2011 4.pdf
Davie Dossier 2011 4, October
DAVIE DOSSIER
Issued by
The Davie County Historical and Genealogical Society
Mocksville, North Carolina
October 2011, Issue 4
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Davie Dossier 2011 4, October
Davie County Historical and Genealogical Society
MEETINGS ARE HELD AT THE HISTORY ROOM OF DAVIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY AT 7 PM.
President, Linda Leonard Board of Directors, Pat Reilly and Claude Horn
Vice President Dossier Editors, Marie Roth and Doris Frye
Secretary, Pat Reilly Webmaster, Marie Roth
Treasurer, Marie Roth
Our Website: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ncdavhgs has these features:
→ All the churches in Davie County
→ Cemeteries in Davie County with locations
→ National Register of Historic Places sites
→ Names on the War Memorial in Mocksville
→ Index to Bible Family Records at DCPL
→ Order blanks so you don‘t tear us Dossier
→ Townships as listed on Census, 1790—1930
→ Meeting Dates and Programs
→ Guardian Accouns, Davie Co., 1846—1859
→ Apprentice Bonds, Davie Co., 1829—1959
→ 1974 booklet about old school in Davie
→ Additional info: History of Davie County Schools
→ Branson‘s NC Business Directories for Davie Co.
→ Sources for black family history
Another Website about Davie County genealogy and history:
Http://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Davie_County%2C_North_Carolina
DAVIE CO. HISTORICAL/GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY PROGRAMS, 7 pm at the library:
January 25, A tribute to Mr. James Wall and Frances ―Pan‖ Beck. Description of the process of writing a
book and self-publishing on the Internet. Marie Roth: History of Davie County Schools.
February 22, Betty West: scrapbooks and descriptions of the trips she took to see all the museums of
US Presidents.
March 22, Debi Dotson and Jane McAllister: their most recent book Images of America, Mocksville.
April 14, Book signing event at the library.
May 24, Heather Fearnbach: description of the process of attaining National Historic Registry Status for
Farmington and the significant features of this Township.
June 28, program about marriages; see feature articles in this issue of the Dossier.
July, no meeting
August 13, ―Saving the Cemeteries of the Yadkin Valley‖ Workshop at Dobson NC
September 29, Pass the Memories, compiling memory books by Roseann Wade
Thursday, October 27, Workshop for the public ―Black Genealogy‖. Marie is compiling a brochure for
African-Americans who want suggestions for working on their family history. Come learn how
our history room can help.
November meeting will be on Thursday, December 1, author, Suzy Barile, will discuss her book
Undaunted Heart: the True Story of a Southern Belle and a Yankee General, a library
presentation.
December, no meeting
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Davie Dossier 2011 4, October
North Carolina Genealogical Society presents a workshop by Barbara Vines Little, CGSM
29 October 2011 Raleigh, NC at the North Carolina Museum of History, 5 East Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC
27601: Researching Your Ancestors in Colonial Times will be presented by the North Carolina Genealogical
Society in conjunction with the NCGS Annual Meeting. The Speaker will be Barbara Vines Little, CGSM, whose
talks will provide the information that can move your research to the next level.
Working With Colonial Records –– A look at how to effectively deal with the vagarities of colonial government
and the lack of records.
Land and Inheritance –– Understanding the law in regard to inheritance, especially of land, is an important tool
in interpreting records. Without a thorough understanding of how real and personal property was inherited espe-
cially in an intestate estate or under the rules of primo -geniture and entail, it is impossible for the researcher to
make accurate assumptions of relationships based upon the inheritance of land.
Backtracking Your Migrating Ancestor: A Methodology That Works –– When an ancestor suddenly appears in
an area with no obvious clue to his origin, many researchers are lost. Yet carefully combing for clues in the area
in which he is found will often provide the answer. This lecture provides a framework for researchers to follow
in their search for their ancestor‘‘s origin.
Taxes: Milk Them for All They’re Worth! –– Most often used as substitute census, tax lists, when interpreted
properly, can provide a wealth of information on individuals, their occupations, families, lifestyles, and antece-
dents.
Southeastern Primitive Rendezvous
November 4-11, 2011
Yadkinville NC
for information: http://www.southeasternprimitiverendezvous.com/
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New book about Cana, Davie County, written by Betty Etchison West. See page 7 for ordering.
There are many biographies and photos of people and buildings.
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Book, Cooleemee, the Life and Times of a Mill Town by Jim Rumley can be ordered from the Cooleemee His-
torical Association, PO Box 667, Cooleemee NC 27014. $44.66 includes tax and shipping.
If you live close enough to travel to Cooleemee, you should come visit their two museums, the Zachary House
and the Mill Family Life Museum.
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Progress of WWI book: So far, I‘ve found about 680 men and 3 women from Davie County who served in
World War One. My research has led me into areas I never dreamed I‘d enter:
1918 influenza epidemic (You can watch a Nova program about this on NC Live on the Internet)
Value of farmers raising more sheep because uniforms were made of wool and wool supplies
were low
Meaning of term ―yellow clothes‖ issued to soldiers at training camps
– meaning still unknown–anybody know?
Issuance of recipes using cornmeal so that less wheat was used in the US and could feed troops
overseas
Soldiers were issued a ―housewife‖ – British term for a sewing kit !
Registration and additional information available at: http://www.ncgenealogy.org.
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Davie Dossier 2011 4, October
Getting Ready for 1940 Census Research !!
NARA (NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION)
There may be no urgency in preparing for 1940 census research at the moment, but don't wait until the night be-
fore to start getting ready for one of the biggest genealogical events in the U.S. since, well —— since April 2002
when the 1930 Census was released.
Start by listing those direct-line ancestors who you have found in the 1930 census and that you know were still
living in 1940. While it's possible that they may still be living in the same city or state, don't rule out the fact
that your ancestors may have moved. Once you have listed these individuals, consider looking for anyone in
their mid-to-late teens or 20s who may have been living in the household in 1930, but may now be found as a
head of their own house-hold. Next, you'll want to repeat this same process for indirect ancestors (aunts & un-
cles).
Suggestions from http://www.1940census.net/1940_census_release_date.php
Other Links:
http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/ --- from NARA site, basic information
http://www.archives.gov/research/census/1940/index.html from NARA site, Getting Ready for 1940 census. At
this site, you can watch videos of the training that 1940 census takers were given, find a blank form of what the
census included, and learn more through the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) site. They state that on 2 April
2012, that you will be able to view the 1940 census online for free through the NARA site. On this site, there is
a countdown clock which shows to the numbers of seconds the approach of this special day of April 2. Nor-
mally, it would be April 1 that the required 72 years would be, but since April 1 is on a Sunday, we have to wait
a day.
Be aware that there is no index, such as Soundex or Miracode as in previous census years. You will need to
browse the whole township to find your family if you use NARA‘s 1940 online census.
ANCESTRY.COM
However, Ancestry will probably have this 1940 census online and with indexes.
Rumor has it that Ancestry will offer the 1940 census and indexing for free as it is scanned and entered on the
Internet starting in mid-April.
PARTING BLESSING:
At the August 2010 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Knoxville TN, Dr. George Schweitzer
gave us a parting blessing: ―May you live long enough to find yourself in the census.‖ Perhaps some of you will
achieve that next April 2.
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INTERVIEWING FAMILY MEMBERS:
In the Introduction of David Baldacci‘s novel Wish You
Well, he says:
―In addition to the stories I listened to as a
child, I spent considerable time interviewing my
mother in preparation for writing Wish You Well, and it
was an enlightening time for me, on many levels. Once
we reach adulthood most of us assume we know all
there is to know about our parents and other family
members. However, if you take the time to ask ques-
tions and actually listen to the answers, you may find
there is still much to learn about people so close to you.
Thus, this novel is, in part, an oral history of both
where and how my mother grew up. Oral histories are
a dying art, which is sad indeed, for they show appro-
priate respect for the lives and experiences of those
who have come before. And, just as important, they
document those remembrances, for once those lives are
over, that personal knowledge is lost forever. Unfortu-
nately, we now live in a time where everyone seems to
be looking solely to the fresh and exciting future, as
though we deem the past unworthy of our attention.
Yet, it may well be that our greatest wealth as human
beings can be discovered by simply looking behind us.‖
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Davie Dossier 2011 4, October
CEMETERIES
Yadkin Valley Historical Association Workshop on August 13. Topic of preserving cemeteries.
First Survey: WPA description: http://www.interment.net/column/records/wpa/wpa_history.htm
Www.cemeterycensus.com is compiled by Allen Dew who was the keynote speaker at the conference. He gave
suggestions for submitting information to his site. Use this Web site and click on ―How to Help‖ to read his
directions for sending him information. His site covers North Carolina and Virginia.
Www.FindAGrave.com covers cemeteries all over the world. You do not need to sign in to search it, but if you
have photos and information to submit, you must register a user name and password with them. They have 68
million graves registered. In my book about World War One, I have made a strong effort to find the burial places
of all 30 men who died during the war. There was one man that I could not find anywhere until I tried
FindAGrave. There he was, Ambrose Arrington Phelps, in a cemetery in southeastern Rowan County, and there
were photos of his tombstone. I was able to contact the person who submitted this information and thank her for
photographing this little cemetery.
At the end of the YVHA conference, attendees went into the old cemetery at Dobson NC. Demonstrations were
given of the use of old-timey device: dowsing rod and new-fangled device: GPS. Proper care of old tombstones
was emphasized by not damaging them with attempts to read the worn lettering. Photos are available at
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ncyadvha/ and scroll down to the 6th conference and then ―click here for
photographs‖.
Counties and participants were encouraged to do cemetery surveys, submit photographs of tombstones to NC
Archives and to Web sites, and improve old cemeteries which are in risk of disappearing.
Davie County has two volumes of books for sale which list cemeteries and those buried there. See page 7.
Old tombstones are very difficult to photograph sometimes. Problems are:
worn lettering, glare from sun, darkness from shadows, grass growing over
the wording of horizontal stones, no contrast between stone and lettering
Other problems: snakes, spiders, sunburn, fire ants, and other people who
might harm you. Plan well and don‘t go alone. At a real old cemetery, a
grave collapsed and a woman fell into the pit. Take care.
State Veterans‘ Graves: www.cem.va.gov/lsvc.htm
Overseas American Military Cemeteries: http://www.abmc.gov/home.php
Did you know that there is a military museum, www.PriceOfFreedom.us, that is open every Sunday from 3:00 -
5:00 at China Grove, NC? I toured this a few weeks ago and was impressed by the collection, the dedication of
the volunteers who created it and oversee it, and the feeling of appreciation for the military which I received.
Daniel Boone Heritage Trail
As a fund raiser, the committee will be selling prints showing the trail and the families crossing the
Yadkin River. The painting is in progress and will be available in October. You can check this at
http://www.patriciahobson.com/Daniel-Boone-Painting/DanielBoonePainting.htm
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Davie Dossier 2011 4, October
North Carolina Beck Ancestors, by Bonnie Grimmius
more information at http://haygenealogy.com/hay/census/grandchildren/beck.html
Contact information: 408 Park Street, Marshalltown IA 50158, E-mail at 1grimm007@mchsi.com
Our Beck research has been further enhanced thanks
to the obituary of Alfred L. Beck, that reads: ―He
was born in North Carolina, Roan (sic) county now
Davie, within eight miles of Mocksville, October 20,
1809. His father came from Maryland; on the
‗eastern-shore‘, was of Scotch descent, and Quaker
by training and education. His mother, whose
maiden name was Eda Parker, was probably also
from Maryland, and was of Welch descent. Alfred
started to Indiana October 26, 1830, and arrived in
Clark County December 11.‖ Alfred died in Jeffer-
sonville, Clark Co., Indiana on 21 April 1889. (His
obit did not name his father, or anyone who may
have traveled with him, but it is assumed he is a
grandson of Aquilla Beck.)
Alfred may have started the family migration from
North Carolina to Indiana, as other North Carolina
Beck families are found in the same county on the
1840 and 1850 U.S. Indiana Census and then scat-
tered to other counties thereafter. A St. Leger Beck
married Elizabeth Forklieu as early as 13 December
1832 in Clark Co., Indiana.
The first names of the early Beck families set them
apart from the German Becks that lived mostly in
Davidson Co. There were numerous St. Leger /
Sentleger / St. Leyer Becks and then there were the
names Aquila and Enoch Beck.
Another genealogist suggests: ―Sentleger Sr. and
Aquilla Beck were likely brothers, both born in Kent
County, Maryland, and migrated to NC in the 1770s
and 1780s respectively. The Sentleger who died in
the 1820s (with a will) was the son of Sentleger
Beck Sr. of Rowan Co, who died in the 1790s.‖
While Aquilla Beck (1753 - 1830) married to Sarah
Wilson was most likely the father of the other
Sentleger that married Elizabeth Madden December
1801.
My male cousin‘s DNA links our Beck family to
Aquila Beck, Aquila‘s son Sentleger married to
Elizabeth Madden are the parents of Madden Beck
who married Rebecca Hatley and they in turn are the
parents of Winfield P. Beck, my Civil War Grandfa-
ther.
Winfield‗s mother, Rebecca Hatley, was married
first to Nathan Madden 20 October 1815 in Rowan
Co. where Nathan died in 1820. They had four chil-
dren. Rebecca then married Madden Beck giving
birth to seven more children. (Marriage bond never
found). Madden and Rebecca followed other rela-
tives to southern Indiana, settling first in Clark Co.
where they were found on the 1840 Census.
Rebecca Hatley‘s parents were Sarah (possibly Pat-
terson) and Richard Hatley. Most likely Richard had
been a widower with children when he and Sarah
married. The children named in his will: Tapley,
Josiah, Sally, Anna and Rebecca, with Rebecca be-
ing the only child born to his second marriage. Rich-
ard‗s death was about 1803 and Sarah then married
Samuel Caisey who was also a widower with a fam-
ily and he passed February 1826. There were no chil-
dren born in this marriage.
The P. in Winfield‘s name is Pury thanks to Grand-
mother Sarah Hatley Caisey‘s will clarifying this. (―I
give and bequeath my interest in the land which I
owned to my beloved grandson Winfield Pury Beck
―). Winfield was about six when grandmother Sarah
passed August 1839, while living with daughter Re-
becca‗s family. Although she left all her belongings
to her grandchildren, she personalized Elizabeth,
Matilda and Winfield‘s gifts.
Civil War records reveal Winfield‘s physical charac-
ter-istics that were passed down to his son, Oren
Winfield, and his five grandsons: 6 feet tall, with a
light complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. Winfield
indicated he was 26 years old (most likely 29) and
had been vaccinated for smallpox. He provides he
was born in Davy Co. SC (sic) and a farmer. He
enlisted for a three-year term and was paid by come-
back, one-month pay of $25 and a premium paid of
$3.00.
Winfield was captured 31 December 1862 at The
Battle of Stone‘s River in Murpheesborough TN and
was taken a POW to Cahaba Prison, Montgomery
AL, where he died of disease in January 1863.
Winfield was later reinterred at Marrietta National
Cemetery in Marietta GA in 1867.
If there are Beck descendants who can provide fur-
ther information on these NC Beck families, please
contact me (addresses at top of page) or visit the link
above to help sort these families out.
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Davie Dossier 2011 4, October
.ORDERING ITEMS AND/OR PAYING DUES. (Out of state residents don‘t pay state tax when ordering.)
Davie County Heritage Book, non-NC resident cost is $45; NC resident cost is $48.10. Make check to Davie County Heritage Book.
Use DCHGS address below.
The Historic Architecture of Davie Co., non-NC resident cost is $30; NC resident cost is $31.94.
History of Davie County, hardback, by James W. Wall, 449 pages; non-NC resident cost is $30; NC resident cost is $31.94. Make
check to Davie County Public Library. Use DCHGS address below.
The Civil War Roster of Davie County by Mary Alice Miller Hasty and Hazel Miller Winfree incorporates biographical and military
service sketches of 1,147 Davie County Civil War veterans. Non-NC resident cost is $60. NC resident cost is $64.26. Checks sh ould be
made out to M & M Books and sent to Mary Alice Hasty, 105 East Brick Walk Court, Mocksville NC 27028.
Images of America, Davie County by Debra Dotson and Jane McAllister. 128 page book of old photos and descriptions. Order from
Jane McAllister, DCPL, 371 N. Main St., Mocksville NC 27028. Make check to Jane McAllister. Non -NC resident cost is $26.99. NC
resident cost is $28.69. Images of America, Mocksville by Debra Dotson and Jane McAllister. Book 2 features photographs in Mocks-
ville and a few other Davie communities. The same ordering information applies as listed for book one.
Looking Back at Davie County in the1950s and 1960s by Charles Crenshaw and Ron Smith. This 304 page book of 700 photographs
taken by Ron‘s father, Gray Smith, will bring back memories of people and places in Davie County. The book is $40 (tax incl uded) and
postage is $4 more. Mail orders to Charles Crenshaw, 421 Park Avenue, Mocksville NC 27028
History of Davie County Schools, 318 pages, by Marie Benge Craig Roth has photos, locations, longitude/latitude, names of students,
and teachers. There is an 18 page index of 3,222 names. A chronology describes the evolution of the school system in Davie. Make
check to Marie Roth for $40.26 for non-residents and $43 for NC resident. Order: 276 Park Ave., Mocksville 27028.
NEW BOOK! Cana Connections, 201 pages, by Betty Etchison West; Life in Cana in the Thirties and Forties and Special People with
Cana Connections. There are many biographies and photos of people and buildings. Order from Betty West, 3532 NC Hwy. 801 No rth,
Mocksville NC 27028. Make check to Betty West for $35, which includes tax and shipping.
MEMBERSHIP for a calendar year is still just $5.00/year. Life Membership is $100 per person. We are 501(c)(3) and dues are tax
deductible. Below is a registration form for your use; checks, payable to the Society.
DAVIE COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (DCHGS)
Davie County Public Library
371 Main Street
Mocksville, North Carolina 27028
NAME _____________________________________________________________
ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________
Title Author non- NC NC No. Cost
BOOKS:
Davie County...A Brief History, paperback James W. Wall, 128 pages $9.00 $9.39
The Boone Families in Davie County Wall, Howell Boone, and Flossie Martin $8.00 $8.31
Davie County Marriages 1836-1900 Nancy K. Murphy $25.00 $26.55
Davie County Marriages 1901-1959 Nancy K. Murphy $25.00 $26.55
Davie County Cemeteries, a 2-volume set D.C. Historical/Gen. Soc. $55.00 $58.88
1860 Federal Census-Davie County Nancy K. Murphy and Everette Sain $20.00 $21.16
1870 Federal Census-Davie County Nancy K. Murphy and Everette Sain $20.00 $21.16
1880 Federal Census-Davie County Nancy K. Murphy and Everette Sain $20.00 $21.16
MAPS OF DAVIE COUNTY:
Lagle Land Grant $8.00 $8.31
Hughes Historical, 1700's, drawn in 1977 $8.00 $8.31
J.T. Alderman, 1887 $6.00 $6.47
Wilson F. Merrell, 1928 NEW ! $6.00 $6.47
POSTCARDS OF DAVIE CO. SCENES (set of 8) $2.50 $2.50
CD of all issues Davie Dossier since 1987 $7.00 $7.39
TOTAL NUMBER AND COST
Make check to DCHGS and send to address at bottom of page. Prices include tax, postage, and handling.
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Davie Dossier 2011 4, October
371 North Main Street
Mocksville NC 27028