Chronology

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1. Reconstruction and the New South · 1866–1899

2. June 1, 1898
   Life event · Chapel Hill Sallie Walker Stockard becomes UNC's first woman graduate

   Sallie Walker Stockard, a Guilford College graduate, entered UNC's senior class in the fall of 1897, the first year the university admitted women. She became the first woman to graduate from UNC when the class of 1898 received its degrees on June 1, 1898, and she earned a master's degree there in 1900.

3. November 6, 1898
   Violence or armed conflict · Orange County Manly McCauley's body is found hanging from a tree three miles west of Chapel Hill

   A farmer, Thomas Myrick, found McCauley's body hanging from a bent dogwood beside the public road some three miles west of Chapel Hill, a week after masked men had taken him from the officer bringing him back. Coroner Jordan was telegraphed to hold an inquest.

4. November 7, 1898
   Publication, speech or performance · Chapel Hill W. A. Guthrie urges Chapel Hill voters to the polls for the white supremacy ticket the day after McCauley's body is found

   With McCauley's body found the previous afternoon, Major W. A. Guthrie spoke at Chapel Hill on election eve, appealing to white voters to cast their ballots for the party of white supremacy; A. L. Brooks, the Democratic candidate for solicitor, followed him. The state election was held the next day.

5. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

6. June 1902
   Construction or physical change · near the railroad depot, West End (now Carrboro) The Blanche Hosiery Company builds its own knitting mill near the West End depot

   After more than a year in the upper story of Tom Lloyd's cotton mill, the Blanche Hosiery Company put up a $1,500 building of its own near the depot and planned to move in about July 1. The owners said Lloyd charged too much for power.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 4, 2026.