Alfred Moore Scales, a Brigadier General in the Army of the Confederacy and later Governor of North Carolina from 1885-1889, built his Madison law office in the yard of HH Staples in the mid 1850s. Found still standing but in poor condition, the small building was moved to its present location at the edge of the Presbyterian Cemetery to prevent its demolition and has been restored. While residing in Madison, Scales served as County Solicitor, member of the NC House of Commons for four terms, two terms in the House of Representatives, and Presidential Elector. In 1867 he left Madison, first to Wentworth and then later to Greensboro.