Served as mayor:

• December 1, 1890–November 30, 1891
• December 1, 1895–November 30, 1896

Rufus Sylvanus Plonk (“R.S.”), was born in Cleveland County, North Carolina to John and Ellen Oates Plonk.

R.S. was highly involved in politics. He served as the campaign manager for Congressman E.Y. Webb for many years and was county commissioner for Cleveland County for eight years. He also served as an alderman for the town of Kings Mountain before becoming its mayor.

R.S. was also a very successful businessman, his main business being cotton manufacturing. He served as director and vice president of Long Shoals Mill, director of the Klotho Mill, and Kings Mountain Manufacturing Company. He was vice president and general manager of the Phenix mill for six years before it was sold. He was a dedicated Lutheran and a Master Mason.

R.S. was married to his wife, Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” Motley Plonk, for nearly 30 years. The couple had fourteen children together.

Rufus Sylvanus Plonk passed away at the age of 51.

Served as mayor: December 1, 1889–November 30, 1890

William Kertis White was born in Cleveland County, North Carolina to Crawford and Lovina Bridges White. He stayed in the area and became involved in the textile industry, working as a weaver, a loom fixer and eventually foreman. He was very devoted member of First Baptist church and served as a deacon.

William was married to his wife, Fannie Ross Williams for 60 years before his death. The couple had eight children.

William Kertis White passed away at the age of 82.

Served as mayor: December 1, 1887–November 30, 1889

Hugh Parks Allison was born in York County, South Carolina to William and Mary Currence Allison. By age 20, he was working as a teacher in York County.

By age 30, he was married and living in Kings Mountain. He continued to teach once he moved to this area. In 1885 he started a newspaper called The Reformer, which stayed in operation until 1900. He then co-founded The Democrat. In 1903, The Democrat was consolidated with The Herald. Also, during this time, he became a Justice of the Peace which he continued to do until his death.

Hugh Allison was married to his wife, Catherine Dixon Allison, for 36 years until her death in 1906. The couple had three children.

Hugh Parks Allison passed away at the age of 60.

Served as mayor: December 1–November 30, 1887

Dr. Francis “Frank” Marion Garrett, was born in Edgecomb County, North Carolina to John and Susan Boon Garrett. One of his younger brothers was Isaac Garrett who also served as mayor of Kings Mountain.

Dr. Frank Garrett received his medical degree from the University of New York. He joined the Confederate Army in 1862 as a surgeon. After the war, he was in New York for a short time as a merchant. He then moved back to Halifax County, North Carolina to practice medicine. He moved to the Kings Mountain area around 1881 to run the All Health Springs Sanitarium. He was also Vice President of the Roanoke and Raleigh Railroad.

Dr. Garrett was married to his wife, Della Williams Garrett, for 15 years until her death in 1871. The couple had seven children together. He then married Annie Parker Garrett in 1872. The couple was married 6 years and had two children before her death in 1878. In 1880, Dr. Garrett married a third time to Eliza Jones Garrett. The couple were married 11 years, until his death. They had no children together.

Dr. Francis Marion Garrett passed away at the age of 57.

Served as mayor: December 1, 1886–November 30, 1887

John Kelly Dixon was born in Cleveland County, North Carolina to Columbus and Ann Dixon. He began his career working for the Southern railway in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. He was transferred to Gastonia, North Carolina in the late 1880’s, where he worked until he was transferred to Toccoa, Georgia. From there he went to Athens, Georgia to work for the Seaboard. In 1900 he moved back to Gastonia and purchased interests in the Trenton Cotton Mills and became active President. He stayed in this role until his death. He was also president of the Dixon Mills, Inc.

John Kelly also served as Mayor of Gastonia for two terms. During his time in Gastonia he served as a member of the board of trustees for the YMCA. He was an active member of the Main Street Methodist Church.

John Kelly Dixon was married to his wife, Hester Wilson Dixon, for 50 years until his death. The couple had two sons.

John Kelly Dixon passed away at the age of 74 from throat cancer.

Served as mayor: December 1, 1881–November 30, 1882

William Thomas Reilley Bell was born in Accomac County, Virginia to George and Margaret Welch Bell. He earned a degree from the University of Virginia and went on to fight in the Civil War with the Virginia Infantry. After the war, he moved to North Carolina where he started a military school.

In 1876, Captain Bell moved to Kings Mountain where he opened another school with just 18 students. In 1878, the school name was changed from the Kings Mountain Military School to the public school of Kings Mountain. Captain Bell continued as the principal. This school stayed open until 1886, when Captain Bell closed its doors. The building was destroyed in a fire in 1910. By 1900, Captain Bell had moved to Rutherfordton where he continued to teach. He remained there until his death.

Captain William T.R. Bell was married to wife, Nannie Hill Bell, for 47 years before she passed away in 1915. The couple had three children.

Captain William T. Reilley Bell passed away at the age of 73.

Served as mayor:

• December 1, 1880–November 30, 1881
• December 1, 1882–November 30, 1886

Alfred V. Falls was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina to James and Susan Falls. By 1850, A.V. had moved to Cleveland County to the White Plains area. This would later become the town of Kings Mountain. He was a farmer and according to the 1860 census, he was the deputy sheriff for the area. At the age of 42, he joined the Confederate Army, but stayed enlisted only one month.

By 1880 when A.V. became mayor, he was a listed as a retired farmer. In 1885, he petitioned the House of Representatives to be a justice of the peace in Cleveland County.

A.V. was married to Francis “Fannie” Neal. The couple had one son.

Alfred V. Falls passed away at the age of 67.

Served as mayor:

• December 1, 1878–November 30, 1879
• December 1–November 30, 1887

Isaac Walton Garrett was born in Edgecomb County, North Carolina to John and Susan Boon Garrett. He served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. After his time in the war, he moved to Kings Mountain where he was selected to be on the first board of commissioners as the secretary of the board. By 1880, Isaac had established himself as a dry goods merchant.

Isaac was married to Lucinda “Lucy” Sugg for 36 years. The couple had 3 daughters.

Isaac Garrett passed away at the age of 62.

Served as mayor: December 1, 1877–November 30, 1878

Redding Southerland Sugg was born in Edgecomb County, North Carolina to Dr. Phesanton and Lucinda Pender Sugg. Redding attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and graduated in the class of 1850. After graduation, he returned to Tarboro and by 1860 was a wealthy, single farmer. At the start of the war in 1861, Redding enlisted and served as a Lieutenant with the NC 15^th Infantry Regiment.

By 1880, Redding had moved to Kings Mountain where he built two buildings. One became Suggs Drug Store and the other was a general merchandise store. He was Kings Mountain’s first pharmacist and second mayor.

Redding was married to Mary Sophia Vines for 42 years. The couple had only one child, who passed away at the age of four.

Redding Southerland Sugg passed away at the age of 72.

Served as mayor:

• February 11, 1874–November 30, 1877
• December 1, 1879–November 30, 1880
• December 1, 1893–November 30, 1895
• December 1, 1899–November 30, 1900

W.A. Mauney was born in Gaston County, North Carolina to David and Frances Carpenter Mauney.  In 1861, at the age of 19, he volunteered and enlisted in the Confederate Army.  He then moved to Kings Mountain in 1872 with his brother to establish a mercantile and homes.

On February 11, 1874, the town of Kings Mountain was chartered, and W.A, along with Dr. J.W. Tracy, F. Dilling, D.C. Beam and W.F. Falls, was named a town commissioner.  He was selected from this group to be the first mayor.  During this time, the post office moved to the Mauney Brothers store and W.A. was made the postmaster.  He served in this role for seventeen years.  He continued to promote and establish new businesses all through each of his terms as mayor.  In 1888, W. A. Mauney along with several others opened the first cotton mill, Kings Mountain Manufacturing Company.  This was to be the industry that helped to develop the small town most.  In 1889, W.A. and A.R. Rudisill founded the Kings Mountain News, a short-lived town newspaper. By June of 1900, he was the president of the Bank of Kings Mountain, which later became the First National Bank of Kings Mountain.  He also served in the North Carolina State Legislature and as a Senator from 1907-1908.

W.A. was married to Mary Susan Ramsour in 1865.  They were married for 21 years until she passed away in 1886. They had three children together.  He then married Candace Miller in 1896, and remained married to her until he passed away in 1929.  They had two daughters.

W.A. Mauney passed away at the age of 87.