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Town
History
1740's - Indian
Country
Some two hundred forty-five years ago through the wilds of The
Carolinas (one mile East of the present state line of North Carolina
and South Carolina) there was a junction of two important Indian Trails.
This was located near two small streams now known as Sugar Creek and
Little Sugar Creek. One of these trails ran westward to join the Nation's
Ford Road that led to the Catawaba Nation. A remnant of this trail
can still be seen just west of Pineville. The other trail ran from the
Waxhaw Indian Tribe northward. This was the famous Trading Path, later
becoming an important colonial road and was the beginning of Highway
21. The Indians who roved the banks of Sugar Creek were the Sugarees,
a branch of the Catawabas, who were of the Sioux Indians. They were friendly
to the white settlers, and were gentle and un-warlike. The Sugarees were
almost annihilated by their enemies living across on the westward side
of the Catawaba River. This was the powerful and cruel Cherokee Tribe,
who were of the Iroquois. Thus the Catawaba River was the dividing line
between the territories of The Catawabas to the East and the Iroquois
to the West.
1760's - Turnout
About 1761, the exact dates are unknown, the first white
settler in this entire area drove his oxen down from Virginia. Driving
down The Waxhaw Trail, Thomas Spratt and his family came upon the junction
with a westward trail. Here he "turned out" along the bank
of Sugar Creek and built his cabin. This became home. At the present
time his descendants live only six miles to the west in Fort Mill, South
Carolina. He was soon followed by Thomas Polk (or Pollock) the eldest
son of a former neighbor. Thomas married Susan Spratt and they built
their cabin on the Trading Path. The junction of two Indian Trails beginning
with one cabin thus became known as "The Turnout".
1790's - Birthplace of a President
 Thomas Polk's brother followed and
married Susan Spratt's sister. Another brother Ezekiel married Mary
Wilson and they became the grandparents of James K. Polk, born 1795,
our eleventh President. The grave of Thomas Polk, long lost, was recently
found near the original Trading Path, just outside Pineville. In the
same graveyard were graves of Smarts, Alexanders, and others. The pioneers
coming down this now famous trading path included Smiths, Elliots, and
Williamsons, all of whom have descendants in this area. >>More
information
1800's - Morrow's Turnout
With the coming of settlers there came traders.
Transportation came soon after in the form of a stagecoach line. Some
form of law and order was now needed. The first court ever held in
Mecklenburg County is said to have been held in the cabin of Thomas Spratt.
Among the families arriving about this time were the Morrows. They built
their home on a high hill overlooking Little Sugar Creek. (This is now
known as the Old Morrow Place). The Morrow Place also became a crossroad
known as "Morrows
Turnout".
1850's - Whistlestop, Pineville
In 1852 the Iron Horse came to the community.
The Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta
Railway was put in operation. A passenger and freight station was built
at Morrow's Turnout. In this area there were many large and beautiful
pine trees casting their shadows over the community. Thus, when the newly
painted sign went up on the Railroad Depot, the name Pineville was displayed.
Volunteer Fire Service
About the time one of the first volunteer Fire
Brigades in the section of the country was formed. There are actual
cases where buildings were saved by passing the bucket, along a human
line which would stretch from the source of water to the fire. Later
when wells and pumps made water under pressure available, two wheel hose
reels were put into service. The name of the Fire Brigade was changed
to the present Pineville Volunteer Fire Department.
1870's - Pineville, North Carolina, Inc.
Pineville became an Incorporated
municipality in 1873. In 1900, the town boasted a population of 585
souls, two bar rooms, and ten stores, and an average sale of 6,000 bales
of cotton from the surrounding farms. Today only 3,600 bales are grown
in the entire county of Mecklenburg. Pineville also became a large mule
trading center and an important credit market. Sam Younts, a blacksmith
from Davidson, moved here and made a fortune in the credit business.
The tax rate in 1900 was one percent. The town officers that same year
were as follows: Mayor W. S. Fisher; Clerk J. J. Morrow; Tax Collector
F. C. Harris; and Policeman Thomas Crump. The Postmistress was Mrs.
Ida Devlin. Ministers of the three churches were: Presbyterian, J. R.
McAlpine (for whom McAlpine Creek is named); Methodist, H. C. Sprinkle;
Baptist, A. L. Stough (for whom the present Stough Memorial Baptist Church
is named). There were two doctors; William K. Reid and N. G. Moore.
Sports
The principal sport of the day was baseball. The games were played
at the Morrow Home and people rode horseback or drove carriages in
from all the surrounding country. The call "Play Ball" was
given early in the morning and lasted all day. Time out was taken at
noon for a grand picnic lunch.
Industry
The lone industrial plant was established in 1890 by Capital
from Charlotte. This was the Dover Yarn Mill. A weaving department
was added in 1902 and employment increased to 200 people operating 9,000
spindles and 200 looms. This mill changed hands several times until
it was bought by today's owners and operators, Cone Mill, Inc. In 1922
a group of Pineville men formed The Farmers Bank, which operated until
1932. This was the year many banks failed all over the country, with
many people losing all their savings. However the Pineville Bank paid
off every cent to its depositors and to its stockholders, before closing
its doors for the last time.
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