Peter Williamson Dies In Reidsville
Reidsville, N.C., Feb. 14 (1922)--Peter H. Williamson, one of Reidsville's best known and highly regarded citizens, passed away at his home on Lawsonville avenue Sunday night at midnight. He was 77 years of age and is survived by his widow and several nephews and nieces. His death was due to a stroke of paralysis sustained several weeks ago.
Mr. Williamson was a native of Caswell county and located in Reidsville some 35 years ago, and for many years conducted a large mercantile establishment here. He was adjutant of Scales-Boyd Camp of Confederate Veterans. For many years past he has been a justice of the peace and trial magistrate.
During the war he was a lieutenant (at the age of 19) in the home guards of Caswell county. He was a constable during the famous "Kirk war" in Caswell county during Reconstruction days when that county was under martial law. On one occasion he served a warrant issued by a local magistrate on General Kirk in command of federal troops stationed in that county. Kirk was so enraged that he tore up the warrant and had young Williamson arrested and put in jail. This was a few years after the hanging by unknown parties of "Chicken" Stephens. The Yanceyville jail was too small to hold the many prominent Caswell county citizens who had been arrested by Kirk's men, and many of them were confined and guarded in the courthouse. Young Williamson was locked in the room in which Stephens had been killed.
Funeral services were conducted from the Main Street M. E. church this morning at 11 o'clock by Pastor M. F. Moores. Burial followed at Greenview cemetery.
Source: The Bee, Danville, VA, February 14, 1922
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See also: Kirk-Holden War, The New York Herald 23 July 1870
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