BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 
 
 HOPEWELL SECTION. 
 
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 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EARLY SETTLERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Hopewell Section 
 
 AND 
 
 Reminiscencks oe the Pioneers and their Descendants bv 
 
 Families, with some Historicai. Facts and Incidents 
 
 OF THE Times in Which They Lived. 
 
 The only way to Preserve History ts to Reduce it to Writing 
 
 While the Chiee Actors are I^iving, and have Taught 
 
 TO their Posterity without Embelishments. 
 
 Written at the request of Revolutionary Descendants by 
 J. H. ALKXANDKR, M. D. 
 
 CIIAHI.OTTK, N. C. 
 
 Oliirrvrr I'rIiiiliiK and I'ulillihliiK Ilnutr, 
 
 l«»7,
 
 TO MY WIFE 
 
 Annie Lowrie Alexander, who had an aptitude for 
 genological pursuits, and was fond of tracing family 
 relations. And had she been permitted to have joined in 
 the preparation of this work, it would have been more at- 
 tractive to the general reader, and more accurate in detail. 
 Trusting this offering may stimulate the descendants of 
 licr friends to further prosecute the work of gathering up 
 nil the facts pertaining to the first patriots of America, 
 this little book is dedicated to her memory.
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY SETTLERS IN HOPEWELL CONGREGATION. 
 
 1 here is no more historic place in America than Meck- 
 lenburg county, and in the county no spot so conspicuous 
 for n'jen of daring and chivalric deeds in Revolutionary 
 times as the Hopewell settlement. This section was 
 settled by that sturdy Scotch-Irish element who appear to 
 have been born in the Presbyterian faith, strongly imbued 
 with a love of liberty, religious freedom, and fair play. The 
 majority of the pioneers came from Maryland and Penn- 
 s}l\ania. The section of which we write is bounded on the 
 west by the Catawba river, taking its name from the tribe 
 of Indians who roamed over this portion of North Caro- 
 lina long after the white people established homes on its 
 borders; bounded on the east by a high ridge without a 
 single water course running across it for twenty miles. 
 The rain falling on the west side flows into the Catawba, 
 and all on the east side to Rocky River. In the early days 
 of the settlement the southern and northern boundaries 
 extended respectively for a few miles north of Charlotte 
 to Beattie's Ford, twelve miles northwest of Hopewell 
 church. The lands were well watered, somewhat rolling, 
 much of it prairie in fine grass and wild pea-vines, very fer- 
 tile, and all capable of easy cultivation, except a small area 
 covered with "nigger-head rock." It was once believed 
 tiiat only a wild and rugged climate and scant soil could 
 produce the highest type of manhood, l)ut the heroes of 
 the Revolution, and their descendants in the last great 
 struggle between the States, prove that it is more in the 
 race than in the locality. It would have been a surprise to 
 us if tliose pioneers who braved the wilds of the unknown 
 wilderness and the blood-thirsty savages, had not made 
 thcnsclvcs a name for posterity to be proud of when they 
 
 550513
 
 4 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 settled in this locality, on the extreme limits of western 
 civilization — Mecklenburg having no western limit. 
 
 Hopewell church was organized in 1765, cotemporary 
 with Rocky River and Sugar Creek. It was here that the 
 spirit of civil and religious liberty first became manifest, 
 taking deep root in the hearts of the people, and culmi- 
 nated in the world-renowned Declaration of Independence 
 in the town of Charlotte on the 20th of May, 1775. 
 
 Most of the signers of the Declaration, absolving their 
 country from the crown of England, were members of the 
 Presbyterian church, nine were ruling elders, and one a 
 minister of the gospel. They lived to a ripe old age, and 
 transmitted to their posterity a full account of the trans- 
 actions of the ever-memorable 20th of May as the most 
 important act in the wonderful drama that gave birth to 
 American liberty. So that if no other proof but tradition 
 of such a character, it should be sufficiet to establish its 
 validity in the minds of all unprejudiced persons. 
 
 Hopewell church being a central point of this interest- 
 ing locality, and having suffered the irreparable loss by 
 fire of all the church records for seventy-five years of her 
 existence, it is now impossible to replace them, and as 
 anvthing- pertaining to the church's early history will be 
 of interest, I take pleasure in appending a manuscript writ- 
 ten by John McKnitt Alexander, an elder of Hopewell. 
 ]\lr. Alexander having held many positions of honor and 
 trust, adds interest to all subjects with which his name is 
 connected. Without apology or further explanation his 
 paper is subjoined. 
 
 ''The people of Hopewell having in the autumn of the 
 year 1791 obtained part of the. ministerial labors of the 
 Rev. Samuel C. Caldwell, the majority of them felt them- 
 selves happy in him as their teacher, and viewed them- 
 selves as being highly favored of their Creator in sending 
 them such an earnest and zealous well-wisher of souls, to 
 break the bread of life unto them. But there was a certain 
 few, whom, though they appeared to be very willing to have
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 5 
 
 the doctrines of the Gospel explained to them, yet to have 
 the necessity of inward, practical and experimental religion 
 pressed upon them, and to be warned of the fatal conse- 
 quences of a neglect thereof, in so warm and pathetic a 
 manner as was customary for the Rev. S. C. Cald- 
 well to do; this to them was very disagreeable; however, it 
 was borne with some degree of quiet until May, 1802, when 
 the late and glorious revival made its first public appear- 
 ance in Hopewell. The loud cries of penitents, who were 
 convinced of their guilt and danger, pleading for mercy, 
 roused ail their slumbering prejudices into wakeful activ- 
 ity. Little else but murmurs and reproaches could now be 
 heard from them. Those loud cries continuing occasion- 
 ally to be heard, and frequently taking place under warm 
 addresses, their worthy pastor bore equal, if not superior 
 blame, consequently their murmur against both the preach- 
 er and the penitents became incessant, accompanied with 
 insidious and bitter opposition. Yet this ill treatment, 
 the reverend and worthy Samuel C. Caldwell bore with 
 much patience for several years; but at length, being griev- 
 ed at heart with their continued and increasing murmurs, 
 at tlie close of the year 1806. he withdrew from those sons 
 of strife, left them to enjoy their silent Sabbaths, and lie- 
 took himself to a more peaceful habitation. This gave rise 
 to the following lines:" 
 
 January, 1807. 
 
 1. "Seventeen hundred ninety-one 
 
 Fair Hopewell Church quite vacant lay, 
 A stated Teacher she had none 
 
 To guide her in the Heavenly way. 
 
 2. To God then did she raise her crv 
 
 Our gracious God her prayer heard. 
 Nor did her humble suit deny. 
 
 Put sent the Teacher she desired.
 
 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 3. Yea also blessed his labors so, 
 
 While day and night he did us warn 
 To fly from everlasting woe, 
 
 That numbers to the Lord did turn. 
 
 4. For several years we thus were blest 
 
 While he and we shared mutual joy; 
 We hoped our bliss thro' Hfe would last 
 Without cessation or alloy. 
 
 5. But soon (base wretches) we abused 
 
 The goodness of our gracious God, 
 The bliss despised, His grace refused. 
 Spurned at the favors He bestowed. 
 
 6. And now behold deserved woe. 
 
 Abused bliss must be withdrawn, 
 Satan, our most malicious foe 
 
 The seeds of discord soon has sown. 
 
 7. Base pride and envy rose in haste 
 
 To urge the fatal crisis on. 
 Our beauteous house agam lies waste, 
 While a kind Teacher we have none. 
 
 8. In nature's wilds we now may stray 
 
 Like silly sheep when left alone, 
 And Satan make an easy prey. 
 Our faithful monitor is gone. 
 
 9. In vain we ask in silent walls 
 
 For council how to 'scape the snare; 
 In vain for aid the feeble calls. 
 
 There's no kind friend or Shepherd there. 
 
 TO. No more we hear his pleasant voice 
 
 Proclaim those messages of grace.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Which makes the mourning- soul rejoice, 
 And tills the comfortless with peace. 
 
 11. Adieu, adieu, thou pleasant place, 
 
 Where we w-ere wont to seek our God, 
 To hear His word, to pray and praise. 
 And feed on bounties bought with blood. 
 
 12. A long adieu, thou silent dome, 
 
 In thee no more we find our food. 
 For Bread of Life we now may roam 
 And on thy gates write 'Ichabod.' 
 
 13. Lord it is just we humbly own. 
 
 That we should feel Thy chastening rod, 
 Under our heavy guilt we groan, 
 Nor can we bear the heavy load. 
 
 14. O, thou our condescending God 
 
 To wiiom or where can we apply, 
 Thou art Thyself that living bread 
 Without which we must faint and die. 
 
 15. Cast us not off we humbly pray 
 
 But keep us near Thy sacred side. 
 And that we never from Thee stray. 
 Let Thy good spirit be our guide. 
 
 16. Tho' for Thy favors most divine, 
 
 Basely unthankful we have been; 
 Yet Thou art God, mercy is thine, 
 For Thy name-sake forgive our sin. 
 
 17. In Thee alone is all our hope 
 
 For present good, and good to come 
 To 11iee we daily would look up 
 And hope in Thee to find our home.
 
 8 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 1 8. Ye humble souls who mourn your loss, 
 
 Tho' you are deprived of wanted food, 
 He that for sinners bore the Cross 
 Can make it work your future good. 
 
 19. Trust ye in Him for all you need, 
 
 He will your every want supply, 
 Who gave Himself your souls to feed. 
 What real good will He deny. 
 
 20. And you whose blinded zeal and pride 
 
 Despised the plainest Gospel fare, 
 And did those humble souls deride 
 Wliose cries for mercy filled the air. 
 
 21. Go boast the victory you have won, 
 
 Silence profound you have obtained. 
 Proclaim the wonders you have done, 
 And glory in your mighty gain. 
 
 2.2.. And when your sons no Sabbath keep 
 But spend that day in pleasures vain. 
 Then say, these are the fruits we reap 
 Of the deep silence we did gain. 
 
 23. But when upon a dying bed 
 
 With dread eternity in sight, 
 Dare you trust Him to be your aid 
 Whose service now is your delight? 
 
 24. Yea at the final trumpet sound, 
 
 Dare you defend His gloomy cause? 
 Should you victorious then be found 
 
 All Hell would sound your loud applause. 
 
 25. But sure of this you must despair. 
 
 Then flee that ancient rebel's cause,
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 And to His standard qnick repair, 
 Who rules all nature by His laws. 
 
 26. Our own rebellion and submit, 
 
 Bow to His sceptre, plead His grace, 
 His grace can all your sins remit. 
 
 And fiill you souls with joy and peace."
 
 10 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 Among the early settlers of this particular part of Meck- 
 lenberg county, no name is more prominent, or descend- 
 ants more numerous than the Alexanders. James Alexan- 
 der was of Scotch- Irish parentage, and lived in Maryland. 
 Kis first wife was Margaret McKnitt. Their children 
 were, Theophilus, born November lo, 171 6; Edith, 
 born January 10, 1718; Keziah, born May 9, 1720; Heze- 
 kiah, born January 13, 1722; Ezekiel, born June 17, 1724; 
 Jemima, born January 9th, 1726; Amos, born January 13, 
 1728; John McKnitt, born June 6, 1733; Margaret, born 
 June 6, 1736. 
 
 Tlie children of James and Abigail Alexander (second 
 v/ife) were, Elizabeth, born November 17, 1746; Abigail, 
 born May 4, 1748; Margaret, born April 30, 1750; Josiah 
 born August 3, 1752; Ezekial, born October 21, 1754. 
 
 Of this large and interesting family, all of whom no 
 doubt, were patriots, but one lived in the boundary of 
 which we write — viz: John McKnitt Alexander. His 
 name is so conspicuous in the history of his country, that 
 it is necessary to speak more at length of him and his 
 family than many others of equal virtue, but who did not 
 appear at the front so prominently in the stirring times of 
 the la:,t quarter of the Eighteenth Century. John Mc- 
 Knitt Alexander was born and reared in Pennsylvania, dat- 
 ing his birth in 1733, he was 21 years old when he came to 
 Mecklenburg in 1754. He had learned the tailor's trade 
 while a minor, and followed this avocation for a number of 
 years, taking cattle and hides in exchange for work, which 
 he would carry to Philadelphia to find a market. There 
 he would purchase broadcloth and other fine material to 
 make into suits for the more wealthy class of his customers. 
 He was also a surveyor, and it is more than probable that
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. H 
 
 he surveyed the greater part of ah the lands taken up by 
 the early settlers. The writer remembers an old road, or 
 rather tne signs of it left by washing rains, surveyed from 
 Alexandriana (the postofhce and name of his residence) to 
 Mill Grove in Cabarrus county. The roads were made as 
 straight as the nature of the ground would admit. During 
 one of his trips to Pennsylvania, in 1759, he married Jane 
 Bain. He had built a home on what was afterwards 
 known as the Statesville road, nine miles northwest of 
 Charlotte. His house was the general rendezvous for the 
 intelligent and patriotic for many miles in all directions. It 
 was here the patriots were accustomed to meet and consid- 
 er the condition of the country for months before the polit- 
 ical climax was reached. After much deliberate thought 
 these patriotic pioneers agreed to meet in Charlotte as the 
 most central point and give expression to their delibera- 
 tions, where, on the 20th of May, 1775, the just cele- 
 brated Declaration of Independence was promulgated 
 amid the shouts and huzzas of a populace fully prepared - 
 to indorse it with their lives, their fortunes and their 
 sacred honor. Mr. Alexander being the Secretary of the 
 Convention, was the custodian of all the documents and 
 papers, including the ever memorable original draft of the 
 Mecklenburg declaration, which was destroyed by the, 
 burning of his house in the year 1800. He was one of the 
 most pronounced and active patriots in the State; not 
 only a member of the Colonial Congress, having in charge 
 the wellfare of the public, but as a local officer, looking 
 after the interest of the county — he must have been a very 
 inisy man. Notwithstanding so much of his time was 
 occupied with public affairs, he did not fail to exercise a 
 healthful influence in organizing Hopewell church, of 
 which he was a Ruling Elder, and for many years was a 
 pillar in the church. After having faithfully served his 
 country for many years, and attaining a ripe old 
 age, he passed away to receive his reward in the 
 year 181 7. He was buried in Hopewell graveyard
 
 12 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 by the side of his wife who had preceded him several 
 years. They raised five children. William Bain, Joseph 
 McKnight' Abigail Bain, Jane Bain and Margaret, all of 
 whom raised families. 
 
 William Bain Alexander married Violet, a daugh- 
 ter of Major John Davidson. They lived at the 
 old homestead, where they were very prosperous, 
 lie owned 6,000 acres of land, had large herds of cat- 
 tle, horses, sheep and hogs. The pasturage of this time 
 was almost limitless, where the finest of beef and pork was 
 raised almost without cost. Wool was a prime article of 
 produce, occupying a similar place then to what cotton at- 
 tained after Whitney's invention of the cotton gin. He 
 was a successful farmer an-d business man. He was Re- 
 corder of Deeds for many years, and did as other officers 
 of the time, carry the papers to his home and do the 
 work there — meeting the people at the court house on 
 Saturdays. His handwriting is well known to-day by the 
 county officers, who handle old papers every day. He 
 was an active member of the Hopewell church, and, for 
 many years an Elder. He was Postmaster at Alexan- 
 driana for more than half a century, and for the conve- 
 nience of his neighbors who lived several miles away, he 
 would carry their mail to church and empty the pouch on 
 a table where it was distributed to the proper owners. At 
 this time comparatively few newspapers were taken, the 
 mail consisting chiefly of letters. The price of letter pos- 
 tage was 25 cents, consequently not many letters were 
 sent through the mails. Envelopes were unknown. 
 
 Mr. Alexander and wife were remarkably fortunate in 
 their family. They had fourteen children — seven boys and 
 seven girls — none of whom died until the youngest was 
 twenty-nine years old. But at this writing — 1896 — all 
 have passed away except one, and she is in her ninety-third 
 year. As they were amongst the leading citizens of the 
 Hopewell section and also of the county, a short notice of
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 13 
 
 each is given, to bring this historical sketch within the 
 niemoiy of people now living. 
 
 Joseph McKnitt Alexander, the oldest of the children, 
 was born in 1792. He built a home one and a half miles 
 east of Hopewell Church, where he operated a farm with 
 success. On this farm he made the brick for Hopewell 
 church — probably the second building that was erected 
 there. The first was built of logs, and was shaded on all 
 sides as to accommodate the large crowds who wTre in 
 the habit of assembling there during revivals and camp- 
 meetmgs. He married Nancy Cathey, a daughter of Col- 
 oiiej Cathey, near Beattie's Ford. They had but three chil- 
 dren, viz: DeWitt Clinton, John Davidson and Violet. 
 The family moved to Maringo county,Alabama,in the year 
 1S35. Here the children married, all engaged in farming 
 and became very wealthy. John Davidson is the only one 
 now living. Their offsprings are scattered over the South. 
 
 Jane Bain Alexander — the eldest daughter — married. 
 C'aptain John Sharp, and moved to Tennessee. They w^ere 
 prosperous, had several children, who were well educated. 
 The family were short lived; and owing to difificulty of 
 traveling and communication at this period w^e know but 
 little of the family history. A son, William Sharp, was a 
 highly educated physician and accomplished gentleman. 
 He died at an early period. Two sisters, Margaret and 
 Jane, both married men by the name of Hall, raised families 
 of wliom w^e know nothing. Robert Davidson Alexander, 
 
 Robert Davidson Alexander, the third child, was 
 born August cjth, 1796. He built a home on the 
 Salisbury road, one mile east of Alexandria, w^as a success- 
 f-n farmer, a Justice of the eace, and a Member 
 of the County Court for many years; was a devoted Chris- 
 tian, an Elder in Hopewell church, and w^as frequently a 
 representative in the Church courts. He married Abigail 
 Bain, a daughter of Rev. Samuel C. Caldwell, in 1829. They 
 raised five children, three died in infancy, one, Lottie, an 
 accmphshcd young woman, passed away at the age of 22,
 
 14 BIOGRAl'HICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 in 1878. Four are now living, viz: Rev. S. C. Alexander, 
 D. D., pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Monticello, 
 Ark.; Agnes married Dr. W. B. Fewell, and lives near Rock 
 Hill, S. C, where they enjoy the shady side of life sur- 
 rounded by a large family; Dr. J. Brevard Alexander built 
 an elegant home six miles north of Hopewell, where he 
 operated a farm and practiced medicine for thirty-five 
 years, except four years from '61 to '65 spent in Confed- 
 erate States Army. In 1858 he married Miss Annie Low- 
 rie, a daughter of Samuel Lowrie, who lived on the Beat- 
 ti^'s Ford road, sixteen miles from Charlotte. They raised 
 six children — Robert is on the farm; Samuel died at the 
 age of 19, while preparing for the ministery. The family 
 moved to Charlotte in 1890, that is, James, Dixie and 
 Annie Lowrie; Lucy married J. H. Halliburton and lives 
 in Durham. Mrs. Alexander died February 21, 1893, and 
 was buried at Gilead by the side of her maternal kindred — 
 the Johnston family. She was woman of positive charac- 
 ter, and fine mental attainments. She was much esteemed 
 by all her neighbors. His daughter, Dr. Annie Lowrie 
 Alexander, who is now in practice, was amongst the first 
 women physicians of the South, having graduated in Phil- 
 adelphia in 1884. William Davidson Alexander lives at the 
 old homestead, a successful farmer and influential citizen. 
 He married a daughter of Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey, of Ten- 
 nessee, and has three sons and one daughter living. 
 
 Margaret Davidson Alexander married David Hender- 
 son, of Sugar Creek. They have long since passed away. 
 Three sons and one daughter reriiain. Dr. J. McKnitt 
 Henderson died twenty years ago. Andrew R. Henderson 
 lives in Gaston county, two miles west of Hopewell 
 church, at which place he holds his membership. Dr. 
 William Bain Henderson moved to Alabama many years 
 ago. where he now resides. Jane married E. C. Davidson. 
 She is now a widow, lives fourteen miles northwest of 
 Charlotte, on the Beattie's Ford road; has five children 
 living, with whom she is spending the evening of herday.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. lo 
 
 J. Harvey Henderson, the youngest of the family, now 
 resides in Charlotte, pleasantly situated with his daughter 
 
 and three sons. 
 
 Sarah Davidson Alexander never married. She spent 
 her life visiting among her large connection, where she 
 was always a welcome guest. She made several visits to 
 tier kindred in Alabama and Tennessee, always on horse- 
 back. With a pair of saddle-bags and ''poke" hung from 
 the horn of her saddle to carry her clothes, she did not 
 hesitate to take a trip of 500 miles. At the period of which 
 I write the only mode of travel was on horseback. She 
 passed away in 1863. 
 
 William Bain Alexander built a home on the head- 
 waters of Long Creek, four miles east of Hopewell. 
 He married Theresa Alexander, a daughter of "Blind" 
 Bill> Alexander. They were of the same name, but were 
 not related. They died many years ago, leaving three 
 children, who are now living within the bounds of Hope- 
 w^ell, with a numerous posterity. Mrs. Alexander inherited 
 from her father an opthalmic disease which has proved a 
 sore affliction to the fourth generation. 
 
 Rebecca married Marshall McCoy and located one mile 
 east of the church. He was a successful farmer, very pop- 
 ular in his neighborhood, entertained lavishly, and was a 
 deacon in Hopewell. They raised a large and interesting 
 family. But three out of nine children have deceased. The 
 eldest son, John F. McCoy, was missing in the battle of 
 Gettysburg, supposed to have been killed. The other 
 members of the family reside within the boundary of which 
 we write. Mr. McCoy was killed by the explosion of 
 blasting powder at a copper mine, near his house, in 1855. 
 Mrs. McCoy is still living, in her ninety-third year; her 
 phvsicpl condition is feeble, but her mind is perfectly clear, 
 and she relates incidents of her past life with wonderful 
 correctness. She is cheerful and happy, awaiting her 
 change. 
 
 John "Ramsey Alexander learned the wagon-making
 
 16 BIOGIIAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 tra'lc, which he followed for many years, and was also a 
 successful farmer. He married Harriet Henderson, a 
 woman of deep piety, and greatly beloved by her neigh- 
 bors. They had a beautiful home ten miles north of Char- 
 lotte, on the Statesville road. They raised seven children, 
 who were an honor to their parents. The oldest, Amanda, 
 married Rev. W. W. Pharr, D. D., a Presbyterian minister, 
 who was very popular with the people. ''Bettie" married 
 Dr. Watson Rankin, of Cabarrus, a fine physician. They 
 raised an interesting family. Nancy moved to Florida and 
 married Capt. Stewart. She is now a widow, in the orange 
 business. Sophia married John Sample and moved to Ten- 
 nessee, where both deceased without children. Andrew 
 H. married Miss Jennie McLean and moved to 
 Florida. They have two sons and one daughter. Thomas 
 Lafayette began as a clerk in a store in Charlotte in 1852. 
 Married Mary Connon, of Missouri. By close attention 
 to business, he is one of our largest merchants, and pos- 
 sessed of a handsome fortune. His wife died in 1893. 
 Three children survive to cheer him in his declining years. 
 Francis Ramsey, a handsome youth, was captain of a 
 company in the Fifty-sixth Regiment, North Carolina 
 troops. He led his men in many battles for the Confed- 
 erate cause. On 17th of June, 1864, while leading a charge 
 he was killed, near Petersburg, Va. The old veterans 
 speak of him with profound respect, and say he was 
 the bravest of the brave. His body was brought home and 
 interred in Hopewell graveyard, close by the side of his 
 ancestors, who w^on imperishable renown nearly a century 
 before in the Revolutionary War. Capt. Frank Alexander 
 was a worthy descendant of such a heroic ancestry. The 
 parents have passed away, and their home is in the hands 
 -of strangers. 
 
 Elizabeth married Dr. Isaac Wilson, who settled on 
 or near the dividing range that runs north and south, 
 bef^een the Catawba and Rocky rivers, four miles east 
 ot Hopewell. He cultivated a farm and did a large
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 17 
 
 practice, extending over probably one-fourth of the 
 county. He was a member of Hopewell for many years, 
 a very prominent physician, and influential citizen. They 
 had six children. The two youngest — Thomas and Gil- 
 breth, both gave their lives in the cause of the Confeder- 
 acy. Joseph is a successful farmer near Beattie's Ford. 
 Dr. J. ]\IcCamie Wilson has been in constant practice 
 near Davidson College for forty years. James Wilson is a 
 farmer two miles northeast of Hopewell. Isabella, a very 
 bright and intelligent woman, married Andrew Parks, and 
 moved to Statesville, where she recently died. They all 
 reared families and are amongst our best citizens. Mrs. 
 Wilson died of erysipelas during the terrible epidemic in 
 1845. The doctor passed off in 1886; much esteemed and 
 beloved by his neighbors. 
 
 James McKnitt Alexander located and established an 
 excellent farm with all the appurtenances for comfort and 
 a prosperous living, six miles east of Hopewell. He was an 
 excellent farmer and fond of the chase. He kept good 
 horse? and a fine pack of hounds, and frequently indulged 
 in fox hunting, but not to the neglect of his farm. Like all 
 of his brothers and sisters, he was a consistent member of 
 Hopewell church. He married Mary Wilson. They raised a 
 family of six children — only three are now living. He died 
 of typhoid fever in 1855. A few years afterwards his widow 
 married Dixon Kerns, a worthy gentleman of the neigh- 
 borhood; he also proved a good farmer. They raised four 
 children, but one of whom survives. Mr. and Mrs. Kerns 
 now reside in Iredell county, north of Davidson. 
 
 Abigail married Henderson Robinson; prepared a home 
 and farm three miles east of Hopewell; had scarcely begun 
 the race of life when they both fell victims to the terrible 
 scourge of erysipelas that visited the Hopewell section in 
 1845. This epidemic was fearful in its ravages. The peo- 
 ple were almost panic stricken. Deaths were so numerous 
 it was difficult to have the dead decentlv buried. 
 
 Isabella married Dr. Calvin Wier. Thev built a home
 
 18 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 on the Statesville road five miles east of Hopewell. Her 
 health was always delicate, and soon succumbed to that 
 dread disease, consumption. After her decease Dr. Wier 
 moved to Mississippi, and in a short time passed to the 
 gieat beyond. No representative succeeding. 
 
 Benj. W. Alexander established a home in sight of the 
 old homestead, six miles east of Hopewell; was a success- 
 ful farmer and business man for many years a civil officer, 
 member of the county court and colonial of militia. He 
 married Elvira McCoy. They raised four daughters and 
 one son to adult age. The oldest daughter, Jane, married 
 Theophilus Cannon of Cabarrus, and died while young. 
 They left four children. Antoinette married Martin Bar- 
 rinp-er, and died withoirt issue. Melvina married Rev. 
 Watts. She is now a widow, living with her son in States- 
 ville. Alice, the youngest, married Chalmers Rankin, of 
 Mooresville, where they are happily situated with several 
 children. John McCoy was a briliant young man, had just 
 fmished his junior course in Davidson College, when he 
 was cut of¥ in the bloom of youth. Colonel Alexander 
 and wife continued with us until the clouds of Civil War 
 had passed over, and they quietly and peacefuly fell asleep 
 in a full hope of immortal life. 
 
 George Washington, the youngest, was married three 
 times, his last wife, Sally Jetton, only left children. They 
 are all living and prove a comfort to an invalid mother. 
 Bain, the oldest son, married Jane Gillespie. They live on 
 the Statesville road near his mother. Joseph and Jetton 
 have not married, and live with their widowed mother, tak- 
 ing care of her. The only daughter — Minnie — married 
 MacCannon, and live in Cabarrus county. Mr. George 
 W. Alexander was an excellent farmer, also a surveyor. 
 Their home is situated on the Tuckesege road, four miles 
 east of Hopeewell. Mr. Alexander passed away several 
 years ago. His widow survivors, an invalid — fortunately 
 well cared for by her sons. 
 
 Dr. Joseph McKnitt Alexander, second son of John Mc-
 
 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES. 19 
 
 Knitt Alexander, was born i774- He was siir- 
 
 ronnrled with the best advantages possible in early life. 
 Every advantage was given to acquire an education; he 
 graduated at Princeton; studied medicine and graduated 
 from the University of Pennsylvnania. Nature was prod- 
 igal in bestowing her gifts, his mind was not only quick to 
 perceive, but was logical and well trained. He married 
 Dovy Winslow, a daughter of Moses Winslow, a wealthy 
 and educated gentleman of English parentage. A story of 
 those early days is told that Robert Davidson, a son of 
 Major John Davidson, was a favored suitor for the hand 
 of the fair ]\Iiss Dovy; that he was so enamored and wor- 
 shipped so devoutly at her shrine, he wanted others to 
 know of his good fortune in the prospective, and he invited 
 his friend Dr. Joe to visit her with him; but alas for the 
 course of true love, his friend knocked him out the first 
 round and carried of¥ the prize. Dr. Joe met with a sad 
 affliction in the loss of his estimable wife soon after the 
 birth of their only child, which he called for his wife's 
 father INIoses Winslow. He and the little son made their 
 honje with his brother, William Bain Alexander, for many 
 years, in fact, until Dr. Winslow was married. Dr. Joe's 
 practice was very extensive, covering a large territory. He 
 had certain points or stopping places for the public to 
 know where he could be intercepted. His life was a labor- 
 ious one, but he had the satisfaction of doing much good 
 to the suffering. As might be expected, he was a member 
 of Hopewell, and after having spent a long life in the ser- 
 vice of his fellowmen, he was quietly gathered to his fath- 
 ers, in the year 1841. in the 67th year of his age. 
 
 Dr. Moses Winslow Alexander, a son of Dr. Jos. 
 McKnitt Alexander was born at Alcxandriana. the home- 
 stead of his grand father, in 1798, May 3d. His mother 
 having died while he was an infant, he was nursed and 
 cared for by his uncle's family, and was one of the family. 
 -After he was grown up and educated he studied medicine, 
 adopting the profession of his father, and practiced with
 
 20 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 liini. He married Violet, a daughter of General Joseph 
 Grahani. They built a home a short distance west of 
 AJexandriana. He engaged very extensively in farming; 
 also owned and operated a farm in Alabama. They had 
 a large family of children, several of whom died before 
 reaching maturity. Graham and Wistar, with Emily and 
 Eliza, passed away in the bloom of youth. Junius, a very 
 popular young man, fell a victim in the first epidemic of 
 dysentery ever experienced in this section, in 1855. This 
 epidemic continued for two years, partially abating in win- 
 ter. It is estimated that at least 1,000 persons died with 
 this disease in Mecklenburg county during the warm 
 months of '54 and '55. A peculiarity of the disease was, 
 it was much more fatal in the white race than in the col- 
 ored. 
 
 Hamilton LaFayette was a highly educated gentleman, 
 graduated in Princeton, studied law, and volunteered as a 
 private soldier in cavalry service in the Confederate army. 
 He lived but a short time after the termination of hostil- 
 ities. Dovy married Rev. H. B. Cuningham, D. D. They 
 jWed at Alexandriana, built an elegant house and tilled a 
 small farm. Dr. Cuningham was pastor of Hopewell from 
 1844 to 1855. They left no children. Isabella married 
 • Dr. W. J. Hays, of Lincoln county, an educated and cour 
 leous gentleman. He ^as an elder in Unity church, an 
 earnest friend and advocate of the truth of religion with- 
 out ostentation. About i860 they moved to Mecklen- 
 burg, and for a few years resided at the homestead of his 
 wife's father. For the last twenty-five years they have 
 resided in Charlotte. They have but one son living, 
 Junius, who is married and lives in Fort Mills. The doc- 
 tor and his good wife are still with us, enjoying life, sur- 
 ' rounded with hosts of friends. 
 
 Sophia and her sister, Mrs. Julia Smith (whose husband 
 died in the service of the Confederacy) live together, in an 
 eleg-ant home on one of the thoroughfares of the city, 
 where they dispense a Christian charity that is appreciated
 
 BIOGllAPHICAL SKETCHES. 2i 
 
 by all good people. They are very popular with both old 
 and }-oung-. as evidenced by the hundreds of friends who 
 visit at their home. 
 
 Alice, one of the most estimable ladies of this large con- 
 nection, married Dr. G. W. Graham, one of the most pop- 
 ular gentleman in the city. He does a lucrative practice 
 in his specialty, as an oculist and aurist. They have an 
 elegant home, where they delight to w'elcome and enter- 
 tain their friends. 
 
 Captain Sydenham B. Alexander, the youngest son, has 
 been more prominently before the public than any other 
 of the family. He graduated in Chapel Hill, and entered 
 the Confederate army as captain of an infantry company, 
 in which he did good service. After the war he was a 
 successful farmer. He purchased a farm three miles west 
 of Charlotte, where he became noted for raising fine 
 stock, especially horses and cattle. He mingled much 
 with the people and was very popular. He w^as elected 
 several times to the State Senate, where he contributed 
 greatly to the building of a system of good roads, with 
 which his name wall always be associated. He was a pro- 
 nounced' Alliance man, and in favor of all Alliance de- 
 mands, including the restoration of silver as a money 
 metal. He was twace elected to Congress, serving in the 
 House of Representatives four years. He married a Miss 
 Nicholson from the eastern part of the State. His wife 
 died several years ago, leaving six children. His father. 
 Dr. Winslow^ Alexander, died in 1845, February 27th, 
 l)eing the first victim of the fearful epidemic of erysipelas 
 that w^as so fatal in the Hopewell section. His mother 
 survived her husband many years, lived to train her chil- 
 dren till all had established characters of virtue and use- 
 fulness. 
 
 Abigail Bain, daughter of John McKnitt Alexander, 
 married "Rev. Samuel C. Caldwell, in the year 1702. They 
 lived for a short time on what is known as the Albert Wil- 
 son place, seven miles northwest of Charlotte. Mr. Cald-
 
 22 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 well preached at Hopewell and Sugar Creek. Later on 
 he built the brick house one and a half miles northwest of 
 Sugar Creek church. He discontiued his services at 
 Hopew-ell in the year 1806, a full account of which is 
 given on a former page. They had two children, Thomas 
 and Jane. Soon after, while the children were helpless, 
 their mother was called away. In a few years Mr. Cald- 
 well married Elizabeth Lindsay, of Greensboro. They 
 had seven sons and one daughter. 
 
 One of the first wife's children. Dr. D. T. 
 Caldwell, located in Charlotte to practice medi- 
 cine. He was a good man in every sense of the 
 Vv^ord, an excellent physician and courteous gentleman, an 
 elder in Sugar Creek. He married Harriet Davidson, 
 daughter of Hon. William Davidson, of Charlotte. They 
 had eight children, but four of whom are now living. 
 Baxter and Alice live together in the old homestead — 
 neither married. Sarah Jane married George Donald and 
 lives in Greensboro. Minnie married John Springs 
 Davidson. They live at the old Davidson homestead 
 near Hopewell. Jane, the only daughter of the first wife 
 married Rev. W. S. Pharr. They lived near Ramah 
 Church, where he preached (also at Mallard Creek) for a 
 half a century. They had but one son, the Rev. S. C. 
 Pharr, D. D., a most eloquent preacher. Mrs. Pharr died 
 of consumption when her son was but a small boy. Rev. 
 W. S. Pharr continued until after the close of the Civil 
 War, when he too passed into rest. Rev. Dr. Pharr mar- 
 ried Margaret Springs. She is now a widow living with 
 one of her sons. Of Rev. S. C. Caldw^ell's second wife's 
 eight children five were preachers of the Gospel, two law- 
 yers and one a merchant. As they did not live in the 
 Hopewell boundary, we pass them by. 
 
 Jane Bain, daughter of John McKnitt Alexander, mar- 
 ried Rev. James Wallace. He preached at Providence 
 church for many years. They had several children, who 
 moved to Alabama in the early part of the present cen-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 23 
 
 tury. Mrs. Wallace when called home was buried in 
 Providence graveyard. Their son James while attending 
 the classical school at Sugar Creek church, taught by 
 Rev. S. C. Caldwell, in 1809, delivered an original speech 
 at the closing of the school, the subect of which was, "The 
 Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, May 20, 
 1775." Many of the audience there assembled had been 
 spectators, and some had been signers of the famous docu- 
 ment, when it was promulgated in Charlotte. At this 
 time no one would have thought of denying the truth of 
 the transaction when so many living witnesses of the fact 
 were present. Mr. Caldwell, the teacher, was a ripe 
 scholar, had at this time been in the ministry eighteen 
 years, being surrounded by these witnesses, and coming in 
 almost daily contact with some of the signers, and having 
 married a daughter of the venerable secretary of the con- 
 vention, it is unreasonable to suppose that he would have 
 sanctioned a speech by his pupil (and nephew) unless he 
 treated his subject fairly and truthfully. The late D. A. 
 Caldwell, a gentleman of fine attainments and much 
 esteemed for his integrity, testified that he was present at 
 the school closing, heard the speech, and that it was 
 approved and endorsed by all present. 
 
 Margaret, a daughter of John McKnitt Alexander, mar- 
 ried Colonel Alexander Ramsay, of East Tennessee. They 
 lived at the junction of the Holston and French Broad; 
 built an elegant home and lived in affluence. His home 
 and postofBce he named IMecklenburg, in honor of his 
 wife's nativity. They raised four children. His two sons 
 occupied high positions in social and literary life. Dr. 
 Tames G. M. Ramsay wrote the Annals of Tennessee, 
 which is the standard history of the State. The doctor 
 was an ardent Confederate, and for his patriotism he suf- 
 fered great loss, 1)y the enemy burning his house and a 
 valuable library.
 
 24 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Davidson family occupies an important place in 
 history. Robert Davidson, of Pennsylvania, married 
 Isabella Ramsay; they were of Scoth-Irish parentage, 
 raised in the Presbyterian faith. Robert died while quite 
 a vouno^ man, soon after the birth of his second child. His 
 widow, with the two children, moved to Rowan county, 
 N. C, in the year 1740. Here she engaged in farming, 
 and contracted a second marriage with Mr. Henry Henry, 
 an educated and polished gentleman, a graduate of 
 Princeton, who was teaching school on the Yadkin, near 
 Salisbury. The two children received their education 
 here; and John also learned the blacksmith trade. In 
 1760, John, hoping to better his financial condition, hav- 
 ing a good and lucrative trade moved to Hopewell neigh- 
 borhood, bringing his sister Mary with him to keep house 
 for him, located on the east side of the Catawba river, 
 where later in life he built the elegant brick residence, 
 which in still later years was the home of his grandson, A. 
 E. Davidson. This splendid mansion was accidentally 
 burned in 1886, while occupied by John Springs Davidson, 
 a great grandson of the builder, Major John Davidson. 
 Major John Davidson became quite a prominent charac- 
 ter in Mecklenburg history during the Revolutionary 
 period, and also afterwards in developing the agricultural 
 and iron industries of the country. He was a signer of 
 the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence; and 
 served in both the State militia and Continental armies. 
 ,He was promoted to the rank of major. After the war 
 he was prominent as a magistrate, as a farmer, and as a 
 pioneer in starting and developing the iron interest of the 
 country. Ordinary iron was then worth ten cents a 
 pound, and being a master blacksmith, he had a fine op-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 25 
 
 portunity to amass a fortune. He married Violet, a 
 daughter of Samuel Wilson, a neighbor who came from 
 the north of Ireland about 1740. Mr. Wilson belonged to 
 the nobility of England. In after years his family was 
 visited by a nephew of General Sir Robert Wilson, but the 
 acquaintanceship was not kept up, as this occurred long 
 before steam was applied to navigation. They had three 
 sons and seven daughters. 
 
 Isabella married General Joseph Graham who was 
 present in Charlotte on the 20th of May, 1775, 
 and testified to the truthfulness and validity of the 
 Declaration promulgated on that memorable occa- 
 sion. He was the first sheriff of Mecklenburg county. 
 When not disabled by wounds, he was constantly in the 
 service of his country till the close of the war. Our com- 
 mon country will ever cherish his memory with a feeling 
 of gratitude for his patriotic devotion to the cause of free- 
 dom. The exact spot on the great road leading to Salis- 
 bury about four miles from Charlotte is still pointed out 
 where General Graham was shot down and left for dead by 
 Tarlton's command, the evening of the battle when Corn- 
 wallis entered Charlotte, September 26, 1780. He was 
 discovered by a young woman while out hunting her cows 
 — "Aunt Susie Alexander." She managed to take him 
 home with her, and dressed his wounds. His military 
 career having been written in the histories of the State, 
 will not be repeated in these sketches. But one of Gen- 
 eral (jraham's large family lived in Hopewell territory — 
 Mrs. Dr. Winslow yMexander, whose family has been 
 already accorded a place in a former chapter. Governor 
 W. A. Graham, though not a resident, was so closely con- 
 nected with the Hopewell people, that a few words will 
 noi be considered out of place He was among the last 
 v/ho possessed that physical mould of features characteris- 
 tic of Revolutionary worthies that we see in the portraits 
 of the great men of a hundred years ago. That rugged, 
 stern, inflexibilitv of character formerly stamped so boldly
 
 2(j BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 in the features of the framers of our Republic, has disap- 
 peared, been supplanted by what is called a more relined 
 civilization. Governor Graham was a dignified, courtly 
 gentleman of the old school, and was held in high esteem 
 as a statesman. He filled at dift"erent times almost every 
 position of trust — State Legislature, Governor, Secretary 
 of the Navy, United States Senator and Confederate State 
 Senator. During his long political course, not a breath of 
 suspicion was ever whispered against his good name. To 
 X)ass unscathed through such an ordeal, shows extraordi- 
 nary inegrity and faithfulness in the performance of pub- 
 lic duty. His name will ever be cherished with pride by 
 all Carolinians. 
 
 Sally Davidson marriied Rev. Alexander Caldwell, a son 
 of Rev. David Caldwell, D. D., of Guilford, N. C, who 
 exercised a wonderful influence in behalf of the patriot 
 cause, and also of religion and education in North Caro- 
 lina Mr. Alexander Caldwell's mother was a daughter 
 of Alexander Craighead, the noted minister who taught 
 the people to resist tyranny, who suffered himself to be 
 driven from Maryland and Pennsylvania for his preaching 
 opposition to kingly tyranny; when he came to Mecklen- 
 burg the people heard him gladly, and accepted his politi- 
 cal teaching, the same as his religious teaching. A great 
 deal is due the memory of Mr. Craighead, for the lessons 
 of liberty he taught the people, that in a few years devel- 
 oped into the out-spoken Declaration of Independence, 
 that astonished the British no less than it did the people 
 of other colonies, who thought our people hasty, and 
 action premature. Mr. Craighead ceased from his labors 
 in 1762, and was buried in the graveyard of Sugar Creek. 
 Yet the lessons he taught bore fruit to the satisfaction and 
 happiness of our people, and all good people love to honor 
 his nam^e as a benefactor indeed. Rev. Alexander Cald- 
 well was possessed of a mind of great brilliancy, a popular 
 preacher, an earnest worker, he soon finished his course, 
 and passed away while quite a young man. His wife was
 
 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 27 
 
 left a widow with three children to raise, viz: Patsy, John, 
 and Alexander. Airs. Caldwell and children returned to 
 her lather's where they were cared for and resided until 
 her son x\lexander built a home and took her to live with 
 him, where she continued until her course was run. This 
 family were remarkable people, born with that cast and 
 mould of feature that belonged to an earlier and more 
 rugged civilization, they were self-reliant, never shrank 
 from responsibility. Their longevity was remarkable, 
 lliey reached an average of nearly ninety years. Their 
 mental acumen — inherited from their father — was far 
 above the average; so also was their physical stamina; they 
 scarcely knew what fatigue meant. By nature always 
 polite and courteous, would not offer an insult to any one, 
 but were prompt to resent an indignity from whatever 
 source. Major John H. Caldwell was a man of more than 
 ordinary activity; a successful farmer, a warm advocate 
 of internal improvements. State and county fairs, rail- 
 roads, etc. He worked large contracts in railroad build- 
 ing. He accumulated a large fortune for the times in 
 which he lived. He married Mary, a daughter of Andrew 
 Springs, who was noted for being an excellent farmer; 
 keeping everything remarkably tidy and clean, as well as 
 making a profit out of all his crops. Mr. Caldwell lived 
 for some time three miles east of Davidson. Here he 
 made the brick for the college and all the college build- 
 ings. The price paid for brick delivered was $375 per 
 thousand. He also made the l)rick for the mint in Char- 
 lotte. He was a great reader, especially of history, and 
 fiad a tenacous memory, rendering him quite an encyclo- 
 pedia. They left but one child, Mary, who married Dr. J. 
 M. Davidson. They now reside in Charlotte, surrounded 
 with some of their children, grandchildren, and many 
 friend?. After the demise of Mrs. Caldwell, the major 
 bought a plantation from Jacky Davidson, known as 
 Long Creek Mills. He resided here for several years 
 operating his farm. 1)Ut had the most of his slaves working
 
 28 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 contracts on the North CaroHna Raih-oad. After dispos- 
 ing of his farm, he moved to Charlotte, where he contin- 
 ued to reside until his physical system became exhausted, 
 and he passed away in the house of his brother D. A. Cald- 
 well in the year 1879. 
 
 David Alexander Caldwell bought and cultivated a 
 farm six miles north of Hopewell and live miles east of 
 Covv^an's Ford. He was trained on the farm of his uncle, 
 Robert Davidson, as an overseer and general manager. 
 His uncle was a very early riser, and would have his 
 nephew in the fields ready for work with horses and hands, 
 as soon as sufficiently light to see the rows. His uncle 
 taught him to get up soon, but never taught him to love 
 early rising. While building up his farm, Mr. Caldwell 
 would engage in spirited squirrel hunts for a wager — of 
 small amount — a bushel of fruits and candy, or a pot of 
 apple jack. The young men of the neighborhood would 
 get up a "scalp" hunt. Like any other game or contest, 
 they would choose two leaders, or "captains," who would 
 select their respective friends for the hunt. Whichever 
 pa^-ty got in the most "scalps," enjoyed the treat at the 
 expense of the defeated side. In counting "scalps" certain 
 rules were agreed upon. Thus, a squirrel, a crow, part- 
 ridge (their bills) were each counted i. A fox, or deer, was 
 counted 10. A hawk or wild turkey counted 5, etc. After 
 a three weeks hunt the evidences of game taken was so 
 numerous that it was not uncommon to see them brought 
 in three bushel bags for the judges to count. After vic- 
 tory was awarded to the most successful, the entertain-f 
 nient began. Several of these friends were literary gen- 
 tlemen, and while testing the merits of the punch, would 
 discuss the eminent writers of the day. Others again 
 would indulge in story and song until a late hour before 
 they would disperse for the night. 
 
 Mr. Caldwell married the widow of his cousin. 
 Rev. Robert Caldwell, pastor of the Presbyterian 
 church in Statesville. Her maiden name was Mar-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 29 
 
 tlia Bishop, of Virginia. She was a woman of 
 splendid character. Her mental attainments were of a 
 high order, and her Christian virtues have probably never 
 been excelled. She had a bright and cheerful disposition, 
 scattered sunshine in the pathway of life as naturally as 
 sunbeams fall upon a garden of flowers — all unconscious 
 of the happiness bestowed. She was greatly beloved by 
 all who were fortunate enough to know her in her country 
 hcmie. They reared but two children. Dr. John Edward 
 Caldwell lives at the old homestead, where he is engaged 
 in the practice of medicine and farming .He has never mar- 
 ried. Sally received a liberal education, had advantages 
 that few ever enjoy. No better teacher than her mother 
 was to be found, but when grown she went to Edgeworth 
 Seminary, in Greensboro, N. C, where she led her class. 
 She married Dr. Edward White, of Fort Mills, S. C. He 
 entered the Confederate army in 1861, and gave his life 
 for the cause we loved so well. His widow resides in 
 Charlotte, where much of her life has been spent in taking 
 care of her aged parents and uncle, who passed away sev- 
 eral years ago. She enjoys an enviable reputation as a 
 teacher, and is much beloved by her pupils. Like her 
 parents, she has a brilliant intellect, and a mind well 
 stored with knowledge; thoroughly conversant with the 
 literature of past ages as well as the present. 
 
 David A. Caldwell was probably the best cultured man 
 in the county. He read extensively, but not promiscu- 
 ously. The Reformation, the Scotch Convenanters, 
 Cromwell's regime, the Puritans and the results of their 
 immigration to America, were themes and subjects with 
 which he was perfectly familiar. In his younger days he 
 was particularly fond of Scott's novels for historical 
 romance, Byron and Burns for poetry. Posessed of a 
 logical mind and retentive memory, he was ever ready to 
 draw whatever he desired from his great store-house, the 
 coiitentF of which had been so carefully prepared during a 
 long life. Religiously he was a devoted Presbyterian, and
 
 30 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 a Southern Presbyterian, yet he had a charity as broad as 
 Christian faith, and had convictions so decided that when 
 he had formed an opinion no amount of pohcy could 
 swerve him from duty as he saw it. 
 
 To show his decision of character and devotion 
 to principle, a reminiscence is given. About the 
 15th of April, 1865. as General Vaughn's cavalry 
 were homeward bound, fourteen of them partook of Mr. 
 Caldwell's hospitality, by spending the night with him, 
 where both men and horses were well cared for — except 
 one of their horses was fed too liberally with corn, which 
 produced fuunder,leaving the animal unfit for service. The 
 captain of the squad examined Mr. Caldwell's stables and 
 said he would take a certain bay horse, the only buggy 
 horse the family had, and allow Mr. Caldwell to make out 
 the best he could with the sick animal lying in the yard. 
 Mr. Caldwell objected, but offered a certain claybank 
 horse. The captain said: ''Mr. Caldwell, we appreciate 
 your hospitality, and am sorry to take your horse, but you 
 know necessity knows no law." Mr. Caldwell answered 
 firmly: "I will kill any man who puts his hand on my 
 horse." The captain dismounted, and with a courteous 
 smile, walked directly up to Mr. Caldwell and said: "Let 
 us have no foolishness; don't you know I have fourteen 
 men, you are all alone, and if you kill one of my men the 
 others would kill you? Surely you would not sacrifice your 
 life for a horse!" W ith a dignity and courage I never saw 
 surpassed, he turned, and pointing his finger in the cap- 
 tain's face, his eyes flashig with determination to defend 
 his rights, said: "No, not for a horse, but for the principle, 
 T will do it without hesitaiton." The captain said: "Boys, 
 let his horse alone." He was a man of refined manners, 
 courtly, dignified, yet approachable by the humblest hu- 
 man being, with a hospitality that knew no bounds; hence 
 it is no wonder that his country home — Glenwood — (sur- 
 rounded with all the comforts that wealth and good taste 
 could furnish), was a resort for the educated and refined,
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 31 
 
 not only for his immediate section, but from other coun- 
 ties and other States. It was always a pleasure to hear 
 Mr. Caldwell talk on any subject, especially poetry, poli- 
 tics, history or religion. He was once a candidate for the 
 Legislature on the Whig ticket, was defeated in the elec- 
 tion, but received every vote cast in his precinct. This 
 speaks volumes for ones character at home. 
 
 He reached his ninety-third year before his course was 
 run, when, surrounded by many friends, who comforted 
 him in his declining years, he quietly fell asleep, feeling 
 assured that his Savior would keep that which he commit- 
 ted to His care, and that real life was only begun, where 
 his wife had preceded him a short time. What manifesta- 
 tion of wisdom, to prepare in time for a habitation in eter- 
 nity! Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell were devoted Christians, 
 cheerful and happy. 
 
 Patsy Caldwell grew up to maturity in the family of her 
 grandfather, where she lived with her mother until she 
 married Col. John H. (usuall called "Jacky") Davidson, 
 in 1820. 
 
 They lived for quite a number of years on Long Creek 
 Mill Farm, eight miles north-west of Charlotte. It is un- 
 certam when the first mill was built, but it was prior to 
 the Revolutionary war. It was built and run by Mr. Long. 
 Col. John H. Davidson bought the property and built the 
 present mill — about 150 yards lower down the creek than 
 the one operated by Mr Long. This was probably in the 
 year 1820. Elections have been held here for almost a 
 centtirv. It was here in a walnut grove the farce of "mil- 
 itia drills" was witnessed for more than half a century 
 before the war of the Confederacy. Three or four times 
 a year these musters were held "according to law." A 
 drum and fife furnished the music; and as to the drilling, 
 it was a laughable burlesque. Scarcely half the men were 
 "cinippcd" according to law, but were readily excused, if 
 ?r\ excuse was offered. This was also one of the places 
 for collecting taxes, and while the sheriff would be taking
 
 32 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 in the taxes and giving receipts, the candidates for the 
 various county and State offices would harrangue their 
 fellow citizens on the prominent issues of the day. It was 
 at these public speakings that the mass of the people got 
 their political information. Newspapers were high 
 priced, and but few postoffices, consequently the claims of 
 political rivals had to be made known on the "stump, "and 
 in fact the people were fond of this excitement, frequently 
 becoming so warmed up in defence of their chiefs as to 
 engage in fierce personal combats. Whiskey, cider, 
 watermelons and ginger cakes were regarded as essen- 
 tials on these interesting occasions, and whichever candi- 
 date "treated" most liberally was "remembered" most 
 kindly on election day: These happy hays and customs 
 have passed away with the civilization of a former period, 
 and in their place we only have the modern picnic, with 
 whatever that embraces. 
 
 Colonel "Jacky" and Mrs. Davidson lived happily here 
 for fifteen years. They raised tw^o children, Alexander 
 and Margaret. They moved to Perry, Maringo county, 
 Alabama, in 1835, where Colonel Davidson became very 
 wealthy, and was an honored member of the society of 
 the "new country," as Alabama was then called. Margaret 
 married a Mr. Pitts, a gentleman of fine attainments. 
 They reared an excellent family. Henry and Alex Pitts 
 are now leading representatives of the bar of Alabama. 
 Alexander Davidson was a fine scholar, a very successful 
 farmer, and served several terms in the United States Con- 
 gress. Mrs. Patsy Caldwell Davidson was possessed of a 
 strong mind, and probably not behind her two brothers 
 in intellectual capacity or mental attainments. It is a 
 great blessing to have had such an ancestry. 
 
 Elizabeth Davidson — called "Betsy" — married William 
 I. . Davidson, a son of Gen. Wm. Lee Davidson, who was 
 killed February i, 1781, at Cowan's Ford, while resisting
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 33 
 
 Cornwallis as he crossed the Catawba river.* Air. David- 
 son and wife lived three miles east of Davidson College. 
 Here he operated very successfuly a large farm, raising 
 everything that would thrive in our climate. He exper- 
 imented with silk culture — planted an orchard of multi- 
 cakis, a species of the mulberry, to feed the silk worms. 
 He also built houses especially for the worms to work 
 in — to spin the cocoons. He succeeded admirably in 
 raising the silk, but the price paid for the raw material 
 was so small, it would not justify the labor and expense 
 attached to the industry. There was quite a silk fever 
 passed over the country about this time, (1844), but only 
 a few persons went to much expense in trying the exper- 
 iment. It only lasted a year or two until every one 
 abandoned the idea of silk farming. One or two elegant 
 gowns and a few pairs of fine stockings were all that sur- 
 vived of this attempt to make silk culture a part of our 
 industries. Mr. Davidson donated the lands for Davidson 
 College, and was one of its chief supporters; did a great 
 deal to get it under way. The college was named in honor 
 of his father, Gen. Davidson. He was a man of fine physi- 
 cal proportions, and also of mental attainment, wielding 
 great influence in the upper section of the county. It 
 was his custom to entertain the senior class after their 
 final examination, by having them to dine with him — not 
 forgetting to have a number of ladies grace the occasion. 
 This oasis in student life was ever looked forward to with 
 anticipated pleasure. After spending the best years of 
 his life in the home of his youth, surrounded with the 
 friends of his early manhood, and done much for the cause 
 of education, his beloved wife having been called home, 
 he moved to Alabama, and engaged in farming on a larger 
 
 * George Davidson came from Pennsylvania — date unknown — 
 probably about 1740. He married Polly Brevard, a dauj^^hter of John 
 Brevard, and was a sister of Adam and Dr. Kphraim Brevard. Gen. 
 Wm. Lee Davidson was a son of this marriage.
 
 34 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 scale. During his life he did much for his friends. He 
 gave a home to his nephew, John Caldwell, at the age of 
 nme 3-ears, and provided for him till he reached his major- 
 ity. Mr. Davidson died about the close of the Civil War, 
 lea V ing a good name that will be honored by all who were 
 fortunate enough to have known him. Mr. Davidson did 
 not live within the boundary of which we write, but hav- 
 ing married a daughter of Major Davidson, and having 
 associated with the Hopewell people, and exercised 
 a good influence there by his great force of character, we 
 deemed it proper to give this short sketch as due him, and 
 also due his wife's kindred. He had no offspring to per- 
 petuate his name. 
 
 Rebecca, daughter of Major John Davidson, married 
 Captain Alexander Brevard, of Lincoln county, (Captain 
 A. Brevard was the son of John Brevard, who was born in 
 1730, and died 1790; buried in Centre graveyard. These 
 dates were copied from the tombstone by Colonel Wil 
 Ham Lee Davidson, April, 1896. Ford's sketches states 
 that the widow Brevard had seven sons in the patriot 
 army, and for this crime the British burned her house and 
 destroyed her property. The discrepancy is only as to 
 dates). He certainly came of a patriotic family, and was 
 himself engaged in nine decisive battles. After the war 
 Captain Brevard eschewed pubHc life, and quietly settled 
 down to farming and operating a furnace for iron works, 
 castings, etc. They raised five sons and three daughters, 
 viz: Ephrahim Joseph, Robert, Franklin, Theodore, 
 Mary, Harriet, Elluisa. None of this family — children of 
 Rebecca Davidson — ever resided in Hopewell territory, 
 and we will only say this was a family of more than ordi- 
 nary st?nding in the community, well educated, and were 
 held in high esteem for their integrity, and forwardness in 
 developing the resources of the country. The captain 
 h's wife and all the children have passed away, but their 
 posterity does honor to the Revolutionary stock from 
 which they sprung. Dr. R. J. Brevard, and Hon. Frank-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 35 
 
 lin Brevard McDowell, are worthy representatives of the 
 fainily, now reside in Charlotte. 
 
 Mary, (known as Polly), daughter of Major John 
 Davidson, married Dr. \\'illiam McLean, surgeon in the 
 Continental army. They raised a large family, were well 
 educated. Two of the sons were eminent physicians, 
 viz: John and \\^illiam. Rebecca was the only one of the 
 family who lived in the Hopewell boundary. She mar- 
 ried Dr. Isaac Wilson, and lived four miles east of the 
 church. She died childless. Dr. William B. McLean 
 lived in Lincoln county, eight miles west of the church. 
 He did a large practice in the territory of which we write. 
 He raised a most interesting family. His son. Dr. 
 Robert McLean resides at his father's homestead, a mile 
 or two west of Cowan's Ford. 'Aunt Polly McLean,' as 
 the kindred called her, lived many years after her hus- 
 band's decease. Inheriting longevity from her paternal 
 ancestors, she attained to a great age. Her home was in 
 Gaston county. The McLeans were noted as handsome 
 men, as well as for their sterling integrity. Dr. William 
 B. McLean was remarkably handsome, (and without 
 vanity), an elder in Unity church, and greatly beloved by 
 hi? friends and associates. We may give some reminiscen- 
 ses of Speight McLean's gallantry when sketching the 
 Latta family. 
 
 Violet Davidson married William Bain Alexander, an 
 account of whose family has already been given in a for- 
 mer chapter. 
 
 Margaret Davidson married Major James Harris, and 
 moved to Alabama. 
 
 Robert Davidson, son of Major John Davidson, 
 fotmded a home, worthy of the name, one mile west of his 
 father's elegant mansion. He married Peggie, a daugh- 
 ter of Adlai Osborne, from Centre congregation in south 
 Iredell. The Osborne family was noted for patriotism, in- 
 telligence, and unswerving integrity. Mr. Davidson and 
 wife had no children, but they acted the part of parents in
 
 30 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 raising several orphan boys; amongst those they were 
 permitted to raise was Mrs. Davidson's nephew, James 
 W. Osborne, a grandson of Adlai Osborne, of Revolu- 
 tionary fame. The Hon. James W. Osborne was quali- 
 fied by his attainments in hterature and in legal lore, to 
 have filled any position within the gift of the American 
 people, with credit to the country and honor to himself. 
 As a Superior Court judge, he had no superior, and as an 
 advocate, was without a peer. His eloquence was so 
 appreciated and admired that he was called the Demos- 
 thenese of Western Carolina. The writer has heard him 
 often before a jury, where by his pathos as well as his 
 argument, a jury seldom failed to render a verdict in 
 favor of his client. His speeches in ecclesiastical courts 
 (he was an elder in the Presbyterian church) were always 
 of a high order, being perfectly familiar with church 
 codes, he wielded a wonderful influence. This high order 
 of intellect that was so marked in Judge Osborne's pro- 
 genitors has not been lost, but is continued with unabated 
 intensity in his two sons, Hon. F. I. Osborne, Attorney 
 General for the State, and the brilliant successor to his 
 father's name, James W. Osborne, of New York. Mr. 
 Mr. Davidson was a large farmer; owned several thousand 
 acres of the most productive land bordering on the 
 Catawba river; and was probably the largest slave owner 
 in the county. He was a very humane master, and his 
 servants were devoted to him. He and his wife, "Aunt 
 Peggy." as every one called her, lived to a ripe old age, 
 and were buried in the family plot marked out and occu- 
 pied by his father. Major John Davidson, close by the 
 family mansion. ]Mrs. Davidson was known far and near 
 for her "goodness." She was "full of the milk of human 
 kindness," and she was never heard to speak ill or dispar- 
 agingly of a living soul. Surelv her joys of bliss were 
 blooming before she passed through the gates.
 
 BIOGIIAPHICAL SKETCHES. 37 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 John Davidson, (commonly called Jacky), son of Major 
 John Davidson, married Sally Brevard, a daughter of 
 Adam Brevard, a brother of Ephrahim, the author of 
 the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. They 
 lived near the old homestead, four miles^ northwest of 
 Irlopewell church. They raised a large family, an 
 account of those who remained in our territory is given. 
 Adam Brevard Davidson, the oldest son, married Mary 
 Springs, daughter of Jack Springs, a wealthy planter of 
 South CaroHna. They resided at the old Davidson man- 
 sion, where they had born to them sixteen children; sev- 
 eral of whom are now deceased. Three of the boys, John 
 Springs, Robert and Richard, were in the Confederate 
 army, and were noted for their bravery. Mr. Davidson 
 was a successful farmer, liberal spirited, and accumulated 
 a very large estate — worth probably half million dollars. 
 He invested heavily in Confederate bonds, railroad 
 stocks, etc., all of which melted away with the result of 
 the war, reducing his estate to less than one-fourth of 
 what it was in i860. Soon after the war he moved to 
 Charlotte, where he continued to reside, until July 4, 
 1896, he was called away — being like a shock of corn fully 
 ripe, much esteemed and beloved. He was in his eighty- 
 ninth year, and was buried in the Davidson burial yard, 
 near Rural Hill, with his ancestors. Mr. Davidson was 
 an elder in Hopewell church, a strong advocate of agri- 
 cultural fairs, and inaugurating whatever was for the best 
 interest of the State. 
 
 Dr. Matthews Davidson married a Miss Sylvester, and 
 moved to Florida. He was a man of deep piety, and di<l 
 not hestitate to lead in acts of worship. The inclination 
 to such a pious and godly life was inherited from his
 
 38 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 mother, who made the Bible a daily study for many years. 
 She was deeply impressed with the idea that God would 
 gather all the Jews back to Jerusalem, and their Kingdom 
 be re-established. 
 
 Dr. William S. M. Davidson lived, at what was known 
 ap- the Samuel Wilson place, three miles northwest of 
 i^opeweh. He married Jane Torrance, daughter of 
 James Torrence. She lived but a short time, leaving one 
 son, James Torrance Davidson, who died while a young 
 man. Dr. Davidson married the second time a Miss 
 Reed, of Alabama. She lived but a few years and died 
 without issue. He then married Mary Johnston, of Lin- 
 coln county. Dr. Davidson did a large practice, his ter- 
 ritory extending from L^ong Creek to the Iredell county 
 line. After a busy and useful life he passed away in i8 — . 
 and was laid to rest in Hopewell burial ground. His 
 widow survived him until the winter of '96, when she was 
 laid to rest. 
 
 Constantine Davidson, the youngest son, studied law, 
 and located in Charlotte; but when war was declared 
 against Mexico in 1846, he promptly volunteered, raised 
 a cav^alry company and served through the war. He now 
 abandoned the law and engaged in farming, near the old 
 homestead. He married Jane Henderson, a most amia- 
 ble and Christian woman. They raised three sons and 
 two daughters. Mr. Davidson was accidentaly drowned 
 in the Catawba, in 1892, in his seventy-fourth year. His 
 widow and son Egbert continue to reside on the farm, 
 fourteen miles from Charlotte, on the Beattie's Ford road. 
 
 Isabella Davidson married W^arren Moore, a most ex- 
 cellent Christian gentleman, and elder in Unity church, in 
 Lincoln county. They raised an interesting family; 
 none of whom lived in Hopewell boundary. 
 
 Mary Davidson married a Mr. Doby, and moved to 
 Alabama. 
 
 Jacky Davidson, the father of this family, sustained a 
 severe injury when a young man, by a tree falling on him.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3U 
 
 breaking his skull in a shocking manner. In an uncon- 
 scious condition, his brains oozing out, his nephew, Dr. 
 John McLean, just returned from the University of Penn- 
 sylvania, was summoned to operate on what appeared to 
 be a dying man. The operation was a success. Whether 
 a silver plate was introduced in place of skull removed or 
 x.ot, it is a fact that through a long life he was called "Sil- 
 A er-head Jacky." A most unseemly gully or trench across 
 h's head never failed to attract the attention of children 
 and strangers. It is probable ^Ir. Davidson had the most 
 ritentorian voice of any man in the State. He could call 
 any of his servants by name two miles distant, and give a 
 message, wdiich would be promptly heeded. He was a 
 man of ereat energ^v, and made a success of whatever he 
 undertook. After a long and peaceful life he was laid to 
 rest by the side of his wife who preceeded him several 
 years, in the family burial ground. The passing away of 
 these patriarchs appears like setting a centennial mile 
 post to mark specific eras in our civilization. With their 
 decease many of the old customs that were common in 
 their day cease to exist, and unless recorded in biographi- 
 cal sketches, will never be known in the future. 
 
 Benjamin Wilson Davidson, youngest son of Major 
 John Davidson, w^as born May 20, 1787. In honor of the 
 famous Declaration of Independence, of which Major 
 Davidson was a signer, he always called his son Independ- 
 ent Ben; his birth occuring on the twelfth aniversary of 
 the great event. He married Betsy Latta, a daughter of 
 James Latta, who lived two miles west of Hopewell 
 church; an account of which family will be given later on. 
 Mr. Davidson and wife established an elegant home four 
 miles northeast of the church, and had for neighbors Rev. 
 John Williamson, James Torrance, Thomas Kerns, etc., 
 making a most excellent neighborhood. They raised six 
 sons, viz: Robert Franklin. John Ramsay, James Latta. 
 V/illiam Lee, Joseph Malcolm, Benjamin Howard. 
 
 FJobert Franklin was born t8i(). Tie located in
 
 40 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Charlotte when quite a young man, and engaged in mer- 
 cha^.dising. He married EHzabeth B. McCombs. They 
 raised five children, viz: Benjamin Wilson Davidson, died 
 March 15, 1890. Samuel McCombs Davidson, a highly 
 educated gentleman, now engaged teaching school in 
 Ch.-.rlotte. Alice Brandon married Richard Moore, a 
 merchant in the city. Mary Virginia, at home with her 
 father. Like a dutiful daughter taking care of him in the 
 evening of his life. Fannie Bright, married Mr. Newsom, 
 of Crescent City, Fla. Mrs. Davidson passed away many 
 years ago, much esteemed and beloved. Mr. Davidson 
 continues, but in very feeble health. He has been a man 
 of great energy, and has done much to advance the inter- 
 ests of the city. He was Mayor from 1861 to 1865. 
 
 John Ramsay Davidson, son of Benjamin Wilson 
 Davidson, was born August 2, 1821. He married Euge- 
 nia Mecaughnehey, of Rowan county They lived at the 
 homestead of his father. They raised three children, viz: 
 A'-inie Augusta, single, and takes care of her father who is 
 in the decline of life. Joseph Wilson Davidson moved to 
 Alabama after the close of the war, where he married and 
 has an interesting family. Angerona Davidson married 
 ]\'Ir. Kendall, of .Wadesboro. 
 
 This was indeed a lovely family. Mr. Davidson was an 
 e!der in Hopewell, and all his family were members. The 
 family is now scattered, and the elegant homestead has 
 passed into hands not connected with the Davidsons, 
 although good people and strong Presbyterians. This is 
 a world of change. 
 
 James Latta Davidson was a man of powerful physique, 
 kind, courteous, and the very soul of honor. He married 
 Miss Sarah Springs, and settled south of Charlotte. He 
 died when quite a young man, without children. His 
 v/idow married Zenas Grier, and was soon a widow the 
 second time. She now resides in Charlotte. 
 
 William Lee Davidson, son of Ben. Wilson Davidson, 
 was born February 10, 1825. He was a man of striking
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 41 
 
 appearance, handsome as Apollo, of line address and ele- 
 gant manners. He graduated at Davidson College in 
 j8|2, and located in Charlotte,preparatory to the practice 
 of law. In 1846 when war was declared against Mexico, 
 he volunteered and went to the front with that patriotic 
 ardor inherited from Revolutionary ancestors, but the 
 tropical climate was too debilitating even for so strong a 
 constitution as he possessed, and forced him to return 
 several months before the war closed. It was several 
 years before his health was permanently restored. When 
 the war between the States began in 1861, he raised a 
 company, with his brother, B. H. Davidson, as lieutenant, 
 was assigned with the Seventh North Carolina Regiment, 
 enlisted for the war.* Captain Davidson fully under- 
 stood the situation, and acted the part of a brave soldier 
 to the termination of the war. For the fighting qualities 
 of his regiment, it was known as the 'bloody Seventh.' 
 .As field oflicers were killed or disabled Captain Davidson 
 was promoted to major, lieutenant colonel and colonel; 
 which last position he held at the close of the war. He 
 was taken prisoner in '64. and sent to Fort Delaware, 
 Point Lookout. While there he was drafted with fifty 
 other Confederate ofificers and sent to Morris' Island, in 
 Charleston harbor, and placed under fire of Confederate 
 guns. This diabolical act of the Federal Government 
 was so outrageously offensive to ordinary civilization, 
 that the English Consul forbade the execution of such a 
 fiendish order. After the war Colonel Davidson married 
 Annie Irvin Pagan, of South Carolina. Her great grand- 
 lather was killed at Fishing Creek, near Chester, S. C, 
 during the Revolutionary war. They had seven children. 
 
 * Capt. Wm. Lee Davirlson's company was equipped for service 
 by the liberality of his brother, l-'obt. V. Daviflson. The blood of 
 patriots always shows up at the front. Mr. Davidson was too infirm 
 to go in person, but promptly furnished the sinews of war for those 
 who were physically able for active service.
 
 42 BIOGllAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 viz: James Latta Davidson, Mary Pagan Davidson, Zeb. 
 Vance Davidson, Bessie Irvin Davidson, Annie Lee, Lelia 
 Faysoux, William Lee Davidson, Jr. Mrs. Davidson 
 died in Lincolnton. Since her decease the family has 
 moved to Chester, S. C, where they continue to reside. 
 
 Dr. Joseph Malcom Davidson, son of Ben. Wilson 
 Davidson, after graduating at Davidson College, studied 
 medicine, and located in Charlotte. He married Mary 
 daughter of Major J. H. Caldwell. She possessed a bril- 
 Hant intellect, highly accomplished, and very pretty; she 
 had many suitors and admirers among the elite of the 
 fashionable circles, and was the reigning belle of Wash- 
 ington City for a longer period than has been accorded 
 to any other lady. Her father being wealthy and fond 
 of literature, she had every opportunity to improve her 
 m.ind by travel as well as books. She made acquaintances 
 in many places of fashion and elegance. They have 
 r:."sed a remarkably pleasant family of children, viz: Bessie 
 married Dr. Bradfield, John Caldwell, Harry Wilmer, 
 Josephine, and Leha Maud. Without saying anything 
 disparaging to others, this is the most handsome and in- 
 tellectual family the writer has ever been acquainted with. 
 Dr. Davidson and wife have much to be grateful for in 
 such an excellent family of children to bless and comfort 
 them in old age. 
 
 Benjamin Howard Davidson was the youngest son of 
 Ben Wilson Davidson. When quite a small boy — after 
 the decease of his father, and the marriage of his mother 
 to Major Rufus Reid — he was taken by his Uncle Robert 
 Davidson, and raised as if he had been his own son. He 
 was given a classical education, and entered the mercantile 
 line of business with his brother Robert in Charlotte. He 
 married a northern woman. At the breaking out of the 
 war Mr. Davidson joined with his brother, William 
 Lee Davidson in raising a company, and was a 
 lieutenant in the company. No braver soldier 
 ever followed the Confederate flag, or one more devoted
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 43 
 
 to the cause we held so dear. Lieutenant B. H. David- 
 son was killed in the battle of Sharpsburg, September 17, 
 1862. It is an undisputed fact that the descendants of 
 Revolutionary sires were the best soldiers in the Confede- 
 rate army. So far as known not one proved untrue to the 
 cause of the South. This appears still more strange when 
 we admit the fact that four hundred and fifty thousand 
 men from the South entered the Northern army. These 
 were chiefly lineal descendants of Tories or foreigners who 
 came to this country after the struggle for independence 
 w^as ended. 
 
 Benjamin Wilson Davidson, the patriarchal head of 
 this division of the Davidson family, must have been a re- 
 markably handsome man, and of more than ordinary 
 brain power — if allowed to judge from his posterity. Mr. 
 Davidson died in 1829, being only 42 years old. His 
 widow married Maj. Rufus Reid, of Mt. Mourn, by whom 
 she had one daughter, who married Richard A. Torrance. 
 
 Isabella Ramsay, who married Robert Davidson, and 
 after the death of her husband moved to Rowan county, 
 N. C, and there married Henry Henry. She who was 
 the maternal ancestor of all the great Davidson family, 
 raised several children by her second marriage, all of 
 whom moved West except one daughter who accompa- 
 nied her mother, after the decease of Mr. Henry, to Maj. 
 John Davidson's, her son. Here Mrs. Henry remained the 
 balance of her days and was buried in Baker's grave yard. 
 Here the Henry daughter, half sister to Maj. John David- 
 son, married Little. They had a son called Henry 
 
 Little. He was a millwright, built screw presses 
 for packing cotton, lived in Lincoln county, where the 
 name of Little is proverbial for the number who bear the 
 name.
 
 ■i4 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 As has been observed in a previous chapter, Robert 
 Davidson, while Hving. in Pennsylvania, had two children, 
 viz: John and Mary. After reaching his majority, John 
 and his sister left their mother in Rowan county, she hav- 
 ing formed a second marriage, as already stated, and come 
 to the western part of Mecklenburg. Some time after 
 Jolm married Violet Wilson. Mary married James Price. 
 1 liey lived near Baker's graveyard. But little more than 
 a genealogy can be given of this interesting family. 
 They had three sons and one daughter, viz: John David- 
 son Price Thomas Price, William Price and Rachel Price. 
 
 J. D. Price married Jane Beatty. They had five chil- 
 dren, viz: Rachel, married Ezekiel Alexander; Margaret, 
 married Ephrahim Alexander; Mary, married John Potts; 
 Jane, married John Whitley, and Kisziah, married George 
 Little. 
 
 Tom Price, son of James and Mary Price, married Mary 
 Duckworth. They lived fifteen miles northwest of Char- 
 lotte, on the Beattie's Ford road. William Price moved 
 to Tennessee. Rachel Price married John Bell. This 
 family is probably of more prominence than some others, 
 and will be given a more extended historical sketch. They 
 lived eight miles north of Hopewell Church, and four 
 miles east of Cowan's Ford, on the Catawba river. 
 M?-. Bell was a skilled blacksmith, and a high-toned Chris- 
 tian gentleman. His wife, Rachel, was all that a good 
 husband could desire. They had a number of children, 
 but one boy, John Bell, Jr., married Melissa Alexander, 
 and they raised one son and two daughters. Polly, Jennie 
 and Sally never married, but spent useful lives and were 
 greatly beloved for their good works. To nurse the sick 
 and wait on the sufifering was their peculiar calling. Mar-
 
 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. -15 
 
 tha married James Goodman, a good, Christian man. 
 They raised four sons and three daughters. Rachel Bell 
 married Alexander Gibson, a good. Christian man. 
 
 The descendants of Jas. Price and Alary Davidson were 
 amongst our best people, noted for Christian integrity 
 and charitable deeds. The son of Lamira Bell, who married 
 D?vid Fiddler, occupies the old homestead. 
 
 Jane Price, daughter of John Davidson Price, 
 married John \\'hitley. They raised two sons, viz: 
 Decater and Robert Davidson Whitley. The hus- 
 band and father died before the youngest son, Robert 
 D. ^^^^itlev, was born. Robert Davidson, an uncle 
 of Mrs. Whitley, took her and the children and contribu- 
 ted much to supporting the widow and orphans. The fam- 
 ily moved to Alabama, and after several years Mrs. Whit- 
 ley and her son, Robert D., returned to North Carolina. 
 Mr. R. D. Whitley purchased the Long Creek mill farm 
 and married Esther McCoy, daughter of Marshal McCoy, 
 and built up a delightful home. After the close of the 
 war his wife became an invalid, and lived but a few years. 
 She was a finely educated lady, and was much beloved by 
 her neighbors. Mr. Whitley acted wisely in selecting a 
 second wife, to marry Martha McCoy, a sister of his first 
 wife. She proved a mother indeed to her sister's children. 
 They are now past the meridian, but enjoy life, surround- 
 ed l)y a happy family of children and a host of friends.
 
 46 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 BARRY FAMILY. 
 
 Richard Barry was born in Pennsylvania, in 1726. His 
 father came from the north of Ireland, where patriotism 
 and Presbyterianism were synonimous terms. Richard 
 mairied Ann Price, of Maryland, and moved to Mecklen- 
 l)urg county, North Carolina, many years prior to the war 
 of the Revolution. He settled near McDowell Creek, 
 where it crosses the Beattie's Ford road, thirteen miles 
 from Charlotte. Mr. Barry was a man of mark in this 
 section of the country. He was one of that brave number 
 who signed the Mecklenburg Declaration of Indepen- 
 dence on May 20, 1775, pledging their lives, their fortunes 
 and their sacred honor to defend the country against 
 British tyranny. He fought bravely in the battle of Cow- 
 an's Ford, February ist, 1781. When night came on he 
 and David Wilson took the body of General Davidson, 
 who had been killed in the battle, off the field and pre- 
 pared it for burial, which was done the same night in the 
 Hopewell graveyard. At this period Mr. Barry was fifty- 
 five years old. He was an elder in Hopewell Church, and 
 was a member of the County Court. The first Presbyte- 
 rian sermon ever preached in all this section was 
 beneath a shade tree by the side of his house. 
 It cannot be positively stated who this preacher 
 was. but it is more than probable that it was 
 Rev. John Thompson. We have no means of knowing 
 whence he came, or what his special purpose was in locat- 
 ing in this place, but we are fully persuaded that he lived 
 about five miles towards Beattie's Ford from Barry's 
 house: that his daughter married John Baker, for whom 
 Baker's graveyard was called. More will be said on this 
 subject under the heading of "Baker's Graveyard." Rich- 
 ard Barry reared seven children, viz: Richard, Jr., An- 
 drew, Hugh, Violet, Jane, Nellie and Ann.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 47 
 
 Ricliard Barry, Jr., married Margaret McDowell. An- 
 drew Barry married, his first wife, Larissa Sample. His 
 second wife was Ruth Byers. Their children were An- 
 drew Jr., Polly and Nancy. These three never married. 
 Ann married William Grier. They left one child, viz: 
 Mary Ann Grier. She married W. A. Gillespie. Dovey 
 married John Sloan. They left serveral children. Hugh, 
 John and Ann never married. Nellie married Barney 
 Torrance. Violet married William Monteith. They lived 
 four miles east of Hopewell, where they raised a family of 
 three children — all members of Hopewell Church. Lee 
 Monteith was an elder, and noted for his piety and church 
 work. He died in 1854. Richard Monteith, like his 
 brother Lee, never married. He was an excellent farmer, 
 a clever gentleman, and popular with his neighbors. He 
 died in 1861. Sophina Monteith married Andrew Alex- 
 ander, and lived at the old Monteith homestead. They 
 had three sons and two daughters; both girls died while 
 young. The sons, Abner, Richard and Charles, are living, 
 married and have families of children. 
 
 The Barrys and Monteiths were worthy descend- 
 ants of a noble ancestry. But not superior to 
 the union of the Harrys and Samples with the 
 same house of Barrys. Ann, daughter of Richard 
 Eprry. Jr.. married Col. David Harry, an elder in 
 Hopewell. They lived one mile south of the church. 
 They raised several children, viz: John F. Harry married 
 Rebecca Price, an estimable lady. They raised an excel- 
 lent family — full of energy and good habits. Batt Harry 
 another son. lost a leg in the cause of the South; he also 
 raised a nice family who are active members of the church. 
 Margaret Harry married James Henderson, an elder, and 
 most excellent man. 
 
 Ellenor Barry married Batt Trwin, of Sugar Creek, 
 quite a prominent and useful man. 
 
 Jane Barry married W. A. Sample; they lived two miles 
 south-west of the church. They raised an interesting and
 
 48 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 worthy family of four sons and two daughters. The sons 
 John, McCamie, Hugh and David, were all members of 
 Hopewell, were soldiers in the Confederate army, and 
 proved worthy descendants of their Revolutionary ances- 
 tors who were noted for bravery and constancy in the 
 long struggle for freedom from British tyranny. Martha 
 Sample, the oldest daughter, was a beautiful young lady, 
 highly educated and accomplished, fell. a victim to con- 
 sumption just as she had entered womanhood. A younger 
 sister married Samuel McElroy. They lived in sight of the 
 church, blessed with an interesting family of children now 
 grown up into men and women, members of Hopewell 
 church. 
 
 Mr. W. A. Sample, was a ruling elder and active mem- 
 ber of Hopewell for many years. He and his good wife 
 passed away many years ago, and their place is filled by 
 their children and grand children. 
 
 William Sample came from the north of Ireland, 
 probably in company with the Alexanders who settled in 
 Marvland He located in Sugar Creek neighborhood in 
 1760. He married Elizabeth Alexander, a half-sister of 
 John McKnitt Alexander. Late in life he moved near to 
 Hopewell church. They had a son and daughter, who 
 resided and raised families in the boundary of which we 
 write. 
 
 The son. James Sample, like his father, was an elder in 
 the church, a pious man held in much esteem by the con- 
 ere^ration. He married Martha Robinson, of Sugar 
 Creek. Their children were W. A. Sample, an elder of 
 the church who married Jane Barry, daughter of Richard 
 Barry, Jr. 
 
 Milas Sample, a godly man and earnest worker 
 in the church, married Adaline Henderson. They 
 lived three miles east of Hopewell, where they raised an 
 excellent family of children. The oldest daughter, Eliza- 
 beth, married John Houston, a ruling elder; Harriet 
 married A. T- Hunter, an elder in the A. R. P. church.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 49 
 
 Huntersville. Mary married C. N. Blythe, a member of 
 Hopewell. Martha married C. W. McCoy. They built a 
 home two miles east of Hopewell, where they raised an 
 mteresting family. Agnes married Marion Ranson, an 
 excellent citizen and elder in A. R. P., Huntersville. They 
 have an interesting family growing up. The three sons 
 were J. Wilson Sample, the oldest, killed May 3, 1863, in 
 the battle of Chancellorsville. 
 
 Leroy, the second son, killed in the battle of Ox Hill. 
 August 30th, 1862. 
 
 Augustus E. Sample went through the war, practiced 
 dentistry a few years, and entered the ministry, and is ac- 
 complishing much good in the Master's service. These 
 three sons were brave soldiers, and their memories should 
 be kept green that others in the future may emulate their 
 patriotic course. 
 
 John, the youngest son of James Sample, was one of 
 the first graduates of Davidson College. He moved west 
 and taught school for many years. Late in life 
 he married Sophia Alexander, daughter of John R. 
 Alexander. They located in Memphis, Tenn. They lived 
 but a short time. 
 
 Elam Sample married Margaret McKee. 
 
 Mary Terissa Sample married Franklin Barnett. of 
 Sugar Creek, in which church he was an elder. 
 
 Caroline Sample married Robert Henderson. They 
 lived southwest of Long Creek mill, and were good peo- 
 ple, raised a family worthy of their parentage. All mem 
 bers of Hopewell. Mr. Henderson was a ruling elder for 
 many years. This family appear to have been natural 
 mechanics. Without having served an apprenticeship, 
 they were experts with tools in wood, iron or brass. Dr. 
 John Henderson, after practicing medicine a few vears. 
 st\idied dentistry, and made all of his dental instnmients. 
 and they were as finely polished as if they had been manu- 
 factured by machinery in New England.
 
 50 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BAKER'S GRAVEYARD. 
 
 Objects ana places, as well as men and women, deserve 
 historical mention as facts connected with the march of 
 civihzation. To a certain extent objects and places serve 
 as mile posts in the life of a nation; and of all objects or 
 places none are more interesting or instructive to a 
 searcher after the truth of history than burial grounds. 
 
 Baker's graveyard's first occupant was in 1753, twelve 
 years prior to the building of Hopewell church. This 
 burial ground is seven miles northwest of Hopewell, on 
 the west side of Beattie's Ford road, and two miles east of 
 Catawba river. The Rev. John Thompson, a Presbyte- 
 rian minister, and probably the first missionary in this sec- 
 tion of the State, ceased from his labors in Septem]:>er, 
 1753, and was buried near his cabin in which he had 
 lived. John Baker, who lived near by, married a daughter 
 of Rev. Thompson, and in a few years died, and was 
 buried by the side of his father-in-law; hence the name of 
 Baker was given the place. Hugh Lawson, grandfather 
 of Hon. Hugh Lawson White, was given sepulchre in this 
 quiet place. Many worthy characters, soldiers and godly 
 church members found a last resting place here. Among 
 many others, we mention Mrs. Isabella Henry, mother of 
 Major John Davidson, Mr. James Price and his wife, Mary 
 Davidson Price. Quite a number of crude rock shafts, 
 all grown over vvith moss, stand as sentinels in this lonely 
 Dlace, overshadowed by giant oaks that have stood the 
 storms of a century and a half. The celebrated Dr. Charles 
 Harris, father of Charles I. and Wm. Shakespeare Harris, 
 married a daughter of Rev John Thompson. Dr. Harris
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 51 
 
 did a large practice in Mecklenburg, especially in surgery. 
 He lived in Cabarrus county, but having married in 
 Hopewell territory, we deem it right and just to couple 
 his name with those who achieved fame for themselves 
 and left a legacy of imperishable benificience to the peo- 
 ple of our common country. 
 
 CHAPTER VHI. 
 
 ANDREW MOORE'S FAMILY. 
 
 Jane — or as she was always called, Jensie — was the only 
 daughter of William and Elizabeth Sample. She mar- 
 ried Andrew Moore. They lived five and a half miles 
 east of Hopewell, on the Salisbury road from Tucaseege 
 Ford. Mr. Moore, while a member of the Presbyterian 
 church, held Armenian doctrine, and made himself obnox- 
 ious by talking it ; until he was refused a token that would 
 a<irnit him to the Lord's table. This act on the part of 
 the session provoked him to carry his ideas still further, 
 and he set about at once to organize a Methodist church. 
 It is quite probable this church — Bethesda — if not the 
 first, was amouGTSt the first Methodist churches planted 
 between the Yadkin and Catawba rivers. When the 
 building was first put up Cabout 1820-25), they did not 
 call it a church, but a meeeting house, where they lield 
 class meeting, or society meeting. Their exhorters and 
 class leaders, with many of their preachers, at that time, 
 were extremely ignorant, some not able to read; yet ihev 
 Vi'ould deliver cxliorlations portrayuig the awful dn.Mu 
 of ihe i:ni)enitcnt \y:\h .such warmth, and pray so loiid a nil
 
 52 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 in such earnest Lones that a wHd scene of shouts aici cries 
 — exercising, as it was called — that they wouM become 
 so enthused as to forget all else for days at a time. Mr. 
 Moore was class leader for many years, and ruled the 
 church with autocratic authority. The wearing of jew- 
 elry, fine clothes or a veil, was sufficient offense to justify 
 suspension. But for these trivial offenses the circuit rider 
 generally restored them to full membership. As long as 
 Mr. Moore lived he was regarded as the leader 
 of Bethesda church. He died in 1843, ^^'^^ ^^^ 
 buried by the church he loved so well. Mr. 
 Moore was better known as a chair-maker than 
 as a builder or propagator of Methodism. There 
 IS scarcely a family of the old stock of people but what 
 ha\^e chairs made by Andy Moore fifty or sixty years ago. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Moore raised six children, two sons and 
 four daughters — Amzi, the oldest son, taught school for a 
 short time and moved to Alabama- where he married and 
 reared a family, and his children are among the educated 
 people of that State. Two of them are professors in col- 
 leges. Fletcher Moore, the youngest, has always been 
 physically weak, but has attained a ripe old age, and is 
 in easy circumstances. He married a neighbor girl, Minta 
 Christianbury; have no children. Malissa Moore married 
 James Clark, a steam doctor, and moved to Alabama. 
 Emaline Moore married Harvy Montgomery, a local 
 Methodist preacher, and a most excellent man. They 
 moved to Alabama. Margaret Moore married Daniel 
 Christianbury and moved to Georgia. Eliza and her 
 mother with the married members of the family, moved 
 west, when that country was settling up, hoping to im- 
 prove their financial condition. This was an excellent fam- 
 ily of people, without pretention to anything more than 
 they could attain. 
 
 As "tokens" were spoken of in the early part of 
 this chapter, it is probably well to explain what was 
 meant by "tokens." Until within the last forty or
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 53 
 
 fif'y years Presbyterians had long tables, covered with a 
 white linen cloth, on or at which the Lord's supper was 
 dispensed. Preaching began two or three days before 
 Communion Sabbath, and on Friday or Saturday every 
 communicant was expected to ask one of the elders for a 
 token — a small piece of lead or other metal about the 
 size of a silver half dime — and when the communicants 
 were seated at the table the elders would pass along and 
 collect the "tokens." The object of this ceremony was 
 to protect the Holy Sacrament from the approach of un- 
 worthy persons. This has long since passed away, and the 
 taoles are also forgotten, and the whole membership par- 
 take at one time, simulating a family at home. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 James Latta came from Ireland 1790. He located be- 
 tween Hopewell and the river. He built the house now 
 occupied by David Sample (a shingle roof on this house 
 lasted eigthy-two years). In 1795 he married his second 
 wife, Jane Knox. They had three daughters, viz: 
 Betsy, Polly and Nancy. They were very popular, 
 and must have 1)een very pretty, if we are to 
 judge from the number of young men who i^aul 
 them such devoted attention. Speight McLean and 
 his cousin, Joe McK. Alexander, were boon companions, 
 and frequently went "courting" together. Late one 
 rainy evening they drove up to Mr. Latta's to spend the 
 night. Mr. Latta conjured up the idea that the two gay 
 Lotharios were preparing to run away with his girls, and 
 not fancying either one of them for a son-in-law. took
 
 54 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 time by the fore-top and locked their carriage wheels to 
 a tree, and to be doubly sure, securely locked his guests 
 in their bed room. To put it mildly, Mr. Latta was 
 "cranky" on the subject of watching the boys when they 
 carne to see his girls. He disliked Speight McLean above 
 all others who visited his house, and Speight particularly 
 enjoyed worrying the old man. On one occasion Mr. 
 Latta came in from his fields and as he entered the house 
 he was astonished to see Polly dressed up entertaining 
 Mr. McLean. He became very angry, and with the com- 
 mand of a tyrant ordered Polly to take ofT her shoes and 
 stockings, get a hoe and go and dig potatoes for dinner. 
 She was very much confused, but had to obey. Speight, 
 with his accustomed gallantry, suggested in the best of 
 humor and style, "I will go with you and do the digging 
 and you can gather them into the basket." The old man 
 was exceedingly mad, but the young couple enjoyed his 
 discomforture. Elizabeth — or Betsy — married Benjamin 
 Wilson Davidson, a full account of whose family has al- 
 ready been given on a former page. Mary married James 
 Torrance. She was his second wife. They had two chil- 
 dren, viz: Dr. William Torrance, never married, died while 
 a young man; Jane Torrance married Dr. W. S. M. David- 
 son. They lived on the Billy Wilson place. They had but 
 one son, who survived his father but a short time, his 
 mr^ther having died while he was an infant. Nancy mar- 
 ried Major Rufus Reid, of Mount Mourn, Iredell county. 
 Mr. Latta died in 1837. His wife survived him several 
 years. The entire family of that generation has been 
 gathered beyond the river. The "tact" of gathering riches 
 seems to have been inherited in the Latta family, but not 
 to hoard, that a fortune may be amassed, but for the ben- 
 efrt of others.
 
 UIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 00 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 John Montgomery, born in Sugar Creek congregation, 
 and moved into the boundary of HopeweU when quite a 
 young man. He built a home seven miles east of Hope- 
 well church. He married a Miss Clark. Their children 
 were Clark, Harry, Hannah, Anna Woods, Dorcas, Re- 
 becca and Narcissa. Clark Montgomery married Lelilah 
 Hill, a daughter of John Hill, an excellent Christian gen- 
 tleman. Only one of his children is now hving, viz: Co- 
 lumbus Montgomery, who resides in Charlotte. 
 
 Harvy Montgomery was a local Methodist preacher; 
 he married Emaline Moore, an account of his family 
 already given. Hannah married John Ross. Anna 
 Woods married James Ross, father of Joe Ross, the car- 
 penter and contractor and house mover. Dorcas married 
 Rol)ert Walkup. Rebecca died single. Narcissa married 
 Hillery Hill. The children of John Montgomery were an 
 honor to their parents and shining lights in the church. 
 After the death of his first wife, he married Mary Porter, 
 who did not sympathize with her pious husband, as his 
 loving heart deserved. Mr. Montgomery died in 1854. 
 "His widow survived him several years. She was somewhat 
 of a hypocondriach. At one time she became alarmed 
 with the idea that a striped-tail lizzard had found a lodg- 
 ment in her lower intestine. She became very sick and 
 sent for the old family doctor, and told him of her fright- 
 ful condition. Tn the goodness of his heart he tried to 
 explain to her the impossibility of such a thing to happen. 
 But it was labor lost. She had made up her mind that n 
 lizzarfl had taken f|uarters where she did not want it, and 
 "if Dr. Wilson couldn't run it out she would try another 
 doctor." The old lady placed great confidence in Eliza, 
 a stalwart negro woman whom she owned, and after con-
 
 50 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 suiting with her about the propriety of supplanting the 
 old faithful family doctor with an untried one, Eliza told 
 her she felt sure from certain signs, the varment would 
 come away within the next twenty-four hours. So Eliza 
 made her arrangements to relieve her mistress by a slight- 
 of-hand process. She soon secured a lizzard that was sup- 
 posed to correspond in appearance with the one impris- 
 oned where the keeper didn't want it; and on the next day 
 when she started to remove the old woman's chamber 
 she dropped the lizzard in, and immediately shouted, 
 "Oh, Miss! Miss! Bless de Lord, you'se done passed de 
 critter: I told you old Mars-Doctor was givin' you sump- 
 tiri dat would fetch it ; de good Lord will bless de doctor." 
 It goes without saying she was cured at once. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 McCOY FAMILY, 
 
 James McCoy came from Pennsylvania in the latter 
 part of the eighteenth century, and founded a home one 
 and a half miles east of Hopewell church. We know noth- 
 ing of his wife, but it is probable she died prior to his com- 
 ing to Mecklenburg, but he had a son, John McCoy, who 
 married Ester Frazier in 1798. After his son's mar- 
 riage Mr. James McCoy gave him his farm and everything 
 in the way of stock and farm fixtures, and took leave for 
 the unsettled West, and never returned or was heard of 
 by his son. John and wife were members of Hopewell 
 church, and lived to a great age. They raised one son 
 and three daughters. One daughter, Nicey, married
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 57 
 
 Mflthew Houston, and lived between the old McCoy 
 homestead and Long Creek mill. They were good peo- 
 ple, beloved by their neighbors. They had two sons and 
 two daughters. The sons, John and Lafayette, were brave 
 soldiers and worthy citizens. The former is now an elder 
 in Hopewell, the latter having died in the service of his 
 country. Tilley married George Houston and moved to 
 Tennessee. Elvira married Col. B. W. Alexander, an ac- 
 count of whose family was given in a former chapter. The 
 only son, Marshall McCoy, married Rebecca, daughter of 
 '\\'ni. Bain Alexander, and lived one mile east of Hope- 
 well, and in sight of his father's home. They raised nine 
 chill iren, some of whom have been mentioned in previous 
 chapters. Violet married Frank Blythe. John, missing 
 after the battle of Gettysburg. Columbus married Mar- 
 tha Sample. Esther married R. D. Whitley. Martha 
 married R. D. Whitley, after her sister's death. Dovey 
 mai'ried John Blythe. Ellie married David Sample. Har- 
 riet married Hugh Sample. His youngest son, Albert, 
 inherited the homestead, having married Mary, 
 daughter of Thomas Gluyas, a most excellent man of 
 English birth. Albert and wife have an old-fashioned 
 family of thirteen children, all living, and promise to be of 
 like usefulness to our common country. 
 
 CHAPTER XH. 
 
 Mcknight family. 
 
 Thomas McKnight married Peggy Falls, a daughter of 
 Colonel Falls, who was killed in ihe battle of Ramsaur's 
 ^\\^. during the Revolutionary War. They H\cd two
 
 58 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 miles north of Hopewell church, where they worshipped 
 and held their membership. They raised seven children, 
 viz: Hugh McKnight, married Patsy Wilson, a daughter 
 of Sanmel Wilson. They lived near by the old homestead 
 where James A. Wilson now lives. They raised quite a 
 large family, several of whom are deceased, and some 
 moved to Alabama. Gilbreth McKnight married a daugh- 
 ter of William Kerns. 
 
 Isabella McKnight married David Allen. They lived 
 at the old homestead, but the place is now known as the 
 David Allen place. They had no children. Jane married 
 Ibomas Kerns. They lived three miles northeast of the 
 church, where he operated a farm successfully and raised 
 ci large family. Mr. Xerns was a strong man mentally. 
 He was a fair scholar, taught school, and was well in- 
 formed on the topics of his time. 
 
 William Kerns was in active life at the beginning of the 
 present century. He lived two miles northeast of Hope- 
 well church. He was twice married; his first wife was a 
 Widow Houston, and was the mother of Thomas and 
 Harper. Jennie McClure, daughter of Mathew McClure, 
 the signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Indepen- 
 dence- first married — Houston, by whom she had one 
 son and one daughter. She afterwards married William 
 Kerns, to whom she bore two sons, Thomas and Harper. 
 His second wife was Sibby, daughter of Colonel Falls, of 
 Re\^olutionary fame. She had no children. Harper, son 
 of William Kerns, lived near his father's homestead. He 
 married (first wife) Clarissa, daughter of Blind Billy Alex- 
 ander. They had three sons and two daughters, viz: 
 Robert, William, Dixon, Jennie and Sarah. Robert mar- 
 ried Miss McConnel from Iredell county; raised a large 
 family. Willian-w married Martha McKnight, daughter 
 of Hugh McKnight. They moved west, where William 
 died, and his widow returned and is now living in Char- 
 lotte. Dixon Kerns, the youngest of first wife's sons, 
 married the widow of James McKnitt Alexander. They
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 59 
 
 now live in South Iredell. Jennie married William Wal- 
 lace, a fine looking cavalier as ever drew blade in defence 
 of his country. He was killed in the thickest of the fight 
 near the Potomac, where only cavalry were engaged. His 
 childless widow resides three miles west of Hopewell 
 church. Sarah married Edward Sloan, of Cabarrus 
 county. He enlisted in a cavalry regiment with his 
 brother-in-law, William Wallace, and like him, gave his 
 life for his country. Harper Kerns' second wife was Mar- 
 garet McKnight. They reared quite a large family, who 
 are all located within easy reach of the church of their 
 fathers The Kerns family were all law-abiding citizens, 
 held in good repute in the neighborhood. 
 
 CHAPTER XHI. 
 
 PEOPLES FAMILY. 
 
 John Peoples was born in the Shanandoah Valley, Va., 
 in 1765. He was of Irish parentage. He came to North 
 Carolina while quite young. He married Hannah Stinson 
 in 1788. They lived near Long Creek mill, owned and 
 worked a farm, where they reared a family of children, viz: 
 Richard, Silas, John, James, W'illiam and Elizabeth. Rich- 
 ard married Jane Harris in 1816. and lived in the Provi- 
 dence section. They raised a large family, viz: Hugh Har- 
 ris. John Brown, Isabella Hannah, Leroy Ezekiel, Ellenor, 
 Mathcw Henry, Elizabeth Jane, Rev. James H., Isaac 
 Nowton, Richard Ramsay. Silas Peoples married a Miss 
 Hunter in 1834. They lived south of Hopewell, where 
 they raised a family.
 
 GO BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 GEORGE DAVIS. 
 
 George Davis was an important character in conduct- 
 ing the music (in that day it was cahed the singing) in 
 Hopeweh church sixty years ago, and even of a more 
 recent date. Mr. Davis was chief musician, that is, he 
 was leader of the singing, and was called clerk, or dark. 
 Young men who wanted to learn to lead the singing had 
 to stand by Mr. Davis and follow his lead. The pulpit 
 was an elegantly painted structure, about the shape and 
 size of a large sugar hogshead, set on a beautifully mar- 
 ble-painted post, 8 feet high. A nice little pair of stairs 
 led up to the pulpit, which had a shutter to the door 
 which, when closed, prevented the people from seeing the 
 minister. On the floor near the pulpit was the dark's 
 stand. It was a half round, resemblirg one-half of a bar- 
 rel cut in two, longitudinally, big enough to accommo- 
 date three singers at one time, and about four and a half 
 feet high. Mr. Davis always looked in a good humor 
 w^'th himself when entering his stand to raise the tunes; 
 and the congregation always felt sure there would be no 
 iailure in the singing part of the worship. On communion 
 occasions it was always expected the singing would be of 
 a high order. Pisgah and Ortonville were favorite 
 tunes, the lines being parceled out by the minister, or an 
 assistant dark; this was deemed necessary when the house 
 was packed, and not enough hymn books to go around. 
 In addition to this there was a large congregation of ne- 
 groes who attended on Sacramental occasions, as if a gen- 
 eral holiday. The galleries would be packed, and but few 
 of them able to read, it was a necessity to parcel out the 
 lines that they could take part in the worship. And such 
 singing! With their melodious voices, and their religious
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 61 
 
 emotions stirred to the utmost tension, they poured forth 
 son^ in such strains of real music that it would have done 
 credit to any religious assembly. This was music, indeed, 
 that enthused every worshipper with a feeling of awe, that 
 high art can never do. 
 
 Mr. George Davis married a daughter of David Vance, 
 They had four sons and one daughter. This family has 
 drifted away to parts unknown. Notwithstanding Mr. 
 Davis was so highly honored as to lead the music in 
 Hopewell church for so many years, you will scarcely find 
 a member under fifty years old who ever heard of George 
 Davis. How soon our names are forgotten! But thank 
 God, it is in our province, if we are true to ourselves, to 
 be in everlasting remembrance on the other shore. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 ELLIOT FAMILY. 
 
 Andrew Elliot lived two miles south of the clun-cli. He 
 and his family were constant attendants at Hopewell. He 
 had three sons and four daughters, viz: George, Andrew 
 and William, Catherine, Mary, Ann and Betsy. These 
 were good, law-abiding citizens, respected by all tlicir 
 neighbors and associates; and how they lived to middle 
 life and some to old age, and none of the seven ever mar- 
 ried, has always been a wonder in the boundary of Hope- 
 well. The only solution of the anamoly is, they were not 
 a marrying family.
 
 62 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 BLYTHE FAMILY. 
 
 Samuel Blythe was of Scotch-Irish stock. He came 
 from the north of Ireland in 1740, and located fifteen 
 miles north of Charlotte, on the Beattie's Ford road. But 
 little of his family history has been preserved. It is not 
 known by his descendants who his wife was, or where he 
 found her. It is known, however, that a family of chil- 
 dren was raised, and -that only one of the number, a son 
 named Richard, remained at the homestead. He married 
 a Miss Patton, reared a family of children, and like their 
 predecessors, all moved away to the southwest except 
 one son. Samuel Blythe, who occupied the homestead, he 
 alone of all the kindred remaining to preserve a place 
 and perpetuate a name. He married Isabella Nantz in 
 1820. He was born in 1790 and died 1866. His wife sur- 
 vived him several years. They were buried in Hopewell 
 graveyard, at which church they had worshipped for more 
 than half a century. Their seven children consisted of four 
 sons and three daughters, viz: Franklin, Clement, John, 
 James, Nancy, Rebecca and Ellen. Franklin married Vio- 
 let McCoy, and built a home in the northern part of the 
 homestead. They raised a large family of children; all but 
 two of -whom are married and have families. Clement mar- 
 ried Mary, daughter of Milas Sample. They live four 
 miles east of the church. They have four boys, nearly 
 grown. John Blythe married Dovy McCoy, built a home 
 neir Long Creek mill, where they raised one daughter and 
 seven sons. James Blythe never married, but makes him- 
 self useful amongst his near kinsfolk. If he had cultivated 
 his voice he would have been looked upon as a musical 
 prodigy. But not having aspiration for notoriety he was,
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. (io 
 
 and is, regarded only as a pretty good leader of churcb 
 music. Rebecca married Robert Fulwood, a courteous 
 Christian gentleman, who died while a young man, leav- 
 ing his widow and five children. They have married off 
 avid are in comfortable circumstances. Nancy married 
 John Abernethy in Paw Creek. They reared a nice family. 
 Ellen married Ben V. Beal. They live in Lincoln county. 
 The Blythe family were good people, without aspiration 
 for honors or wealth. They were much esteemed for their 
 integrity and great kindness of heart. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIT. 
 
 THE TORRANCE FAMILY. 
 
 Hugh Torrance came from Ireland in the last quarter 
 of the eighteenth century, probably about the close of the 
 Revolutionary War. He first located in Iredell county, 
 and afterwards built an elegant home in Mecklenburg, 
 four miles north of Ho])ewell church. He married Isabella, 
 the widow of Colonel Falls, who was killed in the battle 
 of Ramsaur's mills. They raised but one child, James 
 Torrance. 
 
 Hugh Torrance and wife, Isabella, both died in Febru- 
 ary, 1816, aged respectively 73 and 76 years Their ashes 
 lie buried in Hopewell churchyard, where they worshiped 
 through a long life. Mr. James Torrance inherited his 
 father's elegant home, and under his management the 
 estate increased in value. Mr. Torrance first married 
 Nancy Davidson, of Iredell county. They raised four chil- 
 dren, viz: Hugh, Frank, Cammilla and Isabella. These 
 ci]l left the PTopewcll l)0undary on attaining their major-
 
 64 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 ity. Mrs. Torrance died November 19, 181 8, aged 26 
 years. Mr. Torrance married second wife, Mary (Polly) 
 Latta, born 1799. Had two children, viz: Dr. William 
 Torrance. He never married, and died in 1852, aged 30 
 years. Jane married Dr. W. S. M. Davidson. She had 
 but one child, and died at the age of 21 years. Her child, 
 James Torrance Davidson, died soon after reaching his 
 majority. Thus leaving Polly Latta without living issue. 
 She died in 1821, leaving her husband a widower for the 
 second time. Mr. Torrance married Margaret Allison, 
 of Iredell county, his third wife. They raised a family of 
 six children, viz: Letitia, who married Dr. Bratton, of 
 South Carolina. Mary married Dr. Witherspoon, of Ala- 
 bama. DeHa married John Johnston, of Lincoln county. 
 Saily married Dr. Gaston, of Montgomery, Ala. Richard 
 R. Torrance, after graduating at Chapel Hill, married 
 a daughter of Rufus Reid, and moved to Texas. His wife 
 lived but a short time, and he returned with two Httle 
 daughters. He entered the Confederate Army in the 8th 
 Texas cavalry, was desperately wounded at Strawberry 
 Plains, losing a leg near the hip joint. He after the war 
 married Miss Eliza Gaston, of South Carolina. He now 
 disposed of his property in Texas and returned to his farm 
 in Hopewell, where he continued for many years and 
 raised a large family. He now resides in Charlotte 
 
 John A. Torrance, the youngest son, has spent his life 
 at the old homestead., except four years of service in the 
 Confederate cause. He was a lieutenant in the 7th North 
 Carolina Regiment. He has never taken a wife, but lives 
 quietly in the elegant mansion erected by his grandfather, 
 Hugh Torrance.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 65 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 WIN SLOW FAMILY. 
 
 It is surprisingly strange how quickly the knowledge 
 oi a family, and that of an important one, too, may be lost 
 or so befogged with doubt and uncertainty as to be but 
 little known, and that Httle only through tradition. 
 
 Closes Winslow was probably born in Iredell county. 
 He married Jean, a daughter of Alexander Osborne, and 
 sister of Adlai Osborne. Alexander Osborne was buried 
 in Centre graveyard, dates on headstone cannot now be 
 read. * Adlai Osborne, died 1814- aged 71 years; Marga- 
 ret Osborne, died 1830, aged 75 years; John Brevard, 
 born 1730, died 1790; Jane Brevard, born 1730. died 
 1800. 
 
 They had four daughters, viz: Mary, married Samuel 
 Wilson, Sr. ; Dovy, married Dr. Joseph McKnitt Alex- 
 ander; Rocinda, married William Wilson; — mar- 
 ried Samuel King, of Cabarrus county. Moses Winslow 
 died 181 5, aged 83 years. Jean Osborne Winslow died 
 1795, aged 53 years. Moses Winslow had no son to per- 
 petuate his name. His daughters married into the most 
 refined and educated families, and were blessed with a 
 numerous posterity, but the name of Winslow has disap- 
 peared from the rolls. 
 
 * This information was taken from Centre graveyard by Col. W. 
 It- David.son, .\pril 6, 1896,
 
 G6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 SAMUEL WILSON FAMILY. 
 
 Samuel Wilson, Sr., was married three times, raising 
 three sets of children. His first wife was Mary Winslow, 
 a daughter of Moses and Jean Osborne Winslow. They 
 lived four miles northwest of Hopewell church, near the 
 Catawba river. They had six children, viz: David, Benja- 
 min, Samuel, Mary, Violet and Sally. 
 
 It is not known wJio David married, but they had two 
 sons, Lawson and Winslow. 
 
 Benjamin never married. Samuel married 
 
 They had one son and two daughters, viz: Jeff, Polly and 
 Patsy. Late in life JefT married a Prim, and left no child- 
 ren. Polly married a Rosell, of whom nothing is known. 
 Patsy married Hugh McKnight. Violet married Major 
 John Davidson, of Revolutionary fame, whose family 
 has been given place in a former chapter. Mary married 
 Ezekiel Polk, who lived south of Charlotte. Sally mar- 
 ried — — McConnel, of whom nothing is now known. 
 
 The second wife of Samuel Wilson, Sr., was the widow 
 Howard, whoever she may have been. By this marriage 
 there was one daughter, Margaret, who married George 
 Davidson, and they had three children, viz: Wilson David- 
 so.i. J H. Davidson (called Jacky), who married Patsy 
 Davidson, a sketch of whom was given in a former chap- 
 ter, and a daughter who married a Crawford and moved 
 to Alabama. 
 
 Samuel Wilson. Sr.'s. third wife was Margaret Jack, a 
 sister of Patrick Jack, who carried the Mecklenburg 
 Declaration of Independence of May 20, 1775, to Phila- 
 delphia. They reared three children, viz: William, Robert 
 and LilHe. William Wilson married Rocinda Winslow.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. G? 
 
 Their children were Dovy, James, Robert and Lafayette. 
 Dovy married James Dougherty. Robert married Mar- 
 garet Alexander, daughter of Major Thomas Alexander. 
 Thoy lived three miles north of Hopewell church, 
 and raised a large family of girls and one son, all of whom 
 have long since passed away, and not one is left to per- 
 petuate the name of Wilson, which held such prominence 
 in this settlement for more than lOO years. James and 
 Lafayette moved to Alabama in the early settlement of 
 that State, and are lost to the local historian. The home 
 of Robert Wilson was probably better known to fashion- 
 able people fifty years ago than any other place in Meck- 
 lenburg county. The family was educated, refined, 
 wealthy, and their hospitality was held as a princely vir- 
 tu"". Their daughters were fond of music and dancing, 
 inheriting this propensity from both ancestors. Major 
 Tommie Alexander was a skillful player on the violin. 
 Even after having passed his four-score mile post it af- 
 forded him pleasure to play for the entertainment of the 
 young. They reared five daughters and one son, viz: 
 Do'^y, married John W. Logan. Margaret and Angelina 
 never married. Arabella married Judge George Logan. 
 Cynthia married Wade Hampton. Thomas A. Wilson, 
 the youngest of the family, married Sally Jones. He was 
 a most excellent man. He died in the service of his coun- 
 try in February 1862. A daughter of Mrs. Hampton, who 
 married Abner Alexander, lives between Hopewell and 
 the old homestead, and is a fit representative of the high- 
 grade people who held such high position in this section 
 more than one hundred years ago. The old homestead, 
 around which clusters so many fond memories of a civili- 
 zation that has passed, much of it into oblivion, but 
 enough has been recorded in history to preserve the truth 
 that the grand race of men who governed for the first 
 seventy-five vears of our political historv. wore indeed 
 nnd in trulh. lenders of men. The old homestead is now 
 in the possession of Robert Hampton, a linonl descendant
 
 68 BiOaEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 of Samuel Wilson, Sr., who was of noble birth, and whose 
 wife was a sister of Patrick Jack, a noted patriot of 1775. 
 
 Tt is not only strange, but sad, to know that of such an 
 influential family as the Wilsons should cease to have a 
 rcj^resentative to perpetuate the name. Scarcely a cen- 
 tury has passed till the name of an honored family is 
 dropped from the roll. 
 
 Lillie Wilson, daughter of Sam Wilson, Sr., and Mar- 
 garet Jack, married James Connor. They lived a short 
 distance above Beattie's Ford, on the east side of the Ca- 
 tawba river, in what was known as the "red house." 
 Their children were Henry Workman, James and Marga- 
 ret. Workman located in Charleston, S. C, where he 
 became very wealthy^ He had one son in the Confed- 
 erate States Army. Gen. James Connor, who won con- 
 siderable fame for skill and bravery. He is now a practic- 
 ing" attorney in Charleston. Margaret, or Peggy, as she 
 v/as called, married Franklin Brevard. They lived in 
 South Iredell. They operated a large farm, and became 
 very wealthy. They had one daughter, Rebecca, who 
 married Robert I. McDowell. They had three daughters 
 and two sons. Several years after the war the family 
 moved to Charlotte. William, the oldest son, was killed 
 in battle while a youth. The same patriotic spirit that 
 prompted a heroic ancestry to deeds of daring proved the 
 ruling element in a worthy posterity. The daughters 
 married men worthy of their family, and F. B. McDowell, 
 the second son, is one of our most prominent and useful 
 citizens. Served two terms as mayor of Charlotte, and 
 inaugurated needed reforms for which our people are 
 grateful. Mr. R. I. McDowell passed away several years 
 ago, and was buried in Elmwood cemetery. Mrs. 
 ATcDowell. never having been strong, still survives and 
 enioys life, surrounded with hosts of friends. 
 
 This is one of the most literary families of our county. 
 Mrs. F. B. McDowell, who belonged to one of the most 
 literary families of New Orleans, inheriting both taste
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 69 
 
 and intellectuality, is regarded as a line critic and a bril- 
 liant conversationalist, two rare accomplishments. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 CATHY FAMILY. 
 
 During the Revolutionary War John Cathy lived a 
 short distance south of Beattie's Ford. His farm was 
 visited by Tarlton's troopers the evening after the battle 
 at Cowan's Ford, and everything eatable was carried off, 
 as the army passed on towards Salisbury, He left his 
 farm to his son, Col. Archibald Cathy, who spent all of his 
 life on the homestead. He married a Miss Caldwell, from 
 Iredell county. They raised five sons and one daughter, 
 viz: Pink, William, Andrew, John, Henry and Nancy. 
 ColonefCathy died before his children were grown, and 
 his widow married Tom Dex\rmond. He was not con- 
 sidered the equal of the family into which he married. 
 They had l)ut one son, Joe. The older Cathy children 
 soon married off and took the young ones to live with 
 thern- home relations not being pleasant. This marriage 
 was not a success, according to the neighborhood's idea 
 of happiness. Pink Cathy married a Torrance, daughter 
 of Barny Torrance, and moved to Arkansas. Andrew 
 married Betsy Miller, and in company with Joe Mc- 
 Knitt Alexander, who married Nancy Cathy, moved to 
 Alabama in 1835. Andrew Cathy had l)nt one child. Re- 
 becca, when he died. Rebecca was educated in Salem, 
 N. C, and married her cousin. John D. Alexander, son 
 of Toe McK. Alexander. The Alexander's became very
 
 70 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 wealthy. After many years Nancy Alexander died, and 
 her husband married Betsy Cathy. All have passed away 
 except John D. Alexander, who recently took a second 
 wife. Henry Cathy married Rebecca Johnston, of Iredell 
 county, by whom three children were raised, viz: Caro- 
 line, Rebecca and John Archie. After the decease of Mrs. 
 Cathy, Henry married Viney Cornelius, of Iredell county. 
 She was a woman of great industry, really loved to work. 
 She is now a widow, her children all married, but still 
 occupies the old homestead. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES. 
 
 To write only of battles and seiges, and of great leaders 
 of men, and of great events that happen only once in a 
 century, may be a pleasant past time to the writer and 
 furnish enjoyable reading to those who are not particular 
 as to the great facts that underlie our civilization, but it 
 is unworthy of the purpose intended to be accomplished 
 by writing history. History, to be true and express facts 
 as they exist, must reach down among the great common 
 people, who produce the wealth, pay the taxes, and fight 
 the battles of their country, as well as to eulogize the for- 
 tunate few who ride upon the flood tide that led them on 
 to fortune. Notwithstanding the inhabitants of the 
 Hopewell section were noted for their piety and morals, 
 their love of freedom and fair play, they sometimes found 
 it necessary to protect their honor and self-respect by 
 personal combat. These personal encounters generally 
 occurred on public occasions, such as elections, musters
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 71 
 
 or sales; sometimes at public places, as the court house, 
 or blacksmith shop. 1 he blacksmith shop was a noted 
 adjunct to the civilization of seventy-tive years ago. 
 These shops were patronized by all classes. The rich and 
 the educated would frequently spend a few hours chat- 
 tine^ with their neighbors, hearing and telling the news. 
 Newspapers were not so plentiful then as now, and the 
 price was considerably more. So at these public resorts 
 people would kill two birds with one stone, i. e., get their 
 si:Uthing done and hear the news. 
 
 About seventy years ago there was a family 
 li^•ing on the eastern boundary of Hopewell, where 
 ihe town of Huntersville now stands, by the name 
 of Maxwell, several of whom were deaf mutes, but 
 all were young and strong. One of the boys, Joe 
 ]\Iaxwell, was an athlete, and unfortunately of an 
 overbearing disposition and extremely quarrelsome, mak- 
 ing him a terror to the neighborhood. He had been en- 
 gaged in many fights, and had always whipped his man. 
 until he became intolerably insolent. At an election held 
 at Maxwell precinct, Joe tried to pick a quarrel with Joe 
 Alexander, a very peacable, quiet man, who refused to 
 fight him; Maxwell cursed him for a coward. At this 
 juncture Mr. D. A. Caldwell, a high-toned gentleman, 
 and one who did not know what fear was, interfered by 
 telling Maxwell that Joe Alexander was his cousin and 
 his friend, and that if he was spoiling for a fight he would 
 accommodate him. Maxwell was almost beside himself 
 with rage, but thought discretion the better part of valor, 
 and said: "Alex., I have no quarrel with you. but will 
 fight Joe Alexander." Mr. Caldwell replied: "If you offer 
 another insult to my friend I will whip you in an inch of 
 yo'.ir life." Maxwell was cowed for the first time in his 
 life; he had met his master and recognized him. Rut his 
 vindictive character could not rest until he would whip 
 some one. so he pounced upon John Montcith. a very 
 clever man and a most excellent blacksmith. Although
 
 72 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Monleith was a vigorous man, and as strong ^nd muscu- 
 lar as blacksmiths usually are, he was no match for Max- 
 well. This was seen from the onset, and Monteith soon 
 called to his friends for help. As they were parted Max- 
 well said to him, "as soon as you get well from this beat- 
 ing I will give you another worse than this." The poor 
 mkn was not only badly punished, but badly frightened, 
 but did not have the courage to shoot him down as if he 
 were a mad dog. He watched for his enemy with much 
 fear and anxiety, knowing he would have to fight a man 
 of twice his strength, and one who boasted of his prowess, 
 and was as unscrupulous as he was strong. 
 
 Three weeks after his first encounter 'Squire 
 Robert D. Alexander came to the shop to have 
 his horse shod, to whom Monteith detailed his 
 grievances. 'Squire Alexander (father of the author) 
 was an important character in the neighborhood 
 as a magistrate, and in this capacity was often 
 callea on to settle difficulties between neighbors, and kept 
 many suits from being carried to court. And there is no 
 doubt Monteith hoped he would cool Maxwell's ardor by 
 magisterial authority, and save him from the threatened 
 beating he knew was near at hand. While they were talk- 
 ing Monteith looked in the direction of MaxweU's house. 
 The shop was not more than 300 yards distant, when he 
 saw his enemy coming. Instantly he dropped the horse 
 shoe and put his ax tongs in the furnace and said to the 
 'Squire, 'T see that devil coming; I reckon he will kill me 
 this time." He was working his bellows vigorously, as if 
 making a welding heat, and was very nervous and excited 
 as Maxwell entered the shop, rolling up his sleeves as 
 he gloated over his intended victim, said, "John, I prom- 
 ised you another beating, and am now going to give it to 
 } ou." Just as Joe was ready to strike, John drew his red- 
 hot ax tongs from the furnace and grabbed this human 
 monster by the throat, with the determination born of 
 fear, to defend himself in the unequal struggle. Joe
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 73 
 
 grasped the red-hot tongs near the jaws, and as he jerked 
 them troni his throat his hands were badly bhsterecl and 
 his throat perfectly raw and bleeding, his whole being ni 
 an ai>ony of pain. This was the most desperate fight ever 
 witnessed in the Hopewell territory. 'Squire Alexander 
 was the only witness. He decided in favor of Monteith, 
 'That the use of ax tongs heated in a furnace, were justi- 
 fial^le under the circumstances; and IMaxwell warned not 
 to attack Monteith in the future. All costs remitted." 
 
 CHAPTER XXH. 
 
 HOPEWELL GRAVEYARD. 
 
 Some one has said "Those who live upon earth are but 
 a handful to those who sleep in her bosom." When this 
 sacred spot was first used as a resting place for the dead 
 is not accurately known; certainly not before the first 
 church building was erected in 1765. There is no grave- 
 stone bearing an ea-rlier mark than 1775. Many secrets 
 connected with the memorable epoch of the American 
 Revolution, held both by Whigs and Tories, holding 
 (ioadly enmity towards each other, of i)rime importance 
 were unfortunately retained, locked in silence by those 
 who sleep in this quiet place, that if known today would 
 settle many questions now in doubt. 
 
 The most numerously represented family met with 
 is the Alexanders. Here is seen the commemo- 
 rative slab that covers the dust of John McKmtt 
 Alexander and wife, their two sons. William P.ain 
 and Joseph McKnitt, and one of their sisters. Mrs. 
 Rev. C. S. Caldwell, with a mullitudc cf their
 
 74: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 children and their children's children, reaching well into 
 the fourth generation. The most conspicuous name in 
 the fourth generation of this conspicuous family is that of 
 Capt. Francis Ramsay Alexander, son of John R. Alexan- 
 der. Like many others- he doffed the student's gown for 
 the warrior's sword; abandoning the pleasant literary 
 walks of college life to obey the calls of patriotism. Just 
 as he reached mature manhood, while lighting his coun- 
 tr}.'s battle in behalf of the State's rights, he was mortally 
 wounded on the 17th of June 1864, in the terrific battle 
 of that date near Petersburg, and died on the 19th. His 
 body was brought home for burial. The funeral was at- 
 tended by the largest concourse of women and children 
 that ever assembled here to do honor to the memory of 
 any one ever laid to rest in this historic spot. It was not 
 that he was such a devoted child of the church, a special 
 favorite of the neighborhood, or the great popularity of 
 his family; the funeral honors accorded him were due to 
 his heroism in battle, and mutual love existing between 
 him and his men; yet he was a Christain, a general favo- 
 rite with his neighbors, and born of a most influential 
 family. Privates never make a mistake as to the worth 
 of their captain. Hence at each annual reunion of Com- 
 pany "K" of the 56th North Carolina Regiment, Captain 
 Alexander's name is called with profound respect, and his 
 leadership, which made him a hero, is spoken of with ad- 
 miration. 
 
 John McKnitt Alexander and his great-grand- 
 son, Capt. Frank. R. Alexander, prompted by the same 
 patriotic impulse, the former to achieve independence 
 a: id the latter to maintain it, have their ashes quietly 
 resting together in this densely crowded city of the dead, 
 awaiting the glad summons of the resurrection morn, 
 when all strife shall have ceased, and where tyranny and 
 oppression are unknown. 
 
 Near by is the grave of General William Lee 
 Davidson, with a bench of brick over it, just
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. «5 
 
 as it vvas built more than lOO )ears ago. No shaft of 
 granite or marble slab has ever been erected to mark the 
 spot, and tell to future generations, "here lies the dust of 
 a patriot who gave his life for his country's freedom," The 
 wife of William Lee Davidson, son of the General, is 
 buried by the "bench of brick," and has a handsome mar- 
 ble slab which says whose wife she was, and that she died 
 in 1842, but does not iell she was a daughter of Major 
 John Davidson, of Revolutionary fame, and was known 
 as "Aunt Betsy Lee," a most excellent woman. 
 
 Near the entrance is the tomb of Rev. John Williamson 
 and wife, probably the only preacher ever buried in this 
 enclosure. The wife of Rev. Samuel C. Caldwell, the first 
 pastor, is buried here by the side of her patriot father, 
 Jolm iMcKnitt Aleander. So also is the wife of Rev. Wal- 
 ter Smily Pharr, mother of Rev. C. S. Pharr, D. D., and 
 daugiiter of Mrs. Rev. Samuel C. Caldwell. I)uric(l 
 in the midst of her own kindred. 
 
 One of the most noted of those who were buried here 
 in the last quarter of the i8th century was Francis Bradly, 
 a patriot of the Revolution. He had taken a most active 
 part in the skirmish at Mclntire's branch, and for this love 
 of liberty he was brutally murdered by Tories, November 
 i-^. 1780. His wife. Abigail Bradly, died September 23, 
 J 817, aged 69 years, and rests by the side of her husband. 
 
 What a peaceful and pleasant change it must be to be 
 carried from fields of strife to the green pastures ever 
 found 1;y the River of Life in that world where tlic weary 
 are at rest and Love reigns supreme. It is with a feeling 
 of awe and reverence that we pass among those who have 
 no!jly performed their duty while living, and have been 
 called to take up their abode in this silent enclosure, and 
 read their names and learn what is possible of their char- 
 acters, feeling sure that we will soon be summoned to 
 dwell in the silent tomb where history ceases, and we pass 
 into the new life where, yesterday, today an<l tonicrrow 
 ever remain present.
 
 7G BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Here we read the names of the Torrance family, 
 of the Latta's, Monteith's, Kerns, Todd's, McCoy's 
 and many others who were weh known; and also 
 see names that are entirely forgotten, viz: William Gra- 
 ham, aged 72 years, died 1818. Reuben Ross, aged 23 
 years, died July 4, 1824. Capt. John Long, aged 51 
 }'ears, died 1799, and Peggy Long, his wife, aged 30 
 years, died July 19, 1799. Who were these people, and 
 what part did they act in life's great drama? or were they 
 visitors passing through the country and were drafted by 
 the pale recruiting officer before they reached their desti- 
 nation? No one can now tell their story. But stranger 
 still, some people appear to invite oblivion by not mark- 
 ing the spot or sepulclire, or chiseling their names upon 
 stone. The Wilsons, a wealthy, educated and influential 
 family, closely connected with the Davidsons, Alexan- 
 ders, Grahams, Osbornes, and Brevards, have left no sign 
 or mark to prove they found a resting place by the side 
 of their honored compeers. 
 
 So it is with the Kerns family, and hundreds of others 
 who took an active part in life, and were good and useful 
 citizens, give no sign to those who would gather up frag- 
 ments to preserve our country's history, or even to say 
 they found a grave on their native heath. And yet there 
 are some names cut in bold letters, unknown to the den- 
 izens of today, whose history would be interesting if 
 known, on account of the time in which they lived. For 
 example of what is meant: John Beatty, aged 83 years, 
 died January 25, 1804, and wife, Arven Beatty, aged 74 
 years, died 1797. Richard Rankin and wife, Polly, died 
 in 1804 and 1803, respectively. John Dougherty, died 
 1790, aged 46 years. Thomas Blackwood, died 1793, 
 aged 50 years. These names are now wholly unknown 
 in the community, however important may have been the 
 services rendered by those whose names are preserved 
 on marble slabs. It is more difficult to preserve ordinary 
 or local fame than it is to win it. What a historical treas-
 
 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 77 
 
 ure we would have if only short sketches of the many 
 heads of families that lie mouldered into dust had been 
 prepared when the material was fresh and abundant. 
 
 Av'hile we have reason to regret the loss of so much by 
 the carelessness or want of forethought on the part of 
 our ancestors, we have also greater reason to rejoice that 
 so much of inestimable value has been kept safely for pos- 
 terity's use. The history of every generation should be 
 written, and not allow such wide gaps of time to inter- 
 vene, which prove broken links in the historic chain con- 
 necting widely separated epochs of our civilization. Only 
 in this way can history be preserved in its entirety. In 
 this age of schools, wdiile progress is the watchword, 
 would it not be wise for the State to estabhsh a depart- 
 ment of history — for the writing of history — for the ben- 
 efit of those w^ho will live in the future, as well as to satisfy 
 the reading people of today. 
 
 We are now living so fast, literally traveling by elec- 
 tricitv. that we accomplish in ten years in this present era 
 what it took one hundred years to accomplish a cen- 
 tury ago. It is now^ a necessity to record new 
 discoveries, new developments and rapid changes in 
 a better way than in new^spapers and periodicals if wc 
 would carry into the future a correct account of the mad- 
 dening rush that is driving us forw^ard. If the ashes of the 
 wisest ones who have been asleep for fifty years could 
 avi^ake. see and hear what changes had been made since 
 their departure, they would scarcely give credence to the 
 true stories, although told by their own kith and kin. A11 
 discoveries and inventions have been by gradation, as it 
 were, preparing the mind to receive and comprehend the 
 wT^ndcrful phenomena thrust with such apparent haste 
 upon the astonished vision of an expectant world; some- 
 what after the similitude of Darwinian evolution. We 
 novv scarcelv feel safe to doubt, muchless deny any dream 
 Avc hear, even the most unlooked-for.
 
 78 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 REV. JOHN WILLIAMSON. 
 
 He entered on the pastorate of Hopewell church Sep- 
 tember 14, 1818. He was a successful and popular min- 
 ister; greatly beloved by his people. He built an elegant 
 brick dwelling near Wilson Davidson's and owned a large 
 farm, which he cultivated with profit. This farm is now 
 owned by John N. Patterson, but the elegant residence 
 h.is been burned. Mrs. Williamson was a most excellent 
 woman, and as wife ©f the pastor, she was an efficient 
 Christian worker; greatly beloved by all the people. They 
 rallied five children, two sons and three daughters. Mr. 
 Williamson died September 4, 1842, and was buried in 
 Hopewell graveyard, amidst a large number to whom he 
 ministered for twenty-four years. Three years later his 
 wife was laid to rest by his side. The oldest daughter, 
 Sarah Ann, married Rev. R. H. Caldwell, and moved to 
 Mississippi, where they now reside in their old age, happy 
 in the work of the Master. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 BETHEL CHURCH. 
 
 This section of country being intensely Presbyterian, 
 we are not surprised that the church of Bethel was built 
 so early as the first quarter of the present century. Up 
 to this period Methodism had not taken root in Meek-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 79 
 
 lenburg county to any extent. This church was located 
 on the Beattie's Ford and Concord road, five miles east 
 of the river, five miles south of Centre church in Iredell 
 county, and eight miles north of Hopewell. It was iii 
 the midst of a great deal of wealth, but had a small mem- 
 bership. It was not regularly supplied with a pastor or a 
 minister, as the older churches were, but had service in 
 the earliest days for short times by Revs. McRee, Espie 
 and others. After 1837 some one of the ministers from 
 the faculty of Davidson College served the congregation 
 until 1856. Rev. E. D. Junkin was called to the pastorate 
 who served only a short time. Dr. Wood, Dr. Phillips 
 and several others served short terms since the war. The 
 church seems to be in a more prosperous condition now 
 than in any former period of its existence. A new brick 
 house has been recently built, and the congregation is 
 very much attached to their present pastor, Rev. John 
 Grier. 
 
 Amongst the main supporters in the earl)- days of its 
 existence were A. B. Jetton, Robert Potts, William Pat- 
 terson, David A. Caldwell and Andrew^ Springs. These 
 were all elders, men of honor and unswerving integrity. 
 Patrick Johnston and his two sons, James and Houston 
 Johnston, and William G. Potts, with their families, were 
 amongst the early attendants. Robert Henderson and 
 his family, John Knox and his three sons. Robert, John 
 and Andrew, S. M. Withers, J. R. Gillespie, were all prom- 
 inent members, and some of whom were elders. In late 
 years the church was served by Rev. L. K. Glasgow for 
 ten years, with a bench of elders composed of Martin 
 Alexander, W. H. Goodman, L. A. Potts, J. M. Wilson, 
 Robert Knox and J. B. Alexander. 
 
 A most excellent high school was taught near tlie 
 cliMrch by Rev. L. K. Glasgow, extending from 1875 to 
 1885. It was patronized by the entire community, and 
 accomplished a great deal in an educational i)(>in1 of \ icw. 
 He. was a successful teacher. The change in this inuncdi-
 
 80 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 ate neighborhood in the last ten years has been ahiiost 
 revolutionary, by the death of several of the most prom- 
 inent persons, such as William Patterson, Lawson Potts, 
 Banks Withers, and the moving away of several other 
 families, leaving their lands to tenants who do not take 
 much interest in schools, educational plants requiring 
 constant nursing to keep them vigorous. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 GIIvEAD CHURCH. 
 
 A temple erected to the worship of God a hundred 
 years ago deserves more than a passing notice. Like 
 everything else connected with the latter years of the 
 i8th century, but little is now known, and that little fast 
 falling into oblivion. What a historical loss is sustained 
 b}- the present generation by not having kept a record of 
 the pioneers of that age in church matters, as well as State 
 craft. It would be of great interest to know who were 
 the nrime movers in oro;anizine' the A. R. P. Church that 
 has been the source of so much spiritual good in all that 
 section of the county. The church record is said to have 
 been lost, and with it all the early history except what we 
 have by tradition, and a few facts preserved incidentally 
 in connection with Prosperity and Codle Creek churches. 
 Gilead church occupies a site on the Beattie's Ford road 
 fifteen miles northwest of Charlotte, and five miles from 
 Hopewell. During this period of a little over one hundred 
 years the people of Hopewell and Gilead were to all in- 
 tents and purposes one people, the two churches one in
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 81 
 
 doctrine, creed and church government; and the only dif- 
 ference the Associate Reformed held to was close com- 
 munion, and only the Psalmody for church music. Time 
 has wrought recently some changes in the form of wor- 
 ship, even in this particular branch of the church. They 
 no longer use "tokens," as was an invariable custom 
 twenty-five years ago. They no longer forbid Christians 
 of other evangelical churches to commune with them at 
 the Lord's table. They no longer require communicants 
 to be seated around the table, but are served in their pews 
 as other branches of the Presbyterian church. Neither 
 are they so bitterly opposed to instrumental music in 
 their worship. But to this day Gilead has not adopted 
 the use of an organ. It was my fortune to practice med- 
 icine in almost every family in Gilead congregation for 
 thirty years, and I cheerfully bear testimony they were 
 the best people I ever knew, and I knew them intimately. 
 Gilead graveyard is not so rich in historic lore as sev- 
 eral others in Mecklenburg county. The grave stone of 
 Mrs. McKnight bears the earliest date of any tablet in 
 this enclosure, viz: 1811. It is more than probable many 
 were buried here before Mrs. McKnight. In looking over 
 this quiet cemetery we see the names of a number who 
 were natives of Ireland i. e. David Smith. James Smith. 
 Esther Smith and Eliza Smith. John Alcorn and his two 
 sisters, Mrs. Sarah Nantz and Mrs. Margaret Alexander. 
 Patrick Johnston and his numerous descendants. A cen- 
 otaph to the memory of his grandson, Barnabas Alexan- 
 der Johnston, who was killed in the battle of Spottsylva- 
 nia, May 12, 1864. Also the names of John Blakly, John 
 Bell, Thomas Alcorn, Daniel McAulay, Hugh McA-ulay 
 and others who gave their lives for their country. Proli- 
 ably no Revolutionary soldier rests here, except Daniel 
 McAulay, but many who contended for the Confederate 
 cause, which our Southrrn people will aUvnx's hold dear. 
 probably John Boycc was the first pastor, as wo Icrn-ii lie 
 w:.s ii) charge of Codle Creek, Prns])ority, Gilead and
 
 82 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Hopewell in South Carolina. He could not have given 
 more than one-fourth of his time to either one of his sev- 
 eral charges. He appears to have continued here for 
 about five years. He died March i8, 1793, and was buried 
 at Hopewell, in South CaroHna. The second pastor was 
 Rev. James McKnight. He was installed pastor of Gi- 
 lead, Codle Creek and Prosperity in 1797. He continued 
 to serve these churches for many years, and ceased from 
 his labors September 17, 1831. He was a most remark- 
 able preacher. Two sermons a day was his ordinary rule. 
 Beginning by 10 o'clock and giving a short interval for 
 refreshments, he would preach sometimes 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 
 people would reach home, if they had but two or three 
 miles to go. It was common for them to provide them- 
 selves with pine torches to light them home. 
 
 The pioneers in the movement to organize Gilead 
 church first thought of building the house of worship by 
 the side of Baker's graveyard, where quite a number of 
 A. R. Presbyterians had been buried, but believing the 
 site selected more central it was agreed to build where 
 the present new and elegant brick church now stands. 
 The present site was first occupied by a block house, or 
 wooden fort, in which the whites would congregate to 
 better defend themselves against hostile Indians. The 
 neighbors also had an enclosure at the spring (near by) 
 for penning cattle, to protect them from roving bands of 
 Indians. Experts with the rifle could easily pick off cat- 
 tle thieves from the fort without exposing themselves. 
 Mrs. Nellie Torrance, who died many years ago, related 
 the story of the fort (which she had often seen, as she 
 lived in the neighborhood), to Mr. E. A. McAulav, now a 
 venerable elder in Gilead, who kindly gave the above ac- 
 count to the writer. There are now living but few who can 
 contribute anything of a past generation. 
 
 The deed to the church land was made to Alexander
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. S3 
 
 Baldridge (Rev.), William Henderson, David Smith, 
 Hugh Lucas and others. Lucas lived near Cowan's Ford 
 at the time the battle was fought there February i, 1781. 
 
 The first elders were William Henderson, David Smith 
 and Hugh Lucas. Some years later Patrick Johnston, 
 William Beard and Gilbreth McKnight. Still later we 
 have the names of James Blakely, White Morrow, Ewart 
 Bell, John Bell, Sr., John Price Bell, Jr. About this time 
 some of the most prominent members were Daniel iMc- 
 Aulay, James Smith and his sisters, Esther and Eliza, 
 Polly Bell. Jane Bell, Sally Bell, James Goodrum and 
 wife, Martha, Harrison Goodrum, Eli Alexander and his 
 sons, Ezekiel, Moses, Martin and Eli. More recently 
 the elders were Green Barnett, Benjamin Brown, Jessie 
 N. Whitlow, Dixon Ewart, D. H. Fidler, Alexander 
 Gibson and Samuel Black. All these have passed away. 
 John Alcorn and wife, "Aunt Polly," were active mem- 
 bers, but are numbered with those who have died. 
 
 The bench of elders now in charge, and who have 
 passed the meridian, are Eli B. Alexander, W. A. Alexan- 
 der, M. B. Alexander. J. F. M. Beard, E. A. McAulay. 
 And amongst the most prominent members are J. M. 
 Alexander, John Bell Alexander, Richard Blythe. H. C. 
 Hubbard, J. T. Cashion. W. T. Cashion, etc. 
 
 Rev. John Boyce was the first pastor, installed 1701. 
 Rev. James Mcknight installed 1797, and died 1831. 
 Rev. John Hunter, a man of great ability, immensely pop- 
 ular, and had a peculiar intonation of voice that always 
 held the attention of his audience, was installed 1844. 
 He remained about eight or ten years, and was followed 
 bv Rev. Robert Thomas Taylor, who was succeeded by 
 that great and good man. Rev. .Alexander Ranson, D.D.. 
 who held the pastorate for about twenty years, when he 
 was called to his reward. Tn regular succession. Revs. 
 V). G. Caldwell. W. Y. Love. William AT. TTunter; the last 
 three pre still living, and ATr. Hunter in charge.
 
 84 EiUGKAPHICAL SKETCHES, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVL 
 
 MANNERS, HABITS AND CUSTOMS. 
 
 In all this section of country the people were strongly 
 impressed, not only with the principle of self-reliance, 
 bi.it with integrity of purpose in character building. They 
 were devoted to the principles of the Presbyterian faith. 
 The basis of this was in family government. The features 
 of the early settlers were prominent, well defined, and 
 bespoke the true character of the men and women of that 
 day. That stern look, to some betokened hardship, but 
 was only a covering that concealed from the world a lov- 
 ing nature that was all sunshine in the privacy of the 
 family. Family government was strict in deed, obedi- 
 ence, absolute obedience, was required in every family, 
 and every requirement had to be complied with. The 
 chMrcn were early taught the shorter catechism, and it 
 had to be so thoroughly memorized that each member of 
 the family could ask and answer every question from be- 
 ginning to end without a book. In this period of our 
 coimtry's civilization the "rod," or "switch," was an im- 
 portant factor. The pendulum probably swung too far 
 in forcins; obedience bv such harsh means at that time, 
 but it is equally certain it now swings too far on the other 
 side, as we frequently see children governing their par- 
 ents. This is a sad mistake now being made, and we can 
 expect only to reap bitter fruit. A people brought 
 up under the influence of Calvin and Knox would have 
 disappointed the world if they had not produced just 
 such a posterity as those who migrated to this Hopewefl 
 section of Mecklenburg county. 
 
 The good old plan of building a high school under the 
 shadow of all Presbyterian churches in those early days
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 85 
 
 was not carried 'into ertect in this territory, as was done 
 at Centre, Rocky River, Sugar Creek, Providence, etc. it 
 is impossible at this late day to give a correct reason why 
 this was not done. The young people must have been 
 sent off to neighboring schools, for we have reason to 
 believe the great majority were pretty well educated. 
 There were several primary schools, whose only fame left 
 behind was the autocratic power of the teacher. In the 
 period of which we write the ordinary agreement between 
 the teacher and employer was, they were to furnish the 
 pupils and the books, and he was to do the whipping. 
 The punishment was not only severe, but sometimes bru- 
 tal. Teacher and hickory were inseparable, putting in 
 knowledge through the flesh as w^ell as through the mind. 
 A teacher who could not and did not whip every one of 
 liis pupils was considered a poor make-shift for a teacher. 
 Just before the closing of a school term it was a custom- 
 ary rule to bar the teacher out until he would promise to 
 treat to apples, candy, or give a holiday. 
 
 This was an undertaking in which the pupils considered 
 well worthy of counting the cost before engaging in the 
 contest. They knew if the teacher succeeded in forcing 
 an entrance they would be severely whipped; and the 
 teacher also knew if he failed to get in the boys would 
 force him to treat, even if they had to tie him and duck 
 him in the branch. Ordinarily the teacher would agree 
 to treat rather than be handled so roughly. There was 
 no shoddy education in those days. Latin and Greek 
 was the basis, or foundation of education in the olden 
 lime. A Presbyterian minister who could not read Latin 
 and Greek fluently would hardly have been granted 
 license to preach, and if licensed, would have been con- 
 sidered a freak of nature. I remember to have seen two 
 o\f\ men. twin brothers, in 1852, who were gentlemen of 
 leisure, who read Latin and Greek as fluently as any one 
 now reads a newspaper. Then an education meant thor- 
 oughness, not sham or vcneorin<7.
 
 86 BIOGUAPHICAL yKETCHES. 
 
 it has always been a pride of the Pres'byterian church 
 to have an educated ministry. And we doubt if the min- 
 isters of the present are quite so weh learned in the lan- 
 guages of the ancients, from which the English has been 
 derived, as were the ministers of lOO years ago. The med- 
 ical men of that period studied medicine in books written 
 in Latin. Galen's works held the highest rank as text 
 books. And many old portraits of medical men have 
 been painted holding a volume of Galen in their hands. 
 
 Dr. Joseph McKnitt Alexander was the first physician 
 we know of who lived in this territory; although Drs. 
 Harris and McLean did some practice and much surgery 
 in this part of the county. The former lived in Cabarrus 
 country, and the latter in what is now Cabarrus county. 
 Physicians were few and far apart, consequently could 
 not visit their patients very often. A story is told of Dr. 
 Harris having been sent for frequently to see a dropsical 
 patient, and becoming tired of tapping him so often, he 
 roughened a goose quill by scraping it both ways, and in- 
 serted it like a trocar into the old man's abdomen and 
 left it there as a modern drainage tube, knowing it could 
 not slip in or out. Of course, it quickly lighted up 'an 
 inflammation that soon carried the old man ofif. This was 
 long before the great discoveries that we are acquainted 
 with now had been brought to light; before the Germ 
 theory was thought of, or antiseptics had a place in the 
 materia medica. Before a clinical thermometer, or hypo- 
 dermic syringe had been dreamed of. But notwithstand- 
 ing the want of these new remedies and appliances of re- 
 cent date, and ignorance of the myriads of spores, germs, 
 microbes that are now held responsible for all the ills flesh 
 is heir to; these same old doctors were as successful in 
 fighting off the last enemy and restoring their patients 
 to health as the most learned M. D.'s of this advanced 
 age of medical science. But probably a hundred years 
 ago the people had greater stamina or resisting power 
 when assailed bv disease than now.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 8? 
 
 Dr. Isaac Wilson did an extensive practice throughout 
 all this section of the county from 1825 to i860. He was 
 a self-educated physician, had the confidence of everyone, 
 was ahvays pleasant and agreeable; he was immensely 
 popular. He kept a pack of fox hounds, was fond of the 
 chase, and frequently joined in with his neighbors on cer- 
 tain occasions w'hen his or their friends wished to engage 
 in a spirited hunt, when they would have fifteen to 
 twenty dogs in the chase. Only those w4io have taken 
 part in a fox hunt can appreciate the excitement when 
 the pack is in full cry and Reynard has lowered his 
 brush, the sportsmen know^ the end is near and each one 
 is anxious to be present at the catch. The horses become 
 so excited they will keep up with the hounds w^ithout 
 whip or spur. This old-time sport has disappeared, prob- 
 ably because the fox family moved away, as no longer 
 .'ippreciated by our advancing civilization. 
 
 These w-ere the days of African slavery, when the ne- 
 groes w^ere happy creatures, owaied by Christian masters, 
 their every need w-as supplied, wdiether crops were plen- 
 tiful and prices good, or drought stared them in the face. 
 V/hen sick the best medical skill was employed to attend 
 them, and the "white folks" gave every dose of medicine, 
 in fact watched after them with the same solicitude they 
 gav'^e their children. These slaves were w^ell housed, well fed 
 and well clothed; and a fact of physiological interest, not 
 one in a thousand ever had consumption. These negroes 
 v\'ere guardians of their master's interests, were proud of 
 their master's family, and most cordially hated "poor 
 v./hite trash." lUit times have changed, the negro is free, 
 is no longer cared for, either in health or sickness; he has 
 fallen an easy prey to consumption, has but little atten- 
 tion when .sick, and his mind has been poisoned by politi- 
 cal demagogues until he believes the whites arc his ene- 
 Mi( s, yet they are the only ones he can ajipcal to with any 
 hope of relief. Their best and happiest days passed away 
 when their freedom was thrust upon them.
 
 88 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 October 6, 1896. 
 D'-. J. B. Alexander, 
 
 Dear Sir: Your favor of the ist inst. at hand; contents 
 noted. With pleasure I comply with your request. When 
 I left home to learn a trade I had no thought of gene- 
 alogy. While rambling from place to place I was told 
 bv some that I was Irish, others that I was Scotch. After 
 seventeen years I went home on a visit, in 1850. Uncle 
 John (No. 4), was the only one of the old folks left. He 
 tolrl me that between 1730 and 1740, four brothers, Carr, 
 sailed from the north of Ireland and settled in Dela- 
 ware. They came down south; two of them settled in 
 Mecklenburg, one went west, and one went to Jamaica, 
 W. I. In 1847 I was in Jamaica, and the largest dry goods 
 store in Kingston was owned by R. C. Carr. I didn't then 
 know that he and I belonged to the same stock. 
 
 One of the four brothers, Robert, was my great-grand- 
 father, and is the only one that I can tell anything about. 
 It was at his place, Mclntyre's Branch, that the British 
 sergeant was shot while tumbling forage out of the barn. 
 
 0. Robert Carr was born in 17 10; died 1789. 
 Margaret, his wife, was born in 171 7, June 20th, died 
 
 1769. 
 
 Jeanet Carr, daughter of Robert and Margaret Carr, 
 was born in 1747; not married. 
 
 William Carr, son of Robert and Margaret Carr. was 
 born 1749; died 1778. 
 
 1. Robert Carr, son of Robert and Margaret Carr, 
 was born 1750; died 1843. 
 
 0. My great-grandfather. 
 
 1. My grandfather.
 
 ^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 89 
 
 JrAm Carr. son of Robert and Margaret Carr, was born 
 
 ?. Margaret Kerr, daughter of Robert and Hannah 
 Kerr, was born December 2g, 1770. 
 
 Richard Kerr, son of Rol^ert and Hannah Kerr, was 
 bor-i 1/^2; batchelor. 
 
 3. Hannah Kerr, daughter of Robert and Hannah 
 Kerr, was born 1776. 
 
 Samuel Kerr, son of Robert and Hannah Kerr, was 
 born 1778. 
 
 4. John Kerr, son of Rol^ert and Hannah Kerr, was 
 born 1782. 
 
 MY GRANDFATHER'S FAMILY. 
 
 5. Robert Carr and Barbara Brown were married De- 
 cember 5, 1775. 
 
 6. Hugh Carr, son of Robert and Barbara Carr, was 
 bom September 27, 1776. 
 
 7. WilHam Carr w^as born December 29, 1778. 
 
 8. Margaret Carr w^as born February 2, 1781. 
 
 2. Married a Mr. Martin, by whom she had three sons. Her oldest 
 son, William, was licensed a Methodist preacher in 1827, and after 
 preaching 61 years, died in Columbia, S. C, in 1889, leaving two child- 
 ren, Dr. Henry Martin, and Miss Isabel Martin, who was instructor in 
 English language and literature in Dr. Atkinson's school there. 
 
 3. Married a Mr. Martin, whose son, James, gave Martindale its 
 name. The descendants are in that section. 
 
 4. Uncle John lived about a mile from where he was born. Had six 
 sons and one daughter. Thomas Milton Kerr and other grandchild- 
 ren are there. 
 
 5. My grandparents. 
 
 6. Uncle Hugh had four sons and five or six daughters. He went 
 west in 1826 and settled in the northwest corner of Mississippi. His 
 children married and scattered. Just before the war he and one of 
 his sons went to Arkansas and settled forty miles west of Camden. 
 
 7. My father. 
 
 8. Married Abram Martin, who died in Mecklenburg. In 1S34 Aunt 
 Margaret, with three sons and three daughters, went to Tennessee^ 
 and later to Mississippi.
 
 UU BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 o. John Carr was born September i, 1783. 
 
 10. Alary Carr was born August 4, 1786. 
 
 Jean Carr was born January 17, 1787; never married. 
 Barbara Carr was born April 14, 1791; never married. 
 Rachel Carr was born November 3, 1793; never mar- 
 ried. 
 
 11. Esther Carr was born June 23, 1797. 
 
 MY FATHER. 
 
 William Carr's family was three sons and two daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 Robert Crockett Kerr, the writer. 
 
 Aiargaret Kerr, died 1855. 
 
 James H. Kerr, died- 1855. 
 
 John A. Kerr, died 1833. 
 
 Mary Isabella, died in New Orleans June 6, 1884. 
 
 IViy great-grandfather was buried in the old graveyard 
 at Sugar Creek, and I think he was a member of that 
 church. Of his children Nos. 2, 3 and 4 were Methodists. 
 
 My grandfather and all his children, so far as I can 
 recollect, were members of the Presbyterian church, 
 Hopewell. 
 
 My parents were members of Hopewell church, and 
 during my boyhood I went there with my parents. Dr. 
 John Williamson was pastor. 
 
 I was glad to learn that you were preparing a history 
 of Hopewell. I hope some persons may be found who 
 v/ill write the history of each of the seven Presbyterian 
 churches of Mecklenburg that were organized during the 
 old colonial days. I believe that Centre, Rocky River, 
 
 9. Uncle John, with two sons and three daughters, went to Tennes- 
 see in 1834, and settled near Jackson. 
 
 10. Aunt Mary and her husband, Allison Clark, went to Tennessee 
 in 1824. 
 
 11. Aunt Asther married Elihu McCracken. Their children and 
 grandchildren are in Mecklenburg and adjoining counties.
 
 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. Ul 
 
 Poplar Tent, Hopewell, Sugar Creek and Steel Creek 
 were all organized as churches before the Revolution, in- 
 iorniation may be gathered from session records and tra- 
 ditions lianded down from fathers to sons, and names and 
 dates on the tombstones in the old cemeteries; also from 
 the family records in the Bible. Those old Presbyterians 
 always had the Bible at home, and any record made in it 
 could not be disputed. 
 
 Every year you good Mecklenburgers have a "Fourth- 
 of-July" celebration on the 20th of May, being the tirst 
 Declaration of Independence. 
 
 I believe that during this century, now closing, Meck- 
 lenburg has given to the Presbyterian church — fathers, 
 sons and grandsons — more ministers than any other 
 county in the United States. Although little of my man- 
 hood has been passed there, I can recollect Dr. Caldwell 
 at Sugar Creek seventy to seventy-live years ago. I knew 
 two of his sons who were preachers. Now seven of his 
 grandsons are preachers. Although not born in Meck- 
 lenburg, they are all of good Mecklenburg stock. Dr. 
 William Flinn, orraduate of Davidson, and his son, is a 
 preacher. His brother, Andrew, who married Harvey 
 Wilson's sister, had two sons who are preachers. ("Robt. 
 Morrison, a member of Rocky River church, had eight 
 grandsons who were Presbyterian preachers. Their names 
 w^cre S. H. Morrison, L. R. Morrison, R. M. Morrison. 
 A. W. Morrison, R. H. Morrison. G. N. Morrison, Amzi 
 Rradshaw and R. C. Garrison. The last three were living 
 in 1881.") — From my scrap book. 
 
 I have been trying to brighten up my memory of boy- 
 hood days. I recollect an Uncle Joe Carr, a cousin (so I 
 was told), of my grandfather, who lived near what is now 
 the Capp's mines. He had two sons older than my father. 
 They all went west in the early 20's. Tt is ])robabl(' tlu'y 
 were descendants of one of the four brothers. 
 
 There was also a cousin of my grandfather in "N'ork 
 count'^, S. C, who had several sons. T became ac(|uainted
 
 92 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 with two of them in Wetiimpka, Ala., in 1836, say sixty- 
 years ago. They probably were descendants of the 
 brother that went west. York was a long distance from 
 Mecklenburg 170 or 180 years ago. 
 
 I am just now recuperating after a six-week's tussle 
 with bronchitis, and with 83 of time's mile posts behind 
 me, you can appreciate that I have hard work to keep a 
 steady hand. 
 
 Remember me to all my friends there. Hoping this 
 will be of service to you. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 R. C. KERR. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVHI. 
 
 A MARK OF PECULIAR INTEREST. 
 
 Toadyism always tends to disgust the American citi- 
 zen, as it carries with it a strong semblance of royal sham 
 Still seen in all the capitals of Continental Europe and the 
 British Empire. Yet what is ours we do not intend shall 
 be appropriated by others, although it may only be a 
 name. In Hopewell graveyard there is a stone that 
 attracts more than ordinary interest among the great 
 multitude who sleep in this quiet place. It is one that 
 marks the grave of Capt. James Knox, who "died in 1794, 
 aged 42 years." We know absolutely nothing of his his- 
 tory, and can only say he was the grandfather of Presi- 
 dent James Knox Polk. So far as the writer is aware, all 
 histories that have spoken of the birth place of President 
 Polk declare that he was born in the southern part of 
 Mecklenburg county, near where the town of Pineville
 
 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 93 
 
 now Stands. Both history and tradition says Samuel 
 Polk married Jane Knox, a daughter of Capt. James 
 Knox, who lived four miles northeast of Hopewell 
 church. The Knox house has disappeared, but the foun- 
 dation stones are still visable, and the spring that sup- 
 plied the Knox family with water still runs. A most ex- 
 cellent gentleman, J. L. Ramsay, now occupies 
 tlie site that was made historic more than a century ago 
 by being the birth place of President James K. Polk. The 
 location is between John W. Moore's and J. N. Patter- 
 son's, one and a half miles southwest of Huntersville. At 
 this home of James Knox, the father of Jane, who married 
 Samuel Polk, was the child born who was afterwards 
 President of the United States. How long Sam Polk 
 lived here, or whether Mrs. Polk only returned to have 
 her mother's care during her first trying ordeal, we are 
 not informed. But we are informed there was a muster 
 ground here known as "''Polk's old field." This has very 
 much the appearance that Sam Polk lived here for a while 
 at least. 
 
 We are further informed, and know from evi- 
 dence that cannot be gain-sayed, that Peggy Alcorn, an 
 Irish girl who came from Ireland with her mother when 
 six years old, people of good character, but very poor, 
 was, when 13 years old, hired by Sam Polk to wait on his 
 wife and nurse the baby, their first child, James K. Polk, 
 Jr. This girl afterwards married Eli Alexander, who 
 lived four miles southwest of Davidson College, where 
 they raised a family, of which each member proved to be a 
 good citizen. Ezekiel, T^Tartin, Moses and Eli were all 
 stauiich Prcsbvterians, and the two daughters, Malissa 
 married John Bell, and Mary married E. A. McAulay. 
 No people in North Carolina have a better reputation 
 for honesty, integrity and truthfulness, and they say it. 
 and have told their cln'ldrcn that their mother often 
 spo'.e of the time she waited on Mrs. Polk and nursed tin- 
 baby who afterwards became president. This little change
 
 94 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 in local historical events is only intended to preserve the 
 truth of history. It is sufficient to be born in Mecklen- 
 burg to entitle one to all that is good and patriotic, but 
 to be born in the Hopewell boundary adds eclat to the 
 fact. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 ASSASSINATION OF BEN WILSON. 
 
 Probably there has never been a more tragic founda- 
 tion for thrilling romance than the one laid by the epi- 
 sode mentioned. This tragedy occurred in the early part 
 of ihe present century, and there is now no person living 
 who was personally cognizant of the facts. Tradition has 
 had much to say with regard to the matter, and it is still 
 talked of by the people in the section of country where it 
 occurred. Allen Curry, a brother, and Mrs. Johnston, a 
 sister of Nixon Curry, lived to old age in this neighbor- 
 hood, and were people of respectability, and their de- 
 scendants are numerous in the county. They are esteemed 
 good, law-abiding citizens. The Curry family lived sixteen 
 miles north of Charlotte, and about half a mile west of 
 what is now Caldwell's station, on the Atlantic, Tennes- 
 see and Ohio Railroad. The property was bought by Mr. 
 Andrew Springs, many years ago, and every trace of the 
 family residence is gone, but the Springs branch is still 
 known as "Curry branch." 
 
 Ren Wilson was born of an illustrious ancestry, being 
 closely connected by a collateral branch, with Gen. Sir 
 Robert Wilson, of English nobility. One hundred years 
 a<;o this was the most aristocratic family in the county;
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 95 
 
 an account of which is given in another chapter. Ben 
 Wilson was a son of David Wilson, and was born and 
 raised four miles northwest of Hopewell church. The fam- 
 ily was lavish in spending money, and was not religiouslv 
 scrupidous as to how the money was obtained. They 
 were fond of horse-racing and card-playing, and had they 
 lived in the present day, they would have been called 
 "sports.'' About the year 1820, Nixon Curry, Latta Mc- 
 Connel and Ben Wilson became very intimate, and occa- 
 sionally were missed from the neighborhood for six weeks 
 at a time, no one knowing where they had gone, or the 
 business that engaged their attention. After awhile cer- 
 tain farmers noticed that the disappearance of one or 
 more necrro slaves was coincident with the mvsterious 
 visits of the trio, to unknowm parts, whence the negroes 
 nev^r returned. 
 
 There was no positive proof that Wilson and Curry 
 stole the slaves, but everyone beHeved it. The story 
 handed down is that they would "toll" the negro ofT with 
 the promise that w'hen sold, they would divide profits 
 wit'i the negro: have him run aw^ay from his new master 
 and rejoin the traders, and sell again. This operation 
 would be repeated several times in different places while 
 the Southwestern States were settling up: then when 
 pu=-hed too close they would kill the negro and deposit 
 his body in some sw-amp or river. This trade was carried 
 on for a considerable time before much suspicion was ex- 
 cited. Curry was a man of fine physique, pleasant man- 
 ners, above the average in acumen, and brave as the brav- 
 est, in his general traits of character, he closely resem- 
 bled the XA'^ilsons. But this game could not be continued 
 always: and after considerable time, it came to Curr\''s 
 ears that Ben Wilson would turn State's evidence against 
 Curry, and that he would be free while Ciutv would be 
 hanged. Being forewarned wil1i this information, he 
 watched for an opportunity to get his witness out f>f thr 
 wav. Knowing all the places Wilson visited. nn(l every
 
 96 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 path he traveled, he had no trouble to meet him in a 
 quiet, unfrequented place. 
 
 On an afternoon in the month of March, 1821, Ben 
 \\'ilson was returning home from a visit to a friend, near 
 where Davidson College now stands, and as he passed by 
 John Knox's residence, near where the Curry family lived, 
 he called to Mr. Knox and said: "You had better keep 
 watch over 'High Flyer,' or you may lose your fast horse." 
 Wilson passed on in a southwest course about half a mile, 
 when the sound of a rifle was heard, and soon after Wil- 
 soi's body was found dead, from a rifle shot. No one 
 was seen to whom suspicion would point, but from cir- 
 cumstantial evidence, everybody beHeved Nixon Curry 
 the guilty party. Alijiost every man in the entire com- 
 munity was summoned to arrest Nixon Curry. He kept 
 in hiding several days before arrested. It has always been 
 a mystery why he remained in the neighborhood, when 
 he could so easily have made his escape by going west at 
 that time. 
 
 Probably the true reason why he did not escape was 
 the difficulty of taking his wife with him, whom he was 
 not Vv'illing to leave behind. He had already had serious 
 trouble in an encounter with the friends of his wife's 
 father, and the country being aroused and greatly excited, 
 it would have been impossible to have escaped with her. 
 
 Latta McConnel, having had an interview with Curry, 
 after his arrest, a time was fixed when Lucy should join 
 him ir the western part of the State. Arrangements were 
 made by which McConnel was to be informed twenty- 
 four hours before Curry was to make his escape from jail, 
 so that Lucy could be well on her way to the headwaters 
 of the Catawba before the country would be excited the 
 second time by the startHng reports of Curry having 
 broken jail. Notwithstanding the close blood relation 
 between Ben Wilson and Latta McConnel, the latter 
 always proved a true friend to Nixon Curry. 
 
 He employed "Baldy" Henderson, of Salisbury, to de-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 97 
 
 leiid him. He was fortunate in employing Mr. Hender- 
 son as his influence over a jur}- was not equalled by any 
 lawyer in the State. His trial was moved to Morganton, 
 and he was promptly acquitted for want of evidence. But 
 he was immediately arrested agJiin. charged with stealing 
 negroes, and put in Statesville jail. He remained there 
 but a short time, until he was able to break jail, and lind- 
 ing a splendid horse tied in the rear of the jail, he bid fare- 
 well to North Carolina. The crime of stealins: a slave 
 was a felony, punishable with death; and the Governor 
 \\ as so fully pursuaded of his guilt he offered a reward of 
 $5,000 for his apprehension. 
 
 We now come to a part of his history, after leaving the 
 territory of which we write, where truth is stranger than 
 fiction. It is said Curry was a child of impulse from in- 
 fancy, not quarrelsome, but quick to resent an insult : 
 that he was in love with a class-mate — Lucy Gordon. 
 N'.nen they were but children. Their dream flowed 
 smoothly, until Lucy w^as eighteen, when her parents de- 
 sired her to marry another, but true to her life-long lover, 
 she refused to obey her parents, and ran away with Nixon 
 Curry. When being pursued, he killed his rival and es- 
 caped. It is said that during his entire life of strife and 
 crime, he never spoke an unkind word to his wife. After 
 tarrying a short time in the mountains about the head- 
 waters of the Catawba, he started for a country more con- 
 genial to his mode of life. The Territory of Arkansas 
 was just beginning to be settled, and to this point of the 
 fertile delta bordering on the St. Francis, now in the State 
 of Arkansas, an emigrant made his appearance, calling 
 himself John Hill. He rapidly became the most popular 
 man in the settlement. Although of moderate means, 
 he was sober, industrious, generous and of extended hos- 
 pitalitv. and such continued to be his character in the 
 country which he had adopted for a period extending over 
 a dozen vears. 
 
 During all of this time not a quarrelsome word
 
 08 BIOGEAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 occiirred between liini and any of his neighbors, and 
 yet all new it was not for lack of courage on the part of 
 Hill, for of all the hunters that pierced the jungles of 
 cane in the "Great Swamp" or descended by torch light 
 into the bowels of the Ozark mountains, he had the rep- 
 utation of being the most fearless. He was overwhelm- 
 ingly elected again and again to the Territorial Legisla- 
 ture, and distinguished himself by his powerful and im- 
 passioned eloquence, speedily becoming a leader in the 
 ranks of his party. 
 
 He was a member of the convention which formed the 
 State constitution, and was re-elected the ensuing year 
 to represent his (Pope) county in the Senate of Arkansas. 
 And now beoan his second series of misfortunes. Hill's 
 most intimate neighbors were the Strongs, four brothers 
 of considerable wealth, a great deal of ambition, and in 
 the phrase of the country, "famous fighters." A close 
 and cordial intimacy grew up between them and Hill, and 
 the latter, most unfortunately and unguardedly, made 
 George, the elder, a confident to his previous history. 
 
 It so happened that George Strong had a most ambi- 
 tious desire for political distinction, and made a request 
 of Hill that he should resign his seat in the Senate in his 
 favor. This he refused to do, and the brothers conspired 
 for revenge. 
 
 Sending to North Carolina they procured a copy of the 
 reward offered for Nixon Curry, the notorious robber. 
 The four brothers, powerful and determined as they were, 
 dared not attempt his capture alone, but secured the as- 
 sistance of a dozen men and made the attempt to capture 
 Hill in his own house. The latter never forgot his daily 
 peril. He always carried an enormous double-barrelled 
 shot gun, two long rifle pistols, and a formidable knife. 
 Arkansas has never been noted as a peacefully inclined 
 State, and in those days its population numbered a 
 greater per cent, of desperadoes and lawless men than it 
 did a few vears later. The attack of the Strongs proved a
 
 lilOGKAPHlCAL SKETCHES. 99 
 
 dreadful one for themselves. Two of the brothers were 
 shot dead, while six of the others were badly wounded, 
 some of them mortally, when the rest of them were glad 
 to withdraw for the time. The affair caused the most 
 unbounded excitement throughout Arkansas. The 
 thought that the chivalrous and highly popular John liill 
 could be identical with the notorious robber, Nixon 
 Curry, was staggering to hundreds. Many for a time 
 rehised to believe it. 
 
 Perhaps the state of public feeling can best be shown 
 by the two following extracts from the Little Rock Ga- 
 zette: "Among the truest friends of the people of all in, 
 the present convention, may be named John Hill, of St. 
 Francis. His energy, eloquence and courage fully entitled 
 him to the proud place he holds, and, as we trust, will 
 long- retain, that of the leader of the Arkansas Democ- 
 racy." 
 
 The second extract is taken from the same paper of 
 1840: 
 
 "Bloody AfTray. — A desperate rencontre occurred last 
 w^eek in St. Francis. Two distinguished citizens were 
 killed and three deaths resulted from an attempt to ar- 
 rest John Hill, a member of the last Legislature, and for- 
 merlv of the State convention, who, it is alleged, is the 
 notorious robber, Nixon Curry, who committed such 
 atrocities fifteen years ago in the mountains of North 
 Carolina." 
 
 A requisition was sent by the Governor of North Caro- 
 lina demanding the surrender of Nixon Curry. The Gov- 
 ernor of Arkansas published an additional rew^ard for the 
 arrest of John Hill; and thus between the two it seemed 
 as if it was about up with the victim. 
 
 Hill packed up hastily and set out with his wife and 
 children for Upper Arkansas, where he knew of the ex- 
 istence of a band of desperadoes, that he had reason to 
 believe would j)rotect him. He was pursued In' over a 
 hundred of the citizens, manv of them unarmed, .'ind onlv
 
 100 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 attending for the purpose of witnessing the sport and se- 
 curing a part of the niunihcent reward that was offered 
 for the man's apprehension. HiU was overtaken at Con- 
 way Court House by these men. He hahed his wagon 
 and admonishing his wife and children to keep their 
 pkices, marched boklly forth with his death-deaUng gun 
 to meet them. 
 
 The gahantry of the action, and HiU's incredible brav- 
 ery, operated in his favor. Many were unwilling to hunt 
 so intrepid a character, others were afraid, a panic was 
 created, and Hill pursued his way unmolested. 
 
 Subsequent attempts were made to arrest him, but all 
 resulted tragically, or ludricrously, to those attempting it. 
 It was known that Hill could never be taken alive, and 
 many began to believe that he could not when dead. 
 
 The constant pursuit and chasing of him changed his 
 nature. He became morose and sour and unable to fol- 
 low any regular business. He resorted to the gambling 
 table for the support of his family. He became a drinker, 
 too, and was speedily transformed into a bitter and quar- 
 relsome opponent. 
 
 If Hill had been famous among the mountains and 
 piedmont section of North Carolna, he now became 
 doubl} so. 
 
 Excepting, perhaps, that prince of duelists, James 
 Bowie, there was never a man who inspired more terror. 
 Men who had acquired a wide reputation for their deeds 
 of daring, turned pale when they encountered John Hill. 
 Bullies who sought quarrels on the slightest pretext, ac- 
 cepted all manner of insults from him without a word of 
 remonstrance. (It is said and believed, that during all 
 tiie wonderful vicissitudes of Curry's most wonder- 
 ful and tragic life, he never spoke a harsh and unkind word 
 to his wife. Like Byron's Corsair, he had "one virtue 
 linked with a thousand crimes.") 
 
 One day in September, 1845, while seated at the break- 
 fast table. Hill burst into tears.
 
 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. lUi 
 
 ■'W hat's the matter, dear? " inquired his wife. 
 
 "i iiave had a dreadful dream: it is a warninu-. 1 saw 
 George Strong in my sleep, and he kissed me with his 
 pale lips, that burned like tire, and smelled of sulphur. 
 1 am sure 1 shall die before sunset. Together we have 
 encountered perils and hardships. You abandoned wealth 
 and position for my sake, and you have never spoken an 
 i.nkind word to me. We have loved from childhood, and 
 that love has never known abatement. It is this that 
 tioubles me — not regard for myself. It is indelibly im- 
 pressed upon my mind that I shall die a horrible death 
 before sundown, and the thought that it will distress you, 
 also distresses me." 
 
 Tiiese were the exact words of Hill as testified by his 
 wife and children. 
 
 His W'ife told him. "Then, my dear husband, do not 
 go to court today.'' (The Circuit Court of Pope county. 
 in which Hill resided, it should be remarked, was then in 
 session.") 
 
 "Yes, my wife, I must go," he replied. "When a man's 
 time has come, he should not seek to avoid death, but 
 meet it bravely." 
 
 Then, turning to his son, William, a bright boy of thir- 
 teen, he told him to go and get the Bible, and ui)on it ho 
 made him swear to kill the man who should kill his father. 
 
 "Here comes Moses Howard, he will protect you, pa," 
 remarked Mary Hill, the oldest daughter, a lovely girl of 
 fifteen, who was to be married the next day to the youth 
 then approaching. Moses Howard, w'ho was a fine-look- 
 ing powerful man, chatted a few- minutes with the family, 
 and then went out in company with I lill. who shaved and 
 dressed himself with particular neatness, embraced his 
 wife with the warmest affection, and with tears in his 
 eves, before leavinef. 
 
 As soon as the two reached town, Tli11 began drinking 
 deeply, and showed a more f|uarrelsome disposition ihan 
 ever. He insulted evcrybodx- that crossed hi-^ path, and
 
 102 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 all the entreaties of the young man failed to pacify him. 
 Finally he declared that he would clear the court house, 
 and dashed into the court room with fury depicted in his 
 countenance. Judge, lawyers, jury, spectators, all made al 
 ru::ih for the door. One man who lagged behind was 
 siczed by Hill and beaten unmercifully. 
 
 ^"oung Howard caught hold of the infuriated man and 
 attempted to restrain him, when, glaring like a tiger, he 
 turned upon the youth and struck him to the floor. Be- 
 fore he could rise Hill sprang upon him and commenced 
 pounding him. 
 
 ''For God's sake, stop, Hill. Don't you know me — 
 your friend — Howard?" 
 
 Hill seemed to grow "more furious each moment, and 
 clutched a pistol, determined to take his friend's life. 
 Howard grasped the barrel of the pistol as Hill cocked 
 it, and the weapon was discharged in their hands without 
 doing any injury. Once more they clinched, and the most 
 dreadful struggle ensued ever witnessed in the West. The 
 advantage shifted from one side to the other for the space 
 cf five minutes, till both were bathed in streams of their 
 own blood. Even the bystanders looking on through the 
 windows of the long court house, were struck with won- 
 der and awe. At length, while writhing and twisting 
 like two raging serpents, the handle of Hill's huge bowie 
 knife, unthought of previously, protruded from beneath 
 his hunting shirt. Both saw it at the same time, and both 
 cittempted to grasp it. Howard succeeded. Quick as 
 lightning he drew the knife-l^lade from the scabbard, and 
 sheathed it up to the hilt in the bosom of his friend and 
 his sweetheart's father. 
 
 "The dream is fulfilled," exclaimed Hill, with a smile 
 of stransre sweetness that remained on his features even 
 after he was a corpse. He then sank down and expired 
 without a e^roan. Howard orazed on him there as he lav. 
 with that singular smile on his face, and his glazed eyes
 
 BIOGHAPHICAL SKETCHES. 103 
 
 open. And then awakening with a start, as if from some 
 horrible vision of the night, the poor, unhappy youth fell 
 headlong on the body of his friend, crying in tones that 
 melted many hardened spectators to tears, "Great God.' 
 What have I done?" He kissed the clammy lips of the 
 dead, tried to staunch the bloody wound with his hand- 
 kerchief, and then, apparently satisfied that all was over, 
 sprang upon his feet with a scream, "Farewell, Mary. 
 Your father is gone, and I am going with him," and turn- 
 ing the point of the gory knift towards his own breast, 
 would have plunged it into his own heart, had he not 
 been prevented by the by-standers, who had now 
 crowded into the room. 
 
 The same evening Moses Howard disappeared, and was 
 heard of no more for nearly two years, when a trader 
 brought back w^ord that he had seen him in San Antonio, 
 Texas. 
 
 When the shocking news reached Hill's family, the 
 beautiful Mary burst into a wild laugh. Hopelessly in- 
 sane, she was taken to New Orleans and placed in an asy- 
 lum, where she spent the remainder of her most wretched 
 life. 
 
 It will be remembered that Hill enjoined upon his son 
 to avenge his death. Faithfully did that son obey the 
 command. When he had reached his sixteenth year, he 
 left for Texas. He was gone for several months. When 
 he returned he said to his mother, in reply to her inquir- 
 ing look: It's done, mother! Poor Howard, I pitied him, 
 but I had to do it!" 
 
 "Poor Mose." said the mother, weeping, "but it could 
 not be helped. The son of such a brave man as Nixon 
 Curry must never be called a coward, and besides, it was 
 your father's order." 
 
 [For the facts on which the history of this most re- 
 m.'irkablc man has been w'Httcn, T am imdor obligations 
 to Mrs. lohnston, a sister of Nixon Currv, and to her son,
 
 104 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Isaac Johnston, a venerable citizen of Davidson College 
 also for the use of Arkansas newspapers printed at the 
 time of the wildest excitement connected with the killing 
 of Curry. As for the killing- of Ben Wilson, every person 
 in the upper part of Mecklenburg was familiar with all 
 the details forty years ago.]
 
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