The commonwealth., 1896-07-09
SKETCH OF OUR NEXT GOV
ERNOR.

TTinsto,s Sentinel.
Cyrus B. Watson, "Our. Cy," as he
is popularly known throughout Western
North Carolina, is a son OF the late
John Watson, Esq, and was born jan
uary IA, 1874, near Kernersyille, in
what was then a part of Stokes; but
forming now very important section
of this (Forsyth) county.
From early childhood he was excep
tionally bright and gave promise o.
great mental activity and capacity
His educational advantages were only
those afforded by the common schools
of that day.
! When the dark clouds of the late
civil war arose and hovered threaten.
ingly over this Southland, although
only l6 years of age, he was one of the
first to shoulder arms and 60 out from
the home of his boyhood to fight and
suffer and, if needs be die tor the Con
federate cause. He served most vallantly
as sergeant of company K, Forty-ffth
regiment, N. G. troops. He was Sc.
riously wounded at both Williams
port, Nd, and Spottsylvan1a court
house.
When the war closed Mr.. Watson
laid down his arms and came back
to his Kernersville home. He served
both there and at High Point for a
year or two as clerk in general mer-
chandlse stores. He afterwards studied
law under the late ]. Nj. Leach at Lex
ington, and was admitted to the bar
in 1868. During the next year, 1869,
he was united in marriage to Miss A.
E. Henly, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
w. P. Henly.
Since the war, while loyal in every
way to the Federal Government, he
has at all times, by both word and ac-
ton. shown himself and earnest defen-
der of the South and her interests
He is an active member OF the Norfeet
Camp, No. 1926, United Confederate
Veterans.
Mr.. Watson rose rapidly to .promi-
nence in his chosen profession, devel-
oping Into an able practitioner, espec-
tally adroit and successful In the con-
duct of criminal causes
In 1883 Mr.. Watson was elected to
the North Carolina State Senate,
Thirty-second district. He served as
an efficient member of the Commit
tees on Internal Improvement, the
Code, Redistricting the State, Ju-
dietary and several others. He was
a hard working Senator, in every
way representing his district with
much credit to himself and constituent
cy. It is to Mr.. Watson that is due
the credit for originating and engl-
neering, to successful enactment, the
most notable and salutary law of that
year, the famous antl-lynch law. He
was elected to the Senate by majority
of 1906.
About 1875 Mr. Watson formed
co-partnershlp, for the practice of law
with the late w. B. Glenn, with whom
he was associated until 1885, when the
present well known law firm of Wat
son & Buxton, which ranks as one of
the foremost legal combinations in the
State, was formed.
Again in 1898 Mr.. Watson was call
ed into public life, having been elected
to the lower House of the State Legis-
lature. In this position he, as in the
Senate of 1883, Iabored diligently for
the best interests of his constituency
and State at large.
He was the author and earnest advo-
cate of the famous antitrust measure
introduced in the House by himself,
and passed that body by a good ma
jority, but was foundered and defeated
in the Senate by bare majority. The
direct aim of this measure was to throw
off the heavy yoke of trusts and
combinations, which have for several
years been sapping the life from North
Carolina industry and hinderlng her
material prosperity. It aimed an espe-
cial blow at that arch enemy of the to-
bacco planter, the American Tobacco
company. Mr.. Watson during this
term of Legislature served as chairman
OF the Committee on Banks, and was
quite active in the passage of a law
providing tor the establishment of
State banks, which was to go into effect
when the Congress should have repeal
ed the 10 per cent. tax on institutions
of this character.
1t was during this session that Mr.. |
Watson made his deepest and most fav-
orable impressions upon the people of
the State at large as an uncompromis-
ing Democrat and as Forox,tb,s ~oo6,t