Saturday, March 20, 2021

Mecklenburg Has First Woman Justice of the Peace, March 1920

Mecklenburg County Woman Named Justice of Peace

The first woman justice of the peace ever appointed in Mecklenburg county is Mrs. Robert E. McDowell, of Steel Creek township, who is included among ht elist of new justices appointed by the recent legislature, was received Saturday afternoon by the clerk of court’s office. As far as known, there has not before been any woman in any part of the state appointed to such an an office.

As a justice of the peace, or magistrate, Mrs. McDowell will have the right to sit as a judge in the trials of civil and criminal cases within certain specified jurisdictions, just as any male justice of the peace. She will also have the right to perform the marriage ceremony and to perform other functions of kindred nature.

Mrs. McDowell is regarded as one of the most public-spirited women of the county. She is a graduate of one of the foremost woman’s colleges in the state, was a school teacher for a short while and a home demonstration agent before her marriage three years ago to Robert e. McDowell, graduate of Davidson College, special student at Chicago University, and now a farmer and stock breeder. They have one child. Mrs. McDowell is president of the Mecklenburg County Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs, a pioneer among such organizations in the state.

From the Charlotte News, March 19, 1921

New Magistrates Named for County

The list of new magistrates for Mecklenburg county appointed by the last legislature, bringing the total number of such officers in the county up to about 150, was received at the clery of the court’s office Saturday afternoon. They follow:

Charlotte township—J.L. Spencer, W.M. Beattie, D.M. Abernathy, Walter Brem, Thomas W. Dixon, Frank D. Alexander.

Providence—L.H. Robinson and L.S. Knox.

Clear Creek—W.H. Beaver and D.A. Henderson, and R.J. McEwan.

Steel Creek—John L. Milwee, C.B. Choat, and Mrs. R.E. McDowell.

Deweese—Joe A. Sherrill, T.P. Howard and R.S. Blakely.

Lemley—M.M. Blythe.

Long Creek—A.W. King and W. Mack Vance.

Paw Creek—H.A. Cathey and G.L. Neal.

Morning Star—W.L. Hood and R.J. Harkey.

Pineville—R.B. Johnson.

From The Charlotte News, Sunday morning, March 20, 1920

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