Page 40 - MOST RECENT

the second term he suffered a severe heart attack and
A. N. Linville "Mr. Add"-Mayor
1923-1925
the town as mayor from 1917 to 1921 and was elected
again in May 1929 and served until his death in J anu-
ary 1931. A resolution from the Kernersville Board of
Aldermen to his family described him as "a tireless
worker, a wise councilor, a just and considerate judge
and faithful to all his duties."
Addison Newton Linville (Mr. Add) grew up in this
community. His father, W. S. Linville, had been mayor
of Kernersville shortly after the turn of the century. At
the time of his marriage Mr. Add was in the casket-
making business with his father-in-law, Anderson Lewis.
For a short while he was in the mercantile business with
his father. Then he went off to school to become a li-
censed mortician and was a Funeral Director for the rest
of his life. He was a member and staunch supporter of
Cherry Street l!.nited Methodist Church. He served as
mayor from 19~1-1923.
Samuel Franklin Vance, 1864-1936, was born and
reared on the Vance plantation in Belews Creek Town-
ship. By the time he was seventeen years old he was
qualified as a teacher. He first taught at the Vance
School and for seven years alternated teaching with
studies. He settled in Winston-Salem where he served
as deputy clerk in the Superior Court and was assistant
postmaster for twelve years. Mr. Vance was installed
as mayor of Kernersville in May 1923 where he served
one term and was re-elected for a second term. During
R. B. Kerner, Sr.-Mayor Clay V. Ring, Sr.- Mayor
1926-1929; 1931 1932-1933
36
was forced to resign, December 1926. During his term
the first fire truck with pumper attached was bought,
the water and sewer systems were begun, and the first
street sprinkler was purchased along with a street
scraper. Police protection was started for children going
to and from school. Three miles of hard-surfaced streets
and several miles of sidewalks were completed, as well
as grading Cherry and Elm streets. The chartered
school property was sold to the county and the Munici-
pal Electric Plant was sold to the Southern Public Utili-
ties Company, relieving the town of bonded indebted-
ness. "It is well to remember that progress will only
come from interested, active citizens."
December 21, 1926 Rephelius Byron Kerner was
unanimously elected mayor by the Board of Aldermen
to finish out the term of Mr. Sam F. Vance, Sr. In 1927
he was elected to serve his own term and then was
elected again in 1931. The most important business of
the New Year was to advertise for bids for the sale of
$100,000 Water Bonds. Sealed bids were to be received
until 1 p.m. January 27, 1927. At a meeting held May 9,
1927 "deeds were presented, duly signed and sealed and
properly executed" for purchase of land for the Kerners-
ville water system and land for the water filtration
plant. In the spring of 1927 the ladies of the town re-
quested that "owners of vacant property move the rub-
bish, mow the grass and clean up and keep such lots in
sanitary condition - and that six to twelve garbage cans
be purchased and placed on the streets of the town" so
that Kernersville would "present an attractive appearance
at Easter Time." Mr. Kerner was a member of the Mora-
vian Church. He attended Davis Military School and
Guilford College. He formerly owned and operated an
automobile business where the S. and R. Company is now
located. He was also in the mercantile business.
Clay Vance Ring, Sr. served as mayor 1932-33. Be-
fore becoming mayor, he had served on the Board of
Sam F. Vance, Sr.-
Mayor
1923-1925