He was born, lived and died in Concord, North Carolina.

Cannon Mills manufacturing plants were located mainly in and around Concord, North Carolina and particularly in nearby Kannapolis, North Carolina, a company-owned town created and named after the Cannon family.

Cannon Mills headquarters was in Concord, and the family mansion in downtown Concord is now part of the First Presbyterian Church complex.

There were multiple plants employing thousands of people during this time, running three shifts and producing sheets and towels.

His grandson, Robin Hayes, was a Republican congressman from North Carolina.