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2020 03 04 Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 1 DAVIE DOSSIER Issued by Davie County Historical and Genealogical Society Mocksville, North Carolina July and October 2020, Issue 3 Researching Richard sterling Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 2 DAVIE COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY President, Linda Leonard Vice President, Marcia Phillips Secretary, Pat Mason Treasurer, Marie Craig Board of Directors, Claude Horn Dossier Editor, Marie Craig Webmaster, Marie Craig Websites for Davie County Research: Our Website is https://sites.google.com/view/dchgs . Historical Data to research is http://www.daviecountync.gov/440/Genealogy-Local-History . FamilySearch Wiki for Davie: http://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Davie_County%2C_North_Carolina FamilySearch records for Davie: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=191015&query=%2Bplace%3A%22United%2 0States%2C%20North%20Carolina%2C%20Davie%22 REVISED URL for Davie County GenWeb: http://ncgenweb.us/davie/ Davie County Public Library: http://www.daviecountync.gov/440/Genealogy-Local-History . Genealogy data in newspapers, Bibles, Daniel Boone Family info, church history, and Flossie Martin records. Back issues (1987-2016) and index of the Davie Dossier are online at http://www.daviecountync.gov/440/Genealogy-Local-History . FindAGrave for Davie County: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/search?name=&locationId=county_1680&page=1#cem-2640813 Digital Davie: https://www.digitalnc.org/exhibits/digital-davie/ Cemeteries in Davie: http://cemeterycensus.com/nc/davie/ Meetings are on the fourth Thursdays at 7 pm at Davie County Library History Room. January 23: old movie night, H. Lee Waters movies of Davie County in the 40’s February 27: Larry Campbell, rank and file member of the Jamestowne Society Central Carolina Company, presented the events of four centuries ago in 1619 that shaped Colonial America. March 26: canceled Daniel Boone Festival, canceled FUTURE CONFERENCES National Genealogical Society: May 20-23, 2020 in Salt Lake City. This has been changed to a Virtual Conference on May 20, 2020, 11:00 – 7:00 Eastern time. See https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/covid-19/ for details. Federation of Genealogical Society: September 2-5, Kansas City MO. See https://fgs.org/annual-conference/ (This is now a virtual conference.) Note: at the end of 2020, these two societies will merge. RootsTech: February 26-29, 2020 in Salt Lake City. See https://www.rootstech.org/salt-lake/ Talks are archived. Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 3 Summary of My Research about Richard Sterling To compile the eight books I’ve written about Davie County, I have completed much research. This is something I really enjoy and chose this month's topic of a family who lived in the 1800s. My topic is Richard Sterling who was born in Ireland on March 18, 1812 and came to the United States when twelve years old. He was the first superintendent of schools in Davie County beginning in 1881. He died in 1883 while performing this duty. The history room of Davie County Public Library has great resources for research. In a file about the Sterling family, there was a transcription of a letter that Mrs. Sterling wrote on June 6, 1856 to her sister in California. The Sterlings lived in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he was principal of the Edgeworth Female Seminary for thirteen years. In her writing, she describes the route of her letter: fourteen days by train to New York and then by steamer to California. [I just sent an image and message to my granddaughter in Utah, and got an immediate response from her. What a different world we live in.] One part of her seven page letter had this comment, “I hope you are all going to vote for Filmore for our President in November. I think he is certainly at this time the brightest star above the horizon.” She continued, “What do you think of a war with England? Her minister has been dismissed but what is to be the result none can tell. I would really love to give her one more drubbing if I were sure we could do it. She is an arrogant tyrannical and overbearing nation; has always kept her foot upon the neck of the weak whenever possible, and though English blood runs in my veins I despise England. Do not forget that I am the wife of an Irishman, but I believe this is not a woman’s business, only I hope ever to cherish a dear love for my country [the United States] and teach my sons to feel the same.” Online research yielded much more information about Richard Sterling and his family. There were nine children -- three of them served in the Civil War with two of those dying, three little children died, and some of the others remained in this area as adults. One adult son went “to Texas and vanished.” Only two of their nine children married and had children. Mr. Sterling also served as the third mayor of Greensboro during the Civil War, helped establish an insurance company, and co-wrote children’s textbooks which have been reprinted and are available for purchase online in our day. In the 1870 census, the family is living in Shelbyville, Kentucky. He was principal of the Female College in that town. His wife had died of pneumonia two years before this census and is buried there. They next moved to Mocksville where he was teacher of a boys’ school at the Episcopal Church on Salisbury Street. This was located close to the intersection of Salisbury Street and East Maple Street, on the northeast side. He was an advocate for better education for Davie’s children and active in placing newspaper articles promoting good schools. His sister, Margaret Sterling, moved to Mocksville and became the third wife of Archibald Carter. They are buried in Rose Cemetery in Mocksville. Richard’s daughter, Mattie, married Thomas Lemuel Kelly. He was associate editor of a newspaper in Winston-Salem. They are buried at Joppa Cemetery. There’s even a likeness of him and one of his wife. I look at his serious, sad eyes and see a man who lost 5 children and his wife to early death, but he continued in his quest to promote good education and opportunities for himself and others. History of Davie County by James Wall, page 218-219 “By the early 1880's the citizens of Davie County were becoming increasingly aware of the need for a better system of public schools. In May, 1881, the County Commissioners “Ordered that Notice be given for all the Magistrates to meet at the Court House in Davie County the 1st Monday in June to elect a Superintendent of Public Instruction.” Richard Sterling was elected. A well-known educator from Greensboro and former mayor of that city, he had come to Mocksville to teach a “Boys' School” in the Episcopal Church. Sterling quickly began promoting interest in better schools for the county. On July 4, 1881, he wrote the following card to B.F. Lunn: 'Dear Sir, You are earnestly requested to attend a meeting at the Court House on Saturday, July 16th, for the purpose of organizing an Association of the friends of Education. The object of this organization shall be, by means of Lectures, essays, Discussions, etc. to advance the general Educational interest of Davie Co. Pleasenotify any of your friends interested in such matters of this meeting. Respectfully yours.' Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 4 Tombstone A Ledger Grave Marker is a thick slab of stone, usually 8 inches thick, covering the entire grave. Ledger Grave Markers may be engraved and used as the headstone itself, or may also include a monument or headstone at the head of the grave. Words on Richard Sterling's Ledger which was put over his grave in 1990 in Joppa Cemetery: Richard Sterling 1812 – 1883 CAME TO NEWBERG N Y FROM COUNTY DOWN, IRELAND, 1821 OR FROM PRINCETON, 1833 TAUGHT IN RICHMOND AND FREDERICKSBURG, VA. 1835-1848 MARRIED MARIAN M L HOWISON FREDERICKSBURG, 1840, 9 CHILDREN PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND CHEMISTRY. HAMPTON SYDNEY COLLEGE, 1848-1852. PRINCIPAL, EDGEWORTH FEMALE ACADEMY, GREENSBORO, 1852-1862. 3RD MAYOR OF GREENSBORO, 1864-1865. PRINCIPAL OF FEMALE COLLEGE, SHELBYVILLE, KY. 1868-1875 TAUGHT AT BOYS EPISCOPAL ACADEMY, MOCKSVILLE, 1875 FIRST SUPT. PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DAVIE CO. 1881 MEMBER N.C. STATE LITERARY BOARD DURING VANCE ADMINISTRATION ELDER 1ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, GREENSBORO, 1866 ACTIVE IN ORGANIZING SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR NEGROES IN MOCKSVILLE AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER. OUR OWN SOUTHERN READER SERIES OUR OWN VERBAL PRIMER OUR OWN FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH READERS OUR OWN SPELLER “A VERSATILE AND RESOURCEFUL MAN” Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600-1889 “Sterling, Richard, educator, b. in County Down, Ireland, in 1812; d. in Mocksville, N.C., 3 Oct., 1883. He was brought to the United States at the age of twelve by his parents, who settled in Newburg, N.Y. He was graduated at Princeton in 1835, taught in Fredericksburg and Richmond, Va., till 1848, was professor of natural philosophy and chemistry at Hampden Sidney college for the next three years, and then had charge of the Edgworth female seminary, Greensborough, N.C., till 1864. While there he prepared a series of school-readers and spelling-books that came into general use throughout the southern and southwestern states. In 1870 he became principal of the female seminary at Paris, Tenn. In 1873 he opened a boarding-school in Evansville, Ind., and in 1875 removed to Mocksville, N.C., where he kept a similar school till 1880, when he was elected superintendent of the public schools of the county.” Virginia Compiled Marriages, 1740-1850 Richard Sterling married Marian Howison on 1 August 1840 in Fredericksburg, Virginia Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 5 1850 US Census for Prince Edward,Prince Edward County, Virginia Richard Sterling, 38, college professor, born in Ireland Mrs. Sterling, 33, born in Fredericksburg, VA Edward G. Sterling, 8, born in Fredericksburg Richard O. Sterling, 5, born in Richmond Neil H. Sterling, 3, born in Richmond Saml. G. Sterling, 1, born in Fredericksburg 1860 US Census for Greensboro, Guilford County, NC, North Division Richd. Sterling, 48, Professor, value of personal estate: 26000, born in Ireland; M.L. Sterling, 43, born in Virginia; E.G. Sterling, male, 19, student, born in Virginia; R.O. Sterling, 16, male, student, born in Virginia; N.H. Sterling, 14, born in Virginia; Wm. J., 6, male, born in Guilford; R.H. Sterling, 4, born in Guilford; M.M. Sterling, 2, born in Guilford; Margaret Sterling, 38, born in Ireland [Richard's sister]; M. Ravern, 26, female, born in Germany; V. Landice, 22, female, born in Oxford, N.C.; Jenuio Miller, 22, female born in New York; Lizzie Bounn, 20, born in Rhode Island. 1866 US IRS Tax Assessment Lists May 21, 1866: Sterling, Richard, Greensboro, one carriage valued at $150, tax paid was $2. One gold watch valued at $60, tax paid was $1. One piano valued at $250, tax paid was $4. Total tax was $7. [Online inflation finder shows this to be the same as $124 now. https://westegg.com/inflation/] 1870 US Census for Shelbyville, Shelby County, Kentucky Richard Sterling, 58, teacher, born in Ireland; [Richard's wife died in 1868 in Shelbyville.] William Sterling, 16, born in NC; Robert, 13, born in NC; Mattie Sterling, 11, born in NC; Richard O., 20, born in VA, works for photographer; Johanna G., 25, born in VA; Mattie G. Sterling, 8/12, born in KY [Richard O. is Richard's son; his wife is Johanna; and his daughter is Mattie G.] 1880 US Census for Davie County, Mocksville Township Richard Sterling, 68, school teacher, widowed, from Ireland; Marion Sterling, grandson, 13; James Crews, 25, farm laborer; Frank N. Bryan, 19, at school; Alexander S. Nail, 55, farmer; Marian Nail, 22 Jesse Nail, 18, farm laborer. [They lived next door to the George and Malinda Clement family.] Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 6 1880 US Census for Davie County, Mocksville Township Richard O. Sterling, 36, living on Wilkesboro Street Joanna Sterling, 36 Mattie G. Sterling, 10 Rosa M. Sterling, 7 A Census Table Can Clarify Data; shaded areas show when person was not living Name born died 1850 1860 Greensboro 1870 KY 1880 Mox 1880 Mox Richard 1812 1883 38 48 58 68 Marian 1816 1868 33 43 – -- Marion, grandson 13 Edward Green 1840 1861 8 19 – -- Agnes Irving 1844 1845 -- -- -- -- Richard Owen 1844 5 16 20 36 Joanna, wife 25 36 Mattie G., dau. 8 months 10 Rosa M. 7 Neil Howison 1847 1864 3 14 – -- Samuel Graham 1849 1852 1 -- -- -- Helen Mary 1850 1855 -- -- -- -- William J. 1854 -- 6 16 Robert H. 1856 -- 4 13 Mattie Thorburn 1858 1899 -- 2 11 Find A Grave FindAGrave URL for Richard Sterling at Joppa Cem.: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11128809/richard-sterling There is a FindAGrave entry for M. Sterling, # 103280944 in Shelbyville KY. Five children were buried in the same Fredericksburg, Virginia, Cemetery. Private Edward Green Sterling: 1840–6 September 1861, FindAGrave #: 11692536; death: typhoid fever at Fort Macon. Agnes Irving Sterling: 1844-1845. FindaGrave #: 75003452. SMN [Seaman in the Navy] Neil Howison Sterling: 11 January 1847 – 17 April 1864. FindAGrave #: 11690174.. He died at 17 years old in Richmond. Samuel Graham Sterling: March 1849 – 29 May 1852. FindAGrave #: 65605174; died of Scarlet Fever Helen Mary Sterling: Oct 1850 – 24 May 1855. FindAGrave #: 65604969. URL: NCPedia For more information about Richard Sterling, see https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/sterling-richard Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 7 Ebay Reprints of Richard Sterling's books are available for ordering, plus an original 1862 Our Own Second Reader for $875. Newspapers.com The Greensboro Patriot, 1 November 1867, has a long article by Richard Sterling in which he described his visit to Winchester, Virginia. He described the desolation of the area during the Civil War and the rebuilding since that time. Stonewall Cemetery was created for the war dead. The remains of 2500 soldiers had been moved there, identified if possible, and honored. He encouraged people to participate in the creation of this memorial. History of Davie County Schools, by James Wall page 163: “St. Philips or Old Episcopal Church Location: Salisbury Street and West Maple Street, northeast corner “Prof. Richard Sterling, who had been principal of Edgeworth Seminary in Greensboro, had a boys’ school in the old Episcopal Church on Salisbury Street. The students educated by Mr. Sterling and a Mr. Campbell were recommended by Calvin H. Wiley, Supt. of the “Common Schools of N.C.”. Among the pupils in Mr. Sterling’s school were C.F. Meroney Sr., and the late Herbert Clement”. (Mary Heitman) St. Philips (no longer active) was organized in 1845. (Davie County History, page 254) The first building was a brick structure finished around the mid-1800s. It was torn down and a wood frame structure was finished around 1898. The building was in ruins in the 1930s. (Monte Taylor, letter to Enterprise, August 20, 2009 requesting a photo) The building collapsed in November 1935. page 164: Rose Sterling [Richard O’s daughter was a teacher in Mocksville] Location: on northeast corner of Salisbury Street and Water Street On September 19, 1971, Mrs. Marvin Waters (nee Geneva Hall) gave an interview and described this school. She began school at that location when she was seven years old. (This was 1890. The author found her birth and death information on ancestry.com.) “It was a private school taught by Miss Rose Sterling who lived with her mother, brother John and sister Mattie in a house located on the lot on Salisbury Street across Water Street from the present (1971 ) post office..that is north of the post office. The school room was at the back of the house.” (Oral History File at Davie County Public Library) page 283: He was the first Davie County School Superintendent. He was born about 1812 in Ireland and died 31 October 1883 and was superintendent at the time. The North Carolina Historical Review, April 1986, pages 169-198 Richard Sterling and his children’s schoolbooks are described at length in this publication. Our DCHGS pays the subscription for these journals that are housed in our History Room. See https://www.ncdcr.gov/about/history/historical-publications/historical-review for index of all publications and for articles 1924-1967 that can be read online. Perhaps you’ve never heard of Richard Sterling before, but he made a huge contribution to education and leadership in the South. Even if you’re not kin to him or interested in him, I hope you will realize what a vast amount of information is available for somebody who was born 208 years ago. I also used www.ancestry.com, Google.com, and www.familysearch.org in this research. Our History Room director Ashlyn O’Brien was kind enough to copy pages from the journal and surname files for my use in this combined newsletter for July and October. Hopefully, you will gain some suggestions for researching your own family. The Family Group Sheet on the next page was compiled with RootsMagic. Missing information: Where did William go? When and where did Richard Owen die? Where was Robert buried? He’s not in the cemetery books. The only Sterling is the father, Richard. Mattie is also buried at Joppa, but with married name of Kelly. Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 8 Father Richard STERLING Birth 18 Mar 1812 County Down, Ireland Death 3 Oct 1883 Mocksville, Davie Co., NC Burial Joppa Cemetery, Mocksville, Davie Co., NC Marriage 1 Aug 1840 Fredericksburg, Stafford Co., Virginia Mother Marian Margaret HOWISON Birth 28 Dec 1816 Fredericksburg, Stafford Co., Virginia Death 24 Oct 1868 Shelbyville, Shelby Co., KY Children M Private Edward Green "Eddy" STERLING Birth 28 May 1841 Fredericksburg, Stafford Co., Virginia Death 6 Sep 1861 typhoid fever; Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC Burial Fredericksburg Cemetery F Agnes Irving STERLING Birth 27 Feb 1843 Fredericksburg, Stafford Co., Virginia Death 25 Jul 1845 Burial Fredericksburg Cemetery M Richard Owen STERLING Birth 28 Dec 1844 Fredericksburg, Stafford Co., Virginia Death bef 1890 Spouse Joanna Daisy GRETTER (1842-1892) Marriage 14 Apr 1865 , Guilford Co., NC M SMN Neil Howison STERLING Birth 11 Jan 1847 Fredericksburg, Stafford Co., Virginia Death 17 Apr 1864 Civil War; Richmond, Henrico Co., VA Burial Fredericksburg Cemetery M Samuel Graham STERLING Birth Mar 1849 Fredericksburg, Stafford Co., Virginia Death 29 May 1852 Scarlet Fever; Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC Burial Fredericksburg Cemetery F Helen Mary STERLING Birth 2 Nov 1850 Fredericksburg, Stafford Co., Virginia Death 24 May 1855 Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC Burial Fredericksburg Cemetery M William Irving STERLING Birth 30 May 1854 Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC M Robert Howison STERLING Birth 22 Jun 1856 Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC Death 10 Aug 1877 Mocksville, Davie Co., NC F Mattie Thorburn STERLING Birth 21 Aug 1858 Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC Death 3 Jun 1899 Burial 4 Jun 1899 Joppa Cemetery, Mocksville, Davie Co., NC Spouse Thomas Lemuel KELLY (1849-1926) Marriage 14 April 1880 Davie Co., NC Photos of Richard and Marian Sterling Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 9 BOOKS AND MAPS FOR SALE, prices include postage and tax; check to DCHGS (no cash or credit card) Title Author Total Cost # Cost Davie County. A Brief History, paperback James W. Wall, 128 pages $6.50 The Boone Families in Davie County Wall, Howell Boone, Flossie Martin $8.00 Davie County Marriages 1836-1900 Nancy K. Murphy $25.00 Davie County Marriages 1901-1959 Nancy K. Murphy $25.00 Davie County Cemeteries, a 2-volume set D.C. Historical/Gen. Soc. $55.00 1850 Federal Census-Davie County Forsyth Genealogical Society $15.00 1860 Federal Census-Davie County Nancy K. Murphy and Everette Sain $20.00 1870 Federal Census-Davie County Nancy K. Murphy and Everette Sain $20.00 POSTCARDS OF DAVIE CO. SCENES, (set of 8) $2.50 Maps: Prices below, postage is $5, mailing tube is $2; example: all 4 maps cost $12 Lagle Land Grant Map, $2 Hughes Historical Map, 1700's, drawn in 1977, $1 J.T. Alderman Map, 1887 , $1 Wilson F. Merrell Map, 1928, $1 Davie County Heritage Book, cost is $45; Make check to Davie Co. Heritage Book. Use DCHGS address below. The Historic Architecture of Davie Co., $13; History of Davie County, hardback, by James W. Wall, $13 . Make check to Davie County Public Library. Use DCHGS address below. Davie County History Books by Marie Craig. Check to Marie Craig, 139 Sterling Dr., Mocksville NC 27028: History of Davie County Schools, 318 pages, has photos, locations, longitude/latitude, names of students, and teachers. There is an 18 page index of 3,222 names. 318 pages. $43 Davie County in World War One, 670 biographies of Davie men and women who served, photographs, old letters, description of military bases, and extensive index. 400 pages. $45 Davie County Veterans’ Memorial, has lists of all war deaths, biographies and photos of WW2, Korean, Vietnam, and Beirut Bombing deaths. Tom Ferebee’s talk at the dedication in 1987. 190 pages. $33. Remembering Davie County Protection and Service Personnel, contains biographies of the five law enforcement personnel who died on duty and also photos and descriptions of the monument erected in their memory. The monument also honors all first responders in Davie Co. Paperback, 14 pages. $17. Davie County in the Spanish-American War, contains biographies of the 15 men who served in this war and the resulting war in the Philippines. 65 pages. $20 Mary Ellen’s Diary, 1924, the fictitious diary of a twelve year old girl in 1924 in Mocksville. Included are clippings and illustrations to verify the events. Paperback. 49 pages. $15. Composite Index of Davie County History Books. The indexes of 16 Davie County history books are combined. 17,000 entries. Order from: Lulu.com. Search for book title. Looking Back at Davie County II by Charles Crenshaw and Ron Smith. $45. Mail orders to Charles Crenshaw, 421 Park Avenue, Mocksville NC 27028 Davie County Mavericks, Four Men Who Changed History by Marcia Phillips, the stories of Daniel Boone, Hinton Helper, Thomas Ferebee, and Peter Ney in Davie County. $25. Mail orders to Marcia Phillips, 315 McClamrock Road, Mocksville NC 27028. Eatons Baptist Church Cemetery in Davie County, North Carolina by Pat Mason. A new book which lists all burials through June 2020. Dates, obituaries and articles are included. $30. Pat Mason, 162 Mollie Rd., Harmony NC 28634. DCHGS, 371 North Main Street, Mocksville NC 27028 Davie Dossier, July and October 2020 page 10 Davie County Historical and Genealogical Society 371 North Main Street Mocksville NC 27028 If you would like to receive your Dossier as a PDF attachment in an E-mail instead of a paper copy, please send an E-mail message to the editor at dchgslist@gmail.com. Please state “E-mail my Dossier instead of mailing a paper copy” and include your E-mail address. This saves money, time, postage, effort, and paper. The number beside your name, above, shows the year for which you last paid $5 dues. Example: if you have a 19 by your name, you have paid dues through 2019. DUES CAN BE PAID FOR 2021 NOW. 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 ______________________________________________________________ Send my copy by E-mail instead of paper; yes, no