The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-07-23
OUR NEXT GOVERNOR
A SHORT SKETCH OF HIS BUSY LIFE
A Patriot at Sixteen-An Enemv of
irusts-Soft nade Man OF The Peo-
pie and For the People Every Time.
[ Winston Sentinell

(WinstOn Sentinel
Cyrus b. Watson, "Our Cy," as he
IS popularly known throughout West
ern North Carolina, is son of the
late John Watson, Esq, and was born
January "A, 1914, near Kernersvilie,
IN what Vas then part of Stokes, but
forming now very importont section
of this (Forsyth) county.
From early childhood he was ex
ceptlonally bright and gave promise
of 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 lowered threaten
lngly over this Southland, although
only I6 years OF age, he was one O!
the first to go out from the home of
his boyhood to fight, suffer and, if
if need be, die for the Confederate
cause: He served most valiantly as
sergeant of company X, Forty fifth
Regiment N, c, troops. He was ser-
ously wounded at both Williamsport,
Md, and Spottsylvania 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-
chandse stores. He afterwards stud
led law under the late ]. NJ. Leach at
Lexington, and was admitted to the
bar in 1868. During the next year
1869, he was united in marriage to
Miss A. Z. Henley, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. w. P Henley.
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 an earnest de-
fender of the South and her interests.
He is an active member of the Nor
fleet Camp, No. 426, United Confed-
crate 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 O, the Committees
on Internal 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 constituency. 1t
is to Mr.. Watson that is due the credit
for engineering to successful enact
mert the most notable and salutary
law of that year, the famous anti-lynch
law. He was elected to the Senate by
majority of 1905.
About 1875 Mr.. Watson formed a
Copartnership for the practice of law
with the late w. B. Glenn, with whom
he was associated until 1855, when the
present well-known law firm of Wat
son x Buxton, which ranks as one of
the foremost legal combinations in the
State was formed.
Again in 1903 Mr.. Watson was
called into public life, having been
elected to the lower House of the Leg
islature. In this position he, as in
the Senate of 1855, labored dilligent-
ly for the best interests of his con-
stituency and State at large.
He was the author and earnest ad-
vocate of the famous antitrust meas
ure introduced in the House by him
self, and passed that body by a good
majority, but was foundered and de-
feated in the Senate bya bare major
ity. 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
| hindering her material prosperity. 1t
aimed an especial blow at that arch
enemy of the tobacco planter, the
American Tobacco Company.
Mr.. Watson during this term of the
Legislature served as chairn an Of the
Committee on Banks, and was quite
active in the passage of a law provid-
ing for the establishment of State
banks, which was to go into effect
when the Congress of the United
States shall have repealed the 10 per
cent. tax on institutions of this char
aCter.
1t was during this session that Mr..
Watson made his deepest and most
favorable impressions upon the people
OF the State at large as an uncompro-
missing Democrat and, as Forsyth's
recent convention expressed it, "the
ancient and earnest foe Of monopoly
and trust-the friend of silver-the
defender Of the peoples rights. " 1t
was with commendaton like unto the
quotation Just used, that the Forsyth
county convention, held in this city
! lime 10th, most enthusiastically en-
dOrSed Mr.. Watson for the nomination
as Democratic candidate for Congress
from the Eighth district.
1t was with unfeigned yet relectant
pleasure that Forsyth's delegation, in
obedience to the State convention
yielded their favorite as a Congress
slonal candidate for the higher and
more responsible position of Governor
r