Loading...
2006 2.pdfThere will be a book signing by Dr. Jamie Moore on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Davie County Public Library. Everyone is urged to attend. HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS The Society met on February 23, in the History Room at the Davie County Library with President Aubrey Wensil presiding; 12 members were present. It was announced that regular meetings of the Society will be held on the 4th Thursday of each month. The Aerenas Campbell Celebration date was changed to 2nd or 3rd weekend in October; exact date will be announced later. It was reported that several old cemeteries are located on the edge of Iredell County –one on Raven Road has approximately 100 grave sites. Information on the Aug 18th-19th Daniel Boone Family Festival was given. The Society will sponsor a booth and tours are planned for local “Boone” sites. Several surrounding counties are also planning activities at this time. The Society is assisting the Davie County Chamber of Commerce with this endeavor. Bill Urdanick informed the Society about his ongoing project of matching Lagle’s Land Grant map with a modern map and County property. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + On March 18, two members of the Davie County Historical and Genealogical Society and their guests traveled to Greensboro to attend the re-enactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The 225th anniversary of the March 15, 1781 battle was held at Price Park,a 75- acre wildlife and recreation park. They also visited Guilford Courthouse National Military Park where the opening ceremony of the observation was held. When the re-enactment was over, the group toured the campsite and saw firsthand a depiction of a soldier’s life in camp 225 years ago. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + On March 23, the Society met for its’ regular monthly meeting. Pat Reilly displayed photos of the re-enactment at Guilford Courthouse which she attended with others from the Society. Linda Leonard reported that as Randall Jones, author of In the Footsteps of Davey Crockett,is to present a program at the Library on April 27th (regular meeting of the Society) and we would attend this presentation as our meeting. Plans for the Boone celebration in August were also discussed. It is hoped that members who plan to “man” the booth will dress in “period” costumes.More about this celebration will be covered in a subsequent article. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Randall Jones was a special speaker at the April 27 meeting of the Society. He is the author of In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone and In the Footsteps of Davy Crockett. Mr. Jones is chairman of history and heritage and president of the national Over the Mountain Victory Trail Association. DAVIE DOSSIER April 2006 2 LEGACY A guardian angel could hardly have done more to supply genealogy researchers with Davie County ancestral information than a lady named Jo White Linn. Jo White was a member of a Southern family steeped in family genealogy who married Stable Linn and moved to Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina. She soon realized that the lack of published records was a handicap to persons seeking information for Davie and surrounding counties in the early days of Rowan County. Over a span of years, Mrs. Linn compiled information from l753 to 1850 and published numerous books. She spent much time in court houses,cemeteries, church archives, and anywhere else she could find material: tax listings, court records, deed descriptions, wills –all compiled to benefit research. She became widely known for her work and lectured at genealogical seminars all over the United States. Davie County was a part of Rowan County until 1836, thus local researchers greatly benefit from her work. Mrs. Linn also researched and published several family biographies, a history of the First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury, and perhaps the most valuable of all, a quarterly magazine entitled THE ROWAN REGISTER. This publication began in 1987 and ended in 2001 when Mrs. Linn ended her career. THE ROWAN REGISTER covered churches and their records, minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, marriages, divorces, applications and requests for businesses, widows’ applications for support, and other interesting items.. Examples show Squire Boone making application to operate a tavern, lists of persons appointed to oversee maintenance of roads –including both Squire and Daniel Boone. The Martin-Wall History Room of the Davie County Public Library has a copy of all Mrs. Linn’s publications available for research and, on behalf of all persons seeking ancestral information during the period of time that Davie County was part of Rowan County, is grateful to the efforts and contributions of Mrs. Linn. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * WILLS Transcribed by Jo White Linn H:492.JOHN (X) CATON 21 January 1830, probate 1830. My beloved wife Susannah CATON is to have 100 acres of the home plantation, to be laid off to include the buildings, also a negro boy named Jubel, a negro child named Merandy, one Wagon & gears, one still & tubs, one set of blacksmith tools, two beds & furniture, one cow & yearling, one bay colt, one walnut table, one walnut chest, one corner cupboard & all the furniture, one clock, a sow & four pigs, two pewter dishes, two pewter basons, six pewter plates, three pots, one oven, one skillet, a loom & all the slaies & harnesses to it belonging (sic), on e cotton wheel & cards, one flax wheel, one shackle, all the money due me by notes & bonds & book accts. My son Bazil CATON to have all the residue of my land, a negro girl named Mena, three head of horses, one cow, two calves, all my farming utensils, two beds & furniture, one pewter dish, two pewter basons, six pewter plates, one pot, one oven, one skillet, and all my sheep. All my household &kitchen furniture not mentioned are to be divided between my wife & son. My sons Charles CATON and John D. CATON are to have $1.00 each. My son Jesse CATON is to have $5.00. Ruth ORRELL is to have $1.00. Executors: my beloved wife & Joseph HANES. Witness: A. Chesher, Azariah DAVIE DOSSIER April 2006 3 Pack. (note from Jo Linn: Please turn to Rowan County Register, Vol. 13, No. 2 (May 1998) 2987-9 for a study of the Caton family and the Caton Bible record) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + H:493. Alexander DANIEL. 25 December 1829, probate 1830. Very sick & feeble. My daughter Anny DEADMON is to have all that tract of land I purchased from Lavinia WILLIAMS known as Ralph WILLIAMS’ place except what may be on the East side of the land adj. John D. MERONEY. My beloved wife Sally DANIEL is to have during her life or widowhood the balance of my lands viz the homeplace (with the above exception of the 2 acres I sold to Joseph HENDRICKS on the east side of the Hendricks plantation). At my wife’s death or remarriage, the small piece of land is to be equally divided between my son Anderson DANIEL and my daughter Eliza DANIEL. My beloved wife Anny is to have the balance of my personal property. My three children: Anny DEADMAN, Anderson DANIEL, Eliza DANIEL. Executor: John O. MERONEY. Witness: John HENDRICKS, L.D. AUSTIN (note from Jo Linn: The will was signed Ellick DANIEL. The Rowan County marriage bond of Elleck DANIEL & Sarah MARTIN was dated 11 November 1807 with John MARTIN bondsman. The clerk, recording the wills, skipped a page number –there being no p. 494 –and the will ends on p.495. The Rowan County marriage bond of Anna DANIEL and Jesse DEDMON was dated 16 March 1820 with Ishmael CAUDLE bondsman. On 20 November 1821 Alexander DANIEL & wife Sarah sold Benjamin MARTIN for $150, 59 „ acres in the forks of the Yadkin, adj Hezekiah FOSTER, Jacob BOOE, and Abraham MARCH, it being the distributive share of the deceased Asa MARTIN’s land that fell to his daughter Sarah as legatee, Rowan County Deed Book 27:513. The 1815 Rowan County Tax List of Capt. TABB showed Alexander DANIEL with 215 acres adjoining Freeling) + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + + + H:556. Thomas H. CAIN. 10 November 1832, probate November Court 1832. Very sick & weak in body. My beloved son John Linster CAIN is to have two adjoining tracts that also adjoin the land of Henry HENDRICKS and Daniel CAIN, Sr. On the waters of Dutchmans Creek. My beloved son Daniel J. CAIN is to have a tract of land on Dutchmans Creek adj. Daniel CAIN and Daniel BEEMAN known formerly as the Thomas BEEMAN place. My beloved wife Nancy CAIN is to have my home plantation, a negro girl Sarah, all my horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, all the grain on hand, wagon, gearing, farming tools, household and kitchen furniture. After paying my debts, she is to have the balance. At her decease the above named property is to be sold at public sale and the money equally divided between my three beloved daughters: Lizus? Jane CAIN, Teweson? Marion CAIN, and Elizabeth Haden CAIN. Executors: William & James FROST. They are to rent the two plantations until my two sons come of age and the products applied to the schooling of my sons and daughters. Witness: Jesse RAVIS, John CHESHIER (Note by Jo Linn: Thomas H. Cain was born 25 October 1797 and died 17 November 1832. He is buried...) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ABERNETHY from the Flossie Martin surname biography collection in the Martin-Wall History Room Robert Bruce of Scotland, in recognition of a deed of value bestowed the second name for the first time , Abernethy –Aber (mouth of a river or fiord) Nethy (name of a river in Scotland) –the third foremost family in Scotland. David Alexander Abernethy of Salton Hall, DAVIE DOSSIER April 2006 4 104 Mayfield Road, Edinburg, Scotland, October 18, 1934, wrote to Miss Mabel McGuire, author of the book, “The Abernethys”, and enclosed the genealogy of the family written in 1941 by Alexander Hastie, who married an Abernethy. The record shows that the Abernethy family is one of the oldest in Scotland dating from 1061 and that Hastie’s statements are unquestionable. Robert Laban Abernethy, founder and President of Rutherford College, North Carolina, was the son of Turner and grandson of Colonel Robert Abernethy. Colonel Robert Abernethy, Sr., emigrated from Scotland.First wife was named Mary. Their children were: Mary 1781, John 1723, David 1726, and Miles 1730. (We do not understand the 1781 date-perhaps it was transposed and should read 1718) Second wife was named Sarah. Their children were: Robert, Jr., married Polly Bunum; Turner, married Idner; William married Sallie Rockdt;Davie, Richard, and Rufus. If any Society member has further records and/or knowledge of the Abernethy lineage and would like to share it with this special collection, we would be greatly appreciative of it’s addition to our files. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GROWING UP IN DAVIE COUNTY, Reflections from One Hundred Years Ago; Dr. Jamie W. Moore, Editor The last issue of the Dossier had the introduction to Dr. Moore’s book; this issue will feature the first chapter. William Jamie Moore, 1902-2000 (grandfather of the editor) grew up in Davie County in a time that he has lovingly preserved through his stories. He mentions names, places, businesses –all the while giving descriptions of the rich rural and small-town culture of the day. Mocksville The town had a population of about 1,000 and at any given point was about a mile across. In the middle of the square stood the old courthouse with its walls of red brick and four long white columns reaching from the foundation to the top of the wall at the north and south ends. Space to the east and west sides of the building allowed ample room for the horse drawn wagons and buggies and people to walk. The west side of the square carried the most activity because the Bank of Davie was on the southwest corner just north of the post office. Around the square were various hitching posts as well as one long watering trough where horses and mules could drink. Nothing was paved although the area around the courthouse had been covered with a light sandy soil that resisted rain to the extent that it was not muddy like the red clay of the countryside. Most of the time people wandered around in no great haste, stopping to chat with friends before finishing the business of the day and heading home to the country. County and Superior Court met several times each year for criminal and civil cases. Serious crime was almost nonexistent, but there were cases of operating a still, illegal under the North Carolina prohibition laws, some theft cases and now and then a fight. Justice was swift and if found guilty on Tuesday the offender might be on the road crew before the end of the week. Davie County then had no automobiles, electric lights, or hard surface roads. Most people solved the local travel problem b walking. The furniture factory began work at seven o’clock in the morning and from six thirty to seven you could see men walking alone or in little groups headed for the factory. At any time on a sunny day you might observe half a dozen DAVIE DOSSIER April 2006 5 individuals walking from one place to another across the open square. For greater distances there were the horse and buggy, horseback riding and a scattering of bicycles; and for cargo, wagons with horses and mules. Long distance travel was by passenger train. Mocksville had four, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, plus the freights. The men around the courthouse would be neatly dressed and their clothes clean. Shirts were mostly white with separate collars held in place by a collar button in front and a short button that came through a small slit in the band at the back of the neck. Neckties were usually black although there were a few bow ties, mostly a dark blue with a small stripe or a polka dot pattern. Beards were almost inevitable as only the straight razor was available for shaving or a barbershop where the barber also used a straight razor. Women were seldom among the half dozen or so in transit across the square. Now and then women with sun parasols hurried into Sanford’s to make some purchase, but household duties kept most at home. Mothers were the family plant managers. They took care of the children, often making their clothes as well as sheets for the beds from bolts of white sheeting material purchased from Sanford’s. Dress material was also purchased by the piece and made into dresses for the girls as well as “waists” or shirts for the small boys. Until they were six years old, most boys wore little homemade straight leg pants. When children got older clothing was purchased. One summer while we had the farm it was decided that Paul and I should have a cotton patch over on the back corner. This we did, plowing, harrowing, planting, plowing and chopping cotton until it finally was laid by, that is, no more plowing or hoeing.When the bolls opened and the field was white, we took Fannie and the wagon along with the cotton sacks and began picking. This was repeated for several days and finally we took our cotton crop to the gin at the depot. Mr. T. P. Foster gave us $11.00 for what we had. Within a few days we were included in the trip to Winston where at the Winston Clothing Company we bought two suits. Mine cost $6.00 and Paul’s $5.00. I don’t know whether mine cost more because it was larger or because it had a belt in the back that ended the two straps that came down from the shoulder. Our pants were knee length and buckled with a strap just below the knee. Money was tight, and hard to come by., The going wage was $1.00 for a ten hour day. I can recall some better paying jobs. There were two bricklayers, Will Harbin who was highly skilled and received $1.10 cents per hour, and another whose pay would have been a bit less, perhaps seventy five cents per hour. These were exceptions and far above the regular scale of pay. C.C. Sanford Sons Company, whose advertising sign on the side of the small barn near Feezor’s farm said, “Forty Years of Square Dealing,” was a main retail outlet. On the first floor you would always find three sales clerks, each wearing a long swallowtail coat with its rounded coattail reaching to the knees. When a purchase of considerable amount was made, for example a suit of clothes for $7.50 plus shoes for $2.40 and other accessories that might make the total as high as seventeen dollars, the store gave a discount in the form of small round cardboard disc about the size of a silver dollar good for a dollar in trade. The first automobile purchased by a resident of Mocksville was a Buick in 1912. The Model T Ford might have been the second, but certainly within the first five which included another Buick, a used touring car, which meant it had a back seat in addition to the front, and a Studebaker. As cars were added to the town, Mr. Frank Stroud, who published the Davie Record, wondered who would be the next to buy a “Honk Wagon.” Many people in Mocksville owned their own homes. Some were paid for and some were built with mortgage money borrowed from the Bank of Davie for a 6% rate and renewed as DAVIE DOSSIER April 2006 6 many years as the individual wished by merely paying the interest once each year in advance. Cottages for those who did not own homes could be rented for ten to fifteen dollars per month. Except for a Mr. Morris, the town was totally Republican. Mr. Morris was, I think a lawyer and a Democrat and walked with a crutch he used to reinforce points in fairly frequent political arguments. * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BAD ACCIDENT from the Carolina Watchman,April 2, 1885 Contributed by Terry Gandy BAD ACCIDENT. Thrilling excitement was caused on Main Street and the public Square Friday last, by a runaway team of horses hitched to a 2-horse wagon. They started near the National Hotel, Mr. Newberry Potts, of Davie County, being in charge, and running the wagon upon the pavement at that point traveled past John D. Gaskill’s store, breaking several awning posts as they passed. Mr. Potts was thrown in the pavement in front of the Telegraph office and the wheels of the wagon passed over his right leg, bruising his thigh and breaking the bones of his leg below the knee. A boy in the wagon recovered the fallen reins after Mr. Potts was thrown to the ground,and it is said by some, managed them and the brakes with remarkable skill. The team dashed furiously towards Kluttz’s Drug Store, but making a sudden sweep to the left, passed near the corner of the old Mansion Hotel, uprooting a tree at that corner, and gained open ground on Innis Street, down which they ran towards the Presbyterian church. They were stopped near the church, and strange to say the wagon was not very badly damaged, and the boy, who still clung to his seat, unhurt. Mr. Potts, was taken up and carried into Dr. Trentham’s office near by, where he received all necessary surgical attention and was made as comfortable as possible. He has since been removed to his home in Davie. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * HUMOR Thanks to:D. Terry Huff of Woodcrest, California While attending my mother-in-law's graveside services at the cemetery in Banning, California, we noticed a tombstone for a medical doctor who was buried nearby. The inscription read, "Office Upstairs." + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + Thanks to N. Schreckengost who claims he found this in an old German cemetery: "Here lies an awful liar, his tales were really trying Death did not reform him, here he is still lying" DAVIE DOSSIER April 2006 7 D C H G S 2006 OFFICERS President:Aubrey Wensil Vice-President:Linda Leonard Secretary-Treasurer:Frances Beck Board of Directors:Dale McCullough Diane Webb Bill Urdanick Dossier Editor:Nancy Murphy ITEMS FOR SALE Postage and handling included in price Davie County...A Brief History (Wall) Paperback 7.50 The Daniel, Squire, and John Boone Families in Davie County (Wall, Boone, & Martin)5.00 Davie County Marriages 1836-1900, by Nancy K. Murphy 25.00 Davie County Marriages 1901-1959, by Nancy K. Murphy 25.00 Davie County Cemeteries, a two-volume set 55.00 by D.C. Historical & Genealogical Society 1860 Federal Census-Davie County, by Murphy & Sain 17.00 1870 Federal Census-Davie County, by Murphy & Sain 17.00 1880 Federal Census-Davie County, by Murphy & Sain 22.50 Maps -Lagle Land Grant 6.50 -Hughes Historical 6.50 -1887 Alderman 2.50 Postcards (set of 8 )2.50 These items can be ordered from the Davie County Historical and Genealogical Society Office. North Carolina residents need to add 7% sales tax to the total. Membership for Calendar year 2006 remain the same as in previous years -$5.00/year. The number following your name on the address label indicates the year through which your dues are paid. Below is a registration form for your use; checks are to be made payable to the Society. DAVIE COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY Frances Atkinson Beck 1131 Wagner Road Mocksville, North Carolina 27028 NAME _____________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ EMAIL ADDRESS _______________________________________________________