Concord, Dec. 20--J.W. Cannon, one of the leading cotton manufacturers of the country, died at his home in Concord Monday evening at 6 o’clock, following a two-weeks illness from heart trouble. From the start of his illness little hope of his recovery had been held. Friday afternoon his condition became critical, and all members of his immediate family were summoned to his bedside. Short rallying spells intervened, but for most of the time he was unconscious after Friday.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The deceased was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church and active in its affairs. He was married in 1876 to Miss Ella Bost, of Bost Mill, Cabarrus county. Mrs. Cannon and 10 children survive. The children are Mrs. David H. Blair of Washington; Mrs. Julian S. Carr Jr. of Durham; Mrs. Charles Hill of Winston-Salem; Mrs. Charles E. Lambeth of Charlotte; J.F. Cannon, M.L. Cannon, J.W. Cannon, E.T. Cannon and C.A. Cannon of Concord; and J. Ross Cannon of York, S.C.
Born in Mecklenburg
James William Cannon was born in Mecklenburg county in March, 1852, and therefore he was 69 years of age. He was the son of Jos. F. and Eliza Long Cannon. The old home was near Sugar Creek church, where the deceased lived until he was 14 years of age, when he came to Concord. His first business connection was with the mercantile firm of Cannon & Fetzer, and after holding a position as clerk in the firm for a number of years, he purchased the Long interests and became one of the owners and managers. He was recognized as a genius in the mercantile world, and he gave up this business to take up bigger interests in the cotton mill industry, just beginning then in the South.
His first mill was erected in Concord in 1882, and is still standing being known as the Cannon Mills. The mill specializes in the manufacture of “Cannon Cloth.” So successful was Mr. Cannon with his first textile venture that he soon enlarged his field, culminating his efforts with the building of Kannapolis, the largest unincorporated town in the world. The Cannon mills at Kannapolis manufacture more towels than any other single group of mills in the world, and Kannapolis is recognized as a model mill city. At the time of his death Mr. Cannon was president, chairman of the board of directors, or actively engaged in manufacturing the following mills:
Cannon Manufacturing Company with plants at Concord, Kannapolis, N.C., and York, S.C.; Cabarrus Cotton Mills with plants at Concord and Kannapolis; Gibson Manufacturing company, Concord; Franklin Cotton Mills, Concord; Patterson Manufacturing Company, China Grove; Kesler Manufacturing Company, Salisbury; Amazon Cotton Mills, Thomasville; Barringer Manufacturing Company, Rockwell; Efird Manufacturing Company, Albemarle; Tuscarora Cotton Mills, Mt. Pleasant; Bloomfield Manufacturing company, Statesville; Paola Cotton Mills, Social Circle, Ga.; Imperial Cotton Mills, Eatonton, Ga.; Buck Creek Cotton Mills, Siluria, Ala.
Mr. Cannon also was vice president of the Cabarrus Savings Bank of Concord, with branches in Albemarle and Kannapolis.
He held big interests in a number of mills through his selling agency and otherwise.
Was a Pioneer
Beginning at a time when the textile industry in the South was thought hazardous by most people, Mr. Cannon through sheer ability and energy amassed a great fortune, built one of the largest mills in the world, planned and built an entire city of 6,000 population, secured control of 600,000 spindles and 10,000 looms, and took an active part in the management of other business.
Lived Simply
Though a man of great affairs, Mr. Cannon lived most simply. He had no hobbies and no special form of recreation. His leisure hours chiefly were spent with members of his family, of whom his wife was the center. He was exceedingly democratic n his manner and always was ready to discuss any matter that was of interest to the community and warranted attention.
Truly it may be said of him that he has builded up the waste places and his raised the foundations for many to dwell upon.
From the front page of the Charlotte News, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 1921
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