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From: "Susie Mundy" <>
Subject: [NCMECKLE-L] William J. Yates - biography
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 1998 20:35:20 -0400

William J. Yates,
Editor of the Charlotte Democrat.

William J. Yates was born in Fayetteville, N.C. His father was a mechanic,
being what was known in earlier days as a "wheel-wright," or wagon and gig
maker; his mother was a devoted christian woman of the "old style," and a
consistent member of the Methodist E. Church for seventy-two years; and his
grand parents were English and Welsh, coming to the country direct from
Great Britain.

After going to school a short time, Mr. Yates entered as an apprentice the
printing office of the North Carolinian, a Democratic paper published at
Fayetteville by Hardy L. Holmes, Esq., who was a prominent lawyer in his
day. After serving an apprenticeship of about seven years, he worked as a
journeyman printer in the North Carolinian office at seven dollars per week,
saving enough money to build a swelling house for the use of his mother,
which house he still owns.

Mr.. Yates' never-yielding energy and industry was early rewarded by his
being enabled to purchase the printing office in which he learned the
printing business, and in 1854 and 1855 (or about those years) he
successfully published the North Carolinian.

After traveling a good deal in Western Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio, looking
for a better locality than North Carolina in which to live, he concluded it
was not to be found; and went back to Fayetteville, sold his newspaper
office, moved to Charlotte, N.C., in September, 1856, and purchased the
Democrat, which paper he has continuously published from that day to the
present.

In reply to the question as to what he attributed his success, Mr.. Yates
answered that it was owing to his individual efforts (blessed by a kind
Providence), close attention to business, complying strictly with every
promise made, studying hard, working hard, the use of proper economy, and
never engaging in but one business at a time: that of publishing a
newspaper. He never stayed a day at home (during business hours) when he was
able to walk or ride to his office. As for stopping work on account of a
slight "ailment," he never thought of such a thing, and for twenty or
twenty-five years never retired to bed before 11 or 12 o'clock at night,
when well enough to read and write till that hour - generally being among
the earliest workmen at his office in the morning. He does not believe in
any sort of "luck," but knows that "Providence will help a man who helps
himself."

Mr.. Yates was never an office seeker, not because he disapproves entirely
of seeking office, but because it was not agreeable to his taste, habits or
disposition, nor according to his idea of the duties of a newspaper editor
and publisher. Therefore he would never consent to the use of his name for
the nomination for an elective office by the people. He had, however, held
some important State office, as well as Directorships in two Railroads while
they were in course of construction (the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line and
the Carolina Central). The State offices he held were, a member of the
"Council of State," in 1859 and 1860, during Gov.. John W. Ellis' first
term, having been elected to that position from the Charlotte Congressional
District by the Legislature; and he was a member of the "Literacy Board" of
the State, which Board had charge of and distributed the Common School Fund
before the war between the States. During Mr.. Yates' term as Councilor of
State, three Judges of the Superior Court were appointed by the Governor and
Council to fill vacancies, viz.: Osborne, Howard and French, and Hon. M.E.
Manly was transferred from the Superior Court to the Supreme Court bench.

At present Mr.. Yates is a Trustee of the University of North Carolina, and
a Director in the Board which governs the Western N.C. Insane Asylum, which
latter position he has filled since the opening of that institution in
1882-'83.

All the offices he has filled might be termed "charity" or "patriotic" uses
as only traveling expenses have been or are paid, and some did not pay that
much.

How faithfully Mr.. Yates has fulfilled his obligations as a private
citizen, a newspaper publisher, and as a public officer, his fellow-citizens
of North Carolina can judge. From the year he was old enough to vote to the
present time he has voted the Democratic ticket, having always been a firm,
consistent and conservative Democrat of the strictest order, but never
hesitated to censure radicalism or misdoing in his own party, as well as in
that of others. He never belonged to a secret political or class combination
of any sort, believing that such organizations had a tendency, ultimately,
to harm rather than benefit working, industrious men of any occupation or
profession.

Sketches of Prominent Living North Carolinians
by Jerome Dowd.
Raleigh, N.C.: Edwards & Broughton, Printers and Binders, 1888.
pages 169-171

<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*
ICQ: 10155185 AOL IM: alcachmi
Susan Mundy Mecklenburg county, NC coordinator
USGenWeb Project/ NCMECKLE-L mailing list owner

http://www.mindspring.com/~mmundy/mecklenburg.ht

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