The Civil War in North Carolina



Reminiscences and Memoirs of North Carolina and Eminent North Carolinians

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Miss White, sister of Mrs. D. L. Swain. He died October 16th, 1852.

        General Paul Barringer, the eldest son by a second marriage, was born 1778. He received a good English education, and was distinguished for his business habits and his strong practical sense. He was a member of the House of Commons from 1806 to 1815, and in 1822 in the Senate of the Legislature.

        He married a second time, Elizabeth, daughter of Matthew Brandon, of Rowan, whose family are distinguished for their abilities, patriotism and love of independence.

        Matthew Brandon was a soldier of the Revolution, and was with General Joseph Graham and Colonel Locke in opposing the advance of the British near Charlotte, when Graham was severely wounded and Locke killed. His relative, William Brandon, was a lieutenant in the Continental army, and was the first child born south of the Yadkin. He died in Tennessee in 1836, aged ninety-nine years.

        General Barringer died at Lincolnton on June 20th, 1844, and his wife followed him soon after, (in November of the same year.)

        For Genealogy of the Barringer family, see Appendix.

        Nathaniel Alexander was a native of this county when yet a portion of Mecklenburg. His early education was commenced in a humble log cabin at Poplar Tent, near his paternal mansion, the Morehead Place, thence he went to Princeton, where he graduated in 1776. He studied medicine, and was a successful physician.

        He represented Mecklenburg in the House of Commons in 1797, and in the Senate in 1802. In 1803 he was elected a member of the 8th Congress, 1803-'05. In 1805 he was elected Governor of the State, and served till his death, 8th March, 1808. He married a daughter of Colonel Thos. Polk. His remains lie in the Presbyterian church yard at Charlotte.

        Colonel George Alexander and Major Thos. Harris were natives of Cabarrus and officers of the Continental line. They both were brave and true--fought under the eye of Washington at Monmouth and Trenton and in the battle of Camden, where both were taken prisoners and Harris severely wounded.*

        * MSS. letters of Wm. S. Harris.


        Dr. Charles Harris was born in 1763; while but a youth pursuing his studies in Charlotte, he joined the corps of cavalry under General W. R. Davie, and rendered good service under that brave and daring officer. After the war was over he resumed his studies, and he finished his classical as well as his medical study in Philadelphia, under the charge of that eminent professor, Benjamin Rush. On his return he settled first in Salisbury, and practised with great success. He then moved to Cabarrus, where he lived a long and useful life, and died in 1825.

        He established a medical school, and was eminent as a physician and surgeon.

        His school was well patronized for more than forty years; perhaps the only one ever established in the State. Among his pupils were Dr. Charles Caldwell, formerly a Professor in Transylvania University, Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Robert McKensie, and Dr. Robert B. Vance, member of Congress from Asheville.

        His son, William Shakespeare Harris, was much esteemed for his talents and worth. He represented Cabarrus in 1840.

        Robert Simonton Young was a distinguished, useful and exemplary citizen of this county. Active and patriotic, he was much esteemed. He was an officer in the Confederate Army, and fell in battle near Petersburg, in 1864.

        He married first a daughter of John Phifer; second, a daughter of A. M. Burton. No nobler offering was ever laid on the altar of public service.

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