Two
HISTORICAL AND INDUSTRIAL EDITION OF THE GASTON PROGRESS
it. There never was any doubt in the
minds of anyone that Gastonia was
much more centrally located than
Dallas, and therefore more convenient
to those having business at the court
house. It was on the line of both the
Southern and the Carolina & North
western, while Dallas had only the
last named road, and there were num
bers of other good arguments in its
favor. But those in favor of keeping
the county seat at the old town had
a host of friends, and it was only
after long years of discussion that an
agreement was reached by which the
Dallas people were paid for the old
court house and other buildings, and
for the loss entailed. A committee
of progressive business men was
formed, and they paid out, it is
supposed, something in the neighbor
hood of $60,000 for the privilege of
having the court house here. Doubt
less it was a good investment for it
added a number of valuable citizens
to our population and brought a good
deal of trade here, but even today,
after the fight is over, the subject of
the removal of the court house had
better be touched on lightly in the
hearing of a man from Dallas. The
new court house was first occupied
last year and is one of the hand
somest as well as the most modern in
the State.
engaged on the side of the British, only
468 were able to surrender, the rest
being either killed or wounded. Not
a single man escaped. The American
loss was 23 killed and 117 wounded.
As a result of this epochal fight Corn
wallis. who, with his army, was only
14 miles away for the purpose of form
ing a junction with Ferguson, and sub-
dueing the Carolinas, evacuated Char
lotte, and retreated to Charleston, so
as to be under the cover of the guns
of his ships. The Carolinas were
saved, and one of the hardest blows
for independence had been struck by
a lot of untrained mountaineers
against the picked soldiers of the Eng
lish army. The American troops were
entirely from North Carolina and Vir
ginia, hardy pioneers, many of whose
decendants live in Gastonia and
the same pluck and perseverance in
times of peace as they did in war, in
developing the resources of this won
derful section. At King’s Mountain
there is a handsome monument erected
by the government inscribed: “Here
on the 7th day of October, 1780, the
British forces, commanded by Col. Pat
rick Ferguson, were met and totally
defeated by Campbell, Shelby, Wil
liams, Cleveland, Sevier, and Mc
Donald.”
panies, and of the Monarch Cotton Mill
Company. E. B. Brittain, secretary of
the company, has the general manage
ment of the office, and is a young man
of marked ability who understands the
business thoroughly. Mr. Rankin and
Mr. Armstrong, with the following
gentlemen, constitute the board of
directors: R. Grady Rankin, secre-
tary-treasurer Gastonia Garage Com
pany; S. M. Robinson, secretary-treas-
urer Lowell and Peerless Mills; R. U,
Ray, treasurer McAden Mills; G. M.
Gullick, merchant; J. K. Dixon, treas
urer Trenton Mills; Andrew E. Moore,
assistant treasurer and general -man
ager Loray Mills, President Cit-'ens
National Bank, and secretary-treasurer
Mayes Manufacturing Company; T. ^Y.
Wilson, merchant. The large and
magnificent offices of the company are
located on the main floor of the
Realty building, which is the largest
and finest structure of its kind in the
county. The company has fully main
tained the high standard set it when
established, and under its hono;;ab]e
methods, and wide-awake and e^r-
getic management, has continued
successful career it has so long f/n-
joyed. Every class of insurance is
written—life, fire, liability, surety and
fidelity bonds, burglary, automobile.
a farmer for a number of years but
always took an active interest in the
public affairs of his county, and served
one term as commissioner. This was
the only public office he ever held un
til he was elected sheriff in 1910.
when he removed to Gastonia where he
has since made his home. He made
an excellent record as a commissioner,
as he has as sheriff, and gave his per
sonal attention to all questions brought
before the board. Sheriff McLean is a
man in the ju’ime of life, is full of
energy and enterprise, and has an
abiding faith in the future progress of
his native county the resources of
which have as yet been only partly,
developed. Sheriff McLean is a public
spirited and progressive man who is
always ready to do his part in any
public service. He is a Mason and
Odd Fellow.
implements, which has been
established here since 1886.
He has just been elected presi
dent of the Gaston Loan &
Trust Company, and is a di
rector of the First National
Bank, the Modena Cotton
Mills, and the Gray Manufact
uring Company. He is also
chairman of the Democratic
County Committee. Mayor
Craig is public spirited and
progressive, and ever ready to ' .•
lend a helping hand to any
cause that will advance the
welfare of Gastonia, his home.
Mayor Craig was unanimously
elected chairman of the 4th of
July celebration.
HONORABLE THOMAS L. CRAIG
Gastonia’s Fourth of July
celebration is nothing short
of great. It’s pretty hard to
beat the old town in anything.
Gastonia’s Progressive Mayor.
There is always in every community
a number of men who seem qua,lified
by nature to take the lead in every
movement that is for the progress and
advancement of the city in which
This “Boom Gastonia Edition” of the
Progress might have been a few pages
larger, and shown off our city to still
greater advantage were it not for one
or two “patriots” who poisoned the
well.
BATTLE OF KING’S MOUNTAIN.
Not far from Gastonia on the
line of the Southern railroad, and also
reached by a fairly good turnpike, is
King’s Mountain, where was fought
during the Revolution one of its decis
ive battles. Many historians have
placed this battle (although only a
comparatively few men were engaged)
among the epochal battles of the war
with England, claim that it was the
turning point of the struggle for
liberty, and by putting new life in the
patriots led them on to final success.
Many of the scenes about the battle
ground are just as they were when the
battle was fought 132 years ago, but
near by the little town of King’s Moun
tain which is flourishing and has hopes
of becoming one of the great cotton
nanufacturing centers of the South,
things could not have been
■';r than they were for the young
struggling for existence. Tl^
from bad to worse sinq'
GASTONIA INSURANCE & REALTY
COMPANY.
The real estate and insurance busi-
ess may most properly be ranked as
a profession rather than a commercial
pursuit. The agent’s patrons are his
clients, and his succes is built upon
the faith and confidence they repose
in his technical knowledge, his ability
and his honesty of purpose. No class
of citizens do more, and few as much,
for the advancement and the growth of
a community as the real estate
broker. He is one of the biggest assets
any town can have. He does more
than any one else to advertise itb ad
vantages, and brings set^r's and in
dustries than an.^' other one
element, if he is ^hustling, energetic
man. Every o-^ner of property, real
or personal^ whether his holdings
are large/or small, cannot help but
recogni.'ie the tremendous value, in
deed ;he absolute necessity, of insur-
and nearly every one carries it
to a greater or less degree. Many
property owners, however, are not
insured to the extent that they sh'' *
be. and why this large class
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II
. not been
'ver the mountains it wouldnave
been. Col. Pat Ferguson, with a body
of picked men, was ravaging the Caro
linas, hanging and shooting, right and
^t. and taking no prisoners. He had
ider his command 1,500 men, trained
veterans, splendidly equipped and
everything had been coming his way
until one fateful day he sent word to'
these “men over the mountains” that
he intended to come over to them and
lay the country in waste unless they
lay down their arms and took the oath
of allegiance to King George. They ac
cepted the challenge but instead of
waiting for him to come to them the
King’s Mountain men came to him
1,390 strong, and the battle was fought
on the afternoon of October 7, 1880. It
lasted but an hour. As usual the Brit
ish formed in a solid column while the
Americans resorted to Indian warfare.
“Here they are. boys,” cried Col.
Campbell, who was in command, “shoot
like hell and fight like devils.” And
these mountain chaps did just that,
with the result that in less than 60
minutes out of the 1,127 men actively
the knc^
.ccumulate
ravag.^s of fire, lightning or torlH
Having decided to Insure, the nexi!
most in. lortant question is the selec
tion of We companies In which tc
place the\'sks, and the plan pursued
by the grea!i majority of shrewd busi
ness men Is to leave this matter to
experienced agents of known reputa
tion who represent companies of the
highest character and standing, By
far the largest concern engaged in the
insurance, real estate, loan and gen
eral investment business, is the
Gastonia Insurance & Realty Com
pany, which was Incorporated Febru
ary 15, 1906, with a paid in capital of
$30,000. The president and treasurer
of the company is W. T. Rankin, who
is also president and treasurer of the
Ozark Mills, and an active member of
the Commercial Club. The vice-presi
dent. C. B. Armstrong, is a former
mayor of Gastonia, former sheriff of
Gaston county, an officer of Gov. Kitch
en’s staff, ex-chairman of the Demo
cratic County Executive Committee,
and president and treasurer of the
Clara and Dunn Manufacturing Com-
plate glass, tornado, etc., and only
high-class companies are represent
ed. The officers and directors,
one and all, are public spirited and
progressive citizens who are ever
ready and willing to lend a helping
hand to any cause that is for the wel
fare of Gastonia and Gaston county,
where they have made their homes.
J. D. B. McLEAN.
,|y
GENERAL FERGUSON’S GRAVE—KING’S MOUNTAIN
Sheriff of Gaston County.
Although he has only occupied
position for the comparatively br^^i
period of two years, or one term,
Sheriff J. D. B. McLean, of Gaston
county, has fully demonstrated to his
fellow citizens that they made no mis
take In electing him to the important
office which he so capably fills, and
they showed their appreciation at the
last primaries by again nominating
him for the office which is the equival
ent to an election. The office held by
Sheriff McLean is one of the most re
sponsible In the gift of the people, and
some of the duties attached to it are
of the gravest nature requiring a man
of the greatest nerve and resource in
time of trouble. All of them are im
portant, and the man who Is called
upon to perform them should be one
of the highest calibre and character.
Sheriff McLean has been tried and has
not been found wanting. During his
administration the county has never
been more orderly. The taxes have
been promptly collected, and turned
over to the treasurer for the sheriff,
unlike those in many states, occupies
also the position of collector of taxes.
Sheriff McLean is from South Point
township, where he was born on a
farm, in 1852. He followed the life of
REALTY BUILDING—THE CITY HOSPITAL
they live. They do not in any way
seem to push themselves to the front,
crowding others out, but have a mag
netic personality, an indefinable
something that breeds confidence in
their fellowman. and brings success.
They are men who see opportunities
which have been passed by thousands,
unheeded, and having large powers
of initiative as well as seemingly un
limited capacity for hard ^ork. they
seize and develop these opportunities
and bring success not only to them
selves but to those associated with
them. The Honorable T. L. Craig,
who is now serving his second term
as Mayor of Gastonia, is of this type,
though perhaps he never thought
about it himself for a moment.
Modest and unassuming he spends his
busy life. He is one of the forces of
this community that has made itself
felt in many ways, and there is no
man who has done more to develop
the resources of Gastonia than he.
Like all good mayors, Mr. Craig sees to
it that the various local laws are en
forced, and every ordinance passed
is closely scrutinized before it re
ceives his signature. He does every
thing in his power to make the advan
tages of the city known to the out
side world, and encourages by every
means and effort to bring new enter
prises to the city. Mr. Craig has made
a splendid record, and Is acknowl
edged to be one of the best and most
efficient executives who has ever pre
sided over the destinies of Gastonia.
Mayor Craig is one of the older and
best known business men of the city,
and has been identified with every
movement that has been inaugurated
for its advancement. Among other
things, he is the senior member of the
firm of Craig & Wilson, extensive
dealers in live stock and agricultural
THE MISSES RUDDOCK.
Leading Milliners.
No one can deny that the crowning
glory of a woman’s toilet Is her hat,
and the majority of well-dressed
women will expend more time, care
and money on this important accessory
to her costume than all the rest of it
combined. This has been so, perhaps,
from the time, somewhere back In pre
historic days, before the first milliner
set up shop, and the dear creatures
HON. THOMAS L. CRAIG
had to content themselves with a
wreath of flowers, plucked from the
virgin fields and woods. For the last 10
years or ever since they started mil
linery parlors on their own account,
the Misses Ruddock have been the
leading milliners of Gastonia, and
their establishment at 113 Main ave.,
has been the headquarters of the best
dressed and most fashionable women
of this city and section. Here can
always be found, in season, the latest
styles from Paris, London and New
York, in Infinite variety and at the
most reasonable prices when the qual
ity of the work and materials used is
considered. In millinery at this season
of the year the creations in straw, flow
ers, and ribbons that come from the
skillful fingers of these ladies are
marvels of taste and beauty. So hand
some are these dainty creations that
even the man who has to pay the bill
can appreciate their artistic beauty
and this is saying much. The firm is
composed of Misses Cynthia and Car
rie Ruddock, who came to Gastonia
about 12 years ago from Charlotte, and
for two years were employed at Yeag
ers. Then they went into business for
themselves and have been most suc
cessful, much to the gratification of
the hosts of friends and patrons they
have made since coming here to reside.
IE. GRAiVT^PASOUR.
Postmaster of Gastof^-^
Few positions in the governrnent'
service carry with them more import-
. ant duties and graver responsibilities
.^than those that devolve upon the post-
I'naster. The systemitized handling of
V ^ mails so that they are delivered
pr^.nptly and correctly requires the
undivided attention of an Intelligent
and resourceful man, and when a com
munity once gets a postmaster who
understands his business and attends
to It, he should be kept in the posi
tion. This has become more and more
the rule of recent years. During the
two years he has been postmaster of
Gastonia the present incumbent, Mr
E. Grant Pasour. has demonstrated his
fitness for the office to the entire satis
faction of the people of the city Mr
Pasour does not. like so many post^
masters, regard the position simply as
a smecure given as a reward for poli
tical services rendered. He looks upon
It purely as a business proposition to
be handled as any good business man
would conduct his own affairs and as
a consequence the people of Gastonia
ave had no cause to complain. He
gives his personal attention to the
conduct of the office and their Is no
detail with which he is not familiar.
Mr. Pasour is a native of Gaston
county, and has lived here in Gastonia
for the past 20 years, making his home
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH