UNION COUNTY FORMED IN 1842

1841 MAP

 

In 1902, Stack and Beasley wrote in Sketches of Monroe and Union County:

"The territory now embraced by Union County has at different times been part of New Hanover, Bladen, Anson and Mecklenburg counties. The old line between Mecklenburg and Anson ran some two miles east of Monroe. Thus Union has a part in the history of each--the Anson Regulators and the Mecklenburg signers.

1850 MAP

"At the centennial in Charlotte in 1875 there was present a citizen of Union County who was then considerably over one hundred years of age, and had as a lad been present at the signing of the famous Declaration on May 20th, 1775.

"This county has the honor of having given President Andrew Jackson to the nation. Where his parents lived, some miles west of Monroe, is well known, as is also the place of his birth in Jackson township--named for him--in this county. Union County was "erected" as the statute puts it, in 1842.

Union County Townships

"The magistrates in the territory of the new county were instructed to meet and form a county government, which they did on the first Monday in April, 1843, at La Batt's crossroads (old Tindel place.)

"There being a dispute between the Whigs and Democrats as to whether the county should be named Clay or Jackson, the word Union was suggested and adopted as a compromise and because the new county was created from parts of two others."

Confederate Memorial Day Celebration - May 10, 1937

Reuben James (standing)

Notes per The Monroe Enquirer, dated May 13, 1937 (p.1), seven veterans attended a dinner given by the U.D.C. at the Hotel Monroe. They were: Jas. A. Griffin, Wm. Hayes, Reuben James, A.W. McManus, W.M. Perry, M.A. Walters, and T.E. Williams (Heritage Room files)

Last Civil War Veteran Not to Leave Union County

Reuben Henry James
was born Aug 10, 1846 and died Mar 23, 1940, just short of his 94th birthday. He married Malinda Evelyn Austin Fowler (1841-1936) Dec 30, 1866.
(Malinda's husband Moses Fowler was killed in 1864 during the Civil War)

Old James family home - R.F.D 2 (New Salem), Marshville, NC
Burial: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, New Salem Township, Union County, NC

Named for his grandfather Reuben Henry James (1784-1862), R.H., was the son of James Lemuel James (1821-1858) and Anna Marie Poole of Anson County.    

James enlisted as a private in Union County April 15, 1864 at age 18 - Company I, North Carolina 53rd Infantry Regiment. Captured at Orange Court House, Va., abt. June 11, 1864 and confined at Old Capitol Prison, Washington, DC. Transferred to Elmira, NY, July 23, 1864. Transferred to Point Lookout, Md., Oct. 11, 1864 and paroled Oct. 29, 1864. Received at Venus Point, Savannah River, Ga., Oct. 29, 1864 for exchange and returned to duty. Deserted to enemy on unspecified date. Released at Washington, DC abt. Apr. 4, 1865 after taking the Oath of Allegiance. (Ancestry.com family tree)

Rev. James was baptized in Rocky River in 1868 and became a licensed minister in 1870. He then lived in New Salem, then Monroe (1900-1910 census), Big Lick (Stanley County), Goose Creek and back to Monroe where he died.

In October of 1895 the Union County Baptist District Association held their annual meeting. One item of concern was the task of educational opportunities for the youth in the area. The idea had been brought up before as far back as 1887 but no action had been taken. This time the ministers of the association decided it was time for a school. This was the beginning of Wingate College.  R.H. James was one of those ministers instrumental in establishing this school. (Wingate College Story by Hubert Inman Hester) 

Children:
George Washington James (1867-1955) -88
Jonathan Sylvester James (1869-1953) -84
Martelia Elizabeth James Pigg (1872-1965) -93
Cornelia James Smith (1876-1965) -89
Isadora Evelyn James Brooks (1878-1967) -89
Reuben Fulton James (1881-1981) -100
Martin LaFayette James (1884-1950) -66

1937 Confederate Memorial Day - Monroe

Who was Ellen Fitzgerald?

 Ellen Elizabeth Houston Armfield Fitzgerald 1841-1916

Ellen Fitzgerald

Ellen “Ella” Houston was born in Monroe, North Carolina on October 11, 1841. She was the daughter of Hugh McCombs Houston (1817-1901) and Margaret Reid.

Miss Fitzgerald married David Franklin Armfield on November 27, 1864. Armfield was killed in action at Chamberlain, Virginia on March 31, 1865 while serving in Co. A, 9th Regiment, NC Troops. 

W.H. Fitzgerald

Ellen’s second marriage was to Col. William Henry Fitzgerald (1840-1899) on January 29, 1867. Fitzgerald served in the Civil War, mustering in as a corporal. Though he resided in Davidson County, he enlisted in Cabarrus County, NC with the "Cabarrus Rangers" on June 15, 1861. Co. F, 9th Regiment (1st Regiment N. C. Cavalry). When he resigned on Dec. 7, 1864, after accidentally shooting himself in the foot on Sept. 29, 1864, he was a 2nd Lieutenant. The source of the Colonel designation is not known; perhaps he served with the local state militia, later the National Guard. Fitzgerald was a Mason and employed at People's Bank in Monroe, NC. 

Interestingly, People's Bank of Monroe began in 1874, with Ellen's father H.M. Houston as president and Mr. E.A. Armfield cashier. Two years later, Mr. Armfield resigned, and Col. W.H. Fitzgerald was elected cashier. Fitzgerald served until April, 1896 when ill health compelled Col. Fitzgerald to retire. 

The 1880 Monroe Census recorded a 13-year-old adopted daughter Lottie in the Fitzgerald household, along with two young servants. The servants were Susan McGuirt 16, housekeeper, and 12-year-old black servant Lizzie Houston.

W.H. and Ellen Fitzgerald's daughter Lottie married S.O. Blair on January 23, 1889: “The ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride’s father, Col. W.H. Fitzgerald, cashier of the Peoples’ Bank of Monroe, NC. After the quiet, but tasteful and beautiful wedding, the young couple took an extended trip, visiting most of the Southern and Western cities. The bride is one of the most beautiful and popular members of Monroe society and an accomplished graduate of the Charlotte Female Institute. The groom, son of Dr. J.H. Blair, is a graduate of the Maryland College of Pharmacy and one of the most energetic and successful businessmen of the city of Monroe.” (Record of Sigma Alpha Epsilon) 

The 1900 Monroe Census recorded widow Ellen 58, her father 82, Aunt Margarite 75, nephew Clarence 24, a druggist, and several servants in the household. Under "profession," Ellen and her father are listed as "Capitalists."

At the age of 74, Ellen

Fitzgerald Home on Hayne

Fitzgerald died May 29, 1916.  Her death certificate recorded cause of death as diabetes contributed by dementia. 

Ellen Fitzgerald left her home and property on Hayne Street to the city of Monroe to be used as a hospital. This hospital, known as The Ellen Fitzgerald Hospital, opened October 14, 1921. When the main building was erected in 1925; the house was moved to the side and used as the nurses' home. After Union Memorial Hospital opened in 1953, the Ellen Fitzgerald Hospital was used as a long-term care facility. Today the building is used as the Ellen Fitzgerald Senior Center.

Ellen Fitzgerald Hospital 1950