and died in 1886. He
received the most of his early education in the neighbor-
hood, but graduated at the University of North Carolina.
He early entered the ministry of the Presbyterian Church,
and labored faithfully for the Master during a long life.
He was gladly received wherever he went, both in the
churches and private families. He did not preach secta-
rianism, but the Gospel of Christ. He was particularly
1
DR. W. W. PHARR.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. l8l
loved by the po-or; he sympathized with them in all their
anxieties, distresses and fears; his visits to their houses in
sickness always brought sunshine and brushed their tears
away. He was equally as welcome at a marriage, jovial and
gay with innocent amusement, he enjoyed the hilarious as-
semblage of young persons. He was a great advocate of
good schools, and worked for their success. It has been
said that preachers, as a general rule, were fine students,
but not practical in the affairs of life. Not so with Dr.
Pharr. Davidson College owes much of its pro'Sperity to
the guiding hand of this benevolent minister while presi-
dent of the Board of Trustees. He served several churches
at different times in his life, and always acceptably. In his
early life he was pastor of Bethpage, and then of Poplar
Tent, for several years at Statesville. Then called by Pres-
bytery to heal a breach in Ramah, which was of political
origin in reconstruction days. Probably no other man
could have smoothed the fires of discord that had com-
menced in Ramah. "Blessed are the peacemakers."
Dr. Pharr was blessed not only in his labors in the church,
as hundreds now living in the bounds of Mallard Creek
church would gladly testify, but he was blest in his family.
His first wife was a daughter of John R. Alexander, one of
the best women in the world, who left three children who
are an ornament to society and valuable to the county. The
last wife was a daughter of Gen. W. H. Neal, who was a
very prominent man in the affairs of the county, as well as
the church.
Both sons and daughters, four in all, are among our best
people, and take a good stand in both church and State. His
widow, in feeble health, is blessed by her children and
friends. Rev. Dr. Pharr was eminently fitted for the times
in which he lived. He spoke extemporaneously, and looked
earnestly in the faces of his hearers and always quit before
his audience became weary. He made it a rule to shake
hands, if possible, with ever\' one at his church every Sun-
day. In this way he could know the health of his congrega-
1 82 HISTORY OF
tion. In his day the people had two services each day, and
a bountifi:! rej^ast spread in a g^oo'd sha^de. To this dinner
eacli motlier expected Mr. Pharr to dine with them, so as not
to be partial he would make the circuit of all the spreads. He
was a man for the t^'mes, and was well known in the county.
His remains rest in Mallard Creek burying' ground, close by
the remains of his kinsman, Rev. Walter Smiley Pharr, who
was his predecessor at both Ramah and Mallard Creek. The
people were devoted to the name of Pharr. Some fifty years
ag'o when Rev. W. S. Pharr was the pastor, he invited his
son, Rev. S. C. Pharr, D. D., who was a very talented man
and given to using much poetry in his sermons, to assist him
with the communion then approaching; as was the custom
then to hold service out oi doors, the young man arose in
the stand to preach the morning sermon, and as he gave out
his text, the old man who was sitting behind him, pulled his
coat tail, intimating that he wanted to speak to him. He at
once turned around when his father said to him: "Now
Samuel, my son, we must have no rhyming to-day." It
was too solemn an occasion for poetry to be allowed a place
in the wo'uderful display of God's love.
DR. W. A. ARDREY.
Dr. William A. Ardrey was born in York District, South
Caroilina, on the 19th day oif April, 1798. His parents,
William and Mary Ardrey, sailed for America upon the
first vessel leaving the shores of old Ireland after the Dec-
laration of Independence was proclaimed at Philadelphia by
Great Britain's erstwhile colonies.
The vessel landed at Charleston, South Carolina, and this
young couple made their way to the up-country of South
Carolina, and settled in York county, within a few miles of
the present town of Yorkville. There they erected the
frontierman's cabin and with brave hearts for the hardships
of the present and bright hopes in the fortunes oif the future,
they established their home and cast their lot with the new
DR. WM. ARDREY.
meckIve;nburg county. 183,
republic. To them were born six sons and daughters.
William A. Ardrey, the subject of this sketch, was the
yoimgest son. His mothei- died in his infanicy and he was
reared by an elder sister — Miriam, whose training may
have developed in her ward a sturdiness of character that
the mother's tenderness may not.
With strong intellectual inheritance and with lofty and
manly aspirations, he obtained a classical education against
all the hindrances and difficulties of the times. After com-
pleting his academic course, he entered upon the study of
medicine, and when he had finished his lectiires and received
his medical degree, he located for the practice of his profes-
sion on the border line between the coumties of Mecklen-
burg and Ivancaster, in the States of North and South
Carolina, respectively, his home being on the North Caro-
lina side.
He married Mrs. Lydia L. Cureton, who was a daughter
of Capt. John Potts, of Mecklenburg county, and a grand-
daughter of Mrs. Gen. Graham.
With clear head, sound judgment and genial maimers, he
practiced medicine for many years, over an area of twenty
miles, embracing portions of Union and Mecklenburg coun-
ties in North Carolina, and York and Lancaster, in South
Carolina.
With a high appreciation of the usefulness and dignity
of his profession, he gave medical education and opportu-
nity to quite a number of desei-ving young men.
In politics. Dr. Ardrey was an old line Whig. Having
attended a Kentucky University in the zenith of the fame of
Henry Clay, he imbibed and assimilated much of the tenets
and doctrines of that brilliant statesman, and continued in
that faith as long as there was a Whig candidate to espouse
or a Whig ticket to vote. Although his party was in a
hopeless minority in Mecklenburg county and there was no
chance to win, yet, feeling that its principles were to be
ccamted above success, he was several times induced to
184 HISTORY OF
make the race, as the Whig nominee, for the State Legisla-
ture.
He was a zealous patriot, and was generally the master
of ceremonies, or a favorite speal<er, at all the Fourth of
July or like celebrations and demonstrations in lower Meck-
lenbtirg.
He was a man keenly alive to everything that indicated
progress and advancement in the life of his countr}^ He
was especially active in the agitation in behalf of railroads,
and with Judge Osborne and other prominent men of the
county canvassed the county in the interest of its first rail-
road running from Columbia to Charlotte, and the first
railroad in this section of the country.
He had been reared in the faith of the Associate Re-
formed Presbyterian Church, but in the mature and ripened
convictions of later years, he joined the Methodist Church,
and helped to build and establish Harrison church, in lower
Providence township, near the South Carolina line, which
is perhaps, the oldest Methodist church in Mecklenburg
county. He served his church with all that earnestness and
faithfulness that he had devoted to sufifering humanity in
his profession. He accepted and adorned all the lay offices
within her o^ift. Until disabled by physical affliction, he
dedicated to her cause, without stint and with a Whole heart,
his time, his talents and his means. For many years he
maintained on his plantation a Sunday School for the syste-
matic teaching of the Scriptures to his slaves, towards whom
he was, at all times, a kind and merciful master.
It was the home and social and Christian life of this busy
physician that marked in him the highest consummation of
the virtues of a true gentleman.
He died in the year 1861, leaving seven children who,
true to the teachings of their worthy sire, have borne well
their part in all the calls of the highest citizenship, both in
Church and State.
Captain James P. Ardrey gave up his life upon the bat-
tlefields of Virginia. His other sons are Captain W. E.
MECKIvENBURG COUNTY. 185
Ardrey, of Providence township; Mr. J. W. Ardrey, of
Fort Mill, S. C, and the late Dr. J. A. Ardrey, of Pine-
ville.
His surviving daughters are Mrs. Mary J. Bell, widow of
the late Robt. C. Bell, oi Providence township; Mrs. Mar-
garet R. Potts, widow of Captain J. G. Potts, and Mrs. S.
H. Elliott, all of Mecklenburg county.
DR. CHARLES HARRIS.
When we come by Poplar Tent, one of the original seven
churches that were first organized in this part of North Car-
olina, and formerly in Mecklenburg county, we pass the
place of Dr. Charles Harris, who was a surgeon in the Rev-
olutionary war. He lived for many years after Independ-
ence was gained, to heal the sick, and perform the surgery
that was needed in a radius of more than one hundred miles.
He was offered the chair of Surgery in the University of
Pennsylvania, but declined the flattering offer to render his
services to neig^hbors and friends with whom he worked to
build up the civilization at home, where his labors were ap-
preciated. His manners were rough, like the times in which
he lived. An anecdote or two will show him^ as to his ac-
tions better than words.
He attended Mrs. Alcorn, a very poor Irish widow, for a
bad case of white swelling. A few months after she got
well, the doctor was passing 'her house when she ran out
calling, "Doctor, stop a minute." "What do you want?" he
enquired. "I want to give you this web of cloth for attending
me." The doctor replied ; "Take that cloth and clothe your
ragged children. I am going to Hugh Torrance's and Rob-
bin Davidson's, and I will make them pay your bill."
He was sent for to go to Morganton to see a young lady
who had dislocation of her jaw. The family thought she had
lockjaw and was dying. Dr. Harris wrapped his thumbs
with her handkerchief and told her, "Damn you, don't you
bite me!" She was instantly relieved.
1 86 HI.STORY OF
The descendants of Dr. Harris were prominent charac-
ters in Cabarrus county (cut off of Mecklenburg several
years after the Revolutionary war), were among- the best
educated people in the State, and were worthy citizens.
His son, William Shakespeare Harris, was one of the spe-
cial escort who met Gen. LaFayette at the Virginia line,
and escorted him through the State in 1824. His posterity
were as true to the Southern cause in 1 861 -'65 as their
forefathers were patriotic in i775-'8i. In the same section
were grown up the "Black Boys," who intercepted a load of
gun powder between Charlotte and Salisbury, IdIcw up the
powder, and escaped. This was in 1777. This whole
country was ripe for revolution. In Poplar Tent church-
yard is the grave of Rev. Hezekiah J. Balch, a minister of
the Gospel, who was a signer of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence of JMay 20, 1775. He, with many others, had
listened to and accepted, the teachings of Mr. Craighead.
Here also lived, labored and died Rev. John Robbinson, D.
D., whose kindred and descendants occupy this section, and
have always maintained a high standard of piety and good
citizenship. The family of Flyns, who occupied such posi-
tion in both Church and State one hundred years ago, are
no longer residents of our coimty. Only the graves of the
older set alone, are here to remind us that such people lived
once in the county ; and their history not having been writ-
ten, it is unknown to the generation now extant.
SKETCH OF GEN. D. H. HILL TAKEN FROM ''THE NEWS."
The Confederate soldiers all over the State will bow their
heads in grief over the announcement that Lieut. Gen. D.
H. Hill is no more. He died in this city at 4:30 Tuesday
afternoon, in the 68th year of his age.
Gen, Hill was followed through the war mainly by North
Carolinians; hundreds who stood with him where shot and
shell flew thickest, live in Charlotte. Gen. Hill led our peo-
ple in war and lived with them in peace, and all that per-
GEN. D. H. HILL.
MKCKLKNBURG COUNTY. iS/
tains to the history of the dead warrio^r will 1j€ read with
mo'urniful interest. Gen. Hill's life was an eventful one.
He was born in York comity, S. C, in 1821, and graduated
from West Point when only 20 years old. He served in
the war with Mexico', and was successfully brevetted as Cap-
tain and Major for gallant and meritorious conduct at Con-
treras and Chapultepec, and received atChuriebusco a sword
of honor from his native State. He resigned his commis-
sion in 1849, ^^'^'^ became successively processor in Washing-
ton College, Va., (1849 to 1854) and in Davidson Col-
lege, N. C. He was professor in Davidson College in
1854 and 1859, and then took the superintendency of the
North Carolina Military Institute, which poisitioni he 'held
until the breaking out of the war between the States.
Gen. Hill was among the first to enter the field of war,
and his career as a Confederate soldier is preserved "in
records that defy the tooth of time." He took a prominent
part in the battle of Big Bethel, and led successfully in the
following engagements : Williamsburg, Va., Seven Pines or
Fair Oaks, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Cold Harbor,
Malvern Hill, South Mountain, or Boonsboro', Sharpsburg
and Fredericksburg. After this latter battle, General
Plill was transferred to the seat of war in the West. His
reputation was gained in the battle of South Mountain. He
held the mountain pass at Boonsboroi against the Whole of
McClellan's army from early dawn until the afternoon, when
Longstreet and Hood came to his relief. The fighting at
this point was terrific.
When all was lost to the Confederacy, Gen. Hill returned
to Charlotte to help our people build up their broken for-
tunes. He was known for years after the war as "the un-
reconstructed." Here he published a magazine entitled
"T'he Land We Love," volumes of which are tenderly pre-
served in Southern homes. Gen. Hill's best work while in
Charlotte was done on his weekly paper. The Southern
Home. He was a writer of great vigor and the Home was
a power in the land. Gen. Hill left Charlotte in 1876 to
1 6b HISTORY OF
accept the presidency of the University of Arkansas. He
filled that position until 1885, and in 1887 'he was elected
president of the State Ag-ricultural College at Milledge-
ville, Ga. A few months ago, feeling his health declining,
he came to North Carolina in the hope oi recuperating. He
continued to decline, however, and in a few weeks sent his
resignation to the trustees of the college at Milledgeville.
The resignation was accepted only after it had been tendered
emphatically the second time. Gen. Hill's last days were
peaceful and quiet, and his death was that of a Christian,
resigned, hopeful, confident in winning the last great vic-
toiy over death.
Gen. Hill was a brother-in-law to Stonewall Jackson. He
•was married to Miss Isabella Morrison, oldest daughter of
the late Dr. R. H. Morrison, in November, 1848. Mrs.
Gen. Hill and several children are still living. Gen. Hill's
body was buried in the old graveyard at Davidson College,
where four of his children were buried.
BREM, JOHNSTON AND AI^EXANDER.
This trio of business men at one time or another merchan-
dised in Charlotte, and at various times were partners. Col.
T. H. Brem was raised near Beattie's Ford, working in his
father's store. When a young man 'he moved to town, and
formed a partnership with Mr. S. P. Alexander. They
kept a general assortment store for a number oi years. They
were very prosperous. In 1851 the epidemic of smallpox
was of such an alarming character as to drive everybody
from town. Brem & Alexander moved their store up on
the Statesville road to Col. B. W. Alexander's, nine miles
from Charlotte. The disease lasted six or eight months,
wlien they moved back to town. At this time they made a
trade with Mr. J. R. Alexander for his son T. Lafayette Al-
exander, for three years, agreeing to pay him fifty dollars
and his board for the first year, one hundred for the second,
and one hundred and fiftv for the third. After the first
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 1 89
mdnth, Mr. Brem was anxious to cancel the trade; said he
could not teach him ; but when he was forced to keep him,
Lafayette learned so fast and took so much interest in the
store, that Brem & Alexander said that they found a treasure
in their clerk. When the three years were out, they raised
his salary to five hundred dollars, and soon took him in as a
partner, w'hich positiom he held until the war pushed all her
men to the field. Cok Wm. Jo^hnston took Mr. S. P. Alex-
ander's place in the early fifties. But his time was taken up
so entirely with the C. & C. R. R., that he withdrew from the
store. Col. Wm. Johnston made one of the finest railroad
managers during the war that was in the Confederacy.
Col. T. H. Brem got up an artillery company, with six can-
non, well equipped with both men and horses. The county
was proud of her artillery company.
Mr. S. P. Alexander, after withdrawing from his part-
ners in the dry goods business, confined himself to the busi-
ness of dealing in securities. At this he was very success-
ful, accumulating a large fortune. He was never married;
he was a liberal subscriber to all church work during his
life time; was very liberal in his contributions to Sharon
church ; gave largely tO' build the fine temple the people now
worship in. In his recent bequests he remembered his
church, and many oi his kindred. He was a grand-soo of
Hezekiah Alexander, one of the famous signers of the Dec-
laration of Independence. He loved his church and his kin-
folks. He always went to bed at 9 o'clock, no matter how
entertaining a party he may be associated with. Regular
hours was part of his religion. He lived tO' be an old man;
he was respected by all who knew him ; he made confidants
of but few, but was a fast friend of those whom he thought
worthy of friendship. He died at the end of the Nineteenth
century. He lived in the best period of the world's history.
Mr. T. Lafayette Alexander, another of the firm, was a
descendant of a signer, J. McKnitt Alexander, a brother of
Hezekiah, passed away in the year 1897. He, too, accu-
mulated a handsome competence to leave his children and
190 HISTORY OF
did many good deeds that his neighbors knew naught of.
He was a son of John R. Alexander, one of the most ener-
getic men the county ever produced. He was a firm believer
in educatiO'n, and did more to keep up a first-class schoo'l in
his section of the county than any other person. He was
violently opposed to the war between the States; appeared
to see the termination from the beginning. He saw with a
prophetic glance the South crushed, and our people bank-
rupt, who were not killed in the war. Yet, with his feel-
ings wrought up to a dangerous tension, he gave his three
sons to the cause of the South. It is needless to say that his
worst forebodings came literally true. He was a true patriot,
accepted the terms of peace accorded us, never ceased to
blame the Democratic party, yet voted that ticket, as he said
there was no place elsewhere for a white man to go
The writer once saw Capt. Jobn Walker, as he was called
"the wheelhorse of Democracy," meet Mr. Alexander, who
had been all his life a bitter Whig, and said to* him, "I never
expected to see the day when you and I would vote the same
ticket." Mr. Alexander replied, "No, and I'll be danged if
I would do it now if I could help myself."
DR. J. p. m'combs.
The name of Dr. Parks McCombs has been a household
word for the last thirty-five years. A student of Dr. P. C.
Caldwell, the people took him up to fill the vacancy left by
his preceptor. Dr. McCombs came on the stage of life's
drama just in the nick of time to meet a great responsibility.
The war between the States was just ushered in, and none
were more ardent in espousing the cause of the South, or
better armed and equipped for performing his duty than
]^r. McCombs. When the war was over, and all of our
property destroyed, no money in circulation in the S'outh,
we scarcely knew which way to turn; it was even difficult to
obtain breadstuffs, Dr. McCombs, like the patriot he was,
attended the poor people without the hope of reward. Our
DR. ROBERT GIBBON.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. IQI
feople were blessed with rich harvests, and soon we were
on our feet again. He did a large and lucrative practice up
to the time of his death in 1902. He wlas a fine surgeon,
and was often called to the country, ten to twenty miles, to
perform a capital or difficult operation. Dr. McCombs was
firmly oi the opinion that Mecklenburg county "was the
land of gold." He opened several mines, bought and sold
for a pastime. If he had not been wedded to his profes-
sion, he would have been an expert miner. During the war
with Spain he went over to Cuba to visit the troops from
Mecklenburg and other places. Although his health was
then feeble, his attachment for the military service was
strong. From causes unknown to any one, he put off
taking a partner until the last year of his life. He married
a Miss Guion, a grand-daughter of his old preceptor, Dr.
P. C. Caldwell, who was a trained nurse; and well did she
fill the place while her husband lingered on the border land.
DR. ROBERT GIBBON.
The eminent subject of this sketch was born in Philadel-
phia in the year 1823. He was educated in Tennessee and
graduated at Yale, and studied medicine at the Jefferson
College of Pennsylvania, graduated in 1846. He practiced
medicine in Charlotte about the middle of the Nineteenth
century, and had for his confreres Drs. D. T. Caldwell, P. C.
Caldwell, J. M. Happoidt, Mcllwain, J. M. Miller, C. J.
Fox, and others. When the great Civil War came on, Dr.
Gibbon was among the first to offer his services to the Con-
federacy as a surgeon. He was assigned to duty with the
Twenty-eighth North Carolina Troops, and stationed at
^A^ilmington. In March, 1862, the regiment was ordered
to Kinston to report to Gen. L. O'B. Branch, immediately
alter the battle at New Bern, He then became senior sur-
geon of the brigade. It was a common saying in this
brigade and in this division, that Dr. Gibbon was one of the
finest operators in the army. He served through the war
192 HISTORY OF
with Capt. Nick Gibbon as commissary of his regiment;
and his brother John, a Major-General in the Federal army.
They were frequently engaged in the same battle, but nev^r
met while the war lasted. When peace was declared, he
resumed his practice in Charlotte with all of his former
energy and usefulness. He married soon after the war Miss
Mary Rodgers, of Charleston, S. C, and was blessed with
sons Robert and John, who grew up to follow in their fath-
er's footsteps — they both studied medicine and both have
made for themselves an enviable reputation of fine sur-
geons. Dr. Robert here in Charlotte, and Dr. John in Phila-
delphia. Dr. Gibbon was twice married; the last was
Miss Corina M. Harris, who survives him. He attained a
ripe old age, did a vast amount of work for suffering human-
ity, lived a well spent life, but in the evening of his life, when
the shadows grew long, his health gave way, and without
any suffering he gradually fell asleep in the year 1900.
ADAM TODD AND FAMILY.
The early history of this interesting family has become
somewhat clouded in its earlier years. But few families can
trace an accurate account of their migrations in the mother
country, and establish a correct account of their meander-
ings before they built a home in this country. It is certain
that they came here before the Revolutionary war. It is in
their family history that John Todd was born the night that
Lord Comwallis came to Charlotte. This being a night of
sore distress, the date can hardly be forgotten. Adam Todd
had a son Adam who was the father of our worthy towns-
man. Ale Todd, who met with so serious an accident as to
lose both legs in railroad service. His wife was a daughter
of Allen Cruse.
James Todd, who was booi in the latter part of the Eigh-
teenth century, married Enie Hutchison and raised one son,
John, and three daughters ; but two are now living. John
William Todd married Sarah McCord. Lawson Todd, son
MECKIvENBURG COUNTY. 193
of Hugh Todd, married Mary McGinn. Cynthia Todd
married Absolum Holdbrooks. They and their children
moved to York county, South Carolina. John William
Todd is an elder in Paw Creek church. He is now an old
man, has been faithful in all things, is spoken well of by
all his neighbors. Harvey Todd, the father of Mrs. Alex-
ander (the mother of the druggist, S. L. Alexander), and
her sister, Mrs. Cynthia Alexander, died at 8i years. Both
of his sons-in-law died in the service of the Confederacy.
They were a long-lived family. Some of the older ones
were over loo years. They were a quiet, inoffensive peo-
ple, strictly attending to their own business. Did all their
own work; could make their own plows, harrows and do
their own repairing of all kinds, even blacksmithing, shoe-
making and the women making all the clothes the family
wore. They furnished a full quota of true men to the Con-
federate army. Sixteen men by the name of Todd went
from Paw Creek, and it is reasonable to suppose that as
many more whose mothers were Todds, and sent brave sons
by another name. Truly Mecklenburg feels proud to have
such yeomanry to defend the good name of our county. It
was fortunate for our coimty that our earliest immigrants
were among the best people in the world ; and the later gen-
erations have given abundant proof that blood will tell.
'Bhe Central Hotel.
A half century ago, or at somewhat earlier date, a place
of entertainment was usually called a tavern, at which place
the wants of man and beast could be satisfied. Many men
tried at different times to play the part of "Boniface," but
very few kept the position long enough to become ac-
quainted with the traveling public, or make an enviable rep-
utation among those who traveled on horseback. Hiram
Sloan, from Iredell county, was "mine host" in 1844; but
the business did not prove lucrative, and he turned his at-
tention to the farm, which he did know how to manage, so
it would be a success. Stokes Norman was induced to try
his hand at "catering to the public," but from some cause un-
known to the writer, he only kept the tavern one year. He
continued to reside in the town and in the county until his
course was run. He was a warm, genial friend, particularly
to boys and young men. He and Dr. P. C. Caldwell were
close friends, and spent much time together.
In 1846 Mr. J. A. Sadler moved to Charlotte and took
charge of the tavern. He called it "Sadler's Hotel." He
was immensely popular and was known far and near as a
"prince of hotel keepers." He was a man of most elegant
manners, all of his politeness was natural, merely indicative
-of the man. The hotel when he took charge was an old
frame concern, but poorly constructed for the purpose; but
lie managed to keep a well-filled house. Maj. Sadler came
from South Carolina about the year 1844, and lived at the
place of John Hanna.h Orr's. After 1852 he quit the hotel
and retired to private life till the war came on between the
States, and notwithstanding he was over age, he volunteered
as a staff officer. He was a commissary, and from his
training in a hotel, it goes without saying he made an excel-
lent officer. In the year 185 3-' 54 the hotel was built and
furnished anew, and was run by H. B. Williams for a short
time; then by W. W. Elms for a while; then by William
Moore from New Bern, till the storm of war was over.
MAJ. JENNINGS B. KERR.
"Bhe ChaLrlotte Hotel.
The century was young and many of the habits and cus-
toms of that day and time are now obsolete, but many of
the old men yet living remember the day and the jovial face
cf the proprietor, Maj. Jennings B. Kerr. He was a nat-
ural "wag" and was well suited to play "mine host." In
his jocular moods he would tell how he had outlived a
dozen rivals. He owned his house, which he called in the
early time "The Carolina Inn." His house was well pat-
ronized, was very popular with the county people. Persons
who were in the habit of partaking of his board could tell
what he was going to have for dinner a week in the future.
A favorite dish that he never failed to have for dirmer was
"chicken pie," cooked in a large, yellow queensware dish.
Everything was clean and neat about his table, and good
behavior in the dining room he would have or eject the dis-
turber of the peace. He raised a most worthy family, two
sons, the elder was a lawyer — he volunteered in the Seventh
Regiment, North Carolina Troops. Capt. Wm. Kerr, he
was severely wounded in the battles around Richmond in
1862. He was killed at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863,
where Mecklenburg lost many brave men. He had another
son. Rev. David Kerr, preached in Arkansas, was a mem-
ber of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He
died when quite young. His oldest daughter married Mr.
Sloan, of Greensboro. His second daughter. Miss Nannie,
married Hon. J. L. Brown, one of the most worthy men
of the town. His youngest daughter married Capt. F. S.
DeWolf, was mayor of the town, and moved to Seattle, in
Washington, on the Pacific Slope. A good family, but
have all passed away. Good people can be raised in hotel
life. Maj. Sadler left one son in Charlotte, who stands high
196 HISTORY OF
as an express manag-er. Every one speaks of him in high
terms. Mr. Ab, Elliott married a daughter who is among
our best women. Mr. T. D. Gillespie was one of the most
popular men of the day, married another, and has left a
son who is an efficient accountant and bookkeeper. The
other daughters married men of equal worth, and have
moved to other parts.
GEN. RUFUS BARRINGER.
Rufvis BaLrringer, of Ca-beLrrus SLnd Meck-
lenburg.
Rnfus Barringer was often head to say, "I believe in
but three institutions, the Family, the Church, and the
State," and under these heads this sketch will be written.
As to Family, reference is made to a letter of his to Dr.
Kemp Battle, written in the spirit of the true American. He
says : "So far as I have been able to find, the Barringers, of
Germany, laid no claim to noble rank or descent; but I do
find that my grandfather, John Paul Barringer, of Wurten-
burg, was a man of heroic mould and ever a good man
through a long and eventful life."
Rufus Barringer was a firm believer in heredity. Since
it is always interesting to note family characteristics, we re-
turn to the founder of the Barringer family in North Caro-
lina, John Paul (or Paulus) Barringer. He was born in
Wurtenburg June 4, 1721, arrived in Philadelphia Septem-
ber 20, 1743, on the good ship Phoenix, Capt. Wm. Wilson,
last from Rotterdam. He married in Pennsylvania Ann
Eliza Iseman, and after several years (about 1750) they
with their children, Catherine and John, and several fellow
countrymen, joined in the exodus to the Piedmont region of
North Carolina, where they settled on the fertile lands of
Dutch Buffalo, then Anson county, afterwards Mecklen-
burg, and now Cabarrus, thus living in three counties with-
out moving.
The desolation of the country during the seven years war,
added to the desire of being land-owners, is said to have
caused this immigration from Wurtenburg.
John Paul's love of family was shown by his sending to
the "Old Country" for father, mother, brothers and sisters.
The aged parents were buried at sea, but two brothers and
three sisters came. George settled at Gold Hill. Mathias
married Miss Burhart, settled in Lincoln, and was killed by
198 HISTORY OF
the Indians in Catawba, where a monument was erected to
him in 1891. The sisters were: Catherine married to
Christian Overshine, Dolly married to Nicholas Cook, and
Elizabeth or Anna Maria, married to Christian Earnhardt.
Their descendants are scattered over the South and West,
and show the same strong characteristics in Family, Church,
and State.
In 1777, John Paul Barringer married his second wife,
Catherine, daughter of Caleb Blackwelder and Polly Decker,
and raised a large family.
John Paul was of note and influence in his community.
He was captain of Queen's Militia, member of Committee
of Safety, and was with James Hogg, of Orange, appointed
by unanimous consent of the Halifax convention of 1776,
Justice of the Peace. He and his brother-in-law, Caleb
Phifer, were the first representatives of Cabarrus in the
Legislature. It is said that the separation of Cabarrus from
Mecklenburg was due to the indignation of John Paul and
German friends, at his being ridiculed for giving orders to
his company in German or Pennsylvania Dutch. The
county was named for Stephen Cabarrus, who aided them
to get the act through the Legislature.
John Paul and his father-in-law, Caleb Blackwelder, too
old for service, led in defence of the settlement against the
Tories, who destroyed crops and carried away slaves. Fin-
ally the Fanning gang raided across the Yadkin, destroyed
everything and taking these two men prisoners, carried
them to Camden. Old Mrs. Blackwelder, nothing daunted,
followed them on horseback and ministered to their wants
as well as to those of other prisoners, even to the Britishers.
Smallpox was raging there and unfortunately, she commu-
nicated the disease to her young grandson Paul, who always
bore the marks of it. The husband and father were eventu-
ally released through her influence and that of a man named
Levinstein. The Tory most obnoxious to that neighbor-
hood was named Hagar and was finally run off. Hagar's
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. X99
mill was confiscated by Tom Polk and came into the posses-
sion of the Barring-er family.
In religion, John Paul was Lutheran and deeply devo-
tional, though neither sectarian nor fanatic. He used daily
a large Luther Bible (date 1747) which is still owned by
the family. These German Lutherans, like the Presbyte-
rians, ever had church and school house side by side. He
gave a large body of land to the church, was active in church
building, president of the council and was made referee in
all church disputes. The "Yellow Meeting House" was
built at his expense and the congregation voted him a raised
seat of honor, moving it to the new church of St. John's
when rebuilt. He is said to have lived well after the man-
ner of his day, and "they say" he exchanged a barrel of
kraut with the Italian miner, Rivafinoli, for a barrel of im-
ported wine.
Gov. Tryon visited him during his tour in 1768, and was
highly gratified with his entertainment. He died January
I, 1807, and was buried at St. John's church. His wife,
Catherine, lived till October 29, 1847, ^g^^ 92.
GEN. PAUIv BARRINGER.
The oldest son of John Paul Barringer and Catherine
Blackwelder was born in 1778, on Dutch Buffaloi, then in
Mecklenburg, now Cabarrus. He was both merchant and
farmer.
His father had never mastered the English language, but
he gave his children the best advantages of the times and
directed his executor to have his minor children educated in
the Protestant faith. Realizing the disadvantages he had
labored under he sent his sons to Chapel Hill, and his
daughters to the best schools. Besides his own children,
hv. helped many other young men to get a start in life.
His wife was Elizabeth Brandon, daughter of Matthew
Brandon and Jean Armstrong, of Rowan. Her family
■were the Lockes, Brandons and Armstrongs. The records
200 HISTORY OF
show that many patriotic soldiers were furnished by them
during the Revolution. They were married February 21,
1805. Their children were Daniel Moreau Barringer, mem-
ber of Congress, minister to Spain, aid to Gov. Clark dur-
ing the Civil War; Paul Barringer, of Mississippi; Rev.
\Villiam Barringer, of Greensboro; Gen. Rufus Barringer,
of Charlotte; Maj. Victor C. Barringer, First North Caro-
lina Cavalry, and Judge of International Court of Appeals
in Eg>'pt from 1874 to 1894; Margaret married John Boyd,
then Andrew Grier; Mary married Charles Harris, M. D. ;
Elizabeth, Edwin Harris, and Catherine, William G. Means.
Like his father, Paul Barringer was a devoted patriot.
He was an old line Whig and bitterly opposed to nullificar-
tion at its first inception, as shown in circulars published in
a political contest with Charles Fisher in 1832, and in news-
paper records of public meetings of the day. He was often
prominent as president of the day on the 4th of July and
20th of May anniversaries. He was a firm believer in the
authenticity of the Mecklenburg Declaration and seems to
have brought up his sons in the same faith. The Western
Carolinian of May 24, 1839, mentions the orator of the day,
D. M. Barringer, and Wm. Barringer was on the Commit-
tee of Invitation. Rufus Barringer's journal for May,
1844, refers to a "grand celebration" at which he was pres-
ent in Charlotte. Cabarrus was, in 1775, a part of Meck-
lenburg, and many of the "signers" were from that sec-
tion of the county. August 22, 1842, we find that Gen.
Paul Barringer presides at a meeting to present to the As-
sembly a memorial for the incorporation of the Mecklen-
burg Memorial Association..
During the War of 181 2, December 23, Paul Barringer
was commissioned by Gov. Hawkins Brigadier-General of
the Eleventh Regiment, North Carolina Troops. He was
a member of the House for Cabarrus for ten consecutive
terms (1806 to 1815), and of the State Senate in 1822.
In religion he and his wife were devoted members of the
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 20I
Lutheran Church and both lie buried in that church yard at
Concord.
RUFUS BARRINGER.
Rufus Barringer, fourth son of Paul Barringer and Eliz-
abeth Brandon, was born at Poplar Grove, Cabarrus county,
December 2, 1821.
He was prepared for college by R. I. McDowell at Sugar
Creek Academy and graduated at Chapel Hill in 1842. He
read law with his brother, D. M. Barringer, and then under
Judge Pearson, practicing in Cabarrus and neighboring
counties. He, like his father, was Whig in politics. He
was a member of the House of Commons in 1848, and of
the State Senate in 1849, and was a Bell and Everett elec-
tor in i860. Like his father, he was strongly opposed to
secession and predicted that it would result in long and
bloody war. Seeing that war was inevitable, he warned the
Legislature to arm the State and prepare for the support of
troops, himself volunteering for the zmr and meaning it.
His great-grandfather, Caleb Blackwelder, gave six sons
to his country during the Revolution. His grand-father,
John Paul Barringer, suffered from the Tories; his uncle,
John Barringer, was captain of a company ; his father volun-
teered for the war of 181 2, and his maternal ancestors were
active in defence of the country. Nothing less could be
expected of Rufus Barringer than that at the fall of Sum-
ter, he should respond to the call of his country and volun-
teer for her defence. He enlisted for the war in the Cabar-
rus Rangers April 19, 1861, and was chosen captain of the
company, which became Company F, First North Carolina
Cavalry, Ninth State Troops. His commission bears date
of May 16, 1 86 1. Under fine drilling and through the ex-
cellent discipline of Robert Ransom, its first Colonel, this
regiment became the best in the Confederate service. Un-
der Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee, its history was glorious in
every campaign.
202 HISTORY OF
In an old paper there is found an item headed "Won't Go
to Cong^ress." "While others are trying to get out of the
army by being elected to Congress, Maj. Rufus Barringer
refuses to go to Congress to remain with the army. Maj.
Barringer is right, for the country needs all able-bodied men
in the field. We copy his letter.
'Orange Court House, Va., Oct. 17, 1863,
" 'I have recently received numerous solicitations to be-
come a candidate for Congress in the Eighth District. These
solicitations I have uniformly declined. Within the last
few days I have learned that many of my friends still pro-
pose voting for me, whether a candidate or not. Whilst I
am deeply grateful to all who have thus manifested an in-
terest in my behalf and propose giving me this testimonial
of their confidence, I deem it due alike to them and to myself
to state, that for many reasons I much prefer my nam€
should not be thus used.
" *I entered the army from a sense of duty alone, count-
ing the cost and knowing the sacrifices.
" 'Our great object is not yet obtained and I do not conr
sider it consistent with my obligations here to accept any
civil or political office during the war. I think it better for
those in service to stand by their colors whilst those at home
should all unite in a cordial and earnest support of the au-
thorities in feeding, clothing and otherwise sustaining the
gallant men (and their families) who are fighting not only
for our rights, but for the safety of our homes and firesides.
My chief desire is to see all party bickerings allayed. The
army is not faint-hearted and will nobly perform its duty to
the country.
" *If croakers, grumblers and growlers who torment
themselves and all around them with imaginary evils, could
only lay aside their fears. If hoarders, speculators and
money makers could only be educated to forget their selfish
ends for a season. If conscripts, skulkers and deserters
could only be got to their commands and all come up to the
MECKIvENBURG COUNTY. 203
work like patriots and men, the army, by the blessing of
God, would soon secure us victory and peace. Oh! that
those men would reflect upon the error of their way and oipen
their hearts to the call of their bleeding- country. My pray-
ers are that all dissentions amongst us in North Carolina
may be healed and that headed by our sworn and chosen
leaders, President Davis and Governor Vance, the party,
appealing alike to our duty, our honor, our interest and our
safety would now consecrate themselves to their country.' "
Among his most prized treasures were letters of cornh
mendation from R. E. Lee, Hampton and Fitz. Lee to the
"Old First." He was promoted Major August 26, 1863;
Lieutenant-Colonel October 17, 1863, and Brigadier-General
June, 1864, his brigade consisting Oif the First, Second,
Third and Fifth Regiments. Gen. Barringer was in sev-
enty-six actions and was thrice wounded most severely at
Brandy Station. He was conspicuous at the battles of
Willis' Church, Brandy Station, Auburn Mills, Buckland
Races, where he led the charge, and Davis' Farm, where he
commanded. He commanded a division at Reams' Station.
His brigade was distinguished at Chamberlain Run, the last
decided Confederate victory, where it forded a stream one
hundred yards wide, saddle girth deep, under a galling fire,
and drove back a division of Federal cavalry, March 31,
1865. On April 3rd, at Namozine Church, he was taken
prisoner by a party of "Jesse Scouts" disguised as Confed-
erates. (Among the scouts were Col. Young and Capt.
Rowland.) He was taken to City Point with Gens. Ewell
and Custis Lee. Lincoln in Congress had desked with his
elder brother, D. M. Barringer, and he asked for an inter-
view, stating that he had "never before met a live Confed-
erate general in full uniform." His party was sent to the
old capitol prison and after Lincoln's death, transferred to
Fort Delaware, remaining in confinement until August 5,
1865.
"His courage, efficiency and military services won him a
204 HISTORY Olf
place alongside of the foremost cavalry leaders of the day."
But he cared for no honors which he could not share with
"the brave and self-sacrificing private of North Carolina,
the glory of the Confederate Army," as he was wont to say,
and he was ever anxious that justice should be given them
in history. On one of his last days he pleaded with an hon-
ored Confederate captain to write of the brave deeds of his
regiment, but was answered, "No, General; I have been
thirty years trying to forget the war." This met with the
response, "You are wrong, all wrong; it is due to yourself,
as to them, that history give them the honor to which they
are entitled by their bravery and self-sacrifice."
His whole heart was in the honor oi his State in war and
in peace. He was eager tO' have the true record published,
but he himself felt unequal to any part of the work. Finally,
in November, 1894, Judge Clark plead with him, saying:
"You are very busy; only busy men have the energy and
talent for the work. Your record as a soldier satisfies me
you will not decline this part of duty. I respectfully request
that you write the history of the Ninth Regiment, N. C. S.
T. (First Cavalry). Please acknowledge your acceptance
of this assignment to duty, the last which the Confederate
soldier can ask of you." Though on his sick bed, he called
for notes, clippings, rosters, etc., and as a labor of love,
wrote the article for the Regimental History, dictating to
his wife, but correcting the proofs himself.
As Gen. Barringer said, he "staked all and lost all" by
the war. He then resumed the practice of law, removed to
Charlotte in 1866 and formed partnership with Judge James
Osborne, giving the closest attention to business and making
his client's interest his own.
He disliked litigation and used his influence with his
clients for compromise. For object lesson to this effect, he
kept hanging in his office a print of two farmers quarreling
over a cow ; one had the cow by the tail and the other had
her by the horns, while the lawyer sat quietly on his stool
getting all the milk. I copy from his journal January,
MECKI.ENBURG COUNTY. 20$
1844, his first court : "I had one case of some importance.
We agreed to leave it to arbitration. I got my client off
remarkably well. He had been sued for $300, but the plain-
tiff did not get a cent. I got a fee of $5.00." Seeing that
he put his whole soul into the case of his client, one asked
him how he felt when he lost a case. "I do the best that is in
me for my client, and then accept the consequences." Just
so he had done with the result of the war.
Being convinced that it was wisest for the South to accept
the reconstruction acts of 1867, he allied himself with the
Republican party, and though very sensitive to the opinions
of his fellow men, he was tenacious of his principles and no
amount of ridicule or opposition could make him swerve
from what he considered the part of duty. But "during the
most violent and bitter struggle in the State, political dif-
ference detracted nothing in the public estimation from the
substantial worth of his personal character." And when in
1875, the State Convention was held to amend the Constitu-
tion, he was elected as a Republican from the Democratic
county of Mecklenburg; and in 1880, though defeated for
Lieutenant-Governor, he went far ahead of his party in his
own county.
In 1884, Gen. Barringer retired from the active practice
of law and devoted himself to his farming interests and to
literary pursuits.
He was much interested in general education, made it a
point of paying tuition for some needy boy or girl, and was
largely influential in establishing the graded school in Char-
lotte in 1874, advocating an industrial feature in connec-
tion with it. He was also a warm advocate for the Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College, and was numbered among
the first trustees. He was for years trustee of Davidson
College. He and Dr. Hutchison and Col. Myers were for a
number of years trustees of the Biddle University, which
was included in the home mission work of the Northern
Presbyterian Board. He was greatly interested in watch-
ing the result of educating the colored man.
206 HISTORY OF
One who was intimately associated said : "The one thing
about Gen. Barring^er that struck me above all others, was
his love for his fellow men. He was a man of broad ana
true thought. We had never had any conversation, but
what he spoke of the different classes and how to better
their conditions.
"He was always thinking of how to better conditions, and
was filled with a high sense of duty. His thoughts went
out beyond himself.
"Another thing that impressed me about Gen. Barringer
was, that while I never knew him in perfect health, he never
grew old.
"He sympathized with the thoughts and schemes of every
man. All schemes ecclesiastical and social, he entered into
with zeal and interest. He was largely influential in the
establishment of the library in Charlotte, and of the Histori-
cal Society, contributing freely to both."
I quote from another that knew him well : "Gen. Barrin-
ger was a remarkable man in many respects. He was one of
the most liberal and generous citizens Charlotte had. His
hand was always in his pocket to give to any good cause and
his gifts were munificent. He was eminently a just man
and was business to the core. He required the last farthing
promised or agreed to be paid, not for money's sake, but
for the sake of the agreement, and yet the next moment
would give freely to some good cause."
He was a student and devoted much time to political
economy. He had great faith in the "power of the press,"
and frequently wrote for the papers on various subjects.
He was progressive in his ideas beyond the times.
Besides the history of the First North Carolina Cavalry,
he published a pamphlet for the Historical Society on "The
North Carolina Railroad," one on "The Battle of Ramsour's
Mill," and a series of "Sketches on the Old Dutch Side."
These brought him letters from all over the South and West.
One of a large family, happy in each other, he followed
in the footsteps of his parents, ruling well his household, in
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 207
a firmness of love, believing with Riiskin, "There is a some-
thing in a good man's home which cannot be renewed in
every tenement that rises on its ruin." A young woman
who had been much in his home, said : "When alone in the
great crowds of New York battling with poverty, it has
rested and comforted me to think of his home and to know
that there are such men in the world."
Gen. Barringer was married three times. His first wife
was Eugenia, daughter of Dr. Robt. Hall Morrison. To
them were born two children, Anna, who died at maturity,
and Paul Brandon Barringer, now of the University of Vir-
ginia, with a large family of his own.
The second wife was Rosalie Chunn, of Asheville, Avho
had one son, Rufus Barringer. In 1870 Gen. Barringer
married Margaret Long, of Hillsboro, who, with her son,
Osmond Long Barringer, lives at the home place in Char-
lotte.
He was a man who lived not only in the present, but in the
future, and on the approach of the three score and ten allot-
ted to man, he felt that the world's work were better done
by more active men.
Though not shirking any evident duty, he resigned for-
mally from responsibilities as school trustee, bank director,
church elder, etc.
In 1894, he felt his health declining and with his usual
methodical care and forethought, he "set his house in or-
der," arranged his papers and affairs, and instructed his
agent, so that no confusion might arise on accotmt of his
death. To the end his mind was clear and strong. He read
and kept up with current events in the daily papers to the
day of his death, February 3, 1895. He bade his family
"Farewell." folded his hands and fell asleep.
Though liberal to all denominations. Gen. Barringer was
in faith strongly Calvinistic.
He said : "When a young man and about to connect
myself with the church. I resolved to take no man's word,
and to search the Scriptures for myself. This I did and to
208 HISTORY OF
my mind, the Presbyterian doctrine was plainly set forth
in every chapter. I have never seen cause to change my
belief or to be troubled by any new doctrine."
He passed through deep waters, but said: "Through it
all God sustained me."
On one of his last days, he said to his pastor: "If you
can unfold to me any new truth of that better land, do so."
The reply was : "I cannot ; all I say is, we shall be sat-
isfied when we awake in His likeness." To this he calmly
answered : "It is enough." — Contributed.
ZEBULON B. VANCE.
T5he Greett Connmoner, Z. B. Va-nce.
To ignore the name of Senator Vance in the history of
Mecklenburg, is to leave unrecorded a name of a man "who
was not born for a day, but for all time." In the year 1866
Gov. Vance became a citizen of this county, and remained a
citizen of the county, and always came here to vote, up to
the time of his death, which occurred April 14, 1894.
"Zebulon Baird Vance was born in Buncombe county,
North Carolina, May 13, 1830; was educated at Washing-
ton College, Tenn., and at the University of North Carolina
studied law; was admitted to the bar in January, 1852, and
w^as elected county attorney for Buncombe county the same
year; was a member of the State House of Commons in
1854; was a Representative from North Carolina in the
Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses; entered the Con-
federate army as captain in May, 1861, and was made colo-
nel in August, 1861 ; was elected Governor of North Caro-
lina in August, 1862, and re-elected in August, 1864; was
elected to the United States Senate in November, 1870, but
was refused admission and resigned in January, 1872; was
elected Governor of North Carolina for the third time in
1876, and in January, 1878, was elected to the United States
Senate; was re-elected in 1885, was again re-elected in 1891,
and died at his residence in Washington April 14, 1894."
His paternal and maternal ancestors both were revolu-
tionary patriots. The "Vance Homestead" was a large
frame building of the "olden time" with broad stone chim-
neys, indicative of comfort and hospitality. It stood near
the French Broad river and in the midst of the Blue Ridge
mountains. Now the house has been taken down and only
a few stones remain to mark the site where it once stood.
It is a place of beauty.
In front of it the river is smooth and placid as a lake;
above and below it dashes and roars into a mountain tor-
2IO HISTORY OF
rent, and you almost hear the echoes of the ocean. Around
it the great mountains tower like giants, and their dark for-
ests are mirrored in the deep, blue bosom of the stream.
On this scene, amid sublimity and beauty, Vance first beheld
the light of heaven. From this beautiful river, from these
sublime mountains, from neighboring scenes, all bristling
with heroic and patriotic recollections, he received his first
impressions. These were the books from which he learned
the lessons that were to be the foundations of his illustrious
career. He was the son of the mountains, and I rarely
looked on him without being reminded of them.
At the University, Vance remained two years and pur-
sued a selected course of studies, and soon made a name for
genius, wit and oratory. He was a special favorite of Pres-
ident Swain, who for so many years had exerted a powerful
influence in elevating and directing the youth of the South
and made all of us who came under it better citizens and
better men. Young Vance was extremely popular with
the students and also with the people of the village of
Chapel Hill. Even then reports came from the University
of his brilliant wit, his striking originality and his high
promise.
He served one session in the State Legislature, and there
gave unmistakable earnest of the illustrious life before him.
He was elected to the House of Representatives in the
Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses and took distin-
,^uished position in that assembly, which has been the lists
of so many statesmen. In 1861, upon the adjournment of
Congress, he returned home, and seeing that war was inev-
itable, raised a company of volunteers, marched to Virginia
and soon afterwards was elected colonel of the Twenty-sixth
Regiment, North Carolina Infantry, a regiment justly dis-
tinguished for the largest loss of killed and wounded during
the war of any regiment, either North or South.
He had always been opposed to the secession of the South-
ern States, did everything possible to avert it, and was one
of the very last Southern men to declare his love and devo-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 211
tion to the Union. In the battle of New Bern, N. C, in
March, 1862, Col. Vance was conspicuous for courage and
coolness, and received the highest commendation for his sol-
dierly conduct on that field. In August of that year he was
elected Governor of the State, and received the almost unan-
imous vote of the soldiers. In 1864 he was re-elected Gov-
ernor by a very large majority, and held the executive office
until the occupation of Raleigh by Gen. Sherman in April,
1865. As the executive of North Carolina his administra-
tion was signally distinguished by great ability, vigor and
energy, by ardent and constant fidelity to the Southern Cause,
and by wise foresight and prudent husbandry of all the re-
sources of the State. He was in every sense governor of
the State. From the day on which he entered upon the
duties of the office until the hour when he laid it down, his
commanding genius asserted his competence for the great
responsibilities of the position, and his administration de-
served and received the unbounded confidence, support, and
approbation of all the patriotic people of North Carolina.
He called to his councils the wisest, the best, the most
trusted men in the State of all shades of patriotic sentiment.
He inspired the people with renewed love for the struggle;
he united the discordant elements among us; he animated
the despondent; he tolerated the conscientious lovers of
peace; he rebuked the timid; he brought back to life the
spirit of our revolutionary patriots ; he gave new hope to the
army ; he aroused the pride of the State ; he strengthened all
its means, and prepared for war to the end. Well may he
have been designated as the "Great war Governor of the
South." These acts of his administration are justly entitled
to be ranked as historic. First, the organization of a fleet
of vessels to sail from Wilmington, N. C, to Europe, with
cargoes of cotton and return with supplies for the soldiers
and essential necessaries for the people. This supreme en-
terprise was eminently successful. For months and years
the Advance and other vessels, commanded by skillful of-
ficers, well manned and adequately equipped, went like sea-
212 HISTORY OF
birds across the ocean to Europe, laden with the great
staples of the South, and returning with stores of needed
supplies, triumphantly eluding- the blockading- squadron,
and sailed with colors flying up the Cape Fear to Wilming-
ton. The soldiers were clothed and fed, cards and spinning
wheels, sewing and knitting needles were furnished to our
noble women, machinery for looms, surgical instruments,
medicines, books and seeds, were all brought home to a suf-
fering people. The history of the war does not present an
example of greater wisdom and success.
Second: In 1864 and 1865, when the resources of the
South were absolutely exhausted, when our noble armies
were reduced and hemmed in on every side, ragged, hungry
and almost without ammunition; when starvation and
famine confronted every threshold in the South, and a mor-
sel of bread was the daily subsistence of a family ; in that dark
and dreadful hour Gov. Vance first appealed to the Govern-
ment at Richmond, and finding it perfectly helpless to give
any relief, summoned his Council of State and by almost
superhuman efforts prevailed upon the destitute people of
North Carolina to divide their last meal and their pitiful
clothing with the suffering Union prisoners at Salisbury.
Humanity, chivalry, piety, I invoke from you a purer, bet-
ter, holier example of Christian charity in war.
Third : During his administration as Governor in North
Carolina, although war was flagrant, though camps covered
the fields, though soldiers were conscripted by thousands,
though cold-hearted men of ample means refused supplies
to soldiers with bleeding feet, though the whole militia was
armed, though thousands of deserters, refugees from duty,
were arrested ; though the War Department daily called for
more men; though every art and artifice and device was
practiced to keep the soldiers from the field; though spies
and traitors were detected and seized; though traders in
contraband of war were consequently caught flagrante de-
licto and captured; though in all counties in time of war
civil authority has been compelled to submit to military
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 213
necessity and power, yet in North Carolina during- the war,
the writ of habeas corpus, the great writ of liberty, was
never for one moment suspended. Immortal history!
Worthy of Mecklenburg and the 20th of May, 1775.
In 1876, Gov. Vance was for the third time elected Gov-
ernor of North Carolina, and his administration was the
beginning of a new era for our State. The millions of
fraudulent bonds that were passed and recognized by the
State Legislature, were promptly scaled down to what they
yielded the State. Our legislative hall had been filled with
our former slaves, scalawags and men of uncertain places to
dwell. All these things of a bad smelling odor, that proved
so detrimental to our State were driven away by the great
tribunal of our State. From this time onward North Caro-
lina has taken on new life.
In 1878 he was elected to the Senate, and until he died,
remained a member of that body, having been elected four
times as a Senator. His record in the Senate is part of the
Nation's history. He vigilantly defended the rights, honor,
and interests of the Southern States, not from sectional pas-
sion or prejudice, but because it was his duty as a patriot
to every State and to the Union. He was bold, brave, open,
candid, and without reserve. He desired all the world to
know his opinio'us and positions, and never hesitated to
avow them.
His heart, every moment, was in North Carolina. His
devotion to the State and the people was unbounded; his
solicitude for her welfare, his deep anxiety in all that con-
cerned her, and his ever readiness to make every sacrifice in
her behalf was daily manifested in all his words and actions.
Senator Vance was an uncommon orator. He spoke with
great power. His style was brief, clear, and strong; his
statements were accurate and definite; his arguments com-
pact and forcible; his illustrations unsurpassed in their fit-
ness; his wit and humor were the ever waiting and ready
hand-maids to his reasoning, and always subordinated to
the higher purposes of his speech. They were torch-bearers,
214 HISTORY OF
ever bring-ing fresh light. He always instructed, always in-
terested, always entertained, and never wearied or fatigued
an audience, and knew when to conclude. The Senate
always heard him with pleasure, and the galleries hung upon
his lips, and with bended bodies and with outstretched necks
would catch his every word as it fell. He rarely, if ever,
spoke without bringing down applause. His wit was as in-
exhaustible as it was exquisite. His humor was overflow-
ing, fresh, sparkling like bubbling drops of wine in a goblet;
but he husbanded these rare resources of speech with admir-
able skill, and never displayed them for ostentation. They
were weapons of offense and defense, and were always kept
sharp and bright and ready for use. He was master of irony
and sarcasm, but there was no malice, no hatred in his swift
and true arrows. Mortal wounds were often given, but the
shafts were never poisoned. It was the strength of the bow
and the skill of the archer that sent the steel through the
heart of its victim. But strength, force, clearness, brevity,
honesty of conviction, truth, passion, good judgment were
the qualities that made his speech powerful and effective.
He believed what he said. He knew it was true, he felt its
force himself, his heart was in his words, he was ready to
put place, honor, life itself upon the issue. This was the
secret of his popularity, fame and success as a speaker.
He studied his speeches with the greatest care, deliber-
ated, meditated upon them constantly, arranged the order
of his topics with consummate discretion, introduced author-
ities from history, and very often from sacred history, pre-
sented some popular faith as an anchor to his ship, and con-
cluded with a sincere appeal to the patriotic impulses of the
people. No speaker ever resorted to the bayonet more fre-
quently. He did not skirmish; he marched into the battle,
charged the centre of the lines, and never failed to draw
blood of the enemy. Sometimes he was supreme in manner,
in words, in thought, in pathos. He possessed the thunder-
bolts, but, like Jove, he never trifled with them ; he only in-
voked them when gigantic perils confronted his cause.
MECKLKNBURG COUNTY. 215
In 1876, upon his third nomination for Governor, speak-
ing to an immense audience in the State House Square at
Raleigh, he held up both hands in the light of the sun and,
with solemn invocation to Almighty God, declared that they
were white and stainless ; that not one cent of corrupt money-
had ever touched their palms. The effect was electric; the
statement was conviction and conclusion. The argument
was unanswerable. It was gi'eat nature's action. It was
eloquence, it was truth.
Senator Vance's integrity and uprightness in public and in
private life were absolute; they were unimpeached and un-
impeachable — he was honest. It was his priceless inheri-
tance which he leaves to his family, his friends, his country.
He was an honest man. Calumny fell harmless at his feet;
the light dissipated every cloud and he lived co'ntinuously
in its broad rays ; his breast-plate, his shield, his armor was
the light, the truth. There was no darkness, no mystery, no
shadow upon his bright standard. His compeers will all
remember the loss of his eye in the winter of 1889. How
touching it was — a sacrifice, an offering on the altar of his
country. For no victim was ever more tightly bound to the
stake than he was to his duty here. How bravely, how
patiently, how cheerfully, how manfully he bore the dread-
ful loss. But the light, the glorious light of a warm heart,
a noble nature, a good conscience, an innocent memory, was
never obscured to him.
In his long, tedious illness no complaint, no murmurs
escaped his calm and cheerful lips. He was composed, firm,
brave, constant, hopeful to the last. His love of country
was unabated, his friendship unchanged, his devotion to
duty unrelaxed. His philosophy was serene, his brow was
cloudless, his spirit, his temper, his great mind, all were
superior to his sufferings.
His great soul illuminated the physical wreck and ruin
around it, and shone out with clearer lustre amid disease
and decay. Truly he was a most wonderful man. His last
thoughts, his dying words, his expiring prayers, were for
2l6 HISTORY OF
his country, for liberty and the people. A great patriot, a
noble citizen, a good man, it is impossible not to remember,
to admire, to love him. No man among the living or the
dead ever so possessed and held the hearts of North Caroli-
na's people. In their confidence, their affection, their devo-
tion, and their gratitude he stood unapproachable — without
a peer. When he spoke to them they listened to him with
faith, with admiration, with rapture and exultant joy.
His name was ever upon their lips. His pictures were in
almost every household. Their children by hundreds bore
his beloved name, and his words of wit and wisdom were
repeated by every tongue.
What Tell was to Switzerland, what Bruce was to Scot-
land, what William of Orange was to Holland — I had
almost said what Moses was to Israel — Vance was to North
Carolina. I can give you but a faint idea of the deep, fervid,
exalted sentiment which our people cherished for their great
tribune. His thoughts, his feeling, his words were theirs.
He was their shepherd, their champion, their friend, their
guide, blood of their blood, great, good, noble, true, human
like they were in all respects, no better, but wiser, abler, with
higher knowledge and profounder learning. Nor was this
unsurpassed devotion unreasonable or without just founda-
tion. For more than the third of a century, for upwards of
thirty years, in peace or in war, in prosperity and in adver-
sity, in joy or in sorrow, he had stood by them like a brother
— a defender, a preserver, a deliverer. He was their martyr
and had suffered for their acts. He was their shield and
had protected them from evil and from peril. He had been
with them and their sons and brothers on the march — by
the campfires, in the burning light of battle; beside the
wounded and dying; in their darkest hours amid hunger and
cold, and famine and pestilence, with watchful care had
brought them comfort and shelter and protection. They
remembered the gray jackets, the warm blankets, the good
shoes, the timely food, the blessed medicines, which his sym-
pathy and provision had brought them. In defeat, and in
MltCKLENBURG COUNTY. 217
tumult, amid ruin, humiliation and the loss of all they had,
he had been their adviser, he had guided them through the
wilderness of their woes and brought them safely back to
their right and all their hopes. He had been to them like
the north star to the storm-tossed and despairing mariner.
He had been greater than Ulysses to the Greeks. He had
preserved their priceless honor, and saved their homes, and
was the defender of their liberties. He was their benefac-
tor. Every object around them reminded them of his care,
every memory recalled, every thought suggested his use-
fulness and their gratitude.
The light from their school house spoke of his services
to their education. The very sight of their graves brought
back to their hearts his tender devotion to their sons; and
the papers and the wires with the rising of almost every
sun bore to their pure bosoms the news of his success, his
triumphs and his honors. They were proud of him; they
admired him — they loved him. These, these were the foun-
dations, the solid foundations of his place in their minds and
in their hearts. From the wind-beaten and storm-bleached
Cape Hatteras to the dark blue mountain tops that divide
North Carolina and Tennessee, there is not a spot from which
the name of Vance is not echoed with honor and love. But
his influence and his fame were not confined within State
lines.
In New England the sons of the brave Puritans admired
his love of liberty, his independence of thought, his freedom
of speech, his contempt for pretensions and his abhorrence of
deceit. The hardy miners in the far West and on the Pacific
hills felt his friendship and were grateful for his services.
Virginia loved him as the vindicator of her imperiled rights
and honor. From the farms and fields and firesides of the
husbandmen of the republic there came to him the greeting
of friends, for he was always the advocate of low taxes
and equal rights and privileges to all men. From all the
South he was looked upon as the representative of their sor-
row and the example of their honor; and all over the civ-
2l8 HISTORY OF
ilized world the people of Israel — "the scattered nation" —
everywhere bowed with uncovered heads to the brave man
who had rendered his noble testimony and tribute to the
virtues of their race. Even the officers, the sentinels and
watchmen over him in the old capitol prison, in which he
was confined on the alleged and wrongful charge that he
had violated the laws of war, were spell-bound by his genial
spirit and became his devoted friends up to the hour of his
death. His genius, his ability, his humanity, his long con-
tinued public service, his great physical suffering, a martyr-
dom to his duty, the sorcery of his wit, the magic of his
humor and the courage of his convictions had attracted the
universal sympathy and admiration of the American peo-
ple.
In this brief summary is embraced a great life. County
attorney, member of the State House of Commons, Repre-
sentative in two Congresses, Captain and Colonel in the
Southern army; three times elected Governor of his State,
and four times elected to the Senate of the United States.
What a record and what a combination. A great states-
man, a good soldier, a rare scholar, a successful lawyer, an
orator of surpassing power and eloquence, a man popular
and beloved as few men have ever been. Great in peace and
great in war, equal to every fortune, superior to adversity
and greater still, superior in prosperity. Successful in every-
thing which he attempted, eminent in every field in which
he appeared, and fitted for every effort which he undertook.
He was master of political science, and distinguished in
scholarship and literature. His political speeches were
models of popular oratory and his literary addresses were
compositions of chaste excellence. He wrote an electric edi-
torial and drafted a legislative bill with equal clearness and
brevity. His pen and his tongue were of equal quality. He
used both with equal power. He wrote much; he spoke
more. Everything emanating from him wore his own like-
ness. He borrowed from no man. He imitated no man
and no man could imitate. He was unique, original, won-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 2I9
derful, incomprehensible unless he was a genius with facul-
ties and powers of extraordinary and exceptional character.
His temper was admirable, calm, well-balanced, serene. He
cared less for trifles than any man I ever knew. He brushed
them away as a lion shakes the dust from his mane. In this
respect he was a giant. He was like Sampson, breaking the
frail withes that bound his limbs. He was never confused,
rarely impatient, seldom nervous, never weak. He was mer-
ciful in the extreme. Suffering touched him to the quick.
He was compassion itself to distress. He was as tender as a
gentle woman to the young, the weak, the feeble. He was
full of charity to all men, charitable to human frailty in
every shape and form and phase. He had deep, powerful
impulses, strong and passionate resentments — in the heat of
conflict he was inexorable, but his generosity, his magna-
nimity, his sense of justice was deeper and stronger and bet-
ter than the few passing passions of his proud nature. To
his family and friends he was all tenderness and indulgence;
His great heart always beat in duty, with sympathy, with
the highest chivalry to woman.
" The man that lays his hand upon a woman,
Save in the way of kindness, is a wretch,
Whom 't were great flattery to name a coward,"
was always upon his lips.
He was ambitious, very ambitious, but with him ambi-
tion was a virtue. He aspired to be great that he might be
useful, to do good, to improve and to benefit and to help
mankind. His was not the ambition of pride and arrogance
and of power. It was the ambition of benevolence and phi-
lanthropv, the ambition to elevate, to lift up, to bless human-
ity.
From early manhood he has possessed a respectable com-
petence. At no time did he ever suffer penury. He hus-
banded with great care his resources and was prudent, fru-
gal, thoughtful in his expenditures, but he never turned a
deaf ear to pity or to sorrow. He was not avoricious; he
had no" love for money, and was never rich in gold, silver,
220 HISTORY OF
and precious stones or lands, but he was opulent in the con-
fidence and affections of the people. His great wealth was
invested in the attachments, the friendships, the faith, the
devotions of his fellow men ; that priceless wealth of love of
the heart, of the soul, which no money can purchase. In
many respects he was very remarkable. In one he was sin-
gularly so. He never affected superiority to human frailty.
He claimed no immunity from our imperfection. He real-
ized that all of us were subject to the same conditions, and
he regarded and practiced humanity as a cardinal virtue and
duty.
Senator Vance was happy in his married life. In his
early manhood he was married to Miss Harriet Newell
Espey, of North Carolina. She was a woman of high intel-
lectual endowments, of uncommon moral force, of exem-
plary piety and exercised a great influence for good over
her devoted husband, which lasted during his life. Their
union was blessed with four sons, who survived their par-
ents. His second wife was Mrs. Florence Steel Martin, of
Kentucky, a lady of brilliant intellect, of rare grace and re-
finement, who adorned his life and shed lustre and joy on
his home; and after his course was finished, he fell asleep
in her arms. He loved the Bible as he loved no other book.
All of his reverence was for his God. He lived a patriot and
philanthropist, and he died a Christian. This is the sum of
duty and honor. He has gone. His massive and majestic
form, his full, flowing white locks, his playful, twinkling
eye, his calm home-like face, his indescribable voice have
left us forever. He still lives in our hearts. The great
Mirabeau, in his dying moments, asked for music and for
flowers, and for perfumes to cheer and brighten his mortal
eclipse. Vance died blessed with the fragrance of sweetest
affections, consecrated by the holiest love, embalmed in the
tears and sorrows of a noble people. The last sounds that
struck his ear were the echoes of their applauses and grati-
tude, and his eyes closed with the light of Christian promise
beaming upon his soul.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 221
On the night of the i6th of April, his remains were borne
towards the mountains of the State he loved so well. The
night was beautiful; the white stars shed forth their hal-
lowed radiance upon earth and sky. The serenity was
lovely. The whole heavens almost seem a happy reunion of
the constellations. With the first light of day the people,
singly, in groups, in companies, in crowds, in multitudes,
met us everywhere along the way — both sexes, all ages, all
races, all classes and all conditions. Their sorrow was like
the gathering clouds in morning, ready to drop every
moment in showers. We carried him to the State House in
Raleigh, the scene of his greatest trials and grandest
triumphs; the heart of the State melted over her dead son.
Her brightest jewel had been taken away. We left Raleigh
in the evening, and passing over the Neuse, over the Yadkin,
over the Catawba, up to the summit of the Blue Ridge, we
placed the urn with its noble dust on the brow of his own
mountain, the mountain he loved so well. There he sleeps
in peace and honor. On that exalted spot the willow and the
cypress, emblems of sorrow and mourning, cannot grow,
but the bay and the laurel, the trees of fame, will there flour-
ish and bloom in perpetual beauty and glory. There will
his great spirit like an eternal sentinel of liberty and truth
keep watch over his people. It would have been one of the
supreme joys of my life to have done justice to the life and
the character of this great and good man, to have enshrined
his memory in eloquence like his own. But whatever may
have been the faults of these words, I have spoken from a
heart full of sorrow for his death, and throbbing with ad-
miration and pride for his virtues." — Eulogy by Senator
Ransom, the colleague of Senator Vance in the United
States Senate.
Cetlvin Eli Grier.
Calvin Eli Grier was born in Steele Creek Township
on the 30th of December, 1845. He was the son of Col.
William M. Grier, a man closely identified with the history
of this county. His mother was, before her marriage. Miss
Feriba Edwards, a daughter of Stouton Edwards, of York
county, S. C.
Steele Creek has been noted for its good schools and its
interest in education, and in the academy near his father's
home Calvin Grier studied until his fourteenth year. As a
boy he early displayed a wonderful versatility, and those
who were his companions at school tell of his progress in his
studies and of the early age at which he read the Latin
classics.
In common with all the children raised in Steele Creek, a
center of Presbyterianism, he was early trained to study the
shorter Catechism. His father, a ruling elder in the Assch
ciate Reformed Presbyterian Church, taught him to per-
fectly ask and answer every question in the Catechism be-
fore he was four years old.
In 1859, General, then Major D. H. Hill, founded his
Military Institute in Charlotte, and to this Calvin Grier was
sent as soon as the school was opened. At that time he was
only fourteen, but he was a thorough student and the reports
he received were most excellent ones.
On the breaking out of hostilities between the North and
the South, Gen. Hill closed his school. Many of the cadets
were made officers and others hastened to ofifer their ser-
vices to the Confederacy.
Calvin Grier, though not fifteen years of age, enlisted in
the Ranalesburg Rifles, a company then formed largely of
Steele Creek men, and of which A. A. Erwin was captaift.
It seemed most appropriate that he should enlist in this com-
pany, for Col. Grier, with true Southern generosity, had con-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 223
tributed largely of his means in equipping this company, and
so liberal was he to it during the war that some of the men
referred to him as the "Father of the Ranalesburg Rifles."
Young Grier remained with the company for one year,
but at the end of that time was sent home on accouiiit of
his extreme youth. But brave and ambitious, he could not
bear to remain at home inactive while his companions were
dying in defence of the South, so in 1862 he enlisted again,
this time in Graham's Battery, which had been organized
in Charlotte. He served with this battery but a short while,
being transferred to his first command, where he remained
till the close of the war.
When the conflict was over, though only 19 years of age,
Capt. Grier was acting Adjutant-General of Scales' Brigade,
and had made a wonderful record for courage and daring.
During the war he was seven times wounded, being shot
through and through the body on two occasions, once at Bar-
nett's Ford and again at Reams' Station.
At the close of the war, Calvin Grier returned home to
find his circumstances terribly altered. In place of wealth,
he had poverty, and instead of vigorous, young manhood,
he had a wrecked constitution, the result of the wounds
from which he suffered all his life.
With a heroism as great as that he displayed in battle, he
took up his round of duties on his father's farm. In 1866 he
began the study of law. All day he would plow on the farm
and at night he would remain up late reading his law books.
Once a week he came to Charlotte and recited to Osborne
and Barringer.
In spite of the obstacles with which he had to contend he
made such rapid strides in his studies that at the end of a
year he stood his examination and received his license to
practice law.
In 1868 he moved to Charlotte and began the practice of
his profession. He formed a partnership with Capt. Armis-
tead Burwell, but in about a year decided to locate in Dallas.
In 1872 he returned to Steele Creek, broken down in
224 HISTORY OF
health, but in 1876 he moved back to Charlotte, where he
made his home until the time of his death. For a number
of years he was the law partner of Judge W. P. Bynum, and
for some time he was solicitor of the Inferior Court of
Mecklenburg county.
In 187,8 he was married to Miss Addie Ramseur, of Lin-
colnton, a sister of the gallant Major-General, Stephen D.
Ranseur.
In 1889, on the ist of May, Capt. Grier died and was
buried in Steele Creek cemetery, where rest his father,
grand-father and great-grand-father.
Nothing can be more appropriate than to quote what his
friend, Mr. F. B. McDowell, says of him in his article on
Steele Creek : "As I write of another the pen falters. He
■was so young, so generous, so gifted. His life, too, was so
pathetic, and his existence seemed to end almost before it
fairly began. If the war called some from the portals of the
grave, it took others almost from the cradle. A mere strip-
ling boy went forth as a volunteer. Intrepid as a Hampden,
as daring as a Ney, he was twice shot through the body upon
the enemy's breastworks, within touch of his guns. He
brought back from the field painful wounds and a wrecked
constitution; but with all his suffering he was an admirable
companion and a natural leader and adviser of men ; and no
young man in this section and of this generation left a
deeper impress of admiration and sympathy upon those who
knew him best, than Calvin E. Grier." — Contributed by Miss
Feriba Grier.
Matthew Wa^llaLce a.nd His Family.
The people of Mecklenburg probably know less of this
family than any family of equal mental ability that ever lived
in the county. Matthev;^ Wallace came from Western Penn-
sylvania a young man, and married a Miss Young, daughter
cf Joseph Young, who with his brother William, emigrated
from the north of Ireland to Pennsylvania; after remaining
in Pennsylvania one year, removed to Mecklenburg, North
Carolina, in or about the year 1765. Mr. Matthew Wallace
lived and died a close neighbor to old Mr. Andrew Hender-
son (on the creek a short distance above the mill). He had
eight children, viz. : Kesiah, Minty, Harriet, Eveline, Ru-
fus, Pinkney, Joseph and Newton. Harriet married James
P. Henderson. They raised three sons, Philo, Matthew
(who died when a boy), and Thomas — none ever married.
The two daughters married. Martha married E. L.
Burney and Lilly married J. C. Caldwell, of Winsboro. S. C.
Minty married David Henderson, and had two children.
C. A. Henderson, M. D., who died (childless) a few years
ago in Greenville, S. C. He had been married twice, but
left no issue. Margaret married Dr. Frank McRee. They
had but one living child, who married Mr. J. G. Shannon-
house, of Charlotte. Eveline married Samuel M. Moore,
and but one child reached adult age — ^John W. Moore. Ru-
fus Wallace studied medicine, practiced in Charlotte, was a
brilliant young man, never married, and died young.
Matthew Wallace was a prominent man in the county in
his day; was a surveyor of land, which at that time brought
him prominently before the people. He was also' a magis-
trate for a long time, and chairman of the old County Court.
He at one time sentenced a man to stand in the stocks for
tvvo hours. The sheriff told the worshipful court the stocks
were not in fix to hold him. The chairman replied : "Fasten
him in the crack of the fence, and do it at once." The order
226 HISTORY OF
was promptly obeyed. He was said to have been the prime
mover in having the court house removed from the public
square to West Trade street, as Mr. Alex. McAulay was the
prime mover to have the new court house built on the site
of Queen's Museum, on South Try on street.
Mr. Wallace and his children are buried in the old grave-
yard at Sugar Creek church.
Mr. Matthew Wallace's wife must have been a remarkably
brainy woman. At this late day it is impossible to get an
insight into her mental capacity; but it is beyond question
that the Yotmg family were equal to if not superior to the
Wallaces. Her three daughters who lived to be grown and
married, were far beyond mediocracy. James P. Hender-
son's children were all exceedingly bright, and very hand-
some. Philo was quite a poet, was a gifted writer, had been
graduated at the University of North Carolina. A younger
brother, "Tom," as he was called by every one, took the first
honor at Davidson, and then at Cambridge; was a great
reader of books, never entered a profession; joined the Con-
iederate army in 1861, went through the war as a private,
when there were few men in Lee's army, would compare
with him in scholarship. He made a good soldier; came
heme and kept books for a mercantile house. David Hen-
derson's son and daughter were observed by the community
as a head and shoulder above the compeers in intellectual
attainments. The same was observed in Samuel Moore's
children. His daughter Lizzie's praises were in the mouth
of all who knew her. She died when budding into woman-
hood. John W. Moore was deemed worthy to represent
the county in the Legislature of the State. The name of
Wallace — of that family at least — is now obsolete; but col-
lateral branches, carrying the same blood, are still inhabi-
tants of Mecklenburg.
CoLptain John Randolph Crwin.
The subject of this sketch was born on the ist day of
August, 1838, in Bethesda township, York county, S. C.
He was a son of WilHam L. and Annie Williamson Erwin,
who belonged to the old Scotch-Irish families who emi-
grated to this country before the Revolution.
Capt. Erwin was raised on a farm, and was educated in
the old field schools, except two sessions spent at an academy
in Ebenezer, S. C.
In 185 1 William Erwin moved to Mecklenburg county,
North Carolina, locating at Ranalesburg, Steele Creek
Township, and from that time Mecklenburg was Capt.
Erwin's home.
In the fall of 1856 he entered the general merchandise
store of Fisher, Burroughs & Co., of Charlotte, and re-
mained with that firm until the winter of 1859. Then he de-
cided to improve his fortunes by going West, so he went to
Texas with a party trading on the Rio Grande. He re-
mained there until South Carolina passed the ordinance of
secession, when he sacrificed his business and returned to
his home. He volunteered as a private in the Ranalesburg
Rifles, but his popularity soon won for him the position of
First Lieutenant of his company. Soon after organization
this company was ordered to the camp of instruction at
Raleigh, and was at the capital when North Carolina seceded
on May 20, 1861. The company was then ordered to Garys-
burg, N. C, where he was made adjutant of the post by
Col. W, D. Pender. Here it was that the Third, afterwards
the Thirteenth Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers,
was organized, and Capt. Erwin was selected as Major of
the regiment. Owing to the absence of his captain, who
had been wounded, and to the earnest entreaties of his men,
he declined this honor and remained with the company.
The company was sent from Garysburg to Suffolk, Va.,
228 HISTORY OF
and from there to Todd's Point, on the James river, where
they spent the summer. In the fall the company was sent on
detached duty to Ragged Island, opposite Newport News,
and was in camp there and witnessed the naval engage-
ment of 1 86 1 in which the warships Cumberland and Con-
gress were destroyed. In the spring of 1862 the regiment
was ordered to the peninsula near Yorktown, to hold in
check the advance of Gen. McClellan.
In April of that year he was elected captain of a cavalry
company, organized in Charlotte by Maj. M. N. Hart.
After equipping and drilling his company at the old fair
grounds at Charlotte, Capt. Erwin was ordered to join
Evan's Battalion at Kinston, N. C. In the winter of 1862
the battalion was ordered to Garysburg, where the Fifth
Cavalry Regiment was formed; this regiment was sent to
Virginia in 1863, and took part in the memorable campaign
of Gettysburg. When the regiment went to Virginia Capt.
Erwin was left at Garysburg with typhoid fever, and did
not rejoin his men until they returned to Culpepper Court
House, where the famous North Carolina brigade, composed
of the First, Second, Third and Fifth Cavalry, was organ-
ized. This brigade was commanded by the gallant Gor-
don until his death in front of the breast works near Rich-
mond in 1864, when Gen. Rufus Barringer took charge of
the brigade. In this command Capt. Erwin served till the
close of the war, taking part in all the battles in which his
regiment was engaged. At the bloody battle of Chamber-
lain Run his colonel, McNeil, and Lieut.-Col. Shaw were
both killed, and Maj. Galloway being sick, the command of
the regiment devolved on him to the close of the war. He
did not surrender his regiment, but marched it back to
North Carolina, and in Charlotte he received from John C.
Breckenridge, Secretary of War, an order to disband his
company.
After the war Capt. Erwin again entered the mercantile
field as a clerk for Taylor & Duncan, which position he held
for two years. On the 5th of June, 1867, he was married to
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 229
Miss Jennie, a daughter of Maj. Z. A. Grier, of Steele
Creek. In January, 1868, Capt. Erwin moved to Steele
Creek and began the life of a farmer. In January, 1873,
he returned to Charlotte and accepted a position with W.
H. Houston, a wholesale grocery merchant. In May, 1873,
Capt. Erwin was elected city marshal, or chief of police,
which office he held until April, 1875, when he was ap^-
pointed by D. Schenck, judge of this district, clerk of the
Superior Court of Mecklenburg county, in which capacity he
served for twelve years.
Upon his retirement the following tribute was paid him
by Col. H. C. Jones, at the close of Capt. Erwin's last court :
"I desire to call your honor's attention to the fact that the
term of office of our much esteemed clerk, Capt. Erwin,
is about to close. It has been many years since he entered
upon the duties of his office, and in all that time he has dis-
charged them so efficiently, with so much fidelity to the im-
portant trust committed to him, with such patience and in-
dustry, with such kindness and courtesy to the members of
the bar, that I know I speak their sentiments when I say we
part from him with feelings of affectionate regret. He
came to the position entirely without experience and with-
out any acquaintance with the business that his office de-
volved upon him, but he devoted himself to the task with
such patient industry that he soon became, what I now pro^
nounce him, one of the best — if not the very best — clerks
within the limits of this State."
In May, 1878. Capt. Erwin's wife died, and on the i ith of
December, 1879, he was married to Miss Sallie, daughter of
Col. William M. Grier, of Steele Creek, and a sister of
Calvin E. Grier, a prominent lawyer of Charlotte, who died
in 1889.
After leaving the clerk's office, he retired to his farm in
Steele Creek, where he had made large investments in a
milling plant.
In 1888 he was elected chairman of the Finance Commit-
tee of the county, which position he held until 1892, when
230 HISTORY OF
he was elected a member of the State Legislature. Although
his first experience as a law-maker, he at once took a promn
inent position and was the chairman or a member of several
committees.
In August, 1893, he accepted a position as private secre-
tary to Congressman S. B. Alexander, and spent two years
in the City of Washington. In 1895 he moved back to
Charlotte and in the same year was made chairman of the
Board of County Commissioners, During his administra-
tion and through his influence, the first iron bridges were
erected for the county of Mecklenburg. He was also chair-
man of the committee which had in charge the building of
the Mecklenburg county court house.
On the 19th of March, 1901, while seated in the court
house in Charlotte, he died very suddenly, and was laid to
rest "in the old cemetery at Steele Creek.
During the war he had made an enviable record as a sol-
dier, and to all who knew him his name was a synonym for
honor and uprightness. — Contributed by Miss P. Grier.
K"" 'i^.;
^€S8| <^
c3^^f^^^^ -^' C^^-^^if^^'t^
Hon. James W. Osborne.
This section is headed by one of the greatest men the
country has ever produced, and no better eulogy can be pro-
nounced than the following, written by Gen. D, H. Hill :
"The nations of the earth, the most distinguished in his-
tory, for prowess in the field, wisdom in legislation, progress
in science and art, purity of taste in polite literature, and
refinement in the social circle, are precisely those wliich
have most cherished the memory of their heroes, statesmen,
scholars and patriots. It has been well said that the land
that erects no monuments to its illustrious dead, will soon
cease to produce men worthy of a place in history. To
neglect departed greatness is to degrade living eminence.
"The Bible, with its wonderful adaptation to the wants of
our race, sanctions cherishing tender recollections of the
saints of the Lord. 'The righteous shall be in everlasting
remembrance.' 'The memory of the just is blessed.' Here
we have a prophecy and a command, both involving a high
obligation and a glorious privilege — to keep fresh and green
in the minds of men the memory of those who died in the
full hope of a blessed immortality."
And thus the friends of the late Hon. J. W. Osborne
feel that in attempting a tribute to his exalted worth, they
are discharging a sad but gracious duty. It is meet that
we should revere the memory of a man of mighty intellect,
of profound scholarship, and of matchless eloquence, who
brought all of his rare and varied gifts and accomplish-
ments and laid them as an humble offering at the foot of the
cross. There remains nothing now of his manly person
and noble mein, of his vast learning and attainments, but
" The knell, the shroud, the coffin and the grave,
The deep, damp vault ; the darkness and the worm."
His simple faith in Christ was worth a thousand-fold
more than all his talents and acquirements, and the lesson
232 HISTORY OF
of his life comes home to every bosom, "With all your
gettings, get understanding." We can now think with
grateful satisfaction that those great powers of mind, which
were our pride and astonishment on earth, are ever expand-
ing in knowledge, ever getting new revelations of Divine
love and ever attaining new degrees of holiness. The sad-
dest sight on our afflicted earth is that of a man of great
gifts, culture and refinement, living out of Christ and delib-
erately choosing to spend his eternity with the coarse, the
brutal and the depraved. With heartfelt gratitude, we
adore that distinguished love which made our illustrious
countryman choose that good part which shall not be taken
away. Judge Osborne was born in Salisbury, N. C, on the
25th of December, 181 1, and died in Charlotte on the nth
day of August, 1869, so that he hardly passed the meridian
of life, and until a short time before his death, "His eye
was not dim, nor his natural force abated." He was a
graduate of our State University at Chapel Hill. He was
always an earnest student, devoted especially to the sciences.
The extent and variety of his reading was truly marvel-
ous. There was scarcely a subject he had not looked into,
if indeed he had not mastered it. Few clergymen outside
of our theological seminaries were so well read in theology.
He said on one occasion that there was a charm about the
study of theology that no other reading possessed for him,
and he devoured huge volumes of theologic lore with the
most eager relish. Fluency of speech was a natural gift
with Judge Osborne, and this, combined with his vast ac-
quaintance with books, made his language the very choicest
Anglo-Saxon. His warm-hearted, genial, pleasant man-
ner, and bright, kindly face added a charm to the whole,
which was absolute. He had no equal as a conversational-
ist, and his intimate friends can never forget the grace and
fascination of his address. And so his ready command of
the best words, his learning, his enthusiasm, his sonorous
voice and graceful delivery, made him one of the very first
orators in the land. The magic spell thrown around Judge
Mi;CKI.ENBURG COUNTY. 233
Osborne in the social circle and on the hustings was his im-
perturbable good temper, and that proceeded from his large-
hearted humanity, his sincere and unaffected love for his
race. He had a kind word and a pleasant smile for every-
body, simply because he loved mankind. He needed not a
veil of charity to cover their crimes and frailties ; in his own
simple guilelessness he did not know their faults. Those
who had known him for thirty and forty years, say that
they never saw him angry. He had not an enemy among
the people with whom he lived since early manhood. The
most remarkable thing in the career of this great man was
the hold he had upon the hearts of men of every creed and
party, although in his official capacity he had often been
opposed to the interests and wishes of the many.
He was admitted to the bar in Charlotte in the year 1833.
He took a high stand in his profession at the very outset
and maintained it while he lived. This was not due merely
to his genius, his learning, and his eloquence, but in a large
degree to his unselfish and sympathetic nature, which made
him adopt his client's cause as his own and identify himself
thoroughly with the interest, the views and feelings of the
client. He was twice elector for the State at large, first in
the Clay campaign and then in the contest between Seymour
and Grant. He was appointed by President Fillmore super-
intendent of the United States Mint at Charlotte, which
he held for four years. He was chosen by Gov. Ellis to
fill a vacant judgeship in 1859, and the General Assembly
confirmed the selection November 26, i860. But it is as
the Christian gentleman, we love to think of our illustrious
statesman. He was sincerely and unaffectedly devout; a
lover of God and man. We who were in the belt of the
late total eclipse of the sun, observed a black spot projected
on the lower limb of the sun. Gradually, the dark shadow
crept higher and higher. The cattle came lowing home.
The bewildered fowls of the air sought their roosts. The
black spot crept higher and higher, until darkness covered
the sky, with here and there a star sending forth a ghastly
234 HISTORY OF
and unnatural light. Then the sun, like a mighty giant,
threw off the black mantle and came forth in all his strength,
beauty and majesty, rejoicing our hearts with some glorious
beams that had been hid for a time. And thus, as our friend
was a star of the first magnitude, we contemplate his death
as a temporary eclipse, and believed that when the shadows
of earth have passed away, the brilliant intellect that dazzled
us below, will shine out with renewed effulgence above.
REV. JOHN HUNTER.
Of this worthy pioneer have descended a number of min-
isters of the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Rev. John Hunter was the son of Thomas Hunter, a godly
and pious man. He first saw the light in Mecklenburg
county, N. C, November 13, 1814. Graduating at Jeffer-
son, Pa., September, 1841, license was granted by the First
Presbytery April 17, 1843. His first pastorate was over
Back Creek, Prosperity and Gilead, this county, being sol-
emnly ordained and installed July 24, 1844. For three years
beginning in 1855, he served a colony mostly of Mecklen-
burgers in Alleghany county, N. C. In September, 1858,
he began his ministry at Sardis and was formerly installed
January 11, 1859.
His ministry was very successful. To the west in 1874,
Ebenezer was built, now self-suppporting and ministered
unto by the able and judicious Dr. G. R. White.
On the east in 1886, Thyatira was erected. In this new
and incompleted building occurred his death stroke and last
effort to preach. In March, 1886, after singing and prayer,
Luther, infant of Annie and E. B. Williams, was baptized.
His text, I Cor., 13:13, was given out, but after proceeding
a few minutes, his voice faltered and ran lower. As he
seemed to be falling, his son. Dr. L. W. Hunter, and others
eased him down. Being partially paralized, he succeeded in
making them understand he wanted the 23rd Psalm sung.
This was the first service in Thyatira, and his last effort to
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 235
preach — a dedication of sacrifice. He lingered for some
four years ripening for that heaven to which he had so often
directed sorrowing hearts and fell asleep in Jesus May i6,
1890. He was thrice married. First to Miss Isabella H.
Peoples July i8, 1843. His second marriage was to Mrs.
Martha Simonton Bell December 10, 1861. A third mar-
riage was contracted with Miss Mary Ann McDill October
9, 1866. Rev. John Hunter had much of the spirit of John
Knox, fearless, with the courage of his convictions, consci-
entious and scrupulously upright in his dealings, popular as
a preacher and loyal to his church, he lived respected and
trusted and died devout, men carried his mortal remains to
the grave and made great lamentations over him.
THE HUNTER EAMILY.
Rev. William May Hunter, son of R. B, and Rebecca W.
Hunter, was born February i, 1850; sought the ministry
from inclination ; took a full course, literary and theological,
at Due West, S. C. Dr. W. M. Grier gave him a diploma
July 10, 1872, the First Presbytery license September 8,
1874, and the same court ordaination in the chapel, Char-
lotte, N. C, October 19, 1875. The first three years were
spent in Charlotte, reinforced with a judicious help meet
and prudent wife September 11, 1877, one year was spent
in Georgia; ten years in Iredell county, N. C, as pastor of
Stirling and Elk Shoal ; ten more years in Mecklenburg as
pastor of Prosperity and in the faculty of the Huntersville
High School, and also Gilead. He now is stated supply of
Lebanon, Monroe county, West Virginia.
Robert Boston Hunter, lately gone to his reward, July 17,
1902, aged 83 years, 11 months and 8 days, wedded Janu-
ary 9, 1845, to Rebecca Wilson Jones, a woman of tireless
energy and devoted piety. They climbed in fortune and
favor, zeal for the church and devotion to their children.
One characteristic of R. B. Hunter was his choice of good
company. He abhorred the low and the base. To his hos^
236 HISTORY OF
pitable home he welcomed piety and intelligence. Another
was his tireless industry. If he prospered, it was the reward
of toil and foresight. He and his devoted wife were ex-
ceedingly zealous that their children be trained in hand,
mind and heart for life. The poor did not stretch out their
hands to him in vain, the wives of soldiers in the Civil War
were the special objects of his favor. — Contributed by Rev.
IV. M. Hunter.
[The first of the large Hunter family that came to this
country, that is to Mecklenburg county, was about 1760.
Like all others, they followed farming, and were not differ-
ent from other people. They have made wonderful strides
in education in the last fifty years. They are a quiet, law-
abiding people. Prosperity is one of their oldest churches. —
Editor.]
^he Descendants of Some of the Fatnxous Men
Who Fought in the Revolutionary War.
"bIvACK BILLY'^ ALEXANDER.
Daniel Alexander, son of "Black Billy," was a man of
wonderful energy. He was a farmer of more than ordinary
capacity; but was unfortunate financially, having large
amounts of security debts tO' pay. While a young man he
courted and married Miss Susan Shelby. He then lived
within the bounds of Sugar Creek. He had three sons, viz.,
Mark, Frank and Winslow ; they also had three daughters.
Isabella married, first, Mr. Charles Moss, to whom she bore
one son (who now lives in Charlotte), and soon afterwards
he died, leaving her a blooming young widow. She was
very pretty, and was much courted. She married her second
husband, Mr. Joab Smith, with whom she lived pleasantly
for many years. Their children — some of whom live in
Charlotte, Mrs. M. F. Kirby, is a worthy descendant. Mar-
garet married Mr. M. D. Johnston, who was a professor of
Mathematics at Davidson College. He was a man of fine
learning and eminent piety. They left a small family. Mr.
D. A. Johnston, two miles east of the city, is a worthy repre-
sentative of that excellent family. Martha, the youngest of
the family, married John T. Harry, in 1853, and moved
West. She had but one child — a daughter — and died.
Of the boys we know but little. Winslow moved West,
lived in Chattanooga, Tenn., Memphis, and back to Ashe-
ville, keeping a hotel. He married Margaret Alexander
from near Rocky River. He had two sons, the eldest,
Charles Carrol, was probably the brightest young man ever
graduated at Davidson up to his time, 1853. He died young
in Florida. Col. Winslow Alexander moved back to Char-
lotte in the early sixties. His daughter Laura married CapL
W. B. Taylor, at present city tax collector. They have raised
238 HISTORY OF
a family that the city is proud of. Mrs, Taylor finished her
course about a year ag'o, and left her husband surrounded
with grown children and a multitude of friends. Mark Alex-
ander moved West and left no son or daughter to keep his
name in remembrance. Franklin married a Miss Gilmer, a
sister of the well-known Drs. James and Samuel Gilmer.
They left three boys and two girls. One of the sons died a
short time ago; one lives in Alabama, and one, R. B. Alex-
ander, lives in Charlotte. Mr. Daniel Alexander once en-
gaged in cultivating the morus multicaulus, to feed silk
worms; he had a large orchard planted west of Church
street. From 1838 to 1845, it was quite fashionable to en^
gage in silk culture. But no glowing reports were ever put
out after 1845. About this time he moved to Davidson
College and kept a large boarding house — students princi-
pally, his price being six dollars per month — and he made
money at it. This was in 1850-54. These were good peo-
ple, and were valuable citizens. Four miles north of Char-
lotte Isaac Alexander's widow lived in 1846, where a Miss
Chamberlain taught a large female school for several years,
with great satisfaction; but she married a merchant of
Charlotte, Mr, R. C. Carson, a Christian gentleman. The
widow, Anabella, married old "'Uncle' Dan Alexander,
who had become a widower, and they too soon passed away.
THE HENDERSON FAMILY.
In or about the year 1750, Kearns Henderson and Eliza-
beth Robinson, who were married in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, November 14, 1749 (copied from marriage
certificate) moved to this section ten or twelve years before
Mecklenburg county was established. It is presumed that
farming was the principal pursuit. They had three sons,
but no daughters are mentioned. Andrew grew up with
those stern, prominent features that were characteristic of
the times in which they lived. Andrew, it is strange to say,
also married, like his father, Elizabeth Robinson. They
MECKI.ENBURG COUNTY. 239
were of no relation ; it was a mere coincidence. Tliis was in
1780. They were blessed with two sons and seven daught-
ers. They reached a ripe age, and filled a good position in
church, as well as citizens of the country. Their daughters
were as follows: Mary married William Alexander. He
was known as "Blind Billy" Alexander. They had one son,
Harvey, who never married; two daughters, who were
twins, Teressa married Wm. B. Alexander, and Clarissa
married Harper Kerns. Both had families. Nancy, Mar-
garet, Elizabeth, Griswold, never married, but continued at
the old homestead till death. Jane married Birch Cheshire,
and left two sons. Harriet married John R. Alexander.
She was certainly one of the most devotedly pious women
that our country possessed. Their family was noted for
energy and good deeds. Their daughter Amanda, a very
bright, pretty and highly accomplished young woman, was
wooed and won by Rev. W. W. Pharr, D. D., a most excel-
lent and learned minister. He had the happy faculty of heal-
ing ugly breaches in a congregation, or in a community.
He might have been called the Peacemaker of the Church.
He was very popular as a man and as a preacher.
They left two sons and one daughter. The oldest son,
John R. Pharr, is in the state of single blessedness ; is suc-
cessful in business, and lives with and takes care of his aged
step-mother. Dr. William W. Pharr is engaged in practic-
ing medicine at Newells. He married a daughter of Mr.
Elam Queery, and has quite an interesting family. The
daughter. Miss Mary, married Rev. Mr. Arrowood, and is
living now in South Carolina. Their daughter Elizabeth,
married Dr. Watson Rankin, of Cabarrus county. They
both have passed away a number of years ago. Their chil-
dren are scattered in various sections of other counties and
Stales; but are in a prosperous condition. Miss Nannie
married a Mr. Stewart, of Florida, who soon died, and his
widow spends much of her time here but still holds her
farm in Florida. Miss Sophia married Mr. John Sample, of
Memphis, Term. Both soon died without offspring.
240 HISTORY OF
Capt. A. H. Alexander moved to Florida in 1866, where
he still resides. He is now up in seventy years, his health
is poor and has but a few years left. T. LaFayette Alexan-
der was long a resident of Charlotte, was a most successful
merchant. He was a kind, good man, and did much for his
kin who were not so well off. He left one daughter and two
sons. Capt. Francis Alexander gave his life for the inde-
pendence of the South, and for the rights oi the States. He
was killed the 17th of June, 1864, near Petersburg.
Rev. W. W. Pharr's second wife — who was a daughter of
General Neal, of Steele Creek — had two sons and two
daughters, who are fit representatives of their worthy par-
ents. Mr. James Pharr is a merchant of standing, and is
'held in high esteem in both Church and State. Mr. Neal
Pharr chose the legal profession, which brings him a hand-
some revenue, and he promises to occupy an honorable posi-
tion in the cotmty.
Kairns Harvey Henderson never married, but let a quiet,
useful life.
David Robinson Henderson lived five miles north of
Charlotte, cultivated a farm, was successful in all his ven-
tures. He had also a farm on both sides of the Catawba;
also one in Alabama. This one he visited on horseback once
or twice a year. He married Peggy Alexander, daughter of
Wm. B. Alexander. In his frequent visits from home, last-
ing some times two or three months, he would leave every-
thing pertaining to the farm in the hands of his wife.. She
was indeed an "help meet." They raised four sons and one
daughter. The daughter, Jane, married K. C. Davidson, of
the Hopewell neighborhood, where Mrs. Davidson still lives.
She has three sons, two of whom are physicians, and one a
farmer; one daughter, Mary, married Arthur Parks in Ire-
dell county. Miss Sadie, "heart whole and fancy free," en-
joys life as a typewriter in Charlotte. Wm. Bane Hender-
son graduated at Davidson College, and moved to Alabama.
Andrew R. Henderson was a thorough-going farmer, raised
elegant crops, but was too confident of his friends meeting
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 241
their obligfations. Being security for them, they left him to
pay their debts. He married a Miss Rutlidge, and raised
an interesting family just over the Catawba river in Gaston
county. Mr. A. R. Henderson died in the spring of 1902.
Dr. J. Mc. Henderson was a prominent practitioner of med-
icine seven miles north of Charlotte. He was well known in
the northern part of the county. He married a Miss Sim-
merell. Dr. Henderson died a few years after the Civil
War.
Dr. Simmerel Henderson, his son, is single, lives at the
homestead with his mother and sisters, does a large practice
and enjoys life. His elder brother, Pink Henderson, married
a Miss Dowd, and lives near Croft. A good farmer, a mem-
ber of the County Commissioners, and is altogether a useful
man in his community.
Mr. J. Harvey Henderson, the youngest son of David R.
Henderson, lived at the homestead, married a daughter of
Batt Irwin, Esq. He had four children, three sons and one
daughter. Harvey H. lost his wife probably twenty-five
years ago. He moved to Charlotte fifteen years ago. His
boys are in business here and are doing well. Mr. Hen-
derson died in 1901. His daughter, Miss Ella, lives with
her brothers.
The daughters of Dr. J. Mc. Henderson, one, Margaret,
married Dr. John R. Irwin, whoi has recently moved to
Charlotte. He is one of the foremost physicians in the city,
has a very interesting family. He is giving his children
every possible advantage in a good education. Another
daughter married Dr. Elmore Wilson, of Catawba. They
hold the traits of their ancestors, provided well for their
children. The three who are single are engaged in teaching.
Doctor Kaims Henderson married and had two sons,
David and James P. Henderson. Devid Henderson
lived six miles north of Charlotte on the Statesville road.
He was a good farmer, and operated a small tanyard. He
first married a Wallace. She bore him two children. They
were uncommonly bright. They lived to be about 60 years
242 HISTORY OF
old. His second wife was a daug-hter of Isaac Henderson — a
third cousin of his. There was eig-ht children by the second
wife. His son Charles lives in the old homestead. James
P. Henderson lived near Derita. He, too, married a Wal-
lace; most intellig-ent family, and bore wonderfully smart
children. They had two sons and two daugfhters. Philo
was a graduate of the University of North Carolina. He
was the recognized poet of the county.
Mr. Henderson moved to Davidson College in the forties,
and continued there until the war. His daughters married
off, Philo was dead, his wife was dead, Tom v^as in the
army. He married the second time. In a little while death
claimed all but the daughters.
Another of these brilliant women married Mr. Samuel
Moose. The branch of the Wallaces were remarkable for
their intellectual capacity. Dr. Thomas Henderson was one
of the earliest physicians that ever practiced in the county.
He lived in Charlotte and married the widow Baldwin, who-
ever she might have been. In those early days the great
strife was to push forward, to gain our independtence, estab-
lish our government, make laws to regulate the affairs of
State, only to look forward and forget that which was past ;
until much of our unwritten history has passed into a state
of oblivion. No wonder we do not know who the widow
Baldwin could have been, or who her first husband was. We
'do not know that Dr. Henderson and (Mrs. Baldwin) his
wife ever had but one son. Mr. Isaac Henderson (he always
looked loinesome) married a McRea. They lived on the
Beattie's Ford Road, four miles northwest of Charlotte.
They lived handsomely, an excellent house for the time,
•owned quite a number of slaves, and everything around them
t'"" render the family happy and' contented. He had one son,
David, who also had on)e son, Dr. James Henderson, who
died a few years since. The great majority of this family
of Hendersons left their ashes to Sugar Creek burying
ground. They lived peaceably together, in the same congre-
MKCKLENBURG COUNTY. 243
gation; and it is meet they should sleep in the same enclo-
sure till the last trump shall sound.
WILLIAM BROWN.
In the northern part of the county, east of Huntersville,
in Ramah coiigregatioo, Mr. William Brown settled, enter-
ing 600 acres of land, prior to the Revolutionary War. In
the last one hundred years the land has been cut up and
divided into many parcels, but is still owned by the descenid-
ants of the Brown family.
It is the plain, common people that constitute the back-
bone of a countr>\ They thought it was their Christian
duty to enter the patriot army and contend for the independ-
ence of America. In the war between the States, those who
were young enough as well as those who were, old enough,
did not hesitate to fight for the rights of the South ; and no
man who bears the name of Brown has any apology to offer
for taking sides with the Sonth in the terrific struggle which
lasted from 1861 to 1865.
THE BEARD EAMILY.
In about the year 1770, the Beard family came to this
country from Ireland. John, Samuel and William Beard
lived where John Beard the second afterwards lived, near
the Statesville road, fourteen miles north of Charlotte. Wil-
liam alone was married before he emigrated; but his wife died
before he reached the promised land. He married a second
time in South Carolina. From her appearance when she
was old, she must have been a woman of more than ordinary
mental calibre. Mr. and Mrs. Beard raised one daughter
and six sons. She married Milton Osborne, a man of fine
parts, agreeable manners, an excellent farmer. He left a
worthy family to perpetuate his namie. The oldest son, John
Beard, married Camelia McRaven. They lived at the old
homestead, raised a large family, the girls married well ; one
244 HISTORY OF
son was killed in the Confederate army, and the others
moved West. William married Francis Brown; they were
clever people; he had two sons in the Confederate army.
His son Joseph gave his life for the Confederate cause, and
J. C. Beard was not seriously hurt and is still living, with a
prospect of several more years, with his wife and daughters
to cheer his old age. Robert Beard lived on the east side of
the Statesville road. He was an excellent farmer, had
everything in abundance, and was particular about his stock.
He was never known to have a poor horse. He married
Polly Knox. The whole Knox family were passionately
foind of dancing, but there was no impropriety by carrying
the amusement to excess. They also gave a son to the Con-
federate army. This was a time when a patriot would give
his all to defend his home. J. F. M. Beard escaped as few
battles as any man in the army. He never complained, but
was ready for duty always, and frequently stood picket
duty every other night towards the close of the war. But
he still lives, and his host of friends wish him a happy even-
ing to a well spent life. He married Catherine Alexander, a
daughter of Ezekiel Alexander. They have a happy family
and are ranked with our best people. Samuel married
Sabrian Hale, in Tennessee, and spent but a few years in
North Carolina. James married a Miss Humphreys. He
worked a tanyard for many years, and moved to Marion-
Richard lived on the east side of the Statesville road, lead a
peaceful life, and was highly esteemed in all the relations
of life. He, too, married a Miss Humphreys, of Tennessee.
They raised a nice family, who are among our best citizens.
The old grand-mother was fortunate to find a home to end
her last days in the family of her son, where every want was
gratified. They were good people, held to the Associate Re-
formed Presbyterians. The older set, both men and women,
have long since passed away.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 245
DANIEL m'CAULAY.
Mr. Daniel McCaulay, w'ho lived in the same neig'hbor-
hood, lived about the same time. His soti Hugh, a compeer
of the Beards, was a noted surveyor ; had a family of eight
children — Daniel, Hugfh, Alexander and John were all in
the Confederate army; Daniel and Hugh died in service;
Alexander and John are still living. They are all very intel-
ligent, and useful citizens. The women were very smart —
poetically inclined. Like the Beards, they were "seceders."
J. M. HAPPOLDT, M. D.
J. M. Happoldt came to Charlotte previous to 1840.
He was well equipped for practicing his profession, did his
share of the work, was a fluent conversationalist. At one
time he became the victim, of typhoid fever. He lay for
several weeks, was desperately ill, and wais attended by Drs.
Caldwell and Harris. They would devote their personal
attention to nursing him, giving him medicine, food', and
what he needed. At this time ready-made coffins were un-
heard of. Each neighborhood had a skilled workman, gen-
erally a cabinet maker, who made all the coffins needed.
Charlotte was not a whit behind other places, and old Archie
Miles — the cabinet maker — was always ready to build the
last house for any one who had been a good citizen. In fact
he was anxious to accommodate, as times were dull and he
did not like to lose a job. It was his custom to inquire very
often if such and such a one was better or not, until it was
a standing joke. Every morning during the extreme illness
of Dr. Happoldt, Archie Miles would be seen wending his
way along the street to make the usual enquiry, and return
disappointed. So one day he rested well, and Dr. Pink
Caldwell set up that night, and towards daylight the blinds
were closed and the bed curtains were drawn to shut out the
rays of light, so that his slumber should not be di.sturbed.
Dr. Caldwell quietly withdrew. Just as he stepped on the
246 HISTORY OF"
pavement, who should he see but his friend Archie coming
— buttoning- his clothes as he trotted briskly up the street,
calling in a loud whisper, "Dr. Caldwell, Dr. Caldwell, how
is Dr. Happoldt?" "Well, Archie," Dr. Caldwell answered,
"Our poor friend has gone, after a long struggle." The
cojfifin-maker no longer hesitated, but at cnce mounted the
steps, threw the door open, entered the supposed death
chamber, opened wide the window shutters, drew the cur-
tains to one side, and placed his thumb on one end of the
measuring tape on his forhead, and began unwheeling the
tape, when the supposed corps was awakened and asked:
"What in the hell are you doing?" Archie looked like he
had seen a ghost, and got out of the house quicker than he
went in. It is needless to say that the patient's recovery
was hastened by the undertaker's misadventure.
WM. w. ELMS.
Wm. W. Elms, as a citizen, deserves more than a passing
notice. He was born in the southern part of the county,
not far from the South Carolina line. He came to Charlotte
in 1829, and clerked for Mr. John Irwin for several years.
Then the firm name was Irwin & Elms. Then after several
years he dissolved copartnership with Irwin and moved
from Irwin's corner to a house now occupied by Mr. Frank
Andrews, and had the following clerks, viz. : A. H. Martin,
Billy Owens, Washington Blair, Ed. Moss, James Harty,
and others as needed. S. Nye Hutchison and Jasper Stowe
at one time helped Mr. Elms in the dry goods trade.
In 1848, the firm name changed to Elms & Logan Mar-
tin, when Columbus Irwin clerked for them. And, after-
wards, it was W. W. Elms alone. He was very popular as
a merchant and did an enormous business. After 1852,
when the Charlotte & Columbia Railroad was finished here,
Mr. Elms was the principal cotton buyer in the market. He
built several elegant houses, and did much to improve the
town. He was the leading spirit in building the Lincolnton
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 247
Plank Road that brought much produce to market. These
roads soon fell into decay, but they served a good purpose
in giving an example what good roads were worth, and
after the people saw the practical working, they did not stop
until Mecklenburg had the best roads in all the country.
COL. J. Y. BRYCE.
J. Y. Bryce came to Charlotte when quite a young man,
from South Carolina, having been raised in Columbia, and
belonged to a family who associated with the Barnwells,
Rhetts, Hamptons, DeSeasure and all that class of people
who gave the State her reputation for chivalry that she sus-
tained for so many years.
Col. Bryce engaged in the mercantile business, in which
he was successful. He married a daughter of Dr. L. G.
Jones, took an active part in building up all the interests of
the town. He could not help but advocate the right of seces-
sion, and when the time came for action "instead of talk, he
was not slow in going to the front. He was very painfully
wounded, from which he never fully recovered. Soon after
the war he went to New York and speculated in cotton when
the price was high, and amassed a large fortune. After he
returned to Charlotte, he was plied by a number of persons
to join them in various speculations. He steered clear of
the sharpers for a while, but finally yielded and was soon
spoiled of his entire fortune. He engaged in working the
marl beds in the eastern part of the State, it did not take
well with the farmers, and although he worked it faithfully
for several years, it proved a failure. After this his health
declined rapidly and he died in 1897. His family moved
soon away. He was liked by all with whom he came in
contact.
CHARLES ELMS SPRATT.
In 1842 Charlotte was still a village, although it was more
than half a century old. At this date Mr. Spratt came to
248 HISTORY OF
Charlotte, a young man of more than ordinary appearance,
of good family, and of fine physique — born and educated be-
low where the town of Pineville now stands. He came here
in 1842 to clerk for Moss, Springs & Co. This proved a
pleasant firm to work for, but in three years he formed a
partnership with R. F. Davidson at Irwin's corner, under
the style of Davidson & Spratt. This venture lasted only
eighteen months, when he sold out to W. W. Elms, and went
to New York. He there clerked in a woolen house, but after
one year he returned to Charlotte, and in 1849 bought out
Elms, where Mr. Frank Andrews now has a sewing machine
store, and formed a partnership with Dr. John Allison, un-
der the name of Spratt & Allison. This house kept the finest
goods in the town, was patronized by wealthy people in the
surrounding counties. The firm continued for three years,
when Mr. Spratt sold out to Allison & Daniel, and joined
with W. W. Elms in the grocery business and buying cot-
con. Mr. Spratt was married in 1850 to Miss Margaret,
daughter of Brawley Oates, probably the most handsome
couple ever married in Charlotte. Brilliant intellect as well
as beauty of feature appears to be handed down in the fam-
ily, like an interesting heirloom.
ISAAC ALEXANDER, COMMONLY CALLED "CLERK ISAAC."
This is one of the oldest families of Mecklenburg county.
For a great many years he was clerk of the Court, which
was then as now, a most important po'sition, and conse-
quently none but the best men in the county were capable of
filling. He lived about four miles from town ; had his office
at home, where he carried all papers belonging to the Court
and the county. He had a certain day on which he would
meet the people, and during court week, he was at the
court house every day. His daughters assisted him much
in writing. He lived between Sugar Creek and Providence.
He was a regular worshipper at Sugar Creek, and was
buried there in the second grave yard, south side of the big
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 249
road leading to Charlotte. He was born in 1798. He mar-
ried a sister of David Reese. How particular the people
were to keep their posterity on a high plain, never to go
backwards, but if possible keep up the strain, or improve it.
He died at a good old age, 74. His sister, Elmira Alex-
ander, married John Rankin, from Guilford county. They
lived west of Sugar Creek two miles. They were good peo-
ple and valuable members of society. They afterwards
moved on the same place where the old clerk spent his days
of toil and pleasure. She and her husband were married
on the night the "stars fell" in 1833. They, too, have
passed away, and their son, William Rankin, now holds
forth on the same place that his grandfather occupied. He
has a wife and daughters that remind you so much of the
earlier settlers.
Charles T. Alexander, a worthy son of Clerk Isaac Alex-
ander, lived on the same place, but in another house, having
built a new one. He never married, was very popular with
the young ladies, loved their company, and in return was
visited by them. A young peoples' club was not complete
without him.
As an elder, he often attended church courts. He was re-
garded by all as a good Christian man. He died at 72 years
of age.
HON. JAMES A. DUNN.
Back in 1840, Hon. James A. Dunn was one of the most
influential men in the county in all his several relations of
life. After Union county was cut off from Mecklenburg in
1845, Col. Dunn lived in Union county. He served this
county for several terms in the State Legislature with
great acceptability. He was the leader of everything that
tended to help the masses ; was always active in educational
enterprises, and what was for the best of the county. He
was a large farmer, and did his work well. He was a neigh-
250 HISTORY OF
bor to Dr. Ardrey, just across the creek, and attended Prov-
idence Church, and at last found a resting place in the grave-
yard, where he had been a worshipper during his life; also
his three wives rest here with him. His first wife was Miss
His second wife was the widow
Ingraham — Miss Walkup. His third wife was the widow
Stitt. He was a happy man, and did much good in his life-
time. Something more than a half century ago he passed
away, but has left a memory behind him that is. cherished
by those who would have their works to follow them.
JOAB ORR.
Joab Orr, who lived in the same neighborhood, was also
noted in his day, but it was in another direction. He was
noted for his skill in playing the fiddle. This appears to
have been his chief delight, and to see that the dancers kept
step to the music.
Joab Orr had three beautiful daughters, naturally smart,
and if living in the civilization of the present day, and had
the advantages of education that are enjoyed now, they
would have been leaders of the fashionable world, as their
father was the leader of music, especially on the violin.
They lived at the place now known as the Henigan place,
south of Little Sugar Creek, where President Polk is said
to have been born. This section of the country was noted
for the staunch patriots furnished the American army from
1775 to 1 78 1. It is an elegant body of land, well watered,
and owned by the best of citizens, most generally descend-
ants of those who cultivated these lands "when we lived
under the king."
Pineville, two miles from the South Carolina line, was
marked off as a railroad station on the Charlotte & Colum-
bia road, is quite a depot for distribution of farmers' sup-
plies, a cotton factory, stores, etc. It is a central point for
thai section of the county, and among the many good people
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 25I
who live and have lived around here, I will mention the
name of Alexander. Many of that name lived within five
miles, all connected and all were good people. I can go
back sixty years and can truthfully say that I have never
heard of one of the name who was giiilty of a mean or dis-
honorable action of anv kind.
Metny Men Who Sustained ql Splendid Repxita-
tion as Ministers of the Gospel in the Various
Years of the Nineteenth Century.
RKV. JOHN MCK. WILSON, D. D.
A man whose boyhood was spent amidst the impressive
events and influences of the Revolution, and gained a name
not to be forgotten, was Rev. John McKamie Wilson, D. D.
He was born six miles east of Charlotte in the bounds ol
Sugar Creek, of which church his widowed mother was a
member. With Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Jackson and her son
Andrew, found a refuge, and for a time a home, when the
families of Waxhaw, on the borders of South Carolina,
were flying from the ravages of the enemy. The sons of
these widows, John and Andrew, worked and played together
and, together with their mothers, attended the preaching of
Rev. Joseph Alexander, then pastor of Sugar Creek. John
never dreamed that he was running, wrestling and working
with a boy that was to be President of the United States;
nor did Andrew, when measuring strength and speed with
John, think how difficult it would be to measure the height
of usefulness to which his young playmate was destined to
reach ; nor the vast influences which he was to set in opera-
tion for good.
John McKamie Wilson was born in 1769. At the age
of 12 years be began his classical education at Liberty Hall,
at Charlotte, then under the management of Dr. Henderson.
His literary training was completed at Hampden-Sidney,
Va., where he graduated with distinction. Having fully
and heartily consecrated himself to Christ, he devoted his
life to the ministry. His theological training and prepara-
tion was received under Rev. James Hall, D. D., of Iredell
county. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Orange in
1793. and was sent out to do missionary work in the lower
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 253
part of the State. His next field of labor was in Burke
county, where he remained until 1801. His ministry was
very fruitful in elevating the standard of piety, org-anizing
new churches and building up those which had been pre-
viously planted in that county.
While living in Burke he married Miss Mary Erwin,
whose father was Alexander Erwin, of that county, in
whom he found the intelligence, piety and sweetness of dis-
position which made her a great blessing to her husband
for more than thirty years. He was called from Quaker
Meadow to Rocky River and Philadelphia churches in 1801,
where he spent the strength of his vigorous manhood and
the declining years of his life. About the year 181 2 he, at
the earnest request of many, opened a classical school about
one mile from his house, and for twelve years that congre-
gation and many others, enjoyed the advantages of one of
the most flourishing and successfully managed academies in
all the country. During those years twenty-five of his stu-
dents entered the ministry, and many others were prepared
for position of public trust. As a minister and teacher of
youth, he was eminently wise in management. He died
July 30, 183 1, ■ Among those who entered the ministry
from that school may be named Dr. Cyrus Johnston, at one
time pastor of Providence and Sharon, and who died in
Charlotte, the pastor of the First Church ; R. H. Morrison,
D. D., Henry N. Pharr, and Alexander Wilson.
REV. JOHN ROBINSON.
Rev. John Robinson was born in Sugar Creek congrega-
tion in 1768. Like his friend Dr. Wilson, he was born in
troubulous times, when it seemed that society was to be torn
up by the roots, and the civilization of that period to be
utterly destroyed, and the people forced into subjection to
the tyranny of England. He was too young to enter the
patriot army, but when twelve or fifteen years old, was at
school at Queen's Museum, under the special care of Dr.
254 HISTORY OF
Henderson, who was an instructor in 1780. The most of
his ministerial life was spent at Poplar Tent. He had a
large field to operate in, and allowed no part to suffer for
want of his attention. He took an active part in the great
revivals of 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806.
On one occasion as he came home from church, he was
passing a man driving a wagon. When the wagoner, judg-
ing him to be a minister, began blackguarding, and cursing
him, whereupon he alighted from his horse, took off his coat
and carefully laid down, and addressed his coat, "Now Par-
son Robinson, you lie there till I whip this man." He was
so deliberate in his preparation the wagoner begged his par-
don, and promised never to insult another preacher when
attending to his own business.
He was a native of Mecklenburg, and like Dr. Wilson,
moved just over the county line, hence we have no apolo-
gies to offer, for they belonged to us. After living the full
measure of his days, he died December 15, 1843.
REV. SAMUEL C. CALDWELL.
Rev. Samuel Craig Caldwell was a son of Dr. David
Caldwell, of Guilford, who was a noted Patriot in the Revo-
lutionary war. His mother was a daughter of Alexander
Craighead, whose body lies buried three miles east of Char-
lotte, in the first graveyard of Sugar Creek church. Mr.
Caldwell's first charge was Hopewell and Sugar Creek, in-
stalled in 1792. In 1806 he moved to Sugar Creek and ten-
dered his resignation of his services at Hopewell, devoted
his time to Sugar Creek, Mallard Creek, Paw Creek, and
Charlotte. The last three were not organized when he be-
gan preaching; but afterwards he organized Mallard Creek
and Paw Creek. The latter has changed its name to Cald-
well. Mr. Caldwell taught a large classical school at Sugar
Creek, and also taught a theological school. He was a
busy man.
It was at his school that young Wallis, a nephew of Mr.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 255
Caldwell's first wife (both he and Mr. Wallis married
daughters of John McKnitt Alexander), delivered his
speech on "The 20th of May, 1775, the Declaration of In-
dependence in Charlotte was Declared." This speech was
delivered in 1809, when there was still living- several of the
signers and more than a score of those who participated in
the War of Independence. If he had made a mistake about
dates, surely it would have been corrected on the spot, when
it was spoken in the presence of a large crowd, two of the
sons-in-law of Mr. Alexander being present, and it is more
than probable that the old secretary himself was present, for
this was eight years before his death, and he lived but eight
miles away.
Mr. Caldwell raised seven sons and two daughters —
two by his first wife, Jane Bain, a daughter of John Mc-
Knitt Alexander, and Dr. D. Thomas Caldwell, who lived a
useful life to both Church and State. He practiced medi-
cine for many years, and raised a worthy family. But three
of his children survive. Baxter runs the farm successfully,
is an ex-Confederate, is proud of his war record, is a bach-
elor; his sister. Miss Alice, lives with him. They live hap-
pily in the congregation of Sugar Creek, close to the graves
of his ancestors, and near the tomb of Alexander Craig-
head.
Another daughter still living is Mrs. Sarah Jane, who
married George Donald, of Greensboro. She is a woman
of deep piety, and well versed in the literature of the day.
By the second wife Rev. S. C. Caldwell was blessed with
nine children, in addition to the two by the first marriage—
the daughter having married Rev. Walter Smiley Pharr,
who spent the most of his life preaching at Ramah and
Mallard Creek. He had one son, the Rev. S. C. Pharr, D.
D., who was a very popular preacher. He had a most won-
derful flow of language, and was regarded far beyond the
ordinary.
Five of the sons by the last or Lindsay wife, were minis-
ters ; but one served a church in Mecklenburg, Rev. J. M. M.
256 HISTORY OF
Caldwell. He preached for a number of years at Sugar
Creek. In 1845 he moved to Rome, Ga., served the church
there very acceptably, and taught a female school for many
years. He had three sons to enter the ministry. Harper
Caldwell moved to Mississippi in 1845. He, too, had three
sons to enter the ministry. Walter P. Caldwell, a lawyer of
Greensboro, had but one son, Robert Ernest, and he is one
of the most eminent divines in North Carolina. His
daughter by the Lindsay wife, Abigail Bain, married Robert
D. Alexander, Esq. They raised five children, the eldest
of whom. Rev. Dr. S. C. Alexander, now of Pine Bluff,
Ark., has been a minister for more than fifty years. It is
wonderful how many have followed in the path marked out
by their progenitor — Rev. Alexander Craighead. Mr.
Craghead was an early settler in our county, in 1758, and
was regarded as a wise teacher, both in religion and resist-
ance to British tyranny.
Rev. Mr. S. C. Caldwell, who preached so long at Sugar
Creek, left a lasting impression on the community for
good. For fifty years after his death, which occurred in
1829, people lived who talked freely about his manners and
ways. He left a lasting impress "upon the sands of time"
that will continue to exercise a wholesome influence in
Mecklenburg county long after his hearers and associates
are forgotten. The peculiarities and idiosyncrasies of the
fathers are certainly transmitted to the sons through many
generations, or to use a more homely phrase, "preaching
appears to run in the family."
REV. JOHN WILLIAMSON.
Rev. John Williamson went to Hopewell as pastor in
1818, and gave great satisfaction for twenty-four years,
when death closed his pastorate in 1842. He was popular as
a man, a pastor, and a preacher. His wife was a Doby, and
filled the bill of what a preacher's wife should be. She was
in deed a helpmeet to her husband. She, too, passed away
MKCKLKNBURG COUNTY. 257
two years later. Hopewell church yard was a fitting place
to lay them away. Mr. Williamson is the first and only
minister that has ever found a sepulcher in Hopewell cem-
etery. The eldest daughter, Sarah Ann, married Rev. A.
H. Caldwell, and at once moved to Mississippi, with the
younger children, where their lives were spent in doing
good. Mrs. Caldwell is still living, in reach of her family,
and is abundantly supplied with this world's goods, and
has the pleasure of knowing that three of her sons are regu-
larly ordained ministers. Mecklenburg has probably sent
out to other States more men who afterwards entered the
learned professions than any O'ther county in the State.
REV. SAMUEI. WILLIAMSON, D. D.
Mr. Williamson was a native of South Carolina, gradu-
ated at the University of South Carolina, with the first
honors of the institution. In 1837 he was elected a pro-
fessor at Davidson College, which position he held for sev-
eral years, and the office of President becoming vacant, Mr.
Williamson was elected president of the college. He was a
man of very brilliant attainments. He was said to have
been one of the finest Latin scholars in the State; a preacher
of very great power. He was an off-hand speaker, never
taken unawares; he was never at a loss in debate. He had
the best stored mind with useful knowledge of any man of
his day. He was universally loved by the students. He re-
signed his position as head of the faculty in 1852, and
moved to his farm in Hopewell, that was formerly owned
by his brother, Rev. John Williamson, and there he con-
tinued to reside till 1856, when he removed to Arkansas.
His eldest son, James, studied law and in 1861 went into
the Confederate army; was promoted to the rank of Colo-
nel, lost a leg and remained a cripple the remainder of his
life. Our county was proud to welcome the Williamsons,
and very sorry to lose them.
258 HISTORY OF
REV. R. H. LAFFERTY.
Rev. R. H. Lafferty came to North Carolina about 1845,
and took charge of Sugar Creek soon after Rev. J. M. M.
Caldwell resigned. He married a daughter of Mr. Wilson
Parks. He was a very earnest preacher, and gave very gen-
eral satisfaction. He ministered to this congregation for
a number of years, in fact he never moved until his death,
about the year 1867.
REV. JAMES WAIvLIS. • 1
Rev. James Wallis was licensed about 1790, and he, too,
married a daughter of John McKnitt Alexander, and located
at Providence, some thirty years after the "Seven Churches"
were built. He continued with this charge many years, until
his work was done. He and his wife both were buried in
Providence graveyard. Their children moved west, and en-
tered the race of life within the new State, opening their
doors to emigrants as the century advanced.
■ ' " - A. W. MILLER.
Dr. A. W. Miller, former pastor of the First Presbyterian
<church of this city, no writer can do full justice to him. He
-was a great preacher, no one can deny this. His preaching
-was characterized by sound doctrine, earnestness and no
•compromise. It was the writer's privilege to be a member
■of his flock, and to hear him preach for years, hence can
judge somewhat of his power. His delivery was different
from what we are accustomed to hear now. He used manu-
script almost entirely, but quite effectively; occasionally he
would preach without any manuscript, and these sermons
were delivered with great power. Some one spoke to him
in regard to two sermons he preached on a certain Sunday,
1 ne with manuscript, and one without, saying to him that
Jie liked the sermon without the manuscript best. Dr. Mil-
DR. A. W. MILLER.
;
JSilvCKMCNBURC COUNTY. 259
ler intimated by his reply that this was l)ecause of inatten-
tion, saying- it took two weeks to prepare the sermon deliv-
ered from manuscript, and the other he had not even given
any study, the text having come into his mind just before
the service began. He never preached a sermon that did
not contain food for thought ; he declared the whole law and
spared not. 1 do not think I ever heard him try to modify
the obvious meaning of any text oi Scripture. He preached
from the texts of the Bible as they were written.
The church of which he was the pastor is still reaping the
benefits of his noble work, conspicuous in its contributions
to the support of the Gospel, and the integrity and steadfast-
ness of many of the older members. Notwithstanding his
devotion to his calling, and the arduous duties incident
thereto, he took a lively interest in the history of his coun-
try, particularly the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independ-
ence. He always would preach an appropriate sermon on
these occasions, attesting in no uncertain sound his belief in
the genuineness of the claim. While abroad he visited
London and searched the archives for evidence bearing upon
this important event, and ascertained that very important
evidence had been abstracted from the files. He continued
his search, and found in Charleston evidence convincing him
that the claim was true. He secured the file containing this
information and brought it to Charlotte and exhibited it to
the public at the Y. M. C. A. hall in this city.
It was he who encouraged the erection of a monument to
the memory of Rev. Alex. Craighead, a noted Presbyterian
minister, who was prominent in the times that tried men's
souls. Some persons regarded this great man as stern and
unapproachable; this was a mistaken idea. He was just
the opposite, being easily approached, and as full of humor
as the average man. The same could he said of him as was
said of a learned judge : "He could leave the bench and gei
down on the floor with the children." I have seen him do
this at my own house, and he seemed to enjoy the sport as
much as the children.
26o HISTORY OF
Every one respected him and had great confidence in his
piety. He had some peculiarities, as other men ; had a pecu-
liar way of putting- some things. I remember of hearing
him in a sermon on one occasion speaking of consistency
of professed Christians. He said "that a man who had an
orthodox heart, should have orthodox feet." He was un-
mistakably a great and good man. His life and work may
be summed up in the words ( which were the last uttered by
him) engraved upon a tablet erected to his memory by the
ladies of his church: "I have fought a good fight; I have
finished my course; I have kept the Faith." We can truth-
fully say of him :
" Servant of God well done ;
Rest from thy loved employ ;
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy master's joy.
" The pains of death are past,
Labor and sorrow cease.
And life's long warfare closed at last,
His soul is found in peace.
" Soldier of Christ, well done ;
Praise be thy new employ ;
And while eternal ages run,
Rest in thy Saviour's joy."
— Contributed by J. A. Blliott.
Two Church Sessions Act as a Unit.
Hopewell and Sugar Creek churches form a union, in
which government of both are under the rule of a joint ses-
sion. The spiritual welfare was the highest aim of both
bodies. During the time of Rev. S. C. Caldwell's ministra-
tion of Hopewell and Sugar Creek churches, beginning in
1793, the pressure was very great, as at that time infidelity
was felt wherever it could make itself felt. On May 15,
1793, the sessions of Sugar Creek and Hopewell had a full
meeting at the house of Elder Robinson, about midway be-
tween the churches, and entered into a number of resolutions
as laws for the government of both churches.
"North Carouna,
"Mecklenburg Comity, May 5, 1793.
"We, the Sessions of Sugar Creek and Hopewell congre-
gations, having two separate and distinct churches, sessions
and other officers for the peace, convenience, and well-order-
ing of each society, and all happily united under their pres-
ent pastor, Samuel C. Caldwell, yet need much mutual help
from each other in regard of our own weakness and mutual
dependence, and also in regard to our enemies from with-
out.
"Therefore, in order to make oiir union the more perma-
nent, and to strengthen each others' hands in the bonds of
unity and Christian friendship, have, this 15th day of May,
1793, met in a social manner, at the house of Mons. Rob-
inson. Present : Robert Robinson, Sr., Hezekiah Alexander,
Wm. Alexander, James Robinson, Isaac Alexander, Thomas
Alexander^ and Elijah Alexander,elders in Sugar Creek;
John McKnitt Alexander, Robert Crocket, James Meek,
James Henry, Wm. Henderson, and Ezekiel Alexander,
elders in Hopewell, who, after discussing generally several
topics, proceeded to choose Hezekiah Alexander chairman,
262 HISTORY OF
and John McKnitt Alexander clerk, and do agree to the
following resolves and rules which we, each for himself,
promise to observe."
Then follow five resolutions respecting the management
of the congregations, as it regards the support of their min-
isters, inculcating punctuality and precision ; and also re-
specting a division of the Presbytery of Orange into two
Presbyteries.
Then follow eight permanent laws and general rules for
each session. The first concerns the manner of bringing
charges against a member of the church; that it shall be
written and signed by the complainant, and that previous to
trial all mild means shall he used to settle the matter.
2. ''As a church judicature, we will not intermeddle with
what belongs to the civil magistrate, either as an officer of
State, or a minister of justice among the citizens. The line
between the Church and State being so fine, we know not
how to draw it, therefore we leave it to Christian prudence
and longer experience to determine."
The other resolutions are all found in the Confession of
Faith, in their spirit, in the rules given for the management
of a single session, with this exception, that it was deter-
mined that in this joint session "a quorum to do business
shall not be less than a moderator and three elders," and
that in matters of discipline there shall be "no non liquet
votes permitted."
We can readily infer that no precedent of this nature had
ever taken place either in this country or in Europe; but the
obstacles to the growth of religion were so great that extra-
ordinary rules had to be adopted to guide with discretion, a
church recently planted, that was surrounded with the de-
moralizing influences of war. But the people were fortunate
indeed to have men in their double session who had most
skillfully and successfully declared independence and made
it good, although it was the wonder of the world.
This union of the sessions was productive of most happy
consequences to the two congregations, particularly during
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 263
the Struggle with French infidelity, and had the effect to pre-
serve the spirit of Presbyterianism and sound principles,
and free religion.
The elders were jealous of any intermingling of Church
and State, even in the proceedings of sessions, and endeav-
ored to keep both civil and religious freedom, entirely sepa-
rating political and ecclesiastical proceedings as completely
as possible.
All the difficulty probably arose from the fact that some
of the elders were magistrates, and they feared lest, in the
public estimation, or their own action, the two offices might
be blended in their exercise. This was an age that required
a great deal of vigilance on both the part of the State and
Church, to prevent atheism from sapping the foundation of
the Church, and anarchy from destroying our political free-
dom, we contended for under the form of Republicanism.
Methodists in the County.
At the beginning of the Nineteenth century, Methodism
had no start in Mecklenburg county. In fact it was scarcely
heard of in America. John Wesley, the father of Method-
ism, was born in 1703 and died in 1791. He was born in
England, was not satisfied with the Episcopal Church,
made what he thought were needed reforms in the Church
of England, and was made sport of, the higher classes
calling the new sect "Methodists." Their first two churches
— one in Ferrel Town — ^in the extreme western p'art of Mal-
lard Creek Township, called "Bethesda," now rotted down.
The other is in Providence Township, named "Harrison"
church. They were built about 181 5. They began with the
poorest- people, that class above all others who would feel
the need of a Saviour. The number of adherents soon
doubled and trebled their start; but unfortunately, educa-
tion at that time was at a low ebb. In and about 1825 and
1835, those in charge of the churches would allow almost
any one to preach. In this way the church was brought into
disrepute, and many things were permitted that if they had
been better educated would not have wrought so much evil,
and held back the Church in its onward march. By 1850
their ministry was much better prepared for the work they
were engaged in. Camp meetings were very common at
that time. At almost every church you would see log
cabins in rows around the arbor, or church; and at some
places there would be two rows oi tents or cabins. These
meetings would last from one to two weeks, and I would say
here that camp meetings were not confined solely to the
Methodists, but Baptists, and especially Presbyterians, held
these meetings in the early years of the century. People
would attend these meetings in covered wagons, going from
fifty to one hundred miles.
The whole face, or appearance of the coimtry has been
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 265
changed during- tlie last hundred years, not only physically
and intellectually, but theoloig-ically. When Methodists
were firmly in the saddle, we had in earnest, "The Gospel on
horseback." It should be added that a Methodist preacher
was never known tO' ride a poor horse; he would always
look after the welfare of his horse. This travel from one
church to another, afforded him the only time he ever got
to prepare his sermons; but then he had the advantage of
using the same sermon at every church in his circuit. In
the rapid march of time, the mile posts are plainly marked
in Mecklenburg by the advancement of Methodism. We
have seen its advent in the back woods of Mecklenburg in
the early years of the Nineteenth century, we have witnessed
its phenomenal growth, and before the close of the century
in which it started on the race, it came to the goal, neck
and neck with those who were far in the lead at the start.
The Methodists are far behind some others in beautiful
houses of worship, and schools for the education of their
boys and girls ; but judging the future by the past, the
time is rapidly hastening when they will have schoiols rival-
ing Greensboroi and other places.
Dr. David R. Dunla;p and his brother-in-law, Brawley
Oates, were the first men of learning and influence in Char-
lotte or in the county who espoused the claims set forth by
Wesley, and followed by thousands since Dunlap and Oates
have fallen asleep. They were not only active men in the
Church, but took an active part in the affairs of the county.
Their houses were known to all the ministers in this sec-
tion of the State; they all 'had a standing invitation to make
their houses their home when traveling from church to
church, while on their circuit visiting their several charges.
To show the want of thorough education in the ministry
of the Methodist Church, an anecdote of how preaching was
carried on at old Bethesda, in Ferrel Town, about 1845, is
related. There was a local Methodist preacher living near
there by the name of Harvey Montgomery, a most worthy
and estimable gentleman, a man of a fairly good education,
266 HISTORY OF
but a slow talker. On the Sunday alluded to he was in the
]^>ulpit with Kinchin Howell sitting by his side. Howell was
grossly ignorant of letters, could not even read, but was
proficient in prayer, and was particularly fond of "exhort-
ing.". When the time arrived for preaching to begin, Mr.
Montgomery went through the preliminai-y services and
gave out his text. When the congregation was surprised to
see Mr. Howell jump up and push Mr. Montgomery to one
side saying. Harvey, you do t'he reading and let me do the
'spounding." and the service was concluded in the usual
way, in perfect harmony, and all appeared pleased.
Education has done more for this branch of the Church
during the last fifty years than any other creed or form of
belief. In the first years of the century, infidelity was in
the front rank, and had for those who espoused its cause
many of the brightest minds in the whole country; but as
camp meetings became common, and revivals were held in
many places and Christians of every name participated in
the protracted meetings, and there was wonderful manifesta-
tions of the divine power exhibited everywhere, the infidels
were converted, or fled the country, taking their literature
with them. The leading ministers will compare favorably
with any other denomination ; and all are working harmo-
niously together for the general good of our fellowmen,
and the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
HARRISON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.
Harrison Methoidist Episcopal Church, South, is located
on the extreme southern border of Mecklenburg county,
North Carolina, and near the South Carolina line, on the
waters of Clemb's branch, in South Carolina, and McAlpin's
creek, in North Carolina, on the public road from Charlotte
to Lancaster. It was organized in the latter part of the
Eighteenth century, in the South Carolina Conference,
which was organized in the year 1785. This church was
built of hewn logs and knotched up in the old-fashioned
M KC K I ,K N H L! RG CO I T N T Y . 267
way, covered witii oak boards and the cracks between the
logs filled in with clay mortar. The church was about forty
feet long- and thirty feet wide, with pulpit in (ine end and a
large batten door in the other, with seats made of split slabs,
as there were no saw mills in the coimtry then. Harrison
was the first Methodist church in Mecklenburg county, and
one of the first in North Carolina; and, as church records
were unknow-n in those days, little of the early hisftory of
the church has been preserved, but early in the Nineteenth
century its membership consisted of only a few families.
As they were familiarly known by all that knew them,
old uncle James Davis Johnathan and Daniel Mills were the
founders and supporters of the church. Uncle Johnny was
the licensed exhorter and Uncle Daniel the class leader, and
in the absence of the preacher they would hold services, and
as the circuit then embraced several counties, they only had
preaching once a month by the pastor in charge. As the
Presbyterian Church pre-occupied and held full possession
of this country and Providence church had been organized in
1765, and every family that was able to have horses and
vehicles attended Providence, and only those who were too
poor to have these conveyances attended Harrison, the old
log meeting house, as it was then called, and the new meth-
ods of Methodism were regarded scornfully, and the best of
society were ashamed to be seen at Hamson. But in 1847,
the South Carolina Conference appointed to the Charlotte
circuit two very able preachers, Claudius H. Pritchard and
William M. Barringer, the latter was a brother of the Hons.
Victor, Monroe and Gen. Rufus Barringer, of North Car-
olina. In August of that )''ear they held a great revival of
religion at the Harrison log meeting house. The inta-est
grew and the congregations became so large that it became
necessary to erect a stand and a brush arbor in the grove.
Services were held day and night for several weeks and the
whole country for miles around was aroused on the subject
of religion as it never had been before, scores were con-
verted and joined the church and from the time of that meet-
268 HISTORY OF
ing Methodism began to grow and became more respecta-
ble in the community and embraced many of the best and
wealthiest families. Some of the members who joined them
with their families were Capts. James B. Robinsom, William
Gaylor Stitt, Dr. Wm. A. Ardrey, Messrs. James H. Davis,
Samuel A. Davis, James Monroe Davis, George D. Beck-
ham, James R. Cunningham, Lee Patterson, Nicholas Da-
vidson, John O. Moore, Robert Cunningham, James Patter-
son, Dr. John S. Porter and Mrs. Mansion and many others,
a few of whom are yet living.
As a result of that meeting and the decayed and dilapi-
dated condition of the old church which was then consid-
ered unsafe to^ have service in, in 1848 money began to be
raised for the purpose of building a new church. A build-
ing committee was elected, of which Dr. Ardrey was chair-
man, the contracts were awarded to James Davis, of Union
county. The new church was completed, paid for and then
was dedicated by Rev. Jacob Hill, and is still standing and
is the present house of worship. The building of this church
was an epoch in the history of Methodism not only in this
community, but in the M. E. Church at large, as the General
Conference of 1844 passed resolutions reprimanding Bishop
Andrew for marrying intO' a slave holding family, and in-
forming him that his services would not be acceptable in
some sections of the country. Owing to that controversy,
the Soitthern delegates withdrew and in 1845 the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, was formed with Bishops Soule
and Andrew at its head. The agitation of these vexed ques-
tions of slavery had not only disturbed the social and polit-
ical quietude of our coimtry, but it was threatening the life
of all of our religious institutions, and it engulfed us into a
civil war from i860 to 1865. For undaunted courage and
true heroism the world has never seen nor recorded its equal.
This war forever settled the question of slavery in Church
and State, but the Northern and Southern Churches have
never been reunited. Harrison church, like all the other
Southern churches, since the war has experienced many
MKCKLKNBURG COUNTY. 269
trials and changes to become adapted to the new and altered
conditions of the country. Several churches have grown
out from this original organization. Its first branch was
Hebron M. E. Church, between Pineville and Charlotte.
This church was built about the year 1850. Its founders
were David P. Lee, Sampson Wolfe, John Campbell, and
others. The next branch was the Pineville M. E. Church,
which is located in a town of that name on the Charlotte,
Columbia and Augusta Railroad. This church to-day
stands as a monument to the late Samuel Younts, his sons
John A. and W. S. Younts, and the late Dr. J. A. Ardrey.
This church was founded about 1870. The third branch
was Marvin M. E. Church, in Union county, a nice little
brick building erected by a few good and devoted Christian
men, in 1875. Its founders were Lloyd K. Rone, John W.
Squires, T. J. Ezzell and Job Crane, And the last branch
was Pleasant Hill, in Lancaster county, South Carolina, in
1880, founded by D. C. Wolfe, John Wolfe, John Davidson,
James O. Bales, Lee Patterson, Solomon Harris and his
sons.
The old church was transferred to the North Carolina
Conference in 1889, when the State line was made the Con-
ference line. It still has about the usual number of mem-
bers and now, in 1902, money is subscribed and the erec-
tion of a new and modern church is begun. The building
committee is W. E. Ardrey, chairman; W. E. Cunningham,
secretary; John N. Harris, treasurer; James A. Kerr, H.
N. Patterson, W. F. McGinn and James P. Ardrey, and we
hope to complete the building by the end of this year, 1902.
In 1 81 5 the Sugar Creek circuit of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church was composed of the following churches :
Harrison Meeting House, Bethel, Mt Moriah, Rogers,
Roses, McCorcles, Mayhews, Christenberrys, Martins, Char-
lotte, Chalk Level, Cithcoats, Hyatira, Wallases, Newhope,
Howells. The presiding elder was Rev. Daniel Asbury; the
preacher in charge was Rev. W. B. Barnett.
This circuit was then in the South Carolina Conference.
270 HISTORY OF
In 1818 the first Quarterly Conference was held at Harrison
on March 14th. Rev. Jesse Richardson was presiding
elder, and Rev. Reuben Tucker pastor. Rev. Jacob Hill v^as
pastor in 1 82 1 .
Harrison has furnished the following ministers: Rev.
W. S. Rone, Presiding Elder in the North Carolina Con-
ference; Rev. R. S. Howie, of the Western North Carolina
Conference; Rev. John Loyd Howie, of the Congregational
Church; Rev. W. B. Lee, missionary to Brazil; Rev. John
Davis, of the South Carolina Conference; Rev. John Owen,
of the South Carolina Conference.
RomaLrv Cattholic ChvircK.
'[\ie first start of the Roman Catholic Church in Char-
lotte was in 1836. F'oiir years before this the Presbyterian
Church was organized, which was the first Church organ-
ized in the town, more than fifty years after the people of
Mecklenburg had declared themselves free from British
rule. It is strange that religion should have been so tardy in
making its power felt, after so much toil and suffering to es-
tablish our independence here in this town.
In 1836, Rev. Father McGinnis came here as a mission-
ary, and secured a house to live in and taught school in one
room, had one room for a church in which he held wor-
ship. He and his sister also lived there. The house, a frame
building, stood on the lot now owned and occupied by Dr.
John R. Irwin. He was said to have been a fine schoilar
and a good teacher. The family of Nolands, the Hartys,
John Ronche and others from the surrounding country at-
tended church here. Mr. McGinnis only stayed one or two
years, after which service was held by missionaries, as it
was convenient for one to come, until a churdh was built in
1 85 1. The corner stone was laid by Rev. J. J. O'Connell,
D. D. The church was built by Patrick Harty and Ed.
Lonergan. Henry Severs carried the brick. The church
was small, like the congregation, but in the last fifty" years
the membership has increased so rapidly, the old church
has been torn away, and a handsome structure fills its place,
keeping pace with the growing city, and the increasing con-
gregation. The present large and handsome church was
built in 1890. Many of the best citizens of the town now
hold their membership there. Fifty years has made won-
derful changes in Charlotte, and in nothing do we see it
more than in the magnificent temples of worship that arise
in the various wards, to point passers by to a lasting habita-
tion in the world to come.
"Bhe Associate Reformed Presbyteriatns.
In Mecklenburg county this body of Christians were not
very numerous one hundred years ago. Only in certain
sections of the county were they sufficiently numerous to
have a house of worship. About 1795 Gilead church, and
Steele Creek — to distinguish it from the Presbyterian
church — it was called "Little Steele Creek." It is more
than probable these were the two first churches by that de-
nomination. The building of Gilead church was first in-
tended to be at Baker's Grave Yard, about one and a half
miles north of the church. This old burying place was used
long before any church was built. The Rev. John Thomp-
son, a Presbyterian minister, and his son-in-law, — . — .
Baker, were the first persons to be buried there. Also Maj.
John Davidson's sister, Mary, who married a Mr. Price,
and many of her descendants. The church (Gilead) was
built fifteen miles from Charlotte, on the Beattie's Ford
Road, on the spot once occupied by a fort, to protect the
early settlers' cattle and horses from roving bands of In-
dians. Miss Nilley Torrance, who died more than fifty
years ago, said that she had often seen the fort when hunt-
ing her father's cattle and horses. She lived with her sister
Jane, who married Andrew Barry, a son of the patriot,
Richard Barry. Their offspring still occupy the old home-
stead; but how much of interest, especially of the people
who once lived in this section, has passed away unhonored
and unsung, not even noted down that it might be made
known to the children, in the shape of legends or fairy tales,
to preserve the local civilization of the Eighteenth century.
Rev. James McKnight was probably the most noted man,
and the hardest worked preacher of the Associated Re-
formed Presbyterian Church. Rev. John Boyce was the
first pastor of Gilead. He was in charge of Coddle Creek,
Prosperity, Gilead and Hopewell, in South Carolina. He
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 273
could not have given more than one-fourth of his time to
either one of his several charges. He could not have conr
tinued here more than five years, as he died March i8, 1793,
and was buried at Hopewell, in South Carolina, The sec-
ond pastor of Gilead was Rev. James McKnight. He had
charge of Gilead, Coddle Creek, and Prosperity; installed in
1797. He continued to serve these churches for many years
and ended his course September 17, 1831. He was a most
remarkable preacher. Two sermons a day was his ordinary
rule. Beginning by 10 o'clock, and giving a short interval
for refreshments, he would preach some times until it was
so dark he would call for candles to read and sing the last
Psalm. The stars would be shining brightly before the peo^
pie would reach home, if they had but two or three miles
to go. It was common for them to provide themselves with
pine torches to light them home.
Rev. John Hunter, a man of great ability, immensely pop-
ular with the people, and was always heard gladly by the
common people. He had a peculiar intonation of voice that
always held the attention of his audience. He was installed
at Gilead in 1844 for half his time, and at Prosperity. After
several years he was transferred to Sardis, and remained
there till he had run his course. At Gilead he was a welcome
visitor, and loved by all his people.
Rev. Alexander Ranson, D. D., was one of the ablest men
in the ministry of any church. He was pastor of Gilead
and Prosperity for eighteen or twenty years. His neighbors
and thO'Se who knew him best, thought he was one of the
best men living in the world. Rev. R. T. Taylor served
Prosperity and Gilead after Mr. Hunter, for about ten
years; and he was followed by Dr. Ranson, who served
the churches with great acceptability. The t\yo churches
paid him a very small pittance. His wife was exceed-
ingly delicate, but when able, would teach school. Dr.
Ranson had many warm friends who contributed much to
render the last years of his life bright and pleasant, although
his bodily pain was very great. A son and daughter soon.
274 HISTORY OF
followed him to the spirit world. The instruction given
by such a man, we will expect to hear from as it flows
on down the stream of time. Much of the good being done
all through the upper end of Mecklenburg is due to the
godly life of Dr. Alexander Ranson.
Rev. J. T, Chalmers, who died several years ago, preached
at Little Steele Creek and accomplished a great deal of good.
In a previous place an account of that part of the county is
given, and will not be rehearsed here.
His son, Rev. Dr. J. C. Chalmers, was a man of feeble
physical frame, but of a giant intellect. He began preaching
in South Carolina, but in after years became pastor of the
First Church in Charlotte. He continued pastor oi the First
Church until 1900, when his health became too feeble, when
he went to Mexico hooping to regain his health. But his
work appeared to be done. He arrived home about 1902,
and gradually sank to rest in the spring of the same year.
Rev. J. G. McLaughlin is probably the oldest minister in
the State — active minister. He is 83. He has been relieved
of the burden of Back Creek church, and only preaches when
he feels able. He has been pastor of the Church for many
years, and will remain with the people while life lasts. A
few years ago he was sorely tried in the furnace of affliction.
He lost his wife and three grown children in one season with
fever. It looked as if he was to be tried as Job; but he had
many friends that proved to be friends in deed. He is still
•cheerful as the years go by, knowing that he has to wait but
.:a little while longer. All the churches of this denomination
are in a prosperous condition. For the last hundred years
they have been very cautious to have all their ministry edu-
. cated men. That being an absolute necessity to preserve the
honorable standing of the Church, not only in Mecklenr
■,burg, but throughout the country. And it will not be amiss
to say their ministry of to-day are in the van with the leadr
crs of any other demomination.
As many things in this county are dated before or after
the war, we will say this denominiation had no foothold in
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 275
Charlotte in ante-bellum times. Probably Maj. Jenning's
B. Kerr's family was the only "seceders" in the town.
Where the Queen City Hotel now stands was the first
church they ever had. It would seat probably 200 people,
ten years ago. Now they have two most elegant churches,
with two of the best preachers in the city. They are now
reaching out, lengthening their cords and strengthening
their stakes.
In the last half of the Nineteenth century there has been
a wonderful growth in all denominations. This was to be
expected, as the poi>ulation came from various quarters, and
brought the seeds of their religion with them, as there are
few people but who are more or less biased in their religious
views.
15he Luthera-n Church.
There was no Lutheran Church or minister in Mecklen-
burg county prior to 1850. There was but few, if any, Ger-
man emigrants that ever stopped in this county. Nearly
all stopped in Rowan, Cabarrus and Catawba counties.
These counties were largely settled with Dutch, conse-
quently they have a large following of Lutherans. In 1885
a large and elegant Lutheran church (St. Mark's) was com-
pleted. For several years it was served by Rev. W. S. Bow-
man, D. D., who came from Charleston, S. C. He was a
very learned man, of great piety, and was much esteemed
by all the good people of the city, without regard to race or
denomination. His health became too feeble to perform
the duties of pastor, tendered his resignation and in a short
time was gathered to his fathers at a ripe old age.
In the year 1898 the services of Rev. R. C. Holland,
D. D., was secured. He gives very general satisfaction to
his people, and is popular with the combined ministry of the
city.
T3he Baptist Denominattion.
The Baptist denomination was almost wholly unknown
in the county fifty years ago. They started with only two or
three families in the town, and scarcely a half dozen in the
county. They have grown to occupy at least the third or
fourth place in point of numbers in the city. Their leading
ministers are the peers of any in the county. The Rev. A.
L. Stough, D. D., of Pineville, was chaplain of the Thirty-
seventh Regiment, N. C. T., in the late Civil War. He did
not hesitate to do his duty, whether in hospital or field, with-
out favor or affection. He is now becoming an old man,
has labored many years in the Master's vineyard, and is still
hale and hearty, and looks as if he would be able for much
service for several years to come.
I am aware that it is not considered good taste to criticise
the living, but as the name of the author is always obtaina-
ble, I hope no one will deny me the pleasure of bearing tes-
timony to the patriotism of those who sacrificed the pleas-
ures of home for the hardships and privations of a soldier's
life in the tented field. Chaplain Stough deserved well of
his brother Christians. He labored in camp, denouncing
wickedness in high places, without the fear of officers before
his eyes. I have seen him passing among the wounded at
the field hospital, carrying two canteens, one containing
water and the other whiskey, administering to the urgent
calls of the woimded and dying Confederate soldiers. At all
hours of the day and night could this be seen.
Rev. A. L. Stough deserves a monument to preserve his
devotion to the welfare of the Confederate soldier. His
good name will ever remain green with all classes of Chris-
tians, with whom he has come in contact.
In another place Dr. Pritchard has been spoken of as the
boys' friend. He was the mainstay of the Baptist Church
for many years ; but he served his day. and has gone up
2y^ HISTORY OF
higher, as the student passes from the Academy to the Uni-
versity. The Baptist churches oi the city are ably served
by men entirely devoted to the cause of Christ. The in-
crease of the numbers of membership has been phenomenal,
and requires a continual lengthening of cords and strength-
ening of stakes to provide room to accommodate all who
come. We are pleased to note the fact that all denomina-
tions are getting closer together than they have ever been
before. Is it not a signi of the coming of the millenium?
Rock Springs Burying Ground.
Rock Spring-s burying ground is in the eastern part of the
county. There is no data by which any one can tell when
the first grave was dug in this quiet and secluded spot.
From what we know of the early historv^ of the county,
Rocky River and Sugar Creek were the first churches estab-
lished in the county; but we have undoubted evidence that
there were places oi burjang- the dead several years before
any church was built. And it may be so here. At any rate,
there is no church nearer than Philadelphia, and it is at least
one and a half miles distant. Whether the people thoug'ht
a church would be built in the distant future, we have no
way of telling. But in those early days the people thought
it no hardship tO' ride ten to twenty miles to attend church,
and to enquire after the welfare of their friends and kin-
dred. Here we find a city of almost forgotten dead. A
few tombstones are standing of as beautiful marble as we
now see in well-kept cemeteries. Others are of very dark
stone, but well polished. Some are soap-stone, and some
look as if they had been plank, and handsomely dressed;
while some graves look as if an ordinary stone had been
placed at either end. But veiT- few have been buried in the
last seventy-five years. The graveyard is on the northwest
side of the road leading from Mint Hill to the Stanly cor-
ner, Marven, Albemarle, etc. It has been enclosed with a
rock wall. It is now nearly flat, can be walked over any-
where. There was one acre of ground enclosed, and looks
as if it was all used up. There was a ditch four or six feet
wide, and probably as deep, around the four sides; the wall
was inside the ditch. There are but few large trees among
the tombs, but full of small growth.
Some of the names and dates we found are given :
Maj. James Harris, born Dec. 25, 1772. died Sept. 7,
28o HISTORY OF
1811 ; Samuel L. Harris, born 1767, died 1798; Mary Har-
ris, born July 14, 1749, aged 73.
Catherine Maxwell, born 1774, died 1825.
Elizabeth Wilson, born in the year 1800, died in 1832. .
Adam Alexander (one of the signers of the Declaration),
died Nov. 13, 1798, aged 70 years and 7 months; Mary, his
wife, died Nov, 26, 181 3, aged 78 years, 3 months.
Robert Queery, died Aug. 25, 1827, aged 64 years.
Samuel Harris, died 1825, aged 83; Margaret Harris,
died 1782, aged 58; Jane Harris, died 1797, aged 42. (One
wide tombstone.)
Wm. Morris, died 1804, aged 59.
Elizabeth Morris, born 1750, died 1821.-
Hannah Moore, died 1821, aged 58.
Elizabeth Moore, died 181 1, aged 18.
Elizabeth Rabb, died 1792, aged 40.
Andrew Rodgers, died 1792, aged 25.
Elizabeth Wilson, died 1802.
No person now living can tell us of the hundreds who
sleep in this almost forgotten spot. Was there no historian
near this silent city to hand down to the future, that gener-
ations yet unborn may know what manner of people pre-
ceded them, or are we to lose the labors of all those who
preceded us on account of not keeping record? We are
truly a people who make history, but we have been too negli-
gent about preserving it. Others come in and rob us of a
well-earned fame in many things we have been remiss in not
asserting our rights.
S\iga.r Creek Church.
Near the gate of Sugar Creek's second graveyard, south
of the road, is to be seen the stone that marks the grave of
. Rev. Samuel C. Caldwell, a grand-son of Alexander Craig-
head, whose ashes rest in the first cemetery, who died sixty
years before Mr. Caldwell finished his course.
The spot which he selected, and where they made his
grave, was just beneath that part of the old log house where
the communion table was spread (in that day had long
tables that extended clear across the church, with suitable
benches, so that communicants could sit around the table to
partake of the feast ; when one table was served they would
give way to others, until all were served), from which he
had so often dispensed the emblems of Christ crucified;
where he took the vows of ordination, and where he knelt,
when by prayers and laying on of the hands of the Presby-
tery, he was set apart to the work of the ministry. Though
the war for liberty and independence had ended in glorious
triumph several years before the beginning of Mr. Cald-
well's ministry, yet it was followed by another conflict, in-
volving far more sacred principles and interests than those
which had been so heroically defended. Following that
seven years' war came in like a flood, the rise and rapid
spread, over many parts of the country, and particularly
over Mecklenburg county, the proud waters of French in-
fidelity; threatening the liberty of those whom the truths of
the Gospel make free. Caldwell and Wallis, of Providence,
were found in the thickest of the fight with this foe, in their
respective congregations. Reared in times which tried
men's souls and developed some of the grandest characters,
both these men proved themselves worthy sons of their
noble ancestors, and worthy defenders of the precious truths
of the Gospel. An infidel club had been organized for the
purpose of propagating their philoisophy, which called in
282 HISTORY OF
question everything connected with the Bible and its olaims
upon the human reason and conscience. The burning ques-
tion discussed on all occasions was, whether the Bible or
reason should be the guide of human conscience. This dis-
cussion was often hot and gave rise to bitter contests.
The society above mentioned gathered its members from
Sugar Creek, Providence and Steele Creek, and met at a
point somewdiere between those three settlements. They had
a library well supplied with works written in defense of
infidel views of religion and morality. This society em-
braced men of wealth and talent.
Wallis, then' pastor of Providence and Steele Creek, and
Caldwell, of Sugar Creek, met these enemies of the Chris-
tian religion with fearless and unflinching fidelity. Wallis
prepared a pamphlet of marked ability, and well adapted to
meet the demands of truth and righteousness, which was
widely circulated.
So while Sugar Creek was found in the front ranks of
those who rose up to defend human rights and liberty,
through her Caldwell, and Wallis, born and reared in her
bounds, she was fotmd equally faithful and efficient in de-
fending the liberty of the sons of God. The forces of in-
fidelity seems to have met their final and almost complete
overthrow in the great revival of 1802. An incident con-
nected with that infidel club was related to me by an old
uncle, who removed away from Providence to> Tennessee
about 1803, and who was then a full grown man, and a sub-
ject of the saving work of the revival.
One of the members oif the club of infidels was taken
seriously ill, and it soon became evident that his end was
near. His infidel friends were about his bed, and much
concerned lest the man should abandon his infidelity in the
hour of death. They encouraged him to hold to his philos-
ophy, repeating the exhortationi, "Stick to it." But the
foundation of sand was giving way before the poor soul,
and at last he replied : "It is hard to stick when there is
nothing to stick to." And now, where that soul-destroying
MECKLRNBURG COUNTY. 283
fomi of error attempted to overthrow the rehgion of the
Christ, are found temples of truth, where the riches of Jesus
are proclaimed every Sabbath, but scarcely a vestige re-
mains of the influence of the infidel club. Now and then we
may hear of one of their old books which have survived,
hidden away under the dust of years, a forgotten, worthless,
worm-eaten thing.
Though it has been the privilege of the writer to spend
nearly all his life in Mecklenburg county, and work for the
Master in many of its many churches, he has never, except
in one instance, found any attempt to circulate the writings
of infidels, whose works were found in that old library. The
'method by which it was sent abroad was as unusual as it
was effective. And though it may at first be surprising
when stated, that it was an elder in the Presbyterian Church
who was found scattering those infidel teachings, yet the
opinion is ventured that the orthodox of all Mecklenburg
orthodoxy will approve his work. The good brother caught
at this business, had by some means got possession of one
of those pernicious books, and being one of the most marked
shots in the county, he conceived the idea of pasting a num-
ber of the leaves together sufficient to make the thickness
required. He would then take his wad-cutter and, driving it
down through the book, supply himself for a day's tramp
after birds. And by night there was much scattering of
infidel sentiments and feathers.
The building which occupied a part of the graveyard, in
which Caldwell was buried, was the second house built by
the congregation. It was a plain, substantial log house. In
order to secure room for the large numbers who came to
worship there, the house was made of two lengths of logs,
joined together at the middle by a crib of short logs, so put
together as to form a recess on the inside and a jutting out
of several feet from the main side wall. In this house the
congregation convened until some time towards the latter
part of his ministry, when the third house was erected, a
284 HISTORY OF
brick structure, a little north of the second house, and on
the same side of the road.
ABRAHAM ALEXANDER.
Towards the middle of the yard, near two large trees, is
the grave of Abraham Alexander, the chairman of the
famous Mecklenburg Convention of 1775. On his unpre^
tending tombstone is found the inscription: "Abraham
Alexander, died April 23, 1786, aged 68 years. 'Let me
die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like
His.' " He was a marked character and influence, both in
Church and State, as manifested by the prominent posi-
tions in which he was placed by his fellow men. He was
a prominent magistrate, an officer which meant more in that
day than in the present time. He lived long enough after
the Declaration of Independence, in Charlotte, to see its
lofty principles triumphantly maintained, and its solemn
determinations executed. His son, Joab, took his place as
an elder of the church and magistrate of the county. He
has but one great-grandson in this county, Mr. J. P. Alex-
ander, now an elder in the Second Presbyterian Church, of
Charlotte.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER.
Another man of that day, William Alexander, is worthy
of mention as a man of courage, who could be trusted as a
leader of men. He was known by the name of "Black
Billy," given to distinguish him from many other Alexan-
ders in the same and surrounding neighborhoods. The Reg-
ulators, an organization of citizens, formed, under the prov-
ocations and impoisitions of the governor, were giving him
trouble. The Governor had ordered out the militia of the
western counties to join the command of Gen. Waddell. He
was ordered to wait at Salisbury for the militar}- to gather,
and was delaying his march to join the Governor until a
supply of ammunition should reach him. The wagons
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 285
which were bringing powder had reached a point near where
Concord now stands, on their way from Charlotte, and en-
camped for the night. A plan was at once formed for the
destruction of the powder. Nine men of Rocky River (the
descendants of some of those men are now living in that
congregation) and William Alexander, of Sugar Creek, as
their leader, bound themselves by an oath to stand together
in the undertaking and to keep each other's part in it a secret,
blacked their faces and disguised themselves as Indians and
about daybreak captured the convoy. The band permitted
the drivers and their teams and the guard to go unharmed,
and then made a pile of the powder on the ground, laid a
train for some distance and set fire to it.
Steele Creek Church.
This is one of the remarkable seven churches that were
organized in Mecklenburg coitnty, or rather the place was
agreed upon, and worship conducted by the early settlers for
a number of years before a temple was built and dedicated to
the worship of God. In this early period when the people
were few and lived far apart, the roads frequently impassi-
ble in the winter season, all their undertakings were neces-
sarily slow of progress. But they acted wisely in securing
eligible locations for the different churches. Sugar Creek,
near the centre; Rocky River, in the east; Poplar Tent
towards the north; Centre, northwest; Hoipewell, ten miles
north of tliie centre ; Providence, to the south ; Steele Creek
to the west. This last was like her sisters, had a surround-
ing population of the best people in the world. Originally
the lands arouiud Steele Creek were fertile and valuable.
Away from the water courses the lands were covered with
tall grass and the wild pea vine; was indeed a prairie, beau-
tiful in its loveliness, undisturbed save only by the foot of
the Red men, the deer and the buffalo, and the smaller ani-
mals and variety of birds, which gave the appearance of
Eden's beauteous bowers as described by Milton. The in-
habitants were characterized for their indiustry, i>atriotism,
morality and love of fair play ; they were also noted for their
love and rever*ence for truth and religion. Rev. Hugh Mc-
Aden, Rev. Elihu Spencer, and Rev. Roibert McMordie at
different times visited this church as missionaries, as occa-
sion would permit. This was tli€ only kind of ministerial
service any of the churches had for several years.
As a place of worship, we can readily see the people were
accustomed to assemble at this point, near where the church
now stands, but a house of worship was not erected till the
year 1762.
In the year 1706 was organized the tirst Presbyter\- in
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 287
America, consisting of seven ministers and their churches,
and this continued the only advisory and governing body till
1 71 7. The Church by this time had so increased it was
considered best to sul>divide it into' three other Presbyteries,
which were to constitute a Synod, which should meet once a
year. For several years after Steele Creek Church was or-
ganized, it had to be watched over and guarded by missiona-
ries and supplies wherever they could be obtained. It will
be remembered that when Rev. Alexander Craighead ended
his successful labors in March, 1766, he was the solitary
minister between the Yadkin and the Catawba. From this
time there was no settled minister, for some years, south
of the Yadkin.
Steele Creek's first pastor was Rev. Robert Henry, from
Donegal Presbytery. He lived but a few months and he
was removed by death. The first bench of ruling elders we
have any account of, in 1767, were William Barnett, Walter
Davis, Robert 'Irwin, Hugh Parks, David Freeman, Joseph
Swann, Zaccheus W^ilson, and Andrew McNeely. For ten
years their appears to be a lapse of service, at any rate of
ministerial sendee. But little service of a regular char-
acter was enjoyed until after the war of independence.
There is no portion of the State whose early record presents
a more glowing page of patriotism and valor than Mecklen-
burg, of which Steele Creek is a component part. It is not
boasting too much to say it is in Mecklenburg we find the
birthplace of American liberty. On the 20th of May, 1775,
two of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Col.
Ro'bert Irwin and Zaccheus Wilson, were elders in Steele
Creek Church. Of the twenty-seven members who com-
posed that convention, nine were known to have been elders,
and one a minister of the Gospel, Rev. Hezekiah J. Balch.
Col. Irwin was a busy man in all the conventions held, dur-
ing the war, and from 1778 to 1800. he served as a miember
of the Legislature from Mecklenburg county.
Debating societies, formed for political puq>oses, were
common in those davs. One of these societies was
288 HISTORY OF •
formed as near as possible in a central position between
Sugar Creek, Steele Creek and Providence. It proved to be
more for the interest of infidelity than for politics. The
battle between the crown and the people had been fought,
and the people were victorious. During this long night of
darkness the enemy had come in and sown the tares. In-
fidelity with a brazen front, was defiant, and threatened like
an avalanche to O'verrun the whole country; toi extinguish
the best hopes of man — yes, threatened the annihilation of
the Church, and the ruin of her Lord's authority. The ques-
tion was debated, "What should govern conscience, philoso-
phy, or the Bible?" At this time the authority of the Bible
underwent a sifting discussion, such as Carolina had never
seen, and may never see again. About this time a most
wonderful revival spread all over the country. At this time
all bad and uncharitable feeling subsided, and Methodists,
Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Baptists all worshipped to^
gether. These were wonderful meetings. The Holy Spirit
did not respect the denominational names by which they
were called.
In 1795, Concord Presbytery was set off from Orange,
and this county remained in Concord for seventy-five years,
but is now in Mecklenburg Presbytery. In 1778 Rev. James
McRee was elected pastor, and gave general satisfaction.
During his term as pastoT, the church building was en-
larged, as the congregation had increased in numbers, and
at that day was considered very elegant. Mr. McRee did
much to introduce Watt's Hymns and Psalms instead of
Rouse's version. All who held to only Rouse's version of
the Psalms were called "seceders."
Rev. Mr. McRee was born in Iredell county, N. C, in
1752, near where Centre church was afterwards built. At
this period all this territory belonged to Anson county. He
preached at Steele Creek about twenty years. He said:
"Often I have ridden in the morning to Bethel (in S. C),
Providence, Sugar Creek, and Hopewell and preached (two
sermons), and returned home in the evening of the same
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 289
day." Pie preached at Centre for many years, and wound
up his course at his son's-in-law, Col. Davidson, in Bun-
combe county, in the 88th year of his age. He deserved
well of his country.
In i772-'74 Rev. WilHam Blackstock came from Ireland
and was ordained by the Associate Reformed Presbytery
of the Carolinas. and in 1794 he organized a church called
"Lower Steele Creek," eight miles below the first Steele
Creek church. The following persons were elected elders,
viz. : James Grier, James Harris, James Fox, William Fer-
guson and Alexander Scott. Mr. Blackstock was elected
pastor, and served a few years. Messrs. Dixon and McMil-
lan were the first Associate ministers who came to this
county. Mr. ]\IcMillan was soon dismissed for indulging too
freely in the intoxicating bowl. Afterwards came Revs.
Moore, Crie. White and Pringle. They each preached at
Lower Steele Creek, and neighboring churches. The early
ministers had a vast amount of work to do, and received
but little sympathy, or remuneration of any other kind, ex-
cept a self-consciousness of having done their duty; but
they have accomplished wonders for the Church.
It must not be concluded that all the people of the county,
or of Steele Creek were Christians — that none were repro^
bates; for this would lead people to believe that the form.er
times were better than at a later day. Human nature is the
same now as it was in the days of the American revolution.
Infidelity was ten fold more rampant a century ago in Meck-
lenburg, than it is to-day ; it is unpopular now, and the lead-
ers of thought as, of fashion, do not consider it politic to
advocate that which would bring reproach upon society.
This part of Mecklenburg — about 1832 — became so infected
with intemperance, infidelity and universalism. that a large-
part of Steele Creek and the adjoining country ceased to at-
tend church. And soon followed a fearful deluge of sick-
ness, and many deaths, frequently requiring three and four
funerals in a day. This spread a dark pall over the people,
and made them think, "Were they being punished for their
290 HISTORY OF
unbelief?" This falling- away of so many from the ordi-
nances of the church, and the moving away of so many on
account of sickness, was a sore and heavy trial for the
Church. The sickness or bad state of health kept up with
more or less severity for several years. The pastor, Rev. Mr.
Watson, seemed to suffer the same as his people, and his
health became so enfeebled that he resigned in 1840. Not-
withstanding this heavy scourge, Steele Creek has been
greatly blesse<l, including Lower Steele Creek and Pleasant
Hill. They increased in population, were patriotic, believed
in educaiiLMi, and were a church loving people. Steele Creek
was organized as a place of worship one hundred and forty
years ago; and as compared with other sections, she has a
right to be proud of her people. In her first settlement and
patriotic impulses to move forward in establishing inde-
pendence; and to prove a good citizenship by promptly
lending forward her contingent of brave men to repel the
enemy in 1812 to 1814, when the New England States not
only refused troops, but threatened to secede from the
union if the war was not immediately stopped. Again, in
1846, aided in furnishing her cpiota of men to fill up the cav-
alry company commanded by Capts. E. C. Davidson and J.
K. Harrison, for service in Akxico. Our pet)ple are em-
phatically a peace loving people, but by nO' means will they
-suffer wrong with impunity, as was abundantly shown in
Ihe war between the States.
]\Tany bright names could be mentioned as having taken
:a noble part in the early history of Mecklenburg, either in
aiding to achieve independence, or in maintaining a republi-
can form of government. The people well understood the
necessity of having the ruling class well qualified by edu-
cation, and equally as necessary that the common people
should enjoy the blessing of education.
Providence Church-
In looking over the list of early settlers of that portion of
the State that was laid off as Mecklenburg county, in that
portion bordering on South Carolina, and afterwards called
Providence, I find that Henry Downs moved from Pennsyl-
vania to this section about the year 1760. He was elected
Captain of Militia for Providence District, or "beat." He
was also made an elder in Providence church, which church
was built and organized in 1762. He was also appointed a
civil officer, or a Justice of the Peace. Pie was one of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence on the 20th of
May, 1775, in Charlotte. Mr. Downs was now getting too
old for military service; but his son Thomas was young and
active, and entered the service with alacrity. He was with
Gen. Gates in South Carolina in the battle of Camden, then
as bushwhackers hanging on the flanks of Cornwallis' army,
as he came towards Charlotte; and assisted in giving the
British a warm reception around the old log court house that
stood in the public square, and on the Salisbury road for five
miles. Tarlton must have suffered severely to get and to
hold what he captured around Charlotte, or he woiild not
have called the place "A Hornet's Nest." The Downs fam-
ily still own and occupy two hundred acres of the original
grant that was issued by George the IV. Many of these old
places are handed down from sire to son for several genera-
tions.
George McKee emigrated to this section with the first set-
tlers of the county. He was a pillar of both Church and
State in those early years, being an elder in Providence, and
also a Justice of the Peace. When the republic was young,
many civil cases as well as criminal, were adjudicated by a
Justice of the Peace.
Rev. James Wallace was the first pastor of Providence
church. For a number of years after the first church was
292 HISTORY OP
built, it was occupied by transient preachers, or by temporary
sui)plies. especially in the country one hundred to two hun-
dred miles from the sea coast. The law of custom had de-
cided tliat the destruction of manuscripts that had been left
by religiously disposed persons was a part of preparation for
death, as solemn and indispensable as the making the last
will and testament. So very little of the records of thoughts
of these men have been preserved from destruction. And
the unfortunate burning of some houses, leaves the present
generation in wondering ignorance of the trials, and energy,
and principles of those brave and good men. The grave of
but one minister can only be found in Providence burying
ground for the first century of the church's existence. When
you enter this "old city of the dead," you see the names of
some of the leading men who planted the Gospel and civil
liberty in the wilderness of the Western world. Among the
chiseled names of Stitt, Potts, McKee, Rea, Patterson, Mc-
Cullock, and Matthews, the oldest of which bears date of
1764. The Rev, James Wallace, who served the church
from 1792 to 1 81 9. A lengthy pastorate for that period.
Settlements in this part of the county were made about the
same time as those in Hopewell, Sugar Creek and Rocky
River, and were the same kind of people. Mr. Wallace mar-
ried a daughter of John McKnitt Alexander, who labored
with him in the ministry, and proved a help indeed. Both
were buried by the side of those they labored with for more
than a quarter of a century in much love and harmony.
In this section the good people were in the habit of assem-
bling in a grove, near where the present church now stands,
for several years to hold divine worship. After a while they
built a log "meeting house" where stated worship was held,
and in 1765 the church was organized and has continued
ever since to be the central point in all this section of the
county. The leading spirits of these early days were An-
drew Rea. Archibald Crocket, Joshua Ramsay, and Aaron
Howie. Such men as these encountered and bushwhacked
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 293
CornwalHs' army as he marclied through Providence, caus-
ing severe hardships to the people.
The annoyance of the people — the non-combatants — were
put to, the malicious destruction of property, private con-
cerns, taking away the comforts and often the necessities of
life, was very trying to the patriotism and patience of all
who loved the cause of liberty. But I am glad to say that
but few "took protection" in all the bounds of Mecklenburg.
In 1802 a great religious revival swept over this country
as a storm, in which Mr. Wallis took an active part. This
revival lasted, for several years, and it is hoped forever
downed the miserable infidelity that had its origin in the
French revolution during the last decade of the Eighteenth
century. The following agreement between the churches
of Clear Creek fnow called Philadelphia), has been pre-
served by Mr. William Queary.
"Whereas, The representatives of both congregations
doth unanimously agree among themselves, in the name of
both the aforesaid congregations, to stand and abide by each
other from time to time through all difficulties, in order to
obtain the labors of a gospel minister, that is to say. the one-
other. And for a true and sincere union for the truth of
the aforesaid articles, the representation of both congrega-
tions hath hereunto subscribed their names, January 27,
1770.
"New Providence : John Ramsay, James Linn, John
Hagens. James Houston, Andrew Reah, James Draffen,
James Johnston, James Teate, Thomas Black, Robert Stew-
art.
"Clear Creek : Adam Alexander, Matthew Stewart, John
Queary, Michael Leggett, Jobn Ford."
Five years later two of the men who signed this agreement
signed the Declaration of Independence in Charlotte, May
20, 1775, Adam Alexander and John Queary, which shows
that they were public-spirited men, patriotic and determined
in whatever business they engaged.
294 HISTORY OF
John Stitt died about sixty years ago, and was an elder
and influential man, and was a leading citizen in the neigh-
borhood. We meiiition a few of the most prominent, as it
would take too much room to mention all the good and true
men that are worthy of being placed high up in the niche of
fame. A few others have a right to be noticed ere we close
this chapter. Col. Solomon Reid was an important man,
that both Church and State thought well of and the four
from this muster beat who had the moral courage to sign
the immortal Declaration of Independence, with their com-
peers, Henry Downs, Neil Morrison, Robert Harris, and
John Queary.
Richard Peoples, elder in Sardis church, but a citizen of
Providence, was a merchant and postmaster of Hemphill's
Store. He was a large slave holder and a successful farmer.
His son Richard now owns his father's farm. He was a
trpe Confederate, and served throughout the war in Brem's
Battery, aftenvards Graham's, and then Williams'.
Flowers Now and One Hundred Yeatrs Ago.
Times and customs have ev-er been subject to change, but
never until the last thirty years did fashion levy upoii flow-
ers — the prototype of immortality — to adorn the hymeneal
altar, or grace the sacred desk, or strew above the bier of
Icved ones, or scatter immortelles over the graves of patriots.
It is well that the Nineteenth century — the last third of the
century — inaugurated this beautiful custom that typifies the
immortality that awaits us in the life beyoiid the grave.
Fifty years or less have elapsed since any one save a bot-
anist, knew anything of flowers, what they represented, or
what their language was. It was a rare thing that any kind
was met with save the wild flower that was indigenous to
our fields and woods; the time had not come to cultivate
them for their beauty and their fragrance. The Nineteenth
century was two-thirds gone before a bouquet of roses did
boncjr to the sacred desk while the minister proclaimed the
beautiful parables as exemplified by the Saviour in his ser-
mors. Two-thirds of the century was gone befoTe the
church or the private parlor was decorated with rich and rare
flowers where the blushing bride was made an help meet for
the man of her choice. And last but not least, they are the
sweet emblems of the morning of the resurrection, when
those who are considered worthy to join the grand caravan,
rise to meet the Lord in the air.
In 1894, when Senator Vance returned from Florida and
there was a large political meeting being held in the Audi-
torium between Tryon and Church, on Sixth street, the en-
tire audience commenced shouting for Gov. Vance — men
and women standing up, waving flags and hats and handker-
chiefs, and throwing flowers and wreaths and boquets
around him till he was nearly covered. The crowd cheered
and called for him until he was helped upon the stage, and
he was so choked with emotion that he could not speak for
296 HISTORY OF
several minutes. At last he said : "My friends, I am glad
to see you ; my physicians have forbidden me to speak, so
you must excuse me." Almost a wagon load of flowers were
thrown around him. Here the flowers spoke a silent lan-
guage more powerful than words. They foreshadowed his
approaching dissolution of body and spirit, and the eternal
joys of the Easter awakening that will bloom till cycles
cease to run. It was a happy thought to lift the exquisite
floral offering from its long sleep of inactivity, to its place
of honor and fragrance. Flowers add much to the pleasures
of country life, where books and papers are not so easily
procured. Nothing we can contribute to the sick is so
cheery as a handsome bouquet, freshly plucked from one's
own o^ardeii of well-attended roses and flowers.
'6he Old Four-Horse Statge.
It is now impossible to say when the line of stag-es was
first put on the road communicating between the North and
South by the way of Charlotte. It was in the first years of
the Nineteenth century, or it may be at an earlier period, but
as far back as 1830, the stage coach was looked for with a
great deal of solicitude, particularly for the mail. It car-
ried but few passengers, as the ordinary charge was ten cents
a mile, and it would be much cheaper to go on horsel)ack.
Letter postage was 25 cents, and Newspapers also cost high;
but at tliat time but few papers were taken, and letters were
only written when under the greatest stress of circum-
stances. A person going on a long journey to another State
several Inmdred miles, would frequently have a quantity of
letters to carry for his friends, and for those who were kind
enough to entertain him at night as he passed along. The
stage had the contract for carrying the mails, and gave the
best attention, or served the government first; that is. would
deliver the mail first, and then the passengers. Seventy years
ago the stage delivered the mail here every other day, and
that was the only mail expected. A weekly mail was car-
ried horse-back to Statesville, which was considered quite
an honor to be waited on so frequently.
In the olden time when the stage coach was the most ex-
peditious mode of traveling, and the most rapid way to
transmit the mail, as a precursor to let the people know of
the approach of the United States mail, a long, tin horn, prob-
ably five feet long, was carried by the driver (and the driver
was always a fearless white man) who practiced blowing it
until he was an expert in winding his blast until the sound
was eagerly listened for by those who anticipated its coming.
When the roads were good, a very good speed was attained.
They usually kept a relay of horses every ten of fifteen miles,
and a man was employed to care for the horses and have
298 HISTORY OF
SO expert with the whip they could pick a buck fly from the
ears of the front team, and not touch the horse. In the
western part of the State, and still farther west, it became
necessary to arm the driver to protect his passengers and
any valuables he might be transporting. An efficient mode
of arming the driver was to furnish him with a double-
barrel shot gun, cut off short so it could be carried in the
pants leg. with a hole cut in the bottom of his boot, so when
ordered by the bandit to "throw up his hands," he could
throw up his foot and down the robber when not expecting
it. In the olden times the occupation of the stage driver
was anything else than a sinecure.
Lee Durvlap Kills James Gleatson.
In October. 1868, an election was held in Charlotte, when
a political dispute arose between Lee Duiilap, colored, and
Charley Elms. Very uj^ly words were used, and Elms
threatened to shoot Dunlap, whereupon Dunlap cursed him
and pulled his shirt front open and dared him to shoot.
Elms turned ofif from the negro and Mr. James Gleason
remonstrated with him, when the negro shot and killed him.
He was at once put in jail. There was still a large force of
Federal soldiers camped around town that was a threat that
had a strong tendency to keep the negroes in a state of in-
subordination, and made them exceedingly impudent. After
keeping Dunlap in jail for a month or two, the Federal com-
mander sent him to Raleigh to be tried by the Federal Dis-
trict Court — so said. The noted Tim Lee was sheriff of
Wake, and he kept Dunlap for several months as his wait-
ing boy, and in the course of six months he went to Ohio
without a trial, and has never returned.
S. A, Harris was Mayor of the town at the surrender,
and was removed by Gov. Holden. Dr. H. M. Pritchard ap-
pointed, then Mr. Bizel, then F. M. Ahrens. These a[)pear
to have held the office but a short while.
In January, 1866, S. A. Harris was elected and held the
ofifice till Maj. C. Dowd was electe;d in January, 1869.
During Dowd's term of office the Board of Aldermen dis-
continued burying in the old cemetery. The new one was
marked off, lots were sold, and some persons moved their
dead to the new cemetery.
The manufactories of Mie city were : Rock Island Woolen
Mills, John Wilkes' Foundry and Machine Shop, Tatum,
Sykes & Company's steam work shop. J. Trotter's carriage
shop, Barnhardt & Company's steam work shop, Tiddy &
McCoy's marble cutting works, F. A. McXinch's marble cut-
ting works, Charles Wilson's carriage shop, A. H. Creswell's
300 HISTORY OF
carriag-e shop, and Robert Shaw & Son's saddle and harness
shojt. Groot, Kuck & Co. were at this time operating a dis-
tillery in Charlotte.
The list of lawyers then was an able one, not so numer-
ous as we have now, but the names of some will last through
all time: Burwell & Grier, F. S. De Wolfe, S. W. Davis. W.
F. Davidson, Hutchison & Brown, R. D. Osborne, Jones &
Johnston, S. P. Smith. W. M. Shipp, Vance & Dowd. J. H.
Wilson and R. P. Waring. Almost the entire list was com-
posed of men who followed the Confederate flag, and now
des'red to assist in building up the wreck of our beloved
State. There were 17T irierchants and tradesmen of all
kinds then doing business in the town. At this time there
were sixteen gold mines in operation in Mecklenlnn-g county.
This was only four years after the most destructive war that
was ever waged against the Anglo-Saxon race, when every-
thing of value had been destroyed, and a conquering army
flushed witli victory were watching our every move to heap
indignities upon us and make us feel the bitterness of de-
feat.
But time heals wounds tliat were grievous and hard to
be borne, and rankled in great bitterness. Our country was
left poor indeed ; not a dollar was left even lor those who
had been in the most affluent circumstances. But our South-
ern people went to work with a will that reminds us of the
days when we snatched victory from seeming defeat. For
se\'en years after the, surrender not a public school was
taught in North Carolina.
The educational facilities of the city were limited to the
Charlotte Female Institute, Mecklenburg Female College,
Male Academy by Rev. R. H. Griffith, St. Peter's School,
Rev. B. S. Bronson, and Biddle Institute for the colored
race. This last was endowed by money from tlie North,
and since then money has been spent lavishly, and most ele-
gant buildings and equipments have been furnished, so that
no institution for the education of the colored race can be
found in all the Southern States that can surpass Biddle
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 3OI
in appointments for the purpose intended, viz. : a university
for the education of the youns;- men of the negro race.
There was but one national bank in the town at that time,
the First National, of which R. Y. ]\IcAden was president
and AI. P. Pegram casliier. A. G. Brenizer was cashier of
the City Bank of Charlotte, and C. N. G. Butt teller. Thos.
W. Dewey was president of the Bank of Mecklenburg, R
H. Dewey cashier. These banks furnished all the money
needed to do the business of the town.
For the times and circumstances of the country, the tow^n
was pretty well off in railroad facilities. The North Caro-
lina Central. Columbia and South Carolina, the Lincoln or
Western Division of the Carolina Central, and the States-
ville Railroad. These seemed to give us plenty of outlet for
the amount of trade. They afterward grew as greater
facilities were called for. The first railroad to enter the
town was the Charlotte & Columbia Railroad, in 1852.
Then the North Carolina Central Railroad from Golds-
boro to Charlotte in 1856. Then the Carolina Central
from Wilmington, by Charlotte to Lincolnton and up
into the mountains after the war. The Atlantic, Tennes-
see & Ohio Railroad, commonly called the Statesville
Railroad, was built in 1860-61. In 1864 it was taken up
to finish cut the road from Greensboro to Danville.
It was vital to the welfare of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia that we should have two great lines by which we could
feed and supply the great army that upheld the Southern
Confederacy. This road was afterwards rebuilt, in about
1874. In about the same period the county voted $200,000
to build the road to Atlanta, Ga. ; also $100,000 to recon-
struct and equip the Statesville road. These roads have
done much for the county and town.
Mint Erected to Accommodate Those Engaged
in Mining.
In t830-'35 considerable attention was paid to mining,
especial!}' to gold mining. All through this section of the
State and adjoining States there was a feverish desire to
find a rich gold mine. It was no't uncommon to find chunks
of gold; som^e persons keeping the beautiful lumps to prop
the door of the house open, and carelessly handled, not
knowing what it was worth.
It was now thought advisable tO' have a mint here at home,
and not have to travef long distances to have the precious
metals coined, as the only way to get to Philadelphia was
horseback, by wagon or stage. Fifty miles a day was con-
sidered good traveling, and not more than half the year
could this speed be attained. In 1836 the United States
I^rint was built. Mr. John H. Caldwell made the brick and
delivered them, when the internal appliances were furnished
by the Government, and work was commenced and carried
on regularly up to the time of 'the Civil War. Since then it
has only been used as an assay office.
During the first term of Mr. Cleveland's administration
the remainder of the lot was used for governmental building
— a Federal court room and postofTice. The balance of the
lot has been beautified by being used as a city park, a place
of recreation, musical entertainments and amusements for
children.
T5he Town Pump.
One of tlie oldest works of the town, and that impressed
itself upon the memory of all who saw it, or I should say
them, was the public pump that stood on Tryon street, oppo-
site the Charlotte Holel, and opposite the Nczvs office. They
furnished water for every one in need in the town, and for
all teams passing- through the town. When they were dug,
or who walled them, or who made the pumps and put them
in, we can only guess it was a large-hearted individual,
moved by the authority of the town. No doubt the town
was governed as wisely then as now, but probably the con-
veniences were not so numerous. In the days of the pumps
the streets were not macadamized, or the sidewalks curbed
and paved, or not even planked; but in dry weather the
streets were firm, and in wet weather mud was plentiful
everywhere. Every one had a door mat of shucks to wipe
the shoes on after they had been to the iron scraper, which
was fastened to the end of the lower step. These pumps
were removed and the wells filled up when the court house
was torn away from Independence Square. But another
pump stood in front of the court house on West Trade
street, at the edge of the pavement, not in the middle of the
street as the first ones did. No doubt they served a good
purpose for a long time, but they proved an eye sore till they
were removed. The town is so located as to be midway be-
tween two creeks that run parallel for several miles before
forming a junction, and Sugar Creek furnishes an abundant
supply of water, but when the city doubles its present size,
a large supply will have to be obtained, which can easily be
obtained from the Catawba river. A fall of sufficient
aniount can be obtained from Mountain Island, about seven-
teen miles west cf the town.
Public Works in ChaLrlotte Fifty Years Ago.
At this period no improvements of streets were indulged
in further than working the big roads to keep them passable
for wagons and horseback riding. But few houses stood on
North Tryon beyond the county jail, corner of Tryon and
Sixth street. At this time the jail was regarded as a fine
structure, probably the finest house in the town, and served
as the county prison till the days of reconstruction were over,
when a new one was built on a much larger scale, and in a
more retired part of the town. South Tryon street did not
extend below where the Catholic church now stands, and but
few houses filled the vacancies up to Boyd's Hotel, which
stood on the south corner of fourth and Tryon. The female
academy stood on the square where J. H. Carson now re-
sides. It was burned down about this time, and this square
was used for a great barbecue at the celebration which was
held in 1852 at the completion of the Charlotte and Colum-
bia Railroad. The completion of this road made quite an
epoch in the history of Charlotte and the surrounding coun-
try.
About three years before this a barbecue was held in the
large grove owned by Dr. D. R. Dunlap, now owned by C.
Lee Hunter, Esq. A large concourse of people were in at-
tendance, and Hon. Joseph H. Wilson and Hon. J. W. Os-
borne were the principal speakers. Strange as it may ap-
pear, yet it is nevertheless true, the Whigs believed in in-
ternal improvements, and the Democrats opposed anything
of the kind. Whigs and Democrats had no confidence in
each other, and party spirit ran so high that the sons of one
party Avould not marry a daughter of the other. Dr. Dun-
lap and Peter Brown, between C and D streets, were sup-
posed to live out in the country. T. J. Holton's printing
office (where the Charlotte Whig was published) was on
the east corner of College and Trade, and but few buildings
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 305
Up to the square. Leroy Springs built up his corner where
Jordan's drug store now is in 1830, which was the most
handsome store in town. He had a large cellar door to his
basement, which was left open, and which proved a danger-
ous trap for anything that did not have its eyes the way it
was moving.
Capt. Samuel Lowrie was drilling a cavalry company in
the streets on a general muster day, when his horse became
unmanageable and backed down into the cellar with his
rider. The crowd became silent and awe struck, fesling sure
that both the captain and his fiery steed were killed, but the
suspense lasted but a moment, when Capt. Lowrie rode out
with spurs to his horse, when the crowd gave a deafening
yell of approbation of the fine horsemanship displayed, which
Capt. Lowrie received him with his hat in his hand, and re-
turned a most graceful bow.
In i860 Charlotte town was about 3.000. A directory
was issued that year, and is presumed to be correct. It was
then said that Charlotte was a growing city, that it was
located about the centre of the great mineral wealth of the
State. The United States government established a branch
mint here in 1837 for the accommodation of the mining in-
terests of the State, and other States where it was more con-
venient than Philadelphia. This has proved a benefit, inci-
dentally, to the town.
It is said in a directory gotten out in 1869, that in the
State there was 200 mines and forty cotton factories, em-
f loying $3,000,000. That is not a bad record for that day^
but it looks small when compared with the cotton manufac-
turing industry at the present time in Charlotte alone, when
with the new mills, there will be 150,000 spindles, 2,000
looms, 5,000 operatives, a yearly pay roll in wages of,
$1,000,000 and a valuation of $7,000,000 on the manufac-
tured products.
At this time the city contained a population of 6.000 peo-
ple, and an abundant supply of newspapers, three daily
papers, viz. : the Charlotte Observer, the Carolina Times,
306 HISTORY OF
edited by Hon. R. P. Waring; the Courier-Bulletin, by E. H.
Britton, editor. Gen. D, H. Hill was then publishing The
Laud We Love, and Mr. W. J. Yates was editor of the
Western Democrat.
It is sad to know that every practicing physician who was
living in Charlotte at that time is dead. The wheels of time
never stop for the convenience of man, nor for the tides in
the revolutions of a nation. J. M. Miller, C. J. Fox, Robert
Gibbon, W. W. and R. K. Gregory, J. P. McCombs, J. B.
Jones, S. R. Bratton, P. P. Medlin, L. G. Jones, J. C. Neel
are a complete list of those who were actively engaged in the
practice of medicine in 1869. None of them reached a very
great age.
Maj. C. Dowd was comparatively a stranger, recently had
come to Charlotte, but the people prevailed on him to accept
the mayoralty of the town. It was a difficult place to fill,
while Yankee soldiers often made the laws and superin-
tended their execution. It is a difficult matter to present the
truth of history so that the people of this generation will be-
lieve wliat the good men and women had to endure. But
in 1869 we got a Board of Aldermen that will reflect credit
upon the good people of the town. The list is as follows:
J. A. Young, Jonas Rudisill, J. A. Earnshaw, A. W. Gray,
R. McDonald, H. G. Springs, S. W. Davis, John Treloar,
A. H. Creswell, William Maxwell, James Harty and J. Y.
Bryce. At this time we began to fill the town offices with
high-toned men who would act honestly and deal out justice
between man and man. Capt. A. Burwell was town clerk
and treasurer; J. J. Sims constable, and Charles Elms cotton
weigher and inspector. And the police consisted of the fol-
lowing good men: L. A. Blackwelder, chief; Thomas Har-
"key, Joe Orr, G. W. McManus, W. B. Taylor, Robt. Howie,
M. Plarkey, Mike Healey, S. M. Jamison. These will be re-
membered as good and efficient officers. And as the most
of the county officials resided in the town, we give the names
of those who held the reins of government in the last days of
reconstruction : Col. E. A. Osborne, clerk of the Superior
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 3O7
Court; W. P. Little, coroner; Capt. R. M. Gates, chairman,
S. W. Reid, R. R. King, R. L. Detmond and Thomas L.
Vail, County Commissioners; F. M. Ross, Register of
Deeds; R. M. White, Sheriff; W. P. Bynum, Solicitor Ninth
Judicial District; S. E. Belk, Treasurer.
The people now began to breathe easier, but still they had
to be very careful how they expressed themselves and how
they acted. The "Red Strings" took notice of every word
that an ex-Confederate uttered, and all over the South com-
menced burning barns and gin-houses, that gave rise to the
"Ku Klux Klan," which was all that saved the South from
a worse fate than befell San Domingo. In the language of
the Alabama poet —
" As it is I can't tell you, in numbers sublime,
The thing's that I know of in prose or in rhyme ;
But I'll swear that we had just a hell of a time,
Enduring- the days of reconstruction."
Cha.nges in Mecklenburg in the La^st Century.
One hnndred years ago oiir grand-fathers were the active
men in all branches of progress. The wealthy people all
lived in the country. They never thought of riding in a car-
riage or gig. Buggies were not then made, but every man
kept a first-class horse. A horse that had a good walk, trot
or gallop was always in demand. The fancy gaits that we
now see had not been developed — like "single-footing," was
not common until recent years. The best of houses were on
the plantation. Until the last fifty years it was difficult to
get suitable lum.ber. The first steam saw mill in the county
was after 1850. Then the county commenced improving her
dwellings — building frame instead of brick. In the eastern
part of the county, where building rock could be easily ob-
tained, rock houses were built before the Revolutionarv^
war. The century was well advanced before many fine
houses were built in Charlotte. The great bulk of the im-
provements that have been made in the city, has principally
been done since 1880. Since then many new streets have
been opened and macadamized. The old military academy
has been turned into a graded school; a new building on
Ninth street was put up for the same purpose, both schools
barely furnishing sufficient room for all who will accept free
tuition. There are two first-class private schools for boys
in the First and Fourth wards.
A system of street cars was started by horses, but it was
soon found inadequate for the city, and electric cars soon
took their place and yield a handsome revenue, running in
all parts of the city, with a bright prospect in the near future
of the track being extended to the Catawba river. But a few
years ago our people were moved with wonder and amaze-
ment at every new discovery that was brought to their at-
tention. Now in this second year of the Twentieth century
they think as a matter of course something will be gotten
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 309
ready to meet any emergency that may arise. We have as
yet nothing- that is perfected to take the place of the hand
hoe to thin the cotton to a stand, to dress it up for rapid
growth. Nor have we yet succeeded with a machine to
gather the cotton when it matures. But the inventive genius
of our people is ever on the lookout for anything to save
labor, or cheapen the cost of production. The railroads of
the country, and the public roads of the county call for hands
and machinery; so do the great plants of the various foun-
dries, and other large works employing hundreds of labor-
ers. So that a constant stream from other sections is nec-
essary, in order to supply the demand for labor. The num-
ber of cotton mills now running in the county makes farm
labor very scarce. Twenty-five years ago a great improve-
ment began on county homes, but now we see this is stopped
and the land owners are moving to the city and railroad sta-
licns; if not to work in shops or factories, to get where they
will get the advantage of better schools. This is a fast age.
Sixty years ago, or in the early part of the century we did
not look for a radical change, and it did not come. TJut when
the times were ripe for railroadsto be built, we heard the iron
horse in every direction. Steam has wrought a great revolu-
tion in the last fifty years in Mecklenburg county. It is now
used in the place of human labor. In all places that formerly
required muscle, now we see machinery, as if thinking how
to do the bidding of its master.
One of the great cha,nges we see in Charlotte is "the get
up and push" of all the trades people. The mighty push to
pick up the floating dollar seems to be the chief aim of life. A
generation or two ago, the women took a delight in showing
each other their fine handiwork. They knit most beautiful
hoods and shawls ; stockings that would now be the envy of
these who only dress in store clothes. All the clothing was
nij.de at home, except wedding outfits, or for extra occa-
sions. All the foot wear was home made ; the material was
caraed, spun, and knit; the clothes for the entire family,
white and black, was all done or supervised at home. Fifty
3IO HISTORY OF
years ago the women always took their work with them
when they went visiting-. They would either spend the day
or go immediately after dinner. Until the last twenty-five
years everybody ate dinner at 12 o'clock. Persons who were
able 10 afford it, always carried a nurse along to care for the
baby. If they wished to go several miles, and the roads
were bad, they generally put in two or three days. In a visit
of thflt length, all the neighborhood news was pretty well
ventilated. In our churches at this time, it was customary
to hold communion twice a year, when it was thought best
to have one or more preachers to assist in the service. The
meeting would begin on Thursday and continue till Mon-
day evening. It always was a solemn time. Tokens were
given to each communicant on Friday or Saturday to prevent
any one from sitting down to the Lord's table who were un-
worthy ; and the tokens were collected on Sunday while the
srcrcment was being administered. The long tables that
cxrended across the church with low benches to sit on, have
all pati^ed away, and the present plan has been adopted.
Heatlthfvilness of Mecklenburg.
We have no data to go by for the first hundred years of
Mecklenburg's history ; but from the sparseness of popula-
tion of the first century, we can safely say it was a rare thing
for an epidemic to appear in her confines. Ordinary chills
and fevers, pneumonia, pleurisy, typhoid fever, rheumatism
with the contagious diseases peculiar to childhood, have been
common to all parts of our country. But severe epidemics
have left marks of their ravages only in the last sixty years.
In 1845 ^" epidemic of erysipelas raged with great vio-
lence through the county. One-fourth of those attacked
died. It commenced with a chill, lasting from two to four
or six hours, followed with high febrile excitement, with
diptheritic exhudation in the throat and fauces. The head
was frequently swollen to the size of a half bushel measure,
the act of swallowing much hindered, if not rendered impos-
sible, and the eyes entirely closed, and the entire body emit-
ting an odor very similar to gangrene or mortification.
Whether it was an epidemic, or when started it became con-
tagious, it is now uncertain. The first case in the county
was a man by the name of Fizell, a Kentucky hog drover. He
stopped over night with a steam doctor by the names of Jas.
Clark. In the night he had a violent chill, followed by a
high fever, for which Dr, Clark bled him. In a few hours
he sent for Dr. M. W. Alexander, who found a violent attack
of erysipelas, which began where the lancet opened the vein
of the arm and spread rapidly. Dr. Alexander said, "He
should not have been bled, as it would hasten the disease to a
fatal termination." Mr. Fizell replied, "Don't blame him.
Doctor, for the poor damned fool had no better sense," The
case ended fatally, and Dr. Alexander was the next victim.
The doctor was very popular, and an immense crowd at-
tended his funeral and the disease spread with wonderful
rapidity. Vast numbers died in the upper part of the county.
312 HISTORY OF
Some sections the burials ranged from one to six per day,
and this in a sparsely settled country was putting the death
rate very heavy. It was difficult in some families to have the
sick cared for, and often but few to attend a funeral. A
panic was among the people, and the sick were much neg-
lected, and there was considerable suffering; but after two
or three months tlie plague was stayed. In this epidemic the
whites were the principal sufferers, although the blacks had
the disease, not one-fourth the number of them were affected
by it, yet it proved fatal to a considerable extent.
In the years 1853, 1854, 1855 and 1856, we had an epi-
demic of dysentery that was very fatal. It was said that
Dr. lost one thousand cases in the county during
the scourge, which lasted four seasons. It was emphatically
a summer disease: no special cause was assigned, but hot
weather and eating fruits. Fifty years ago but little atten-
tion was paid to the cause of disease, but the symptoms were
combatted as they should arise. Microbes did not then exist,
or at least had not been discovered. The deadly miasma
that arose from the swamps and low grounds was viriient
enough of itself to produce chills and fever, without the aid
of mosquitoes.
Whether this malaria generated in our creek bottoms and
swamps could have given rise to dysentery, as the peo])le be-
lieved it made chills and fevers, is still a disputed question,
but it is a fact admitted by all, that it was a very fatal disease.
Typhoid fever was more common in former years than of
late. In ante bellum days, the negro was specially liable to
the disease, but for the last third of the Nineteenth century,
he is almost exempt from it, and has taken on consumption,
which is more fatal in its consequences.
Snow on the 15th of April, 1849.
Everything in the way of vegetables was well advanced in
the spring of 1849. The farmers were ready to give corn its
first plowing when the snow came. It fell very gently, no
crust on top. It was so piled up in the apple blossoms that
they looked like snow balls. All vegetation was killed, no
fruit that was in bloom escaped being killed. The great crop
of Mecklenburg "blackberries" alone escaped of all our
fruits. The tender shoots on the forest trees, with all the
herbs and grasses were nipped "with one fell swoop" of the
devouring king. It was not till mid-summer that the trees
made a respectable shade, or the cattle could make a tolera-
ble living in the range at large. The snow was about five
inches deep, and got in his accustomed work the middle of
April with as much efficiency as in earlier months. On May
1 8 and 20, 1875, the frost was so heavy that the wheat all
fell down, corn and cotton was badly killed, and vegetation
in general was badly set back. Our seasons have changed
very much in the last fifty years, our springs have become
later. We formerly planted cotton the first of April, now it
is frequently the tenth of May before cotton is planted. The
falls are noticed to linger in the lap of sunmier, and the
vegetation remains green until the middle of October.
Aurora. BoreaLlis as Seen in October, 1865.
A most wonderful electrical display, which disturbed the
serenity of many of the people of Mecklenburg, who wit-
nessed the gorg-eous display in the after part of the night.
Mr. E. A. McAuley was asked by two deserters from the
Confederate States Army the next morning after the occur-
rence, if he could explain the phenomena. He said, "Yes, it
was the devil uncapping hell to take in all deserters of the
Confederate Cause."
"Starrs Fell" in the Fall o/ 1833.
One of the most remarkable events that ever occurred in
the history of the State, or of America, was the wonderful
fall of meteors in 1833. It was not in a single county or a
State, but its appearance was in all parts of America. With-
out noise or trumpet or any disturbance in the elements, little
blazing balls of light, like shooting stars, commenced falling
soon after dark, and kept on till daybreak. The most of the
meteors would fall three or four feet from the ground and
the blaze would then go out, and leave no residue. It was
a most beautiful sight; not burning or setting fire to any-
thing, simply a blazing ball of gas. Many very ignorant peo-
ple, in their fright, thought judgment day was at hand. It
soon passed from the imaginations of the masses, and was
only remembered as a great display of electricity, or as an
eclipse of the sun.
"Ghe Patssing of an Aerolite From West to Ea^st.
Probably in the year 1846, or thereabouts, in the summer
time, in the afternoon of a warm, clear day, a very large
areolite passed over Alexandriana Academy, making a roar-
ing noise louder than that made by a train of cars. It was
going in an easterly direction, emitting sparks by the thou-
sands as it rushed on in its course, gradually approaching the
ground, till it fell in the southeastern part of Cabarrus
county. The teacher in the academy when he heard the roar-
ing, called to the pupils "to run quick, that the house was on
fire." Fortunately there was no damage done to the house,
for it did not fall in less than twenty miles, where it was after-
wards discovered. Its weight was several tons. Pieces of
it was carried off and placed in cabinets of minerals. It was
spoken of for a long time, and was supposed by many of the
common people to be a piece of some disrupted planet : that
this block came to earth, and here met an obstacle that it
could not pass.
Earthqua.ke Shocks in 1886.
On the last night of August, in 1886, the people of Meck-
lenburg were shaken up, and many of them alarmed at the
convulsions of nature. Some few persons who had a clear
conscience and a good digestion, slept on as peacefully as
an infant. The first came about 10 o'clock, probably one-
third of the people in Mecklenburg were asleep, and many of
those who had done a hard day's work, did not awake. But
on the farms the negroes were badly frightened; they called
their nearest neighbors to come to their relief; some prayed
aloud with great earnestness; others thought some enemy
was trying to pull down their house, and they were defend-
ing their premises with rifles, pistols, shot gims, or any-
thing they could get hold of. Cries of distress and fear
could be heard on all sides, that were truly distressing. A
large family who lived in a large house, some of the mem-
bers had retired, and the father had partaken too freely of his
cups to be reasoned with, when the family all got safely out
of the house, begged the father to get up and come out of
the house, that judgment day had come. Immediately the
firm answer came back, "Go back to your beds you fools you,
don't you know judgment day is not coming in the night?"
How many people will leave home when great fear comes
upon them; they are hunting sympathy, or protection. In
a negro church near Huntersville, the house was crowded
when the first shock was felt, but the preacher partially
quieted the alarm, saying, "If that is some mischievous per-
sons doing that, they will be afraid to do it again ; but if it's
the Lord, look out." Just at the instant the house was
shaken more violently than before, when the negroes poured
out the doors and windows, and over the heads of those who
did not move fast enough — it was a panic. A religious
3l8 HISTORY OF
awakening was started among both whites and blacks ; but,
like all revivals that spring from fear, it soon passed away.
August 31, 1886, was the date of the great earthquake
of the century. Its centre was near Charleston, S. C. Prob-
ably its centre was in the Atlantic ocean near Charleston.
The damage to buildings and railroads was very great. The
ground in many places near the coast was sunken several feet
and in other places was raised, making it appear in waves.
It cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair the dam-
ages to buildings and railroads. In the up-country but com-
paratively little damage was done to buildings, except that
brick buildings were cracked and rendered unsafe, A per-
fect pandemonium of fear and alarm ran riot over the coun-
try. The people were not educated in the behavior of earth-
quakes, and not one out of fifty persons knew what it was.
Of course fright and fear filled the hearts of most persons
who had no knowledge of such phenomena. In every direc-
tion in the country you could hear cries of dirtress — one per-
son called to another to come to them. The lamps setting
about in the houses were shaken so violently that they were
taken from the mantle or table and put on the floor.
Many persons who paid no attention to religion were per-
suaded through fear that they needed assistance from a
higher power. Loud prayers and strong crying was heard in
many places, and many joined the Church.
A friend of mine coming home from Church in the upper
part of this county, said when he heard the rumbling noise
that accompanied the earthquake, he immediately got off the
track of the railroad, thinking it was the train coming. Oth-
ers saw electric balls of fire flashing along the track. I had
two little boys, 15 years old, sleeping out in my office, who
ran into my dwelling house after the first shock, and I asked
them "what the dog was barking at so furiously." They
said, "Somebody's horses and wagon went by the office like
a whirlwind." This noise was from southeast to north-
west ; such appeared to be the course of the cesmic disturb-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 3I9
a nee. These shocks were continued for several days, at
intervals of a few moments to several hours. This is a fair
statement of what took place in one hundred miles of Char-
lotte. But the nearer you approch to Charleston, or the
centre of the disturbance, the greater was the destruction of
property, many houses were rendered unsafe, and some were
shaken down.
Progress.
The olden times have passel away, and their associations
have in a great measure been forgotten with their plans of
education, when it was thought that boys were alone worthy
of an education — at least of a high class, that would fit them
for the most exalted positions in the State. That filling the
place of maid — of all work, was the highest round on the
ladder of fame that a girl was capable of filling, unless she
was born under a "lucky star," The aristocracy of one hun-
dred years ago was handed down from royalty, and cropped
out in generations after leaving a government that was run
by the best of the land. That was far superior to a rule of
money bags, which now controls in this country. For more
than a quarter of a century millionaires have bought seats
of Senators with enormous wealth, and had no other claim
to patriotism. But we are happy to know that in our county
no ofiCice has ever been obtained through barter or fraud, nor
in the State of North Carolina.
In the first sixty years of the Nineteenth century, not a sin-
gle millionaire could be found in North Carolina; since then
a few men have crept up to the much desired mark, and as
they ascended the giddy height, probably one hundred were
forced on the downward scale. The two extremes of riches
and poverty meet here in Mecklenburg, but we have very few
of either class in our more than fifty thousand population.
Our county is now progressing in a most satisfactory man-
ner; our modes of agriculture have kept pace with the im-
provements of the age; it is now not necessary to sow the
wheat, oats and rye by hand; drop corn, peas and other
things by hand, but everything is worked by machinery.
In the early years of the century almost every one lived in
the country, and continued to live on the farm till 1850. The
evolution of Southern hospitality was not interfered with
in any form until we were robbed of our liberty and denied
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 32I
the right of managing our private affairs as a free people
were accustomed to do for one hundred years. The people
of Mecklenburg were noted for their hospitality, and would
never take advantage of a neighbor's necessity. It was rare
and uncommon for a friend or neighbor to charge another
interest for the loan of money for a few months, or a year;
he would simply say, "I loaned my neighbor or friend for
accommodation ; I don't keep money for speculation." Sim-
ply to be wealthy did not give a passport into select society;
a clean moral character would have to be accepted. The
public roads were regarded good in dry weather, and ex-
ceedingly bad in wet weather. Fifty years ago to haul pro-
duce to market was a job to be dreaded. To Cheraw, in
South Carolina, was then our nearest market, generally
taking about eight or ten days ; or a trip to Charleston, con-
suming three weeks, and to Philadelphia, six to eight weeks.
Roads in that early period were poorly worked, just so that
they would "pass muster."
The first agricultural fair ever held in Mecklenburg was
in the year 1846. It is not known to what extent it was ad-
vertised, but it must have been very limited from the num-
ber of persons who attended, and the articles on exhibition.
The first fair was held in the back room and the back yard
of H. B. & L. S. Williams' store, which was located at the
corner of the Second ward, where is now kept the Carolina
Clothing Company.
The middle of the afternoon of that momentous Novem-
ber day, a few of the county's best farmers congregated in
the rear of H. B. & L. S. Williams emporium to talk of what
the foremost county of the State could do, and what the
county proposed to do. They did not despise the day of
small things. The people were looking forward when the
day should come that agriculture would eclipse all that had
been done, or dreamed it was possible to do'. But in justice
to the people of the county and to those outside her borders,
it is fit and proper that an account of the fair — probably the
first in the State — certainly the first in Mecklenburg county.
322 HISTORY OF
There were no marshals appointed for the occasion; there
may have been a president and secretary, but no one ap^-
peared to be in command, Maj. Ben. Morrow did the most
of the talking. He invited the crowd into the back room of
the store where we examined seven or eight of the largest
turnips that ever grew in the county. These were thoroughly
examined, and pronounced most excellent. There was noth-
ing else in the room intended for exhibition, we were asked
out in the yaril to pass judgment on a horse colt and a mule
colt — one year old the next spring, their tails and main per-
fectly matted with cockleburs — next was a very fine Durham
bull, belonging to Maj. John Caldwell. This constituted the
first fair. Col. B. W. Alexander urged its repetition with
greater effort. It has grown to respectability in the last fifty
Gentlemen and Laddies Before the Civil Wa-r.
A complete revolution in manners and habits, in the civili-
zation of the middle of the last century — all is changed.
Gentlemen as a rule, attended to their own business. vSome
large farmers who were not willing, or for any cause were
unable, employed an overseer who attended to the affairs of
the farm by direction of the owner. In many cases the pro-
prietor owned several farms or plantations, with a number
of slaves to each farm, and in those cases the proprietor over-
saw the different overseers. Of course these are or were rare
cases. There were not more than a dozen very rich men in the
county, and probably not more than that many who, were
very poor. In our county poor house there were not more
than half a dozen, who had to be cared for by the hand of
charity. The great multitude of our people lived in easy
circumstances ; they lived plainly, were industrious, paid for
what they purchased, raised what they needed to eat, and
what they wore. Almost every family had their own loom,
wheel and cards for every two females of the family, white
and black. Sewing thread was also spun, doubled and
twisted on the spinning wheel at home. Only for very fine
goods was spool thread bought. Flax thread, of different
colors was brought on by the merchants in hanks of four cuts
each, which the good housewife would wind into balls, being
more convenient for sewing. For home made thread, there
was always kept in reach a ball or cake of beeswax to wax
the thread, and keep it from getting in knots, or "kinking."
The civilization of fifty years ago and now, is very different.
Negro women spent all their time when not employed in
making or gathering the crops in spinning and weaving
cloth to make their clothes, or bedding, or clothes for mem-
bers of the white family. Four to six cuts was regarded a
day's work, either winter or summer. For a web of fine cloth
an expert weaver was employed ; usually that would weave
324 HISTORY OF
from four to six yards a day, if they had an extra hand to
"fill the quills." Anything like plain shirting, they could
weave ten to twelve yards per day. They were not taxed
very heavily with work when they had children to see after;
on the whole their life was a happy one, fifty years ago.
It was different in many places from what it was here ; it
was common in this country where a man owned a half
dozen or more negro men, for him to have one a blacksmith,
or a carpenter, a tanner or a shoemaker; it may be they would
not be fine workmen, but abundantly capable of doing the
farm repairs that were constantly being needed. In other
counties, especially south of here, they were not learned a
trade, but every effort was made to increase their output of
cotton.
There was nothing fifty years ago of the "codfish aris-
tocracy," built on a money basis; but if a man's character
was good, he was freely admitted into the best society. But
let him once get down by an ill-timed stroke of policy, or
overreach his neighbor in a money transaction, or change the
mark of his neighbor's stock, or be strongly suspecied of an
underhanded trick, he lost his standing instantly; and as a
rule he never regained his former standing. It was do right,
or move, or else be under the ban forever.
Fifty years ago the party lines were so tightly drawn,
that men in opposing parties — Whigs and Democrats —
were loth to mingle together freely socially. They fre-
quently spoke oi each other "as a very clever man, but he
is such a Democrat, or he is such a Whig." In fact it was
carried so far that a gentleman of good standing in the Dem-
ocratic party would not pay his address to a young lady
wdiose parents were as invenerate Whigs, and vice versa. A
half century ago the better classes of society were very par-
ticular with whom they associated; that is they would not
allow their daughters to go riding, or attend social parties
or in any way to be thrown together with people of a lower
caste. Money, or wealth did not give admittance to the cir-
cles of worth and merit. This did not extend to our common
MECKI.EXBURG COUNTY. 325
schools or churches, except where there was guilt, criminal
guilt. Fifty 5'ears ago the leveling principle was not tolera-
ted ; but where worth was found, it was always recognized.
About 1S56 the bars were let down, or rather thrown away,
in admitting free suffrage to the voters of North Carolina,
permitting every one to vote for Senator, the landed inter-
est of the State was confided to the non-property holders
(the land ho'lders being in the minority), here was opened
the Pandora's box that put in operation the leveling pro-
cess that destroyed the old time aristocracy of the State, and
admitted all classes, disreputable characters as well, to the
highest privileges in the State. Party lines and the party
lash had a wonderful influence for goc'd or evil, and was
only tempered by falling into the hands of good m.en.
Sixty years ago female education had made wonderful
progress. Academies, colleges and boarding schools for
young women and girls were taking a prominent place in
the vState, and especially in Mecklenburg county. In 1835
an excellent school was taught in Charlotte by Mrs. S. Nye
Hutchison, with whom Miss Sarah Davidson was associated
as music teacher. In the forties a Presbyterian minister by
the name of Freeman had charge of the school. Then in
or about 1847. the Rev. Cyrus Johnston took charge of the
Female Academy and taught a large school till he died in
1853. ]\Ir. A. J. Leavenworth, a minister, taught and
preached in Charlotte early in the thirties, for several years
and afterwards moved to Petersburg, Va., where he ran a
school for a number of years. Rev. J. M. M. Caldwell and
wife taught successfully a fine school in Sugar Creek neigh-
borhood three miles from Charlotte, till he removed to Rome,
Ga., in 1845. Another school was then gotten up at Chre-
mont, near Sugar Creek church, taught by Misses Chamber-
ley and Gould. These were Northern ladies and gave fine
satisfaction. A fine school for young ladies was taught at
the residence of J. R. Alexander, half way between Charlotte
and Davidson College, by the daughter of Mr. Alexander,
who married Rev. W. W. Pharr, D. D. Now there may have
326 HISTORY OF
been other female schools in the county, the names of which 1
do not now recall. Did any other county in the State do as
well towards educating the girls in either town or country?
As a rule only those who belonged to the wealthy class en-
joyed the advantages of education in the early days of the
Nineteenth century.
Education in Mecklenburg has been on the increase all the
time since the first school was taught in the county. It was
slow progress to build up the schools from their crude start-
ing point — the little log cabin, with weight poles to hold the
rough boards in their place; dirt floor, wooden chimney,
lined with rock ; split logs for benches, a log cut out of the
side of the house to admit light to the writing desk, made by
boring a hole and putting in a large pin to lay a plank on to
hold the copybook, or paper.
This completes the furniture of the school house one hun-
dred years ago, except the master's chair, and a handful of
hickories. This is not an inviting picture, but it is a true one.
No wonder our State has led all her sisters in ignorance of
books. But the tide is now turned; and if we can prophesy
from the buildings now going up, the schools now under
way, the money being spent, we will soon be as far ahead
of our neighbors as we have been behind. In our town we
have two colleges for girls that but a few years ago might
have been taken for palaces. Our graded schools will accom-
modate two thousand children, with all the paraphrenalia
that is necessary for a school of the highest order. The
trustees have had an eye to secure the best teachers, and none
are retained who do not fill the bill in every particular. The
school for the negroes is equally efficient, and has the
same trustees to see that each teacher is capable and does his
or her work in an admirable manner. Other schools in the
town, which are private, are well patronized and their boys
enter with praise whichever college they elect to attend.
Charlotte is well off for schools for either sex.
One of the results of the great war between the States
from 1 86 1 to 1865. was to rob the people of their property,
MECKIvENBURG COUNTY. 327
bearing heaviest upon the women of our country, forcing
them into channels of trade to which they nor their mothers
were used in former times. New fields of industry have been
opened up to girls and women, that prior to 1870 were never
thought of. In all departments of mercantile life women
are now an important factor. There is now scarcely a store
or place of business in our thriving city, but what a young
lady presides over the apartment suited for female work.
Hundreds of ladies, even of the best families, fill the short
hand and typewriter's place in the cotton stores, in the offices
where machinery of all kinds is kept; in fact they are every-
where that work is to be done that she is suited for. All
professional men now have a typewriter, especially lawyers,
if their business will allow or can afford it. Probably they
will work for less than a man, or it may be that they are
more efficient. It is surely not simply a "fad," but renders
them more independent.
Quite a number of young women have become nurses in
hospitals where they are doing a most excellent work. This
has also developed since 1870. The first Southern woman
to enter the medical profession was from Mecklenburg
county. Dr. Annie L. Alexander graduated in Philadelphia
in 1884, has been a successful practitioner ever since, and
has led the way in this new venture in all the Southern States
where many have since followed, and are meeting with suc-
cess in their new calling.
The time was in the early part of the century when an ed-
ucation was almost impossible for a woman in humble cir-
cumstances to attain. Then but few attained positions above
that of helping about the house, taking care of the young
children, raising chickens, milking the cows and making but-
ter, or working in the fields. In the early years of the cen-
tury, it was more than fashionable for young people to
marry; it was natural, and it was the rule and not the excep-
tion to raise large families. From twelve to sixteen children
was by no means uncommon. And the Psalmist was often
quoted where he said, "Hapy is the man who has his quiver
328 HISTORY OF
full of them." In that age the people lived plainly; the
hours of the day and night were kept separate, the day for
work and the night for sleep and rest. They raised on the
farm what they wanted to eat, and spun their clothing at
home. It was considered quite an accomplishment for the
mistress of a household to be an expert in cutting and fitting
a dress, a man's coat, vest and pants. This was an accom-
plishment to be proud of. If a man should be so unfortunate
as to marry a woman who knew nothing about having the
family clothed and fed, and the house furnishings attended
to, with a growing family of children to provide for. he was
to be pitied indeed. Such cases were rare, but not unknown.
Newspapers were scarce at this period, and the dime novel
was unheard of, and the light, trashy reading of the present
day was undreamed of. Hence no time was idled reading
unprofitable works.
Pak-frol in Sla.very.
Many chang-es have taken place in the last forty years,
mostly for th.e betterment of our people. About the year
1740 people began to move from the older settled portions
of the country to find new homes in the various sections of
the county. From the time the first emigrants began to seek
homes in the wilds of this part of the country — before the
county was laid off — the negro came along as part of the
emigrants' family, with no one to interfere or put mischief
in his head: but was taught the rudiments of religion with
the skill of cultivating the soil. That was a time when one
section did not envy another, but stood ready to lend a help-
ing hand against a native foe, and a few years later to com-
bine against the tyranny of England.
The climate and soil of Mecklenburg were suitable and
were eminently fitted for slave labor to be profitable. In one
hundred years the increase in numbers was very great, not-
withstanding large numbers were moved South and West,
as the citizens sought more fertile lands, as the markets of
the world were opened up to king cotton. It soon became
the custom to sell all the bad negroes ; in fact, the good peo^
pie of a neighborhood would not tolerate a bad character at
home, either man or woman. One who was smart and given
to crime, had a most pernicious effect on those with whom
he came in contact; hence he was promptly sold out of the
State. It was to prevent negroes from holding meetings at
night and on Sundays for planning mischief, that our county
courts organized the patrol to keep the negroes from congre-
gating at places unbeknown to their masters. They were
permitted to go to the church of their choice, and were not
interfered with. If they wanted to visit any of their friends
at night or Sunday, they could easily get a pass, which would
insure them safety from the patrol. The last twenty-five
years of their servitude, the patrols were very vigilantly en-
330 HISTORY OF
gaged in looking after the interests of the South. In about
1845 it was no unusual thing for Northern school teachers —
both men and women — to come down South to teach school,
and frequently hold secret meetings with the negroes, doing
a great deal of harm to our system of labor, and as abolition-
ists, rendering the negroes dissatisfied with their lot. This
was the prime cause of appointing a patrol, and in justifica-
tion of the good name of the people of Mecklenburg, one
raid of the patrol will be given :
One afternoon in the autumn of 1845, Capt. Caleb Hunter,
who lived in Prosperity neighborhood, received a letter
from Capt. Johnston, of Paw Creek, requesting him to bring
his contingent of police or patrol, and make a visit in Paw
Creek, according to agreement. On Sunday evening about
sun down, Capt. Hunter, James Alexander, David Allen,
Henry Hunter, Columbus Corum, with probably two or
three more, started for the appointed place in Paw Creek.
When the place was reached, Capt. Johnston was in his yard
awaiting their arrival. The two captains conferred together
as to their expected gain, and what should be done with it,
if found, A ride of two miles more brought them to the
place. Silently they approached the negro house. They re-
quested the door to be opened, and a light was quickly made,
when Mr. Allen espied a very fair skinned man lying very
cozily in bed with his "Dulcinia del Tobosa," Mr, Allen
took him by the collar, and as he led him out, he whispered,
"I am a while man; I am a white man." His captor pre-
tended no't to hear him, when he spoke louder and said, "I
am Mr. Cook, the school teacher." With this Mr. Allen
gave him a slap on the face and said, "You lying scoundrel,
you are trying to pass yourself off for Mr. Cook. Mr. Cook
is a gentleman and would not be caught in a negro house;
draw your shirt ; we will learn you not to try to pass yourself
for Mr. Cook, you trifling mulatto." Here the captain spoke
up and ordered him to be given thirty-nine lashes on account
of his impudence. The law was soon satisfied, and the mis-
MKCKLENBURG COUNTY. 33 1
cegenationist no longer tokrated in the county. Such char-
acters were frequently foiuid as camp follower in the wake of
the Yankee army, sowing the seeds of disaffection and an-
archy and all the ills that follow where license is encouraged,
both by precept and example, and where law and order are
ignored.
The system of patrolling where judicially carried out, was
an important factor in preventing trouble with both negroes
a'^d whites. Mean white men always made mean negroes;
hence the necessity for a patrol to make each race know their
position in society. It seems to have been natural for the
negro to steal, but if he did not get encouragement from the
low order of the white race, he would not be noted for his
proficiency in the pilfering art. In ante-bellum times when a
negro was strongly suspected of trading with a white man,
their maneuvers were closely watched by the patrol, and
when caught, the negro was whipped and the white man
heavily fined, or punished by whipping, stocks, or imprison-
ment. These were ante-bellum ways of dealing with crime;
and it was much more effective than the present, which seems
to say "We are sorry to imprison you, but we will be as light
as possible." When not interfered with by those who have
no interest in their welfare, the negroes were a contented
and happy people. They seldom appeared in our courts, only
in the gravest of crimes, and then they were the dupes of un-
principled white men. Well-bahaved negroes had the re-
spect of the good people wherever known; but bad and dis-
reputable white men were equally despised by both white
and colored persons. As a general rule negroes hated "poor
white trash," and when spoken to by them, gave unmistaka-
ble evidence that they considered them their inferiors. Any-
thing that the master or mistress trusted to the care of a
negro was as safe as if deposited in the vaults of a bank.
They were remarkably true to each other, except in cases
where there had been a quarrel, or a falling out. They would
never give away one of their color.
332 HISTORY OF
It was a noted fact that they wotild submit to the lash
rather than tell on each other, even in arson and murder.
There is as much difference in the breed of negroes as in the
breed of white people. Some are very tractable and docile,
others are morose and vicious. A patrol will be needed for
many years to come.
Roster of the Twenty-One Companies Furnished
by Mecklenb\irg County, N. C, in the Wa.r
of 1861-65.
To preserve a correct list of all Confederate troops fur-
nished by Mecklenburg county, N. C, it was moN'ed by
Capt. John R. Irwin, in the camp of United Confederate Vet-
erans, while holding a reunion at Sharon church, August
31, 1894, that Dr. J. B. Alexander be appointed to make a
Roster of all Confederate troops from Mecklenburg county,
and have the same published at his earliest convenience.
The resolution was adopted without a dissenting voice.
S. H. Hilton, Lieut. Com'dcr.
D. G. Maxwell, Adjut. and Sec.
It should be preserved as important in the history of
Mecklenburg county, that in i860, at the general election
for governor, the vote stood: For John W. Ellis. 1,274;
for John Pool, 757; total, 2,031. Soldiers sent to the C. S.
A. by Mecklenburg county, 2,713. Were not the people
terribly in earnest? The number killed, wounded and died
in the service, was beyond a parallel. The patriotism our
people are noted for was handed down from sire to son, from
1775 to 1 86 1. Those who were patriots in the first revolu-
tion, propagated in every instance patriots in the second.
Blood will tell.
Key to Abbreviations. — w, wounded; k, killed; w. c,
wounded and captured; d, died.
334
HISTORY OF
ROSTER.
Company B, First, or Bethel,
Re}:iment. (Six Months Men.)
Officers.
Li. S. Williams, captain, cm.
April iSth, -61, Mecklenburg
Co.
W. A. Owens, captian.R.
W. A. Owens, lot lieutenant,
cm. April 18th, '61, Mecklen-
burg Co.
P., Major of 34th Regt and
Lieut. Regt., K.
Robt. Rrice, 1st lieut., (Elulcd).
W. P. Hill. 2nd lieut.
T. D. Gillespie, 3rd lieut.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
T. D. Gillespie. 1st sergeant.
J. H. Wyatt, 2nd sergeant.
J. B. F.-ench, 4th sergeant
R. B. Davis. 1st corporal.
J. J. Alexander, 2nd corporal.
W. M. iviattheus, Jr. 3rd corpo-
ral.
A. M. Rhym, 4th corporal.
Phillips, 1st sergeant.
Black Davis, corporal.
Julius Alexander, sergeant.
Minor Saddler, druggist.
Privates.
AnJerPon, C.
Alexander, J. L.
Alexander, M. E.
Alexander. F. T.
Barnctt, William.
Bond, Newton.
Boone, J. B. T.
Black, Josiah.
Bourdeaux. A. J.
Biggart, W. S.
Crawford, R. R.
Crowel'. E. M.
Caldwell, R. B.
Caldwell, J. E.
Cannedv, Robt.
Davis. J. G. A.
Davis, R. A. G.
Davidson. J. F.
Dorsett. J. F.
Dyer. W. G.
Eagle, A.
Eagle. John.
Frazier. M. L..
Frazier John.
Fredrick, J. R.
Fullenwelder, H.
I'"*anygen, M. L.
Gray, H. N.
Gray, R. F.
Grier, S. A.
Graham, S. R.
Gillett, J. H.
Griffin, J. H.
Hunter, J. II.
Hollingsworth, B.
Harris, W. L.
Howell, S. A.
Hilton, S. H.
Henderpon, W. M.
Howell, E. M.
Jacobs, G. W.
Jones. Milton.
Ja?ma, L. R.
Kesiah. Wm.
Kerr, Wm. J.
Landler. Orminer.
Lee, J. M.
McGinnis, R. C.
Lowrie. J. B., k at Gettysburg.
Muny, T. N.
McDonald, Allen.
McCorkle. R. B.
Mosley, M.
Mean=. W. N. M.
Mehnlers. John.
Nichols. J. S.
Norment, A. A.
Gates, Jis. H.
Oateo. Coowy.
Orr, S. H.
Price. R. S.
Paredoo.S.
Phifer, R.
Pftts, J. H.
Price. Joseph.
Phelps, H. M.
Query, R. W.
Ro«^e. W. C.
Rieler. G. H.
Rea, W. P.
Rose. W. C.
Rozzell, W. P.
Squires, J. B.
Stowe. John.
Sharpe. R. A.
■Shaw, L. W. A.
iSadler, Julius.
Smfth, J. Perry.
Steel. M. D.
Sheppard. J. W.
Taylor, J. W.
Torrence. Gporge.
Tovam, Willam.
Tiddv J. p.
Tiddy, R. A.
MKCKLENBURG COUNTY.
335
Tate, A. H.
Tate, Henry.
Thompson, R.
Wagner, J. W.
Win die, M. F.
Wiley, W. J.
Williams, W. S.
William?on, J. W.
Total, lOS men.
I
Charlotte Grays, Company C,
First N. c. (Bethel) Regiment.
Enlisted April, 1861.
Officers.
E. A. Ross, Capt. P. Maj. of
nth N. c.
E. B. Cohen, 1st lieut .
T. B. Trotter. 2nd lieut.
C. W. Alexander, 2nd lieut.
C. R. Staley, orderly sergeant.
J. P. Elms. 2nd sergeant, P.
lieut.. 37th N. C.
J. G. MrOorklp. 3rd lieut.
W. G. Berryhill, 4th lieut.
D. L. Biingle, 5th or Ensign.
W. D. Elms, 1st corporal, P.
C3pt. 37 th N. C.
W. B. Taylor, 2nd corporal, P.
2nd Lieut., Co. A, 11th N. C.
Henry Terri", 3rd corpora.l.
George Wclfe, 4th corporal.
Dr. J. B. Boyd, surgeon.
Privates.
Alexander, M. R,
Alexander, T. A.
Adams, Lindsey.
Andrey, J. P., P. Capt., 4^th
N. C.
Ardrey, W. E., P. Capt., 30th
N. C.
Brown, A. H.
Brown. Wm.
Brown. Wm. J.
Britton. Ed. P,
Behrends. L.
Calder. Wm.
Cathev. J. W.
Caldwell. S. P.
Crawpon. J. P.
Cowan. T. B.
— Campbell, T. J.
Clendenren. J. W.
ColHns. J. P.
Davis, T. G.
Downs, T. J., P. Lieut., 30th
N. C.
Downs, L. W.
Davidson. J. P. A.
Dunn, J. R.
EngeJ, J.
Earnheardt, J. M.
Ezzell, M. P.
Ezzell, J. A.
Elliott, S. H.
Elliott, J. A.
Flow, R.H.
Flore, James.
Frazier, I. S. A.
Grier, R. H., P. Lieut., 49th
N. C.
Grier, J. C. Capt.. 49th N. C.
Grier, J. M.
Gibson, J. A.
Glenn. D. P.
Gribble, J. R.
Gray, N.
Gil'espie, R. L.
Hall, D. W.
Hill, J. C.
Hill, W. J.
Hill. H. H.
Harrel, W. Lee', P. C^pt. A llth
N. C.
Hand, Robt. H. P. Lieut. A
11th N. C.
Howard, R. H.
Howard, Thomas.
Hutchison, Jas. M.
Hutch-Son, Cynes N.
Holton, Tom P.
Harkey, Tom M.
Holms T. Lindsey.
H'askell Jas T.
Han = er, W. T.
Herron, George T.
Howey, Geo. W.
Harkey, Jacob.
Henderson, L. P.
Isreal. Jack R.
Icehower. Wm. S.
Ingold, E. P.
Johnson, Robt. W.
Houston. Harper C.
Hymans, S.
Kntz. Jacob.
Kl=tler, Wm. H.
Kinsey. Jack A.
Knox J. H.
Keenan, Robt.
Leon, Louis.
Levi, J. C.
Leopold. Jacob.
Moyle, Henry.
McGinn. Tom P.
IMcKinley, John.
McKeever, Wm.
McDonald, D. Watt.
McDonald, John H.
Montelth, Robt. J.
Montieth, Moses O.
McElroy, ?am'l J.
Norment, Jack.
Normetnt, Isaac.
32^
HISTORY OF
NeaJ, Wm. B.
Ntal, L, M.
Neal S. R.
Neal, P. A.
Neely, Thomas W.
Oppenheim, S.
Orr, J. T.
Osborne. John L.
Orman, J. E.
Pettus, Mack.
Phillips, S. A.
Carter, W. R.
Carter, R. A.
Potts, John G, P. Lieut., 49th
Rgt.
Patts, Wm. M.
Potts, Lawson A. P. Capt. 37th
N. C.
Queny, Calvin M.
Ruddock, Theo. C.
Rea, J. R.
Rea, D. B.
Stone, Wm. D.
Steele. W.
iStovve, Jim M.
Sizer, Wm. E.
Sims, J. Monroe, Q. M. Serg-t.
11th N. C.
Springs, Richard A.
Smith, C. Ed.
iSmith, S. B.
Smith, M. H.
Smith, W. J. B.
Saville, W. H.
Sample, John W.
Sample, David I.
iSaville, James M.
Simp?on, Robt. Frank.
Todd, S. E.
Todd, Wm.
Treloan, John W.
Tate, Hugh A.
Watt. Charles B.
Watt B. Frank.
WinaratP, C. C.
Wolfe, T. D.
Wolfe. T. J.
Wiley, John.
Total, 143 offlcers and rrr
Coiti'-any C, Firft Regiment N.
C. Cavalry,
Officers.
J. M. Miller, ca'ptian.
M. D. L. MoLeod.
R. H. Maxwell, lieut.
J. L. Morrow, lieut., k.
W . B. Field, lieut.
J. F. Johnson, oaptian.
Non-Comm issioned Officers.
M. Steel.
D. S. Hutchison.
J. P. Alexander.
P. C. Haikey.
J. M. Pugh.
- R. H. Cambell.
D. K. Orr, w.
J. Lewellyn.
M. L. Davis.
J. B. Stearns.
J. W. Moore.
J. W. Kizziah.
W. T. Bishop.
Antrice, J. W.
Antrice, W. M., d.
Archey, J. W.
Anderson, L. D.
Ardrery, J. W.
Blake, S. N.
Earris, E. C.
Burris, J. T.
Breffard, W. J.
Ballard, F. A.
Ballaru, J. L.
Boyd, P. L.
Butler, J. T.
Black, T. N.
Barnett, T. E., k.
Calloway, J. C, d.
Cobble, J. D.
Conner, T. A., d.
Cottraim. A. W.
Carroll, J. H.
Craig, M. F.
Cruse, M. C.
Crump, R. H.
Cathey J. W.
Davidson, E. C.
Dulin, J. M., d.
Edleman, T. P.
Edwards, A. J.
Edwards, E., k.
Efird, J. C.
Efird, J. E.
Finley, M. K., w.
Furr, John, d.
Flow, E.
Flow, J. M., w.
Fords, H. H.
Tredermick, W. S.,
Tre>!prmirk. N. P.
Tredermick, J. R.
GiHespie, S. A.
Gaiisesen. W. G.
Gillespie, A. M.
Goodsen. H. M-
Graham, J. R.
MECKI.ENBURG COUNTY.
337
Hurston, A. W.
Harget, Harrison., d.
Hargett, F. M.. d.
Hargett, Osborne.
Hargett, H. M.
Harkey. T. B., d-
Helms, J. A.
Helms, J. W.
Helms, H. M., c
Hopkins, P.
Hudson, J. H.
Holden, E. M., d.
Hilton, S. H.
Henderson, W, M. F.
Hunter, J. W., w.
Hartis, M. A.
Hartis. A. L.
Holbrook, A.
Johnson, W. P.
Jennings, C. J.
Jordan, B. F.
King, R. R.
Lewis, C. J.
Lfewis, J. M,
Morris, G. C,
Martin, Edward.
McCall, J. M.
McCarver, Jas.
McNeely, T. N., w.
McLeod, J. M., w.
McCall, J. A.
McGinnis, John.
McDoughall, M.
McCall, Wm.
McCarver, Alex.
Noles, A. T., d.
Noles, W. A.
Orr, J. A., k.
Orr, J. J., k.
Orr, N. D., w.
Parks J. L... c.
Potts, T. E.
Potts, C. A.
Pholan, J.
Page, E. M.
Peach, H.
Rea, J. M.
Rea, D. B.
Robson, G. M.
Reenhardt, J. P.
Rea, W. A.
Rea, R. R.
Rea, Robt.
Rea, J. L.
Sparrow, J. 9.
Smith, J. W.
Stanis, J. B.
Schneider. G.
Sanders, W. H.
Stams, C. R., c.
Steele, W. G.
Stucker, Christian.
Ty«, W. B., deserted.
Tomberlen, E. M., w.
Thompson, J. N., d.
Taylor, A. W.
Taylor, Art. deserted.
Taylor, J. C.
Taylor, J. A.
Taylor, J. M.
Tomlin, J.
Taylor, W. F.
Thompson, R. G.
Underwood, S, M.
VanPelt, J. N.
Vance, J. C, d.
Ualle, P. O
Watson, W. A.
White, J. S.
Wilson, John.
Williamson, J. A.
Werner, L..
Wallace, M. L., k.
Williford, T. F.
Walker, J. B.
Wallace, Wm., k.
Williams, J. M.
Whitaker, H. A., k.
Yandle, W. A.
Yandl3, W. H.
Yandl-. J.B.
Total, 145; from other counties
56; 8 wounded; killed 9.
Company D, Seventh Regiment.
Officers.
Captain W. L. D-avidson.
Captain T. J. Cahill.
Wm. J. Kerr,, W. '62, K.'63.
Tim P. Mollay.
Lieutenants, I. E. Brown, J. A.
Torrence, B. H. Davidson,
Thos. P. Mollay, P. J. Kirby.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
McLure, Jas. M.
James Paul.
LeLaiin, Al.
Herbert, W. G. W.
Wedlock, W.
Jamison, S. N.
Clark, Jas.
Bundle, Thos.
Privates.
Alexander, Wm., d.
Anderson, Richard.
Ayers, A. G., c. .'62.
Bynum, Rufus. d.
Buglin, Patrick,
Beard, J. H., d.
Bennett, G. W.
Bennett, J. G.
pprry. Jas.
338
HISTORY OF
Bolton, G. B.
Brannan, Patrick.
Brinkla, John., w.
Brinkle, Thos.
Burnett, J. S., d. '62
Brown, J. J., w. '63
Eillow, W. H., d, '62.
Brown, Alex.
Bxown, Nicholas.
Donovan, Philip.
Donovan, Jeremiah.
Daslnger, Francis.
Dobson, Hiram.
Davidson, J. W.
Davidson. B. W.
Elliott, Wm.
Elmore. J. T., d.
Eller, John.
Edmirton, J. R., k.
Frlck, Jacob.
Fogleman, P. L.
Gallagher, Arch, w.
Claywell, J. F., d. '62.
Carricker, Levi d. '62.
Catkin, Tim L.
Cable, Lewis.
Conder, Wiley, k. '63.
Collins, John.
Chancy, John.
Oalder. Wm., Sr.
Calder, Wm., Jr.
Cashion, Wm., w.
Cashion, Thomas, k.
Carter. F. B.. d.
Gallagher, Jas.
Gleason, Jas. W.
Grady, Jas.
Griffin, Thos.
<3oodman, S C.
Graves, A. C.
<?rant, R. W.
Hartsell, J. M., w.
Howell, Jas.
Howell, John.
Howell, David, w.
Harris, Francis., k.
Hicks, T. W., w.
Halshouser, A. R.
Uanna, J. M., d.
Humble, David.
Icenhour, P. E.
Jackson, John.
John E. Edward, k.
Jones, David, K.
Jannlson, R. J., w.
Johnson, Thos.
Johnson. Rufus.
Jamerson. S. N.
Kurtz. P. K.
Kelley, Lowerence, w.
Kanapum. A. E.
Klrby, Patrick, vr.
Kis-lPr. 'Wm.
Kennedy, Jepe.
Dane, A. D.
Mason, Wiley J.
McConnell, Thos.
McLellan, W. A.
McGarar, Wm. W.
Meredith, Stephen W.
McGuire, John K.
McGinnis, George.
Munsey, John.
Mulson, Robt.
McBean, John.
Mason, W. B.
McConnell. T. A., d.
McConnell, A. M.
Meredith, J.
Newton, Eli.
Newton, Meredith, d.
Newton, John, k.
Nail, Richmond, k.
Nantz. A. E.
Oliver, Calvin.
Plyler, R. C.
Packard, John.
Petit. Jas.
Patterson, J. E., k.
Quinn, Jas.
Rhodes. Wm.
Rafferty, Thos.
Rogers, Jas.
Rogers, J. C.
_ Reynolds. John.
Riddick, H. L.
Riddick, J. A.
Rolmer, W. C.
Riggins, Robt.
Sullivan. D. C.
Stephens, M.
Spears, Wm. H.
Stewart, Thos. A .
Sherill. N. J.
Seagraves, A. C.
Sanders, G. W., k,
Sheridan, John, w.
Stanning, Wm.
Stroups, David, k.
Spawl. A. B.
Skinner, S. L.
Sullivan. D. C.
Staley, John.
Staly, W. Y.
Towey, Lewis.
Vincent. Jas. B.
Vaker. Wm., w.
Vance, Richard.
Vaughn, H. J.
Weaver, Wm.
Wilson, Lewis.
Woodard. W. L.. d.
Williamson. D. J.
Whalon. Roderick, f
Wllkerson, W.
Wllkerson, J. H.
MKCKLENBURG COUNTY.
'339
Winecoff, J. T., k.
Washam, J. B , d.
Company C, Tenth Regiment
Artillery, N. C Troops.
Officers.
T. H. Brem captain.
Jos. Graham, captain.
A. B. Williams, captain, w.
Robt. Lowrie, lieut.
W. B. Lewis, lieut.
Abdan Alexander, lieut., w,
T. L. Seigle, lieut., w.
H. A. Albright, lieut.
J. S. Davidson, sergeant.
Dennis Collins, sergeant.
J. L.. Hoffman, sergeant
R. V. Gudger, sergeant.
J. E. Albright, sergeant.
R. P. Chapman, sergeant, w.
J. P. Smith, sergeant.
Moses Blackwelder, corporal, d.
D. M. Li. Yont, corporal.
Patrick Lyons, corporal.
Mathero Chapman, corporal,
M. A. Henderson, corporal.
W. W. Shelby, corporal.
W. S. Williams, corporal.
Dan W. McLean, corporal.
I. N. Peoples, sergeant, d.
Jas. W. Murry, bugler.
R. R. Peoples, guidon.
Wm. H. Runfelt.
Privates.
Abernathy, James.
Abernathy, Clem H.
Abernathy, Wm.
Armstrong, Mathews, w.
Baldwin, Alfred.
Beatty, Wm.
Beatty, J. W.
Bridgers, W. B.
Burus, Jas.
Brackett, Wm.
Broadway, Whitson.
Buff, Henry.
Baker, J. B.
Bray, Winfield M.
Can.'ion, Wm.
Cannon, Fred.
Cannon, Sid.
Cannon, JoFeph. d.
Cannon, Francis.
Carroll, Francis C.
Connell, S. C.
Com. ell. Jas. H.
Chapman, A. H.
Chapman, Wm.
Chapman, Peter.
Cochrane, A. J., d.
Cochrane, David.
Costener, Jacob.
Carter, Jas.
Kanip, John.
Kanip, Henry.
Cannon, Wm. S., c.
Canipe, Hardy.
Causnet, Martin L.
Cathart, John, d.
Crane. Madison C.
Crane, Wm.
Cannell, Jas H.
Chalkley ,W. P.
Christenbery, A, B., d.
Doyle, Bernard.
Dunlap, Sam'l N.
^:=©obbin, Mark H.
David, G. K.
Ellington, Werley P.
Farley, A.
Finley, Hugh.
Fite. Sam'l.
Fite, J. C.
Fite, Robt. D. R.
Fox, W. T.
Taunt, Sam'l.
Yaunt. D. L.
Yancy, John.
Freeman, Wade.
Freeman, Theodore, k.
Dawns, Robt. R., d.
Fullbright, J. K.
Fullbright, D. B., d.
Fullbright, M., k.
Fullbright, K.
Fite, Sam'l., d.
Flowers, Jessie, deserted.
Fowler, John, deserted.
Goodman, John.
Maxwell, d.
Markcus, d.
Peeler John.
Reding, James.
Wilson John.
Grigg, B. W.
Grier, W. M.
Grier, Marshal, w. and d.
Grier, C. E.
Heavener, J. J.
Hoover, T. H.
Hoover. J. D.
Hoover, W. G.
Hoover, W. H.
Hoover, T. J.
Howell, Joseph.
Hinkle. J. L.
Hawkins, J. A.
Hawkins, J. P.
Hawkins, Albert.
Herrvell, R.
Hoyle, D. R.
Hunter, R. B.
340
HISTORY OF
Johnson, Daniel.
Johnson, R. L.
Johnson, Joseph.
JohnBon, David.
Jenkins, Tillman, k.
Jenkins, Aaron.
Jenkins, Sam'l.
Jenkins, Edward.
Kaloram, Thos., w.
Knuipe, Henry.
Knuipe, Peter.
Knuipe, Andrew.
Kerr, J. H.
Kerr, J. B.
Kerr, S. W.
Kerr. R. F.
Uattimer, A. M.
Lane, J. D., killed.
Laughlin, D. P.
Ledford, John,
Llndsey, W. G.
Uamb, Mike, deserted,
Dawler, John, deserted.
Lineburger, J. M.
Liawing, A. W.
Lawing, J. W.
Marrable, W. M.
Meaghim, W. H.
Marshal, Jas. H.
McDuffy, John, k.
McCausland, W. B.
McCorkle, Robt.
McKinney, Sam'l.
Moad, John.
Murphy, Daniel C.
Motz, Mayfleld.
Morris, W. C, w.
Needham, Thos., d.
Newton, Robt.
Nanlz. R. E.
Nantz, Calvin.
Nantz, R. R.
Carter, Jas. N.
Culer. J. A. J.
Potts, Wm. P.
Potts. Jas. A.
Pool, A. W.
Pool, J. T.
Parker, Wm,
Queen, Joseph.
Queen, Laban.
Roberts, J. W.
Rodden. T. B.
Richards, J. W.
Scott. Nelson.
Seaple. G. W.
Shaw. J. G.
Shaw. Wm.
Shelby, J. M.
Sloan, J. W.
Sloan, Sam'l., k.
Sloan, Robt.. d.
Sloan, Robt., w.
Smith, J. A.
Smith, Jacob.
Smith, George.
Smith. W. M.
Stamy, John, d.
Stillwell, Jacob, d.
Stutts, J. J., c.
Stout, S. G.
Summerville, J. W.
Tallent, Daniel.
Terepaugh, J. H.
Todd, Wm.
Towery, A. J.
Towery, Jack, k.
Underwood, J. S.
Underwood, J. O.
Underwood, Jas.
Underwood, Reuben.
Underwood, J. R.
Underwood. David.
Veno, Francis.
Watts, C. L.
Watt, Charles B.
Walls, A. A.
Wallace. Wm,
White, D. W.
White, A. S.
West, Wm. F.
Wilson, John, transferred.
Will. John,
White. Wm.
Delling, Mike.
Cannady, Peter.
John, Weren.
O'Donibo, Mike.
Cotter, John.
Quin, Thos I.
Mahony, Dennis.
Forester, Ned.
Hunt, Robt.
Whalen, Martin.
Hinkle, Jas., k.
Moffitt Eli, d.
Moffltt, Wm., d
Moffitt, Samuel.
Moffltt, Henry.
Blalock, D. O.
McCaffry, Hugh.
Cidny Connell.
Warren John.
Ormsby.
McGilbry, J. A.
Heart, Tergin.
Ingrim, S. A.
Queen Meredith,
Stamie, Wm.
Towy, Jackson,
Towry, I. A.
Tutts, John.
William, Wallace.
McDuffie, W. S.
Armstrong, Mathew.
Veno, George,
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
341
Hiallet, Moses.
Crowley, Jerry.
Company A. Eleventh North
Carolina Regiment.
Officers.
E. A. Rof=s. captain. P. Major, k.
W. L. Hand. 1st lieut.. w.
C. W. Alexander, 2nd lieut., re-
tired.
B. H. Hand, lieut.. w.
W. B. T'avlor, lieut., w.
J. G. McOorkle, O. S., P. lieut.,
00. E.
J. S. McElroy, S., w.
R. B. Alexander, S., w.,
J. M. Sims, Q. M. S., c.
T. W. Neely, S., w.
T. C. Ruddock, corporal, c.
"W. S. Icehower, corporal, k.
J. R. Grlbble, corporal, w.
E. Lewis, corporal, w.
Privates.
Alexander, M. R., w.
McAlexander, M., k.
Alexander. M A. ., k.
Alexander, J. G., k.
Alexander, W. S.
Alexander, R. C.
Alexander, J. N., w.
Allen. H. W.. w.
Allen, C. A.
Allen, L.
Auten, P. S., k.
Barnett, E. L. S.
Barnett, J. F.
Barnett, J. L.. k.
Blakely, M. F.
Blakely, J. J., k.
Byrum, James.
Brigman, C. C., w.
Black. J. M.
Black, T. J., w.
Black, Ezekial.
Bighorn, J. R., w.
Bigrham, J. W., w.
Brown, W. J., P. sergeant, w.
■Creasman, J.
Cochrane, J. F.
— Campbell, W. H.
Cheshier, M. E.
Duckworth, H. D., w.
Duckworth, J. A.
Deaton, J. C.
Dulin, Daniel, w.
Darnell. Jack, W.
Earnhearrit, J. H., k.
Earnhardt, J. M., p. to d. s., w.
Earnheardt. "W. C.
Earnheardt. S. O.
Ewing, W. E., w.
Ewing, G. R., w.
Elliott, W. A., k.
Elms, J. P., P. Lt, k.
Flow. R. H.. w.
Frazier. I. S. A., w.
Fisher. J. W.
Ford, W. C.
Galoway. J. S., k.
Gray, W. W.
Gibson. J. A.
Glenn, D. P., w.
Glenn. F. C.
Glover, Joshua, w.
Garrison, J. S., k.
Groves, R. H.
Goodrum, W. J., k.
Goodrum, C. H.
Hill, H. H., w.
Hill. Milton.
Hill, Miles, w.
Hovis, Monroe, w.
Hand, A. J.
Henderpon, T. S.
Henderson, T. M.
Herrnn. G. T.,w.
Hutchison, J. H., k.
Holms, T. L.. k.
Hunter, T. H.
Hunter, M. B.
Hunter. D. P.
Hert-on, J. M.
Hinson. G. T., k.
Howard. T. M.
Hobbs, F., w.
Harris. W. C.
Harris, N. O., w.
Hutspeth. L.
Johnson, Alfred.
Johnson, T. N., w.
Jenkins, David, w.
Jenkins, Jacob.
Kerns, J. D.
Kenedy, Wm., w.
Knipper, Thos.
Kine, J. A.
King. C. C, w.
Kinnev, B.
Monteith, R. J.
Monteith. H. L. D,
Monteith, M. O., k.
McCon.iell, J. H., w.
McConnell, J. F.. k.
McConnell. T. Y.
McWhirter, J. H., w.
McWhirter, Jas., k.
McGinn, R. F.
McCall, J. A., w.
Montgomery, J. H., P. Lt, w.
McGinniP. S. A., w.
Norment, Is'aac, w.
Norment, Jacob.
Neal. G. A., k.
34^
HISTORY OF
Newell, A. H.
Orr. J. F.
OiT. N. C. N.
Oman. J. B.
Powell, Dan. k.
Pettus. H. M.
Pettus. J. W.
Pettus Stephens.
Paysour, C, w.
Paysour, Peter.
Prim. T. A., k.
Query, R. L>.
Query, S. F.
Ruddock, B. W., w.
Ruddock, B. M.
Roberts, Peyton, w,
Rabon, M. B.
Ross, R. A.
Ratchford, E. C.
Stowe. J. M., w.
Stowe, J. C, k.
Simpson, R. F.
Simpson, J. W.
Smith. J. S., k.
Taylor, R. C. C.
Taylor, H. S.
Taylor, J. Q., k.
Thomiason, J. C.
Wingate, Angus, k.
Wingate, M.
Wingate, C. C.
Wallace W. A., w.
Williams, S. H.
Wright, Taylor, w.
Withprp, B. A., w.
West. J. T..
Wilson, W. M.
Steele. J., k.
Blgham, J. H., w.
Hunter, A. J.
Summary.
Killed, 29; wounded. 43; Com-
panv A, nth W. C. Regt.,
total in Co.. 154.
Company E, Eleventh Regiment
N. C. Regiment.
Ofp.cers.
Nichols, J. S. A., captain, d.
Kerr. Wm. J., captain.
Clanton. J. B.. lieut.
Turner. W. S.. lieut.
Means. W. N. S., lieut k.
Roszzell, W. F., lieut.
Alexander, Jas. F., lieut.
ti on-Commissioned Officers.
McDonald, D. W., w.
Means, J. S., d.
Goodman. J. F., k.
McDonald, J. H.
Wilson, R. S., d.
Huntei', A. J., sergt.
Privates.
Abernathy, E. R.
Alexander. Peter.
Auten, S. W.
Ashley, M.
Adams, H. A.
Baker, Aaron,
Baker, Wm. M.
Ballard, Benj.
Bradshaw, J. T.
Beal, Charles, c.
Beal, John,c.
Bird, W. L., w. and pr.
Bass Jas. A., w.
Bass, Buston, c.
Beek. Wm. A.
Baker, Joel M.
'Bradly, J. L., c.
Beatty. J. W., c.
Bunier, J., w.
Christy, J. H., k.
Clark, J. A., kT
Cathey. W., w. and pr.
Oarmlck, J.
Campbell, J. W., c.
Culberson, J. W., c.
Clemmons, R. R.
, — ^Denton, John.
Dixon, W. W., k.
Edwards, Sheperd.
Edwards, Marshal, c.
Eller. A.
EUer, S. W.
Finger, John., w.
Grler, T. H.
Garrison, Alex.,c.
Hartline, Andrew.
Hartline, Adam.
Harris. C. C.
Holdsllaw R.
Hinton, A. J.
HollingsiA'orth, J. B.
Hartgrue, W. W., w.
Hartgrue, R. D. S., w. and C
Hill. J. W., w.
Helms, E. T., k.
Hartline, P., w.
Hartline. D. L.., w.
Hartline, G. H., d.
Jamerson, J. W., c.
Jameson, T. J., w.
Jameson, J. W., c.
Johnston. J. H., c.
Kyles, Fielding, c.
Kvles, Wm.
King. G.
Kestler. P. H.
Kyle, John.
Licdwell, David.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
343
Liineberger, Marshall.
Lawson, Hudson.
Loften, Martin.
L/ambert, Wm.
Lewis, Linsey, w.
Lambert, J. M.
McQuay, S., d.
McQuay, W. H., k.
McLure, C. A., w. ajid c.
McOorkle, H. P„ c.
Mitcha, John,c.
Martin, W., w.
Murdock. W. D.
Miller, J. P.
McLure, J., d.
Madden. G. W.
Munday, O. M.
Mathison, Jas.
Narson, J. G., c.
Null. J. T.
Kesbitt, J. G., d.
Neal, G. A., w. and c
Ostwald, Francis, c.
Puckett, T. J., w.
Puckett, W. C, w.
Pool. G. a.
Pennix, J. W.
Pennlx. J. A.
Reld, J. C. k.
Rives, J. R.
Rhvne Dnvid, c.
Ruls. W. R., w.
Rlchley, W. L., k.
Rozzell. J. T.
Stone. A.
Stlnson. J. B.
Sherrell, W.
Smth. D. J.
Griffin, G., d.
Turner, J. W.
Wilson, J. R.
Walker, B., k.
Walker, li. L.., c.
Walker, J. H.. c.
Walker, Jas. H.
Win era te, J., w. and c.
Wingate. T., w.
Williamson, E. T., c.
Tounts, R. C, k.
Tork. G, W., c.
Company H, Eleventh Regiment
N. C- Troops.
Officers.
Grler, W. L., captain.
Lowrie. P. J., lieut, d.
Boyce, C. B., d.
Lowrie, J. B., k.
SavlUe, J. M.
Knox, J. M.
Lowrie, R. B.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
SavUle, R. D., w.
Clark, P. M.. w.
Caldwell. J. S. P.
Bell, C. B.
Hotchkip. Aug., c
- Campbell, Thos., k.
Smith, J. T.
Privates.
Abernathy, Ellg.
Ashby, J. T.
Alexander, J.A.
Andrews, E. M.
Ashley, Wm., c.
Bailley, Wm.
Brown, A. M.
Belk, Wm.
Boyd, J. J.
Boyd, J. A.
Boyd, David.
Brown, J. W.
Blair, S. W.
Black. J. B.
Bigart, Jas.
Barns, Robt.
Bryant, Sidney.
Boyce, Hugh.
Blankenship, J. N.
Blankenship, T. G.
Blankenship, S. P.
Caruthers, J. A.
Caruthers, J. B., d.
Chantenberg, C. E., d.
Coffe, B. M., w.
Cooper, J. M., c.
Crowel, E. M.
-Campbell, J. C.
Oobb, C A.
Clark, W. A., d.
Carpenter, J. C.
Carpenter. W. B.
Cox. Ell.
Clark. P. M.
Drewry. A. G.
Deggarhart, J. V., c.
Deggarhart, J. L.
Dallarhit, J. D., d.
Dixon, Hugh M, d.
Eltres, J. H., d.
Edwards, J. M., c.
Ellis, Dan, c.
Earnhardt, Geo.
Flte, W. J.
Greer, Z. B., d.
Greer, E. S.
Harris, R. H.
Hall. R. B.
Harris. F. C, w.
Harris. J. C.
Harris, J. H.
344
HISTORY OF
Hannel, A. R., k.
Harmon, Levi, c.
Hannon, J. N.
Hays, J. B., c.
Hargett, Aleg-.
Herron, J. W.
Hill, C. H.
Humphrey, T. L.
Haron, S. L., c.
Hanna, J. W., c.
Hatchup, A., c.
Hall, N. C.
Henry, J. B.
Henry, B. G.
Hedgepath, Geo.
Harris, Morris.
Holland, Robt.
Hainant, Henry, w.
Hoffman, Miles.
Henderson, W. R.
Ingle, Peter, w.
Johnson, J. W.
King, J. A.
Keenan, Peter.
Key, Albert, w.
Kerr, R. O., d.
Knox, "W. H.. w. and c.
Kilp'a trick, W. F.
Lowrie, R. B.
Madden, J. P.
McQuaig, James.
Mincel, Willis, w.
— ; Morrison, "W. T.
McMillan, J. E.
McOuiaise, Jas., c.
Marshburn, J. M.,w.
Neely, J. J.
Porter, R. C, w.
Price, J. A., d.
Peppen, John.
Russell, J. C.
Rice, J. S.
Rhine, A. M.
Rachelle, J. B.
Reid, W. M.
Rumell, J. C.
Ross, R. A., d.
Smith, J. W.
Smith, T. J.
Smith, John L..
Smith, A. J.
Sloop, Alex.
Snider, J. A., k.
Snead, Frank.
Squire, J. A.
Sanders, Jacob.
Sumney, J. B.
Sumney, George, c.
Scott, R. S.
Turbifield, Jas.
Taggart. J. C.
Thuner, E. A., w.
Thuner, J. T.,w.
^^'att. C. B.
Wingate, R. J.
Wilkerson. W. H.
Wilkerson, Jno.
Warren, T. W., c.
Walker, P. L., w.
Watters, Allen.
Young, J. H., d.
Total, 137; No. killed 4; wiound-
ed 14.
Company B, Thirteenth Regl=
ment N. C. Troops.
Officers.
Erwin, A. A., captain, w.
Robinson, W. W., captain, w.
McLrean, J. D., lieut.
Erwin, J. R., lieut.
Thompson, Joe,, lieut., k.
Warren, R. S., lieut., k.
Presley, W. A., lieut.
Alexander, W. S., lieut.
Hart, W. S., lieut., d.
Smith, E., lieut.
Walker, H. J., lieut., w.
Choat, J. M.
2J on-Commissioned Officers.
Youngblood, F.'C, d.
Erwin, F. L.
Todd, J. W.
Swann, R. L., k.
Knox, J. M., k.
Wingate, Jas. R., k.
Knox, Jas. F., w.
Privates.
Alexander, Oswald.
Alexander, H. C., k.
Alexander, Ossil.
Alexander, O. S. P., k.
Alexander, W. W.
Alexander, M. C.
Alchison, J. C, d.
Adiar, Thos.
Adiar, Wm.
BrouTi, Jas. W.
Bailes, G.S., d.
Baker, Green C., k.
Baker, J. C.
Bartlette.W. F., w.
Berryhill, J. J.
Rerryhill. Jas. L., d.
Blackwelder, A., w.
Bowden, S. D., deserted.
Boyd, Jepe A.
Boyd, John, d.
Boyd, J. G. W., w. and d.
Brimer, Alfred, k.
Brown, C. W., k.
Brown, R. E.
Bryan, T. J.
MECKI.ENBURG COUNTY.
345
Blgham, M. S.
Beeman, G. C.
Barnett, R. S.
Bartlett, J. H., w.
Clark, A. A., d.
Crawford, Micajah.
Carnthens, J. K.
Cathey, Henry, w.
Chiodte, A. D., k.
Choate, R. W., w.
Choate, Wm., w.
Clanton, W. D.
Clark, R. P.. d.
Crowell, S. W., c.
Damall, J. J.
Davis, J. C.
Edwards, M. A., w.
Erwin, A. R.
Erwin, J. C, d.
Erwin, J. M., w.
Ellis, Wm.
Frazier, Richard.
Frazier, W. F.
Frazier, Isaiac A.
Frazier, J. T.
Frenekin, J. B.. d.
Freeman. W. H., w.
Gallant, J. A., w.
Glover, T. M., d.
Grier, E. C.
Grier, S. M., k.
Grier, Thos. M.
Groves, J. R., c.
G-arner, Wm.
Hail, W. H.
Heitman, O. B.
Hawkins, J. P.
Hall. W. H.i w.
Hawkins, F. A., w.
Hotchkip. S. A.
Hill, W. H.
Jamison, E. A.
Johnston, H. P.
Kerr, John B., w.
Kimball. J. L., k.
Kirkr>atrirk, J. P., w.
Knox, J. D.
Knox, J. N.. k.
Knox, T. N.
Kerr, J .T.
Lee, D. P.
Liberman, C S., k.
- Marks, S. H., w.
-^Marks, T. H.
McGinn, T. H., w. and c.
McGinn, N. C, w and c.
McGinn, W. A., w.
McGinn, J. N.
Mc^Lean. J. L,.
McRnmb, S. W.
McRnmb. S. J. S., k.
Mulwee, J. W.
Morrison. J. E.. d.
Moscr H. S., k.
Maness, J. A.
McConnell, Jas. H.
Neagle, Jas. H., w. and c.
Nicholson, J. R.
Nevins, J. G., w.
Orr, G. B., k.
Okley, C, w.
Parks, D. K.
Parks, G. L., d.
Porter, S. A.
Pi*ather, E. L., k.
Powell, A. T.
PrapT. W. J.
Parker, S. S., d.
Reed, J. W.
Sterling, J. W.
Sheffield, J. M.
Sloan, G. W., w.
Smith. D. H.
Smith, P:d.
Smith. J. W.
Sturgan, C. S , w
Spencer, Clark.
Stowe, R. A.
Torrence, W. B.
Taylor, W. J., w.
Thomburgr, F. B., k.
Thomburg, G. J.
Thomburs:, H. M.
Thomburg, S. L., d.
Ticcr. R. C. S., k.
Trad ew ice. N. P.
Thompson, W. J.
Todd, J. A. W., d.
Taylor, A. A.
Walker, L. J., w.
White. Wm.
Wilson, J. E., k.
Wingate, N. J., w.
Wnlfer, H. P.. w.
Wryfield, J. R., w. and d.
Wiley. .T. C.
Watt. W. T.
Weaver. G. H.
Total, 1,52; killed, 20; wound-
ed, 32.
Company K, Thirtieth Regiment
N. C. Troops.
Officers.
J, T. Kell, captain, w.
B. P. Morrow, captain.
J. G. Witherspoon, captain, k.
W. E. Ardrey, captain, w.
— C. E. Bell, lieut.
N. D. Orr, lieut.
J. T. Downs, lieut, w.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
J. T. Lee, sergt., k.
A. L. DeArmond, w.
A. B. Hood, sergt., k.
346
HISTORY OF
J. W. McKinney, corporal.
J. P. Bales, corporal.
H. T. Cotlharp, corporal.
A. J. Dunn, corporal, k.
Privates.
Adkins, W. H., w.
Adams, Wm.
Alexander, S. D., w.
Alexander, T. P.
Alexander, J. L.
Alexander, J. M., k.
Allen, J. W., d.
Anderson, Wm., d.
Baker, J., k,
Bailey, E. D.
Bailey, J. A.
Bailey, Wm.
Bales, E. M., w.
Bales, J. P.
Barnett, R. C, k.
Barefoot, N. G., w.
Bentley, M. W. H.
— 3ell, N. J.
Black, J. N.. k.
Black, J. S., d.
Black, J. H., k.
Black, T. A., d.
Bradston, V. M.
Brewer, J. H.
Bowman, R.
Boyce, S. T.
Brinkley, H
Bristow. J. C.
Church, Eli.
Church, Martin.
Coffey, A. S.
Crowell, Isreal.
Culp, A. A., w.
Davis, G. W., k.
Downs, W. H.
Dixon. S. L... w.
Duckworth, G. P.
Dunn, Geo., c.
Dunn, A. S.
Dunn, S. W. T., d.
Es^zell, M. F., d.
Gamble, Jas., d.
George, E. P.
Gtorge, Prepley, d.
Glover, B C, w.
Giiffin, J. J., w. and d.
Grifith, A. E., k.
Graham, J. W.
Hall. J. F.
Hall, A. a.
Hall, R. B.
Harts, J. H., d.
Harts, W. S., k.
Henderson. W. M., d.
Henderson, W. T., d.
Hood, W. JL., w.
Howie, J. H.
Howie, Wm.
Holmes, B., d.
Jennings, G. W., w.
Johnston, D. E.
Johnston, S. A.
Johnston, J. H.
Johnston, G. W.
Kirkpatrick, H. Y., d.
Lee, S. B., d.
T.e«, J. A., d.
T^ewis, W. H.
Massingale, R. H.
McLean, Thos., w.
McCurry, J. A.
McKinney, R. M.
McMallen, J. H., k.
McQuaig, J.
Miller, D. M., w.
McRea, .Tames, k.
Milton, J. G
Morris, W, T., d.
Morris, J. T., d.
M"ers. James.
Nichols, B. G.
^Nelson, J. H.
Orr, T. J.
Patterson, M. S.
Pierce, Orren L.
Pierce, J. M.
Pierce, J. W.
Pierce, J. R., d.
Rayner, L,., k.
Ray, .T. M., k
Richardson, W. W.
Robinson, W. H., m.
Rotinson, J. R., k.
Ross. \Y. J.
Ross, J. N.. k.
Russell, W. D.
Saville, J. C.
Sample, Wm.
Shelby, D. H.
Simmons, —
Smith, W, S.
Smith, S. B., d.
Smith, J. D.
Smith, J. S., w.
-^Shaw, Alex.
Simpson, M. S.
Simpson, J.
Squires, J. W.
Squires, J. P., k.
Stanford, M. T.
Standi, A. G.
Steel, A. F., k.
Stephenson, J. R., k.
Tart, Henry.
Tedder, Sid., k.
Thoninsson, J. L., k.
Thomas, W. B.
Thompson, L.
Thompson, Lenis.
Thompson, Lee, d.
Thompson, Jas., d.
Trower. T. J.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY
r
347
Walston, S. L... d.
Webb, Wm., d.
West, Wm.
Weeks, R. B., k.
Witherspoon, M. T., k.
Wolf, J. N.
Wolf, R. B.
Wolf, G, D., d.
Williams, W. E.
Teargan. W.
Young, S. T.
Youth, J. A.
Total No. 150: killed 25; wound-
ed 16; died 23.
Company G, Thirty=Fourth Reg-
iment N. C. Troops.
Officers.
W. R. Myers, captain.
G. M. Norment, captain, w.
J. M. Lawing, lieut.
A. A. Cathey, lieut.
A. H. Creswell, lieut.
R. S. Reed, lieut., k.
Jas. C. Todd, captain, w.
J. N. Abernethy, k.
H on-Commissioned Officers.
Lucas, H. C, sergt.
Joe B. McGhee, srrgt.
J. L. Todd, ordinance sergt.
J. W. Davenport, corporal., k.
Geo. L. Campbell, corporal, k.
Jas. A. Todd, corporal, k.
T. A. Johnston, w.
Privates.
Alcorn, A. S., w.
Alexander, J. O. D., k.
Abernethy, C. W., w.
Abernethy, J. N.. k.
Anderson, C. J., k.
Asbury, J. R., w.
— Bain, J. J., d.
Beatty, A. AV., w.
Beatty, Samuel, d.
Beatty, John, w.
Bennett, Thos., w.
Berryhill, J. U., w.
Bailliff, Pred. k.
Brothertnn, John, w.
Brotherton, Wm.
Burgwyn, Fred.
Bolton, J. C.
Cathey, J. L., w.
Cathey, W. H., d.
Clark, John, k.
Cathey, Wm. A.
Clark, Almirive, k.
Cox, W. C. L., w.
Carpenter, Jas., k.
Downs, Frank
Duan, T. J., w.
Duglass, S. A.
Elliott, H. W., k.
Elters, P. P., d.
Erving, John.
Falres, G. N., d.
Frazier, I. A.
Garren, Andrew.
Gregg. D. H., d.
Greenhill, Lawson, k.
Hayes, S. T... k.
Hovis, Moses, w.
Hipp, Andrew, d.
Hipp, Pinkney, d.
Hipp, John, d.
Hipp, Wm.
Hipp, J. M.
Hoover, A. B., w.
Hutchison, S. B.
Johnston, D. H., d.
Johnston. F. E., k.
Jarre tt, Pamu'el, k
King, Thos., w.
Lawing, J. S., w.
King, Ezeki-1.
Lawing, J. M., d.
Lynch, Robt.
McGee, T. J.
Mills, W. T.
McOhee, J. T., d.
McCord, W. C; w.
Means, G. W., d.
Means, J. K. P., k.
McCall, Jas., w.
McCall. Alex., c.
McGahey, T. C.
Nichclson, John.
Odell, J. C, d.
Odell, G. W., d.
Puckett, J. H., d.
Parks, George, w.
Plckerell, J. H., w.
Phillips, J. J., k.
Proctor, J. A., m^.
Rodden, J. J., w.
Reid, Robt. S., w. and d.
Rcsick, G. W.
Scott, W. A., k.
Shelby. J. L., k.
Stephens, A. B., d.
Stephens, R. T., w. and d.
Sanford, J. M., k.
Sanfcrd, Jas. O.
Terres, James, w.
Todd, G. F., k.
Todd, G. N., k.
Todd, C. B., w.
Todd. O. C. w.
Todd, J. L., k.
Todd, J. W. S.
Todd, D. S.
Todd. L. N.
Watters, J. G., c.
348
HISTORY OF
Winston. C. W-
Total. 100; killed, 26; wound-
ed, 32.
Company H, Thirty-Fifth Regi-
ment N. C. Troops.
Maxwell, D. G., captain.
Dixon, H. M., captain.
Davis, J. M., captain.
Alexander, Thos. M.. captain, d.
Alexander, J. O., lieut.
Alexander, .1. K., w.
Alexander, Leander.
Alexander, C. F.
Alexander, A. P., k.
Alexander. S. W.
Alexander, G. W.
Auten, J. W., d.
Barckley, A. C.
Carckley. H. S.
Brown. J. F.
Brown, J. F., c.
T'.rown. S. FT., w.
Benfield, H. S.
Benfield, J. R.
Blount. J. M.
Blakely. W. J., w.
Blakely, A. C, w.
Burywvn. W. H. S., lieut.
Ben f. eld, B. K., c.
Baker, J. R., lieut.
Biggers, W. A.
Beaver, .J. M.
Chepire, C. M., d.
Cook. R. W., d.
Cook. .T. P.. k.
Caldwell. G. M., sergt., w.
Caldwell. H. W.. k.
Caldwt-ll. J. M.. d.
Caldwell, R. N.
Caldwell. D. G.. d.
Caldwell, D. P.. d.
Caldwell. D. A., lieut
—Campbell, W. H., k.
Cochrane. R. R.
Cochrane, N. R.J., c.
Cochrane, I.. J., d.
Campbell, C. M., c.
Cochrane, J. L., sergt.
Cochrane. W. C, sergt., k.
^Deaton. L. L., k.
Dulin, D. H., c.
Duiin. John, sergt., k.
Dulin. R. H., d.
Dulin, J. C, d.
Dulin, T. L.
Dulin, Mattliias. d.
Dulin. VV. W., k.
Davis. W. H.
Dennis, J. T.
Karnhardt. C. D., d.
Earnhardt, S. O.
Farris, M. C. w.
Fesperman, W. M., d.
, Foard, J. C, k.
Foard. C. A.
Foard, )ienry.
Flow. T. J.
Garrison, R. W., w.
Garrison, J. W., w.
Gibson, J. M., k.
Grier, J. C, w.
Hodges. P. B.
Hodgt^s, C. J.
Hodges. W. G.
Howie, S E.. w.
Hunter, G. S., w.
Hunter, Hugh
Hunter, A. C., w.
Hunter, J. M
Hnnter, J. M. C, w.
Hunter, Hester, k.
Hunter, J. M. C.
Hunter, R. C, d.
Hunter, S. C, lieut., w.
Hunter. R. H.
Hutchison. .J. R., corporal.
Hall. T. M.
Hall, Amriz.
Hr.oks, Dave.
Hood. J. M.
Hood. W. S., k.
Hood. J. R.
Hucks, D. W.
Hucks, John.
Harris, G. W., k.
Harris. F. R.. k.
Herron, Calvin.
Herron, Gr3^en, w.
Herron, John.
Houston, G. W., d.
Irwin, G. C. d.
Johnston, J. J.
Jordan. Mc. H.
Kirk, Wm.. k.
Kirk. J. C, w.
Keenan, .John. w.
Kilough, E d.
Kerns. T. M. A., d.
McCombs. Jas.
'Mason, J. J., w.
Mason. R. C, d.
McCall. C. N.
McCall, D. H.
McCall. R. W.. d.
McCall. Jcsinh F., k.
McGinnls. J. J.
McGinnis. T. M.
McGinniP, J. P.
McLpan, H. W., d.
McLure. James.
McLaughlin, W. J., w.
McLaughlin. J. J., w.
McKay, Robt. W., w.
Miller. H. M. W., d.
Miller, J. M.. k.
Miller, S. J., d.
\
MECKLENBURG COUNTY
349
Montgomery, Leander.
Montgomery. J. P. C, d.
Monis, VV. G., seigt.. d.
Morris. D. W.
McCorkle, T. J., d.
Maxwell, W. M.
MonJson. S. N.
Morrison. D. M.
Morrison, Marshall.
McC-:won, J. M.
Moiris, J. C. k.
Mcronnell. T. M.
Neal, W. B.
Noles. John. k.
Newell, D. S,
Nelson, R. A.
Nelson. T. J.
Osborne. Harvey, d.
Orr, Franklin, d.
Petre. Wm.
Pu. kPtt. S J.
Puckett. J. W., k.
Puckett. F. M.
Pharr, T F.
Query, Wm. W., d.
Query, Leander, sergt., w.
Query. F. E.
Query, F. N.
Rodgers. J. R., k-
Rogers. T. P.
Rodgers, J. ■^.
Roday, T. A., d.
Rankin, C. ri.. k.
Rankin, W. W., w.
Russ. W. A.
Roberts. S. L.
Roberts, W. A., w.
Roberts. J. L., k.
Ramsey. J. F.
Rice. J. W., w.
Rea, James, w.
Stuart. A. H.
Shaffer, J. S., w.
Shaffer. W. H.. w.
Solomon. Wm. R.
Solomon, D. A., d.
Stinson, Dnve, d.
Thompson, J. W.
Taylor, J. M-, d.
Taylor, W. J.
Taylor, W. H.
Tarlton, James D., tt.
Wilson. M. A., w.
Wilson, R. L., d.
Wilson, T. J., w.
White, K. F. . ^ -
Whitf- Jfimes. A., lleut., i.
Woodall. Thos.. w.
Wallace, A. W., k.
Wilson. M. N.. w.
Tandle. M. N.
Total 181- 24 killed; 35 wound-
ed; 5 captured; 33 died.
Company C, Thirty-Seventh
Regiment N. C. Troops.
Officers.
J. M. Potts, captain.
O. N. Brown, captain, k.
Jj. A. Potts, captain, w.
J. D. Brown, captain.
T. A. Wilson, lieut., d.
T. J. Kerns, lieut.
J. S. Johnston, lieut.
J. L. Jetton, lieut.
G. H. Beattie, lieut., k.
J. W. Pettus. lieut., w.
A. P. Torrance, lieut., w.
B. A. Johnston, lieut., k.
W. W. Doherty, lieut., k.
J. R. Gillespie, lieuv.
J. B. Alexander, surgeon.
G. M. Wilson, sergt. k.
J. A. Gibbs, sergt., k.
D. H. Fidler, corporal, d.
J. A. Bell, corporal, d.
Privates.
Armstrong, M., w.
Alexander, J. H.
Alexander, D. R., k.
Alexander, T. L.
Alexander, T. R., w.
Alexander, W. D.
Alexander, W., d.
Armor, T. S., w.
Alcorn, T. P., d.
^Bell, J. D., d.
Baritt, W. R.. d.
Barnett. J. D.
Bamett. J. W.
Beard, Joseph, d.
Beard, J. C. w.
Beard, J. M., k.
Beard, J. F. M.
Black, A J. L., k.
Black, J. C
Black, W. A., d.
Black. P.. d.
Blakely. J. B., d.
Blnkeiy, W. F. M., d.
Blythe, J. W.
Boyier, J. H.
Brady, R. A., d.
Brown, B. F.
Brown, H. W., k.
Brown, J., d.
Brltt. John.
Burleyson, Benj., w.
Carrigaii. W. F.
Cathey. J. W.
Caldwell. W. W., c.
Carppnter. J., c.
Carpenter, J C., W.
Cochrane, J. C. vr.
350
HISTORY OF
Cox, Thomas, (L
Chrestainbury, S. D., w.
DelUnger, W.
Derr, A J., lost a leg.
X)eaton, J, Z.
Fesperman, J, C, d.
Gardner, H. T., d.
Gibbs, Jack, d.
Gibson, J. J., d.
Gibpon, T. A., w.
Goodrum, Zeb, d.
Goodmrc. J. W., c
Gardener, D., k.
Gardener. S. S.
Grier, J. S., k.
Harrison, W. H.
Hastings, W. C.
Henderson, "W. P., k.
Hendrix, J. M., w.
Hendrix, W. P., d
Holbrooks, R. S.
Hucks, S. L., w
Hunter, H. C, c. and d.
Hunter, J. F., k,
Hagons, H. M., k.
Hamilton. J. R., k.
Houston, H. Li., d.
Houston, J. M.
Howie, A. J., w.
Jenkins, A. B.
Johnston, M. F., d.
Jamison, J. R.
Kelley, A. A., w.
Kerns, J. A,, d.
Kerns, T. J.
Knox, S. W., w.
Lentz, R. R.
Little S. S.
Luckey, T. S., d.
X.each, L.., d.
McAllister, C, w.
McAulev. H. E., d.
McAuley, A. E.
McCoy, Albert.
McCoy, J. F., k.
McOoy, C. W.
McFadden, John, c.
Miller, R. C, c.
Monteith, R. A., k.
Moore, R. D., d.
McAuley, D. N., d.
Morrison, "W. S.
Nantz. C. R., d.
Nantz, D. J., w.
Page, J. F., d.
Puckett, E. M., w.
Reid, J. L,.. d
Rhyne. J. J., d.
Roasrers, John, d.
Sample, J. W., k.
Samnle W, L., k.
eioan, T. A.
Sloan, T. C.
Stearns, A. L.., d.
Stearns, W. R,
Stuart, S. J., w.
Sellers, Eli.
Solomon, D. A., k.
Stroup, C.
Stroup, M., k.
Sample, E. A.
Shaver. M., k.
_Shaw, A.
Todd, J. A., k.
Taylor, W. A., d.
Tiffins, M. B.
Torrance, J. A.
Torrance, H. L. W., k.
Torrance, W. W., w.
Tummice, K G.
'Weddington, J. Y.
Wallace, C. S., d.
Warsham, Alex., k.
Warsham, F. M., w.
Warsham, R. R., w.
Warsham, T. L.., k.
Warsham, W., d.
White, J. H.
Wiley, J., k.
Williams, C. R., d.
Williams, F. C, d.
Wilson, T. C, d.
Wagstaff, J. R.
Walker, J. C.
Total 149: died 37; wounded
26; killed 27.
Company I. Thirty-Seventh
Regiment N. C. Troops.
Officers.
Harrison, J. K., captain.
McCoy, M. A.
Hart, M. N., captain.
Elms, J. I., captain.
Stitt, Wm. M., w.
Elms, W. D., captain, w.
Oats, R. M., quartermaster
captain.
Sammond, T. K.
Rupel, E. H.
Price J. G.
Crowell, E. M.
McCoy, J. G.
Yandle, A. F., w.
Wilson, J.
Elms, J. P., c.
Icenhour, H. F., k.
Robin&on, D. C, sergt, w.
Reed, J. C, sergt.
Alexander, J. O., corp. & sergt.
Rigler, D. M., lleut, w.
Adams, Lourie, w.
Privates.
Adaholt, M. L., w.
meckIvEnburg county.
351
Alexander, A. M., c.
Alexander, J. A.
Allen, J. H.
Austin, J. W., k.
Ballard, W. H., d.
Barnhlll, J. W.
Bean, J. T.
Black, J. P., k.
Black, S. J.
Blackard, Jas., k.
Blankenship, T. E., k.
Blythe, S. W.
Bridges, W. A., w. and d.
Brown, T. G.
Brown J. K. P., c.
Bruce, Jas., d. :
Burns, S. A.
Brines, J. W.
Crowell, E. M.
Carpenter, Levi, c.
Carpenter, Marcus, c
Cathey B. G., w, and d.
CI irk, J. F., c
Clark, J. W., k,
Clark, Jas., k.
Clontz, Ab., k.
Crocker, W. J., w.
Cross, W. D.
Devine, W. G.
Dulin, T. S., w.
Edwards, J. A.
Flanigan, B. F.
Flowe J. C, w.
F-aeman, J. J., d.
Freeman, Mc. C, d.
Fronebarger, John, k.
Gates, M. W.
Gordon, J. P., w.
Gordon, J. R., c.
Gurley, W. D., k.
Hargett, A. J.
Hall, Jas.
Hayes Elijah, c.
Headly, Wm. L... d.
Henderson, J. W., w.
Henry, Berry.
Henry, Terrell.
Hipp, J. F., w.
Hipp, L. A., w.
Hood, H. C, d.
Hovis, A. J., k.
Hunsucker, J. W,, w.
Hlggenson, John, w.
Hunter. C. L., k.
Johnston, A. N.
King, G. W.
Kinpr, Wm., w.
Harris, N. J.
Haney, E. H.
Hunsucker, Wm., w.
Kissiah, G. W., w.
Kisslah, T. A,
KIsslah, W. M., w.
Klstler, G. H., w
Kaiser, D. W., w.
Kaiser, T. P., c.
Kaiser, Solomon, c
Kirkley, Thos., d.
Lawring, David.
Lawring, P. W., k.
Looker, J. C.
Lourie, S. J.
McGhee, Isaac.
McCoy, W. L., k.
Manning, Jas.
Manning, J. W., w.
Montgomery, A, F.
Moody, M. D. L.
Mosters, F. A., d.
Maxwell, D. S., w.
M"Call, J. C.
McCord, D. L.
McGinn, J. M., w.
Montgomery, Jas.
Mooney, Caleb., w.
MuUis, Coleman, d.
Mason, Robt. G.
Nicholson, J. B., w.
Orr, Joe L., w.
Orr, J. G. A.
Orr, C. M.
Orr, J. L. v., w.
Orr, W. S.
Patterson, Ell., k.
Patterson, J. H., w.
Paysour, Caleb., c.
Phillips, J. A., k.
Rarafield, Frank, c.
Reid, George, d.
Robinson, Jas. A., d.
Robinson, T. C.
Rudisill, Jacob, w.
Rumage, L., d.
Rupel, S. H., d. in p.
Sharp, R. A., w.
Sharp, T. A.
Shaw, D. C, w.
Shoe, Jacob, w. and c.
Simpson, C. L., d.
Simpson, Ira P., c.
Smith, Franklin.
Spears, A. J.
Spears, J. J., k.
Stearns, Brown, k.
Stearns, Dulin,
Stearns, J. M., w. and d.
Stewart, A. A.
Stewart, P. J., c.
Stinson, D. W., d In p,
Tareart, J. S., k.
Tally, Mike, d.
Taylor, Chas.
Taylor, Jepe.
Oate, D. W.
Pegram, M. P.
Charles, I. Voorhelt.
Tally, John, k.
Todd, R. J.
352
HISTORY OF
Turner, S. R,
Turner, Wm., d.
Walker, Robt.
Whitley, G. M. D.
Whitley, J. H.
Williamson, G. W., w.
Woodall, W. C, c
Wolf, E. B., k.
Young. A. J., k.
Yandle, A. F., w.
Total 157 men; killed 23; cap-
tured, 5; wounded 18; died 16.
Company K, Fifty-Sixth Regi-
ment N. C. Troops.
Oflicers.
P. R. Alexander, captain, k.
J. F. Mc Neely, captain.
J. A. Wilson, lieut.
J. W. Shepard, lieut
J. W. Spencer, lieut.
C. M. Payne, lieut.
J. A. Lowrance, lieut.
Alex. Livingston, lieut.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
J. L. Sloan.
J. C. Faucet.
J. T. Hotchkiss.
W. B. Osborne.
J. J. McNeeley, k.
J. H. Williams.
Privates.
Arney, Henry.
Alexander, A. H.
Alexander, J., k.
Alexander, J. Mc, d.
Alexander, M. D., d.
Alexander, R. A.
Alexander, T. C, w.
Allison, James.
Auten, T. J., w.
Bamett, A. G., w.
Barringer, D. A., w.
-Bell, J. C.
Benson, R. P., d
Bingham J. M.. w.
Black. Wm. M.
Bradly, J. H.
Brawley, R. W., w.
Brov/n, B. D., w.
Brown, J. M., w.
Brown, W. L., w.
Brown, J. C.
Burkhead, Whlte.d.
Beard, J. O., k.
Carrigan, R. A., d.
Caldwell, M. E., w.
Carrigan, Adam.
Cashion, Frank, w.
Cashion, Jas., w.
Cashion, I. W., w.
Cathcart, J. R., k.
Christianberry, Allison, ¥
Christianberry, A. H., d.
Christianberry, Jas.
Christianberry, R. F.
Christianberry, Wm.
Clark, Alex.
Cork, Walter, c, and d.
Craven, W, P.
Cornelius, M. A., w.
Davis, H. W., k.
DeArmond, J. A.
Deweese, Calvin T.
Deweese, G. B., k.
Edwards, G. W., k.
Elms, J. I,
Emerson, M. H.
Faucet, J. C, d.
Fouts, J. M., k.
Garner, Henry.
Heldt, Enoch.
Hill, Jas. R. L.
Hunter, H. S., d.
Hux, John, d.
Hux, W., d.
Jackson, C. H.
Jackson, W. K., d.
Johnston, J. H.
Jones, A. J.
Jordan, Sansom, d.
Kennerly, E. M.
Kennerly, John, c.
Ketchie, Wm.
Kerns, J. F., c. and d.
Ix)wrance, R. W., d.
Lowrance, L. N.
Lowrance, S. L., w.
Moble, Joel.
Moble, John.
Martin, J. M., d.
Martin, John.
McAuley, J. C.
McConnell, R. A.
McGahey, Jas. A., k.
Miller, W. C.
Moore, Jas. C.
Morgan, Zac, k.
Mowery, Henry.
Nance, J. A., d.
-Nelson, W., d.
Osbom, N. B.. xr.
Oliphant, J. R., k •
Reese, D. L.
Shepard, G. T.
Shields, A. C.
Sloan, A. C, d.
■Sloan, J. Mc, d.
Sloan, W. E.
Smith, W. T.. d.
Sosaman, J. P., c. and w.
Stearns, Henry M.
Sloan, D. F. A., w.
MECKIvENBURG COUNTY
353
Stokes, J. J.
Stough.Rich 1.
Strider, John, k
Tepleton, J. E. D.
Templeton, J. M., \v.
Templeton, R. D.
Tye, Wm. A.
Vance. W. H., d.
Watts, R. A., d.
Walls, Thos., w. and c.
Worsham, Alfred, w.
Worsham, B. A., d.
Worsham, Richard, d.
Worsham, H. J., w.
Watts, R. F., k.
Williams, J. H., w.
Williams, Rufus.
Total, 121; killerl. 13: wounded
25.
Company K, Forty = Second Reg-
iment N. C. Troops.
Officers.
S. B. Alexander, captain.
B. F. Wilson, lieut.
A. M. Rhyne, lieut., d.
Jos. H. Wilson, lieut.
1^ on-Commissioned Officers.
Thos. Norment.
Wm. Hecks, w. and c.
Wm. Price.
Jas. Keenan, k.
S. W. Talton, w.
W. S. Bynum, c.
Ed. Day, k.
J. H. Staten, d.
Jas. Scott, w
T. C. Dule.
L. Adams.
Privates.
Anderson, W. H. H., w.
Anderson, G. W., d.
Benfleld, Dan. w.
Gullet, Ezekiel.
Coots, Jacob, d.
Dulin, W. C, k.
Dulin, W. L.
— Foster, J. H., d.
Flowers, R. B.
Gilbert, Harrison.
Gilbert, Jas.
Grub, Absalom, d.
Gaston, J. A.
Griffin, B. F., d.
Hendrix, Grayson, w.
Hendrix, L,. J., c.
Hendrix, Panford, o.
Harman, Paul, w.
Heifer, P. E.
Helms, Hosea, c.
Helms, Enoch, c.
Helms, Gilliam.
Helms, D. B., c.
Helms, Albert.
Helms, John.
Helms, Josiah, c.
Helms, Kennel, c.
Helms, Copeland. w.
Helms, J. L.
Helms, Joshua.
Helms, Eli. W.
Johnston, Mathew, d.
Milton, Francis, w.
Milton, Alex.
Mitchell, Allison.
Makaler, Frank.
Minor, H. J., c.
Norment, Charles, d.
Orrell, Sam'l.
Paul. J. L., w.
Phillips, J. B., (1.
Polk, — , k.
Perry, Noah.
Privette, Wesley.
Privette, Wm., k.
—Randall, E. D.
-Rindal, L. L.., c.
'Severs, — , k.
Singleton, Henry.
Scott, John, w.
Scott, Leander.
Smith, Alex.
Staner. P. C.
Shoemaker, Lafayette, d.
Smith, John.
Stone, John, w.
Sanring-, J. M.
Sharpe, Isaac.
Triplette, J. H.
Walsh. G. B., c.
Walsh, J. H.
Whitley, John.
Total number 82.
Company F, Forty=Ninth Regi=
ment N. C. Troops.
Officers.
Jas. T. Davis, captain, k.
Jas. P. Ardrey, k.
John C. Grier, w.
John W. Barnett, lieut.. k.
R. H. Grier, lieut., k.
J. G. Potts, lieut.
S. R. Neal, lieut.
Jas. H. Helms, lient.
W. T. Barnett, k.
L . M. Neal, k.
Non-Com,missioned Officers.
J. A. Ellio't.
. R. C. Bell.
354
HISTORY OF
Wm. L. Mason, w.
J. A. Ezzell.
J. W. Wolf.
Robt. N. Alexander.
Privates.
Alexander, E. B.
Alexander, R. W.
Alexander, J. J., k.
Alexander, T. B., d.
Alexander, "W. P., w.
Earnett, W. P.
Allen, A. W.
Ashley, Wm.
Bennett, D. G., w
Brown, J. G.
Brown, W. H.
Coffee, Ben.
Grouts ors, T. M., w.
Crane, Job. S.
Crenshaw, John, w.
Gulp, John, w.
DeArmond, J. B., w.
Dunn, Jas. R., w.
Elliott, S. H., w.
Farris, J. A., w.
Fields, M. A.
Fincher, J. E., d.
Fincher, O.
Fleniken, L. B.
French, Wm.
Garrison, A., d.
Gordon, A. E.
Griffiin, Eg-bert.
Griffith, I. G.
Griffith, J. W.
Griffith, T. D.
Grier, Laurence.
Hannon, J. J.
Harkey, D. E.
Harkey, J. J.
Harkey, M. L.
TIarkey, Wash.
Hartis, J. L.
Hartis, J. S.
Hanfield, Jas. W.
Hennigen, J. E.
:How'ard, J. M., w.
Hudson, Wilson.
.Jamison, Emory.
Johnston, Dan.
Johnston, J A.
Kenan, D. G.
Kenier. J. R.
Kerr, Jas.
Kerr, Gc-m'l.
Kirkpatrick, S. A.
McAlister, H. B.
McRaney. Sam'l.
Miller, W. T.
Moore, W. W.
Morris, G. C.
Morris, J. W.
Morris. Wm.
Neel, W. B.
Neely, W. A,
Newell, W. A.
Osborne, J. H., w.
Paxton, S. L.
Phifer, E. M., k.
Pierce, John, k.
Pierce, L. M.
Porter, Robt. A., w.
Porter, S. L.
Porter, Zenas.
Prather, A. R., d.
Prather, S. P.
Prevltt, Allen.
Raterree, W. L.
Rea, D. J., w.
Reid, William, k.
Richardson, J. H.
Ross, W. A.
Shaw, J. N.
Smith, E. C.
Smith, Wm. B. J.
Spratt, A. P.
Squires, M. D., w.
Stanford, C. L..
Stephenson, Wm. J., w.
Stitt, Jas. M.
Swan, J. B.
Taylor, Ed. S., w.
Taylor, J. A. R., w.
Tevepaugh, Wm.
Tidwell, W. T. A.
Turner, F. M.
Walker, E. M., w.
Warwick, J. M., w.
Watson, .T. A, d.
Watts, J. S.
Watson, J. B.
Weeks, J. L., w.
WTiitesides, Wm., w.
Wingate, J. P., W.
Wingate, Wm. C.
Wolf, J. W.
Total 116; killed 5; wouncled
23; died 5.
Company B, Fifty-Third Regi=
ment N. C. Troops.
Officers.
J. H. White, captain, k.
S. E. Belk, capt., lost an arm.
J. M. Springs, lieut.
W. M. Matthews, lieut.
M. E. Alexander, lieut.
Non-Co7nmissioned Officers.
R. J. Patterson, w.
S. M. Blair.
R. A. Davl3.
A. N. Gray.
W. R. Bailey.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
355
R. H. Todd. k.
W. H. Alexander, k.
Privates.
Alexander, J. W., d.
Alexander, Benj. P., d.
Alexander, Benj. C.
Anderson, Wm., d.
Atchison, Wm., c. and w.
Armstrong', Lreroy, c.
Barnett, R. S.
Bamett, W. A., k.
Barnett, E. L. S.
Berryhill, W. A., c.
Berryhill, Andrews, w.
Berryhill, Alex.
Bams, S. S., d.
Bruce, G. W.
Burwell, J. B.
Benton, Sam'l., w.
Baker, G. F.. w.
Cochrane, J. M.
Cochran, Wm. R.
Cochran, R. C.
Catchcoat, J. H., w.
Capps, John, d.
Caton, Elijah, w. and c.
Caton, Sylv., c. and d.
Clark, W. H.
Clark, W. C.
eiark, A. W.
Collins, John, k.
-^ Campbell, J. P.
Davis, W. A., d.
Demon, Jacob.
Donnell, W. T., w and c.
Enerenburn, J.
Eagle, John, w.
Eagle, W. H.
Epps, W. D., k.
Eng-el, Jonas.
Prazier, J. L.
Fincher, Asa.
Farrices, Z. W.
Frazier, J. C. R.
Grier, J. G., w.
Giles, M. O.
Giles, S. H.
Howie, J. M.
Howie, Sam'l. M., w.
Howie, F. M., w.
Hall, H. L., w.
Hood, R. K, c.
Harry, W. B., w.
Hoover, F. M
Katz, Aaron.
King, P. A., k.
Kirkpatrick, T. A.
Knox, J. S.
Leon, Louis.
Love, D. L.
Marks, S. S., c.
Marks, J. G., w.
Marks, T. E., k.
Marks, W. S.
McGinn, Thos.
McElroy, Jas. W., k.
Mitchell, C. J.
McKinney, Wm.
McKinney, T. A,, c.
Merritt, Wm. N., k.
McCrary, Jordan,
-^lorrison, J. M.
McCombs, A. H., w and c.
Maxwell, P. P., w.
McCrum, A. H., k.
Norment, A. A., k.
Otters, Cooney, c. and d.
Owens, J. Henry, k.
Oates, Jas.
Potts, Jas. H.
Patterson, S. L.
Parks, Miah, c.
Reid, H. K.
Reid, J. F., k.
Robinson, Thomp.
Russell, H. T„ c.
Rodden, N. B., w.
Rodden, W. R., k.
Robinson, J. P.
Smith, Lemuel.
Sweat. J. M.
Sample, H. B., c.
Sample, David.
Sample, J. W.
'Samnle, J. M., c.
Springs, R. A.
Stone, W. D., w. and c.
'Sulivan, W. L.
Stewart, W. S., d.
Taylor, J. W., w.
Todd, E. S.
Thomas, Henry.
Trotter, A. G.
Trotter, Thos., d.
Vickers, E. N.
Worthen, Henry, d.
Wilkenson, Neil, k.
Wolfe, C. H.
Winders, P. S., c.
Wilson, L. R., c.
Wilson, J. H., k.
Wilson, S. W^., w. and c.
Wilson, J. M.
Wilkerson, R. L.
Williams, Hugh.
Williams, J. W.
Williams, A. L.
Williamson, A. L., c.
Williamson, J. M., c
White, J. T.
Total, 110; killed, 16; wounded
21; died, 12; captured, 20.
356
HISTORY OF
Company E, Fifty-Ninth Regl-
ment N. C. Cavalry.
Officers.
J. Y. Bryce, captain, w.
Robt. Gadd, lieut.
B. H. Sanders, lieut.
Wm. Bryce, lieut.
H on-Commissioned Officers.
J. J. Misenheimer.
J. B. Davis.
J. F. Davidson.
G. F. Vickers, k.
Vickers, k
W. H. A. Kluts.
R. Kluts.
M. L. Furr.
Notah Shore.
Privates.
Blackwelder, D. C.
Bigg-ers, Wm.
Bisrarers, Houston, d.
Biggers, Robt.
Bost, Mopes.
Bost, S. C.
Bost, J. K. P.
Beattie, J. O.
Barbon, George.
Barber, Josiah.
Benson, H. A.
Broadptreet, J. R., c.
Browning, J. M., d.
Cline, H. B.
Cline, . D., c
Carriker. S. C.
Cox, J. D.
Cruse, Peter.
Clay. J. L., c.
Craig. Alex., c.
Davis, W. E.
Doolan, E., k
Eaudy, Paul.
Furr, Mat.
Furr, D. C.
Furr, Allen.
Furr, Darling.
Furr, W. M.
Furr, A. W., d.
Fisher C. A.
File, J. F.
Falls, W. A.
Faggart, D. C.
Foard. E. M.
Floyd. Wm.
Fink, Peter, k.
GrifRn, Wesly.
Gatlin. G. W.
Grover Austin.
Hagler, Jacob.
Hagler, Allen.
Hagler, Nelson.
Hagler, J. A.
Hoffman, J. L.
Hoffman, J. M.
Hartman, H. L.
Howell, W. B.
H'unsucker, N. J.
Johnston, J M., c.
Johnston, G. W.
Johnston, Jacob.
Kiser, G. A.
Kiser, N. D.
Kimmons, R. M.
Lay, J. G.
Linker, Jas.
Linker, W. R.
Linker, Aaron.
Linker, Moses.
Lefter. W. H.
Lay, W. J.
Lay, A. L.
Lay, J. W.
Ledford, C. M.
McCoy, J. R.
McDaniel, E. B., k.
McDaniel, E. A., d.
McEntire, M. L., c.
Misenhemier, J. H,
Moreton, W. R., d.
Moore, Dr. T. J.
Osborne, J. F.
Osborne, Robt., d.
Plyler, F. S.
Pender, J. H.
Perkins, A.
Pace, Yioung.
Reaves, F. A.
Rice, Moses.
Richards, Wm.
Ray, A. D., c.
Rhyne, C. M.
Rinrh-rt, W. D., c.
Rinehart, Thos.
Starns, John, d.
Starnes, E. W.
SosSaman, D. G.
Sossaman, W. H.
Smith, J. B.
Smith, G. L.
Smith, G. F.
Stranter, Wm.
Stranter, John.
Stranter, T. H.
Stowe, L. P.
Smith, Frank, k.
Smith, L. A.
Thomas, C. W.
Turner, W. D.
Troutman, Geo.
Wallace, J. M.
Wilson, J. M.
Wilson, Wm.
Wallace, J. R.
Williamson, J. M.
MKCKLKNBURG COUNTY.
357
Williamson, J. B., w.
Total 116; died 6; killed 6;
wounded 3; captured 4.
Company B, Forty-Third Regi-
ment N. C. Troops.
Of[icers.
Robert P. Waring, Captain.
Drury Ringstaff, 1st lieut.
William E. Still. 2nd lieut.
Julius Alexander, 2nd lieut.
Robert T. Burwell, 2nd lieut.
'Non-Commissioned Officers.
Drury Lacy, 1st sergt.
Robert B. Corbie, 2nd sergit.
S. R. Johnstion, 3rd sergt.
J. Harris Hunter, 4th sergt.
R. T. Burwell, 5th sergt.
Henry S. Presson, 1st corporal.
Smiley W. Hunter, 2nd corporal.
Robt. C. McGinness, 3rd corp'l.
Hiram Secrest, 4th corporal, k.
Privates.
Alexander, John M.
Aycock, W. M., k.
Broom, Samron,
Broom, Solomon.
Broom, S. A.
Broom, N. W.
Broom, Calvin, k.
Broom, Wr.scn.
Broom, A. T.
Barnes, Bryant.
Bl'ackwelder, D. M.
Boyd, Hugh.
Burwell, W. R.
Cochr'an, W. L., k.
Craft. A. J.
Allen, Dees K.
Fincher, Levi J., w.
Fowler, Moses F.
Fowler, Geio.W., k.
Griffith, J. Henry, k.
Griffith. J. L.
Grier, Paul B., k.
Griffith, Marley.
Griffith, Farrington.
Harrington, Ed. P.
Helms, Asa.
Helms, Josiab, k.
Helms, Noah.
Helms, Elbert, k.
Helms, W. M.
Helms, Alex. L.
Helms, Noah J.
Howell, W. J., k.
Hunter, Mad, k.
Hargr«ave, Robt. W.
Knie-ht, W. M.
Singleton, Lacy D.
Little, Bryant.
Moore, Pleasant.
McGwirt. David.
McGwirt, H. A.
Mullis, Simon.
Mannis, T. M.
Mannis, A. W.
Price, Josiah G.
Phillips, John.
Presley, John M.
Presley, Caswell.
Parsons, Larking.
Paxton, William W.
Robinson, M. M.
Bobinson, M. B.
Robinson, S'amuel J.
Reams, John W., k.
Rea, W. F.
Ste'arns, Johnston.
Stearns, Daniel, k.
Stearns, Thos. H.
Stearns, John R., k.
Stacks, Albert.
Steele, jMbert, k.
Steele, Thos.
Stegall, Mioses.
Stegall, Ambrose.
Stancel, James.
Stout, J. S.
Swift, Geo. W.
Simpson, H. Mc.
Sikes, Geo. G.
Sherrill. William E.
Thornburg, John L.
Wilson, W. A.
Womack, John.
Wilson, J. A.
Wilson, G. J.
Reported kiHed 20; wounded 1;
died 7; but 19 lived to get
home; 50 not accounted for.
Company F, Sixty-Third Regi-
ment N. C. Cavalry.
Officers.
John R. Erwin, captain.
J. McWhite. first Heut.
C. S. Gibson, second lieut.
W. J. Wiley, third lieut.
S. A. Grier. fir«t. sergt.
J. R. Kirknatrick. spnond sergt.
R. A. Davidson, third ''ergt.
P. W. Lintz, fourth .sergt.
J. H. Henderson, first, cnrnorlal.
J. M. Beaver, second corporal.
H. C. Bird, third corporal.
C. B. Palmer, fourth corpffiral.
Privates.
Armstrong, Larkin.
Armstrong, Mathew.
Alexander, H. L.
358
HISTORY OF
Alexander, W. N.
Alexander, J. W.
Alexander, J. S.
Abernaithy, W. D.
Andrews, G. W.
Asbury, Eugene.
Adams, James.
Br^wn, J. C.
Blackwelder, Jas.
Blackwood, Eli.
Burroughs, John.
Brum, C. F.
Bowden, Lrcwis.
Bigham, Green.
Cochran, J. C.
Cochran, R. E., capt. and q. m.
Caldwell, D. A.
Caldwell, R. B.
Caldwell, J. N.
Caldwell, H. M.
Cahill, John.
Cathey, John.
Coleman, T. P.
Davidson, R. A.
Davis, J. T. A.
Downs, J. T.
Eudy, John.
Erwin, W. R.
Furguson, F. A.
Flenigan, R. G.
Ferrell, J. P. M.
Fisher, J. V.
Fisher, Alfred.
Fisher, Francis.
Fisher. E. L.
Faggiot, Dan.
GibPon, D. M.
Griffith, C. F.
Grier, J. H.
Grier, Sam.
Harkey, W. P.
Howie, W. H.
Halobough, J. M.
Hunter, A. B.
Hoover, T. J.
Hovls, P.
Hannon, D. A.
Harris, J. S.
Hins'on, M.
Hutchison. C. N.
Hartsell, Wm.
Jamison, J. 1j.
Jennine's. J. H.
Kirkpatrirk, W. L.
irkpatrick. J. M.
Kerr. R. D.
TCustler, M. B.
Love, D. L.
Liove, J. M.
Lentz, Aaron.
Lindsay, Thos.
Leeper, Jas.
Ludwick, S.
Ludwick, Wm.
Montgomery, R. C.
McCall. J. A.
McElhany, E. A.
McElh&njy, S. L.
McDonald, J. R.
McDonald, Worth.
Millen, R. A.
McKinzie, Wm.
Means, P. B.
Moore, J. M.
Miller, S.
Minus, J. S.
Nance, W, T.
Nelson, J. M.
Norwood. R. P.
Neagle, J. F.
Prather, W. S.
Quiry, Walter.
Reed. W. H.
Russell, P. J.
Roper, P. H.
Regler, J. R.
Rea, D. B.
Rea, Sam'l.
Smith, D. W.
Smith, A.
Smith, R. T.
Smith, J. B.
Smith, John.
Smith, Wm.
Sloan, W. S.
Shuman, W. H.
Sharp, J. R.
Survis, T. O.
Terris C. E.
Tiser, W. H. G.
Taylor, D. B.
Tate, T. A.
Tate, F. A.
Torrence. C. L.
Wilsion, Wm.
Wilson, J. C.
White, R. S.
We'aver, J. A.
Wrie-ht, J. C.
Wryfield, Wm.
Wallace, I. N.
Younts, J. A.
Young, J. A.
Casualties not reported.
MKCK1.KNBURG COUNTY.
359
From Mecklenburg, Not in Com-
panies Raised in County.
Solomon Harkey, Heavy Artil-
lery, Wilmington.
Captain Nic. Gibbon, Com. 28th
Regt., N. C. Troops.
Mecklenburg Men Recruited by
Capt. N. P. Rankin, of Quit-
ford.
J. L. Adams, orderly sergt.
W. A. Mock.
W. H. Mock, sergt.
John N. Patterson.
Wm. Boils.
Reconstruction Times in Mecklenburg.
With the end of the war came reconstruction. The county
of Mecklenburg- never saw trouble before or since equal to
the anoyance we were made to endure for seven years. Im-
mediately on the disbanding- of our armies, the Federal sol-
diers, six thousand stromg. camped in and around Charlotte,
to keep our people quiet.
It is hard to keep within the bounds of decorum and tell
the plain, unvarnished truth, while this despotism lasted.
The people were helpless indeed; their armies disbanded, all
arms given up, or at least were called for. Crops were
pitched and worked over once before the surrender, but the
people had no money to hire labor to work their crops;
horses and mules were stolen by Federal soldiers, and some
by our former slaves ; no redress by process oif law. Where
a negro man stole a mule and was placed in jail, he was im-
mediately taken out of prison and the owner of the mule noti-
fied that any further molesting of the colored man or depriv-
ing him of his liberty would meet with speedy punishment.
A freedman's bureau was at once established that took the
oversight of ail freed men, to see that they got what they
thought they were entitled to. But for a "consideration" in
the wa}^ of a private fee, the captain would grant the em-
ployer of negroes permission to use a "persuader" to in-
crease the amount of work gotten out of the freed man. The
negroes had never enjoyed freedom before, and if they had
not been led astray by unprincipled white men, they would
have listened to their best friends, their former masters.
They always had looked to them for food, clothing and shel-
ter; and now in their new condition they could see no help
only in the Freedman's Bureau. And here they were kicked
about by petty tyrants to steal what little they could get out
of them.
This bureau encouraged stealing and enmity between the
MKCKl.KNBLiKG COUNTY. 36 1
races all over the country. It was a rare thing for those in
authority to urge an idea or plan that woiild be beneficial to
both races ; they were not willing for the negroes to be gov-
erned by the same code of laws held good for the white race.
Pro'bably they would not enrich the negro, but they would
not allovy the law to be enforced, for their stealing. .\ case
is stated that occurred four miles from town on the Beattie's
I^^'ord road that illustrates the matter as it really occurred.
John Henderson — a mulatto — ^who was a very thrifty
man, really more free when a slave than he ever was after
he became a freed man. His house was well furnished, he
kept a gold watch and a broadcloth suit of clothes. These
last items were stolen out oi his house b)' Yankee soldiers.
John found them in the possession of a soldier, and com-
plained to the General coinmanding, who told him to say
nothing more about it; that it would not be safe for him
(the negro) to liave the man arrested. This was a common
way of settling things gotten by the slight of hand. Some
gentlemen who were tired of this kind of imposition in the
eastern part of the county, put blood hounds on the track of
a thief or thieves, and tracked a load of bacon to the central
part of town, where the officer of the day ordered the dogs to
be taken off. It was worse than idle to have resisted. Yes,
the bureau encouraged stealing.
It was very annoying for a good citizen, O'f the county to
be subpoenaed by a former slave, acting as deputy, to appear
at the bureau to answer certain complaints lodged by said
freedman. It was worse than foolish tO' ignore the order.
Here you were confronted with negroes, probably some that
you had never seen before.
Political speeches were made by shrewd negroes of an in-
flammatory character that set the freedmen wild. They ex-
l^ected the time to speedily come when they would be th^ law-
makers of North Carolina. All the leading white men of the
State were disfranchised. All who would not take the oath
to support the Emancipation Proclamation, setting the
negroes free, and giving them the right of suffrage, were
362 HISTORY OF
prohibited from voting, or exercising the right of suffrage.
This exceedingly bitter pill was forced upon us, when we
were in this helpless condition. This election, the first after
the surrender, was held in 1868. I thought I could vote
without fail, as no office in the gift of the State or the United
States had ever been entrusted to me. When I approached
the election box with a ballot, the chief manager called me
to halt, to hold up my right hand, that he would have to
swear me, and commenced reading a printed oath of great
length, the latter part of which was in these words : "And
you further swear that you never carried arms, aided or
abetted in the rebellion against the United States." Here
I said: "Hold on, 'Squire; that lets me out." It is not to
be supposed that one of all the splendid body of soldiers that
went from Mecklenburg acted less patriotically. Some
scalawags did swallow the oath, but the people believed they
were paid for their treachery. On the other hand every
negro voted on his own freedom, and his right to the elec-
tion franchise. The election, like the negro's idea of reli-
gious worship, was too good to be done with in one day. The
negroes and scalawags had it all their own way; it is true,
they had orders how to conduct it. It is true things were
done by the orders of Gen. Canby, headquarters in Charles-
ton, S. C.
The election was held for three successive days, carrying
the boxes containing the ballots home with them at night
for three nights, and then sending the boxes to Charleston
for Gen. Canby to count. The whole election machinery in
the hands of an irresponsible party, and the enemies of the
best people in Mecklenburg county. Truly we were in a hor-
rible condition. No one knew what a day would bring forth.
The first election was about to come off, and the freedmen
were . exceedingly jubilant, thinking that freedom meant
licence, to take whatever they wanted without giving a quid
pro quo. Any kind of rumors could be heard on the streets,
great crowds of negroes could be seen at almost every cor-
ner discussing every move that was made. Scarcely any
MKCKl.lvNBURG COUNTY. 363
person was cool enough to guide the storm that was brew-
ing. The whites were but indifferently armed. Probably a
thousand negro men parading the streets and six thousand
Federal soldiers here in camp to take the part of the negroes
against the white people of the country. They were in such
a high state of frenzy as to only need a match to cause an ex-
plosion. A man by the name of Ed. Bizzel was mayor at
this time, and had his office in the old frame building on
West Trade street nearly opposite the Presbyterian church,
where in after years a negro killed an Italian by the name of
Mocha. Bizzell strongly sympathized with the turbulent
element. Pie had two or more negroes on the police force,
Avith some very bad white men, who were no better.
The mian Bizzell, the mayor at the time — a northern
man — was a fit representative of the party that was preying
upon what was left of the once glorious county of Mecklen-
burg. He had a negro wife and family of mulatto chil-
dren ! A chief ruler, where he was not fit to serve. This
was called reconstruction.
Capt. F. S. DeWolf, a true Confederate, married a
daughter of Maj. J. B. Kerr soon after the war, while the
town was infested with Federal troops. Maj. Kerr was
lying dangerously ill and his garden — hotel garden — was
raided every night by a large squad of soldiers, and Capt.
DeWolf asked for a guard to protect the premises from the
nightly thieves. One night just after dark he walked out to
see after the safety of his garden, and he saw the guard
talking to the thieves as hail fellows well met. The captain
remonstrated with them, and they cursed him. The captain
fired upon them and killed one. He surrendered and was
tried by military law and acquitted. But the privates swore
vengeance against him, and he had to keep hid for weeks in
daylight.
vSergt. Joe Orr, a brave soldier and good man, was living
about five miles from town. He was sent in town by his em-
ployer on an errand. He hitched his horse — which was a
ver}' fine one — to a tree where Mr. Lum Springs now lives,
364 HISTORY OF
and stepped into a store for a few minutes, and when he
came out his horse was gone. While enquiring about his
horse, a Yankee sergeant remarked: "If you will give me
live dollars, T will find your horse." Mr. Orr promptly gave
him the money. The soldier said : "Now get up behind me
and we will find your horse and the thief at the liquor shop
in the outer edge of town." When they got there, there were
both thief and horse in a crowd drinking at the saloon. Mr.
Orr commanded the Federal soldier to get off his horse and to
give up his property. The Federal immediately dismounted
and made for the one-arm^ sergeant, but he was ready for
him and struck the Yankee a blow on the head with a hickory-
stick that settled him. Orr was immediately arrested, and by
the time they got up town to the court house a great crowd
had collected and going up stairs in the great throng, Ser-
geant Orr made his escape, jumped his fine horse and never
halted until he reached home, loaded his double-barreled shot
gun with buckshot and waited in the front porch all night.
But fortunately he was not molested afterwards. The Orr
family have proved themselves to be brave men on many
fields of battle, and on more than one occasion here in Meck-
lenburg. John Orr is thought tO' be by many persons the
bravest man in Mecklenburg; but they are all good citizens.
Immediately after the arrival of the Federal troops in
Charlotte, they issued an order that no Confederate soldier
should be allowed to wear an insignia of rank, a Confeder-
ate button. The order was to humiliate the Confederate
soldier, and if possible to make "treason odious." The order
merely sensed to fan the coals of hatred and keep alive the
spirit of resentment. Nothing was more common for a
few days than to see a Yankee cut the buttons from the coat
of an ex- Confederate, a.nd immediately see the Federal
soldier knocked down. There were some indignities, though
trifling in them.selves, no worthy man would submit to. The
order was countermanded after a few days, when it was seen
that the indignity would be resented. Little things that were
MKCKLKMU'RG COUNTY. 365
unworthy of notice could become intolerable ivwing- to the
spirit in which they were done.
It was quite common for Federal soldiers to parade the
streets in crowds of six to fifteen in a squad, taking up the
entire pavement, insulting men or women, comipelling them
to. step off the pavement, and give the right of way to the
men dressed in blue. One morning a squad passing up
North Tryon met an Alabama ex-Confederate who was well
known in the county before the war for his good humor,
when treated as a gentleman, but when treated insultingly,
he was a devil incarnate. S. L. Carrol was ordered by a
squad of blue coats "to git off the pavement and let gentle-
men pass." Quick as a flash of powder, Carrol struck the
spokesman on the side of his head, knocking him senseless.
The rest ran off for help, intending to mob the Confederate,
but his friends urged him to get away, as he had no chance
against their entire force. The little mill created quite a
talk in the county for a few days. Nothing ever grew out
of it. Mr. Carrol stayed out of town for a while, and it
was soon forgotten.
A very unequal tax was put on the people. Whether it
was down right robbery or not, we cannot say ; but it had the
form of coming from the United States Government. The
land tax, they claimed, was levied during the war, and it was
impossible to collect it. In some counties it was collected
and in other counties they never made an effort to collect it.
Some persons positively refused to pay it, and no effort was
made to collect. In five or ten years, by some means they
returned what they pressed from our people. Whether a
guilty conscience held before their eyes or their minds the ill-
gotten gains, we will never know, but all the same, we were
glad to get back what had been stolen without interest.
Whenever a rich prize could be found it was sure to be
seized by those in control. If it was not lying around loose,
they could quickly issue an order that would take in charge
whatever they could see had money — big money — in it. The
South was a bonanza for those who ran the despotism for
366 HISTORY OF
what money was in it. They put a tax on lint cotton of three
cents a pound — $3.00 per hundred, $15.00 per bale for 500-
pound bale. A farmer who raised ten bales paid a tax of
$150.00. We had many farmers in Mecklenburg county
who raised five times that amount of cotton, and conse-
quently paid the tax in full.
The cries of the oppressed people were not loud, but they
were deep. Many women who were raised tenderly and
were accustomd to have every wish gratified, now saw the
wolf of want at their doors, now rose up and saw their all
taken away, instead of pining about the hard luck, they went
to work with a will and forced nature to open her store-
house, and no one starved in our county. But we certainly
are under no obligations to the United States Government
for favors shown in the days of our humiliation.
In the times of reconstruction one of the most humiliat-
ing spectacles we were forced to witness was the order for-
bidding ministers to perform the functions of their ofifice
unless they would take the iron-clad oath, "Declaring that
they never aided or abetted in the war of the rebellion."
Some of the best men in the world, in this county, for two
years never administered the sacrament of the Lord's Sup-
per, administered baptism, or solemnized a marriage
till the order was revoked. Some ministers paid no
attention to the order, but went right on, virtually defying
the commands of Gen. Canby.
The political situation in this county had to be held with
an iron hand in the troublous days of reconstruction. It
got into some of the churches in the country that did no good
to the cause of religion, but wrought much evil. The won-
der is it did not do more harm when the people were so
stirred in political matters. But it was fortunately arranged
that no permanent bad effect resulted. We got rid of some
preachers that were more anxious to reap political honors
than win souls for Christ.
Within a few months after the Federal soldiers took
charge of the town and county, they organized the Loyal
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 367
League, a preliminary to the Republican party. All over the
county meetings were held at night to encourage negroes to
join. A few white men would act with them, but extremely
few who were educated, and they were generally ostracised,
by the good people of the county. Politics absorbed all the
attention of every one. It was the negroes and bad whites
against the conservative element. It went from bad to worse
until the "Ku Klux" was organized for self-protection. The
two parties did not go so far in disturbing the peace of the
county, as was done in other places. Hence the Ku Klux
v/ere not called on so often to regulate the troubles in
this county; but they exercised a wholesome authority in the
community. A negro, Tom Alexander, who lived just west
of Huntersville, thought if he was free he had a right to vote
as he pleased; and he voted the conservative ticket, where-
upon he was ostracised by all the negroes and his children
beaten by other children and called "Democrat niggers."
This was carried on till it became more than Tom would
bear. He went over to the house of the father of the children
who had beaten his, and asked him to correct his children for
their bad behavior. He jumped up and seized a hand spike
and ordered Tom out of his yard, advancing on, him, when
Tom shot him dead. The negroes applied to a Justice of
the Peace for a warrant for Tom's arrest. The warrant was
put in the hands of the worst negro in the county as a deputy
officer, who said he was specially instructed to search the
houses of Dr. J. B. Alexander and R. B. Hunter, Esq. For
two or three days a gang of fifty negroes were scouring the
roads and fields in every direction, armed with every con-
ceivable kind of weapon, on foot and horseback. The neigh-
borhood was thoroughly terrorized ; that is, the women and
children were in danger. They had never witnessed a similar
sight before. ♦ Mr. James Blythe went to the negro deputy
and asked to see his warrant, vi^hich he transferred to his
own pocket, and dismissed the negroes. It was truly a
reign of terror while it lasted; but it was in keeping with
the manner of reconstruction. Thirty years have passed,
368 HISTORY OF
and Tom has not returned. His wife and children still live
in Mecklenburg. The white people at large have shown her
much sympathy, and her children have done well and are
regarded as good citizens.
Another scheme of robbery practiced by Federal soldiers
during their stay in Charlotte, was to hunt up branded
horses which Gen. Grant willingly let the Confederate sol-
diers take to their homes to cultivate a crop with. They
would bring them in and demand from ten to- thirty dollars
for the horse, and if the poor soldier could not raise the cash.
it was sold tO' some one else. So the crop would have to be
lost for the want of a horse.
The people were all miserably poor. It was hard to get a
start in the race of life. Some farmers had a few bales of
cotton laid away for a rainy day; but the order of stealing
had become so common it was almost impossible to keep it,
and it was in almost as much danger to offer it for sale. The
Yankees were as watchful as hawks for anything that they
could turn intoi money. Cotton that was stored in Charlotte
stood no better chance of safety.
Col. L. S. Williams had more than five hundred bales in
different places, and lost it all but one hundred bales. An
expert thief commanded a premium, and truth forbids it to
be said that no thief belonged to Mecklenburg county. The
whole country was more or less demoralized. One of Gen.
Canby's orders that was enforced was that every woman,
before she could be lawfully married, would have to take
an oath to "support the Constitution of the United States."
This was done to humiliate our people, the women who
stood firm for the rights of the South and exhibited a patriot-
ism that has never been excelled in the world. This oath
had to be administered by a Notary Public or a Magistrate.
And as no preacher could take the iron-clad oath, a Justice
of the Peace could not only administer the oath, but could
perform the martial rites as well. It was also ordered that
all negroes living as man and wife, must be married over
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 369
again, that is, buy new license, which cost them $3.00, even
if they were on the clown hill of life, and their children had
left home to start families of their own. The price of the
license had to be paid.
Last Cha.pler of Mecklenburg History.
We have seen the appearance of Mecklenburg one hun-
dred and fifty years ago, "in good old colonial times when
we lived under the king;" when the tall prairie grass and the
wild pea vines covered the whole face of the Western part
of the State; when the log cabin of the early settler, located
down near the spring, always extended a most cordial
invitation to the "new comer," who was hunting a home in
the land of the deer and the buffalo, with great abundance of
smaller game ; when the water courses were well stocked
with fish, even the spring branches were frolicsome with
the horny heads and minnows, up to the fountain head.
Modern utilitarianism will have much to answer for at
the shrine of natural beauty of scenery, of the virgin soil
of Mecklenburg county. The deep channels of our creeks
are now filled up; the timber on our uphnds, as well as the
creek and river bottoms, has been cleared, and the soil has
been carried away by the rains ; the meadows have been over-
flooded, and the sweet grass that formerly fed the cattle and
sheep in large beards and flocks, is now only heard of when
some old man who was raised on the farm becomes remi-
niscent. The first half of the last century our people seemed
to think we should raise at home all that we needed to eat
or wear; that if our people stayed at home, that they had
"but little need of money, consequently they did not try to
have much for market, or at least did not raise much that
would have to be hauled by wagon. Some horses, mules,
cattle, sheep and turkeys were driven to Charleston tO' find
a market and sometimes to Philadelphia. The first railroad
finished to Charlotte was from Columbia, in 1852.
Before this period, that is before railroads were built, but
little was consumed on the farm but what was raised there,
or manufactured at home.
Until the first half of the -Nineteenth century was passed.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 3/1
all the iron that was used in Mecklenburg came from the
iron works in Lincoln county. It was in bars six to ten feet
long-, about one inch thick and two and a half wide, with a
wide expanse at one end, from six inches to a foot in width.
This wide piece was to make various sized plows. This re-
quired heavy work to hammer it into the shape desired. The
blacksmith was truly an artist a hundred years ago. Every-
thing that was wanted or needed, had to be home made, even
the nails to build our houses, fix the doors and window shut-
ters, and to nail on the roofs. Fortunately the timber out of
which our shingles were made would last indefinitely. It
was not uncommon for shingle roofs to last and turn rain for
eighty years, and when patched, it would be good for a cen-
tury. Now what do we see as for building material ? Lumber
is dried and dressed by machinery, put at your door, all the
irons, nails, screws, hinges, locks and bolts are gotten from
the hardware stores, in every variety that the most fastidious
taste could desire. The old time blacksmith is now a back
number, except to shoe horses and repair breaks in vehicles
and machinery. The farmers no longer cut their small grain
with a scythe and cradle, but they use reapers and bind-
i-rs, which do the work of ten cradles, and save the grain
much better. Before 1850 farmers were hard put to have
their small grain thrashed out of the straw. The most com-
mon way was to have it tramped out with horse or oxen.
Some persons beat it out with a flail, and some by turning a
wagon upon it, but then it would have to be done out of
doors, subject to rain and storm.
In this the revolution has been as great as in the harvest.
The thrashing and cleaning and sacking is all done by ma-
chinery. All work is done by the saving of labor, the ex-
pense is less and the work is more efficiently performed than
when done by hand. The first three-fourths of the century
only the French burr stones were supposed to be the best of
all substances that could be found for making flour ; but in
these latter years it has been discovered that roller mills
give the greatest satisfaction. Iron, or chilled rollers, the
372 HISTORY OF
porcelain or glass rollers, having a wonderful velocity, makes
the most elegant flour on the market. The old water mill
that we thought fifty years ago could not be improved upon,
is now almost forgotten, and grain mills are now to be found
in successful operation at all respectable sized towns,
although no creek or river may be in sight. Steam has been
the great motive power, but is now giving way to electricity,
which in one or two decades will be the great motive power
of the world, unless liquid air or some future discovery
should take its place.
At the first of the Nineteenth century, or during the first
quarter of the century, the people only planted a small
"patch" of cotton, just enough for the good women of the
home to spin and have woven into cloth for the family. It is
not supposed there was a ctoton gin in Mecklenburg county
prior to 1825. Prior to this cotton was finger-picked —
that is, the seed were picked out by hand. The end of the
century has come, and all agricultural work has changed as
if the fabled Genii had made a revolution that has made us a
new civilization; virtually, "old things have passed away,
and all things have become new." Cotton was then in its
infancy.
In the closing years of the Nineteenth century, we have
seen a wonderful change in the civilization in times in which
we live. Instead of the cotton "patch" of one hundred years
ago, we have large fields of the fleecy staple, and it has become
the principal crop. It used to be the rule on negro quarters
for the negro men to gear two horses to the gin and leave a
woman and a half-grown boy to gin cotton; they would
finish one bale by noon, which the hands would pack while
the horses were eating, and gin another bale by night. Two
bales in a day fifty years ago was considered a good day's
work. Now, in the year 1902, ten to fifteen and even twenty
bales a day is not considered as great a day's work as when
five bales were done in a day.
It was a question a half a century ago, what is the easiest
way to dispose of the cotton seed; we did not know their
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 373
value then, the oil had not been expressed, no price was
fixed ; meal was not known then to hold so much nitrogen for
making fertilizers of so g-reat value, and for feeding pur-
poses. The seed that we formerly wasted is now worth one-
fourth of the entire crop. The cotton crop now holds the
balance of power among the crops of the country. There
was probably not a cotton factory in the county prior to
1875. Now the county stands first in the number of mills
or factories. Our county has been anything else than a
laggard in the race of progress.
When a boy going to school it was a common sight to see
large flocks of sheep. A half a century ago but few people
kept their sheep up in pasture, but let them run at large.
Almost every farmer kept from 20 to 80 in a flock. By
salting them when they came home, they always knew where
to find a "lick."
It was rare sport for school children to witness the leader
of a flock to espie another flock approaching, and he knew
intuitively that a fight was brewing, for every flock had its
ram that would champion the cause of the family. The two
belligerents seemed to understand that nothing short of a
decisive battle would put a quietus on the approaching lead-
ers. The flocks would take opposite sides, remain quiet, and
the rams would step backwards till they were about twenty
paces apart, when they would run rapidly together, butting
their heads together with a loud noise, frequently both being
knocked down. This operation being repeated till one of the
two would run. Sometimes their horns would become
locked, and they would be found dead, still unclasped. For
the last twenty-five years the worthless dogs have made it
unprofitable to raise sheep in this county. It is now a lost
industry, that children and vagrants may enjoy the pleasure
of keeping a pack of dogs.
The common, or the old field schools, did not improve very
much till the last quarter of the Nineteenth century. The
room in which the school was taught was generally built of
logs, with a dirt floor, a log was cut out for a window where
374 HISTORY OF
a writing desk was made; slabs were used for benches, gen-
erally so high that little children could not reach the floor,
and a child would be in punishment for days or months at a
time. But we are glad to know that a decided improvement
in respect to school houses has taken place in the latter days.
The pupils are more comfortable, and in a better spirit more
in accord with a desire to learn. We now have teachers
worthy of the name, to train our children.
In the early part of the century, the rod was considered a
necessity — very necessary part of the school furniture. Mr.
T. W. Sparrow, who was a most excellent scholar as well as
a good teacher, often remarked: "If you will furnish the
boy and the book, I will do the whipping." In the last quar-
ter of a century the pendulum has swung too far the other
wav. A happy medium would probably produce the best re-
sults.
Until the last fifty years, or even down to twenty-five
years ago, to see a child or a young person wearing specta-
cles was almost unheard of. Now you hardly see a school
room but has one or more pupils with defective vision. In
fact we are noted as a people given to wearing eye-glasses.
The question is frequently asked, "What is the cause of so
much impaired vision?" It can be truthfully said that the
vigor of manhood has been impaired to a remarkable extent
in the last third of a century. It formerly was not consid-
ered excessive for a man to cut and split one hundred rails
in a day, or cut one hundred dozen of wheat or oats in a
day. Now it takes two men to perform the same amount of
labor. "The part of least resistance is the first to give way."
The offspring of such enfeebled persons shows degeneracy
in different parts of the body, and we might expect as deli-
cate an organ as the eye to be affected more or less seriously.
The negro in slavery time never complained of any defect
of vision until old age came on, but now they can sport eye-
glasses with as much grace and pride of dress as if they came
of a long line of weak eyes.
The thousands of Confederate soldiers with whom we
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 375
were associated, scarcely a one needed his eyesight improved
forty years ago. But now if we go on, a visit to the various
asylums in Morganton and Raleigh, we see not only the
blind and deaf and dumb, but what is worse, the vast and in-
creasing number of insane. The State has a heavy load.
Our new civilization will have much to answer for at the bar
of a healthy people.
Dr. Julian J. Chisholm, of Baltimore, told the writer once
in treating a lady's eyes, in which he met with only failure,
at which he was much mortified, he said to her if he were not
sure to the contrary, he would say she was addicted to the use
of tobacco. She blushed and said she would have to plead
guilty. That may be the cause of many cases of defective
eyesight.
In the early years of the Nineteenth century, the price of
newspapers was three to five times as high as one hundred
years later, and so was the postage on papers and letters,
which last was twenty-five cents, which has gradually been
reduced to two cents, and a postal card to one cent. There
was but one postoffice between Charlotte and Davidson Col-
lege. That was Alexandriana, the mail on which route was
carried once a week — going from Statesville to Charlotte on
Friday and back on Saturday. The mail was always light.
The postmaster would carry all the Hopewell mail to church
the next day and leave 'it on the table, and every one could
get his own mail. All the mail for north Mecklenburg and
South Iredell for one week's distribution, was carried in one
mail sack — about a peck. But few persons went to the office,
nearly every person wrote by some one going in that direc-
tion. People in the olden time were very accommodating —
more so than now.
Dime novels were then, unknown, and it is more than prob-
able there was nothing lost in that respect. Books at that
time were scarce and high. There was no room for cheap
novels then. Political papers of a high order could be had —
that is, weekly papers ; but they cost high. Educated gentle-
men had pretty fair libraries, but they were few and far be-
376 HISTORY OF
tween. A cultured gentleman like D. A. Caldwell would
have a good library.
For the first 25 years of the Nineteenth Century, newspa-
pers were exceedingly scarce in the State, not to speak of the
county. It is more than probable that Charlotte could not
beast of a paper prior to 1825. Holton's North Carolina
Whig was established in 1824. Tho.' Hornet Nest was pub-
lished by Badger and Philo Henderson, commencing about
1848. .It lasted several years and gave way for the Western
Democrat in the early fifties, by R. P. Wearing, who ran it
successfully until he received a consulate in the Danish West
Indies, when Mr. W. J. Yates took charge and made it a
splendid success, both as a newspaper and a business enter-
prise. E. H. Britten began editing the Bulletin about i860.
It was kept up till after the war, when bankruptcy over-
took the whole country. Gen. Hill published his magazine,
The Land VVe Love, for several years, and afterwards the
Southern Home newspaper, which was very spicy and pop-
ular. About the same time the Observer was started by
Charles Ft Jones, which was well edited for a number of
years, and wielded considerable influence. This was a big
stride forward. The Bulletin was the first daily, but the
Observer was an improvement. Mr. Jones' health gave way
and the paper was run by the stockholders as best they could
for a few years. Mr. Robert Hayden took charge for some
time, but in a year or two abandoned the paper, when the
stockholders secured the present editor, Mr. J. P. Caldwell,
who has given Mecklenburg the best paper ever published
in her bounds. He is associated with D. A. Tompkins in
publishing the paper, with a staff of good reporters, and
are making a grand success. The Evening News is also
proving a successful venture, with Mr. W. C. Dowd as edi-
tor. It now appears to be one of the fixtures which the city
is proud of.
The Peoples' Paper, edited by J. P. Sossaman, has been
running for several years as a free lance, criticising accord-
ing to how people do. The virtuous are praised and those
01^
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 377
who violate the law are condemned. He has a satisfactory
circulation.
The Mill Neivs is ably edited and reaches many readers.
The Enterprise, a negro paper, has been issued — not regu-
larly — for a number of years, and is read by the people of
that race. The organ of the Presbyterian Church of North
Carolina is published here, and has a backing by the Synod
of the Presbyterian Church of the State, and it has the best
opportunity of any in the State. Our town and county is
admirably supplied with the best of religious and political
papers, and mill and scientific papers to teach science as ap-
plied to manufactures. Charlotte has two medical journals
that will compare favorably with any published in any city
in America. In the earlier years there was no progress in
caring for the sick, but what every family could do in look-
ing after their people. Time has brought many changes, and
some for the good of our fellow beings. We now have three
hospitals where forty years ago we had only a temporary
shelter for soldiers, we now have such pleasant quarters that
some of our most refined ladies cheerfully accept a ward in
the hospitals to bring their sick.
There are two elegant hospitals in use here for the white
people, and one for the colored people. Both have the latest
appointments with the most skillful physicians and well-
trained nurses. Discoveries in medicine and surgical appli-
ances, and the microscope have all yielded benefits to suffer-
ing humanity.
The first railroad in the county, Columbia & Charlotte,
was finished in 1852. A big celebration and barbecue with
speaking was the order of the day. In 1856 the railroad
from Goldsboro to Charlotte was finished. Until this road
was finished, the Democratic party was opposed to all inter-
nal improvements by State taxation ; but they were not op-
posed to individuals subscribing to public works. The State
took no stock in the Charlotte & Columbia railroad. Many
Democrats laughed at the idea of building a railroad that
3/8 . HISTORY OF
would not have more than two t?'ain loads a year, one in the
fall and one in the spring !
The road from Wilmington to Lincolnton and on up the
mountains, has been in operation since 1875, or there abouts.
The road to Statesville or Taylorsville was put in running
order soon after the war, the iron having been taken up to
build the road from Greensboro to Danville during the war,
as a necessary war measure. In the latter part of the seventh
decade — about 1876 or 1877, the road was completed to At-
lanta. The county paid $300,000 to build the Atlanta and
vStatesville roads. The county has made wonderful pro-
gress in the last twenty-five years, and has at least doubled
her population.
In the last twenty-five years the bicycle has made its ap-
pearance, and is in use in all parts of the world. There ap-
pears no valid reason why it may not be a fixture to stay.
It is now used by both sexes to visit the metropolis, in all
sections of the county. The depots and repair shops now
indicate their common use, and the price having come down
within the reach of all, there is no reason why every one
should not ride a wheel, wherever the roads will admit it.
MERCHANTS IN 185O-I9OO.
A half century ago the stores were dry goods establish-
ments. If a man wished to carry a variety of goods, they
were all in one house. H. B. & L. S. Williams kept in the
south corner of the public square, now occupied by the Car-
olina Clothing Company. It was a fair sample of the stores.
They carried a general assortment of dry goods, a few sacks
of coffee, sugar, molasses, cheese and tea. Loaf sugar,
moulded in cone shape, wrapped in blue paper, tied with
twine and hung overhead — this was the only kind considered
good enough to sweeten "bought" tea. They also had vast
quantities of yarn, hung overhead. This was in "bunches,"
five poimds, ranging from 400, the coarsest, on up to 1,000
or 1,200, the finest. But little or no negro cloth was brought
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 379
on by merchants. It was all spun and woven at home, both
for summer and winter wear. The plain wool hats to wear
for every day were made by hatters in every neighborhood.
The merchants fifty years ago kept finer goods than they do
now. Broadcloth sold — a good article — at $15.00 per yard,
and a silk dress equally as liigh. When the merchants, or
any one else wanted to borrow money, they applied to their
country friends, where they w^ould not be turned down.
When the railroad got to town the merchants multiplied.
Ready-made clothing first made its appearance with the ad-
vent of Levi Drucker. The Israelites followed close on the
coming of the railroads. They have proved amongst our
best citizens.
The city has grown so that it would not be recognized as
the same place if visited by persons who liveed here a half
century ago. Among the active men who took part here
fifty years ago we mention Leroy Springs, William David-
son, W. W. Elms, H. B. Williams, John Irwin, David Parks,
Sam Harris, Richard Carson, John A. Young, T. H. Brem,
and men of a more recent date, who were very active' — T. L.
Alexander, William Johnston, A. B. Davidson, R. Y. Mc-
Aden, J. Y. Brice, S. P. Alexander, R. M. Oates and many
more. The town was then only a small village, with streets
hardly any better than the ordinary big roads. It was com-
mon for wagons to stall or mire down in the public square.
The streets were not macadamized, or begun to be paved
until after the close of the war. Nor were the roads made
hardly passable for wagons, in the winter time twenty years
ago. Some expert drivers stayed near the creek west of
t(nvn to drive your load up the fearful Irwin's lane. For
fifty cents they would land your load up town.
The chain gang had much to do with the good ro-ads we
now have in the county. Much of the road was done over
two or three times before a satisfactory highway was con-
structed. Much money has been spent for the county's good
roads, but no one complains of the taxes paid. From the lit-
tle village we had fifty years ago, we now see the most thriv-
380 HISTORY OF
ing city in the State, with cotton mills that give employ-
ment to thousands of hands, and other kinds of mills and
machinery of every description in full blast. The city and
its suburbs now numbers over thirty thousand inhabitants,
which gives employment to truck farmers and dairymen,
who realize a handsome profit, that formerly were engaged
in a less profitable business. A general market has been
built up for everything raised on the farm, and by the ad-
vancement of Mecklenburg, all the surrounding counties
have been benefited. Two of the best female colleges in the
State are largely patronized, having young ladies from sev-
eral States in attendance. This is a city of elegant churches
of every denomination, well attended — in all at least thirty
churches — of elegant structure, besides chapels and tem^
porary places of worship.
THE OLD CEMETERY.
The old cemetery, attached to the First Presbyterian
Church, was used for a burying ground since the present
site of the town was laid off, or soon afterwards. The old
graveyard east of the city was discontinued soon after the
town was located. The elder Polks and Barnetts and others
whose names have become dim or obliterated, a mile and a
half east of the town, have many of their posterity and com-
peers laid to rest in what is now called "the old cemetery"
in Charlotte. For a little over one hundred years this grave-
yard was the common place of sepulture. When the en-
closure (walled in with brick) was filled with the dead, a
new burying ground was laid off and inclosed, known as
Elmwood, on the northwest side of the city. It is hand-
somely kept, a beautiful city of the dead. How soon is the
old one forgotten! Many patriots of the Revolutionary
War are sleeping there — Col. Thomas Polk, Dr. Ephraim
Brevard, Gen. George Graham and many others of more
than ordinar}'^ fame. But such is life. Many of the old
graveyards have been woefully neglected, and the private
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 381
yards in Mecklenburg- are no exception. It is only within
the last forty years that the civilization of the present has
ripened up into flowers, blooming for the blushing bride, and
all the holiday attire of schools and appropriately for tem-
ples of worship; but especially for those who defended our
course in the late war of Constitutional Liberty.
When Governor Vance last appeared before a Charlotte
audience, although too feeble to speak, showers of bouquets
were thrown around his seat, indicative of the Easter
morning that awaited him, when he should have completed
his course of incessant labor for his people of North Caro-
lina. Decorating the graves of our dead is a beautiful cus-
tom.
Fifty years ago wild game was abundant of every kind.
The deer and wild turkey were found in all parts of the
county. The red and grey fox could be started with a pack
of hounds any morning a chase might be desired. A grey
one would lead the pack from two to four hours, and the red
would run six to eight hours. When it was known which
variety was going to lead, one-half of the pack was held in
reserve until Reynard would lozccr his brush, wiiich was a
sure token that his race was nearly run. Fox hunting was
then considered the gentlemanly sport of the county. If the
fox should have partaken of a midnight supper of a pig, a
lamb or a goose, he would make a poor run, lasting not more
than an hour. The raccoon and opossum were principally
hunted at night.
Times have chang-ed and all these species of wild game —
save the opossum — have disappeared from the county. The
forests have been cleared, and no place is now left to raise
their young. The old field rabbit is at home in the broom
sedge and briar thickets. The appearance is that the rabbit
will alone occupy the places that formerly were occupied by
the different varieties that are missing. The birds that forty
years ago made the woods alive with their voices, are now
all hushed ; the coveys of doves, larks, yellowhammers and
black birds are nearly all gone ; here and there we see a mock-
382 HISTORY OF
ing- bird and a jay, a cat bird and a thrush; all are gone save
the partridge, and it alone is protected by law. The English
sparrow now occupies the place of all other birds, but has
been but a late importation, and has a pugnacity that well
becomes the English, for the Anglo-Saxon will not tolerate
a rival.
In this good year 1902, it is well for us to take a look
backwards and see what our county population was one hun-
dred years ago, and what it was when the century was
finished.
In 1800 it was 10,439, i" 1810 it was 14,272, in 1820 it
was 16,895, ii"^ 183^ it was 20,073, in 1840 it was 18,273, in
1850 it was 13,914, in i860 it was 17,374, in 1870 it was
24.298, in t88o it was 34,175, in 1890 it was 42,673, in
1900 it was 55,261.
In the decade from 1845 to 1855, there was a vast emigra-
tion. Both before and after these dates the move was very
considerable. Large numbers of slaves were sent to raise
cotton on the fertile lands of the southwest. By the year
1870 the tide of emigration was turned, and the best element
poured into Mecklenburg from all directions. Charlotte and
the suburbs, has a population now estimated at 35,000. The
rapid growth is not of the boom character, but it is solid.
She is constantly lengthening her cords and strengthening
her stakes, and bids fair to be one of the largest inland cities
of our Southland. Why should our city not be an empo-
rium ? No city or town, has a finer back country to draw
from. The county is full of gold and copper and iron ores.
One of the three metals can be found on every mile of ter-
ritory, and in many places in quantities that will pay to
work. The company now engaged in extracting the gold
from the sands of the Catawba river have certainly got a
bonanza that pays the company most handsomely.
Scarcely a farm in the county but what has unmistakable
signs of gold, copper or iron. This is an inviting field for
an expert, and awaits his coming with much solicitude.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 383
HOW MECKLENBURG HAS SUFFERED.
For the last fifty 3 ears this county has offered advantages
to the educated classes that other sections of the State have
not been able to compete with in all the different branches of
learning. Her schools have attracted many learned indi-
viduals who have given us of their store of useful knowl-
edge, but they have tried to rob us oi our priceless treasure,
the Declaration of Independence on the 20th of May, 1775.
We have a large population of learned preachers, lawyers
and scientific men who deny the truth of those immortal
signers, notwithstanding one was a minister of the Gospel
and nine others were elders in the Presbyterian Church, and
was witnessed by a great number of the best people in all
this section of country; two, if not more of the witnesses,
v/ere young men who achieved a reputation for patriot-
ism and learning, coextensive with the State, Maj. Gen.
Joseph Graham and Rev. Humphrey Hunter. These were
conspicuous figures who were present at the meeting of the
great committee on the 20th of May, 1775. It is strange
that men, not of our State, not of Mecklenburg county,
should move here and enjoy the blessings of our county,
reap the magnificent rewards as teachers in our schools and
colleges, fill pulpits of our churches, occupy exalted places
in our courts and legislature, and then deny the chiefest dia-
dem in our crown of liberty and independence. "He who
steals my purse steals tragh; 'twas mine, 'tis his, and has
been slave to thousands; but he who filches from me my
good name, robs me of that which enriches him not, but
leaves me poor indeed."
North Carolina has been regarded as a "strip of land
lying between two States," fit only to furnish material for
history, that may garland the brows of her sisters. Vir-
ginia and South Carolina have enough to be proud of, and
we would be unworthy of our illustrious ancestors if we
would tamely submit to such robbery, while we have such
abundant proof of all the facts ever claimed, to establish the
384 HISTORY OF
validity of the memorable declaration put forth on the 20th
of May, 1775. Many persons, natives of other States, who
have found a home within the bounds of Mecklenburg, are
not willing for us to hold that which belongs to us not only
by right of inheritance, but by priority of date. Before
1819 not a whisper was heard against Mecklenburg being
the birthplace of liberty, but now we see men in every walk
of life who have an itching desire to tarnish the honors of
Mecklenburg's old heroes, rather than accord the dues to
whom they belong. Strangers have shown a strong desire
to write a history of the county, but for reasons not given,
their works have never seen the light.
APPENDIX.
Extra.ct From Lynva-n Draper's Notes.
Signers of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.
GEN. THOMAS POLK.
The original names of the ancestors of the Polks of Meck-
lenburg- was Muirhead, whence it was changed to Pulloak,
then to Pollock — which by obvious transition, assumed its
present — as is evident by the will of Magdalen Polk, dated
1723, preserved among the records of the Orphans' Court
of Summerset County, j\Id.
The traditions of the Greeks and Romans were not more
quaint and curious as to the origin of their heroes than are
those of many of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who early
migrated to the New World. The Polks have had handed
down to them a tradition running in this wise:
On a certain great occasion, a way back in tlie misty past,
a king of Scotland was marching at the head of an immense
procession, when a small oak shrub appeared directly in front
of his majesty, to which one of the king's attendants, by the
name of Muirhead, a man of great physical strength, sprang
forward, and with a Herculean effort, tore it up by the roots
and bore it out of the way. Such an act of gallantry
prompted the king to order a halt, when he knighted Muir-
head upon the spot, and changed his name to Pulloak —
pull-oak. Another tradition is related of the same person.
An enormous size and vicious wild boar inhabited that re-
gion, a terror to all who came within his range. A reward
was offered by the king to any one who would rid the coun-
try of the dreaded monster. Pulloak determined to try it
single-handed. Armed only with a bow and arrows, he sal-
386 HISTORY OF
lied forth on the dangerous adventure. One version of the
story is that w^hen the wild boar discovered his pursuer, he
rushed towards the bold hunter, who climbed an oak tree,
and from its branches he shot the fierce animal. Another
version of the story is that, pursued by the enraged boar,
Pulloak sprang through an old church window, the boar
after him ; but Pulloak instantly darted out of the door and
shut it quickly, and managed to close the window, and then
quietly returned home. His neighbors were not a little
surprised at his safe return. In response to their expressions
of astonishment, he effected equal surprise, saying with non-
chalance, truly a bit of a pig had the hardihood to run at
him, when he seized it by the tail and threw it into the church
window, where they might go and satisfy themselves of the
fact. At length some of the more courageous of the number
sallied forth to see the game of the forester, and were aston-
ished beyond measure when they discovered the^'bit of a pig"
was none other than the dreaded wild boar for whose taking
off the king had offered the large reward. Some of those
present argued that Pulloak was more than a Sampson, and
must have been imbued with supernatural aid. And as an
-additional evidence of his fearlessness, he boldly advanced,
and shot the enraged animal through one of the windows.
The hero of the exploit, as the tradition goes, kept his
own counsel and it was many a long year before he saw fit
to divulge the manner of his getting sodangerous a beast into
the church alone and single handed. The coat of arms of the
Polk family is no doubt derived from the latter tradition —
"Polloak, Bar't, Scotch; a boar, passant, pierced by an ar-
row." Motto: Audacter et strenne — Boldly and readily.
The boar is represented with elevated bristles and angered
mien, transfixed with an arrow.
To aid in ameliorating the natural turbulence of the Irish
character, James I. encouraged a large emigration into Ire-
land, and among those who settled in that part of Ulster
known as Donnegal, was the family of Pollocks. Robert, a
son of the elder Pollock, took an active part in the wars
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 387
against Charles I. and fought side by side with Cromwell
against the Royalists, under Rupert. The powder-horn
worn by Robert Pollock during the civil wars is now in pos-
session of Col. W. H. Pollock.
Returning home he married Margarette Tasker, the
widow of Col. Porter, and heiress of Mo, a beautiful estate
near the town of Gififoard; whose father, Col. Porter, a
chancellor of Ireland, had been an eminent man in his day.
Robert and Magdaline Pollock reared six sons and two
daughters. The father and sons obtained grants of land in
Maryland from Lord Baltimore. John Pollock, or Polk —
the eldest son — in 1685, settled at a place called Locust
Hammock, in Summerset county, on the eastern shore of
Maryland. Thither parents and children migrated at an
early period, and became prominent and useful settlers in
the colony.
John Polk, who first married and
for his second wife Joanna Knox, died in 1707, leaving two
children, William and Nancy.
William, Priscilla, Robert and Thomas Polk, the subject
of this sketch, and the eldest of eight children, was born in
Summerset county, Maryland, about 1730. His father
moved to the neighborhood of Carlisle, Cumberland county,
in 1750, then a newly settled region of Pennsylvania, fast
filling up with hardy Scotch-Irish emigrants.
Thomas Polk's early educational advantages must have
been quite respectable for that day, since he fitted himself
for the occupation of surveyor; and on attaining the age of
manhood, and learning of the new settlement along the Ca-
tawba Valley, since known as Mecklenburg, he directed his
course thither, about the commencement of the border trou-
ble of i754-'55, the Indian outbreak incited by French
infiuence extending from the frontiers of New Hampshire to
the back settlements of the Carolinas.
Thomas Spratt is said to have been the first man who
moved his family on wheels across the Yadkin, stopping a
while on Rocky river, and then settling within the present
388 HISTORY OF
limits of Charlotte. Thomas Polk, when he arrived at
Thomas Spratt's, had only a knapsack on his back and a
goodly share of indomitable enterprise. He soon married
Susanna Spratt, the daughter of this early settler, and their
son, William, who distinguished himself in the Revolutionary
war, was born in Mecklenburg county in 1758. During the
period of 1756 to 1760, there were some Indian troubles on
the Catawba and Yadkin frontiers ; and it may well be sup-
posed that Thomas Polk here learned some of those lessons
of bravery and leadership which he displayed so creditably
during the subsequent years of the Revolutionary war. The
characteristics of the pioneer settlers of Mecklenburg are well
described by an aged native of that region, whose clear mem-
ory reaches back into the close of the last century. They
were, he says, strong in body, strong in mind, brave, and
patriotic.
They were driven by persecution from Scotland and Ire-
land, and were called Scotch-Irish.
They were determined to have liberty or have death. They
lived far from market and had few luxuries. Those who
could afford it had coffee for breakfast on Sunday morning,
before they went to church, but at no other time. Though
they lived plainly, they lived abundantly. The land was
rich, producing all manner of grain, stock always plenty and
always fat. The women were the best of cooks; no negroes
then; no cotton, no drunkards, no thieves; no locks on dwell-
ings, corn crib or smokehouses. The hardest time of the
year was to harvest their crops. Then all through winter
they had little to do but to attend their stock, pay and re-
ceive visits. Happy days !
Thomas Polk was originally a surveyor, says Dr. Johnson
in his traditions of the revolution in the Southwestern part
of North Carolina; his education was not acquired within
the classic walls of a college, but partially obtained at in-
tervals from his occupations in hills, valleys and forests of
the province.
Then he became universally known and respected, no man
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 389
possessing more influence in that part of North CaroHna.
As early as 1770 he was one of the two representatives
of Mecklenburg county in the popular house of the Legisla-
ture, and in June, 1772, he was employed by Gov. Martin as
surveyor in running the western extension of the boundary
line between North and South Carolina. As indicative of
the independent spirit of the people in opposing royal en-
croachments on their rights, the popular house in February,
i772)^ refused to vote an appropriation of £172 los.to pay the
claim of surveyor for running the line, even though so popu-
lar a man of the people, and a former member of the house,
a< Capt. Polk, contending that the previous Assembly had
expressed its sense of injury that accrued to the colony by
fixing the line as proposed by the Governor.
At the breaking out of the Revolution, Thomas Polk was
the colonel of the militia, and the most popular man in Meck-
lenburg, and all his influence was exerted in behalf of the
popular cause.
It is apparent from Jones' defense of the Revolutionary
history of North Carolina, and from the statements of some
of the aged men with reference to the Mecklenburg resolves
of May 20, 1775, that he had the principal agency in calling
the convention of which he was a conspicuous member and
popular leader of the people. Foote adds that he was well
known and well acquainted in the surrounding counties, a
man of great excellence and merited popularity. He was also
one of the Mecklenburg members of the Provincial Congress
that held sessions atHillsboro during August and September,
1775, and served on important committees — one to prepare
a plan for the regulation of internal peace, order, and safety
of the Province. On September 9, 1775, he was appointed
by the Provincial Congress colonel of the militia of Meck-
lenburg, and in November and December following, marched
at the head of six companies, aggregating three hundred
men, into the Southeastern part of South Carolina to aid in
suppressing an outbreak of the Tories in that quarter. Some
300 pounds of powder was supplied by the authorities of
390 HISTORY OF
North Carolina for the use of his troops against the insur-
gents near Ninety-Six. It was a hard service with some
fighting. The Tories were subdued and many made pris-
oners, and in consequence of a heavy snow fall, it was called
the snow campaign. This service was all the more credita-
ble since it was to serve a neighboring Province in suppress-
ing a dangerous insurrection, and Col. Richardson, the
South Carolina commander, was directed to take Col. Polk's
men into the pay of the colony for the expedition, and ten-
der them the thanks of the South Carolina Council of Safety
with the assurance that "the serA-ice of those good neigh-
bors" would ever be held in grateful remembrance.
In December, while absent on this service, he was ap-
pointed colonel of the Second of the two regiments of Minute
Men, ordered to be raised in the district of Salisbury, com-
posed of Rowan, Mecklenburg, Tryon and Surry counties.
He had been but a brief period returned from South Caro-
lina when he was called to lead his regiment against the Tory
Highlanders on the Cape Fear in Februar)^, ^77^, and reach-
ing Cross Creek, now Fayetteville, received intelligence of
the decisive victory of Caswell and Lillingtoii over the in-
surgents, and returned home.
In April, he was recommended by the Provincial Con-
gress to the command of the Fourth of the six Continental
regiments, which the Continental Congress confirmed early
in May ; and the same month he was ordered with his regi-
ment to join Gen.. Moore at Cape Fear. The six Continental
regiments finally rendezvoused at Wilmington, from which
at least a portion were ordered in June to the defence of
Charleston, Polk's regiment being of the number. But a
single regiment of the North Carolinians, Clarke's, appears
to have had any active part in repelling the enemy from
Charleston. This service ended, the North Carolina Conti-
nentals seem to have returned to their old camp at Wilming-
ton, and drilled and perfected themselves during the sum-.
nier and autumn, when they were marched into South Caro-
lina.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 39I
In February, 1777, Francis Nash, who had just been
promoted to a brigadier, was ordered by the Continental
Congress to use his influence in the western part of North
Carolina to stimulate the filling up of the Continental regi-
ments, and march the ensuing month to join Gen. Washing-
ton,
Major William Lee Davidson, of Polk's regiment,
marched with the North Carolina line, but it is not apparent
that Col. Polk himself engaged in the service. It is probable
that inasmuch as the Continental regiments were deficient
in numbers, there were only enough of Polk's to form a
major's command.
From this time to the fall of Charleston, in May, 1780,
was comparatively a quiet period in North Carolina.
In 1777 Liberty Hall Academy was established in Char-
lotte on grounds and improvements purchased by Col. Polk,
and he was made one of the trustees. Thus were means for
public education provided and sustained, until the institution
was suspended by the subsequent British invasion of the
country. In 1780, Col. Polk had troops at Charlotte guard-
ing the public magazines, which were removed when the en-
emy approached in September of the same year. He acted
a? Commissary General of supplies both for the North
Carolina troops and the Continentals under Gen. Yates (Lee
Paper N. Y. Hist, Society, p, 145), and there was some com-
plaint for inattention to duty on his part in his important
office, which he explained upon the ground of scarcity of
supplies and necessary attention to his family.
Col, Alexander Martin, a member of the State Board of
War, to which Col, Polk was amenable, having visited the
army of Mecklenburg, declares in a public letter recorded in
the journal of the board, that in his opinion Col. Polk had
fulfilled the duties of his office as well as circumstances
would admit.
During Cornwallis' occupancy of the country. Col. Polk
had necessarily to retire from Charlotte, and his residence
became the headquarters of the British general. An origi-
392 HISTORY OF
na] letter written by him at this period to the North Carolina
Board of War is in possession of Col. J. H. Wheeler, viz. :
"Camp Yadkin River, Oct. ii, 1780.
"Gentlemen : — I have the pleasure to inform you that
on Saturday last the noted Col. Ferguson, with 150 men,
fell on King's Mountain; 800 taken prisoners, with 150 stand
of arms. Cleveland and Campbell commanded. Glorious
affair. In a few days doubt not we shall be in Charlotte, and
I will take possession of my house and his lordship take the
v/oods.
I am gentlemen, with respect,
Your humble servant,
Thomas Poek."
How such a man as Col. Polk should have been under a
cloud of distrust even for a short time, as Lossing states, is
a little marvelous; yet some mischief-making person must
have invented a "suspicion that he had accepted oi protection
from the British," and reported it to Gates, who turned from
his late defeat and the recent treachery of Arnold, readily
surmised "suspicious circumstances" and ordered Col. Polk
to .Salisbury to answer for his conduct. So utterly baseless
were those cruel suspicions that they were promptly dis-
missed, and Col. Polk was continued in his double office of
Commissary General of provisions for the State of North
Carolina and commissary of purchases for the Continental
troops. The very first night that Gen. Greene, having suc-
ceeded Gates, passed at headquarters early in December, he
spent with Col. Polk in studying the resources of the coun-
try, and by "the following morning," said Polk to Elkanah
Watson, "he better understood them than Gates had done
during the whole period of his command." The Mecklen-
burg region had been the granary of provisions for the
Americans for the whole season, and for the British for a
short season, the latter demanding heavy supplies; accord-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 393
ing to Stedman, their Commissary General demanding- lOO
cattle per day.
The country was, therefore, so much exhausted that Col.
Polk, who still acted as commissary from patriotic motives,
declared that it could scarcely afford subsistance for a single
week. It was with regret that Gen. Greene learned from him
that many reasons conspired, rendering it necessary for him
to relinquish the office. "I am now too far advanced in years
to undergo the task and fatigue of a Commissary General,"
wrote Polk to Greene on December loth. On the same day
Greene wrote to Col. Wm. R. Davie inviting him to that
position, saying "Col. Polk finds the business of subsisting
the army too laborious and difficult for him to conduct, and,
therefore, has sent in his resignation to the Board of War,
but the greatest difficulty with him is. he cannot leave
home owing to the peculiar state of his family." Dr. John-
son has presented in his traditions of the Revolution the fol-
lowing letter :
''Camp Charlotte, Dec. 15, 1780.
"To Col. Polk:
Sir : — I find it will be impossible to leave camp as early
as I intended, as Col. Kascius has made no report respecting
a position upon Pee Dee. I must, therefore, beg you to con-
tinue the daily supplies of the army, and keep in readiness
three days' provisions beforehand. I have just received
some intelligence from Gov. Nash and from Congress which
makes me wish to see you. I am, etc.,
"Nathan Greene."
There is proof that Gen. Greene had such unlimited con-
tidence in Col. Polk that he wished to confide in him intelli-
gence th^t he did not wish to write. Before retiring from
r.e'vice on Gen. Greene's appeal, he exerted himself to pro-
cure lumber for the barracks at the new position selected for
the army on Hicks' creek nearly opposite Cheraw Hill, on
the Pee Dee ; to build boats for the transportation of stores :
394 HISTORY OF
to collect provisions, and do everything that could be done
to enable the new commander to prepare his men for the
active duties of the coming campaign.
Gen. Greene's letters evince a high appreciation of Col.
Polk's service, and a still higher evidence of his confidence
in his skill and patriotism may be found in the fact that
upon the fall of the gallant Gen. Davidson, early in Feb-
ruary, 1 78 1, Greene* appointed Polk to fill the vacancy on
the recommendation of the officers of the brigade as the
fittest person for the important position among all the many
patriotic soldiers of Mecklenburg.
On the receipt of the news of the battle of Guilford, it
was thought Cornwallis would retrace his steps by the way
of Salisbury and Charlotte, so as to keep open the communi-
cation and act in concert with Lord Rowdon at Camden;
and as the citizens of that section had already experienced
the distress of the presence of the British soldiers, they de-
termined to do their best to keep the enemy at a distance.
Gen. Polk accordingly ordered out the next division of
militia liable for duty, with a view of marching to Salisbury
to fortify the fords and passes on the Yadkin, but before
reaching there intelligence was received that the British
were directing their course towards Fayetteville, when Col.
Polk dismissed his men and returned.
Gen. Greene re-entered South Carolina in April, taking
position before Camden. He called upon North Carolina
for a draft of three months' men, when Col. Polk exerted
himself to meet the demands of the occasion, and led a con-
siderable force of his cotuitrymen, and joined Greene at
Rugeley's Mills shortly after the battle at Hobkirk's Hill,
and remained in that border region, watching and checking
the British and Tories in both Carolinas, until the expira-
tion of the term of service for which his men Jiad been
drafted. This appears to have been Col. Polk's last mili-
tary service. Gov. Graham well observes that when placed
in command as Brigadier General, "in all after, as in prior
times, he was regarded as an unwavering patriot."
MKCKLENBURG COUNTY. 395
Gen. Polk now retired to private life, which with his ad-
vancing- years, he yearned to enjoy. After Rutherford's ex-
pedition in the antmnn of 1781, in pursuit of a body of
Tories under McNeil and other Tory leaders, peace was
practically restored in North Carolina.
He owned mills two miles south of Charlotte, and kept a
store in the village, and was now enabled to give his un-
divided time to his private affairs.
Elkanah Watson, in his "Men and Times of the Revolu-
tion," who visited Charlotte in 1785, states: "I carried let-
ters to the courteous Gen. Polk, and remained two days at
his residence in the delightful society of his charming fam-
ily."
After the war, when the disbanded soldiers of the North
Carolina line received their land warrants in payment for
their military services. Gen. Polk purchased many of these
warrants and went, early in 1786, with his four sons, armed
with their rifles, into the wilderness of Duck River county,
in Middle Tennessee, to locate them, Col. Wm. Polk having
been chosen in 1793 one of the principal surveyors. Re-
suming his original profession of surveyor, Gen. Polk
selected the finest lands in that rich valley, ran the line,
marked them, and secured the titles, notwithstanding the
hostility of the Indians. So when he died in 1793, he left
a rich inheritance in lands for his children. "He was," says
Dr. J. G. Ramsey, "a high-souled cavalier, full of dash and
courage; rich, hospitable, and charming." Dr. Johnson re-
lates that several of his children were wild and frolicksome
— one bore the sobriquet of "Devil Charley" — ; that on one
occasion the General was speaking of the boldness of single
highway robbery, and declared that no single man would
dare make such an attempt on him. The sons all heard it,
and Charley resolved to have his fun, even at his father's ex-
pense. So when his father was returning on a by-road with
a sum of money he had been collecting, the reckless son, dis-
guised, waylaid him in a creek bottom and demanded the in-
stant delivery of his money. The General's first thought
396 HISTORY OF
was to snatch up his pistols, but Charles was too quick for
him, and seeing a pistol, as he supposed, presented at his
breast, the father gave up his money and returned home not
a little fretted and mortified at the result. Perceiving his
depression of spirits, the young men enquired into the cause
and offered their aid in any difficulties. He frankly told
them he had been robbed of such a sum of money, designat-
ing the place. They all expressed surprise, and enquired if
he were not armed. He acknowledged that he had his pis-
tols, but had not had time to use them. When they con-
cluded that there must have been several highwaymen banded
together to have effected their purpose, he, with increased
mortification, confessed that there was but one; but added
that he was off his guard, and was taken by surprise. Charles
at this point returned the money, acknowledging that he had
taken it from him. "What!" exclaimed the General, "Did
you endanger your father's life?" "No, sir," said Charles.
"What, did you not present a pistol at my breast?" "No,
sir," replied the son. "How can you say that?" asked the
father. "I assure you, sir, it was only my mother's brass
candlestick that I took oft" from your own mantlepiece."
Of Col. Polk's three daughters, Margaret married Dr.
Ephraim Brevard, whose name is so intimately associated
with the Mecklenburg Convention and famous resolves of
INlay 20, 1775. She died early and left an only daughter,
Margaret Polk, who became the wife of Nathaniel Alexan-
der, a native of Mecklenburg, who graduated at Princeton in
1776, and after studying medicine, entered the army, served
in the House o^f Commons in 1797, in the State Senate in
1801 and t8o2, and, while holding a seat in Congress in
i8o3-'5, he was chosen by the Legislature Governor of the
State, 'serving two years. Pie died at Charlotte November 8,
1808, at the age of 52 years, leaving no children. Gen.
Polk's third daughter married a man named Brown, leaving
no issue.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 397
CHAPTER II.
COE. ABRAHAM ALEXANDER.
The Alexanders were very numerous at the time of the
Revolution and since in Mecklenburg", and although of the
same original Scotch-Irish stock, they were of different de-
grees of consanguinity. Hezekiah and John McKnitt Alex-
ander were brothers; while Abraham, Adam, Charles and
Ezra Alaxander were their cousins. (See Mans. Letters of
Dr. J. G. M. Ramsay, October 2, 1875.)
Foote relates that, among Presbyterian emigrations from
Scotland to Ireland, to escape persecution for conscience's
sake, during the period between 1610 and 1688, there were
seven brothers bearing the same name of Alexander.
But their grievances increasing a few years preceding the
Revolution of 1688, their ministers imprisoned for holding
fasts, the Alexanders resolved to seek quiet and repose in
the New World. On the eve of their departure, they sent
to Scotland for their old preacher to baptize their children
and administer to them the consolations of the Gospel. The
faithful and fearless preacher arrived in time to meet the
friends on the vessel on which they had embarked, and there
held becoming religious services. An armed company now
came on board, broke up the meeting and lodged the minis-
ter in jail. Towards night an old matron addressed her
kinsman : "Men gang ye away tak' our minister out o' the
jail, and tak' him, guide soule, wi' us till Ameriky." Her
commands had never been disobeyed. Before morning the
minister was on board and the vessel had proceeded on its
voyage. The minister having no family, cheerfully con-
sented to the arrangement, and with joy and thanksgiving
they landed safely on Manhattan. Part of the company re-
mained there, from whom it is related Wm. Alexander,
commonly known as Lord Sterling, a Major General of the
Revolution, descended. The others took up their abode for
a time in New Jersey ; then settled in part, perhaps, in Cecil
398 HISTORY 01^
county, Md., and others in Pennsylvania. There they
mingled with their countrymen, intermarried, and their de-
scendants in great numbers migrated to the Catawba country,
following the great valley of Virginia from Pennsylvania
and Maryland. This movement began slowly about 1745,
and more rapidly from 1750 onward. Maj. Thomas Alex-
ander and Dan Alexander, both soldiers of the Revolution,
were natives of Mecklenburg, the former having been born
in 1753, the latter in 1758. Abraham Alexander was among
those early emigrants. He was born, apparently, in Cecil
county, Md., in 171 7, and migrated early to the Catawba
country ; soon attained a prominent position among the pio-
neer settlers. He was long a leading magistrate of his
county, and the honored chairman of the Inferior Court
both before and during the Revolution. With Col. Thomas
Polk, he represented Mecklenburg in the Assembly in 1771,
and ranked among the leading Whigs of that day. He
seemed, however, not to have been ambitious for honor and
place, for he declined at the next election to solicit the suf-
frage of the people. He is next found presiding at the Meck-
lenburg Convention of May 20, 1775, and was active during
the whole period of the Revolution, both as member of the
Justice Court and as chairman of the Committee of Safety.
He was, in 1777, appointed as one of the original trustees of
Liberty Hall Academy, and was for many years an elder in
the Presbyterian Church. He died April 28, 1778, in the
69th year of his age, and his widow, Dorcas, survived till
May 28th, when she passed away in her 67th year, and her
remains rest beside those of her husband in the old Sugar
Creek burial ground. They had five sons and one daughter —
Abraham, Isaac, Nathaniel, Elias and Joab. Isaac became
a distinguished physician, and settled inCamden, S. C, while
his brothers spent their days as tillers of the soil. Eliza--
beth, the sister, became the wife of William Alexander, son
of Hezekiah Alexander.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 399
DR. EPHRAIM BREVARD.
The earliest known Brevard was a French Huguenot,
leaving his native land on the revocation of the Edict of
Nantes, and settling among the Scotch-Irish in the northern
part of Ireland, where he formed an acquaintance with a
family of McKnitts, in company with whom he sailed for
America. Among the McKnitt emigrants was a blooming
lassie, who may have had quite as much to do in attracting
his attention as the cheap lands and glowing accounts of the
New World. A mutual attachment sprang up, which even-
tuated in marriage. They settled on the waters of Elk
River, Cecil county, in the northeastern corner of Maryland,
bordering on Pennsylvania. Five sons and one daughter
were the issue of this union, of whom John, Robert, Zebulon
and their married sister and husband migrated to the Yad-
kin and Catawba country about 1747, and settled in what
was subsequently Rowan, and since Iredell county.
Some years prior to this removal, John Brevard, the elder
of the brothers, had married Jane McWhirter, a sister of Dr.
Alex McWhirter, of Scotch-Irish extraction, of the adjoin-
ing county of New Castle, Delaware; and their fifth child
and eldest son, Ephraim, was born in 1744 in Cecil county,
Mar)dand, and was only about three years old when his
parents removed to the wilds of North Carolina, settling in
what subsequently became Iredell county. While a boy he
had the misfortune to lose one of his eyes, and after attend-
ing a classical school near his father's residence, he was sent,
on the conclusion of the Indian war in 1761, with his cousin,
Adlai Osborne, to attend a grammar school in Prince Ed-
ward county, Virginia, under William Capples. The young
men, with Thomas Reese, entered Princeton college in 1766,
graduating in 1768. Reese and Brevard taught school some
time in Maryland, which enabled Brevard to put himself un-
der the tuition of Dr. David Ramsay, subsequently so cele-
brated in civil life during the Revolution and as an historian
after the war. After pursuing his medical studies some
400 HISTORY OF
time in Philadelphia, Dr. Ramsay removed to Somerset
county, Maryland. Brevard accompanied him there, and
after a due course there, he commenced the practice of his
profession in Charlotte. Possessed of more than common
abilities, well cultured under the instructions of Dr. With-
erspoon. Dr. Ramsay and others, and of prepossessing
manners, he at once took a prominent position and exerted
a large influence among the Mecklenburg people. He was
soon united in marriage with a daughter of Col. Thomas
Polk, who died leaving him an only daughter. The distin-
guished part he acted in the Mecklenburg Convention of
May 20, 1775, as a member, the secretary, and the reputed
author of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence
Resolves of May 20, 1775, will cause his name to ever fill an
honored place in the record of Western Carolina. Bancroft
declares that his name "should be remembered with honor
by his countrymen" for having "digested the system which
was then adopted and formed in effect a Declaration of In-
dependence, as well as a complete system of government,"
and Gridsby pronounces him an exalted patriot, and as to
the record of the Resolves, that the beauty of their diction,
their elegant precision, the wide scope of statesmanship
which they exhibit, prove incontestibly that the men who put
them forth was worthy of their high trust at the difficult
crisis.
In February, 1776, we find him the tutor of the Queen's
Museum Academy, with nineteen young men under him,
whom he led as their captain in Col. Polk's regiment in an
expedition against Scotch Tories on the Cape Fear. How
long he continued teaching is not known.
In 1777, when Liberty Hall Academy was organized, he
was one of the original trustees, and his name as such is
appended to a degree given to John Graham in 1778.
After performing every duty to his people befitting a
patriot, he entered the Southern army as a surgeon, and was
captured at the surrender of Charleston in May, 1780. There,
from lonsf confinement and unwholesome diet, he was taken
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 4OI
sick, and when at length set at liberty, he reached the home
of his friend, John McKnitt Alexander, where he lingered for
several months, his disease baffling the best medical skill —
Dr. William Read, Physician General to the Southern army,
visiting him from the hospital at Charlotte. He finally
breathed his last some time in 1781, at about the age of 37
years, and his remains were buried beside those of his wife
in Charlotte on a lot now occupied by the county court house.
The particular place of his interment is unknown.
In the language of Dr. Foote, "He thought clearly, felt
deeply, wrote well, resisted bravely, and died a martyr to
tbat liberty none loved better and few understood so well."
He was a man of undoubted genius and talent. (See MS.
Letters of Rev. R. H. King to Dr. J. G. M. Ramsay, April 9,
1823.) His only daughter, on arriving at years of woman-
hood, married a Dickerson, settled at Camden, S. C, and
left one child, a son, James Polk Dickerson, who was Lieu-
tenant Colonel of Butler's regiment of South Carolina Vol-
unteers in the Mexican war; was severely wounded at the
siege of Vera Cruz March 11, 1847; recovering from that,
he was again badly wounded at Cherubusco on the 20th of
August following, and died of his wound three weeks later,
greatly regretted by his regiment and the whole army.
COL. ADAM ALEXANDER.
The place of Col. A. Alexander's birth is not certainly
known, but he was possibly a native of Cecil county, Mary-
land, and was born in 1728. He was among the pioneer set-
tlers of Mecklenburg. He married a Miss Shelby. As early
as June, 1770, we find him a prominent member of Clear
Creek congregation, and the next year he commanded a com-
pany under Gen. Waddell to aid in putting down the Regula-
tors, who had taken the law in their own hands in upholding
the usurpations and extortions of Gov. Tryon's favorites.
That Capt. Alexander was unwilling to shed the blood of his
oppressed countrymen is readily seen by the course he and
402 HISTORY OF
Other officers pursued in persuading Waddell to return from
their camp on Pott's creek across the Yadkin, both on ac-
count of the superiority of the insurgents, and the unwilling--
ness of the men to engage them, while waiting for a convoy
of ammunition under a small guard from Charlotte. A party
of ten or twelve, under Capt. William Alexander, blackened
and disguised, seized the convoy and destroyed the powder,
and ever after he was known as "Black Billy" Alexander.
Capt. Adam Alexander, on the day of the nth of May,
immediately after uniting with his brother officers in advis-
ing a retreat beyond the Yadkin, went in person and recon-
noitered the Regulators, and returning, reported that he had
passed along their lines and the footmen appeared to him to
extend a quarter of a mile, seven or eight deep, and that the
horsemen, 120 yards, twelve or fourteen deep. On the 19th
Waddell, with his small force of 250 men, was obliged to
retreat from his position, two miles eastward of the Yadkin,
to Salisbury, the Regulators having surrounded his party
and threatened to cut them to pieces if they offered to join
the main army under Tryon. But the principal body of the
insurgents had been defeated on the i6th at Alamance, and
Tryon marched with his victorious troops to join Waddell,
then entrenched near Salisbury, eight miles to the eastward
of the Yadkin. Receiving intelligence that the Regulators
in the region embracing the present counties of Mecklen-
burg, Lincoln and Iredell were meditating further hostili-
ties. Gen. Waddell was sent into that quarter with a strong
detachment, including the Mecklenburg troops. Early in
June, with orders, after he had performed the service as-
signed him, to disband his troops, meeting with no opposi-
tion, he had little to do beside administering the oath of alle-
giance to the people. Adam Alexander was many years a
prominent magistrate and member of the County Court, and
on May 20, 1775, was one of the members of the Mecklen-
burg Convention. In September following, he was ap-
pointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Mecklenburg "Minute
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 4O3
Men"' under Col. Polk, and served shortly after in one of the
Snow Campaigns against the Tories in South Carolina.
When the "Minute Men" of the Salisbury district were, in
December, 1775, formed into two groups, he was re-ap-
pointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Second regiment under
Col. Polk, and marched, in February, 1776, to aid in quell-
ing the insurrection of the Highlanders on the Cape Fear.
In the ensuing April, when Polk was chosen to command
one of the Continental regiments, Adam Alexander suc-
ceeded him as Colonel of the Mecklenburg regiments. When
the Cherokees commencel hostilities early in the summer of
1776, incited thereto by the machinations of the enemy, Col.
Alexander led a force to the head of the Catawba, where he
served six weeks in protecting the Catawba Valley during
the harvest, aad went with his regiment under Gen. Ruth-
erford, later in the season, on his expedition against the
treacherous Cherokees, destroying their crops and villages.
Dr. Caldwell refers to Col. Alexander when President
Washington m.ade his Southern tour in 1792, as "far ad-
vanced in life." His death occurred in 1798, at the age of
70 years, lamented by all who knew him. His remains were
interred at Rock Springs. Adam Alexander was a man of
military genius, remarkably endowed. He was a Presbyte-
rian.
He had four sons — Evan, Isaac, Adam and Charles, and
one daughter. She married John Springs. All the Springs
of Mecklenburg, a large, wealthy and intelligent connection,
are descendants of Col. Alexander.
His son, Evan Alexander, whom he sent to Princeton with
the hope that he would enter the ministry, graduated in
1787, became a prominent lawyer in Charjotte; was two
years a member of the Legislature, then representative in
Congress from 1805 to 1809, and died unmarried October
28th, in the latter year.
Isaac Alexander held various offices of trust in the county,
while his brother Charles occupied the old homestead, mar-
404 HISTORY OF
ried a Miss Means, and had several talented sons who died
young.
CHAPTER XVII.
GEN. ROBERT IRWIN,
William Irwin was one of the early Scotch-Irish set-
tlers in West Pennsboroiigh, Cumberland county, Penn-
sylvania, a few miles southeast of Carlisle. His son, Ro'l>
ert. the eighth of thirteen children, was born August 26,
1740, and was reared with few advantages on his native
homestead. When his father died, not long prior to
May, 1763, the farm of one hundred acres was pur-
.cliased of the heirs at £15 each, by their elder brother,
John Irwin, and with this Robert Irwin commenced
life and wended his way to the Steele Creek settle-
ment in Mecklenburg. He was soon after united in mar-
riage with Mary Alexander, daughter of Zebulon Alexan-
der, an early emigrant from Pennsylvania. About the
period of 1767. Robert Irwin was one of the first bench of
elders of Steele Creek Church. ^He was one of the members
of the Mecklenburg Convention in May, 1775, and thence-
forward proved himself one of the active leaders of the
Mecklenburg people during the war. It is altogether prob-
able he had seen service during the French and Indian war
on the frontier of Pennsylvania, for Col. Armstrong led
many a daring force against the Indians during that period
from the Carlisle region; and more probably still he was
employed against the Regulators in 1771, and on the Snow
Campaign near the close of 1775. After having served as a
member of the North Carolina Provincial Congress in April
and May, 1776, he engaged in Gen. Rutherford's campaign
against the Cherokees during the summer and autumn of
that year. Returning from this expedition in October, he
was rechosen to a seat in the Provincial Congress, which met
In November in the double capacity of making laws and
forming a new Constitution. On the death of Lieutenant
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 405
Colonel Phifer, he succeeded him in 1777 as second in com-
mand of the Mecklenburg militia.
Gen. Irwin died at his residence in the Steele Creek settle-
ment, in Mecklenburg county, December 23, 1800, in his 6ist
year, and was interred in the Steele Creek burial ground,
his wife's remains occupying the same grave. On his tomb-
stone is engraved this beautiful and truthful delineation of
his character: "Great, noble, generous, good, and brave."
JOHN m'kNITT ALEXANDER.
Little more can be said of Mr. Alexander than has already
been indicated. Born in 1733, in Pennsylvania, as stated by
Dr. Foote, but according to more reliable information, in
the northeastern portion of Cecil county, Maryland, where
his father, James Alexander, settled on a tract of land called
New Munster, in 1714, where, soon after he married Marga-
ret McKnitt, a sister of John McKnitt, an early emigrant
to the southern part of the same county. The father, James
Alexander, remained in Maryland, surviving till 1779; but
his son, John McKnitt Alexander, who had served an ap-
prenticeship to a tailor, migrated in 1754, when 21 years old,
to Mecklenburg county, accompanied by his brother, Heze-
kiah, and sister, Jemima, and her husband, Maj. Thomas
Sharpe, also of Cecil county. In the early days of Mecklen-
burg, when the deer and buffalo furnished not only viands
for the table, but a portion of apparel for the people, a
leather-breeches maker was not probably a sufficiently profit-
a:ble occupation for the enterprising young Marylander; so
we soon find him a land surveyor and a large land-holder,
surveying and taking lands as far away as Chester District,
in South Carolina, forty miles distant. In 1759, he married
-Jane Bane, from Pennsylvania, of the same Scotch-Irish
stock with himself, and settled in the Hopewell congrega-
tion. Enterprising, shrewd, and honorable, he prospered in
business and became wealthy. Col. Wheeler, in his
"Sketches of Mecklenburg Delegates," states that Mr. Alex-
406 HISTORY OF
ander was a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1772,
while Jones' defence indicates that Martin Phifer and John
Davidson were the Mecklenburg representatives at that
time. But his was a busy and useful life in the civil time,
during the Revolutionary war, long and faithfully serving as
a magistrate and member of the County Court; one of the
members of the Mecklenburg Convention of May, 1775;
the successor of Dr. Brevard as secretary of the Mecklenburg
Committee of Safety, and a representative in the Provincial
Congress in August and September, 1775. The same year
he visited Philadelphia, where 'he communicated to Dr.
Franklin the facts and circumstances of the preceding Meck-
lenburg Convention, when they were fresh in his memory,
who expressed his approbation of their act. In April, 1776,
we again find him a member of the Provincial Congress; in
the State Senate in 1777, and the same year chosen a trustee
of Liberty Hall Academy.
How Mr. Alexander regarded the Red Coats when they
invaded the soil of Mecklenburg in the fall of 1780, may
best be seen in the notice of Duncan Ochiltree. It was a
high compliment to his sterling patriotism that Gen. David-
son, at that period, named his encampment in Mecklenburg
"Camp McKnitt Alexander."
When Cornwallis undertook the vain effort of endeavor-
ing to recover the Cowpens prisoners from Morgan, early in
1 78 1, and Gen. Greene exerted him.self to thwart his lord-
ship's purpose, Mr. Alexander, though his age would have
excused him from exposure, accompanied Greene as a pilot,
if not a volunteer aid, and was actively employed in destroy-
ing, or sinking, ferry boats on the Yadkin and Dan rivers ;
and by his zeal in the cause, his intimate knowledge as an
old surveyor of the topography of the roads, and people of
the county, he was able to afford valuable assistance as coun-
sellor to the American General.
For many years he was a sturdy Presbyterian, an elder in the
Church, and a prominent actor in all its public convocations.
During the closing five or six years of his life he was nearly
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 407
blind and very infirm; but his children, grand-children and
numerous friends loved and revered him. and united in
lamenting his separation from them July 10, 181 7, in the
85th year of his age. In the graveyard at Hopewell his re-
mains sleep in peace beside those of his beloved companion.
He left two sons, William Bane and Dr. Joseph McKnitt
Alexander ; and of his five daughters, one, Abigail Bane, was
united in marriage to Rev. S. C. Caldwell ; another to Rev.
James Wallis, and a third to Col. Francis A. Ramsay, father
of the worthy historian of Tennessee, As he appeared ta
D. G. Stinson in 181 3, Mr. Alexander was a man of medium
size, dark skin, with a good intellectual face, neat and tidy
in his dress; he was very dignified, and had the reputation
of being a very sensible person. He was quite a politician
in his day, of the old Federal school — while his son-in-law,
Rev. James Wallis, was a prominent Democratic leader,
and was often engaged to deliver political addresses on the
Fourth of July occasions.
REV. HEZEKIAH BALCH.
The Balch family was originally from Wales, and the
name signifies "proud" in the Welsh language. John Balch
is said to have emigrated to New England at an early period
from Bridgewater, in Somerset, England, and became pos-
sessed of a large property and extensive influence. A great
grandson of his, Col. James Balch, migrated directly from
his native England, married Anne Goodwine, and settled on
Deer Creek, in Harford county, Maryland, where his eldest
son, Hezekiah, was born in 1746. His father was a man of
highly gifted and cultivated mind, possessing a fine poetical
talent, and was the author of some anonymous pieces that
had no small celebrity in their day. While his son was yet a
youth, the father moved with his family from Maryland and
settled in Mecklenburg.
After assisting his father on the farm, young Balch was
at length sent to Princeton college, where he graduated in
408 HISTORY OF
1766 in the same class with Waightstill Avery, Chief Jus-
tice Ellsworth, and the celebrated Luther Martin. He was
licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Donnegal in 1767,
and in 1769 he was ordained and sent as a missionary to
Rocky River and Poplar Tent churches, within the limits of
Mecklenburg. He had married (a Miss Sconnel, it is be-
lieved) shortly before removing to the county, and settled
six miles west of the present town of Concord, on the Beat-
tie's Ford road. It must be conceded that during his brief
period of labor, about seven years, he performed a good
pioneer work for the Church and State — for the cause of
liberty and the cause of education. A member of the Meck-
lenburg Convention of May, 1775, he not only voted for
the noble resolves, but enforced them by his vigorous sense
and eloquence. He did what he could for his country and
his kind; but, in the summer of 1776, he was called to his
reward at the early age of 30 years. He was reputed an
elegant and accomplished scholar. He is said to have been a
tall, handsome man, with fair hair, which he wore long and
curling. He had two or more children. His widow subse-
quently married a man by the name of McWhorter, a profes-
sional teacher, and moved with her and her children to Ten-
nessee, Mrs. McWhorter taking the children as she passed
along on her journey to view their father's grave for the last
time. All trace of these children has been lost. Mr, Balch
had three brothers and several sisters. Two of the former
were noted Presbyterian clergyman, Rev. Dr. Steven B.
Balch, of Georgetown, and Rev. James Balch, of Kentucky ;
the third, William Balch, a planter in Georgia. In 1847
means were provided and a suitable monument erected over
his grave, for which Rev. J. A. Wallace prepared an appro-
priate inscription.
HEZEKIAH ALEXANDER.
This member of the numerous Alexander family was a
brother of John McKnitt Alexander, and was born in Cecil
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 4O9
county, in the northern part of Maryland, in January, 1722.
He migrated with his family to the Mecklenburg country in
1754, and was soon assigned a prominent place among the
early settlers. He located four or five miles east of Char-
lotte and in 1764 erected a stone residence on which the date
is cut, and is a good house to this day. He was for many
years a magistrate and member of the County Court. Foote
relates of him that he was "the clearest-headed magistrate in
the county," a high compliment. In May, 1775, he served
in the Mecklenburg Convention, and in the ensuing Septem-
ber he was chosen a member of the Salisbury District Com-
mittee of Safety. In April, 1776, he was appointed paymas-
ter of Col. Thomas Polk's regiment of the Continentals, and
the next month he was chosen one of the two members to
represent the Salisbury District in the State Council of
Safety, on pay of twenty shilling proclamation money for
each day's traveling and attendance. He died June 16, 1801.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CAPT. ZACCHEUS WILSON.
The Wilsons were of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock, and
were among the early settlers of Cumberland county, Penn-
sylvania, where Zaccheus Wilson was born, probably as early
as about 1735 or 1740. When he grew to man's state, he
was not "little of statue" as Zaccheus of old — for like nearly
all of that numerous connection, his person was of full
medium size, rather heavily framed, and possessing great
power in the vigor of life. He received but a limited educa-
tion, and while yet quite young, settled with his parents in
the Poplar Tent region, originally a part of Mecklenburg,
now Cabarrus county. This was prior to March, 1753. He
had a younger sister who married Capt. Stephen Alexander,
who survived till the age of 90 — the chronicler of her region.
Zaccheus Wilson had three brothers, two of whom were
4IO HISTORY OF
Robert and David, and three sisters. Reared on the frontier.
Zaccheus and his brothers were not the men to have shirked
any duty in aiding in the defence of the country. On the Yad-
kin river, in Rowan county, one Nicholas Ross early set-
tled, marrying Lizzie Conger, daughter of John Conger.
There were then many wild horses running in the woods.
Having a fine animal of his own, and needing another, Ross
went in the spring of the year to the range and selected one
that he thought would suit his purpose, and started to run
him down and halter him. But in the race, the horse
plunged in a hole, turned a complete summersault ; fell back
on and crushed his pursuer, who left a widow and two little
daughters. (MS. Letter of Rev. Nicholson Ross Morgan,
a son of the younger of Mr. Ross' daughters. The elder
married Matthew Harris^ a nephew of Col. Robert and
Samuel Harris, of Rocky River.)
Zaccheus Wilson, in his occupation of a surveyor, was
sent for to survey and divide the land for the heirs; saw,
admired, and married the young widow, and took her to his
home in the Steele Creek region.
About 1767, we find him one of the elders of Steele Creek
Church. He had a decided love for mathematical studies,
which he pursued with little or no instruction, and became
one of the best surveyors of his day.
He was a member of the Mecklenburg Convention in May,
1775, and of the Provincial Congress of November, 1776,
for making laws and forming a Constitution. The only
military service particularly remembered, though much in
the army, was as a Captain at King's Mountain, where
among plunder taken, was an English surveyor's compass
and platting instruments, which were assigned to him in the
division, and are yet preserved by one of his descendants.
He was a member of the North Carolina Convention of 1788
for the consideration of the Federal Constitution, and he
was among the large majority that refused to give it their
approval, as wanting in a proper' protection of the rights of
the people.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 4II
When the county of Cabarrus was set off from Mecklen-
burg, in 1792, Capt. Wilsoii was a resident of that region^
and was chosen county surveyor.
In 1796, Capt. Wilson, having lost his wife, resolved on
following his brother, Maj. David Wilson, who had nine
years before moved to Sumner county, Tennessee; and just
prior to his departure he visited his step-daughter, the
mother of the venerable Rev. N. H. Morgan. "The last
night he spent with us," says Mr. Morgan, "I slept with
himv and about midnight the wolves raised a furious howling
around the cow pen. The old gentleman went out and
chased them away, and I as a mere lad, remember how I
trembled lest he should be devoured." In this migration, be-
side his two sons, a goodly number of Wilsons and some Al-
exanders accompanied him. His removal was much regret-
ted by his old friends and neighbors. His education, mostly
self-acquired, was quite liberal. He was very popular, a
Presbyterian spotless in life, a noble, worthy man, without
an equal in his profession as a surveyor. He settled one
mile northeast of Gallatin, in Sumner county, twenty-six
miles above Nashville, where he followed his profession as
long as he was able to do so. He died in 1824.
NEII, MORRISON.
James Morrison, a native of Scotland, early migrated to
this county ; settled in Philadelphia, where his son, Neil Mor-
rison, was born in 1728. On reaching years of manhood, he
engaged in mercantile business in that city, and then mar-
ried.
A few years before the Revolution, the father and his
three sons moved to Mecklenburg and located on Four Mile
creek, in Providence settlement, Neil Morrison at this time
having a family. James Morrison lived to be an old man,
81 years, and was interred in Providence burial ground.
Neil Morrison's abilities soon commanded respect, and he
was chosen one of the members of the Mecklenburg Con-
412 HISTORY OF
vention in May, 1775. He engaged heartily in the miUtary
service, commanding a company on Rutherford's campaign
in 1776, against the Cherokee Indians, burning their towns,
cutting down their corn and throwing it into the streams.
His other services are not known. He was a Justice of
the Peace and a member of the County Court. He died
September 13, 1784, at the age of 56 years, and was buried
in Providence graveyard. His widow survived him until
her 89th year. His son, William Morrison, was early sent
to Princeton college, but the war early in 1776 interrupted
his studies; so he bought himself a rifle and returned home;
entered the service, serving a while on Sullivan's Island.
At Gates' defeat in August, 1780, he was wounded by a
musket ball, taken prisoner and confined in jail in Camden,
whence his mother and sister succeeded in getting him par-
doned; then conveying him to Charlotte, where Dr. Hen-
derson extracted the ball and he recovered. He subsequently
became a prominent physician, and died in 1806, together
with his brothers, Alexander and James, all within a period
of three months. Dr. William Morrison was a member of
the Legislature in 1796 — elected as a Federalist — and his
brother, Alexander, in 1801 to 1803, as a Republican. Their
sister became the wife of Maj. Thomas Alexander, who
served under Davie and Sumter in the Revolution.
RICHARD BARRY.
Of Scotch-Irish descent, Richard Barry was born in Penn-
sylvania in 1726. He married Anne Price, of Maryland,
also of Scotch-Irish descent, and settled many years before
the Revolution in the Mecklenburg district, twelve miles
northeast of Charlotte, at what is still known as the old
Barry tanyard.
Though best known as a member of the Mecklenburg
Convention of May, 1775, he performed many other services
of a useful character, having served many years as a magis-
trate and a member of the County Court, and though ad-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 413
vanced in life, he set the good example of taking his place
among the Mecklenburg troops, when their services were
called into requisition. At the age of 55, he fought as
valiantly as the younger soldiers in disputing the passage of
Cornwallis' army at Cowan's Ford, in February, 1781,
when the lamented Davidson was slain, and aided in bury-
ing his body by torchlight in the graveyard at Hopewell.
Mr. Barry was long a ruling elder in Hopewell Church. The
first sermon by a Presbyterian clergyman in that section of
the county was preached under the sade of a tree at the side
of his house. His death occurred August 21, 1801, in the
75th year of his age.
JOHN FLENNIKTN.
James and John Flennikin, descendants from Scotch-
Irish ancestors, were among the early settlers of that race in
Pennsylvania, They had nine children, of whom John
Flennikin, the subject of this sketch, was the seventh, born
in Pennsylvania March 7, 1744. The family early migrated
to Mecklenburg, and settled on the waters of McAlpin's
creek, in what is now Sharon Township. John Flennikin
seems to have had a fair education, but beyond his service as
a member of the Mecklenburg Convention of May, 1775,
and many years as a magistrate and member of the County
Court, we have no record. His life was one mainly of peace-
ful pursuits. He lived to a good old age, when he was
thrown -from his horse on his v.'ay to church and killed, and
his remains mingle with the dust of Providence burial
ground. His brother, David Flennikin, served under Col.
Irwin and Gen. Sumter at the battle of Hanging Rock,
where he was wounded and carried to the hospital at Char-
lotte. He long enjoyed a pension for the wounds he received
in the service, and died April 26th, 1826, in the 78th year of
his age, and was buried in Providence graveyard. Beth of
the brothers left numerous and worthy descendants.
414 HISTORY OF
WILLIAM GRAHAM.
• But little can be gathered of this delegate to the Mecklen-
burg Convention of May, 1775. His was a farmer's life,
quietly spent in his calling, and he left behind him few evi-
dences of his public career. He was an Irishman and early
settled in Mecklenburg county. He was useful in his day,
serving, it i.s believed, in the army. He died at an advanced
age in 1820 or 1822, near Davidson College.
MATTHEW m'cLURE.
In the north of Ireland and about 1725, was Matthew
McClure born, where he married; then came to America and
settled in Mecklenburg about 1751, five miles south of Da-
vidson College. It is an evidence of his worth that he was
chosen one of the delegates to the Mecklenbubrg Conven-
tion of May, 1775. It is nof known that he filled any other
public position. His home was a rendezvous for the patriots
of his section. In January, 1782, the County Court ordered
that no person in Charlotte, or within two miles of the place,
should be permitted to sell any spirituous liquors, so long
as the hospital was continued in that town, and employed
Matthew McClure to take possession of all such contraband
liquors for the use of the hospital, or as the commanding
officer should direct. Too old himself to enter active service
in the field, his sons were much engaged in the army.
JOHN QUEARY.
A native of Scotland, John Queary first migrated to
Pennsylvania, and then to Mecklenburg some years before
the Revolution. As early as January, 1770, we find Mr.
Queary residing in what was called for a time Clear Creek,
now Philadelphia, in the bounds of Rocky River, and was
an elder in that church.
Of his Revolutionary service, save that he was a mem-
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 415
ber of the Mecklenburg Convention of May, 1775, noth-
ing is known. He is represented as a man of strong and
vigorous intellect, and a good scholar, especially in mathe-
matics ; accumulating means to a moderate extent, and died
at an early period. He is buried in what was once Meck-
lenburg, now Union county.
EZRA AI.EXANDER.
All that can be stated of Mr. Alexander in addition to his
having been a delegate to the Mecklenburg Convention of
May, 1775, is that he headed a company in June and July,
1780, in Col. W. L. Davidson's command, during the Tory
rising at Ramsour's Mill, and in the affair near Calson's
Mill with a body of Tories while in pursuit of Bryan's party,
and the next month served in Capt. John Brownfield's com-
pany of Regiment at the battle of Hanging
Rock. (MS. Letters of Dr. C. L. Hunter, September
21, 1775.) He died in the summer of 1800, at an advanced
age.
CHAPTER XIX.
WAIGHTSTILL AVERY.
The Avery family trace a Hungarian origin. Capt. James
Avery, of Devonshire, England, came over with Winthrop's
company in 1630, only ten years after the May Flower, first
settling at Gloucester; then in 1651 at New London, Conn.,
and shortly after at Groton. From him- descended Waight-
still Avery, the subject of this sketch, who was born in Gro-
ton May 3, 1743. He graduated at Princeton College in
1766, where he remained a tutor for a year. Then removing
to Maryland, he studied law for about a year and a half
under the direction of Littleton Dennis, where early in 1769
he set out for North Carolina.
Selecting Mecklenburg for his home, he domiciled with
4l6 HISTORY OF
Hezekiah Alexander at the moderate rate of £12 (twelve
pounds) per eight months.
In 1 77 1 he was made prisoner by the Regulators at Yad-
kin Ferry, and carried to their camp in the woods. They
gave him a flogging and soon set him at liberty. When the
great war came he was prepared to meet it. In such an at-
mosphere as Mecklenburg, he could only learn to breathe
the purest sentiments of patriotism. In the Mecklenburg
Convention in May, 1775, he filled an honored place. He
was most probably associated with Brevard and Kennon on
the committee who reported the memorable Resolves of
May 20th, and could scarcely have kept silent in enforcing
their adoption by his talents and persuasive powers of elo-
quence. He was a "shrewd lawyer," said Prof. F. M. Hub-
bard, "whose integrity, no less than his deliberate wisdom,
rr.ade his counsels weighty."
Jones, in his "Revolutionary Defence of North Carolina,"
states that Brevard and Avery, with their classical attain-
ments, with the native talent and enthusiasm of Thomas
Polk, produced the Mecklenburg Declaration. He was re-
turned one of the Mecklenburg representatives to the North
Carolina Provincial Congress of August and September,
1775, when he was chosen one of the two members for the
Salisbury District of Provincial Council of Safety. The
Council held two sessions that year, one in October and one
in December.
He was dispatched, in behalf of the Council, to purchase
from the South Carolina Committee of Safety 2,000 pounds
of powder for the use of the Province, and was also ap-
pointed one of the committee for the District of Salisbury
to purchase materials and to employ proper persons to make
and repair guns and bayonets, and purchase guns, lead and
flints. In April, 1776, he was appointed chairman of four
commissioners by the Provincial Congress to erect salt
works and manufacture salt for the use of the public, which
proved successful and of great importance.
He was in this year, 1777, appointed one of the trustees of
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 4I7
Liberty Hall Academy at Charlotte, and was also chosen one
of the two members to represent Mecklenbubrg in the House
of Commons, and served on the committee to revise the
whole body of the public laws of the State. On the 12th of
January, 1778, he was commissioned Attorney General of
the State.
To the last his was the costume of the Revolution — short
breeches^ long waistcoats, silk stockings and knee buckles —
wearing his hair in a cue, and presenting altogether a singu-
lar appearance to the younger generation. Absent-minded-
ness was one of his peculiarities, of which his more intimate
friends would take occasion to play off practical j okes at his
expense. He was devoted to his friends and strong in his
prejudices. He was very fond of his books and newspapers.
He died in March, 182 1.
COL. WM. KENNON.
The Kennons migrated from England and settled in Vir-
ginia about as early as 1660. Richard Kennon, with three
associates, obtained a grant from the Colony of 2,827 acres
in Henrico county, April i, 1670, and Elizabeth Kennon,
perhaps the widow of Richard, April 24, 1703, secured a
grant of 4,000 acres in Henrico. Robert, William and
Richard Kennon, Jr., were the sons of this early couple.
William Kennon, recorded as "Gentleman," between April
17, 1725, and November, 1750, obtained five grants of land
in Henrico, aggregating 4,063, and one tract of 4,000 acres
in Prince George county. (MS. Letters of R. A. Brock,
Corresponding Secretary Virginia Historical Society, Sept.
13, 1875-)
He was probably there on professional business, and was
invited as a matter of courtesy to a seat in the Convention
in Charlotte May 20, 1775.
41 8 " HISTORY OF
COl,. JAMES HARRIS.
According to the late Hon. W. S. Harris, an intelligent
chronicler of the family, the Harris connection of Mecklen-
burg and Cabarrus were of Scotch-Irish stock, natives
of Harrisburg, Penn., who emigrated first to Cecil county,
Maryland, and in 1740 to North Carolina. The facts are
that James Harris, a native of Yorkshire, England, first set-
tled on the Susquehanna in 1719. But Harrisburg
was not laid out as a town till sixty-five years after. A
grandson of the first settler bore the name of Robert, a
family name among the North Carolina Harrises. An imme-
diate descendant of Col. James Harris states that he was a
native of Wales, born April 3, 1739, but the probabilities are
that he was of Welsh descent, and a native of Pennsylvania,
He early settled on Clear Creek, in IMecklenburg county.
He proved himself a leader among the people, and was
chosen a delegate to the Mecklenburg Convention of May,
1775. In June, 1780, we find him serving as Major oi Col.
Irwin's regiment, and marched against the Tories at Ram-
sour' s, who were defeated a little before the arrival of the
rear under Gen. Rutherford and Col. Irwin. He was sub-
sequently promoted to be Colonel.
In 1785, he was chosen to represent Mecklenburg in the
State Senate, a high honor in a region where there were so
many able and worthy men. His death occurred September
27, 1797, in the 59th year of his age. He is represented as
a very rich man, quiet in his demeanor, provident and suc-
cessful, and a member of the Presbyterian denomination.
Some of his descendants reside in Texas. His younger
brother, Samuel Harris, a soldier of the Revolution, lived
till he was 80 years old. Another brother, Robert Harris,
^vill receive a special notice.
DAVID REESE.
David Reese, a native of Wales, was among the Protest-
ant emigrants who were induced to settle in Ireland. He
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 419
was a Presbyterian preacher, and took part in the terrible
siege of Londonderry, which lasted eight months on scanty
allowance. He subsequently returned to Wales, where his
son, David Reese, was born in 1710, and came to America
when a lad about 1 5 years old. He settled in Pennsylvania,
where in due time he married Susan Polk, a near relative of
Thomas and Ezekiel Polk, where their son, Thomas, was
born in 1742, who subsequently became a distinguished
clergyman in the Presbyterian Church. About 1750, David
Reese emigrated, with his young family, and located in Pop-
lar Tent settlement of the Catawba country.
Well educated for his day, he became a prominent man
among the early settlers, and was chosen one of a bench
of Poplar Tent Church elders in 1751. Waightstill Avery,
in Diary of September, 1767, records: "Went to David
Reese's, plotted a piece of land for him," and "wrote a deed
for him to his son," which would indicate wealth in the rich
land of the countr}^ He is one of the reputed delegates to
the Mecklenburg Convention of May, 1775; was long a
magistrate and member of the County Court.
Though too old to take the field, he was appointed by the
Provincial Congress of April, 1776, with Thomas, to pro-
cure, purchase and receive fire arms for the use of the troops
of Mecklenburg. He lived to see his country free and happy.
His will bears date of February 5, 1787, and was admitted
to probate in September following. He must have died not
long before the latter date, at the age of about "^y years.
His remains lie buried in Poplar Tent burial ground, in an
unknown grave.
"He was a born statesman," writes Hon. W. S. Harris,
and "one of the best of men." He was commanding in ap-
pearance, fine looking, with bright, black eyes.
HENRY DOWNS.
Of Scotch-Irish descent, Henry Downs was born in 1728,
probably in Pennsylvania, and early settled in Providence
420 HISTORY OP
settlement, which subsequently became a part of Mecklen-
burg.
Of his public career, we only know that he was one of the
reputed delegates to the famous Mecklenburg Convention.
He lived to see his country free, and to enjoy the blessings
of a well-spent life. He died October 8, 1798, at the age of
70 years, and was buried in Providence burial ground, 12
miles south of Charlotte. One correspondent speaks of
"Henry Downs of precious memory," indicative of his
worthy character, and the good name he left behind him.
His sons, Thomas and Samuel Downs, were well known in
their day, and their descendants are quite numerous in the
Mecklenburg region.
JOHN FOARD.
There was a John Foard in Somerset county, on the east-
ern shore of Maryland, a Presbyterian elder, as early as
1710, mentioned in the first stories of Foote's Sketches of
Virginia. As that region furnished many of the early set-
tlers of Mecklenburg, it is most probable that the John Foard
of Mecklenburg was descended from that Maryland Presby-
terian family of the same name.
As early as January 27, 1770, he is found among the
members of Clear Creek congregation. He is said to have
been one of the delegates to the Mecklenburg Convention of
May, 1775, and long served as a magistrate and member of
the County Court. He ser^^ed as a private in Col. Charles
Polk's Dragoons in the fall of 1781, on the Raft Swamp ex-
pedition. His will bears date of April 25, 1798, and he prob-
ably died not long after this period. Mr. Harris represents
him as a worthy and good man, possessing great courage.
He lived and died in that part of Mecklenburg which now
forms Union county. There are none of his lineal descend-
ants remaining in the old Mecklenburg region, but a good
many kindred bear his name.
MECKLKNBURG COUNTY. 42I
CHARLES ALEXANDER.
Of this member of the numerous Alexander family, little
is known save that he was one of the reputed delegates to the
Mecklenburg Convention of May, 1775. He lived on the
line from Waxhaw to Charlotte. He was a gallant and true
patriot, and unlike most of his Alexander kindred, he was
an unbeliever in the Christian religion. His death took
place in 1801. He had a grand-son recently deceased, who
was an officer and soldier in the war with Mexico.
ROBERT HARRIS, SR.
In the notice of Col. James Harris, a brother of the sub-
ject of this sketch, it was stated that he was descended from
Welsh ancestry, and was probably a native of Pennsylvania.
Robert Harris, born about 1741, is also supposed to have
been born in that State, and certain it is that the family
connection included probably the parents and their sons.
James, Robert, Samuel, Charles and Thomas, and an only
sister, who became the wife of Rev. Thomas Reese, early
migrated to the Catawba Valley. Hon. W. S. Harris, who
descended from Charles, fixed the period of their migration
in 1740; but it was probably a few years later, else some of
the brothers and the sister must have been born in Mecklen-
burg county. The venerable Rev. N. R. Morgan and lady,
the latter a grand-daughter of Robert Harris, thinks he came
to North Carolina with the early crowd of emigrants from
Pennsylvania or Maryland.
As early as May, 1771, he was chosen an elder of Pop-
lar Tent Church. (The Robert Harris of this sketch should
not be confounded v^rith the Col. Robert Harris, of Reed
Creek, referred to in Foote's Sketches of North Carolina,
page 480.) Rev. Humphrey Hunter included the name of
Richard Harris, Sr., among the list of delegates to the
Mecklenburg Convention, which the Legislative Committee
in the State pamphlet of 1831 adopted in the second or-
ganized list of bona Ude members.
422 HISTORY OF
Lossing, in his "Field Books of the Revolution," corrects
the apparent error of Richard Harris and substitutes the
name of Robert Harris. "It is surprising," writes W. S.
Harris, who lived all his life in that region, and one of the
best chroniclers in that section of country, "that such an
error should have been committed, and the name given as
Richard; it is a mistake. I know that the name should have
been Robert Harris."
It is due to truth to say that Rev. N. R. Morgan and
lady, the latter his grand-daughter, who remembered him
personally, state that they never understood that that Robert
Harris was one of the famous Mecklenburg delegates.
In view of his services and sufferings, a grant of 5,000
acres of land was donated to him in Tennessee, which was
neglected for many years, but finally secured by his descend-
ants^ proving of great value to them. He became the pos-
sessor of a large body of land around what is now known as
Harris' station, on the North Carolina Railroad, in Cabar-
rus county. The mill he built on Rocky river, the dam of
which is solid rock, still stands and continues to be known
as Harris' Mill.
CHAPTER XXI.
MA J. JOHN DAVIDSON.
Robert Davidson and wife, Mary Ramsay, of Dundee,
Scotland, became early settlers of Chestnut Level, Lan-
caster county, Pennsylvania, where their son, John Da-
vidson, was born December 15, 1735. With respec-
table education, and reared to the occupation of a farmer,
and while yet a young man, about 1760, he migrated to the
Catawba country, in North Carolina.
Here he was united in marriage with Violet, daughter of
Samuel Wilson, and sister to the wife of Ezekiel Polk, and
settled on the Catawba near Tool's Ford. Such was his
prominence that he was chosen, in conjunction with Capt.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 423
Thomas Polk, to represent Mecklenburg county in the Colo-
nial Legislature in 1773. When such a man as John David-
son states positively that he was one of the members of the
famous Mecklenburg Convention of May, 1775, chosen in
his captain's company with John McKnitt Alexander as his
coadjutor, no one has ever called this claim into question,
it should stand as one of the fixed facts of history. Mow
Dr. M. Winslow Alexander, in making up his list of dele-
gates in 1S24, should have omitted him, then being a venera-
ble survivor of the Revolution and sustaining the highest
character with Gen. Joseph Graham among his honored
sons-in-law, and how the Legislative Committee of 1831
should have ignored his claim to that undoubted honor and
placed other names of doubtful import in their recognized
list of delegates, is not the least of many strange things con-
nected with tills jNIecklenburg matter. An intelligent gen-
tleman states that his grand-father, Maj. Davidson, rode
home the night after the declaration was made, fourteen
miles, taking by-paths for fear of being killed by the enemy,
when in truth there were no British soldiers within hun-
dreds of miles of Mecklenburg in May, 1775 ; no Tories, of
whom there were few in that region at any time, had shown
themselves in hostile array. The Indians were still peaceful
on the frontiers and remained so for more than a year later,
and no Redcoats trod the soil of Mecklenburg till after
Cornwallis' forced himself there in September, 1780.
In vSeptember, 1775, he was appointed second Major of
Col. Polk's regiment, and doubtless went with the regiment
on the Snow Campaign at the close of the year against the
Tory insurgents in the region of Ninety-Six, South Caro-
lina. He was promoted to first Major of Mecklenburg mili-
tia under Col. Adam Alexander and Lieut. Phifer in April,
1776, and in the spring of that year, then in the summer and
fall of the same year, he went on Rutherford's campaign
against the Cherokees. No particulars are mentioned of his
other services. The remainder of his long life he continued
to reside at his old homestead on the Catawba until the death
424 HISTORY OF
of his wife and marriage of his children, when, in 1824, he
went to reside with iiis daughter, Mrs. W. Lee Davidson,
near Davidson College, where he closed his long and useful
life January 10, 1832, in the 97th year of his age, and was
buried in the family burying ground at his former home, a
spot selected by himself, near Tool's Ford, on the Catawba.
COL. KZEKIEL POLK.
Capt. Jack included in his list of those "who appeared to
take the lead" in the Mecklenburg movement of May, 1775,
Col. Ezekiel Polk, Samuel Martin, William Wilson and Dun-
can Ochiltree; and Lossing has given the names of the three
latter in his enumeration of the delegates. They were all
doubtless prominent actors among the people on the interest-
ing occasion. Of William Polk's eight children, a sketch of
Col. Thomas Polk, the eldest, has already been given. Eze-
kiel was the youngest, born in Pennsylvania December 7,
1747. "Pennsylvania born, and Carolina bred," as he him-
self composed in evidence for his tombstone, would imply
that when quite young he followed the fortunes of his broth-
ers to Carolina, and was mostly raised, or bred, as he pre-
ferred to term it. Of his youthful days, nothing is remem-
bered.
He early married Mary Wilson, a sister to the wife of
Maj. John Davidson. In 1769 he was clerk of the Court of
Tryon county — territory from which Lincoln and Ruther-
ford have since been formed.
In 1778, Col. Polk removed into Mecklenburg county,
just south of Sugar Creek Church, and eleven miles south of
Charlotte, where his son, *James K. Polk, was born. This
was a period of quiet in this region, and remained so until
Cornwallis' invasion in September, 1780. There was no reg-
ular army then, after Gates' defeat, to protect the county.
When Cornwallis reached Col. Polk's, on Sugar Creek, in
order to save the burning of his home, the destruction of his
property, and the suffering of his family, he was forced to
*James K. Polk was the son of Samuel Polk, and grandson of
Ezekiel Polk.— Editor.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 425
take British protection, which merely was understood to pro-
tect himself, family and property from molestation, without
implying any pledge for sympathy or service.
CHAPTER XXII.
CAPT. JAMES JACK.
The bearer of the Mecklenburg Resolves of May, 1775, to
Philadelphia — Capt. James Jack — was of Irish descent, bom
in Pennsylvania in 1739, whence he removed to North Car-
olina, and settled in Charlotte eight or ten years before the
commencement of the Revolutionary war. He married Mar-
garet Houston, and was long a popular hotel keeper in
Charlotte. He took a decided and active part in the Revolu-
tionary war. He probably served under Col. Thomas Polk
on the Snow Campaign in 1775. His large acquaintance
with the people enabled him to raise a company of men,
whom he led forth on Rutherford's Cherokee campaign in
1776. He was with the troops embodied who opposed Corn-
wallis when he entered Charlotte in September, 1781. Capt.
Jack also led his company in Gen. Polk's brigade in April,
1 781, joining Gen. Greene at Rugeby's Mills, and serving a
three months' tour of duty. The particulars of other ser-
vices of Capt. Jack are not preserved. It is only known that
he was ever ready for service, and was so popular with his
company that they induced him not to seek or accept the pro-
motions, which indeed he did not desire. In a certificate
extracted by Col. Abraham and Hezekiah Alexander De-
cember 24, 1 78 1, it is stated that Capt. Jack had resided
several years in Mecklenburg county, was a good and
worthy member of society, both civil and religious, and
since the beginning of the war, had always conducted him-
self as a patriot and as an officer in such a manner as to
evince his honest zeal and attachment to the cause of his
country. The close of the war left him poor. He had freely
426 HISTORY OF
advanced all he possessed in the great struggle, a portion of
it as a loan to North Carolina. His unrequited claims at the
time of his death upon North Carolina amounted to £7,446
State currency. In 1783, Capt. Jack removed to Georgia,
settling in Wilkes county.
RKV. FRANCIS CUMMINGS, D. D.
A child of Irish parentage, Mr. Cummings was born near
Shippenburg, Penn., in the spring of 1752. In his 19th year
his parents moved to Mecklenburg county, and young
Cummings exchanged his former life for the classic halls
of the Queen's Museum in Charlotte, where he was an eye
witness of the Mecklenburg Convention of May, 1775, con-
cerning which he furnished a certificate, and also gave some
account in a published sermon. He graduated at Queen's
Museum about 1776, and spent several years teaching.
Among his pupils in Bethel, York county, South Carolina,
was Andrew Jackson, afterwards President, and William
Smith, a United States Senator from South Carolina.
When licensed to preach he occupied various pulpits at
Hopewell, Bethel and other places. In 1788, while residing
at Bethel, he was chosen by the people of York county a
member of the South Carolina Convention for deciding upon
the Constitution of the United States. Mr. Cummings was
at various periods the pastor of some twenty congregations,
some in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, divid-
ing his time between teaching and preaching.
His last sermon was preached January 15, 1832, and
three days later he was seized with influenza, which termi-
nated his life at Greensboro, Ga., on the 2d of the ensuing
February, in the 80th year of his age. He left behind him a
good name and many descendants.
GEN. JOSEPH GRAHAM.
A native of Pennsylvania, Joseph Graham was born Octo-
ber 13, 1759. His widowed mother in 1776 removed with
MECKlvENBURG COUNTY. 427
her live children tO' North Carolina, settling- in the vicinity of
Charlotte, where Joseph received the most of his education.
He v^as present during the meeting of the famous Mecklen-
burg Convention, and his reminiscences concerning it are not
only the most detailed of any preserved, but the most impor-
tant in citing facts connected with the Resolves which, when
those of May 20th were subsequently discovered, go to sub-
stantiate that they were the real and only Resolves adopted
by the people of Mecklenburg in May, 1775.
In May, 1778, v/hen 19 years old, he enlisted in the Fourth
Regiment of the North Carolina line, and marched into Cas-
well county, and was subsequently furloughed home; but in
August, was ordered to South Carolina, and then to
Georgia; was in the battle of Stono, June 20, 1779, and
soon after discharged. The next year he was appointed Ad-
jutant of the Mecklenburg regiment, and when the British
crmy, under Lord Cornwallis, invaded the country in Sep-
tember, 1780, he was ordered by Gen. Davidson to take com-
mand of such of the inhabitants as should collect in Char-
lotte on the news of the enemy's approach, who amounted to
fifty in number. When the British entered Charlotte Sep-
tember 26th, Maj. Davis and Capt. Graham made a daring
resistance, brief, but unavailing. They were compelled to
retreat, but resisted as they retired. In one of the enemy's
charges, Graham received nine wounds, six from the sabre
and three from, bullets. His stock buckles probably pre-
vented one of the cuts upon his neck from fatally wounding
him. As it was, he ever afterward bore marks of the sever-
ity of the blow aimed at his life. Four deep sabre gashes
scarred his head and one his side. He was left for dead
when the enemy departed, and with difficulty crawled to
some water near by, where, slaking his intolerable thirst,
he washed his numerous painful wounds as well as he could.
For a time he expected to die unnoticed in this secluded
spot, but by night was discovered by kind-hearted people who
were in search of their wounded countrymen, and conveyed
to a neighboring house of a widow lady. Here he was con-
428 HISTORY OF
cealed in an upper room and was attended by the widow and
her daughter during the night, expecting he might soon die.
Once he slept and breathed so quietly, and was so pale, they
thought he was dead. The next day a British officer's wife,
with a company of horsemen, visited the widow's house in
quest of fresh provisions. By some means she discovered
that there was a wounded person in the loft, and pressing
the inquiry, learned he was an officer and his wounds severe,
and kindly offered to send a British surgeon to dress his
wounds as soon as she should reach the camp at Charlotte.
Alarmed at his discovery and dreading to fall into the hands
of the enemy, he rallied all his powers and caused himself to
be placed on horseback the ensuing night and taken to his
mother's, and not long after to the hospital. Three balls
were taken from his body.
GEN. GEORGE GRAHAM.
Nearly two years the senior of his brother, Joseph, whose
career has just been sketched, George Graham was also a na-
tive of Pennsylvania, born in 1758, and when some nine
years of age was brought to Mecklenburg county by his
widowed mother, and educated at the Queen's Museum
Academy at Charlotte, and became strongly imbued with
the republican principles of the Scotch-Irish of that region.
He was one of the party of young patriots who rode from
Charlotte to Salisbury early in June, 1775, and arrested
Dunn and Boothe, a couple of prominent Tory lawyers who
proposed to detain Capt. Jack when on his way to Philadel-
phia with the Resolves of the Mecklenburg Convention. He
was active in harrassing and thwarting the foraging parties
of the enemy when Cornwallis lay at Charlotte, and one of
the gallant fourteen who dared to attack, October 3, 1780,
and actually drove a British foraging party of 450 infantry,
60 cavalry and about 40 wagons, under Maj. Doyle, at Mc-
Intire's, seven miles north of Charlotte.
Capt. James Thompson commanded this daring party of
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 429
Mecklenbtirgers. Two hundred yards from Mclntire's was
a thicket down a spring branch, to which Thompson and
his party repaired. A point of rocky ridge, covered with
bushes, passed obliquely from the road towards the spring,
and within fifty steps of the house, which sheltered them
from view. From under this cover Thompson and party de-
ployed into line ten or twelve feet apart, and advanced
silently to their intended position. The British were much
out of order; some in the barn throwing down oats for the
horses, others racing after the pigs, ducks and chickens; a
squad was robbing the bee hive, while others were pillaging
the dwelling. A sentinel placed on watch, within a few
steps of where the Americans were advancing, appeared to
be alarmed, though he had not seen them. Capt. Thompson
fired the first shot and brought down the sentinel. This
being the signal for the attack, each man, as he could get a
view, took ready and deliberate aim before he fired at the
distance of 60 to 70 steps. In two instances where two hap-
pened to aim at the same pillager, when the first fired and
the fellow fell, the second had to change his aim and search
for another object.
The enemy immediately began to form and fire briskly.
None of the Americans had time to load and fire the second
time, except Capt. Thompson and Bradley, who were the
first to discharge their rifles. The last shot of Thompson's
was aimed at the Captain of the party at the barn, 150 steps
distant, who died of the wound he received two days after-
wards, at the house of Samuel McCombs, in Charlotte,
Thompson's party retreated through the thicket, which was
nearly parallel to the great road, and only about one-half
mile from it. The enemy continued to fire briskly and ceased
about the time the Americans were half a mile away.
The main body of the British under Maj. Doyle, who
were in the rear, hearing the firing at Mclntire's, became
alarmed and hurried to the support of their friends. Capt.
Thompson's party now loaded their rifles, ascended the
creek bottom, deployed, as before, under cover of a high
430 HISTORY OP
bank parallel with the road, and about 40 rods from it.
They had not been long at this station before the enemy's
advance, and some wagons, came on. They severally fired,
taking deliberate aim, and then retreated down the creek.
When the front of the enemy's column arrived near the
creek's ford, they formed and commenced a tremendous fire
through the low ground, which continued till Thompson's
army had retreated near a half mile. The cavalry at the
same time divided, one-half passing down each side of the
creek. Simultaneous with this movement, six or seven
hounds came in full cry on the track of the retreating Amer-
icans, and in about three-quarters of a mile came up with
them. One of the dogs was shot, and the others seemed to
comprehend the situation and made no further noise. The
country being thickly covered with undergrowth, Thompson's
men escaped unhurt. The British cavalry kept on their flank
on the high ground until they reached the plantation of
Robert Carr, St., where they appeared much enraged, and
carried the old gentleman, though 70 years old, a prisoner
to Charlotte. Maj. Doyle's party moved on from the ford
of the creek and formed a junction with those at Mclntire's
farm ; gathered up eight dead and twelve wounded, put them
in their wagons and retreated to Charlotte in great haste.
On their arrival they reported that they had found a rebel in
ever}^ bush after passing seven miles in that direction. The
names of those fourteen deserve to be perpetuated in Meck-
lenburg history, namely : Capt. James Thompson, George
Graham, Frank Bradley (killed a few days after by four of
Bryan's Tories), James Henry, Thomas and John Dickson,
John Long, Robert and John Robinson, George and Hugh
Theston, Thomas jNIcClure and Edward and George Ship-
ley. It is believed that during the whole war the enemy did
not sustain so great a loss nor meet with so complete a disap-
pointment in his objects by such a mere handful of men.
That out O'f 30 shots fired, 20 should have done execution, is
quite a new experience in the history of war, and several of
Thompson's men thought that every shot would have told.
MKCKLDNBURG COUNTY.
431
SO deliberate was their aim, had each singled out a different
object; but in two or more instances, aiming- at the same
person. (Gen, Joseph Graham's narrative, in North Caro^
lina University Magazine, March, 1836).
13
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