Mecklenburg County NcArchives Obituaries.....Weddington, James Henderson February 2, 1922 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Michael Mayes mmayes3@carolina.rr.com December 26, 2013, 4:57 pm Charlotte Observer Feb 2 1922 Venerable Leader In Life Of Charlotte Passes Away ------------ Postmaster J. H. Weddington Dies at Age of 76 Years. ---------- FUNERAL 11 A. M. FRIDAY --------- Deceased Had Been Prominent in City Half a Century. -------- HE WAS FORMERLY MAYOR -------- Had Been Postmaster Nearly Nine Years; Formerly Leader in Business Here. -------- James Henderson Weddington, postmaster of the Charlotte office for the past eight and a half years and leader in business, commercial, religious, civil and political life of the city for half a century, died yesterday at 12:30 o'clock at his home, 409 North Graham street, after having been in a semi- conscious and unconscious condition for about 24 hours. Mr. Weddington had been indisposed for a month, suffering with high blood pressure, having spent most of the time at his home and visiting his office in the federal building only occasionally. Tuesday he suffered an attack of kidney poisonin, which was so serious as to render him unconscious most of the time. His age was 76 years, which, with his weakness from the past month's illness, rendered his constitution unable to withstand the attack. Despite his age, Mr. Weddington had been in good health up to a month ago and his friends were hopeful that he would be enabled to withstand and overcome the illness from high blood pressure until the attack Tuesday. He passed away peacefully and quietly. Probably no figure in Charlotte has been more closely identified with the development and growth of Charlotte during the 55 years since he came to this city from the county as a clerk in a hardware store, than has Mr. Weddington, he having held numerous positions in city and county administration, industrial, commercial, religious and other activities, serving as mayor of Charlotte, chairman of the board of county commissioners and postmaster particularly. The funeral services will be held at the home, 409 North Graham street, Friday morning at 11 o'clock, in charge of his pastor, Rev. Dr. A. A. McGeachy, of the Second Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Weddington was a charter member and one of the organizers. Interment will follow in Elmwood cemetery. Mr. Weddington was born in the Sugar Creek section of Mecklenburg county on November 17, 1845, the son of the late Dr. Samuel N. Weddington and Mrs. Catherine Lucas Weddington. He spent his early life on the farm there and attended the public schools, from which he secured the basis of his educationk but was a graduate of the university of life. When the war between the states broke out, Mr. Weddington, then only 16 years old, joined the 2nd battalion, Junior reserves. Toward the end of the war his organization was called into service and he was in one battle, that of Bentonville, serving under General Joseph B. Johnston. When General Johnston surrendered, Mr. Weddington, when released at Greensboro, walked from that city to his home in Sugar Creek, fording streams along the way. The next two years, 1865-66, he spent at work on the farm and on February 14, 1867, came to Charlotte, getting a position as clerk in the hardware store of Brem-Brown and company. After spending a year or more as clerk, he was taken into the firm. Upon the death of Mr. Brem, Mr. Weddington and J. L. Brown organized the firm of Brown & Weddington, the former's son, P. M. Brown, succeeding him, when the name was changed to Brown Weddington and company, operating as such until 1895, when Mr. Brown sold his interest. The name was changed to J. H. Weddington and company and later to Weddington Hardware company. Mr. Weddington sold his business when he became postmaster, more than eight years ago, the firm now being Smith-Wadsworth Hardware company, the business having been operated continously at the same stand. Industrially and commercially, he was very active, devoting his time and energies unreservedly to forwarding and fostering movements of all kinds. He was president for several terms of the old chamber of commerce before the organization of the later Greater Charlotte club. Several years ago he was one of the leading movers in the organization of the Ada cotton mills, now the Fidelity mills, the original name having been that of Mrs. Weddington, given in recognition of the services Mr. Weddington rendered. This mill was organized on the building and loan plan. He also helped to organize and operate the Charlotte Sash, Door and Blind company, which operated successfully for a number of years at the corner of Ninth and A streets. It was in politics, however, that Mr. Weddington showed his great strength and native ability, an ally ordently sought and an adversary to be dreaded. He served as a member of the board of aldermen of this city for several terms, which served as a beginning for his political activities. Mr. Weddington ran for mayor of Charlotte in 1891 and was then defeated by R. J. Brevard. Four years later, in 1895, he was a candidate and defeated Mr. Brevard, serving one term, and was himself again defeated two years later by Eli Springs. He served as a member of the state prison board four years, 1901- 5, having been appointed by the late Governor Aycock. In 1898 Mr. Weddington was elected chairman of the board of county commissioners of Mecklenburg, whih [sic] position he held with ability and satisfation. [sic] It was during his term of office that the old poor house, located on what was later Electric park, now the Highland Park community park and property, was sold and the present plant started seven miles out on the Salisbury road. Older citizens yet refer to the hard political fights in this city while Mr. Weddington was in the forefront, he having been a strong advocate of prohibition and having fought for that cause while was still vey unpopular. It was said to have been his defeat as mayor of Charlotte the second time, when negro voters were brought in by the car load on the day before from South Carolina, to be voted the next day, resulting in his defeat, that started the "red shirt" movement in North Carolina and resulted in the educational qualification amendment that eliminated for the time the negro participation in politics, the movement having been an aftermath of the reconstruction period of the south. Mr. Weddington did not work in politics for Mr. Weddington, but for his friends, devoting his valuable services to his party and the men representing it with a loyalty and ability that usually brought success to the forces and factions he served. He was able to see the good in every man and no evil and once a friend, nothing could cause him to swerve from his allegiance to that friend. When Senator Simmons first announced his candidacy for United States senator, Mr. Weddington was one of the first ment of the city to come out for him and organized and headed a Simmons club in this city. He continued as a staunch supporter and admirer for Senator Simmons. Mr. Weddington was likewise active in educational work, having been one of the chief promoters and leaders in the establishing of the first graded school in this city in the early 80's. In fact, not a single civic or community development proposition came up that he was not found in the front ranks of the fight for it. On June 16, 1913, after the democratic administration assumed charge of national politics, Mr. Weddington was the election of President Wilson for position of postmaster of Charlotte, having secured the appointment over two splendid citizens of the city. He was also given the appointment of custodian of the Federal and old Mint buildings, this having been made through the treasury departments. Mr. Weddington's term expired nearly seven months ago, but because of the failure so far of the appointment of his successor, he continued to serve as postmaster until the time of his death. Hays Notified. W. B. Bradford, assistant postmaster, notified Postmaster General Hays yesterday of Mr. Weddington's death, but had not heard from the department last night. A temporary appointment is expected to be made today, the appointee to serve until the regular appointment is made. Mr. Weddington married Miss Ada Allen, a native of Wake county, and to them three children were born. One son, Otho Weddington, having died several years ago at the age of 17 years. Mrs. Luke Sewell, only daughter, who lives in Atlanta, arrived yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, a few hours before the death of her father. J. Graham Weddington, only son, also of Atlanta, a traveling man, was located in Nashville, Tenn. yesterday, and is expected to arrive in the city tonight at 8 o'clock. The deceased has two brothers, J. Y. Weddington, the two families living together in this city, and D. T. Weddington, of Terrell, Texas. Because of his age, the brother in Texas is not expected to be able to make the trip here for the funeral. One sister, Mrs. Mack Cannon, died about two years ago at her home near Chase City, Va. Active and honorary pallbearers have been selected for the service Friday mornin at 11 o'clock at the home, although the list was not available last night. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/mecklenburg/obits/w/weddingt3449gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 9.8 Kb