History of Rutherford County North Carolina United States of America

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Elisha Baxter, governor of Arkansas was born in Rutherford county, N. C., Sept. 1, 1827. After receiving a common-school education he removed to Batesville, Ark., and in 1853 became mayor of that town. He was a state legislator in 1854 and in 1858; a colonel in the Federal army in 1863, commanding the 4th Arkansas mounted infantry, and a judge of the third district court of Arkansas from 1868 to 1872. He was elected a United States senator in 1867, but was not permitted to take his seat Arkansas not having been re-admitted into the Union In 1872 he was declared the successful candidate for governor of the state and entered upon the duties of his office when his opponent, Joseph Brooks, contested the election, and applied in turn to the United States circuit court, the state legislature and the state supreme court for redress, and being unsuccessful, brought suit in the circuit court of the state in 1874, and obtained a judgment in the absence of Governor Baxter's counsel. Brooks then undertook to forcibly take possession of the office. An armed encounter between the adherents of the two claimants took place, and blood was shed before the United States troops arrived on the scene and put an end to the disturbance. After a legal opinion from Attorney-General Williams, the Baxter government was recognized by President Grant. Although he had been elected for four years he relinquished his office when, at the end of his second year, a change in the state constitution reduced the term of the governor's tenure of office from four years to two years. He died at Batesville, Ark., June 2, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Gray Bynum, jurist, was born in Gilbertown, Rutherford county, N. C., Feb. 15, 1846; son of John Gray and Mary Moffate (McDowell) Bynum. His mother was a granddaughter of Major Joseph McDowell, who commanded the right wing of the American forces at the battle of King's mountain. At the age of sixteen he volunteered as a private in the Confederate army. After the Mine Run campaign in 1863 he was discharged for disability. Governor Vance, in 1864, appointed him clerk on the blockade-runner Ad Vance, and he was captured with the vessel in September, 1864, by the United States steamer Santiago de Cuba, and was for some time imprisoned in New York city. After the close of the war he studied law with his stepfather, Chief Justice Pearson, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1867, practising his profession at Morganton, N. C. In 1878 he was elected to the state senate. In January, 1889, he was appointed by Governor Scales judge of the superior court for the tenth judicial district of North Carolina, and in 1890 he was elected to the same position.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Romulus Z. Linney, representative, was born in Rutherford county, N.C., Dec. 26, 1841. He attended York's Collegiate Institute and Dr. Millen's school at Taylorsville, N.C. He served as a private in the Confederate States army, 1861-63, and was severely wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville. He returned to Taylorsville and continued his studies under Dr. Millen, studied law with Judge Armfield, was admitted to the bar in 1868 and practised in Taylorsville. He was elected state senator in 1870, 1873 and in 1882, and was a Republican representative from the eighth district of North Carolina in the 54th, 55th and 56th congresses, 1895-1901.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Rutherford County North Carolina

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