0415_commissioners_agenda_full_2024

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Cabarrus County Commissioners and veterans elected and in office in 1874: J. N. Brown, Chairman — James Napoleon Brown was born in Concord, NC on 23 October 1827, He served with Co I, North Carolina Foot Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Mexican War. On 17 June 1856 he was appointed Post Mater in Concord. When North Carolina seceded he enlisted in Co A "Cabarrus Riflemen", 52nd NC Infantry Regiment. On 3 July 1863 he was with the "Cabarrus Riflemen" near the "Bloody Angle" at Gettysburg when he was wounded while making "Pickett's Charge" against Cemetery Ridge. Being wounded, he was also captured and held prisoner at Ft. McHenry, Maryland and later transferred to Ft. Delaware, Delaware. He was held prisoner at Ft. Delaware until paroled and released in April 1865 after taking the "Oath of Allegiance". Returning to Concord, James again became the Postmaster of Concord and held that position for ten years. In 1874 he became the Chairman of Cabarrus County Commissioners until 1876 while the new Courthouse and jail was being constructed. He was elected Mayor of Concord and held that position from 1877 to 1878. In 1884 he was the Cabarrus County Coroner. James as an elderly man was beloved in Concord. He was called "Colonel Jimmy" not for his military rank but as an honorary title. He was married Martha Elizabeth Wallace in Concord on 13 June 1855. They were the parents of nine children. On 3 January 1923 James Napoleon Brown died. He and Martha are buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, Sect. D-27. D.S. Caldwell - Daniel Stanhope Caldwell was born 15 October 1817 in Mecklenburg County, NC to Robert and Susan Caldwell. He lived in the Poplar Tent Community of Cabarrus County and attended Poplar Tent Presbyterian Church. He was married to Martha Wilson b. 3 June 1828 in Cabarrus County. They had two children when Martha died on 13 January 1860 age 31 years. When North Carolina seceded, Daniel enlisted in Co F, 4th North Carolina Senior Reserves on 29 June 1861, age 44. On 12 April 1865, Daniel S. Caldwell with Co F met up with what is known as "Stoneman's Raid" and was captured in Salisbury, North Carolina by the forces of Maj. Gen. George Stoneman. On this date, Salisbury was under attack by 6,000 Federal Cavalry with their target set as the Confederate Prison in Salisbury. Stoneman's forces had crossed the Yadkin River and was about 2 and one half miles north of Salisbury at Grant's Creek when they met about 500 "rag tag" Confederates made up of 200 "galvanized Irish" Union soldiers recruited from the Salisbury Prison to fight for the Confederacy, Confederate soldiers gathered from the Salisbury hospital, young boys in the Junior Reserves, aged men in the Senior Reserves, and a few local citizens. These defenders of Salisbury were quickly overwhelmed and prisoners were taken to include Pvt. Daniel Stanhope Caldwell age 47. Daniel was then sent to the military prison in Louisville, Kentucky. On 1 May 1865 he was transferred to the Union prison, Camp Chase in Columbus Ohio arriving there on May 4, 1865. On 13 June 1865 he was paroled and released after taking the "Oath of Allegiance" and returned to Concord. His age was 47 years and his prison records describe him as complexion fair, hair gray, eyes blue, height 5'11 andl/2". Returning to Concord he married Elizabeth L. who was born 12 October 1840 and died 29 May 1871 age 30 years. Records show that he was married again to Elizabeth E. Query on 2 March 1873 and again to Jane A. King Hurley on 12 October 1878. On 5 May 1887, Daniel Stanhope Caldwell died, eleven years after the new Cabarrus County Courthouse and jail opened. He is buried in the Poplar Tent Presbyterian Church Cemetery alongside his wives Martha and Elizabeth. D.M. Cress - Daniel Melanchthon Cress was born 24 Oct 1840 in Mt. Pleasant, Cabarrus County to Daniel M. and Catherine Ludwick Cress. At age 21 years he enlisted as a Private in Co F "Cabarrus Rangers", 11t NC Cavalry Regiment, 9th NC State Troops on 15 June 1861 in Concord when Rufus Barringer and his brother Victor Barringer organized a company of cavalry. He served throughout the war in many engagements with the "Cabarrus Rangers". After the war he returned to Cabarrus County and married Martha Josephine Cunningham on 9 July 1868 in Rowan County. Martha was born in Rowan County on 23 February 1849. Daniel and Martha lived in the #6 Township of Cabarrus County where Daniel was a farmer. They were the parents of nine children. Martha was the first to die. She died at the age of 68 years on 19 February 1918. Daniel was 79 years when he died on 2 January 1920. Both are buried in the St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Plot 4E-4. Page 2 Page 17