Mecklenburg County NC

Biography of William Richardson Davie

General William R. Davie was born in Egremont, near White Haven, in England, on the 20th of June, 1756. When he was only five years of age, he emigrated, with his father, Archibald Davie, to America, and was adopted by his maternal uncle, Rev. William Richardson, who resided on the Catawba river, in South Carolina. After due preparation at “Queen’s Museum” in Charlotte, he entered Princeton College, where, by his close application, he soon acquired the reputation of an excellent student. But the din of arms disturbed his collegiate studies, so auspiciously commenced, and he forthwith exchanged the gown for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John G. Jack

John G. Jack settled in Louisville, Ky., and died there, leaving three daughters and one son, Robert Bruce Jack. Edward W. Jack, youngest son of John Jack, of Romney, now lives near Salem, Roanoke county, Va., in the quiet fruition of all that pertains to an honorable “bachelor’s” life. All the members of this family have sustained exemplary characters, and now occupy fair and eminent positions in society.

Hollie Clyde Giles

Entered service Y. M. C. A., Jan. 1, 1918. Sailed overseas Aug. 15, 1918. Arrived in France Sept. 2, 1918. Assigned to Motor Transport Duty, visiting various battle fronts and canteens in the interest of the soldiers. Some of the fronts he served at were Soissons, Rheims, Chateau Thierry, Toul Sector and others; the last duty performed was to drive a Packard Twin-Six, which belonged to Lt. Col. Goodrich, from Genoa, Italy to Paris, by the way of Monte Carlo and Nice, crossing the Alps Mountains; driving time thirty-one hours; one thousand seven hundred and fifteen kilometers. Landed in New … Read more

Waxhaw Tribe

Waxhaw Indians. A small tribe that lived in the 17th century in what is now Lancaster County, South Carolina, and Union and Mecklenburg Counties, North Carolina. They were connected with the neighboring Sugeree, and both were apparently related to the Catawba, and therefore were Siouan. The custom of flattening the head, practiced by the Waxhaw, was also mentioned as a custom of the Catawba. Lederer (1672) says they were subject to and might be considered a part of the Catawba. Lawson visited the Waxhaw in 1701 and was hospitably received. He mentions two of their villages situated about 10 miles … 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

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.

Slave Narrative of Robert Toatley

Interviewer: W. W. Dixon Person Interviewed: Robert Toatley Location: Winnsboro, South Carolina Date of Birth: May 15, 1855 Age: 82 Robert Toatley lives with his daughter, his son, his son’s wife, and their six children, near White Oak, seven miles north of Winnsboro, S.C. Robert owns the four-room frame house and farm containing 235 acres. He has been prosperous up from slavery, until the boll weevil made its appearance on his farm and the depression came on the country at large, in 1929. He has been compelled to mortgage his home but is now coming forward again, having reduced the … Read more

William E. Wishart

Capt. Med. Corps; son of the late J. J. and Fannie Wishart, of Mecklenburg County, and husband of Margaret M. Griffin Wishart. Entered service Sept. 12, 1917, at Charlotte, N.C. Sent to M. O. T. C. at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Transferred to Camp Travis, Base Hospital duty; from there to Hoboken and sailed for France Sept. 1, 1918. Commissioned 1st Lt., Aug. 15, 1917. Promoted to Captain April, 1919. Present at engagements at Verdun, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel. Did duty at Bazailles, Sur-Meuse Base Hospital No. 81, in charge of Respitory and Urological cases. Received French Government Citation for attention to … Read more

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.

Sugeree Tribe

Sugeree Indians. A small tribe, supposed to have been Siouan, that lived near the Waxhaw in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and York County, South Carolina.  They occupied a fertile district and, according to Lawson inhabited many towns and settlements.  They were doubtless greatly reduced by the Yamasee War of 1715 and later merged in the Catawba.

Biographical Sketch of William Polk

William Polk, son of Colonel Thomas Polk, was born in 1759, and was present at the Mecklenburg Convention of the 19th and 20th of May, 1775. He commenced his military career with his father in the expedition against the Scovillite Tories, in upper South Carolina, in the autumn of 1775. He was with General Nash when he fell at Germantown; with General Davidson, at Cowan’s Ford; with General Greene, at Guilford Court House; and with the same officer at Eutaw Springs. In the last named battle he was severely wounded, the effects of which he carried with him to his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Judge Samuel Lowrie

Judge Lowrie was born in New Castle county, Del., on the 12th of May, 1756. His parents moved, when he was a child, to North Carolina, and settled in Rowan county. He was educated at Clio Academy (now in Iredell county) under the Rev. James Hall, an eminent Presbyterian minister of the gospel, and Captain of a company during the Revolutionary War. He studied law in Camden, S.C., and, soon gaining eminence in his profession, was elected to the House of Commons from Mecklenburg county in 1804,-‘5 and ‘6. In the last named year he was elected a Judge of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Cynthia Jack

Cynthia Jack, eldest child and only daughter of Capt. James Jack, married A.S. Cosby, and settled in Mississippi. After his death the widow and family settled in Louisiana, about 1814. Their descendants were: 1. Margaret. 2. Cynthia. 3. James; and 4. Dr. Charles Cosby. Patrick Jack, eldest son of Captain James Jack, was Colonel of the 8th Regiment U.S. Infantry, in the war of 1812, stationed at Savannah. He sustained an elevated position in society, frequently represented Elbert county in the State Senate, and died in 1820. His children were: 1. Patrick. 2. William II.; and 3. James W. Jack. … Read more

David G. Downs

Wagoner, 6th Co., 1st Corps Artillery Park; son of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Downs, of Pineville, N.C. Entered service March 7, 1918. Trained at Camp Jackson, S. C. Sailed for France three weeks after entering service. Fought at Champagne-Marne defensive July 15 to July 18, 1918. Aisne-Marne offensive July 18 to Aug. 16, 1918, Oise-Aisne offensive between Aug. 18 and Nov. 11, 1918, Meuse-Argonne offensive between Sept. 20 to Nov. 11, 1918, Chateau Thierry and Verdun Sectors. Gassed once. Arrived from France Aug. 4, 1919. Discharged from Camp Lee, Va., Aug. 9, 1919.

Henry K. Burtner

Private, 1st class, Inf., Hdqrs. Co., 3rd Div., 30th Reg. Born Dec. 5, 1898; son of D. H. and Florence Burtner, of Mecklenburg County. Entered service Dec. 13, 1917, at Greensboro, N.C. Sent to Ft. Thomas, Ky., Dec. 13, 1917. Transferred to Camp Hancock, Ga., Jan. 2, 1918, then to Camp Merritt, N. J., March 24, 1918. Sailed for France April, 1918. Fought at Chateau Thierry Defensive. Killed at Battle of Chateau Thierry June 26, 1918. Buried at Belleau Woods June 27, 1918. The 1st Greensboro boy killed in action. The Henry K. Burtner Post No. 53, American Legion, is … Read more

Biography of Judge John F. Jack

Judge John F. Jack married Elizabeth, next to the youngest daughter of General William Cocke, previously mentioned, who was a Captain in the Revolutionary War, a companion of Daniel Boon from western North Carolina across the Alleghany mountains to the “wilderness of Kentucky,” a prominent actor in the establishment of the “Frankland Government,” one of the first Senators to Congress from the new State of Tennessee, and afterward, one of the Circuit Judges of that State. He served in the Legislatures of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi. At the advanced age of sixty-five years, he volunteered in the war … Read more

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.

Claud T. Earnhardt

Private, Field Hospital No. 15, 2nd Div.; son of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Earnhardt, of Pineville, N.C. Entered the service at Charlotte, N.C., June 24, 1917. Trained at Ft. Ben Harrison, Ind. Sailed for France Nov. 18, 1917. Fought at Woevre, Soissons, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Mt. Blanc, Verdun Sector, Chateau Thierry, Meuse-Aisne and other engagements with his company. With army of Occupation from Nov. 12, 1918, until April 28, 1919. Returned to USA June 1, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Mills, June 7, 1919.

Biographical Sketch of Elijah Alexander

Elijah Alexander, son of William Alexander, blacksmith, was born in Mecklenburg county, N.C., in 1760. In 1819, he moved to Maury county, Tenn., where he died at a good old age. In March, 1780, Colonel Thomas Polk called out detachments from the nearest companies of militia to serve as a guard over the public powder placed in the magazine in Charlotte. He then volunteered for three months under Captain Thomas Alexander. After Cornwallis crossed the Catawba River at Cowan’s Ford, on the 1st of February, 1781, at which place General Davidson was killed, a call was made for more men … Read more

Link Williams

Private, Co. C, 167th Inf., 42nd Div. Son of Mr. and Mrs. N. S. Williams, of Pineville, N.C., Mecklenburg County. Entered service April 15, 1918, at Charlotte, N.C. Trained at Camp Jackson. Transferred to Camp Sevier. Sailed for France July 6, 1918. Received gunshot wound on the Verdun Front Sept. 12, 1918. Returned to the USA Nov. 29, 1918. Mustered out at Camp Wadsworth Jan. 17, 1919.