On December 30, 1873, John H. Kerr was born in Yanceyville. Educated at what is now Wake Forest University, Kerr began practicing law in Warrenton in 1895. After serving as town attorney and as mayor, he was elected judge of the Superior Court in 1916.
On December 28, 1976, legislator and U.S. comptroller general Lindsay Warren died.
On December 28, 1878, “Father of the Pacific Fruit Industry” Henderson Luelling died in Oakland, California.
On December 27, 1857, Republican Congressman, educator, and conservative and diplomatic advocate for racial equality Henry Plummer Cheatham was born with slave status near Henderson.
On December 26, 1919, Civil War soldier, planter and politician William Ruffin Cox died in Richmond, Virginia.
On December 26, 1959, businessman and amateur geologist Burnham Colburn died in Asheville.