Brown Brothers

Brown Brothers, manufacturers of Fine Grades Of Plug - Twist - Navy and Fancy Tobaccos, Winston, N. C. 5/2/92. "Our leading Brands, Old Oaken Bucket, Cottage Home, Waverly". Engraved image of the factory on the upper left corner.

Condition is good with soiling and wear. Folds from mailing. Some pencil marks. Corner bends and creases. Reverse is blank. Measures approximately 8 1/4 by 5 3/8".

The names at the top of the document apparently are W. L. Brown (Dr. William Lafayette Brown, M.D.), R. D. Brown (Rufus D. Brown, brother of Dr. William Lafayette Brown, M.D.), and W. T. Brown (William Thomas Brown, son of Dr. William Lafayette Brown, M.D.). The Caswell County connection is that a son of Rufus D. Brown, George T. Brown, married Elsie Thompson. Her sister, Minnie Thompson, married Robert Lynn Williamson, who became a partner of George T. Brown in a business that became the famous Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company. The Williamson family was from Stoney Creek Township, Caswell County, North Carolina.

William Thomas (1719-1794) Family Bible

Thomas Bible Records

The William Thomas Family Bible by Elijah T. Sutherlin, Danville, VA 8/29/63 [Editorial changes made by Rick Frederick 30 December 2010 to make the record easier to understand.]

This Bible apparently was first owned by William Thomas, Sr. of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. (I am omitting the rest of the description of the Bible). Near the end of the Old Testament, appears to have been written around 1860 or earlier:

Archibald Dixon (1802-1876)

Archibald Dixon (1802-1876) was born near Redhouse, Caswell County, North Carolina on April 2, 1802. He was the son of Captain Wynn and Rebecca Hart Dixon. Both Dixon's father and grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, the former enlisting at the age of sixteen. His grandfather, Colonel Henry Dixon, was commended by "Light Horse Harry" Lee for his service at the Battle of Camden. He was later killed at the Battle of Eutaw Springs. In 1805, Captain Dixon lost all of his property and moved the family to Henderson, Kentucky. Archibald Dixon was educated by his mother and attended the common schools of Henderson. In 1822, he began to study law in the office of James Hillyer. He was admitted to the bar in 1824, and commenced practice in Henderson. He became well-known as a skilled defense attorney and was employed in a number of cases in Kentucky and Indiana.

Education in Caswell County, North Carolina 1810

The Beginnings of Public Education in North Carolina: A Documentary History 1790-1840, Charles L. Coon (1908)

Education in Caswell County, North Carolina (1908)

The progress of society and civilization depends upon the education and virtue of the people; great improvements, therefore, have been made since the first settlement of the county. From 1750 to twenty-five years after, it is computed that not more than one-third of the inhabitants could read, and scarcely half that number could write a legible hand; from 1775 to 1800 what was then called a common English education, viz: "to read, write and cypher as far as the rule of three," was given to a little more than half the inhabitants, but from 1800 up to the present time the progress of civilization and literature has been greater than for perhaps fifty years antecedent to that time. The great revival of religion about that period seems to have contributed much to the discrimination of morality, sound principles and good order in society; but as the naturalists have observed every calm is succeeded by a storm, and accordingly many of the inferior class of society appear now more depraved than ever.

Caswell County Veterans

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Sondra Martin, second from left, was in town on Dec. 4 to cast the hands of several local veterans who will represent Caswell County at the North Carolina Veterans Park, slated to open July 4, 2011. The veterans are, from left, Marvin Rogers, Benny Moore, Hoyte Moore, Bernie Satterfield and Connie Steadman.

George Washington and Milton, North Carolina

What possible connection could President George Washington have to Milton, Caswell County, North Carolina? He did not sleep there, even though residents at one time circulated that fable (that he slept at the Union Tavern). Nor is he known to have ever visited Milton. The only documented visit by George Washington to Caswell County was the night he stayed at the home of Dudley Gatewood during Washington's "Southern Tour" (3 June 1791).

No, the Milton connection is not physical, it is a family one (at least by marriage) and involves the family of famous explorer Meriwether Lewis!
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John Rice Cabin

John Rice (1754-1822)

John Rice moved from Caswell County, North Carolina and purchased 214 acres of land for $214.00 from Andrew Jackson in c. 1796. This cabin was built about that same year. The 1804 tax list revealed John Rice, Sr., John Rice, Jr., Benjamin Dobson, John Donelson, and John Kirkpatrick, were the first settlers in the Gladeville - Suggs Creek area of Wilson County. John Rice descendents lived and worked on parts of this property continuously until the death of his great great great granddaughter, Christene in 2005. This cabin is donated to Fiddlers Grove in Wilson County in memory of Sam Sherrill and Christene Rice in 2005.
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James Madison Hodges Family (Caswell County, NC)

Clarence Garnett Graves (1912-1975)

Graves-George Marriage 1962

On 20 April 1962, Clarence Garnett Graves (1912-1975) married as his second wife Alene George (barely visible second person from right). The first wife of Clarence Garnett Graves, Doris Millie Swann Graves, died in 1972. This 1962 wedding ceremony took place at the home of Connie E. Graves and Queen E. Swann Graves. Doris Millie Swann (first wife of Clarence Garnett Graves) was a sister of Queen E. Swann Graves. A daughter of Connie E. Graves and Queen E. Swann Graves, Lauren Graves, is in the photograph (young girl in white dress), and kindly shared this photograph.

Pattillo Deed of Trust 1869

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Jane Poteat Byrd (1936-2010)

Jane Poteat Byrd, age 74, of 216 Westmore Drive, Danville, passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2010 in Danville Regional Medical Center. Born September 18, 1936 in Caswell County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Allie W. Poteat and Virginia Hayden Poteat. She lived most of her life in Danville where she worked for the Danville Pittsylvania Community Services program as a Support Specialist, working with adults with intellectual disabilities for 18 years before retirement. She was a homemaker and cared for a handicap child. Mrs. Byrd enjoyed bowling, was past President of the Druid Hills Women's Club, and was a member of Providence Baptist Church. Mrs. Byrd is survived by her husband: William T. "Bill" Byrd of the residence; one son: Keith Byrd and his wife Joan of Valrico, Florida; one daughter: Joanne Byrd Woods and her husband Mike of Yanceyville, NC; two sisters: Margaret Turner of Jackson, Mississippi, Jeanette Turner of Blanch, NC; four grandchildren: Cassie Baumgardner and her husband Travis of Lithia, Florida; Katie Byrd of Valrico, Florida, Landon Woods and Jamie Woods, both of Yanceyville, NC; one great-grandson: Jacob Baumgardner of Lithia, Florida.

Williamson-Reagan Marriage

Emily Ann Williamson and Michael Stephen Reagan were united in marriage on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. at Bethesda Presbyterian Church of Ruffin, N.C. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Williamson of Reidsville, N.C. She is the granddaughter of Richard King and the late Billie King of Yanceyville, N.C., and Geneva Williamson and the late Lynn Williamson of Reidsville, N.C. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Reagan of Reidsville, N.C. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. William Reagan of Ruffin, N.C. and Kenneth Eckles and the late Ann Eckles of Greensboro, N.C. He is the great-grandson of Mary Lou Harrelson of Danville, Va. The ceremony was officiated by Reverend Mac McDowell and scripture was read by Reverend Joseph McDonald. The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents. Music was presented by Pianist Mrs. Connie Kimrey and by Soloist Mrs. Suzanne Blackwell. Mrs. Pat Dail, aunt of the bride, directed the wedding. Flowers were provided by Mrs. Betsy Jones. Miss Sally Williamson, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Miss Michelle Reagan, sister of the groom, Miss Sarah Burton, Miss Laura Beasley and Miss Stephany Emory, friends of the bride.