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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThomas Eaton Swann Papers, Lenoir-Locke 4 del 3 pices * CK apt #0 / : ~ Vy } : ; {J Lece oe to pe ot LA RAF Tine tt hot bbe pike: j : : : Ze Met j ZACEt) ; ae \ ¥ ) \ 7 ay J Cv / {Kor oly cet ~r = 1 bag lhe lMartdA d/ jx dey y& Rob F Tat ¢ ff VX w/bs bes wy; [% /t- hes ) thle Creel) ed i. yw > Matec rp . He oe . C ha “~. bY Oke. Lire“, j2 eS Vite V. Tyg tel L. , tracts. They will not want to operate long with labor costs higher than those in effeét at nonsigning mines A jawsuit aimed at preventing Mr. Lewis's new board of trustees f1 ing money from the existing well nd ilso is being consider« On the site hand, sons why Mr. Lewis new walkout Coal miners giv wanting, and needi1 work before strikes. The JOHN L. LEWIS reasons to Ne Wee k injuncti operators fre DECEMBER 23, A year earlier it provide: of the fuel. but in 1948 coal per cent, including hard coal Yas upplied since then new mcre JOHN L. LEWIS . trouble for thei to the curtail to save coal I ped thei: ing it into more than other labor. ] : os twning hole Mine of NLRB roy on. tl fr . l l \ unION-mManagemer lesie t t V4 ay mn ( onfe rence, Correction on Family H T. E. Swann writes ¢ feditors from his home i Statesville, N. C., to say recent ‘article in the New ‘ ; a 2 aint the Lazenby fan Lazer com > Ro Wa from where s1¢ Vu Lewis Graveyard all gene or I would sent y es and has graves geing back MPo T. Ee Swann of Route 1 is cheirmer litt] ing to preserve it but that is an a Tt e other sterv, jf What I wanted te tell you abeut is the filles we are ke en families that<lived in the neighberhood, especially Maryland fam: The Lasenbys who live eround there new are 5 r , £ your line - the Henr and El{ner line, but I have never been able yet to get any enswer one of my Yettars. De you knew dren? Or Calvin's children? bre Came frem Maryland ~ Thomas, Henry, Joshus. Mr Swann hes whe on Joshua, and I want te put in Thomas and He Get together what you can abeut Henry. at #7 what became of Alfonso's Ad There were the three ' 4¥ Swann has a pretty good line on th , ; le Baggerlyes - He: Married 1 Beggerly - written by Mrs. Adelaia Baggerly Chase, 7 ing history, Hoping te hear from you, Sincerely, ch Pitan, oie Mr. T. E. Swann, Rt. 1, Statesville, Miss Mary E. Lazenby, 2333 Nebraska Dear Mr. Swann & Miss Lazenby, Thank you both for your prompt and recent letter of inquiry. Since both in the same Lewis family I decided to write A As I stated before, I. don k my Gi to your Daniel Lewis, however know so litt family that it is entirely possible wer 6 this I would like to have a li f you nj keep for reference in my rese According to my records one v about 1802 but I do not have a lis daughter, Sarah who md. a Joseph Descendants claim they were not about 1730 and mdi.ci755 in berks Western N-U. was full of Lewises tion and most of them were from the noted in Virginia history. The hic this tribe, Miss Lazenby. My Gidem or earlier. I have always thought ! no real evidence as yet. Mi Dd Miss Lazenby, I am related intermarried with some of my ‘the Lovelaces since 1 once did esther L. Stone and others, however gone else I know at present. Please send me the name of that I ng for rwara nawer ‘fen ) “eT aa. Soreh Leet? 7. 426.2 7 : & parecex Trl y ty Sa < a < . A. @ L he Kt jo batten . [Cots e D etaae Alek love c Uh Se hit oo Lio, » potr 0) lt fe p ; j [ Cte 0. L_Lée~« c t£4-r , A A-2_f_2 ad € A le 4 <2 Jd eo i — ‘ : : ) Ne Ott 2D ta tre f Bork Geof F. 426 , Lie etcex /e ge “.. ek ie pata Keo (eve C AML o) jz Le ce, 4-Z Z () x, y s es Ji_ Ay Kg sek CP~-e. Rt } @é {te fe “A -“—e ae ~ oe th o- Vo etd Via. wx A ns Crtt Aen lta Cie b Ll) J) . a Td ms er. a ’ treclud , had £<. FO a. & ae G\% cet fe. J x. ¥ 4 be < c STATESVILLE RECORD TO JUDGE CONVENTION—Shown shove is Grady*tewis chair man of the fiddlers convention te be held at Cool Springs School tonight, holding # fiddle that he won in the 75th D amond Jubilee Fiddiers Convention in 1954. The fiddle was made in 1716. Lewis who has won 18 out of 22 fiddlers convention in which he has competed, will be one of four qualified judges at the event. Lewis stated that this is the first convention that he knows of éver to award a trophy te the winner . Fiddlers Will Perform At Championship Event A, fiddlers convention expectied Lew stiatex to be: the forerunner of a state one of ¢ championship series ll be held | ments tonight at Cool Springs auditiroium. | added | All was reported in readiness to | better its |day for the affair, according to! common ‘ leaders of the East Iredell] Lions tered around Club, which hopes to make th is said, comm fridlers event an annual occur-/no instrument | Pence Grady Lewis convention, stated pecting bands fri Carolina 1] Carolina bands The Rhyt and the D he Clinten a i C2ex fC LCP@K. ~~ ~~ &. t a wo 4 fri & LQ Lop, V ihm ““-+2 a’, _ / /w# y Cale norte # we Xx an he at? AWARDS FOR FIDDLERS—Members of the East Iredell Lions Club are shown with some of the awards which will be given to individual champions in the fourth annual competition Saturday night. From left are Bill Styers, holding the champion banjo player award and a fiddle; John Whitley; Grady Lewis, school principal and convention chairman; W. C Bill Robertson, and C. Wilson White, holding the champion fiddler award - Fiddlers To Seek Championship - Old-time fiddlin’ and foot-,urday night as outstanding muv- Chan stompin’ music will shake the | sicians from throughout the rafters of the Cool Springs| area vie for titles in oo irth ~_—. = Schoo] gymtorium & Sat- annual North Caroli tate Two Wrecks | Baptist Stand 'Given Praise Investigated RALEIGH (UPI)—Gov. Dan | awal Moore and chairman David Col- | of t trane of the state Good Neigh-|.awards will bor Council have applauded | state champion ent 10 miles north of States-/ north Carolina's Baptists for with the second and t! ville on a rural unpaved road at .ondemning the Ku Klux Klan 1 groups. Awards W j | Approximately $200 damages | resulted from a one-car accid- | 3:20 p.m. yesterday. In telegrams Thursday to the first three places | Patrolman L. D Brown ~ president Carl E. Bates of the | du: n both banjo an , | that William Samuel Bundy, North. Carolina Baptist State er compeulion The most | | route 5, Statesville, was tibing Convention and general secre- | !Sing talent will also least in a 1961 Ford when the tary treasurer W. Perry 4 cash award ear skidded on dirt and gravel | Crouch, the two commended the Cash prizes totaling $300 ™ | in a curve, causing it to run | Baptists for adopting a resolue be given by the sponsoring is the oe of the _ tion condemning the klan as a clubs. strike a ditc overturn. NO “hate” group. ez. were filed. | HP weleg The Blue Grass Pa Death Comes 1 To Mrs. = Gu eo ‘Lelal * ; nn 2333 NEBRASKA AVEN| UE WASHINGTON 16. RECENT VISITOR to Portland was Meriwether Lewis, from | : N.C, He started tour June 28 on which he is visiting places described by explorer of the same name and the explorer are ‘‘collatera|”’ kinsfolk. The explorer and orf of his forefathers were related. The « engineer was borH in Kinston in 1896. He Is veteran of both W has-been Rotarian for 30 years. He is a retire US."Army. This is his first trip to the Northw @ point to travel the same general rout lowed by the explorer. With him were his Meriwether Jr., 11 years old. He has want, it @ long time. He has a ring with the L e.Rays that he may return to Oregon to position and Internationa] Trade motto is: ‘Any land is a brave man’s h in Latin. It 1 séttled as the family motto many y before the exr VU “Wink yon weyll corn tie er PHONE: 4824 PNP RO as As AIS oP apts ROW Heart of Piedmont North ¢ or gently rolling, fertil lund and eleetric power lines, Lovel solidated schools with free insportat average rainfall nearly 50 inches. m seldom hel 12 degrees or above 97 degrees. One o foremost ag tural counties leads in’ power machin smal rra } ay More than 9§.000 milk grade cows rr pure-bred 9 or any beef cattle herds S« sand loam Mech ge good types Cc enburg nd David loams A ¢ co ye a Jad, 33 NEBRASK WASHINGTON 16 2333 NEBRASK WASHINGT many that Thin €karn in the county radley County estoration of Fort Lee of 1776 Atop Palisades, A Hudson River Defense, Planned by Park Board ———~ 19 Fe Special to Tax New York TIMes, BEAR MOUNTAIN, N. Y., Feb 6—Restoration of a Revolutionary War landmark in the area of old Fort Lee between Hudson Terrace hand the edge of the Palisades Cliffs south of the George Washington Bridge is under study by the Pali- fsades Interstate Park Commission. The area is now all woodland, with no traces of the Revolution- ery fort that was one of the key defense points along the river in the war of independence. Its com- panion, Fort Washington, stodn on the east side of the Hudson. A. K. Morgan, chief engineer | and general manager of the com- mission, said the bi-state agency held part of the site of the restora- Htion on land given by the Rocke- feller family. He said development of an over- all plan for restoration had begun,| The New York Times and research was now being done| ¢ ‘SS through the New York and Bergen’ , Area south of George V Wash Gounty Historical Societies, as| ington Bridge in Palisades Park well as records and books in the! where restoration of Revolu- libraries of old residents tionary From a lay-out plan they oo have, commission staff members|” envisage construction of two small cost has been redoubts, two smal! breastw ission. indicated and an abatis, a line of felled trees|‘‘simple’’ project, and with sharp points that faced the the hope that gift n enemy. available The restoration will also include; Noting gradual paths and parking space to enablejance of Jandma) Mr Visitors to walk through the re-/said the of etored area. No estimate of the south of the bridge would, tog landmark is planned now orksim restorat essed d be vith completion Interstate Parkwa plete presen sades and publ The area to be known during the 3luff Point. The value lay in its from which enemy shit bombarded ag they pass up the river men and equipment Fort Wash The fort ws 19°70 1116 f ake it in the future } Washing ton rd Cornwal nantes had landed the present night of Nov pment t a march on For to capture the Amer an I ler Gen, Nathanael Greene Lord Cornwallis e night in a smal he dock the wrong forces evaded agree that f Genera] Greer cause 2333 NEBRASKA AVEN JE WASHINGTON 16 ne st now just U betareen + local Lewi ’ own) T L Ove Sto a tone, as she may 4 one so. She : = Baisoel at os : comn] to h ’ it I helt : ee eve het 1] i neard.e Lewis grondparents? She would sta’ and one ht, "Gant Lewis'- I. sv uncerst fanaé ] peCce iD, Lewis were from the muster meeting on White him to bed. "Betsy," he explain "Oh, t soled. I sunpose it was somet! 4 ' hat's all right, Cantein, I do think from whet I can. dedy Daniel was a preat miver, I 3 » . timony ry) f 2ON mony friend good neighbor snd had ; ; Lewls house stood? a a YOu May nav some Sincere] Pa rr /yitH7te ao / / aki» LIBERTY HILL on the South Yadki! Iredell ‘opyright 1976 by Mildred J. Miller Cover: By Sandra L. Miller Sketch of one of the homes of Capt. William Feimster at the upper end of his plantation. ALEKAM D MILL 4. Along the Island For the mill site and the P« remain stones that were LIBERTY HILL EARLY ROADS of -three buildings on t! ov > muen/ i I a JAS. in | re D Kt ; Minuicau 7 xfs ITA, “porrs LIBERTY HILL EARLY ROADS ie eee gu LLIBE RTY 4p T EARLY YEARS Liberty Hill was a community in Iredell County, North Carolina that extended over approximately 25 square miles on both sides of the South Yadkin River. The boundary lines are difficult to establish because there were several families living within the bounds who were served by the Post Office of Statesville. There is no doubt that most of the patrons lived within the area, which was bounded on the west by the present Iredell-Alexander County line, on the east by the Chipley Ford Road, on the north as far as Snow Creek at some points, and on the south by Fourth Creek. Within a two or three mile radius, the post office was the center of the activity of this thriving community for at. least half a century -- possibly longer. There is considerable evidence of the existence of an industrial and trading center within this area, which for somé reason failed to attain the growth of Eagle Mills, Olin, and other similar communities, The essentials necessary for. growth and development were there. It was easily accessible because the post office and trading post were located at the crossina of two of the major roads of ‘the day, the Cove Gap Road and the Island Ford-Shallow Ford Road. The leadership was there, as well as the various tradesmen. An adequate amount of money seemed to be in circulation. Nevertheless, the peak years came just before the Civil War; after the war began a definite decline. It is difficult to determine who first settled in this area north of Fourth Creek; however, the first land settled was probably south of the South Yadkin River. In 1773, there were 10 families living just north of the river -- James Houston, Robert Hill, Archibald Sloan, James Adams, Adam Simonton, John Sharpe, Robert King, James Wasson, Patrick Morrison, and Robert Woods. The same year there were 15 families living from the South Yadkin south to Fourth Creek -- James Milligan, John Witherspoon, Alexander Wither-~ spoon, John Purviance, Ephraim Hill, James Potts, William Waddle, John McWhorter, William Bone, James Guy, James Hill, Widow Stinson, James Purviance, David Hill, and Henry Potts. These were the Presbyterian families, who made up the larger part of the population. These families, along with a few others living there at this time were the fathers and grandfathers of the patrons of Liberty Hill. There were a few other families that came just after the Presbyterians came. Alexander Moore, William Feimster, John Screggs; David Scroggs, Jeremiah Scroggs and William Black _were land owners by 1790. Plantations were of moderate size, varying from 400 acres to 600 acres. As time went by and early settlers died, plantations not only decreased in size as they were divided among heirs but also increased in size as some heirs sold their shares to established plantatior owners. The settlers came as early as the early part of the 1760s; however, it.1s not definite: that any lived this far north.” They were among the migration from Maryland and Pennsylvania and were mostly members of the Old Fourth Creek Congregation in Statesville in 1773. They worshipped there until Bethany and Concord Churches were organized. There is a strong 2 — feeling that at least part of these members were disappointed that they were not able to get a Presbyterian Church at Snow Creek. Many of them moved to the newly organized Methodist Churches early in 1800 when four Methodist Episcopal Churches were organized in their midst. By the time that America had gained her independence, it was evident that what was to be known as Liberty Hill community would be more than just a rural community. Among he: citizens were some of the leading men of the day. Though none of them could be called large Slave holders, they were prosperous and lived comfortably. In 1800, it is surprising to find that so,many grist and tub mills were being operated. There were at least four on Snow Creek, three on: the branches of the South Yadkin River, and two known to. b on Fourth Creek. Several of the old mill ites can be seen today. ret With the establishment of the post office at Liberty Hill in 1826 came a new lifestyle for these people. Until after the et War, Liberty Hill continued to grow, By 186( there were 149 families being served by lis post office, in comparison to 22 families at nearby Snow Creek Post Office and 42 at Sweet Home Post Office, which were north of Snow Creek. There were 117 persons who jave their occupations as farming while 27 others listed other professions and trades, ° Also, with the establishment of the post office at the trading post known as Feimster & Feimster, the community began to center her activities here, Here a traveler could trade his goods, borrow money, feed his horse, mail a letter, or find lodging and a hot meal, Around this trading post, also, grew a small industrial area providing many services required by a growing community, 3 There is no doubt that the spiritual life of the community continued to grow as every- thing else faded away. One church faded away, one moved and another was organized to fill the gap; but the fact remained that the church re- mained an important part in the lives of these people as it had been in the lives of their ancestors who began it all. Footnotes, Chapter I 1. Map of “Fourth Creek Congregation, 1773, by William Sharpe. Iredell Public Library, Statesville, N.C. 2. Iredell County Census 1790 Iredell County Deeds Carolina Cradle by Robert W. Ramsey 1800 Iredell County Tax List Iredell County Census 1860 II LIBERTY HILL'S BEGINNING The post office and trading center ati Liberty Hill was at the home of Capt. William Feimster. William Feimster was born in 1759 in Chester County, S.C. He enlisted ina N.C. Unit in the Revolutionary War in the same unit with the Sharpes, who had come to North Carolina from Cecil County, Maryland before the Revolu- tionary War. Through his friendship with John Sharpe, he met his sister, Mary. Capt. Feimster and Mary Sharpe were married in Rowan County on May 30, 1783. | Their home was to the southwest of the home of John Sharpe on the south side of the South Yadkin River. Apparently no one knows why Capt. Feimster mamed his home Liberty Hill. Traditionally, he gave it the name in honor of the new liberty that America had found and the fact that the site was on a hill overlooking the river. The Feimster family made their homes within a mile radius of this site for the next century. Capt. Feimster bought several tracts of land which had been granted to Col. John Purviance. 2 When he died in 1842, only his son, Abner, was Still living; already, he had taken over the leadership of Liberty Hill. In addition to this son, he had several daughtérs who had married sons of nearby land owners. In 1809, there was no post office yet and there are no known records that tell of any business at Liberty Hill this early. Yet the story has been passed down by his family that William operated a trading post there, Some- time during these years; he Operated a grist mill ona branch of the South Yadkin River near Liberty Hill. One can see the remains of the mill dam and the old road beds today. A brick mason, who has’ examined the stone work, believes it to be identical to the stone work in an old house originally owned by the Feimsters. An unusual feature of this house is the stone base- ment which has an outside door and window, 5 * The road that led ‘from the Island Ford on the Catawba River to the Shallow Ford on the Yadkin crossed the Cove Gap Road that went -from Statesville.to Wilkesboro. They crossed the South Yadkin River about a mile apart and formed a crossroads at Liberty Hill. Liberty Hill Post Office was established on April 4, 1826. Abner Feimster, the son of William Feimster, was the postmaster from the time that it was established until his death sometime in 1864. It is not known who served as postmaster immediately after his death; how- ever, he was succeeded on May 10, 1866 by James R. Scroggs whose home was to the west of Liberty Hill. The post office was discontinued on May 20, 1869 and re-established on July 31, 1871 with Samuel C. Hager as postmaster. It was discon- tinued again November, 1880. From August 7, 1871 to October 5, 1871, Samuel C. Hager, oper- ated a postoffice at Simonton Mills, which was located across the river from Liberty Hill and near the old Simonton Bridge at Sharpes Mill.4 On May 31, 1883, Clio Post Office was estab- lished with James W. Hager serving as postmaster until it was discontinued in July, 1902. This post office, along with the Armfield Post Office established on February 15, 1881 with Mts. Jane Stone serving as postmistress took the place of Liberty Hill. Armfield Post Office was near Trinity Church at the Gibson home; one of the Gibson girls served as postmistress for many years. Clio Post Office was near Clio Pres- byterian Church. After what was left at Liberty Hill was destroyed by fire, R.W.H. Feimster, son of Abner, moved his family to a home owned _by his wife's fam_iy at Scotts Crossroads.” The post office was established there on March 21, 1873 with R.W.H. Feimster as postmaster. 6 Various members of the Feimster family have held the position until Mrs. Helen M. Sherrill served a number of years. The office is still operating with the wife of the great-great grandson of Abner Feimster presently serving as postmistress. Footnotes, Chapter II 1. Rowan County Marriage Records 2. Iredell County Deeds, Book A, p. 348, p» 435 , 3. Iredell County Wills, William Feimster, Book 2, pe 259 . 4. Dates of organization amd postimasters are all from Post Office Records at National Archives, Washington, D. C. Lid | LIFE AT LIBERTY HILL Early wills have a story to tell about life along the South Yadkin’ before and after the Organization of Liberty Hill Post Office. We do not see plantations as they were pictured for us in the: Gid South, at least not in size nor in the lazy life of Qld South plantation days. What we do see is a group of ambitious men and women, who became quite prosperous through hard work. They were mainly Presbyterian in the begin- ning. After a little more than a quarter of a century, there was an increasing number of these families in the Methodist Episcopal Church, which is an indication that the churc}! waS an important part of their lives regardles of denomination. The Methodist Episcopal Churc} came into their midst and became a part of -theit community. Through the years, these churche have grown, while the one Presbyterian Churc! that came along,during the 1870s is struggling to exist. These wills show a people, who were honest and God-fearing. The first request was usually that all just debts be paid. Even before this, he expressed his belief in his Maker and recog- nized that all things come from Him. It was not unusual for these men and womer to speak affectionately of their slaves. On the smaller plantations, in particular, there was a close relationship between the slaves and the master and his family. Adalissa Sharpe, wife of E. F. Sharpe, recorded birthdates of Slaves in her Bible.! Sometimes there was a request that those who were especially close, or for their loyalty, be trained in some trade and freed that they might become valuable mem- bers of society. Many of these men died early and tried to make provisions for an easier life for their young wives and children. Education of their children was one of the things that wag upper- most in their minds. All parents seemed to dream of a decent education for their childre especially sons. It is easy to detect a person's disapproval of another person, One lady bequeathed her looking glass and other items to her grand- daughter “and to her only", Her father | have no part Of any of the. bequest nor in any way. Personal items and were prized possessions and bequeat! > dearest to their owners.<¢ Most often, but not always, ted by sons. It was not unusi to give a home to his son whe it is usually stated in the will has already received his share Tre. will of the "father" very interesting and indicate: the average wealth. William dated 1841 provides that his wit receive his washing machine, sil\ lage. Not every man owned?’a carria fewer owned a waShing machine. He Lindsey as his servant and gave } my smith tools". Some of his Neq be freed under the special re Abner, In August, 1859, a notic the Iredell Express that Abner Feim: filing a petition in the next Superic "praying for the emancipation of the | Slaves, to wit: Lindsay Walton and Lou her child, Lucy Adelaide," The citizens at Liberty Hill showed a little more than the usual interest in politics. An account can be found in the Iredell. Express, October, 1860, That gives some indication af this interest. J.M. Leach, member o; the { ae House of Representatives from the district which included Iredell, spoke at Liberty Hill to sev- eral hundred citizens. In 1840, a more colorful political event took place. There was a "parade" from Salisbury to Liberty Hill. Leading the parade was a wagon Carrying a log cabin. All that remains of this important event at Liberty Hill is a hand planed board 40 inches long and 10 inches wide, but it expresses the sentiments of the people of that day. The board was over the cabin door and its message painted on the board in black is still quite legible. "Patriots of |*76 Conquered with the Sword We the Whig's of 1840 _ with the Ballot Every Vote's a fire." There is no doubt of the importance of this event to those living at Liberty Hill for the board is treasured still by a great grandson Abner Feimster,. Footnotes, Chapter III 1. Bible Record of Adalissa Sharpe, N.C. Dept. of Archives and History, Raleigh, N.C. 2. Iredell County Wills 3. From board used on cabin in parade. Story was related by a great-grandson of Abner Feimster. IV OLD HOMES The home of James Guy, Revolutionary soldier, still stands on a branch of Fourth Creek south- east of Midwaway United Methodist Church. According to family. tradition, it was built be- fore the Revolutionary War. It is a two-story, log structure with clapboard siding and was larger than the average house of that day. It became the home of Hiram Guy, an unmarried son of James Guy. His brother's family lived with him in his later years. Harriet Sharpe Hovater married Alfred Guy; it was she and her family who cared for Hiram Guy. Though the home and other property of Hiram.were shared equally by his nieces and nephews, one of Harriet's daughters, who married a Morrison, became the owner of the old James Guy home, Until recent years it was owned by the Morrisons’ grand- daughter. |}. Along the old Island Ford road bed just ve Liberty Hill remains’ one of Capt, Feimster's homes. In more recent years it has been known as the Calvin Sharpe place. He bought the property from Abner Feimster'’s administrators when his estate was being settled. ‘The house is very unusual from most of the early houses; it has a basement ffiat opens to the south with a door and window. It is of frame construction with numbered handhewn timbers. Many of the windows have original glass of the old bluish, wavy glass. Traces of yellow paint can be seen on the clapboard siding. There are panes Of glass over both the front and back outside doors. Another old home stands on the north side of the South Yadkin River; neither the builder nor the date it was buidt is knowh., David Mc- Canless sold it to Joséph James in}1839, and he sold it to Nathaniel C. Kerr in 1839.1 The Kerrs lived there until 1868, when they sold the land to Elam Brown and moved to Arkansas. Recently 4d it has been known by Brown, though the last and present owners are the Adamses. The house was constructed of unusually large logs with clapboard siding which was probably added iater. The old windows are large and unusual for a house built that early. They have nine lights over six with old glass panes that have withstood the years. As is common in most of these early homes, there is a large room downstairs with the stairs winding up be- side the huge fireplace. There is a small room to the side of the large one, which was used for sleeping. The workmanship on the old panel doors is a fine example of the quality of work done by these early men. There are two long, vertical panels in both exterior and interior doors. All doors and windows were put together with pegs. Upstairs, square "lookouts" were cut into the logs toward the river while two round holes were bored about "eye-level" in the logs on the opposite side. Down the creek from the James Guy home was the home of Silas D. Sharpe. Just beyond it is another house, built much the same,which was probably on his plantation, too. His plantation was part of the original James Guy plantation. Both of these houses are on Fourth Creek off Midway Drive. In later years, the first house was known as the Uncle.Bill Sharpe house, while the second one was on what became the Sides place. Further east on Fourth Creek and off the Cove Gap Road is the present Hall home, which was Originally the location of what is believed to be the home of Thomas James. It is one of the few homes that is still being used and is a very lovely home that has been remodeled. This makes it impossible to know that it is log underneath the neat, white clapboard siding. The James land was part of the old James Potts grant. Between the homes of Silas D. Shar Thomas James is the former home of D Douglas. His first wife was Isabell Sharpe, daughter of Silas D. and Ma: Sharpe. The old house on Midway.Dri typical two-story frame house witt downstairs and shatters upstairs. it is known as the old Potts place. part of the William Feimster land or be one of the houses on the land of Sharpe. The home of. Thomas Tucker, whic] off the Wilkesboro Road near Trini? Church, has served as a barn for a years. It was a two story log hou usual features. The date 1832 is Of-thne Logs, According to the 180( List, the plantations of Joh Jeremiah Scroggs totaled wel} of land. They listed hor which joined Liberty Hill and there along the waters cf th the Harris Bridge Road. One kh one room with a room in a simp] extra sleeping space, is ; Old house is located on the id and was one of the Scroggs house is not known. However, it of the one room log house 4 The Robert Hill hom wl) Original Robert Hill land grant, have been built before the Revolut It is constructed of logs with the floor plan of two rooms. The large } a large fireplace and stairs beside entrance was used for family livina., room was used for sleeping with extra sleeping Space upstairs. There are two rooms at the back, which were probably added later TI 1 .% bia AS , home is off the Pisgah Road on the north il 13 of the South Yadkin River and has been complete- ly restored and furnished in the furnishings of the period. James King's home, though no longer standing, was one of the larger homes in the area. It was on the old William Morrison land grant on Snow Creek and was said to have been built by Patrick Morrison.2 He sold it to James King, September 11, 1779; it.remained in the King family for many years and until recent years was owned by a descendant of the original King owner. At one time the Guy land extended from Midway Drive to Scotts. Amos Guy was on the south of Fourth Creek near Scotts. Additions have. been made to his home, but:’the original log section still stands as a part of a lovely white house that has been remodeled, Though the Joseph James home is not as old as the others, it has endured the years well. It is a stately white colonial house built by James about 1849. In a couple of years, it became the home of Silas Keaton, who was a large land owner on the north side of the South Yadkin in the 1850s. This house is Occupied and is located on the Wilkesboro Road about a mile~- north of the South Yadkin River. The Milligan home is near the Alexander County line. It was a comfortable log house built early in 1800. An interesting story about the Milligan plantation was found in the Statesville Landmark, March 18, 1880. "Mr. McKamie Milligan, who lives 2 miles from Amity Church on the Iredell-Alexander line, has on his place an apple tree which he Knows to be 115 years old. It was plant- ed by his grandfather, Mr. Andrew Milligan and still bears: fruit." This property is still owned by descendants of Andrew Milligan. The oldest school building still standing in this area is the old Amity School. It was moved to its new site at the Eli Rufty home on 14 Fourth Creek to make way for the Midway Schcol. It was used for a storage building for many years. Now it is sagging with age on the side of the road as you go toward Scotts. This is the only building that remains of the old sch- ools and churches in the community. Trinity School is standing; however, the present build- ing replaced the old, one-room building about 1918, No doubt there are other homes, but these are some of. the homes of the citizens of Liberty Hill. By the time she saw her brightest days,the fathers were gone but in most instances the sons carried on the familiy traditions on the plantations, Though most of the old: homes vived the years, many farms art their former owners. Milton Camp be was below the Wilkesboro Road on Just up the road from the creek of Levi Gibson. The land betwee Trinity Methodist Church was owned by Levi ‘brother, Fielding. Beyond the Gibsons ac: the road from 0.C. Gregory's Store lived Haynes. His home was replaced within th 15 years by the home of Alfred Levan. several prominent men lived on the Chiple Ford Road. Andrew Morrison, who had a1 LY est in Eagle Mills, lived where the Press] Owned and what is now a housing developme: Dr. J. F. Long's home was near th Redmond dairy barn. Until recent years, the Chip] home stood just beyond Dr. Long's home, Footnotes, Chap*or IV 1. Iredell Cou Deeds, Book U, page 33% page 435 2. The William Mor: son Grant on Snow Creek and Jas. Potts Grant Fourth Creek are the Only known Granville © ants in this area. 15 V INDUSTRY From 1800 until after the Civil War, a num- ber of mills dotted Snow Creek, Fourth Creek, and the smaller branches: of the South Yadkin River. The only one that is definitely known to have been on the river was the one that has been known as Sharpe's Mill since sometime in the 1870s. There has likely been a mill on that site at least since 1847. It is believed that smaller streams were used because there was less danger of destruction from high waters. Two types of mills were used, tub mills and grist mills; the wheel that turned the stone determined the type of mill that it was. The tub mill could be used on the smaller streams, while the grist mill required a larger stream and more fall. The tub wheel lay in a tub with water pour- ing down a chute from the storage tank. This gave more pressure as the water struck the buckets for sloping paddles of the wheel that turned a vertical shaft which turned the upper stone. The lower stone remained stationary. The wheel rotated on a pine knot with the base of the shaft concave to fit over the rounded top of the knot. The pine knot was hardened by the resin and the shaft was greased with lard. As it turned, it became hard and slick. The grist mill was turned by the overshot wheel, which is more familiar to most’ of us. The water from a mill race poured into buckets on the wheel, which is turned on a horizontal axis. In 1800, the average value of the grist mill was about $125, while the average value of a tub mill was only $50. As early as 1800, thereswere three, posgibly four mills, near what became Liberty Hill. 16 Although Abraham, Alexande Fourth Creek, his mill, Creek, waS convenient across the creek, ander mill and t<¢ jrist. mill a. of the mill dams a had a arist mill oh the Wilkesboro Road later years, it Abraham Hill's been on.a branch Its site cannot be Sites of the other m Alexander Witherspoo; of the South Yadkin Ri the county ine p LA tA 4 A } l y Withit evidence William will. Thi Of the old could be see? Powe! down the river, branch of the Was referred Branch, T! no doubt natural the water creased wheel. It is neither: nor who owned it. No deed, but the storv w to generation that | a had a different Kind WaS On land granted: ti SOld it to William Sx Rerr; it is from this "the mill wheel hat the King family has a grist mill on Rocky Branch of Snow Creek. It was on property owned by the King family for many years. Remains of the dam and Mill race can be seen. Traces of the race can be seen for about 200 yards. Deeds refer to the stream as Machine Branche According to : stories that R. E. Hill told his children, there was a wool carding machine beyond the dam. At the site, there are signs of the old foundation. Some of the deeds around 1800 mention tan houses. Leather was a necessity to these people Today it has become more of a luxury as plastics and rubber are widely used in the place of lea- ther. In those days, trees were plentiful, so they thought nothing’ of cutting oaks and firs for their bark only. The bark was stripped from the trees and crushed under a toothed stone wheel operated by ox power. A large horizontal shaft fitted into a sturdy vertical shaft whict turned as the ox tediously walked in a circle. The stone wheel was secured on the horizontal shaft between the ox and the vertical shaft. \The rim of the large stone was used for crushing ‘the bark in contrast to using the sides to ag gkind grain. Tanning was said to be a smelly “Nrade; nevertheless, there were two mills Known to be between South YadKin River and Snow Creek. Windmills were used for power, too. The purposes for which they were used is not known; however, it is possible that they provided the power in some instances for grinding grain. These mills were not different from the mills that used water power other than the-fact that they had a different arrangement of the mechanism. One received power from below while the other received its power from the wind driven sails. The stones used in the wind driven mills were usually called burr stones. 4 John Feimster had burr and 011 mills ona tract of land on the north side of the South Yadkin on the Shallow Ford Road.4 There is only a very small stream of water on this land and 18 much of it is on a hill overlooking the old Sharpe Mill. It is possible that he used a windmill for his power, These mills, in addi- tion to the one that is still there, are men- tioned in a transaction between the executor of James Bailey and Hugh Reynolds in 1857, In addition, an old saw mill was mentioned. there seems to have been an industrial center here for a number of years. : The mill that Bailey's executors sold to Hugh Reynolds had been known as the Baily Mill. It is likely that this is the building that housed the Sharpe Mill. It seems that the burr mill and oil mill were on the hill above the present mill site. There-had been a tan house below there about 1812.” It is inter- esting that this tract of land, that was divi- ded and sold so many times, began as the John Sharpe grant. He lived and died there. His son and grandchildren owned it; later his nephew, John Feimster passed it on to his son, William Rufus Feimster. As early as 1849, the Baily mill was there. It was a part of a large tract Of land owned by Joseph James, then Silas Keaton, then Hugh Reynolds and R. F. Simonton, After Bailey owned it, it was known as Laurence and Reynolds Mills, Reynolds and Co.,. Simonton's Mill, and Hager Mill. Eventually in 1887, James M. Sharpe, a great-great grandson of John Sharpe bought the mill tract. In this deed, it is referred to as the R.F. Simonton Mill Tract. / On the south of the river, from these mills, John Feimster gave another son, James King Feimster, ‘a tract of land with a saw mill and wool carding machine. This plantation was east of Liberty Hill and joined the Liberty Hill land. It was small in size, only 186 acres, but it must have been a busy place. In 1847, James K. Feimster made his brother, William R. Feimster, his trustee.8 On this small plantation was "a wagon shop, a large lot of Sawed and Hewed 19 Timber for a House, a quantity of Brick, a quantity of Botanic, medicines, one Pattent Mill, one windmill, all by. books". There was the usual stock and tools for a small farm, with the exception .of 22 hogs, which was a little more than the average family would use. Unfortunately, James King Feimster died quite young. After his death the land was sold back to his flother. It became just an Ordinary farm; today, only the saw mill be remembered. To the south of Liberty Hill, on Fourth Creek, lived the grand daughter of C William and Mary Sharpe Feimster. Silas Davidson Sharpe, who was the her great uncle John Sharpe. He perous farmer and businessman. Silas D. Sharpe gave a very tion of his plantation in a newspa tisement that he ran in the Carolit for a period of time in 1844, "The subscriber being determined to the West offers for sale his planta on Fourth Creek, within 2 miles of Concord Church and Liberty Hill and 8 miles north- west of Statesville, 380 acres upon which there is about 100 acres in cultivatior (40 acres fresh), goog: orchard, ane rate meadow-2 dwelling houses, o1 and other necessary buildings; t kind of spring. A first rate new saw mill now building’will be furni For some unknown reason, he did his plantation nor did he go west. about the time that his brother and neighbors and kinsmen left for the This is the second oil mill that is recorded in the Liberty Hill Community. The oil mill was used to extract oil from flax seed.’ It was probably one of the’ important money crops of the day. In 1837, Feimster & Feimster bought 20 m5 gallons of oil from W.R. Feimster for $5.00. Customers, usually women, received credit there for flax cloth. It is not known what power was used to oper- ate these oil mills, Though the Sharpe planta- tion did not lack for water power, the mill may have been\ operated by a windmill. No doubt his Saw mill used water power. Some years later, W.F. and James M. Sharpe, sons of Silas D. Sharpe, operated a grist mill on Fourth Creek that may have been on the site of the 1800 Abraham Alexander Mill. They also operated mills on Morrison Creek and James M. Sharpe later moved to the Simonton Mill on the South Yadkin River. There is no doubt that a good miller took pride in his trade. Two good examples are found in newspaper advertisements in the Iredell Express. In 1858, Hamilton Crouch placed the following advertisement. "Hamilton Crouch, Liberty Hill, N.C. Respectfully informs Mill owners that he is initiated in the art of managing mill machinery such as steam or water Burr Mills. Having had an experience of several years in the milling business he flatters himself that, he is fully competent to give entire ,satisfaction in the business of grinding. He would further say to those who might wish to employ such a miller that they address him at Liberty Hill," The same year, he advertised his home on the South Yadkin for sale. He described his dwell- ing house, kitchen, Negro houses, barns and shops as elegant. When he left Liberty Hill, he sold his home to W. H. Haynes and moved to Rocky Creek, where he went into the milling business with John Jennings. Joseph Rominger was also a miller, likely at the same mill at Liberty Hill where Hamilton Crouch had been. His advertisement was in the Iredell Express, June 17, 1859, 21 "Notice - Good Miller The undersigned is desirous of getting a Situation to manage a good set of Grist or Flouring Millis. He has had over 30 years experience in that line of business. Address him at Liberty Hill or call at his residence at Laurence & Reynolds Mills 8 miles north of Statesville on the S. Yadkin. Jos. Rominger." In 1850, six men gave their occupation as wagonmaker. R.S. Tayes is beligved to have had a Wagon Shop near Liberty Hill.” There were five blacksmiths, and three carpenters. Only one man claimed to be a miller; however, folks known to have other trades listed themselves as farmers. In those days a man seemed to take pride in being a farmer. One person gave his trade as cooper. By 1860, the picture had changed little, but by this time there were four millers. Wagonmakers and Blacksmiths were still plentiful. Two shoemakers, one harness- maker, and a.tanner had been added. Alfred Sharpe and others made brick. He apparently owned a loom and did weaving for the public. His charge for ygaving was from 6% cents to 8 cents a yard.+ There were, no doubt, others who did weaving and made brick. Small quantities of fabric were sold at Feimsters, who also provided the brick bands to the brick makers. During the next 20 years, there was a decline in the activity around Liberty Hill. This, in part, was a result of the Civil War. However, another factor may have been that the 400-600 acre plantations that were plentiful until about the middle of the century, had been divi- ded among the large families as estates were settled. The land holdings became smaller for most individuals. The land was no longer as productive as when it was new. As it became more difficult to make a living on these small farms, the land was sold by the courts for 22 taxes and other debts that the owners could not pay.» Abner Feimster, Hugh Reynolds, Joseph James, R.F. Simonton, and others who had provi- ded the loans or paid off the taxes became the large land owners. Then by 1870-80, these men died and their estates were settled, the land waS again sold into average size farms of 1} 150 acres as we know them today. -The ¢C had taken its toll in the amount of these men had, too. Many were let worthless Confederate money, By this time, too, indu stry had mov Statesville and some of the other area as Olin and Eagle Mills, that were ling to become more than just rural Williamsburg, who had ambitious ci lost her struggle for power’ b others were successful for too, soon faded away. Still another factor tha decline at Liberty Hill, wa railroad from Statesville A new area of growth began roads along the railroad. established there,-and later shortened to Scotts, probabl) roads disappeared.11 The transportation whi growth of any community Footnotes, Chapter V l. Fox Fi re iI Ze 1800 Tax List 3. Edwin Tunis, Colonial Living, 1957 page 72, Eric Sloane, A B C Book of Early Americana 4. Iredell County Wills, John Feimster, 1837 5« Iredell County Deeds, Book 1, page 505 23 6. Iredell County Wills, John Sharpe, 1810 7. Iredell County Deeds 8, Iredell County Deeds Book page 9. Iredell County Census 1850 10. Alfred Sharpe Private Papers 11. There was a general move made about this time by the U.S. Post Office to shorten the names of the Post Offices. VI MERCHANTS During the period from early 1800 the Civil War, there were at least who provided the needs of the comn Liberty Hill, E.A. Sharpe & Kina near where Clio Church now st} inds \ 1841. Feimster & Feimste: Operate at Liberty Hill from early in in the 1870s, They were the merchants. On the edge of Community, but still serving Other stores, Dr, Peter Ruft, near the line between Iredell Counties until about 1858, Somewhere near Snow Cre: k Feimster & Feimste; GE Li) by various members of the Fej Successful business fOr, fifty; It provided not only 60d, . wares, hardware, books, brandy. W and medicines, By stretching e it could be Called the forerunner mall. In addition to t } a traveler could buy f Self as well as for hi ing on his me? hod of with the Post Office had this added . onven Varied from 12*s cent: 1 ry) dA These early merchants acted mu a loan company for those whx could They not Only sold merchanglise o; their Customers, but they also pai and held notes on them. ih tl LS Way USUSIlly became the Owners Of many sn Of land, They got much Of this land they paid taxes On it when it was Sheriff of the county. This advert 4 appeared in the Iredell Express, February, 1859, is a good example of property that accumulated. Notice "We have Land, Wagons, Horses, Mules, Buggies, Carriages, Shingles etc. which we wish to sell. Also we have a great many unsettled accounts and notes which we wish to be closed by Cash or otherwise soon or they will be found in the hands of an officer for collection. Feimster & Feimster." By 1847, Abner Feimster advertised 1400 acres of land for sale. The land was listed as 11 different tracts in the Carolina Watchman. He continued to accumulate these farms and in 1865, R. W. H. Feimster and A. Morrison, admin- istrators of his estate listed 12 tracts of land in addition to his plantation known as the Liberty Hill Tract. Customers at Feimster & Feimster were able to trade their goods for merchandise from the store. From 1852-1854, a variety of items was received by the merchant, much of which he sold to other customers. Some of the items brought by the ladies were socks, cloth, feathers, rags, shawls, butter, and eggs. Flax cloth was often used for credit; in 1837, Peggy Milligan received 35 cents per yard for 24 yards of cloth. Men traded sheep and deer skins, hog skins, stone- ware, whiskey, honey, grain, leather, and mend- ing jobs for merchandise. It was not unusual for customers to ‘trade their rags to the merchants. In 1856, Feimster & Feimster was paying 3 cents per pound for rags, which they traded to George Mosteller for paper. In 1839, Feimsters bought cotton from Willis Gray, Cloe Gray, James W. Adams, William Gibson, Joseph White, Thomas James, Winston Mays, Capt. William Feimster, John Scott, Feilding Sharpe, William R. Feimster, and J. K. Feimster. 26 Liberty Hill Trading Post, also, sold to other merchants and companies, They sold t J. Le Blackwell &.Co, at Snow Creek as other smaller merchants. Morrison, G Co. was buying cotton from them in 1 also, sold flax seed in large quant Some of the larger items that small quantities were wagons, b and tables. In 1837, the selling wagon was $75.00. They sold such coffee, sugar, tobacco, fabrics, shot snuff, brandy, Salt, and soda as s The price of a man's hat was fron Shoes could be purchased for $l. of boots cost $4.00. They bought shingles and offered them for per hundred. Port wine was a gallon; needless to Say, whiskey for 60 to 75 cents in January of each year, ea almanac for the year for The favorite food items was cheese, raisins, and si of all these non-essential all customers. However, the such aS expensive wines, sil bought only by the wealthi« Feimster & Feimster bou Charleston, S. C. and in took a load of locally mar products in four horse wago! the necessities and luxuries n home. In 1834, they traded lar potatoes to Elms & Allison Co, 332 pounds of Rio coffee at ‘15 and for salt. They also broug}! of, peach brandy. It is not known!how many people were employed by Feimsters. Records. have been found of two of them, who worked there between 1837 and 1840 Andrew A. Scroggs and John Kenley worked fo: 27 $75.00 a year. Miss Adalissa Sharpe was employed there for 52 weeks in 1856 at $.60 a week with a total salary of $31.20, The cost for renting a horse and carriage or an ox and wagon was 50 cents. The length of time that they could be used is not speci- fied. Board was $2.00 a week; alSo, a house and lot were rented for $20.00; again the time is not given. Weaver Bres. Harness Makers, at Olin, adver- tised their harness for sale at Liberty Hill.@ By this time, there were no other merchants in the area. The Civil War years brought a decline in the volume of business done by Feimster & Feimster. E. A. Sharpe & King operated a store near where Clio Church now stands about 1 mile north of Liberty Hill until about 1841. ~ . The King partner is believed to be Joel B. King, brother- in law of E.A. Sharpes An old inventory book indicates that either they were closing out the business or one of the partners was leaving. It is likely that King, continued the business, but E. A. Sharpe left N.C. sometime in the 1840s. -It is not known how long the store had been there; however, customers are the same as the ones at Feimstérs in the 1830s. They carr- ied a good line of fine fabrics as well as the more common fabrics. Either they had sold most of these coarser fabrics or their line of the less expensive fabrics was not as complete as was Carried by their competitor. School books and supplies were plentiful at Sharpe & King's. Their housewares included necessities as well as items of luxury. Personal grooming supplies for men as well as ladies were available. Some hardware was among the inven- tory and a few wagons and saddles for men and women. There waS listed the wood work of a 4 horse wagon at $35.00, a road wagon at $100, and 2 two year old and two 3 year old cattle for $16. The total value of the inventory was $959.84, 28 The inventory Of merchandise an inventory of debts due Sharpe & ing $1400.62, aA list of involun March 16, 1841 are listed with $1666.90 with list of doubtful $1754.17. The recapitulatior Sharpe & King as of lf farc} O J. W. Haaer Operated a 5s Same site, He begar Operat 1900 and continued in busi} number of years, Early in his location to a site on Road, in 1877; x. H. Weathe North Carolina Business at Liberty Hill, Tt LS store was located, on], Hill as his address,4 Footnotes, Chapter Vv] 1. All information Account Books jn pos Sess 2. Iredell] Express, , ville, N.C, On microfj1 College, Statesvil ae I 1 i 3. All informati Account Book, Private (: 4. Later information near Stony E-oint VII DOCTORS Liberty Hill was not without the services of the medical profession. Dr. Joseph Guy was the first doctor from within the community, but 1t is not known how long he lived there. He was born about 1767 and reared a little more two miles to the southwest of Liberty Hil was the son of James Guy, Sr. and Isabella son Guy. He bought land on Fourth Creek, bi he also owned lots in Statesville, where he have lived and practiced medicine. Dr. Guy represented Iredell County in the General Assem- bly in 1811. han + a i i a UJ « ne Las the home of Abner Feimster in lived on the Chipley Ford Road side of the South Yadkin River. He lived there and practiced medicine in the community until sometime after 1872 when he moved to Statesville where he continued his practice For a.few years beginning in 1853, he was a partner with Dr. Robert T. Campbell, who lived near Snow Creek Church, Dr. John F. Long lived at Liberty Hill at 1 §2 ( m the souti! Dr. Long's Daybook gives us some inte facts about ,life at Liberty Hill from Apparently most folks could not af ford vices of a doctor for delivering babie Allison, a well known mid-wife of the recorded 58 deliveries from 1850-1852 whil Long recorded 6 deliveries. Panthea charged $1.50 for trip and $2.00 for most deliveries; however, she occasionally charged $3.00, In comparison, Dr._Long charged about the same fOr a trip, but his fee for a delivery was $5.00 to $7.00. One, which he describes as operative, was billed at $10.00. It is easy to see that the fees charged by the mid-wife were more in keeping with the budget of most patients. 30 Other fees recorded in Dr. Long's records were amputating toes, $5.00; operation, $5.00; visit and consultation, $4.00; visit and med- icine, $1.00 to $2.00; night visit, $3.00; bleeding, $1.00; fracture, $¢4,: id extrac- tion of teeth, $2.00, Since t] stores, medicine was bought from too. Businesses bought iodine for personal use it was bought 6% cents to 12% cents. Blister big sellers at 25 cents each that were used often were blue (seened to be used routinely), nesia, balsam, niter, ment, and paragoric. The paragoric, which was sold Vial; other medicines rano cents to 7/5: cents: The home of Dr. B. F, Liberty Hill. His first Feimster Sharpe, daughter of Mary S. Feimster Sharpe and daughter of John Sharpe, community and practiced medi the 1890s. After the deat} he married Margaret Louisa Joseph Miller of Hiddenite. there for a short time until at Scotts on the Taylorsvil}l Scotts School, In 1899), he and moved to Gastonia, N.C could find jobs. He was a invalid for nine years. ‘He buried in Gastonia, Although Dr. Robert T., Campbell and Dr. Peter Rufty lived outside the bounds of Liberty Hill, they did have patients who lived there, Dr. Campbell lived at Snow Creek and for a while, he practiced with Dr. Long. After Dr. Long had moved to Statesville, he continued his practice, Dr. Peter Rufty is buried in Iredell County near 31 the Alexander County line in the Rufty Family Graveyard. His life was short, but he was a physician, a merchant, and probably a dentist. His estate settlement can be seen in the Alexander County Records. His property was advertised for sale by his administrators 1} the Iredell Express in 1858. He lived in Alexander County, but a part of his land may have been in Iredell County. His business frequently took him-to Feimster & Feimster Liberty Hill. Among his list of property f sale was 1 set of dentist tools, set of carpe! ter tools, also his entire stock of dry. goods, INMCchbyiing hardware, cutlery, groceries, liquors, and other merchandise. Footnotes, Chapter VII 1. Iredell County Census 2. Dr. John F. Long Day Collection, 3. Records of Panthea Archives & History, Raleigh, 4. Data concerning Dr. B. Iredell County Deeds, Book 24, page his son, Ben E. Douglas, Charlotte Viig EDUCATION The earliest and best Liberty Hill was Clio Nu where between Snow Creek River to the east of the Wilk school was Organized sometime utignary War with James Hall continued to operat e until time during 1787; There William Sharpe, who lived there at one time, Thi but no doubt he had which was likely lo Or the property of 1 Amity School was nea} near Midway United Met! SCnOOL took. +1 ] moved to operation Lyceum School is ment ferring land from Josep Wasson in 1839. ‘ti 3 Johnson estate was beina Thyatira Church was mov Church location about name of the church. operation impressive of two rooms. the same locati« Wilkesboro Road. srove School w the Grose farm. 2 acres the School Committee 1657, Th school Committers According to tradition there was a school at Center M.E, Church, but there is no further information. William Feimster was interested in the education of girls, which was unusual for his day.- His Revolutionary War Pension Application dated 1833, can be seen in the National Archives in Washington, D. C. in the Pension Application Files. There is a letter in his file fromMrs. S.M. Oliver of Bedford Co., Va.;j July 5, 1904. She was a great-grand daughter of William Feimster. She reported that he used his pension money to hire a teacher to set up a tuition- free school for girls in his neighborhood. No more is known about this school, but there is the tradition that a young lady from Alexander County lived with a Liberty Hill family to go to school, The fact that this school was started for girls, the presence of Clio Nursery in earlier days, and provision made in wills for the education of children -- all these things give an indication of the importance that Liberty Hill's citizens placed on education. Footnotes, Chapter VIII 1. The Landmark, Sept, 6, 1875. From the story, "Bethany Centennial." Clio closed in 1787... The Original academy was burned, tradition indicates by students Col. John Walk- er‘s son and a Negro belonging t6 John Sharpe were charged with the burning. They were tried in Salisbury and received a Scotch verdict -- ‘not proven guilty'." 2. Brady's Almanac for 1903, Statesville, N.C. The following schools are 1isted in addition to the above; Rocky Branch, E.S. Millsaps and L.A. Ervin, teachers. Trinity, Miss Mary Vickery, teacher. Amity, Miss Mary Cornelius, teacher. Harris, Miss Maud Hunter, Scotts, teacher. There was, also, a school at Clio Church. Near it was Mt. Vernon School which was for the Negro children. 34 IX RELIGION ALONG THE SOUTH YADKIN At first, this community along the South Yadkin River had to travel to Old Fourth Creek Meeting House at what is now Statesville, N.c. to worship. The members who lived along the Yadkin and Snow Creek found traveling that distance very difficult, especially during the winter months, » they received. the consent of Synod to build meeting houses at Bethany and Concord, At least this was the time that they approached Synod with the req- uest; the churches were established within the next few years. Even yet the members around Snow Creek found the distance too great in bad weather; however, we find their names on the church rolls at Concord and Bet} ny. When Tabor was Organized, some moved there, About 1800, Peter Claywell began preaching in his home on Snow Creek, He had moved here from Virginia, Phillip Bkuce preached at the home of his father, Peter Brutse, who lived on the South Yadkin River; his homa was probably in what is now in Alexander County near the Iredell line, He tells in a letter to Bishop Asbury that after preaching at his father's home he rode to Lawyer Sharpe's to attend pray- He is said to have ek of about fifty he same neighbor- The church at Bruce's became + Pisgah and likely those meeting at Peter Claywell's and Lawyer Sharpe's became Snow Creek Methodist Episcopal c th. 1 Consequently, Many of the Presbyterian families will be found from this. time in the Methodist Church records, and many will be found remaining in these churches today 35 Richard Hugg King is said to have preached near his father's home following his attendance of the meeting at Randolph County in 1802. His audiences, which were large, assembled on a hillside with a projecting rock for a pulpit. Early in 1826, the Methodists began meeting at Eidsons, which would have been in the east- ern most part of the community; they met for only a short time there. In March, 1828, .John and Barnabas Eidson sold 2 acres of land to the trustees of Thyatira Church. ¢ At the June Quarterly Conference, Thyatira was added to the list of churches on the Iredell Circuit. It continued active until 1848 when the decision was made to move it near Lyceum School. Some of the members tried unsuccessfully to hold on to their church until sometime in 1849 after Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church had taken its place.? According to tradition, this. move caused a division in the Thyatira congregation that only time was able to heal. One of the Class leaders went back to the Presbyterian Church at Bethany, which had been his home church. One family began a family graveyard near their home just west of‘Thyatira. Iron- ically, the old family graveyard has survived the ravages of time better tham: the old Thya- tira Church graveyard, which is almost lost to time. All that remains are a number of field stone to mark the graves, which could be easily mistaken for rocks in the woods. No doubt, there are stones. that have fallen and been covered as leaves have fallen from the oak trees that grow on the hill side that is the site of the old church and graveyard. About 1826, Center Methodist Episcopal Church waS Organized near the Island Ford-Shallow Ford Road west of Liberty Hill. 4 This was the first church that was actually in the midst of Liberty Hill. This ¢hurch continued to be a strong influence in the community until some time after the Civil War. =e" Among the Methodist Church Records at the _ Church Archives in Charlotte is a list of Joshua Leigh's circuit route and his lodging plances in 1834. He stayed at Andrew Morrison's home on the Chipley Ford Road when he was at Thyatira. At Snow Creek, he stayed with Shadrack Claywell. Capt. William Feimster provided lodging for him at Center. The Fourth Quarterly Conference met at his home in 1833; usually, the meeting was held at one of the churches. Until 1847, the citizens of Liberty Hill, who were members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, had to travel to New Stirling to worship. In 1847, Rev. S;C. Millen began preaching,\at Abner Feimster's home at Liberty Hill. In 1848, Amity A.R.P. Church was Organized; the church was built about two miles from Liberty Hill on land‘ owned by Abner Feimster. It remained there until about 1911 when it was moved to Scotts for the convenience of the minister, who lived in Statesville and used the train for transportation,” The descendants of the members who had been at Center Church had gone to Trinity, Pisgah, and Stony Point Methodist Episcopal Churches when Center faded away. These folks organized a Methodist church at the old Amity site in the latter part of 1911. The Midway United Metho- dist Church continues today at the old Amity Church location and uses the old Amity cemetery Thus old Center lives on at Midway, old Thya- tira at Trinity, and old Amity at New Amity at Scotts. In 1879, Clio Presbyterian Church was organ- ized just north of what had been Liberty Hill on the road that came from Liberty Hill. A Presbyterian Church had finally come to what had begun as a predominately Presbyterian comm- unity, but apparently too late. It has never been a large nor a strong church, but the small number have remained faithful. They will soon celebrate their centennial and might be described as the church that came 100 years too late, 37 Footnotes, Chapter Ix 1. Notes of Homer M, Keever, Methodist Archives, Charlotte, N.C, 2. Iredell County Deeds. 3. Minutes Iredell Circuit, Microfilm, Methodist Archives 4. Minutes Iredell Circuit, Iredell County Deeds X CONCLUSION Scotts Crossroads grew up at the interse of the Taylorsville Road and the Island Fi Road. The coming of the railroad from Sta ville to Taylorsville in 1887 ~ opened new Y + possibilities for the growth of this commu By this time, R.W.H. Feimster Scotts Crossroads. The Post Off Organized 14 years before wit! postmaster. - With everythin Hill, he had been *perating a crossroads, where he had moved Sometime before 1900, prot Scotts School was: located nea location of New Amity A.R.! church had been built near tl 1911 when it was moved to be for the convenience of, the Logan Presbyterian Churc}! 1866 for the Negro members who had been members of Conc Church, Among the list of Country |! in Brady's Almanac and Iredell for 1903 is Irvin & Reynolds, year J.S. Morrisori is listed scotts. Prior to 1907, W.D. McLellan cotton gin near the crossroads in 1907, J:.S. Morrison was store at the same location, housed the store, which stood unt years ago, wasS just north of the At one time there was a railroad, also. Somewhere Was a second cotton gin. d e tion In the 1920s, Scotts School was moved to its present location and was among the first high schools in the county. The new building was destroyed by fire during its second year. The old school at New Amity was used until the school could be rebuilt. All attempts at industry had failed. The name of the community had been changed to Scotts when the Island Ford Road was discon- tinued south of the Taylorsville Road. All that remained was the Post Office in the Feimster home, J.S. Morrison's Store, and Morrow's Store, which came to Scotts about 1920. The Liberty Hill site today is in a pas with a power line passing over the place where the buildings once stood.” No doubt, someon: had dreams of a future town at the new locatior on the railroad and at another crossroads. There is a Post Office at Scotts and station, but the two churches and the are all that remain of the old days. grocery store closed several years ago. descendants of Abner Feimster own’ part of land where R.W.H. Feimster made his home wher he left Liberty Hill. Scotts is a rural comm- unity; the majority of the residents there, as well as the majority of the residents in that part of Concord Township that was once Liberty Hill community, have never heard of Liberty | To the others, this once active village pleasant reminder of bygone days along t! Yadkin, Footnotes, Chapter: X 1. Statesville Record and Landmark, Centennial edition. 2. U.S. Post Office Records. 3. In its earliest years, Scotts School may have been known as McLelland School. * 4. Along the Island Ford road bed between the mill site and the Post Cffice site, there ‘remain stones that were once the foundation of three buildings on the hillside. i schools Heretofore e coun a ty bdard has been apevopciated: ing $25 annually for tomato ¢ mab work, and by infreasing this 4 $0 2 similar amount is se- -cured to pay the salary of a competent lady who will bive | her entire time to the clubs and sehools,” “Owners of bottom land along ithe Seuth Yadkin have under | consideration the matter of hav- ing the river dredged in order to drain the bottoms so that they may be cultivated. It is propos: ed to dredge the river from a ;Peint near the Alexander | County line to a point in the neighborhood of where Rocky | Creek enters the river, a dis- ; Cowles, J. W. Hager. T. J. Al : appointed a a drainage engineer to Iredell to | make an investigation of the project and estimate the cost.”’ In the discussion of the pro- y posed drainage of the South Yadkin it was noted: “If it is not drained now | that it will be only a question of a few years before the heal- ‘th authorit les take the matter j in hand and require that gome ; | thing be done.” | “The Statesville basketbal | team lost in the games at | Charlotte Friday night and Con cord Saturday night. In the Charlotte game the Statesvill feam ran ‘Deck and neck’ with the opposing tearn until within a few minutes of the close of the game, when the Charlotte team put in some fresh men as sub- stitutes, who were too much for | the Statesville men, who had hi been in the game from the start.” teaching near Bethany, while on her way to school a few days mgo, steped on an icy plank and fell breaking her ankle.” “W. A. Campbell, and enter. prizing merchant and farmer of | Sharpesburg township, has in- | stalled a wireless telegraph sta-° fance of about 20 miles. H, B. .{ lison and E. S. Millsaps were | committee to ask | breach the drainage department to send . believed | “Miss Lillian Bagwell, who fs | ry f burg. The station was erected oy y Camphe of the Sire@ac? i | Sages from as Long south Key A post off showed | J art ary 36, 1890 there is th for saying | | ville a | ored mea | burban tos remar ke t arreenonndente correspondents ion Grove was here some of seeing it fr om t iy ae } eountry hes hb month for | age July how the oi cee eS - Past ‘ai schools, Heretofore the coun- ty board has been appropriat- ' ing’$25 annuaily for tomato club | work, and by increasing this to | $500 a similar amount is se- | cared to pay the salary of a competent lady who will bive her entire time to the clubs and schools.” s, “Owners of bottom land along » the South Yadkin have under | consideration the matter of hav- ing the river dredged in order to drain the bottoms so that they may be cultivated, It is propos- ed to dredge the river from a ti point near the Alexander / County line to a point in the neighborhood of where Rocky Creek enters the river, a dis- tance of about 20 miles, H. R. di Cowles, J. W. Hager, T. J. Al- .| lison and E. S. Millsaps were | appointed a committee to ask | the drainage department to send | a drainage engineer to Iredell to _| make an investigation of the | project and estimate the cost.” In the discussion of the pro- posed drainage of the South Yadkin it was noted: “If it is not drained now, it is believed that it will be only a question of a few years before the heal- th authorities take the matter n | in hand and require that some- thing be done.” “The Statesville basketball team lost in the games at Charlotte Friday night and Con- cord Saturday night. In the Charlotte game the Statesville team ran ‘neck and neck’ with the opposing team until within a few minutes of the close of the game, when the Charlotte team put in some fresh men as sub- stitutes, who were too much for the Statesville men, who had been in the game from the start.” “Miss Lillian Bagwell, who !s teaching near Bethany, while on her way to school a few days ago, steped on an icy plank i and fell breaking her ankle.” “Ww. A. Campbell, and enter- Sharpesburg township, has in- | ter.” Tn Iredell : eee Hill, Abner Feimster; | sn. cunt Mourne, Rufus Reid; | puy | prizing merchant and farmer of | stalled a wireless telegraph sta- | how the pine honey STATESVILLE RECOR tion at his home in Sharpes- burg. The station was erected Go t fi by Mr. Eugene Ive who has one in operation at Lenoir. Mr in | gi? Campbell is learning the signals | mag of the wireless system and is deb already able to understand mes- ms sages from points as far north | as as Long Island and as far | regq south as Key West, Fla 4 A post office directory ol 1831 mad showed Iredell postoffices: Be- | sig thany Church, Hugh R Hall; | une will Stony Point, John Thompson, doa Poplar Grove, Thomas Sump- | Seventy-five years ago! Landmark, January 30, 1890. “Tt ig shocking to think. of a peace officer committing 4 breach of the peace nd yet there is the best of authority for saying that, while. in States- ville a few days ago, the hon- oréd mayor of one of our su- burban towns (proba! ma yor of Cabinsvil committed an assault and Wattery upon a gentleman with whom he had been having some words and whe had intimated he was something of a liar. The recon- tre escaped the eyes of our Vi- gilant police and such was the apprehension of the visiting ma- yor that he should be arrest- ed that he sped through a back lot. making his way to his own dominion, and in his haste fell over a wagon ton The whole story is a distressing in- | stance of a man in high posi- | tion setting a bad example.” ‘The singular sight of honey dew hanging from the limbs of pine trees in January h remarked upon by our different correspondents. A citizen of Un- | ion Grove, North Iredell, who | was here some days ago. spoke | of seeing it hanging like ropes from the limbs of pines in his country. And this January has been about as busy 4 month for the bees as the aver- age July.” (Note: We wonder } } tasted.) s been sO g * ra Seventy-five years « et Apri 7), A lady in Barringer teow a sorink ne # i me set of NEAR INE EE TAT GRE RNS AEN EE. corporation, to mach tax a mechanic leaving RB : ' : { i j : | { reamnteeaee enact e Aa BY [TH 2. Bre Jornghy OL? Mavecrc< eA > 7 Om Hels pall Lhe kil ISX Een hetesol uf Yl a, Sal | bfra / H2~ AK Bebhert, Gesrtpit. VAeR. on Loko vod & 7 | dere ~/S 372 Hod rp of aoe bows wr SZA7W Mote 4. a Then Hw bhay 1/750 A x ¢ eS k/: Cy 4 cases! ‘(25 IE ff Tee a L pall =~ SIF = ‘S- ; T- at a, Me ‘é (Ae “I [Loz ec { - Vy) ~ & ae Jf & 2 7t3zez Zt ita 1349 iM ‘> <A x a ot: z. : fr - epLZL« fice IH /Sz. ergs bef, « Me ef WA ) \tt1- ch fa : n K ~ LA wreancet Dear Friend Swann:- T am $0 grateful to you for lending me the » 14 Chapel," (idount Bethel), and I am returning it herewith afte for Basil's history. ‘The Prather’ and the Robertsons ai fou M.8. church in Clark County, Indiana, and Basil and Jeremia® J n also founded New Ghapel M.8,.Church at Watson, Indiana. Bethe morning and New Chepel was dedicated in the afternoon of same day, but a thing of the past and has been made a Shrine as the first 4.8.Chu Tndiana, but Hey Ghapad Church. although dedicated only a few hours is stilt in active Service, and on She Suviday programme re listed th Basil Prather, Jeremiah Jacobs, etc. as first Trustees and f Laces My wife, Gladys, and I are going by airplane tomorrow morning Kentucky, +o be with my mother on her 90th birthday, but widl return ho so as welare tearing the air trying to get ready I hadn't time + ee | Lazenby, but have written her asking for information about Bas she and whatever she can tell me-about the N.C.Prathers, “aithors, » An sea her personally when we return to Washington, as know we'd « y tal North Carolina dnd the Prathers. Don't get me wrong! I do NOT do any of this cenealozy and commer@ial reason. I am simply doing it all to try to ge the Prather correct, and I try to give any information + heve to an she Prathe whenever they inquires. But I do all of it free for all who ask t Kansas, or wherever it is,could NOT employ me to do anything f ere fay a professional genealogist, although I have done the wo rk L a dime for anything, comected with it. If I have the intorma' more than happy to GIVE it to them. I feel that all informa’ should be passed along to any who can show that they belong. books om the Lillards, Stouts, Witherspoons, etc. etc., but a experience in family books, well kiOws, whoever attempts them of that family as it always ends up by costing one lots more 7 out of ite Bough about that. About the Gaithers, I['11 have to take that than I have this. writing, but here's what I have on Thomas and ang their children: THOMAS PRATHER, son of Basil and Chlorinda ( ertson/ July 9%, 1769, in Lower District of Frederick Vounty, ~ Rowan Go, NeC., when an infant. H @ married, Rowan Co. RAGHBL GAITHER, born Oct. 27, 1768, in Marvland, daughter of I just wanted +t: let v know ho ac ag ‘« Gaither, of Md. & N3C. Thomas Pfather died Mar.25, 1654, a f 4 \ % i , orc a ‘ . ; zachel (Gaither) Prather, died May 13, 1856, Clark Co. Inds % 4 New Chapel M.8.Church Cemetery, Watson, Ind., with Both left wills. Their children were: le WARY PRATHBR, be. NeC. Docs 19, 1790; de May 3, 1 Cla JAMES BENNETT, b. N.C. sde “lark Co.l *N,G. to Indiana about ISRO. T have But one of their la. JOSHUA SILVANUS BENNETT, b. Apr. 15, 1818, Wake . meSepteS, 1841,Clark Co.Ind., Indiana Davis yeFab. near Terre Haute;d. at PRATHSR, Imdiana, Vc i} Joshua 35. Banmmett d. Apr. 10, 1899, at his Pra (f know g0me of their vita’ 2. BLIZABRBTH PRATHER, b. N.C. 1793 (census). d. after 1 3. AARON PRATHER, b. Dec. 10, 1797, Tredell Co. NeG+3d. Dec. m. dune 5, 1820, ELIZABETH PATRICK, b. Ind. Sept. 26, | dau. of William and Mary (Jacobs) Patrick. Issue 4, GREBNBURY PRATHER, b. 1800, N.C. (census) mist. Aug.5,] CHLOE. PRATHER, dalle of Walter and Martha va@ods athe? She was born Aug.28, 1807, ".0., and died Aug.4,1943, then m nd. CHLOE BENNETT, b,N.C., Aug. 7, 1802; Me. 5s GHLOS PRATHER, b. 1805, N.C. (Census) d. 1854/60, Ind. ; 4 * rs aT sa , £5 a : Sh. lings 8h SR te BRL 8 a Bl Children of Thomas and Rachel (Gaither) Prather contimed: Ge THOMAS PRATHER, be Jan. 4, 1807, NeCe, de 1872, in Johnson County, Inai Married his first cousin, MARY PRATHUR b. Dec. 19, 1813, in Jennings © indi daugnter of Judge William and ss i (iets, rol! L) PL athar f Jeannine: ; wo ‘ fone o their JascenAante wa mnt? 7 aan — and he Hae helnoed re <ith date on +} 7, RACHEL GADTHER PRATHER, b. 1811, N-Gs (Census) m. Jan. 17. 1833 e a i * + , THOMAS H. BENNETT, 4, 1s09, N.C. (Census. Issue: , : , | . ANN G, PRATHER (cqlled Nafiey) m. Mar. 13, 1837, Clark Co, Ind., THOMAS P. BENNIE who was born N.C., 1817 Ceensus). Iesie. : ‘ ie ee ere were Dronadliy others« in their father's and iwhher's wills ‘Mr Regordis, and Census Recor : 5 Lik I do not believe there will be mich about Thome Prather, b. l in Prince George's Co. Md., who served in Rev. War rs Wills Old Court House, 6 Wilkes Co. unless his marriage might be there, or deed when he » , bought it. He hed mowdd to Henry County, Virginia, ept. 1785, as Basil was born then in ry Coe Va. But if there is a deed there where he land, please try to get date, book and page No., and if his wife signed de Name, We have never known what his wife was named . I mst stop for thistime as have to pack..and that ig some job whe am airplane..as they only allow a certain limit, and if it's over that La too mich. Goedd luck to you and yours, and a million thanks for alli vour A, ate oh aid. I shall osrtainly ment ion you and your great help in our Prather hi Cordially yours Inclosura: Original clipping, Aug.10,1950 HY Prathe’s Chapel. gepbed cL statements of members of the , Ie Ae Very different, thank Heavenst ane gars Records, photostat« of fomily vibles, and i . Here is an oxact eopy or he DeAe Re app 4 ication THER line, which is fialed with “errors, and has Deon misheading +o. many md this se you'll unders nd wey tem anxious So get © cust pecorde r dines sof J mM. ‘ rather of Men Airy. eorrectiy, #0 2 d,ing. I am 80 anxious to have it right, + » €. 22.4 § * son ene * & e * ceca « ‘ é om DeAs Re fi Les ; 149149 Papers “ii 5 Ae man, & old. Born 1-27-1837, in Hawkins ( Temmessee. ather?: was Jom Prather. ‘ie waa born Jang 26, 1807, } in orth 0 y and. marrie Cambell also in Worth Carolina about » My mother Atm alap a daughter of Aaron Gampbel*« My r lived near Monks G2 now Mookevilie, N.C. As the age of 24 I married Rev. John Hes 7 Wethodiat sinister at fay lorevilie, ann. T have a daugnte Leona ly married J.ji-Hateher of seokley, Va, on 4612-4900 at Catawba, $6. Sworn at Beckley, HeVac,oudy 5,1919- ra + 3% ss * «ove ere + 5.5 beer +e + re ee ees * + 88 Pak 49149. Leona Iyhe Bown b. 1874 in Frawk}in, ¥.°-, had a daughter wht 8. lois Hatcher Gipson, wife of Frederie® Miller Simpson. They joined thea°™ Caswell Nash Chapter of Boleig, WiG,, Met. 14, 1919, on THOMAS PRATHER, “Sr es of §.0.! Benjamin Gaither of ™.C,, & Aaron Goupliell of ¥.°¢. daren Gampbell was father of annie Gamp>bell. Aaron Cambell married Nancy ---~-, by 1784s Aaron Campbell bert 1765, married 110s He died 184° Mockeville, N.¢ born PALO married B80. (She tm, 1627, fee above). Aaron of nee. An. 1784 Hew sokad he be of age im LT4 ghen, he. wean'$ Dern untii 176! gourty was mot formed from Rowar watil 1BS6). “hem ‘écta, pe 2 . rea & Gamell® 3 pone. 12 aiddings 15 pence- : ae ve Gavolina, * ain ec. ek ee ee ee ee gee 8 ‘~ Stpy af Application #149148. apy Raleigh, Neo. ; ; ¢ Franklin, 3.C., wife of J.H Hatcher: descencans BAAGER){ daughter Of Rev. Jéin Wesley Bowman, Mes te ete eee PRETHER, ore, of N.Ce, (or PRAT . 18ST and e wife, SARAH ANN PRATRAS, by 2057, m., 1861; the said Sarah ann } rather ae et of JOM PRATHER, born 1808 (abeve pives it Jan, 26, 1907)3 @. 1995 and! ; annie Cambell, b- 1810; m 1630 &@ 4627, See above )« The said JOMB-PRATHER ~as as Prather, + 1790 (family record proves he was born Bey 2, +°54); 789) the 4 THOMAS ¥2 win we child of THOMAS Prater, bv. 1740; : was ahild.@f. Thomas Prather (1740-1520) A. were Karried tm. Rowan.COls0., Jans. 123783, 22th ‘awtord ¢3 29% immer. and witness. (Rowan Co. dariy. Merclages, rs efser thin that. Thomas Prather.().769- MAbs) (ra Mor'e 2053700) thar, d« gheer of, Renjanip Bsither, ac which 1 Geithew >. 17743 ds 1835" The : unl. Mey 13, 1968, an Clark Ce. ox Lefh.wiils came ther children. } RATHER, Wy i%k2, Frede ck County, Mids, died (174018 20 ) wad, born June 12, 1715,.ena ame's Parish, 4% Prinee George's County. Mds, m of Willies. and Yakes) Prather.of Prince George's Ces ids ther dad... GOAL othe. BNote..Es 1706 acoordigg to Geurt records and fandly rd ss “thomas & Rache Prather hed « Thos. “ho. Yas Rath Tieaes: Basil, Leonard and daughter d (ee Hathawey Genosnlogy) John ther 22 vears, @1d in 1752 moved to Prederick » where he m. 1738 (Frederick County. was not fovined watdl 1748), and in 1740. shemee bate Borns. Me noved to F.C TA LPT and ms. in Rowan Go, (1) Verdinds Roby @ had sons Te 1 Gaither & Thom ‘*.,. wes bern tn 1790. Thomas Prather in’ H.C., Bat od % ideon Co, out from Rowan 1784) (Davidson was ney er vendered the State, lie served in Korth be Hy DOhesy os. » eprere in dates anc ve Pane)+ = ed on next sf yt ory TLL AR : On misstatements im DAR. Applications which has been >? . ea € ft up util now, let me point out that, Thomas Thomas Prather, 8r., (1740-1820) wae the son of Thomas and Verlinda iT. ari not RACHEL GAITHER, for Thomas Jre, or iI, was born Mey e. L784, jer Hiram Henry Prather was born 1796, also son of Verlinda (Rol ey) Prather erlindsa wis still Living and wife of Thomas Se, (1740-1; ; als + Pesords seys that Besil was their son tt is absolutely wrenr, as Be r, was a som of Aaron and Jeane (Prather) Prether of Maryland, as proved by hi of estate at Roekville, Mi,, Courthouse, Nor was leonard Prather “@ son of Thoms, Srey (1740-1820), Leonard Prather, born in Maryland, Feb, 15, 1776. wes a son of John Smith Prather and hie wife Jane (Deakins )Prather. After 1797 o» about a Leonard D. Prather, his mother and family moved to Caswell County, N.C, where on Feb. 19, 1799, he m Frances Williamson. Ke was of an entirely different branch of Prathers, and I have his lineage Very complete from descendants. So wa don't have to hunt about Leoriard. On account of all these above errors, I feel sre ‘hat Thomes Prather, Sr, 17 40 fe ) married a Gai her first, and s Verlinds Robey, but 1 now do Rot believe thet her ~ Ram wat ata @ SLBA ox GREET, yay notes 1 have that Thoms Prather (1740.18 20) arried A SISTER of 3m ee tdER, and I find that Benjamin Ga¥ther who moved + Rey amy Oo 56 nd WU SIGTER NAMED ACHE » Wit het he did have a sister BLEANOR GAITHER |», Married THOMAS PRATHER, The Gaitha- Mneage as given on b. 10> Vertes Conendtim . ron TT, wen qalopy Wat s! Tor GA BR born in 1599 in Sngland, “~ in the shin ‘Resurey . Ts . t+ a his ond wife, Joan o= to Virginia, settled at Yames City, Va.3 eolonial Official; reed Grant of 590 geren 6 Biigabeth River, Fis son by first wife, \name uninown) «= JOHN GATTHER, IT, (4.2690 4n Boland) came t. Vérginia in the ship "Assurance" «ith his father and | eee settled yi Jamestown, Va. Mis som JOHN : > Tit, (1646/50 &. 1702) of South River, Mist reaeived a or nt of 450 acres oalled "Mbingdon, * 1463; m, about 1675, Rith Morley, dau. of Yorep} r Anne Arwmdel . Ve oe Their son Seve ' ; BENJAMIN GAT WA1-1741) in 1709 ono 24000 goras: agtive in estadlichmant oe of Queer Ca oline Pari 1798; eomty surveyor: m. 1779, 3S, rah Supgens daughter Sarah (Che. Burgess, Their som eee Ps Dec, 2, 1714 in the South River aren of Maryland. m. Mrs, Whittle, Thal rey as given on p. 368, “Anne Arunde! Gentry, by Harry Wrio Newnan (order of dirth amo; were! (My, Pleanor hitele May have been his °nd wife 1, Greenbury Gither, b. Deo. 45 1781, in Lower District of Prode+ich Co. Ma. (that Part which 1778 Became Monteoma ry Co. M4, Hy m Aeme Ander: Me 2. Basil Gither My Margaret Watkins, Ye siened the Onth of Allegkines duriy “ea, Mar, No, Tald Briscoe's Returns 1778, Yontromery Co, Ma. 3.°° BLRANOR dateten gered, THOMAS PRATHER. (tev moved to Neen Ty Co, ie.) we 4. eur rece ‘he Amelia 4arkin, 5, BEN AMIN ‘y.s01 Anna Ammdel Gentry, i Hp rry Ted eht Never oved ve ioe see te. forth Caro lian where his will was nerotiated in 1788, & a — “NOt settled imtil isos. 2 Be His wife was Raohel ~~memeneey Thd following oc} were mentioned: Rachel Gaither, be 1768; Basil, b, 1772: “echariah Faith Bd ward Gaither: Resin Gaithor; Jareminh Gaither, b. 1774 and Arne Gatther, John Gaither wns executor, (Note by Sele This is ving” RACHEL Galria , wh omas Pap 'T, S0n of Bast] and Chlorinds (Robertson) Prather, and moved 4 ont 2 fo mde where she died May 15,1858, She was born in “arvleand. 6. at GAS somissioned as Ast Liss Fiving Camm, 1776s Sant. And B,, Mont “~~ BOmery Co, de, Glitia, June Zip 1777 \Vbarvlana Archives, Voi, 4VI ), More Rowan Co, * where he died in 1899, leaving a will, Naming his dau. Pleanc: and his ¢ ghte Yo Gughter of “"iljian Prather, son of “asil and “alortiide. Reber- cal Prather. “i lltain Prather had married Ary Gaither, daughter ”, Yt all Pe Sem Sreentary Gaither wis Breantor of hte fathar' ] 8, Misholas Gaither n, Eleanor <aiSc | 9%. Jchnsev Gaither m, Ma ry enna “ined Sath of Alleriange.1772 Mert romary Co, 19. Brice Gaither moved to Gaorgi-, , Lie Sarah Gaither. ; 12, Carsandra Gaither, ’ 1s, Lyla Gaither. fe Ve (That's how it now APPe@ars to me. Stone lille rie oy 218 A Street, N-%+, Capitol 4111 Washington ?, Cs Auguet 5, 196 Dear Cousin John! ».8asce with this letter I am inclosing e carbon copy of it which you will p send on wo your friend Mr. T,%. Swann as I*ll try to answer the chiaze/beth of ee and I find this wy easier than trying to write two letters as am rushed f< t . First { want you to know that the name Prather or Prater are one and the in both nee and Amerioan records it is indifferently gpelled Peather, rator, Praither, Praytor, Prater, and even Prate, with other variations, and som is even variously spelled three or four way# in the seme document, Gousin Eva Hampton Prather refused to rocegnize any kinship te anyone who spelled it other than PRATHSR, but court records, family bibles, eto. ete-, prove 44 all to be and the same family in both Mngland and Anerioa. I won't go into all that now, but * I have definite proof of it. . Lie ; si<Gaithers in the same year,+ sd RacheX Gaither in Marylend before Z a had Se Ghildren, Amelia, Barah and . died your Thomas Prather married secondly in Rowan Wels Yate 12, 1783 to Verlinda Hobey, Which agrees with your re@cards. ; ord were bondemen and witmesses. The Thomas Prather who married Hachel Gaithdr in Rowan County, N.C., March 20, 1790, (Witnesses end Bonds:men: wWilliem Prether (Thomes's Dyether) and Ad. Osborne) was the son of Basil Prather (1742-18 22) and Chlorinda (Roberteon) Prather, who aiso moved from land to Rowan 00. N.C., about 177) 2, and had lends on Dutehman's Creek and Li Dutchman's Creek. ‘This Thomas Prather was born in Lower Frederick County, » July 23, 1769, and was taken to N.C., Wy his parents when an infant. He is thé f ¢ Prather to whom his father Basil Prather gave iand, 1795, joining Rock B.p.270 the lands his brothers, Basil Robertson Prather end Walter Prather, Deed This Th Prather and his wife Rachel(Baither) Prather, remained in ).\. until after the settlement of her father's eotate. I'd like am abstract of wi Ll and final of estate of Benjamin Gaither, with date of will 1768, and names of heirs. would definitely prove this line, and I think I could sooave the This balance of the Gaither ancemtry for descendants to include in our book. Rachel (Gaither) Prather had a brother named Reason Gaither, and another named rm Coe Neles but without the will can’t prove 4%. As his will was mad 1788, el was then unmrried as I have it, and so could not be wife of your Thomas Pra’ (1740-1820). 1 believe this Benjamin Gaither was the brother of L Gaither who was the FIRST wife of your Thomas Prather (1740-1620), and that Basil Prather (1742-1622) was a cousin of your Thomas Prather (1740-1820), and they all went to N.C., from Me, together, the Prathers, Gaithers, Probably the Jacobs, Later about 1900-1, and on all of Basil Prather's (1742~2822) branch moved to where 18 mow Clark County, Indiana, where they were wonderful people and did mich for the ai ‘ty, and are highly respected and looked up to. I have this braneh practically complete in Indiana, tt still need the ¥.G.Records to straighten it out correctly. the lines of an “a have/Mrs. anna Jane (Prather) Davis of Richmond, Mo,, complete, and have sent 4t to here Tho Capt. John % Prather of Arlington,Va., we are working on. 1 think but cannes prove, that he is a desoendant of Philip and Margery Prather who moved from ok County, Md., to Rowan Co, N.0., in the fall of 1756, but we need a few missing Minks on it yet. I ama descendant of Philip (1707- ) by his first wife Catherine Hunt. Philip, |, moved I think to that part of Rowan Co. which became Guilford ¢ oN.C., whore his son, Philip tl, married on the Haw River, 1775, to Su sammah » aid after the Rev. moved to 3.0. I think these are the ancestor: of Capt. dohn W. Prather of Arlington, Va, If wo get it straightened out vill send it to him, but all thie takes times : (bel775 in Rowan Go.N..) who witnessed deed 1606 from Reason Dove Ls : Gaither. i feel sure thoy are al} children of Benj. Gaither who died . L 4’ 18 —% John Gaither te Wil: + was the » of Thomas Prather who married Rachel Gaither, sister of Reason ther. shortly afte? this John Prather moved to Clark Go. »« Some of the Howards also went there. pret ey 2 Ve © capes have rnievear be abl ; na ba 4 He, That Thome Prather born 1766 in Prince George's Co. td-, hove soldier, who lived 4m Wilkes Go.M.C., Henry Oo» Vay, Fleming Oo» My-, and died in Indiana apparently does not connect with the other N.C.Prathers. T have his line downward from him ¥o the present day, and even mow where he is buried in Indiana, but I have never been able to find proof as to hie parentage. That he had a som Basil ) he be on the Thomas (1673-1712) and Martha (Sprigg) - mame Baoil only appears among their descendants, but no but of course he was of the same family of iM. . r ’ rel diggin: and hope I can prove it before book publication. sf i E : ‘ #o much for telling me about Dutchman's Greek, and Little Dutehman' s Creak. I¢ makes it easier to identify people if we mow where may be able to looate more about them in National Archives here Records if mow what county they lived in, “ithout she County ghing in Gensus Regords at Natl. Archives, and ever then it's ous process of beating parce after page ree huge books. your nove of Thomas Prather (1740-1820) servioe in %-O>Mi livia send me reference. Reforences aré neoessary 1f any degqoendants . or SeAeRs an his record. If you ean't find it, 1'11 see o ore, wut if you fird it it will save m lots of hwmting, Yes, every note you have on Prather, Taither, Robey, eto. helps me to mow i have 4¢ correctly, and that's what t desire more Shen any eing eles leman for * Swan « , adout Holman (alec spelled Ho ISAac wee in Rowan County, N.G., Maroh 20, 1757; died in Clark County, Indiana, Ap’ i 5, 1845. He married fisst CATHERINE WILCOX, by whom he had ten ren. {1 bave no dates on her Birth or death). After hie first wife @ied Isese Holemr ».rried eseondly LILLAS MITCHELL by whom he had tye ghildren. She was orn Dee, 25, 1778 and died {n Clark County, Indiann, Deo. 10, 1866. Isanc and Lillas (itehell) Holemm ate buried together in New Chapel Moshodist Church Cemetery, “ateon, Wier Go, Ind, where their moment still stands with the adove dates on i+. I¢ is aleo mirked by the Danghters of the American “dvolution cor Inana's services in that wary 4e moved from Rowan Sounty, NeCo, (that vert later separated as Dav ie ° N.C, ' in 1799 ho Woodford County, Kantusky, where he stayed about Ome year, oe about 1800, He and family moved to Bhore is now Clark Go. Ind, s mrriage to St harine “iloox should be in Zown Yo, ieCeResordn. I @0 not have it. Hig revolutionary service! Private, “nlisted 1777/8 from Rowan Co. “orved 95 days 1 Reed. Re~enlisted 1780/1, serving 5 months under Capt, Mitchie under Grimes, Colonel locke. He again served ® months under Gel. Loske as private., end wea in Battle of Cowans Ford © Guilford, NeCe (Reference: “Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution buried in Indiana, 1958 (py Estella O'Byrne. Clark Go, ® yay 194). Other refe rence* about Isaac Holman! Ancestry of Grafton Johneon, obe, 1924, pewre ae 109, 110, 111. Mis pension papers tn National “ee h De ’ ' e atte | ine (Wi lees! Holemn had the foll . ahildren'! | 1. HashelHoleman, born July 4, 1780, Yown Go, 3.0, died March 25, 1962, Clark Co. Indes arte about 1797, probably in Kownn County, Web, Masil Robertcon Prather, b. Jume 27, 1771, in lower Prederick Comty, “4., died Sct. 12, 182%, Clerk Gn, inde Yoth buried in New Chapel Methodist Cemetery, Matson, Ind., with tombstones still there Sst@e le was son of Basil and Chlorinda (Robertson) Prather, of 4.,%-C- & Ind. 2. Bligabeth Holemn =. Rowland 3e Isaac Holeman 4. Mary Holeman (called Polly) . Nev, 21, 1799, Rowan Sos WiC, ad. Mar. 2, 1839 Clark Co. Inds, a, May 25, 1809, Glar Co. Inds, Thomas Jacobs, beRown Co, Bele, Dao. 6, 1783S: de Maroh 12, 1837, Slark Co.. Ind, Both tyried Nea Cee det Com, Matson, Inds with tonbstones. He wax the eon of Yoramiah and “sbeocn ( on) Yagobds of Ma., ¥-%, ard leg sister Martha Jacobs m “alter Prather, bro. of Basil Robertson Prathel <i i eS Rtn gegen manmade em A ALOT * (oelled Mdey and Rda) Holemen, be Rowan Co. N.C.,duly 29, 1784; died June WO, 1647, Clark Qo. Inds me probably n'.0+, Judge SAVE id to have eR ry 1760, TRON. o , oVes ea after 1880 Gameuse dled Kaneadc Have never been able to find where he died. She is buried in @l Prather ‘ " ee hiv, LA, LLY i . ) and Whe white ey J j Pri, NeoPa) | f T4AAG HOLMMAY ahd Goond wife, LiLlay (airuiiet Holaman (1810. 1868) Buried in Neary Chapel lida ts «Gains Mat son, ; Mareh 30, 1872, Clark Co. Ind., John Patrick, don of | and Mary (Jaeb«) Patrick. He wis brother of Jeremiah Patrick who m 9 abo { te woite | Patelan, danghbar af Jevau ail hid. aH, LA ee ; Gemetery, Wataon, Ind., where her tombstone stands yet adge ‘ ai bern in that P rt of Rowan © ' f. Li ee f K i ~~ lia) Uey Pde, daPiiAA Catherine Holemai, Matilda's half~sister, Issue. Dts The Will of Isaac Holeman of Clark Co, Ind, Dated Jane), 1BSSs probated Apr, 21,184". Witnesses: Andrew Maiden and one other whose name is now illegible. Legatees: “my son Andrew Mitehell Holeman, my plantation wiereon I now dwell, "125 adres. tunto my beloved wife Lillas,.” “unto 7 children as follows to ao) I hereby direct my exeoutor hereirafter named to pay my sons and dau within 2 years from and after my : Sole Executor, “my **enenee © @& © O@ @ & If there is I'll be to te will, if he wants a scopy I'll be " .§ £2 232 8 Rachel Prather $20 Zlirabeth Rowland $20 Bde Prather $20 Igaac Holeman $20 William Holeman 320 Polly Jacobs $20 Aaven Heekeex Tolemn $20 Moses Toleman $0 Catherine Patrick $20 ' Matilda Patrick $20 decease, atc,etc. I do not need Photostat of will above one of what Thomas said. T ai a descendant too of the Lovelace family of Virginia, I wonder how the IT should 7 the Lovelace Pamily of ed in England and came to Va. North Carolina ones hock onto it. my aneestress Anne (Lovelace) Gorguch was mar said son Andrew Mitchell Holeman. ” (signed) ISAAC HOLEMAY (eel) ee; @ @#@ee@ eee ehehUctrmhC MhC<(Ca3mKke iG HeSHEi SOS @ else My. Swann wants to know about Isaac Holeman' him whatever [ gane.. | heave complete copy of ‘saac “oleman's to send it to him at any time. Thomas Robey, but I'd like to have an abstract of it mentioning only names and relattornsitps and Gaver; and book and page no. like ‘Holeman, This would help eliminate errors, if I could see just There was a John and Margaret Swann in Clark Co, Ind., early. and Ghlerinds iy bef i nine Hel Cf et i : ‘ Pawar! sii HL wMAR ef aha Will Book C, p,222, Clark So, Ind, Records at Jeffersorville, Ind., Courthouse, aforesaid ¥ o * descendants Ce nglend as WwW > * Se evidently had a grant of land there, which he sold to the Prathers, early. t appr fate every item you have told me for it is a great help to keep thing straight when we can get Deeds, Wills ond Marriages from Court records. ‘ ag let me know, / aes to helv others with re were Searins nd eerly also. ave abstract of voln Qaaeneets will, J 0 ‘ ier Of Ary Gaither, born Nec. 14, 1770: died Feb. 12, 1794; married Probably in Tradell Co, WeCe, Wiliam Prather, born tr Lower Frederick Wcinee haa cot Saas 2 1668. By Ary Gaither, his " rather y one child! Nancy Prather, born in Iredell Co,!.°. Jan. 14, 1794, These facts and dates from “illian Prather's ow family re@ord. d 1¢ r childre 4e Willi th réson rather of it, Re and t Gugh for this tim. Thanks « million to both of you. Abe KF AL ard T gan tell whateyar T he ws th Dec, 20 first wife, Will > wie of CO. Mae ies 36, 17806; died in Jerming "hobs s Go, Ind Apr. 1°, Sineerely yours, T helfieve \@ 1 P rat hk er wes ndiana © > ’ KA roa era ; ad Li © ‘ ~ i rai is the He was aut author of press, The T 4 illard Prather emerte A Ay retory y ‘ ¥ . i ti \arrie 4 r l ¢ vA >Y. ‘ x na + ‘ y ’ . +} +} 37 tan i RK nial 3 A Ab VO Uld i VAs a y . ‘ V¥ b ’ y Z A I f * . t r T 7 h aL io idii Avy . A y ‘ , vy AI ] Wa Qi . tas Ider AA ’ i rilGaa t AN ’ i? sarily f : i ii y L i Vd +7 ‘ i 4 . AT po ) ¥ A , \ wemYr 4 1 Wa DOrn NON IDE j | \A/ f . , arried Jane Waiton Cré Craig Green Crawford, ‘phraim Wallace Lilla | T _mnm Cs Y iil , France. Mrs. Lilla - , Kentucky. Vad Lillard was laid to rest, with full Military hor rr O National Cemetery , (grave #4353) n the sout} le Unknown Soldiers’ Graves, Mr. Lillard This was at { began working on Prather genealogy wher otal of fifty years he did research, for jenerations. We shall all miss him deer rgotten. * Mr } ron nother of Ephrai t She was bor! In the seven knew and w he so frequer mother, his concern answered ‘ef is, re general in the field Lincoln was kill gle-shot derringer range, while Kennedy by a high-speed bullet fro repeating rifle equipped wit telescope sight. In both e; the braiw’ was shattered the victims never regain¢ | sciousness Lincoln was Theater where his bodyguard had unaccountably left } | post at the door to the Presi. dent’s stage box. Kenried ki] in a mov Nex but ‘ well-aimed rifle dead work said that it woul assassinate Wa bev *y j shot Ford's ing « W service men a could not ound fram Both then siller was willir life The Lincoln mu ever, was spread conspiracy Booth had a com; ices, eight brought to trial mysterious him escape may have places Booth had o to seize Richmond a ia who VEY result tne hum Dde Tin Lal TC ge ners Northert the Confederat evacuated Richmond surrendered ant at Appa Mattox on Apri] 9, abductio; wy n pris¢ to (er Booth Wi ligry also that an mace Boot! taneous sig yings the Northern sive the South anoth. | Terror. struct Wash when people heard that 1 had beer shot ! nome attem, ~ on ( senera hoped that Rove at de nt ul that a ef ‘ i attach happe @iir 7 Supposed aSsassit Booth net had taker ure. Attempts Made to ginta when a tal which he Ser nn show that Me undying folk | Ongs legen the known SOL » r i iw 4 not since al] rs were 4 ern ‘ ite Onfeders When ed Oet erate ’ mee SOCTS service found on Booth's to | had «a nad a especial] then gan ment Case significa | Was no longer possible. pe hat the ——~4! Canada was m, r ouds Assassination Of Lincoln 62 " = SSia ¥: GSss2¥@ @ serraviy "NUZONA ‘HE SLOAN Vid NEMS qd Seer oon SANE Jing TUANNAS @ sTIy sh ay ' LvaW 3 lLaHDvae onl C S say pV24s Aunasiiys 4¥O1 Ava «IHD "AYO N3ZOUd GNVYG NO NaZOUd NOLYOW : —ri € OVINE LVIHM | GIHIVND Weve INWe @ he “9 1 SOY Yowouus | W2xuVd ANS @ vi = S3ld NOW37 SA8RS OL AQVEE S2¢8Yd Gnwe @ Pet Ild AWNAEHDV Ig GANTE OL AQVSS SdYVE Inv? @ Lo SIMA ANAT WYTES ‘i? ere ee : 08 bie for lhe had & record of drunkeness ed inoperabie for) ne ™ luty They remaine i i abse from dut jade A aes nie erucial time.| anc © gence re ey a "s a os 6 ee Booth It did - el feat the Navy Yard Bridge e oe i he gave his name to the set rs ee Yet this positive clue to we ey? @ireetion the —. — ae had taken Was im bart, roc ais passe 7 1] olen to ques The greatest mystery of # is a statement which Booth wrote in his diary while be waiting to cross o } Potom: Th it ne : ” aimosi a nin to re Washington and in a mea » WE @ truly complete The documents ant SA Let cl can After | oth’s dea wmiary was given to v4 f War Stanton It was pyen mé tionec os onspirator: tr me aes . men it was finally made ub i i867. 1B pages had beet Le are now in secret ave out. The detective whe had as shen the little book oF it was taken from Boo said that it had more said t phen There were mati) missions in the W as hal lied, put Hs what the multar, j tid 10f do sion cia nM oo a It did not summon the gua who had desertea 1h he entrance to uN box. Oddly enous rolr had ask aet . Mi een ee EXTERIOR SCE t : ‘ cast new e ; } ret 1s< aah “ est, Was apout Seem mat Pia ” emal . : : ; the White ed to ine ® PAGE 12 Lincoln Stone Is Recovered — SPRINGFIELD, 1). (U lost’’ tombstone of Ab Lincoln’s second son found, it was anno jay Dr. Harry E. ] st torian, said the white marble stone used in the fir: year-old Eddie Lincoln found in Oak Ridge Cem missing 8&9 3 tt said the 24- q king photogr e markers Spri & associated The tombstone ' < ! y ‘ae Sisal 2 % Altimore and Ohio Magazine ee ruUaAry boa 3) Po DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE SAVIOUR OF THIS NATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: MEMORIAL DAY +1922" @eaaiss tvernc Md . THIS TEMPLE HEARTS OF THE PEO! DM HE. SAVED THE UNIT DRY OF ABRAHAM LINC NSHRINED FOREVER the majestic simplicity of this temple memory. A more appfopriate setting for the memorial could not be found. It stands alone in solemn grandeur at therwestern end of the Potomac Mall, Across the Slowly winding river rise the wéoded hills of Atlingg@ffcrowned by the Amphithestte, . within whoie broad embrace lie the remains of ~ thousands Whd answered Lincoln’s call for yolun- seers. Thus, the shrine of Lincoln seems to keep © a silent and eternal watcly over the sleeping heroes who, like him, made the supteme sacrifice in the > service of our great Republi: i b 2-4 on -scs CRE - G~29 ft- [{-1a-/¢ preck L) a ats 4 ae fen 6 fR R - 7-7 ~ 773 ¢ Mine ably Deliwrne 4 Je del KG. 33- /%30 Berks TL Ler / To Cole 4 ff. 9-20- /TF3a bn 1 aly Lee to / ( At ~a-41 bein, ae ~ JF 3 y RE. 6-9-3 yj any ferry J Wet Co E ile sept Cy 7 la-t (3 | Nn 2 jet her bd rol t | up J Rta. bd. 3-312 /73 Ris. 0,2 a tL RR. Pn A. ‘. ~ b — -R- (2 _ PSH (Ps C4 { a" aT ) ( Le ttt, fy : KKM & me BES fet... p 4 4 N 7 _ to: /\ { . L Meee. Aa <_ et A 2 Harteh flo. Herds. | 6 ./2 } I . Kk 1 Mt - AH £ 12k, (¢ RR. aie , IK [e D eA | Ct. [Aeain - 4 | r- Cai... q. H1n A s, = | fp 1-23 y a felka_ Va A412 2 y Vn Thy Re Ot \ Preot te! a ae « od CHK. A.Z., Qs. Cz, t - ’ a f btnrtk, KL ti ‘ K Ie | dee Ut Kerth. . &F1C.ct Le -) I Ohoi_e Lo bi tit Lf. Cé \ F ic Uae. } Z Bt Picea Fa M4 2 Rie Livingstone Is Still Fulfilling / Founder By ROSE POST Post Staff Write: Slavery! Inconceivable a little more years later But the dark memories were still there when a chur , man who had been born free, a dream and an idea whose time had come began to ope! doors to persona freedom for the children of men and women who had been The church was the America: Methodist Episcopal Zion Church The man was Joseph Charles Price The idea, originally, was to train young men for the ministry) And the dream was that an institution, founded by black people for black people, manned by them with their own support, could fit young men and women of the Negro race to perform their duties as good citizens, colld develop that heart and brain power that would enable them to act well their part the higher realms of service and uplight others whose lives they touched Incorporated in 1879, the [first sessions of the Zion Wesley Institute were held in 1880 in the parsonage ol Bishop C.R. Harris of Concord. The institute had been planned by the AME Zion Church to train men for the . et oe) i sGoals ope consisting preside Moore nd tl v. CR [ ressors and, Mrs M.E H matron. There was one small wooden structure and t property was valued at $4,600 Education was a hodge-podgs that began at the grammar grades and went through the college level. Young Negroes came, armed. with a few dollars and a tremendous willingness to work with their hands, willing to perform meniai labor in exchange for the magic key that could open the goors tO apn eaducalion Students paid $8.50 a month for tuition and worked, cooked, waited on tables, sawed wood At the opening of the 1890 term at Livingstone, a young Negro from enrolled. He wanted to be a vingstone had promised vocational training With $40 in his pocket, William iptain George Washington Trent soon suund that vocationai (training ivingstone ollege was little better than a myth. The young man, whose name was later shortened to William Johnson Trent, switched to the general! courses in education GUIDED COLLEGE i as a significant s president of Greenville Junior College at Greenville, Tenn. Then he returned to YMCA work in Atlanta where he remained until he was named president of Livingstone in 1925 Meanwhile, Dr. Price: had been succeeded by Dr. W.H. Goler who Aerial View of the Livingstone College Campus Trent launched a campaign to raise $200,000. The Genera Education Board, founded by John D Rockefeller, offered $75,000 conditioned upon the full amount being subscribed Payments were to be made in proportion to sums collected from ie? . 7 “ . i “ ' ted memorable for their leadership “pr. S.E. Duncan,.who came home to become. president of Livingstone in 1958, was a dreamer, a worker, and a fighter ttling quietly over and overt again in the cause of civil rights and human justice and ceaselessly to remove the shackles of ignorance, Building in 1969, a year after his deat! When complimented on the design of the new auditorium, Dr. Duncan said all future designs would have no ‘‘back doors’ to inspire students to love beauty and transplant it in their lives and their homes ae Va WwW) ‘ iHHReE ¢ ed i Sit before OFFERED SITE HERI W he ' ome e ne institutior as oltfered Site i Salisbury valued at $1.00¢ offer . Was accepted and Price was named president of the new college Remembering the gift from England, the founders decided it would be appropriate to name the institution in honor of Li vingstone, the great Englist missionary tv Africa There was another reason for honoring the name of Livingstone Robert Livingstone, the son of great explorer, gave his life to help « the chains of from American Negro. Robert Livingstone died in the Confederate prison at Salisbury and is buried here in the national cemetery. He enlisted under the name of Rupert Vincent The struggle of Livingstone College in those early days is symbolic of the hardships, tribulations and hunger for better things that made up the heritage of a race that was taken from the jungle into the bondage of slavery Now they were slaves no longet And men su is Dr. Price wanted to show the world that the worth of the Negro to civilization would pay in full for the thousands of lives laid down to make him free. Standing as a conct illastration of Negro self-help, it was then and remains the oldest institution in the world established by Negroes { Negroes Livingstone first slavery years were not Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr SHIPMAN TRENT Joseph Charles Price William Harvey Gole D.C. Suggs William Johnson Trent Samuel E. Duncan F. George Shipman DUNCAN PRICE Presidents Of Livingstone 1879-1893 1893-1917 1917-1925 1925-1958 1958-1968 1969-present irituai wo I dal Ving. Co DO Vade line of Sa!isbu af ostma rd I no of the sc exist t preside a 4 ne Sausbdbu ros is i a Singie stu a sed ior a iSa¢ > more than inba expenses ha i ‘ is if + i work eache Ography ty pewri ik > agricu ire arpentry, and brickmasonry. Among its graduates a (hat time were four bishops, eigni presiding elders, 120 ministers, 186 teachers, 32 principals, 45 doctors, 12 pharmacists, eig lawyers, 1 merchants and numerous others. Goler Hall was completed in 191 containing 102 rooms for girls and a dining hall. The first Heod Theological! Seminary was completed in 1910. The college auditocium seated 1,500. The Carnegie Library, a gift from Andrew Carnegie, was large and well supplied Price Memorial Hall was dedicated in \943 as an administrative building with classrooms and laboratories. Ballard Hall, built as a classroom building later was turned over to music, and Dodge Hall was built as a dormitory for men LONG PROJECT The J.C. Price bui ding is an exam of what vingstone accomplished early in its life throug! faith, prayer, work and sweat By the turn of the century, Livingstone alumn and others had dreamed of erecting a building to honor the memory of Dr Price. With time called because of thé lack of money over and over again took more than i6 years to erect the building rhe project started in 1927 when Di ; vn Vi r eso AS A k t iSSé pe € LS } j ngstone piete é rrice: bw ng 4 : ¢ } née t . re rt i i Boa a ¢ i i} ef Se Sroduced tt} < 00 ttt b ding wv fin ed Wu ¢ t re } i : —™ if ove f 1 py buil th t installed home it fo the resident, ar apartme nouse for teachers, and the t Ollé degrees of Dachelors of bachelo Hood Se: science as well as eology and divinity at y became well known RELATIONSHIP GOOD And the between the black and white « ommunity were good One Sunday morning, seon after D: reiauuonships became pre alisbu residents rubbed their eyes wh« hey saw the Livingstone student body and faculty march from the college to Soldiers Memorial Church fox Sunday worship. The march was caused by an old white lady who reminded Dr. Trent that in the old days she had looked forward to seeing the students march to worship in the Sabbath sun Also named the lirs® black member of the Salisbury city school board. Di Trent stepped down from the active leadership of Livingstone College in 1957 when his health began to fail. but by that time he had become one of t best Known North Carolina Negro educators of the first half of the mpoverished e century aking Over al Y over Be, ne had traveled wide the United States appealing to the AME Zion Church for help And received if But Livingstone was apparent! destined to be led Dy big men, mer lay b “ 101 ind to re é 0 04 Gorm wi f Wa l ApJ iC PyYC@e & ‘ : ca 4 t ¢ Wu ne ) ‘ Va ec ‘ ‘ f the So ‘ \ SOHEL OS ane Stheseis-i4 t¢ Ky a aueqd home to share ne good W ai Livingstone had been taken i atio and ea i€ ad ews Th ri Fire had destroyed the nape yne tne im de it iires tna e! broke out i isbury. It vy i tota s there wasnt nearly enoug! But © day after the fire, when the auditorium lay in ashes, the charred ruins a black and gray aftermath to the sky the it down and he orange flames that mght before, a student picked a Bible The flame had: done its best. Soaked through ( withou i cove! the Bi had as i ige the seventh chapter vumbers in which the children of Israel. made burnt offerings for the new altar built by Moses Dr. Duncan went to work to build a’ Hew aitar to educatien and elf-reliance rhe first 10-year bu lding planning went so Swiitly that he dared draft a second expansion ahead ol schedule 4l most auditoriun other new buildings on the campus 1962 Mary lds Babcock Hall for women and the Aggrey Student Union Walis Center of Hood Theological Seminary was erected in 1964. Alumni Memorial Stadium wa ready in 1966. Walls Heritage House was dedicated in 1969 and the Social ocience-Communications ( enter and S.E. Duncan Science and Mathematics lO-year witt (ne construction of two Simultaneo isly was (ne teyn un Key [igure in IS With the white iuiuLy.or--improveme;ni ) the tat Ol ne Negroes jor ODD ties education and ; liaKing Sa e first imunity in the > ke ace Dunca and h ile x iuStrated by sto old of iS imauguration. The nt is tha ere was no inauguration Che rm uld better be pe £5 and he could ye pre the fanfare m ameousiy treezing us OWN Dr Duncan died, | Wes succeeded by Dr. George Shipman, who was officially inaugurated in 1971 Between the time of his appointment and his official inauguration, he had picked up from a man who was deeply loved in the community and dealt with the student unrest that was llaming sS the country in the wake of Vietnam and Negro revolt and won foday Livingstone College has 816 students, a faculty ratio of one to 14.5. *6 full-time facul y members, and a current joperatiqnal budget of mi students come on Its trom virtually every state in ‘the Union and numerous foreign lands Its iysical plant includes 21 large uildings and 272 acres of land a total valuation in excess of $4 million. Largely supported by the AME Zion Church, its operation, is nonsectarian and to a greater degree possit than any other institution in he South, it still represents the idea of Negro self-help in edu cation Nearly 100 years old, it is still fulfilling the function set out by Dr Price and caret ully guarded throughout its life to develop and train students to overcome ignorance, ‘ear, prejudice, and superstition, and to function as an effective citizen in a democrat ix society ao fet P4E4 sort ares | > soo = af if ; Eos bie, 2 a % Seth eee s a bil L Real ccm