Richmond and Danville Railroad

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Connally United Methodist Church

HISTORY OF CONNALLY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Milton, North Carolina

FIRST CONNALLY CHURCH

"On October 1, 1821 one and one-third acres of land was purchased from John Pass of the County of Caswell and the state of North Carolina of the one part and Thomas Connally, William Connally, John McCain, Samuel Smith, John Smith, Newman Durham, William Chiles and Merry Maynard; trustees appointed by the Methodist Society of the other part witnesseth that the said John Pass for and in consideration of the desire he was promoting the worship of God and further consideration of one dollar to him in hand paid by the trustees aforesaid hath given, granted, bargained, and sold this land."

This parcel of land was on the road leading from the Red House in Semora, N.C. to Milton, N.C. A nearby spring provided water for the church.

Witness: Samuel Dunnaway and John H. McAden (see book V, page 286 in the Register of Deeds Office in Caswell Courthouse.)

According to other information obtained from the Register of Deeds Office in the Courthouse "one-fifth of an acre of land was purchased on June 28, 1824, form Charles Wilson and Jeremiah Dixon by John McAden, Jr., and John Giles, Merry Maynard, and Samuel H. Smith to add on to the land on which Connally Meeting House already stood." (See Book W, page 42 in Register of Deeds Office.)

The first church is remembered as a long log structure on the left side of the road near Alec Cobb's home on what was once Linsey Moore land. This information has been passed down by Connally Church members from one generation to another.

SECOND CONNALLY CHURCH

From records in the Courthouse, "one and one-half acres of land was purchased from Caleb Richmond by William Connally, David Elliott and others on March 29, 1855" on which to build the second Connally Church. (see Book ll, page 102 in Register of Deeds Office.) It was said Mr.
Buck Connally built the second Connally Church. It was located between the first church and what later was the third church. Two known members of this second church were Mrs. Mamie Worsham Gillespie and Mrs John McCann.

After a railroad was built so near this second church that the trains frightened the horses and caused them to break loose, the members decided they needed to move the church again. The second church as later used as a tobacco barn and burned.

THIRD CONNALLY CHURCH

On December 1, 1890 onE and one-half acres of land was exchanged with Mr. Nat Richmond and his wife Lizzie and Mrs. Ellen A Ramseur, all of Caswell County, to Mr. William Connally, David T. Elliott, James E Barker, H.T. Barker, Jasper Fleming and Sidney Stephens, trustees of Connally Church, for two acres of land on which the Third Connally Church was built. (See
Book W, page 546 in Register of Deeds Office.)

The third and present Connally Church was completed in 1888. We have been told the third church was built by Nat Richmond and William Nichols. Thirty babies were christened the day of the first Sunday in August 1888 by Rev. J. H. Shore. Among the babies were George Evan, Lewis Gee, Robert Nichols and Ora Reagan There is a rather large cemetery at the present Connally church which at this time (1998) is kept in good condition.

As far as information is available following is a list of the early Ministers who have served Connally Church:

James R. Nicholson 1845
Soloman Lea 1865
Rev Foggs
Rev Earnhart John H. Shore 1888
L.L. Nash 1890
John H. Shore 1890-94
E.E. Rose 1894-95
W.M. Moore 1890-96
E.W. Fox 1896-98
N.C. Yearly 1900-02
J.A. Dailey 1902-06
T.S. Ellers 1911-12
S.F. Nicks 1912-15
J.E. Blalock 1915-19

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Sheek Family

The following is from: Genealogy of Sheek/Shick Family of
Rowan and Davie Counties, North Carolina

Christian SCHICK/SHEEK living 14 Aug. 1797;1 married
Catharina Rosina2 who was living 1824 Wayne Co., KY3
They had children:

1. Christian SHICK b. 24 Apr. 1756 PA;4 m. Mary4
(BACHMAN)5 SHAFER6; d. 9 Feb. 1829;4 bur. Christ
Church Cem., Stone Church, Upper Mt. Bethel Twp.,
Northampton Co., PA4
2. Johan Adam SHEEK b. 9 Mar. 17617 Richmond Twp.,
Berks Co., PA;2 m. Susanna7 MOULDER/MOLER;8
d. 28 June 18327,17 Rowan (now Davie) Co., NC
3. Magadelena SCHICK b. 11 Feb. 1765 Richmond Twp.,
Berks Co., PA2
4. Maria SHEEKS b. 24 May 1767 Richmond Twp.,
Berks Co., PA;2 m.bond
4 Feb. 17869 Martin BRIDGEFARMER9 (BRÜCKBAUER)10;
d. 3 Oct. 185811 KY? or IN?
5. Georg David SHEEKS b. 11 Aug. 1769 Richmond Twp.,
Berks Co., PA;2 m.bond Elizabeth HOWARD
18 Jan. 1790;9 died between 9 July 1836 and
4 Sep. 1837 Obion Co., TN12
6. Fridrich SCHICK b. 1 Mar. 1772 Richmond Twp.,
Berks Co., PA2
7. George3 SHEEKS b. 113/2132 [calculated]
June 1774;13 m. Elizabeth CANOTE 6 Feb. 1800;13
d. 30 Jan. 184313,32 Sheeks Cem.,32 near
Mitchell, Lawrence Co., Indiana14
8. Catherine3 SHEEKS b. say 1776; m.1 Henry
BUTLER;15 m.2.bond John TURNER15,28 9 Sep. 1805;16
living 1835 Williamson Co., TN15

The descendants of Christian, Jr. generally use
the surname SHICK, those of Adam usually use SHEEK,
and those of David and George usually SHEEKS.

Adam SHEEK and Susanna MOULDER had children born
in Rowan (now) Davie Co., NC:
1. Sarah "Sally" SHEEK b. 12 Nov. 1785;7,17
m. William SAUNDERS;19 d. 21 Sep. 186717 Davie Co.,
NC20
2. George SHEEK b. 26 Oct. 1787;7,17,18 m.bond.
1 Margaret "Peggy" CALL 22 Nov. 1809;21
m.2 Mary22,35 "Polly"30 (MOCK)21,30,35 RIDDLE22,35
3 Apr. 1841;22
m.3. Elizabeth (-?-) CARVER 8 Nov. 1848;22
widow of Joseph CARVER31
d. 1218/1317 Mar. 1867 bur. Macedonia Moravian
Church Cem., Davie Co., NC18
3. Christian SHEEK b. 15 Jan. 1790;7,17
m.bond.1 Caty JONES 1 May 1811;21
m.2. Elizbeth ALLEN 23 May 1849;22
m.3.bond Elizabeth PENDRY 12 Jan. 1860;24
d. 23 Nov. 186817 Yadkin Co., NC23
4. John SHEEK b. 47,17/610 Sep. 1792;
m.1. prior to 1822 Nancy;25
m.2.bond Winney HARRISON 14 Feb. 1829;21
d. 11 Oct. 186917 or 1872 (year only given);18
bur. Smith Grove United Methodist Church Cem.,
Davie Co., NC18
5. Jacob SHEEK b. 4 June 1795;7,17,18,34
m.bond.1. Sarah SAIN 8 Oct. 1817;21
d. 13 June 1884;17,18,34
bur. Smith Grove United Methodist Church Cem.,
Davie Co., NC18,34
6. William SHEEK b. 3 Mar. 1798;7,17,18,33 never married;
d. 17 Feb. 1840;17,18,33
bur. Whitaker Meeting House Church Cem.,
Davie Co., NC18,33
7. Adam SHEEK b. 24 Oct. 1801;7,17
m.bond.1 Jemima (nee SPARKS)21 FULTS21
12 Sep. 1823;21
m.2. Charlotte (nee COLLIER) GOODNIGHT DAUGHERTY26
14 Dec. 1852;26
d. 1895/6 TX29
8. Mary "Polly"7,17 SHEEK b. 1 June 1804;7,17
m.bond Solomon M. WINCHELL 17 Mar. 1821;21
d. 25 Jan. 1864;27 bur. Foutch Cem.,
Isabel Twp., Fulton Co., IL27
9. Daniel SHEEK b. 12 June 1807;7,17
d. Feb. 182217 [now] Davie Co., NC

Bartlett Yancey High School Class of 1947

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The Bartlett Yancey High School Class of 1947 held its sixtieth reunion on 22 September 2007 at the Yancey House Restaurant in Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina.

Pictured from left-to-right:

First Row: Leona Powell Youngs, Nancy Russell Mise Rudd, Darrell Fuquay Hawkins (blue blouse), Gretchen Webster Briggs (teacher) (yellow suit)

Second Row: Shirley Olena Oakes Burney, Nettie Blanche Foster Page, Janie Frances Pleasant Hall (red suit)

Third Row: Mildred Walker Thomas, Florence Anne Taylor Daniel, Mary Jane Shelton Mosher (green blouse), Margaret Ann Regan Lunsford (white blouse), Charles Riddell Swicegood

Fourth Row: Barbara Roberts Neal, Thorburn Meeler, Joseph Yarbrough, John C. McLaughlin

Not Pictured: Mary Lou Day Harris

Photograph Courtesy of The Caswell Messenger.

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Caswell County Kerosene Street Lamps

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In the above Yanceyville, North Carolina, photograph, behind the people (up and a bit to the left), is a street lamp. This was identified as a Dietz "Pioneer" Street Lamp, which also was used in Milton, North Carolina. Below is a photograph of a Dietz "Pioneer" Street Lamp that once illuminated a street in Milton, Caswell County, North Carolina. It is owned by a Milton historian who graciously shared this photograph.

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Connally General Store (Leasburg, North Carolina)

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The above caption (from 1985) indicates that many of store's contents ended up in a "Greensboro Museum." This is the Greensboro Historical Museum, which acquired the Connally Store items around 1961. Here is a statement from the Curator of Collections at the Greensboro Historical Museum:

The Connally General Store was on display at the Greensboro Historical Museum from 1961 to 2005. Last year [2006], we completed a major renovation of the 2^nd floor of the Summit Building and several of the previous displays including the General Store were removed and put in storage. Several of the wall cabinets and counters are rather large. . . .

The Greensboro Historical Museum was most kind to share the following Connally General Store photographs:

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Mystery House

Azariah Graves Building

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Alexander Mebane, Jr. and Mary (Molly) Armstrong Mebane

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Caswell County Creeks

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Old Orange County

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Jacob Franklin Somers (1848-1936)

Jacob Franklin Somers (1848-1936) and Mary Alice Whitt

Jacob Franklin Somers (son of Jacob Somers who is the son of Jacob Somers)
Born: 20 Dec 1848, Alamance County, North Carolina
Died: 7 March 1936
Buried: Camp Springs United Methodist Church (Caswell County, North Carolina)
Married Mary Alice Whitt on 4 Nov 1873

References

1850 U.S. Census (North District, Alamance County, North Carolina)

1860 U.S. Census
Alamance County, North Carolina

1870 U.S. Census
Morton, Alamance County, North Carolina, with parents Jacob and Mary
Summers

1880 U.S. Census
Morton, Alamance County, North Carolina
Household Members (Name/Age)
Franklin Somers/31
Mary A. Somers/27
Samuel (Jacob) Somers/6 (died in 1937)
John H. Somers/4
Debidon Somers/3
James R. Somers/1

1900 U.S. Census
Williamsburg, Rockingham County, North Carolina
Household Members: Name/Age
Frank Somers/51 (married 27 years) [gravestone + wife Mary Alice at Camp Springs UMC in Caswell Co NC]
Mary Alice Somers/47 (11 of 11 children living) [gravestone + husband Jacob F at Camp Springs UMC in Caswell Co NC]
Zeb V Somers/22 [gravestone Camp Springs UMC in Caswell Co NC]
Robert L Somers/21 [gravestone + wife Margaret M. at Camp Springs UMC in Caswell Co NC]
Martha C Somers/19
Marrie E Somers/17
Lula M Somers/15
Willie F Somers/12 [gravestone + first wife Lula M. Standfield at Camp Springs UMC in Caswell Co NC]
Fred Somers/11 [gravestone + wife Eunice at Camp Springs UMC in Caswell Co NC]
Lester Somers/9 [gravestone at Camp Springs UMC in Caswell Co NC]
Ira L Somers/6


1910 U.S. Census
Williamsburg, Rockingham County, North Carolina
Household Members: Name/Age
Jas F Somers/61
Mary H Somers/57
Zeb V Somers/31
William Somers/21
Lester Somers/18
Ira Somers/15
Fred Somers/20
Eunice Somers/17

1920 U.S. Census
Williamsburg, Rockingham County, North Carolina
Home Owned
Household Members: Name/Age
Frank J Somers/71
Mary A Somers/65
Lester S Somers/28
Annie J Somers/21

1930 U.S. Census
Boone Station, Alamance County, North Carolina
Household Members: Name/Age
Will F Somers/42
Bessie S Somers/30 (Bessie Saunders-second wife of William Frank Somers)
J Frank Somers/81

Yancey County, North Carolina

In December, 1833, the N.C. General Assembly established a new western county to be named in honor of one of North Carolina's most distinguished statesmen, Bartlett Yancey, of north-central Caswell County. As U.S. Congressman (1813-1817) and as speaker of the N.C. Senate (1817-1827) he was instrumental in many accomplishments that benefited the state, including the creation of an education fund that was the beginning of the N.C. Public School System. He was an advocate of correcting the inequality in representation in the General Assembly by the creation of new western counties; but he passed away on August 30, 1828, over five years before the General Assembly created a new county, named Yancey, from sections of Burke and Buncombe Counties. In Yancey's boundries looms Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak in Eastern U.S.. at 6,684 feet above sea level.

Source: Yancey County

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Richard Caswell's Grave

Searching For Richard Caswell's Grave: The Evidence

By Ted Sampley Olde Kinston Gazette March 1999 Issue

Spokesmen for Betty McCain, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, say that because there is "insufficient evidence" to prove the location of Governor Richard Caswell's grave, the state has no intention of doing any excavation in the historic graveyard at Caswell Memorial Park in Kinston.

"Even if we did the excavation, we wouldn't find anything to confirm anything," Jackie Ogburn, one of the agency's spokesmen, told the Kinston Free Press February 25. "We feel it would be a waste of money."

Ogburn was responding to information sent with supporting documentation to the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources in Raleigh on February 17. The packet included data sent by four other individuals responding to a $1,000 reward offer.

The reward is being offered to any individual, group or organization that identifies the exact location of Gov. Caswell's grave. Sponsors are Christopher's Restaurant, Johnson Music, Waller Printing, Neuse River Antiques & Pottery and the Last Firebase Veterans Archives Project, a non profit veteran's organization, all located in Kinston, N.C.

It is the opinion of many historians that the cemetery in which Gov. Richard Caswell was buried after his death in 1789 is directly related to one of his plantations known as the "Red House," the location of which has been the subject of much debate.

Caswell Airpark

Caswell Airpark (6W4), Yanceyville, NC

36.4 North / 79.39 West (Northwest of Raleigh, NC)

Yanceyville Municipal Airport

Yanceyville has big plans for airport

The Town of Yanceyville announced Tuesday morning that it has completed acquisition of the former Caswell Airport and four adjacent properties totaling 41.00 acres located in West Yanceyville. The Town is planning to re-develop and improve the property which will be known as the Yanceyville Municipal Airport.

Engineering and construction plans are in the process of being developed with a future extended runway of approximately 4,000 feet and the construction of an all-weather helipad for use by public safety agencies.

The Town believes that the re-development of the airport will encourage additional economic development in the Town and Caswell County.

For further information, contact the Office of the Town Manager at 336-694-5431.

Source: The Caswell Messenger (Yanceyville, NC), 24 February 2021.

_______________

Caswell Airpark, as depicted on the October 1948 Winston-Salem Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

This little public-use airport was apparently established at some point between 1945-48, as it was not depicted on the March 1945 Winston-Salem Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy). The earliest depiction of Caswell Airpark which has been located was on the October 1948 Winston-Salem Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy). It described the field as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.

Graham Page recalled, “That airstrip was built by my grandfather, Dr. Ludolphus Graham Page and was designed to spec by the Army Corps of Engineers.My grandfather owned several light military planes that were purchased after WWII, and both of his sons - my father and uncle - were pilots as well.”

The field was equipped with a former Civil Defense tower. According to Graham Page, “The civil air tower was purchased in the 1960s - I believe it was surplus military.” The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Caswell as having a single 2,100' sod Runway 4/22, and said that the airport provided fuel, hangars, and tie-downs.

Caswell Airport was depicted on the November 1976 CG-21 World Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) as having a 2,100' unpaved runway.

Graham Page recalled, “The airport was still active up until the late 1980s and had 4-6 'resident' planes – Cessna 152s, a Cessna 180, and a couple of Piper Tri-Pacers. Then the local pilots starting getting older and quit flying - I think the declining local economy also meant that there were not many people with the resources to continue using the airport.”

Caswell Airpark was depicted as an active public-use airport on the 1996 NC Aeronautical Chart.

USGS aerial photo 1998.

Caswell Airpark was listed in the 2000 AOPA Airport Directory, and as having a single 2,050' sod Runway 4/22.

Evelyn Barbara Whitlow (1916-1994)

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Evelyn B. Whitlow, Nurse and POW

The Whitlow family of Leasburg in Caswell County saw six (four sons and two daughters) of their twelve children in military service during World War II. Evelyn B. Whitlow was the first of the family to join the military. In May 1940 she joined the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) as a second lieutenant. Whitlow was serving as a nurse in the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. She was among the eighty-one army and navy nurses captured following the fall of the Philippines on May 7, 1942. Known as the Angels of Bataan and Corregidor, these nurses were the first group of American women taken as prisoners of war. For three years she remained in Santo Thomas, a Japanese internment camp outside Manila, until being liberated on February 3, 1945. After the war she left the ANC, married a fellow POW from Santo Thomas, and moved to California. Whitlow died at the age of 78 in 1994.

Source: North Carolina Museum of History

For more on Evelyn Barbara Whitlow and her family visit the Caswell County Family Tree.

Sheriffs of Caswell County, North Carolina

From 1777 until the adoption of the new constitution in 1868, the Sheriff's were elected by the justices. Many times appointment by the governor followed.

David Shelton	1777-1779	Thomas L. Lea	1832-1842
Thomas Rice	1779-1780	John K. Brooks	1842-1850
John Atkinson	1780	Frank A. Wiley	1850-1856
James Rice	1780	Jesse C. Griffith	1856
David Shelton	1780-1783	Christian Strader	1856-1860
John Douglas	1783-1785	Jesse C. Griffith	1860-1879
James Saunders	1785-1787	Barzillai Graves	1879-1891
Robert Parks	1787-1789	T.P. Womack	1891-1894
Spillsby Coleman	1789-1790	John T. Donoho	1894-1900
Thomas Brooks	1790-1792	Abner Fitch	1900-1907
William Swift	1792-1793	Thomas N. Fitch	1907-1919
Adam Sanders	1793-1795	Will Burton	1919-1920
Azariah Graves	1795-1797	John H. Gunn	1920-1929
James Williamson	1797-1799	John Y. Gatewood	1929-1936
William Muzzle	1799-1801	John H. Gunn	1936-1950
Gabriel Lea	1801-1802	John Y. Gatewood	1950-1951
William Rainey	1802-1804	J. Whitt Powell	1951-1953
Samuel Johnson	1804-1805	Lynn Williamson	1953-1958
Archibald Samuel	1805-1806	Frank B. Daniel	1958-1966
John Stamps	1806-1814	Bobby E. Poteat	1966-1978
Nathan Williams	1814-1815	James I. Smith, Jr.	1978-2002
George Williamson	1815-1832	Michael L. Welch	2002-Present

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Bartlett Yancey High School Basketball Team (1963-1964)

Left to Right:

Bottom Row: Ricky Frederick; Roger Nelson; Larry Stogner; Durwood Matkins
Middle Row: Jimmy Foster; Gilbert Simmons; Keith Stogner; Lytt Stamps; Wayne King
Top Row: Tommy Cooper; Johnny Lewis; Bryant Hinson; Lindsey Page

(click on photographs for larger image)

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VIR: 1957 Newspaper Article

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This article originally ran in the 12 September 1957 edition of The Halifax Gazette and was republished 26 September 2007 as part of that newspaper’s “Flashback” series.

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Pinnix Documents

Pleasant Family Research

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Pinnix Family Research

The following items were found by a Pinnix family descendant in the files of the Caswell County Historical Association:

1. Almeda Pinnix D 1897 Sept 20^th or 27^th

2. B.E. Pinnix B 1821 D Unknown

3. Barbara J. Pinnix

4. Betsy Pinnix Unknown dates buried in Pinnix cemetery

5. Cora Frances Pinnix B Oct 21, 1863 D March 17, 1924 buried in Bethel Cemetery;
Married to Benjamin F. Walker

6. Mary Elizabeth Pinnix B May 2, 1834 D Oct 12, 1903 buried in cemetery at Yanceville Methodist Church. Married Joseph G. Pinnix.

7. Ella Joe Pinnix -2^nd daughter of Joseph G. and Mary Elizabeth. B July 19,1858 D 1858. Buried at Yanceyville Methodist Cemetary.

8. J.C. Pinnix B 1820 D 1866

9 . James Marshall Pinnix –son of Joseph G. and Mary Elizabeth. D Aug 29, 1858 at 2 months and 5 days old.

10. John C. Pinnix killed son and drowned self on May 20, 1885.

11. Mrs. Esther Walker- married to Dr. John A. Pinnix. B 1874 D 1949 buried at Bethel Cemetary.

12. Mrs. Eugenia Swift- married to Charlie (Charles) Pinnix. She was the daughter of J.M. Swift and B. Lownes. Charles Pinnix was a lawyer in Arkansas.

13. Pinnix family cemetery located on Hassel Byrd farm 2 miles east of Kerr's chapel missionary Baptist church.

14. George Knox Pinnix – unknown dates

15. George W. Pinnix (Penix) –Pd. 50 cents for land for Bush Arbour Meetinghouse.

16.Ida May Pinnix B Nov 1967 D 1895 in Caswell County. Married to A Clay Murray.

17. Dr. John Alexander Pinnix- 2,000 people attended his funeral. His parents were John Calvin and Barbara Pinnix. He married Esther Hattie Walker. Her parents were L.A. Walker and Mrs. A Clay. B 1846 D 1931. At the age of 80, he attended the confederate reunion in 1926. Esther was from Baynes Store, NC, Anderson Township, Caswell County.

18. J.C. Pinnix- Published in the Caswell Messenger in 1926 on Methodism. B 1820. D 1866. Buried in Pinnix Cemetary.

19. John Brooks Pinnix- son of John G. and Hannah S. Pinnix. B Sept 7, 1880 D May 20 1885. Buried in Kerr's Chapel Cemetary.

20. John G. Pinnix- B April 9, 1845 D May 20, 1885. Buried in Kerr's Chapel Cemetary.

21. Joseph Pinnix (pennix) married Betsy Kerr daughter of John and Mary Graves Kerr.

22. Capt. Joseph C. Pinnix of N.C. militia married Mary Elizabeth. Buried in Yanceyville Meth. Cemetary. B Sept 2, 1826 D April 12, 1908

23. Lillie Mae Pinnix- daughter of Col. Joseph C. and Mrs. Cary Howard King. She married Cary King of Caswell County. B Oct 7, 1867

24. Mary A. Pinnix D 1898

25. W.B. Pinnix – Cousin of Dr. J.A. Pinnix of Danville also of Mrs. Hatchett of Ruffin, NC and J. Charles Pinnix a lawyer in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. W.B. is the son of Alexander Kerr Pinnix. The name of Alexander was given to him in honor of Alexander of Pelham who was magistrate for 50 years.

26. Mrs. Willie Mae Pinnix- daughter of Mrs. Annie McCullock Eastwood.

27. Capt. Thomas Graves married Katherine. Born in England in 1608. Came over on the Mary and Margarett. D Aug 9, 1637. Settled on the James River.

28. Mary Graves B Jan 26, 1754 in James City County, Va D Feb 22,1831 . Married John Kerr

• Their children were:
• Rev. John Kerr Married Elizabeth Williams
• Polly Kerr
• Isabella Kerr married Christopher Brooks
• Betsy Kerr married Joseph Pinnix
• Nancy Kerr married Benjamin Lea
• James Kerr married Frances McNeil

29. Siblings of Graves:

John Herndon, Barzillai, Ann, Solomon, James, Azariah, Thomas, Isabella.

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South Bend: Virginia International Raceway Farm House

In the southwest corner of Halifax County, close to Milton, North Carolina, stands a home with connections to the wealthy Bruce family. Scholars come to Southside Virginia from across the nation to study the Bruce homes at Berry Hill and Staunton Hill. Local historians have worked through the records of Tarover and Morotock. South Bend goes unnoticed and may soon disappear. While the home. has been vacant for many years and has suffered some damage, the solid timbers of the framing are still strong.

During the Bruce years, South Bend was remodeled into a fashionable home. The frame house was built in three stages. The earliest part was a story and a half house with three rooms in a line. Later owners heard that this section was moved to its present site from an earlier location. The front section which rises to a full two stories was the second stage. A center hall with matching rooms on each side was its basic plan.

Caswell County Folk Art

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This image was found on EBay.

Thomas Harrison Will (1790)

Caswell County, North Carolina

July Court 1790

In the Name of God, Amen

I, Thomas Harrison, Sr. being sick of body but of sound mind and memory, praise be to God for the same, but calling to mind the uncertainty of life and knowing that all men are mortal, do make and constitute this to be my last will and testament, revoking and undoing all other will or wills heretofore made or caused to be made by me or any other person in my name or manner, the following:

That is to say: Item, It is my will and desire that all my perishable estate be sold and my just debts paid with the money arising by such sale and the balance if any, to be equally divided between my two daughters, Anney Fuqua and Magdalene Harrison to them and their heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath all my lands and tenements contained in a old plot entered in Lord Granville’s Office and surveyed by John Lea, with all the benefits of the entrys of land made in the County of Caswell contained in the bounds of the said plot before mentioned, except such parcels as I have sold and received payment or bonds for the payment thereof. Viz: To James Sanders Esquire, two hundred acres lying on Mayo’s Old Line. To William Stephens three hundred and sixty five acres lying on the head waters of Little Creek surveyed by Hearndon Haralson. To Thomas Jeffreys a certain quantity lying on Bradley’s line, his own and the waters of Little Creek; also a entry of one hundred and seventy acres transferred to William Stephens on order that out of the land he may be entitled to make a deed of conveyance to Jeffreys as he stands my surety for the performance thereof. Which lands before mentioned except such as has been excepted I desire may be laid off in two equal parcels according to quantity and quality which lands so divided I desire that it may be divided in two equal parts which I give unto my two daughters, Anney Fuqua, wife of John Fuqua and Magdalin McDugal to them and their heirs forever. The other half according to the first division I give and bequeath unto my trust friend David Shelton to him and his heirs forever.

Item: It is my will and desire that my executors hereafter mentioned shall make a deed of conveyance of a certain piece of land to Thomas Jeffreys which is bounded as follows: Viz: by the creek, by his own line, by Bradleys line and Cockrans spring branch.

I hereby constitute and my good friend David Shelton of Caswell County my lawful executor to see this my last will and testament duly performed. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of May A.D. 1790.

Signed sealed and published in presence of William Draper, Bowler Stephens and Samuel Pittard.

Signed: Thomas Hararison Sr.

The execution of this will was duly proved in open court by the oaths of William Draper, Bowler Stephens and Samuel Pittard, the subscribing witnesses thereto and on motion order to be recorded at the same time. David Shelton qualified as Executor.

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Graves Street (Mount Airy, North Carolina)

Graves Street Name to Remain Intact

Published: Thursday, October 4, 2007 11:05 PM CDT

Tom Joyce

Staff Reporter

When considering a street-name change Thursday night, Mount Airy officials decided not to mess with history.

The board was faced with a proposal to rename Dixie and Graves streets to Willow Street in connection with a recent realignment of Dixie and Willow streets.

The possible change arose from concerns that the realignment has created a confusing situation with the multiple street names.

Motorists traveling north from the police station toward Independence Boulevard, for example, travel on three different-named streets, although they never make a turn.

This presents problems in trying to give directions to those unfamiliar with Mount Airy, officials said.

Before Thursday night, the city Planning Board already had voted unanimously to recommend that Dixie and Graves streets be known as Willow Street.

Though the commissioners supported the change involving the Dixie Street portion of the proposal, they stopped short Thursday night of changing the Graves Street segment. Board members explained that they wanted to preserve an important name in Mount Airy's history.

A resulting amendment to the proposal was led by commissioners Todd Harris and David Beal.

“I have no problem renaming Dixie Street to Willow Street,” said Harris, “but I would not be in favor of renaming Graves Street” out of respect for the Graves heritage.

Beal pointed out that he had researched local history and found that B.Y. Graves was Mount Airy's first mayor after the city was incorporated in 1885. A man named B.F. Graves also held that position in the 1890s. Other prominent Mount Airy citizens have included S.P. Graves and Jesse Franklin Graves, whose homes were in the vicinity of present-day Graves Street, according to Beal.

He added that when another project arose several years ago affecting Graves Street, members of that family contacted him in an effort to leave the name intact because of “the heritage they have in the city.”

“I don't see any good reason to change the name of Graves Street,” Beal said. He added that officials should retain that name “if we have any sensitivity to history at all.”

Commissioner Tom Bagnal also lent his support to that stand, and a board vote on the amended proposal was unanimous.

With the move, Dixie Street officially will become Willow Street and Graves Street will remain.

No street or mailing addresses will be affected, officials say.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com, or at 719-1924.

The foregoing article is courtesy of The Mount Airy News, which retains all rights.
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This article and the decision reported therein with respect to Graves Street in Mount Airy, North Carolina, are of interest to Caswell County because the Graves family for which the street was named originated in Caswell County.

B. F. Graves = Bernard Franklin Graves (mayor of Mount Airy)
S. P. Graves = Stephen Porter Graves
B. Y Graves = Barzillai Yancey Graves (mayor of Mount Airy)
Jesse Franklin Graves
Solomon Graves
Reverend Barzillai Graves

Bernard Franklin Graves and Stephen Porter Graves are sons of Jesse Franklin Graves, born 1829, who served in the North Carolina House of Representatives, and was later Judge of the NC Superior Court. His brother, Barzillai Yancey Graves was a mayor of Mount Airy (possibly its first mayor). The father of Jesse Franklin Graves and Barzillai Yancey Graves was Solomon Graves, born 1784, who was NC State Senator. Solomon married Mary Cleveland Franklin, whose father Jesse Franklin was a U.S. Senator and Governor of NC. The father of Solomon Graves was Reverend Barzillai Graves, born 1759, who lived and died near Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina, and was said to be the most prominent Baptist clergyman of his time in VA, NC, and TN.

To see more on the Caswell County Graves family go to the Caswell County Family Tree.

To see more on the broader Graves family go to the Graves Family Association.

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Anderson Family Photograph (c. 1928)

(click on photograph for larger image)

Anderson Family of Caswell County North Carolina, About 1928

Bottom Row L to R: James Ezekiel Anderson, Ruth Byrd Anderson Howze, George Andrew Anderson Jr

Top Row L to R: John Quintin Anderson, George Andrew Anderson, Mary Elizabeth Slade Anderson,

Kenneth Gordon Anderson, Myrtle Lee Smith Anderson, Mary Slade Anderson Horton, William Banks Horton
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Note that this photograph includes George Andrew Anderson, his wife Mary Elizabeth Slade Anderson, and their six children:

Kenneth Gordon Anderson (married Sarah Myrtle Lee Smith)
Mary Slade Anderson (married William Banks Horton)
John Quinton Anderson
Ruth Byrd Anderson (married
James Ezekiel Anderson
George Andrew Anderson, Jr.

The Anderson family was very prominent in the south part of Caswell County, so much so that the township covering that area was named Anderson Township. The schools also were named Anderson.

George A. Anderson was born into a family that has lived in Caswell County for over 200 years. He was reared on the family plantation at Anderson in the southern part of Caswell County. Anderson Township was named for his grandfather, Quinton Anderson, a merchant, legislator, and businessman who built large agricultural holdings. George A. Anderson was Caswell County Superintendent of Schools for seventeen years, a newspaper editor, and Clerk of Superior Court for eight years. His published books include a history of Caswell County in World War I and biographies of Caswell statesmen Bartlett Yancey and Bedford Brown. Anderson School was named for him. His father was Dr. John Q. Anderson who practiced medicine in Caswell County for fifty years.

In 1905 George A. Anderson purchased the Paul A. Haralson House in Yanceyville, which remains in the Anderson family today. See Paul A. Haralson for more on the man who built this house, locally known for many years as the Clerk's House.

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1885 Pinnix Family Tragedy

Not all history researched by the Caswell County Historical Association is pleasant, and some of it may be difficult for the families involved. To this the CCHA is sensitive. Nevertheless, the following newspaper article was published in 1885:

An Insane Father's Act

Raleigh, May 28, 1885 -- News has just been received here of a terrible tragedy in Caswell County, N.C. John C. Pinnix, a well-known and highly respectable citizen of Reidsville, was engaged in the tobacco business, and failed in an effort to establish the Carolina Warehouse. He became insane, and he was removed from Reidsville to his old home in Caswell County. His family consisted of a wife and three children. While his condition did not materially improve, he manifested no violence until last Monday. On that day he was playing with two of his little children in the back yard, when without warning he seized an axe and split open the heads of the two children. Gazing on the bodies of his children for a moment, he threw down the axe and drowned himself in the Dan River. His body was recovered on the following day.

Source: The New York Times, 29 May 1885

While not certain, it may be that the above story is misleading in that it would suggest that two children were killed. Some records indicate that only one child died. What happened to the other child is not known.

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