Major Hamilton Scales was a native of Rockingham County and was born in 1821. For his livelihood, he made plug tobacco in Rockingham County. At the beginning of the Civil War, he entered the army under the command of Company H, 22nd N. C. Regiment. He had to withdraw and return home because of ill health, but was later appointed Major of a batallion of the Home Guards.
Major Scales came to Winston in 1870 and opened the city’s first tobacco manufactory in a carriage house on Liberty Street. His partners in this business were A. B. Gorrell, P. A. Wilson, and Sheriff Masten. He was also proprietor of the Piedmont Warehouse, but closed out his interest in this business to devote full time to the manufacture of plug tobacco.
About 1888, Scales added T. J. and N. S. Wilson to the firm, then sold his interest to his partners shortly before he passed away in 1890. Some of the plug tobacco brands of his business were Scales & Co.’s Best, Alex. Stephens, Ada Bryan and Rabbit Gum.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
