Mecklenburg County NC

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

John James Gifford

Enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve Force on June 6th, 1918, and called to active duty at Norfolk, Va., August 10th. Detailed as seaman, second class, on transport Pastores in September and after one trip to St. Nazaire, France, rated Yeoman, 3rd class. Promoted to Yeoman, 2nd class, and placed in charge of entertainment of troops on board. Discharged at Newport News, Va., after completing five trips to France. Mr. Gifford’s patriotic poems, written while in service, brought forth much favorable comment from government officials. His home is in Charlotte.

Biographical Sketch of Mary Jack

Mary Jack, third daughter of Patrick Jack, of Charlotte, married Captain Robert Alexander, of Lincoln county, who emigrated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina about 1760. He commanded a company during the Revolution, in the Cherokee expedition, under General Rutherford; acted for several years as Commissary, and performed other minor, but important trusts for the county. He was one of the early band of patriots who met at Newbern on the 25th of August, 1774, and again attended the Convention at Hillsboro, on the 21st of August, 1775. After the war, he settled on his farm, one mile northwest of Tuckasege … Read more

Biography of Henry Hunter

Henry Hunter was born in the county of Derry, Ireland, on the 11th of August, 1751. About the time he became of age, he married Martha Sloan, and, after remaining a little upwards of one year longer in Ireland, he emigrated to America, and landed at Charleston, S.C., after a long and boisterous voyage of thirteen weeks. After reaching the shores of the New World, to which his fond anticipations of superior civil and religious privileges had anxiously turned, on surveying his situation, grim poverty stared him in the face; for, his stock of cash on hand was just “one … Read more

Biography of Robert Jack

Robert Jack, the fourth and youngest son of Patrick Jack, of Charlotte, remained in Chambersburg, Pa., where his father had resided many years previous to his removal to North Carolina. He had the following children: 1. James; 2. John; 3. Cynthia, and 4. Margaret Jack. John Jack was the only one of this family who married. He was born in Chambersburg, on the 29th of December, 1763. At the age of sixteen, he went to Baltimore, engaged as a clerk in a mercantile house, and there acquired those correct business habits and educational training which qualified him for future usefulness. … Read more

Biography of Rev. Hezekiah J. Balch

“Rev. Hezekiah J. Balch” was born at Deer Creek, Harford county, Md., in 1748. He was said to be the brother of Col. James Balch, of Maryland, and the uncle of the late distinguished Rev. Stephen B. Balch, D. D., of Georgetown, D. C. He graduated at Princeton in 1766, when not quite eighteen years old, in the class with Waightstill Avery, Luther Martin, of Maryland, Oliver Ellsworth, of Connecticut, and others. He came to North Carolina in 1769, as a missionary, being appointed for this work by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia. Although ordained before the war, … Read more

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 William Kennon

“William Kennon” was an early and devoted friend of liberty. He was an eminent lawyer, resided in Salisbury, and had a large practice in the surrounding counties. He was one of the prominent advocates for “absolute independence” at the Convention in Charlotte, on the 19th and 20th of May, 1775. He, with Mr. Willis, a brother-in-law, Adlai Osborne, and Samuel Spencer (afterward Judge Spencer), took an active part in arresting two obnoxious lawyers, John Dunn and Benjamin Booth Boote, preceding the Revolution, in giving utterance to language inimical to the cause of American independence. They were conveyed to Charlotte for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Alexander

“John Alexander”, son of James Alexander, was in active service for upwards of five years. He was the husband of Mrs. Susanna Alexander, long known and highly esteemed in Mecklenburg county as the ministering angel, who was eminently instrumental in saving the life of Captain Joseph Graham, after he was cut down by the British cavalry, near Sugar Creek Church, and left by them, supposed to be dead. She found him by the roadside, conducted him to her house, dressed his wounds, made by ball and sabre, and tenderly cared for him during the night. On the next day, his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ezekiel Polk

Ezekiel Polk, one of the older brothers of Colonel Thomas Polk, was the first clerk of the county court of Lincoln, after its separation from Mecklenburg in 1768; a Magistrate of Mecklenburg county at a later period; and was a man of considerable wealth and influence, owning much of the valuable lands around “Morrow’s Turnout,” now the flourishing village of “Pineville.” He was the grandfather of James K. Polk, President of the United States in 1845, some of whose noblest traits of character were illustrated in “refusing to serve a second term” and in being “never absent from his post … 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.

Walker Franklin Kale

Phm., 2nd Class, U. S. N.; son of George W. and Mrs. Martha Kale; of Mecklenburg County. Entered service Aug. 5, 1918, at Norfolk, Va. Promoted to H. A. C., then to Phm., 3rd Class. Later to Phm., 2nd Class. Made nine trips on the U. S. Transport “Mercury.” Mustered out at Brooklyn, Oct. 4, 1919.

William M. Hannon

Sergeant, First Class, Q. M. C., Charlotte, N.C. Enlisted July 25, 1917, New Haven, Conn., 26th Division. Sailed for France September 9, 1917. Returned to States April 4, 1919. Discharged April 19, 1919. Served with 102nd Infantry and Division Headquarters, Q. M. C.

Biographical Sketch of James Orr

James Orr was born in Pennsylvania in 1750. He early espoused the cause of freedom, and first entered the service in a company of riflemen, commanded by Captain Robert Mebane; marched to Cross Creek (now Fayetteville), and thence to Wilmington, to the assistance of Generals Ashe and Moore. In 1776, he volunteered under Captain Thomas Polk, in Colonel Charles’ corps of cavalry, General Rutherford commanding, and marched against a body of Tories assembled at Cross Creek, but they were dispersed before the expedition reached that place. Again, in 1776, he volunteered under Captain Mebane, and marched from Charlotte to the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Churchill Jack

Churchill Jack, youngest son of Col. Patrick Jack, is a farmer in Arkansas, and the only one of this family now (1876) living. William H., Patrick C. and Spencer H. Jack, all young and adventurous spirits, emigrated from Alabama to Texas in 1831, and cast their lots with the little American colony which was then just beginning to establish itself. They were all three lawyers by profession, and took an active interest and part in the difficulties with Mexico, which were sure to result in open hostilities and the independence of Texas. Spencer H. Jack died young and without issue.

Lawrence M. Fetner

Capt., Med. Corps, 318th Inf., 80th Div.; son of L. J. and Mary Fetner, of Mecklenburg County. Entered service June 14, 1917, at Charlotte, N.C. Sent to M. O. T. C. at Ft. Oglethorpe. Transferred to Camp Lee, Va., then to Hoboken. Sailed for France March 16, 1918. Commissioned 1st Lt. May, 1917. Promoted to Captain Oct. 21, 1918. In battles at Avoloy Woods, Artois Sector, 2nd Marne, St. Mihiel, Argonne Forest. Received two machine gun wounds at Argonne Forest Oct. 19, 1918. Sent to Base Hospitals No. 62 and 27, Angers. Holds Division Citation for remaining with Regiment after … Read more

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.

Captain Charles Polk’s “Muster Roll”

Captain, Charles Polk 1st Lieut, William Ramsey 2nd Lieut., John Lemmond 1st Sergt, John Montgomery 2nd Sergt., William Galbraith (erased) Drummer, Hugh Lindsay John Smith John Polk, Sen. (erased) John Wylie John Findley John Galbraith James Hall John Stansill William —- (illegible) John Miller Humphrey Hunter Henry Carter James Maxwell John Maxwell Robert Galbraith John McCandlis Nicholas Siler Samuel Linton Thomas Shelby James Alexander Robert Harris, Jun. John Foard Jonathan Buckaloe Charles Alexander, Sen. Henry Powell William Rea Samuel Hughes Charles Alexander, Jun. William Shields Charles Polk, Jun. John Purser William Lemmond, ‘Clerk to the said company, and Shurgeon to … Read more

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

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