Carlton Yarn Mills, Inc.
History of the Carlton Mill by Clyde Hayes. This article was written in the 1950's

This mill was built and made operative in a short period of time in the summer of 1922. Claude Mauney, Noah and Tom Mauney helped in the building. Hugh Sneed helped in the grading. Throughout the first 25 years, there were few changes in the executive personnel. Until his death in 1941, Dr. L. L. Self had served as President for a period of nineteen years. Mr. R. I. Dalton was Vice President for over 25 years, he is now Chairman of the Board. C. A. Rudisill was Sec. and Treas. until 1941, when he was elected to the office of President and Treasurer. M. M. Rudisill was Ass't. Sec. and Treas. for ten years, from 1922 until 1932. In July of that year S. M. Butler was elected Sec. and Ass't. Treasurer, and served capably until 1946 when he entered business for himself.

In 1946 T. W. Borland was elected Sec. Ben R. Rudisill was Treasurer and General Manager, Ass't. Sec. was William Harden. These along with Mr. Dalton and Mr. Rudisill, Mrs. L. L. Self and H. L. Dalton constituted the Board of Directors.

In 1922 when chartered J. W. Kendrick and C. B. Harrelson were on the Board, Audie Beam helped sell the stock. Bill Blackwelder was Master Mechanic and Supt. of Maintenance until he was relieved of part of his chores by J. Ben Dellinger who was in charge of the Cotton Warehouse and inside and outside maintenance, his son John Bennett, holds a similar postion today. Walter B. Putnam was Supt. until he passed away in 1942.

Ed Rudisill worked at Carlton and played baseball in 1926 but in 1929, after college, he started working himself up through the ranks, first, Section Hand, Overseer, Ass't. Superintendent in 1936 and Superintendent from 1942 until 1945.

M. E. Seals then took over as Superintendent. Monroe Randall had worked up from these other various positions to Ass't. Supt. Ed Naylor was Cotton Classer, Bob Smith, Purchasing Agent.

Carlton had a Club House and the Recreation Director was Mrs. Victor Stroup. She really pioneered this work at Carlton. Mrs. Glenn Leonard a Registered Nurse, who ministers to the health need of the community. Jean Randall Beam was Mr. Stroup's assistant in Recreation, then was Recreation Director. She now heads the Employment Office.

Some of the Office Personnel were Glenn, Leonard, Pete Blackwelder, James E. Black, Avalene Hallman, Peggy Houser and Virginia W. Witherspoon. Will Farris, Mose Witherspoon and Dave Farris were the carpenters. The Cornwells headed by Lewis Cornwell were the painters. Cord Hallman was cardroom overseer. Some of the other overseers were Brat Fourshee, Oscar Devine, Houston Quinn, Clarence Quinn, Marshall Craig, Nallie Barker, Flay Wofford later came from Rex, Garland Stroup, Willie Hendricks and Hazel Duncan.

Some of the Section Hands were Larry Beal, Plato Foster, Zeb Ford, Ernest Sisk was in the Shipping Dept. and Supply Room. Steel Allran was overhauler as was Carl Carpenter.

Theodore Short had The Clubhouse.

Mabel Boyles and Susan Randall were two of the first spinners. A number of families were hands in different places of the operation. Tom Quinn's family included Houston, Hubert, Clarence, Roy, Novella, Bence and Deed. Mr. Randall, father of Monroe, Quince, Darius, Oscar and Vestie, John Luther Wyatt family, The Franklins, Jim, Wallace and Frank, Fuller Boyles and J. B., Bill, Dick, and John.

Some of the employees, which included members of their families in some cases were, Kenneth Heavner, Glenn Henkle, Jake Mauney, Floyd Mauney, Edith Mauney, Ralph Scism, Glenn Willis, Jack Willis, Lewis Yount, Calvin Uren, Lester Morrison, Jab Blackwelder, Conley Flowers, Grady Hoyle, Hank Hoyle, Austin Grigg, Fred Jackson, Dorus Dellinger, Lee Devenny, Orien Moss, Ophelia Guffey, Oscar Peeler, Burie Roberts, Everett Carpenter, Clem Cook, Rass Vandyke, Lester Sisk, Landon Ford, John Patterson and James "Buck" Gaines. Floyd Anthony, Blanche Ream, Jim Black, Clarence Foster, John Mull, Ed McCurry and Lewis, Willie Peeler, Clarence Willis, Dewey Hamphries, Knox Barrier, Vernon Smith, Harley Bridges, Dathy Bridges, Jim Shuford, Charlie Beal, Lewis Hoyle, Blaine Beam, Wesley Ross, Forest Ford Hugh Sneed was in the Supply Room and in Maintenance Lester Benfield, Jim Friday, Frank Henkle, Odus Langford William McNeeley, Clyde Page, Guy Timmons, Reece White Will Wingate, Alfred Black, John J. Brown, Clyde Canipe Odell Fourshee, Bill Fowler, Britt Mull, Frank Griggs, Holly Bridges, Harvey Carpenter, Nettie Dellinger, Mamie Newton Angelita Williams, Frank Tate, Olin Randall and Many others. others.

Ben Rudisill was Pres. from 1949 until 1959. Tom Borland has been President now since that time. Carlton, Inc. has grown from this one plant to a number in other cities. They recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary. Divisions of Carlton are Carlton Yarn Mills, Carlton Knits, CarDel Fabrics, Subsidiaries include Delta Thread Co., CYM Sales Corp., Mill Fabrics

Carlton Yarn Mills include plants in Salisbury and near Kings Mountain, N.C.

The officers now are as follows: Thomas W. Borland, Pres. and Treas., John W. Copeland, Executive Vice Pres., Darrell Steagall, Vice Pres., Sales and Secretary. Charles Hammer Vice Pres. Of Manufacturing, C. Parker Umstead, Vice President of Finance. Paul P. Kinkaid, Vice Pres. Fibers Purchasing.

Ben Rudisill II has now returned to Cherryville as Marketing Manager having previously been Vice Pres. of Mill Fabrics, Inc.

There are more than likely a number of mistakes in this narrative, but these are strictly unintentional, and the source must be forgiven. It is at least an effort to give some small amount of credit to the unsung heroes of the textile industry, the working men and women, without whose diligence and hard work, Cherryville couldn't have grown from a crossroad village to the thriving city it is today.