Mecklenburg County NC

Biography of James Baxter

Captain James Baxter, of Boise, is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Norwich. His parents were Frank and Mary (Gunn) Baxter, who came with their family to the United States when the Captain was very young. They resided near New York City for some years, and then removed to Paterson, New Jersey. The father was a horticulturist by occupation and successfully engaged in the cultivation of vegetables and flowers. Soon after his arrival in America he took steps toward becoming naturalized and was recognized as a valued and influential citizen. He served as county commissioner in New … Read more

Edwin Carlton Huey

Sergt., Q. M. C., Inf., Hdqrs. Co., 30th Div. Born in Mecklenburg County, May 1, 1893; son of Mr. and Mrs. F. V. Huey. Husband of Mrs. Ora Estelle Huey. Entered service July 18, 1917, at Wilmington, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier. Transferred to Camp Mills, N. Y. Overseas to Liverpool, from there was sent to France. Promoted to rank of Sergt. April, 1918. Fought at Ypres, Lys, Somme offensive. Returned to the USA April 2, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, April 8, 1919.

Biographical Sketch of James Jack

James Jack, eldest son of Col. Patrick Jack, married, in 1822, Ann Scott Gray, who died in 1838. In 1847, he married Mary Jane Witherspoon, having by the first wife ten, and by the second, eleven children, of whom at present (1876) twelve are living. In 1823, he moved to Jefferson county, Ala., and one year afterward to Hale county, in the same State, where he ended his days. During the fall of the last year (1875) the author received from him two interesting letters respecting the history of his ever-memorable grandfather, Capt. James Jack, after his removal from North … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Andrew H. Allison

Andrew H. Allison, farmer, deceased, Sec. 8; P. O. Campbell; owned 300 acres of land, which was left to the heirs; was born in Mecklenburg Co., N. C., Sept. 20, 1823; came from Tennessee to this county when 13 years of age, where he resided until his death, which occurred Nov. 15, 1864. He was married to Eveline Dryden Dec. 30, 1845; she was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., June 7, 1822; they have had eight children – Mary Ann, Emily Frances, Thomas L., William D., Nancy C., John N., Henry C. and Andrew B. Mr. Allison was School Director … Read more

John C. Brewer

Mechanic, Artillery, Co. A, Div. No. 81, 318th Field Artillery; son of R. L. and Ada Brewer, of Davidson, N.C. Entered service May 3, 1917, at Lexington, N.C. Was sent to Camp Jackson. To Liverpool, England, Aug. 20, 1918. Landed in the United States June 3, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., June 20, 1919.

Samuel A. Alexander

2nd Lt., Remount Veterinary Corps, 6th Cavalry. Entered service at Matthews, N. C., June 7, 1917. Son of A. D. and Mary W. (Bess) Alexander, of Mecklenburg County. Sent to Ft. Royal, Va., Remount Depot. Sailed for France March 23, 1918. Returned to USA July 5, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Dix, July 8, 1919. Commissioned May 21, 1917.

Biography of Major Thomas Alexander

Major Thomas Alexander, born in 1753, was one of the earliest and most unwavering patriots of Mecklenburg county. He first entered the service in 1775, as a private, in Captain John Springs’ company, and marched to the head of the Catawba river, to assist in protecting the frontier settlements, then greatly suffering from the murderous and depredating incursions of the Cherokee Indians. In 1775 he also volunteered in Captain Ezekiel Polk’s company, and marched against the Tories assembled at the post of Ninety, in South Carolina. In 1776 he volunteered in Captain William Alexander’s company, under Colonels Adam Alexander and … Read more

Biography of President James K. Polk

James Knox Polk, son of Samuel Polk, and grandson of Ezekiel Polk, was born on the 2nd of November, 1793 about eleven miles south of Charlotte, on the Camden road, on a plantation which, at his father’s removal to Tennessee in 1806, became the property of Nathan Orr, and finally that of the late James Hennigan, Esq. The house in which James K. Polk was born, stood about two hundred yards south of the present crossing place of Little Sugar Creek, and about one hundred yards to the right of the public road in passing from Charlotte. The lingering signs … Read more

E. T. Cansler, Jr.

Capt., Inf., Machine Gun Co., 32nd Reg., 81st Div.; Son of E. T. and Lillie Scott Cansler, of Mecklenburg County. Entered service May 12, 1917, at Charlotte, N.C. Went to O. T. S. at Ft. Oglethorpe. Transferred to Camp Jackson and from there to Camp Sevier; then to Camp Upton, and sailed for France Aug. 1, 1918. Commissioned 2nd Lt. Aug. 15, 1917. Promoted to 1st Lt. Jan. 1, 1918, and to Captain October, 1918. Fought at Vosges Mountains, St. Die Sector, and Meuse-Argonne. After signing of armistice was Asst. Div. Judge Advocate General of 89th Div. from Dec., 1918, … Read more

Waxhaw Indians

Waxhaw Tribe: Meaning unknown. Also called: Flatheads, a name given to this tribe and others of the Catawba connection owing to their custom of deforming the head. Waxhaw Connection. Nothing of their language has been preserved, but circumstantial evidence points to a close relationship between the Waxhaw and the Catawba and hence to membership in the Siouan linguistic stock. Their closest contacts appear to have been with the Sugeree. Waxhaw Location. In Lancaster County, S. C., and Union and Mecklenburg Counties, N. C. Waxhaw Villages. Lawson mentions two villages in 1701 but the names are not given. Waxhaw History. The … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Jack

Samuel Jack, third son of Patrick Jack, of Charlotte, was also a soldier of the Revolution, and commanded an artillery company. He lived in the Sugar Creek neighborhood, and married, 1st. Miss Knight, of Mecklenburg county, by whom he had two children, 1. Eliza D. Jack, who married the Rev. Mr. Hodge, a Presbyterian minister, and settled in Athens, Ga., and 2. James Jack, who died when a young man. A few years after her death, he married Margaret Stewart, of Philadelphia, Pa., by whom he had five children: 1. Samuel Stewart; 2. John McCormick; 3. William D.; 4. Mary … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Davidson

“John Davidson” was born in Pennsylvania in 1736. He performed much civil and military service to secure the independence of his country. He was appointed by the Provincial Congress, which met at Halifax on the 4th of April, 1776, a field officer (Major) with Adam Alexander as Colonel, John Phifer as Lieutenant Colonel, and George A. Alexander as second Major. He was with General Sumpter in August, 1780, at the battle of the Hanging Rock, and was a General in the State militia service. He was enterprising, and successful in business. With Alexander Brevard, and Joseph Graham, his sons-in-law, he … Read more

Monroe L. Robinson

Private. Enlisted April 15, 1917, 5th Co., C. A. C., Charlotte, N.C. Later transferred to 10th Anti-Aircraft Battery. Sailed for France July 8, 1918. Served in Argonne Forest and St. Mihiel drives. Returned to U. S. January 1, 1919. Discharged January 8, 1919. Home address, Charlotte, N.C.

Cicero Alexander

Sergt. 1st Class, Base Hospital, Unit C. A. C., Ft. Caswell, N.C. Enlisted July 25, 1917, Charlotte, N.C. Attached to Base Hospital Unit C. A. C., Ft. Caswell. N.C. Served as “Topper” July 25, 1917, to April 8, 1919, Ft. Caswell. Permanent address, Charlotte, N.C.

Albert J. Ezell

1st Sergt., C. A. C., N. G., 5th Co. Son of J. J. and Mrs. L. E. Ezell, of Mecklenburg County. Entered service April 14, 1914, at Charlotte, N.C. Sent to Ft. Caswell, N.C., July 25, 1917, then transferred to Ft. Monroe, Va., September, 1918. Remained there until mustered out of service Dec. 7, 1918.

Biography of Waightstìll Avery

“Waightstìll Avery” was an eminent lawyer, born in the town of Groton, Connecticut, in 1747, and graduated at Princeton College in 1766. There were eight brothers of this family, and all true patriots; some of them were massacred at Fort Griswold, and some perished at Wyoming Valley. Some of the descendants still reside at Groton, Conn., and others at Oswego, and Seneca Lake, N.Y. He studied law on the eastern shore of Maryland, with Littleton Dennis. In 1769, he emigrated to North Carolina, obtained license to practice in 1770, and settled in Charlotte. By his assiduity and ability, he soon … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert Kerr

Robert Kerr, a soldier of the Revolution, was born in December, 1750, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and came to North Carolina with his parents when only three years old. He first entered the service in 1776, in Captain John McKnitt Alexander’s company, in the expedition, General Rutherford commanding, against the Cherokee Indians, then severely molesting the frontier settlements. In 1778, he was drafted into Captain John Brownfield’s company, Colonel Frances Locke’s regiment, and marched by way of Camden, to the defence of Charleston. After his return, he served under the same officers in the battle of Ramsour’s Mill, in Lincoln … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James W. Jack

James W. Jack, third son of Captain James Jack, married Annie Barnett, a daughter of John Barnett and Ann Spratt. He was a farmer by profession, of unblemished character, and extensive influence, residing and ending his days in Wilkes county, Ga. He had the following children: 1. Samuel T.; 2. Jane; 3. James, (killed at the massacre of the Alamo, under Col. Faonin) 4. Lillis; 5. Patrick, and 6. Cynthia Jack. Samuel T. Jack married Martha Webster, of Mississippi; Jane Jack married Dr. James Jarratt; Lillis Jack married Osborne Edward, Esq., and Patrick Jack married Emily Hanson, of Texas.

Edwin Short

Private. Born in Mecklenburg County. Entered the service May 1, 1918, at Charlotte, N.C. Was sent to Ft. Thomas, Ky., then to Ft. Adams, R. I. Transferred to Camp Eustis, Va. Sailed for France Sept. 5, 1918. Returned to USA Jan. 18, 1919. Mustered out Feb. 14, 1919.

Biography of Benjamin Patton

“Benjamin Patton” was one of the earliest settlers in the eastern part of Mecklenburg county (now Cabarrus). He was a man of iron firmness and of indomitable courage. Descended from the blood of the Covenanters, he inherited their tenacity of purpose, sagacity of action and purity of character. He was an early and devoted friend of liberty. He was a delegate to the Provincial Congress which met at Newbern on the 25th of August, 1774. This was the first meeting of representatives direct from the people. The royal Governor, Josiah Martin, issued his proclamation against its assembling, as being without … Read more