Mecklenburg People

Chevalier De Rivafinoli

Count Chevalier De Rivafinoli came to Charlotte in 1829-1830 as a representative of a London mining mining firm that was interested in investing in Charlotte's gold mines. He leased several of the area mines and operated others. When he came to Charlotte he brought with him experienced miners and seventy to eighty workers. Count De Rivafinoli was an Italian nobleman and he was noted for his lavish lifestyle. It is thought that he served under Napoleon. He and his large houskeeping staff lived in an impressive home at the corner of South Tryon and West Morehead Streets.

John Foard

John Foard (? - circa 1795) was one of the original signers of the Meckenburg Declaration of Independence. His ancestry is probably Scottish, and his name was spelled that way, rather than the English version of Ford. Family tradition has it that his mother sent him to America, along with one or two brothers, to avoid military service in the English army.

Hezekiah Balch

Hezekiah James Balch (1745 - 4/1776) was one of the original signers of the Meckenburg Declaration of Independence. Balch, like many other signers, was born in Maryland. He moved to this area with his family and moved north to pursue an education. He became a Presbyterian minister, who graduated from Nassau Hall, now known as Princeton University, and served at Poplar Tent and Rocky River Presbyterian Church. Neither of these churches is now in Mecklenburg County. Two of his brothers also became Presbyterian ministers.

Rush Dickson

Rush S. Dickson (July 13, 1895 - September 8, 1966) was a leader in the business and political life of Charlotte. He was the founder and chairman of the board of R.S. Dickson, a nationally known investment firm. Dickson was instrumental in the development of Charlotte Memorial Hospital (now Carolinas Medical Center). He served as chairman of the hospital's board of directors for 20 years.

Charles Grace

Charles Manuel Grace (?-1960) arrived in the United States in the 1920. Often referred to as Sweet Daddy Grace, he preached and traveled throughout the eastern U.S. His ministry began with tent revivals that drew hundreds of followers.

William Barnhardt

William Barnhardt (February 3, 1903 - April 25, 1985) was a Charlotte manufacturer and owner of a number of internationally known textile product enterprises. In addition to his prominence as a Charlotte business leader, he is remembered as a generous philanthropist. Many of his gifts have continued to benefit Charlotte's Queen's University and a number of other civic and religious organizations. One of William Barnhardt's notable contributions was his gift to Queen's College of the Barnhardt home and a four acre tract in Myers Park.

Benjamin Douglas, Sr.

Ben Douglas, Sr. (1884-1981)was mayor of Charlotte from 1935 to 1941. He came to Charlotte in 1926 and became a partner in the Douglas and Sing Mortuary and was later founder and owner of Douglas Furs in Charlotte.

Romare Bearden

Although he only lived in Charlotte until age 5, artist Romare Bearden (1914-1988) is still identified with the city of his birth.

He grew up in New York. During World War II, he served with the all-black 372nd Infantry Regiment. It was in the 1960s that he rose to prominence for his controversial works of art that depicted the social issues and struggles important to black Americans.

Rufus Barringer

Born in Cabarrus County the ninth of ten children, Barringer (1825-1895) was an 1842 graduate of the University of North Carolina. From 1848-50, he represented his home county in the House of Commons. (House of Representatives, North Carolina General Assembly)

Clement Dowd

Clement Dowd (1832-1898) was the founder and president of the Merchant's and Farmer's Bank, and the Commercial National Bank.

He married Lydia Josephine Person, a widow with seven children, but they had no children of their own. Clement Dowd died at his North Tryon Street home and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery.He was an author, lawyer, district attorney and Congressman.

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