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James A. Cheek

James A. Cheek of Hillsborough won one of the two Orange and Durham seats in the state House in November 1882, running as a Liberal and beating Democrat Matthew Atwater by seven votes, 2,126 to 2,119, on the official count.

Source: DigitalNC: Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 18, 1882, p. 2

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Prohibition and the liquor question, 1879–18921879–1892 · Between 1879 and 1892 the sale of liquor in Orange County was argued over in the legislature, at the polls, before town and county boards and in court. In 1879 the legislature widened the ban on selling liquor around the university to four miles. Before the 1881 statewide prohibition vote, supporters organized the county under Rev. N. H. Cobb, with every minister, white and Black, a vice president. In 1882 Anderson Hill ran for the House as an Independent Prohibition candidate. Hillsborough's town board refused liquor licenses in 1890 and 1891, but the county commissioners licensed John U. Smith, and the town's suit against him was compromised and dismissed in 1892. Black Republicans and the county party, 1890–18971890–1897 · Black Republicans in Orange County condemned the county's white Republicans for keeping every office and appointment, and in the 1890s they ran candidates of their own. In August 1890 a mass meeting called to order by Lisbon P. Berry nominated him for the state Senate, and a later meeting backed London A. Whitted for the House. The county convention endorsed its own slate, and one man named on it called it the "white Republican" convention. In 1892 Black men who said the party's "ring" had not treated them fairly nominated John M. Whitted, and in 1894 Swain Kirkland announced for the House. In 1897 Hillsborough elected Samuel L. Whitted, by the paper's account the first Black town commissioner. Working the county roads: the road tax fights, 1891–18991891–1899 · 8 events · From 1891 to 1899 Orange County's commissioners and justices fought over how to keep up the public roads: with a road tax under an alternative system, or with the labor owed by local men. In 1891 a joint session voted 13 to 2 for the alternative system and a tax of 7 cents on the $100. In 1893 the justices voted to end it, and after two standoffs the commissioners gave way and the tax ended. A special road law adopted in 1896 let each township choose labor or a road tax, and in 1899 the commissioners levied no road tax and went back to set days of work from every man liable to road duty.

Dated events connected with this person, in date order. See these 41 dated events in the chronology →

  1. James A. Cheek builds an Italianate house on North Churton Street James A. Cheek built a five-bay Italianate I-house with an ornate sawnwork porch on Lot 78, on a rise above North Churton Street. His family kept it until 1908; a brick kitchen and an 1880s barn survive behind it. People: James A. CheekSearch the index · Hillsborough Historic District National Register Additional Documentation (2014), pdf p. 38
  2. James A. Cheek puts up a new brick store building in Hillsborough The Hillsborough Recorder reported that J. A. Cheek's new brick building was nearly finished and built with more regard for looks and convenience than any of its kind in town. He was to start a second brick building of the same size on the site of the store he occupied.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, September 25, 1878, p. 3
  3. The commissioners license three Hillsborough saloons on condition they close if prohibition passes The county commissioners licensed James A. Cheek, Isrel Turner and William J. Hayes to retail spirits in Hillsborough for twelve months from May 1, on the understanding that they would close in October, without claiming back taxes, if the statewide prohibition law passed in the August vote. People: James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 7, 1881, p. 3
  4. Orange Republicans endorse the Liberal coalition ticket The Republican county convention at the court house approved the state party's endorsement of the Liberal ticket, recommended Isaac R. Strayhorn for the state Senate, endorsed James A. Cheek, a Liberal, for the House, Sheriff John K. Hughes for re-election and Ed. Rosemond for treasurer, and resolved to back only legislative candidates pledged to abolish the county government system and have magistrates, commissioners and school committeemen elected by the people. People: Isaac R. Strayhorn, James A. Cheek, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), October 7, 1882, p. 2
  5. Orange and Durham send Democrat R. C. Strudwick and Liberal J. A. Cheek to the House Orange and Durham counties split their two House seats: Democrat Robert C. Strudwick led with 2,128 votes, and James A. Cheek of Hillsborough, an anti-prohibition Liberal, beat Democrat Matthew Atwater by seven votes, 2,126 to 2,119. The sheriffs of the two counties compared the returns at Sheriff John K. Hughes's office on November 14. People: Matthew Atwater, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 18, 1882, p. 2
  6. Hillsborough elects George O. Corbin mayor Hillsborough's town election passed quietly, choosing George O. Corbin as mayor and Wm. N. Anderson, James A. Cheek, James H. Hedgpeth, J. W. Hooker, John Rosemond, J. Y. Whitted and Isaac R. Strayhorn as commissioners. Many voters still wrote in the retiring mayor, Henry K. Nash, who was not a candidate. People: Henry Kollock Nash, Isaac R. Strayhorn, James A. Cheek, J. W. HookerSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 12, 1883, p. 3
  7. Orange County Republicans name state convention delegates, Lisbon Berry among them The Republican county convention at Hillsborough named Isaac R. Strayhorn, T. J. Dodson, Lisbon Berry, a Black man, and James A. Cheek delegates to the state convention, asked the President to reappoint Thomas Kirkland postmaster at Chapel Hill, and heard two Black leaders, Alfred Holmes and Lewis Jenkins, speak for a no-fence law. People: Isaac R. Strayhorn, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 3, 1884, p. 2
  8. Hillsborough men incorporate the Orange County Tobacco Association to buy and sell leaf tobacco Fifteen men, among them the merchants Charles M. Parks, David C. Parks and Harry L. Parish, John W. Graham and E. H. Pogue, filed articles with the Orange County Superior Court clerk incorporating the association, with $2,000 in capital in fifty-dollar shares. The same week the paper reported a heavy break at the opening sale of Hillsborough's tobacco warehouse. People: David C. Parks, Harry L. Parish, Edward Atkins Rosemond, Thomas Ruffin, John W. Graham, James A. Cheek, Augustus Washington Graham, E. H. PogueSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), January 9, 1886, p. 3 ("Notice of Incorporation")
  9. Orange Republicans name James B. Mason for the Senate and back Cheek and Hughes The Republican county convention at Hillsborough, chaired by James B. Mason, named Mason for the state Senate, endorsed James A. Cheek for the House and John K. Hughes for sheriff, nominated Wilson Brown for clerk and Thomas Roberts for treasurer, and recommended Isaac R. Strayhorn for solicitor. People: James B. Mason, Isaac R. Strayhorn, James A. Cheek, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 25, 1886, p. 3
  10. Orange voters elect the Democratic county ticket but send Republicans to the legislature In the November 2 election Orange chose the Democratic county ticket except for sheriff, where the Republican-backed John K. Hughes beat William Strain by more than 1,100 votes. James A. Cheek and Oakley won the Orange-Durham House seats, Republicans James B. Mason and Harrison the Senate seats, and Isaac R. Strayhorn the solicitorship, while John W. Graham carried Orange by 238 votes but lost the Fourth District congressional race to John Nichols. People: James B. Mason, John W. Graham, Isaac R. Strayhorn, James A. Cheek, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 6, 1886, p. 3
  11. Hillsborough elects Joseph A. Harris mayor With no opposing ticket and only about half the registered voters taking part, Hillsborough elected Joseph A. Harris, editor of the Orange County Observer, as mayor, with A. W. Graham, James A. Cheek, Henry Richards Jr., A. J. Ruffin, John Rosemond, James Webb Jr. and Jesse Hedgpeth as commissioners. The new board took office May 7 and chose Thomas D. Tinnin clerk and John Laws treasurer. People: Allen Jones Ruffin, James Webb Jr., James A. Cheek, Augustus Washington GrahamSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 7, 1887, p. 3
  12. Hillsborough re-elects Joseph A. Harris mayor over Samuel M. Gattis Hillsborough voters re-elected editor Joseph A. Harris mayor over Samuel M. Gattis, 79 to 39, and chose D. C. Parks, George Laws, Thomas Hedgpeth, James Webb Jr., James A. Cheek, Henry Richards Jr. and D. Y. Mebane as town commissioners. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, David C. Parks, James Webb Jr., James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 12, 1888, p. 3
Show all 41 dated events
  1. Orange County Republicans nominate Wilson Brown for sheriff and a full county ticket After a caucus of more than an hour, the Republican county convention at the court house named Wilson Brown for sheriff, Thomas F. Lloyd of Chapel Hill for the House, Milton E. Craig for register of deeds, Irvin A. Hogan for treasurer and Dr. John R. Hogan for coroner, and recommended James A. Cheek for the state Senate. H. C. Thompson of Chapel Hill Township presided, and Col. James E. Boyd, elector for the state at large, spoke afterward. People: Thomas F. Lloyd (Carrboro mill builder), James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 8, 1888, p. 3
  2. Hillsborough re-elects Mayor Joseph A. Harris over Devereux Turner Hillsborough re-elected Joseph A. Harris mayor over Devereux Turner by 49 votes and chose D. Y. Mebane, M. W. McCollum, James A. Cheek, George Laws, Joseph G. Cooley, A. J. Ruffin and S. J. Lynch as commissioners without opposition; the new board kept James Carmichael as constable and John Laws as treasurer. People: Allen Jones Ruffin, James A. Cheek, Joseph G. CooleySearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 11, 1889, p. 3
  3. Hillsborough's town board puts about forty Town Commons building lots up for bids The town commissioners named James A. Cheek, S. J. Lynch and D. Y. Mebane to take bids on some forty or more building lots in the Town Commons, with every sale to be confirmed by the board. People: Joseph A. Harris, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), January 4, 1890, p. 2
  4. The court holds the bondsmen of former clerk Pride Jones liable on his accounts In several suits brought by the solicitor for the state, Orange Superior Court rendered judgments against James A. Cheek, Thomas H. Hughes, D. M. Laws and Mrs. Sally Collins, sureties on the bond of the late clerk of superior court Pride Jones; the defendants appealed. People: James A. Cheek, Dudley M. LawsSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), March 22, 1890, p. 2
  5. Hillsboro re-elects Mayor Joseph A. Harris with a seven-man town board The town election returned Joseph A. Harris as mayor with commissioners Robert Faucette, Harry L. Parish, Hayes, S. J. Lynch, Henry N. Brown Jr., James A. Cheek and George Laws. Clerk S. M. Gattis swore them in on May 13, and on May 19 Parish gave bond as treasurer and the board named standing committees, with Cheek heading streets. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, Harry L. Parish, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 10, 1890, p. 3
  6. Orange County Republicans reorganize and elect James A. Cheek county chairman A Republican mass meeting at the court house accepted Wilson Brown's resignation as county chairman, elected James A. Cheek in his place, endorsed Isaac R. Strayhorn for solicitor and called a county convention for September 27. It resolved to back no one who would not support the county ticket and Alexander McIver for Congress. People: Alexander McIver, Isaac R. Strayhorn, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 6, 1890, p. 3
  7. Hillsborough re-elects Mayor Joseph A. Harris and chooses a seven-man town board Harris, the editor of the Observer, won the Monday town election as mayor. The new board was James Webb Jr., James A. Cheek, S. J. Lynch, H. N. Brown Jr., H. L. Faucette, O. D. Hooker and T. C. Hayes. People: James Webb Jr., James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 9, 1891, p. 3
  8. Orange County Republicans hold their county convention The convention met at the court house with mostly Black delegates and chose Henry N. Brown Sr. as chairman. It nominated Walter C. Lloyd for treasurer and James N. Parker for coroner, both of Chapel Hill township, sent James A. Cheek and Thomas F. Lloyd to the State convention, and left the surveyor's nomination to the county executive committee. People: Thomas F. Lloyd (Carrboro mill builder), James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 10, 1892, p. 3
  9. Fire destroys James A. Cheek's ice house at Hillsborough An ice house belonging to James A. Cheek burned about five o'clock in the morning. A good rain was falling, which may have kept the fire from spreading to the other house on the place; the cause was not known. People: James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), August 26, 1893, p. 3
  10. Hillsborough elects former Republican postmaster N. W. Brown mayor Hillsborough's town election made N. W. Brown mayor and chose seven commissioners, among them W. H. Newman, E. A. Rosemond, Dr. J. S. Spurgeon, J. G. Cooley and James A. Cheek. The new board met the next day and made John Hayes constable and Rosemond treasurer. People: John Sanford Spurgeon, Edward Atkins Rosemond, James A. Cheek, Joseph G. CooleySearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 12, 1894, p. 3
  11. Orange County Republicans hold their county convention and name a county ticket Orange County Republicans met in convention at Hillsborough, chose delegates to their state, district and judicial conventions, and nominated a county ticket that included B. E. Teague of Chapel Hill for sheriff and W. R. Faucett for coroner. People: James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), August 18, 1894, p. 3
  12. Revenue officers seize James A. Cheek's registered distillery at Hillsborough A deputy revenue collector seized the registered distillery of James A. Cheek of Hillsborough, the Republican nominee for the legislature, alleging that his warehouse receipts and books did not agree. Cheek's side answered that his son had entered sales in the wrong book. People: James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), October 6, 1894, p. 3
  13. James A. Cheek wins Orange County's House seat in the Fusion sweep James A. Cheek, the Republican nominee, won Orange County's seat in the state House when Republicans and Populists carried most county offices. In the 1895 session he introduced the act under which the county adopted a special road law in 1896.Search the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 17, 1894, p. 3 (official vote)
  14. The Orange County Republican convention endorses McKinley in a stormy session The Orange County Republican convention at Hillsborough endorsed William McKinley for president, Jeter Pritchard for the Senate, Thomas Settle for Congress and James B. Mason for judge. In a disorderly meeting a Black delegate defeated Thomas F. Lloyd, a Chapel Hill merchant and university trustee, for delegate to the state convention, an account county chairman James A. Cheek later disputed. People: Thomas F. Lloyd (Carrboro mill builder), James B. Mason, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 9, 1896, p. 2
  15. The county commissioners adopt a special road law for Orange County The county commissioners adopted a special road law for Orange County under an 1895 act introduced by Representative James A. Cheek, and called the township road supervisors in to learn it. Each township could keep roads up with labor owed by local men, who could buy out at sixty cents a day, or by a road tax spent by an elected township road master. People: James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 9, 1896, p. 3
  16. Eighteenth District Republicans nominate James A. Cheek for the state Senate The Republican senatorial convention, meeting at Hillsborough, nominated James A. Cheek for the Senate and left the district's other seat vacant in the hope that the Populists would fuse with them and name the second senator. People: James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), October 15, 1896, p. 3
  17. Hillsborough's town board levies the 1897 town tax and orders the last Commons lots sold Hillsborough's town commissioners levied the 1897 town tax at 15 cents on each $100 of property and 45 cents on each poll, filled two vacant seats and ordered the remaining Town Commons lots sold. The sale of 39 lots was then advertised for December 16 under a private act of 1897. People: Joseph A. Harris, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 16, 1897, p. 3
  18. Hillsborough elects Joseph A. Harris mayor again over Chester D. Turner Hillsborough voters returned Joseph A. Harris as mayor, 73 votes to 28 for Chester D. Turner, a year after he lost the office to John T. Shaw. The new board sworn in on May 8 was H. L. Parish, J. A. Cheek, D. M. Laws, George A. Durham, James H. Hedgpeth, E. A. Rosemond and S. J. [surname lost]. People: Harry L. Parish, Edward Atkins Rosemond, Chester D. Turner, James A. Cheek, George A. Durham, Dudley M. LawsSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 4, 1899, p. 3
  19. Hillsboro Township names separate committees for the town district's white and Black schools Meeting at the court house, the Hillsboro Township school committee appointed committeemen for each school district in the township and, because of the large number of children, named separate committees for the white and the Black schools of Hillsboro District No. 15. Major John W. Graham, James A. Cheek and C. R. Lassiter took the white school; Thomas H. Webb, N. W. Brown and Dr. J. S. Spurgeon took the Black school. People: John W. Graham, N. W. Brown, John Sanford Spurgeon, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), August 3, 1899, p. 2
  20. Hillsborough re-elects Mayor Joseph A. Harris over William Strain Hillsborough voters re-elected Democrat Joseph A. Harris mayor over Republican William Strain, 91 to 60, and elected the Democratic board of S. J. Lynch, James A. Cheek, James Webb Sr., E. A. Rosemond, O. J. Forrest, E. G. Sherrill and James H. Hedgpeth. People: Edward Atkins Rosemond, James A. Cheek, O. J. ForrestSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 10, 1900, p. 3
  21. Fire destroys James A. Cheek's stores Fire destroyed the stores of Hillsborough merchant James A. Cheek on March 17, 1901; in January 1902 Cheek offered a $300 reward for evidence to convict whoever set it. People: James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), January 30, 1902, p. 3
  22. Hillsborough elects Mayor Norwood and a five-member town board under its amended charter In the first town election under the amended charter, Hillsborough chose Mayor Norwood and Commissioners James Webb, James A. Cheek, O. J. Forrest, N. W. Brown and Fletcher R. Faucett, with Brown polling 92 votes. The new board took the oath on May 9, elected R. L. Faucett clerk and re-elected Dr. J. S. Spurgeon treasurer. People: N. W. Brown, John Sanford Spurgeon, James A. Cheek, O. J. ForrestSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 16, 1901, p. 3
  23. Mayor Norwood breaks a tie to license Hillsborough's three saloons for another year With Commissioner Fletcher R. Faucett absent, the town board split two to two on James A. Cheek's motion to license William F. Jackson, Theodore Turner and Cheek himself to sell liquor for twelve months from July 1, and Mayor Norwood cast the deciding vote for the licenses. James Webb and Cheek voted yes and N. W. Brown and O. J. Forrest voted no; the county commissioners granted the three their retail licenses on July 1. People: N. W. Brown, James A. Cheek, O. J. ForrestSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 6, 1901, p. 3
  24. Hillsborough's commissioners refuse every saloon license, making the town dry after June 30 The new town board unanimously refused the applications of James A. Cheek, Theodore Turner and H. Goodman to retail liquor, so that when the licenses ran out on June 30 Hillsborough would be dry for the first time. People: Joseph A. Harris, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 11, 1903, p. 3
  25. Hillsboro Township magistrates elect H. Winder Webb, James A. Cheek and Eugene A. Hughes road commissioners The board of magistrates of Hillsboro Township elected H. Winder Webb, James A. Cheek and Eugene A. Hughes as the township's board of road commissioners. The magistrates re-elected them for two years in April 1905, and in 1907 chose Webb, N. W. Brown and Paul C. Collins. People: James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 11, 1903, p. 3
  26. Hillsborough Township brings in a rock crusher to macadamize the depot road The Hillsborough Township road commissioners set up a rock crusher and roller in D. C. Parks's vacant lot west of the court house to build a macadam road from Churton and King streets to the railroad station, with a road builder from Charlotte in charge and an engineer hired for the survey. People: H. Winder Webb, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 15, 1905, p. 3
  27. Hillsborough macadamizes King Street west of Churton Work on a macadam road on King Street began on July 18 with the digging up of the old paving stones near S. E. Cole's store, after a survey by a Mr. Spoon of Burlington, and the Good Roads Machinery Company set up a rock crusher in early August. When superintendent Stewart of Charlotte left on October 31, nearly two blocks of King Street from Churton to Hazel had been macadamized, and the road commission of H. Winder Webb, James A. Cheek and E. A. Hughes hoped to carry the road to the depot the next summer. People: H. Winder Webb, James A. CheekSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 2, 1905, p. 3
  28. Allen J. and Annie Gray Ruffin buy the James A. Cheek House The Cheek family, owners since about 1875, sells the Italianate house at 219 North Churton Street to Allen J. and Annie Gray Ruffin in October 1907, for $5,000 with five acres. Annie Gray Ruffin, by then a widow, sold it to Houston J. Walker in 1919. People: Houston J. Walker, James A. Cheek, Allen Jones RuffinSearch the index · NC State Historic Preservation Office: Hillsborough Historic District Additional Documentation, National Register (OR0077ad, 2014), 219 North Churton Street, James A. Cheek House · Also: Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), October 10, 1907, p. 3
  29. Houston J. Walker buys the James A. Cheek House from Annie Gray Ruffin Annie Gray Ruffin, widowed since she and Allen J. Ruffin bought the Cheek house in 1908, sold it to Houston J. Walker. Three years later Walker and his son Allen H. Walker Sr. opened Walker's Funeral Home in Hillsborough. People: Allen Jones Ruffin, James A. Cheek, Houston J. WalkerSearch the index · Hillsborough Historic District National Register Additional Documentation (2014), pdf p. 38

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