Eminent Charlotteans

Inspired by the 2010 “Spirit of Mecklenburg”—a bronze statue of Captain James Jack, “the South’s Paul Revere,” in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina—this history details the lives of 12 Charlotteans who made important contributions to the Queen City, from the early Colonial period to the 20th century. Subjects include Catawba Indian chief King Haigler, Founding Father Thomas Polk, freed slave Ishmael Titus, African American celebrity barber Thad Tate and North Carolina’s first woman physician, Annie Alexander.

Scott Syfert is a corporate attorney and cofounder of the May 20th Society, dedicated to commemorating the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Scott Syfert

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 221
Bibliographic Info: 21 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6649-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3061-8
Imprint: McFarland

Preface and Acknowledgments 1
Introduction 7
1. King Haigler and the Catawba Indians 9
2. Crackers: Thomas “Kanawha” Spratt and the ­Scots-Irish 25
3. No Surrender: The Rev. Alexander Craighead and the Presbyterians 41
4. The Founding Father: Thomas Polk 52
5. Charlotte’s Paul Revere: Captain James Jack and the Mecklenburg Declaration of independence 66
6. Freedom for Slaves: Ishmael Titus and the African Americans in the American Revolution 80
7. The Roman: Joseph Graham 93
8. The Forgotten Charlotteans: African American Slaves 113
9. The Silent Barber: Thaddeus Lincoln Tate 120
10. The Cavalryman: Lt. William Ewen Shipp 135
11. Dr. Annie: North Carolina’s First Woman Physician 154
12. H. Douglas Crotts and the Greatest Generation 167
Chapter Notes 187
Bibliography 199
Index 203

• “I share Scott’s premise that individuals matter in the shaping of history. In this excellent book Scott shines a spotlight on numerous citizens who have positively shaped Charlotte and our region in many ways. He is doing us all a service by educating and reminding us of their legacy…and our own.”—Bob Morgan, President, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
• “Scott Syfert’s book skillfully profiles some of the most intriguing and colorful historic leaders during the struggle for independence in the Charlotte region. It is incredibly informative and entertaining and provides a rare glimpse of life in eighteenth century Carolina backcountry. Two thumbs up!”—Dr. Tony Zeiss, Executive Director, Museum of the Bible, former President of Central Piedmont Community College.