0415_commissioners_agenda_full_2024

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May 5, 1892 "They Shall Not Be Forgotten" Cabarrus County 1892 Confederate Memorial On 5 May 1892, sixteen years after the new Cabarrus County Courthouse opened a monument was placed and dedicated on the courthouse grounds. This granite monument in eight pieces, weighing 25,000 pounds, at the cost of $900, paid for through donations by the citizens of Cabarrus County was dedicated. A crowd estimated at 5,000 was present as the Cabarrus Black Boys Drum Corp played and the crowd sang "America, my country! Tis of thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing'. Dr. C.M. Payne gave the invocation. The inscription of the memorial reads - "IN MEMORIUM THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE CONFEDERAE DEAD OF CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C." "WITH GRANITE AND MARBLE AND BRANCH OF THE CYPRESS THE EMBLEM OF PEACE SHALL THY SLUMBER ENSHRINE. THEN TAKE THIS MEMUMENT TIS ALL WE CAN OFFER. OH DRAVE OF OUR COMRADE THIS TRIBUTE IS THINE". *Ref. The Standard Concord, NC Thursday May 12, 1892 Newspaper Recognition was given to the officers of the local camp of "UCV" United Confederate Veterans and Judge W.J. Montgomery, Superior Court Judge, who himself served as a Major in the Confederate Army 1861-1862. William James Montgomery enlisted Albemarle, Stanly County, NC as a Captain in Co D "Stanly Yankee Hunters", 28th NC Vol. Infantry on 29 July 1861 age 25 years. On 12 July 1862 he was promoted to Major. On 17 October 1862 he resigned his commission due to health problems. Judge Montgomery was also known as Lt. Col. Montgomery for the elected rank he held in the North Carolina State Division of the "UCV" United Confederate Veterans. Elected ranks within the "UCV" were respected and held in high esteem by the communities in which these men lived. Col Montgomery was referred to and his name called by the rank he held. Judge "Col." Montgomery was appointed Cabarrus Counties first Superior Court Judge by Governor Scales in June 1885. He was the husband of Lucy M. Richmond and they had eight children. When Lucy died in 1921, age 74 years, her death certificate lists her occupation as "Lady". Judge Montgomery died in Concord on 28 June 1912 age 77. He is buried along with his wife and family members in the Oakwood Cemetery, Sect. D-16. Major William McKendree Robbins of Statesville gave the keynote address. Major Robbins from North Carolina had served during the war in the 4th Alabama Light Infantry 1861-1865. As an attorney who had practiced law in both Salisbury and Statesville, he had also served in the North Carolina Senate 1868 — 1872, the U.S. House of Representatives 1872 —1879, and was appointed by Pres. Grover Cleveland in 1894 to be the southern commissioner on the Gettysburg Battle Field Commission established to develop the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park. He served on the commission until his death in 1905. He is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina. On May 5, 1892 when the Confederate Memorial was dedicated the city officials of the Town of Concord were: Mayor — William Gaston Means buried Oakwood Sect. C-87 Chief of Police —John Lawson Boger buried Oakwood Sect. D-35 Years of service as Chief: 1883-1886, 1892-1899, 1903-1913. City Clerk & Treasurer —James Clarence Fink buried Oakwood Sect. D-18 Commissioners: Capt. William Propst a Confederate Veteran Co F, 57th NC Infantry wounded Gettysburg, captured three time and held POW buried Oakwood Sect. B-11 Hugh Irwin Woodhouse buried Oakwood Sect. D-30 Capt. Charles McDonald a Confederate Veteran Co A "Cabarrus Guards", 20th NC and later a Commissary Officer who with his father owned and ran the Concord Cotton Mill which in 1879 had a new owner Capt. John Milton Odell who renamed the mill Odell Locke Cotton Mill. Charles McDonald became the Mayor of Concord in 1893 and is buried in Oakwood Sect. A-67 William Robert Odell son of Capt. John Milton owner of Odell Locke Cotton Mill. William and John are buried Oakwood Sect. D- Odell Family Vault. Page 9 Page 24