New Acquisition: The Lineberger Papers
The following web exhibit was developed by Ava Woods, our summer 2024 Collections and Curatorial Intern. During the approximately eight weeks that Ava spent at the Gaston County Museum, she reviewed, sorted, organized, and documented the newly aquired Lineberger Collection and then chose objects for display, researched the family, and curated a digital exhbit. The exhibit below is her final project in addition to a one-case display of select items which will be on display from July through November 2024.
Photo of Lineberger Family
The Lineberger family collection features many pieces from Lineberger family history, from the late 1800s to the 1990s. The collection was donated to the museum by John and Jodi Kines, who purchased the home of Archibald Caleb Lineberger III on September 14, 2023, and along with it, a collection of family papers.
Many of the papers detail business affairs relating to the Lineberger family mills and other business ventures. By the mid-1950s, the Lineberger family was involved in more than a dozen mills throughout Gaston County. Other papers were conversational letters, written to and from family members. Everything within the collection, from newspaper articles to photographs and letters, gives great insight into who the Lineberger’s were and are, and their family’s impact on the community.
Family
Three Centuries of Linebergers Book
The Lineberger family name originated in Germany, where three brothers (Lewis, Peter, and John) were born and raised, until they immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1735. In 1765 the brothers and their families relocated to Lincoln County, North Carolina, in the area that is now part of Gaston County. This part of Lincoln County, where the towns of Lowell, Dallas, and McAdenville are today, became part of Gaston County in the 1840s.
Lewis Lineberger and his wife, Barbara Sponheimer, began the line of Linebergers of Belmont, North Carolina, many of whom would become prominent figures in Gaston County’s textile industry. Lewis’ great-grandson, Caleb John Lineberger, came up with an idea in the 1850s to create a water-powered factory to spin the cotton grown on his father’s farm into yarn. It was this idea that would eventually lead to the creation of many of the mills across the county, as well as the entire state of North Carolina. The first mill to implement the spinning process was named Wood Lawn Factory (also known as the Pinhook Mill). It was managed by Caleb Lineberger from August 1852 until 1883, when it was sold at public auction. It later burned down in 1889.
After Caleb, the lineage continued, introducing many prominent members of the Gaston County textile industry. His only son, Abel Caleb (A.C.) Lineberger (1857-1947), was responsible for helping grow the Linebergers’ role in the industry and helped open and manage many mills, including the Imperial Yarn Mills, National Yarn Mills, Climax Spinning Company, Acme Spinning Co., Crescent Spinning Co., Linford Mills, Perfection Spinning Co., Belmont Processing Co., Hatch Full-Fashioned Hosiery Co., Knit Products Co., and South Fork Manufacturing Co., along with maintaining a strong partnership with the Stowe brothers.
Martha Jane Hipp Lineberger Will, dated October 24th, 1943
Following Abel was the second Archibald Caleb, also known as A.C. Lineberger, Jr (1900-1951). His contribution to the textile industry came in the form of spinning artificial silk, also known as rayon, which helped to open a new and very profitable field for those in the industry. A.C. Lineberger, Jr. was the last of the Linebergers to be involved in the textile industry, as all of his children chose different career paths.
Business
Contract between B. Thies Inc. and The Thies Dyeing and Processing Co., dated June 1927
On the business side of things, one of the items in the collection that is significant is a contract that was drawn up between the B. Thies Inc. and The Thies Dyeing and Processing Co. in which they agreed that Thies Dyeing and Processing Co. would control the American patents of B. Thies Inc. and use the Thies dyeing method. This contract was drawn up in 1927, when A.C. Lineberger Jr. was the president of the mill. A few years later, in 1932, Thies Dyeing and Processing Co. was dissolved and later reorganized as the Piedmont Processing Co.
Piedmont Processing Company Union Formation Letter, dating November 24th and 30th, 1950
Another paper that dealt with the Lineberger’s business dealings is a letter from Lewis M. Conn to A.C. Lineberger Jr., sent on November 24th, 1950, in which he stated that some employees of the Piedmont Processing Co. had designated Mr. Conn’s organization as their bargaining agent. Mr. Lineberger would respond with another letter a few days later, stating that none of his employees would ever do such a thing and that he refused to communicate any further with the organization. He also sent a letter to the employees of the mill, stating that he would keep them updated on anything related to the issue and that they should do the same for him. Another significant item in the collection that is related to the Lineberger family’s involvement in the textile industry in Gaston County is a small sample of twisted yarn that came from the Majestic Manufacturing Co. and was produced in February of 1921.
Twisted Yarn, dated February 4th, 1921. Produced by Majestic Manufacturing Co.
The collection also includes personal papers, ranging from photographs to newspaper articles and letters. The Charlotte Observer announcement of the funeral services for A.C. Lineberger Jr., who died unexpectedly in 1951, gives important details of his personal and professional life. His death marked an end to his family’s involvement in their mills, as all of his children were still in school and were too young to take over for him. His brother, James Harold Lineberger, would be the only member of the Lineberger family to continue to operate mills in the area until his death in 1987, ending a 134-year tradition of Lineberger owned and operated textile mills.
The Charlotte Observer Newspaper- Article on the funeral service of A.C. Lineberger Jr., dated January 19th, 1951
Estate Description of A.C. Lineberger, dated May 6th, 1954 Image 225
This paper is a description of A.C. Linebergers Estate, which includes some of the values of property that he owned as well as those who were listed as beneficiaries. The significance of this is that it shows how much money A.C. Lineberger had at the time of his death and how the money was split between his seven children. The value of his personal property was $33,531 in 1954 which in today’s money would be worth $391,742.
Additional Business Documentation from the Lineberger Papers
Receipt of Purchase: Hutchison and Davenport General Merchandise, purchased by A.C. Lineberger on January 18th, 1907
This paper shows what it was like to order and purchase goods during the early 20th century. This receipt shows that A.C. Lineberger purchased a few different items in 1905 over the span of a few months, and had placed them on the same receipt to be paid for at the same time. It is significant because Kel Hutchinson and C.L. Davenport’s general store in Mount Holly was an important part of Mount Holly and Gaston County business for a few years, until it was torn down in 1921 to make room for a new bank. It also shows how closely the Linebergers and other big mill owners in the area were connected to their community.
National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Acceptance Notice for Lillian Evans Lineberger, dated June 5th, 1930
This piece of paper is interesting because it reveals that the wife of Archibald Caleb (A.C.) Lineberger II became a part of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution on June 5th, 1930. In order to be eligible for membership in the DAR, Mrs. Lineberger would have had to have been a descendant of an American who aided in gaining independence from Britain. Her descendant that would prove her eligibility would be her great grandfather on her father’s side of the family, who was named James Harrison. He served as a private in the South Carolina troops and died in 1815.
Additional Materials from the Lineberger Collection
Letters to Mr. A.C. Lineberger from Hattie McKeown, dated March 15th, 1904
Letter to Mr. A.C. Lineberger, from a Ms. Hattie McKeown about coming to teach at a school somewhere in Mount Holly. She informed Mr. Lineberger that she would be able to start teaching on March 21st, 1904. The letters date January 9th, February 26th, and March 15th of 1904. These letters show that Mr. Lineberger supported the education of Gaston County’s children.
Various photographs of the Lineberger Family
These photographs depict different members of the Lineberger family together, with Archibald Lineberger III featured many times throughout his childhood. These photographs were taken when A.C. Lineberger Jr. was still alive, probably during the mid to late 1940s as Archibald Lineberger III was born in 1944, and looks to be a toddler.
