Caswell County, NC, Cemeteries With At Least 400 Graves

Caswell County Cemeteries With At Least 400 Graves

1,451 Bush Arbor Primitive Baptist Church

1,029 Sweet Gum Grove Missionary Baptist Church

778 Blackwell Missionary Baptist Church

674 Cooper Cemetery

652 New Ephesus Baptist Church

638 Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church

615 Macedonia AME Church

574 Providence Baptist Church (Providence)

546 Camp Springs United Methodist Church

527 High Rock Missionary Baptist Church

516 Allen's Chapel Baptist Church

508 Union United Methodist Church

495 St. James Baptist Church

476 Bethel United Church of Christ

468 Hamer Missionary Baptist Church

466 Beulah Baptist Church

447 Leasburg Community Cemetery

438 Graves Chapel Baptist Church

436 Red Hill Baptist Church

427 Prospect United Methodist Church

426 Lebanon Christian Church

421 Cedars Cemetery

402 Bethesda Presbyterian Church

402 Pelham United Methodist Church

Ideal Cafe (Yanceyville, North Carolina)

 Ideal Cafe

The Caswell Messenger (Yanceyville, NC)

July 14, 1932: “Caswell To Be Made Famous By Restaurant.”  New stucco building between bank and Messenger office going up by W. H. Hooper and Son.  “A beautiful front somewhat like the Old Curiosity Shop, of London.”  Joseph Iman, “highly esteemed townsman,” to operate fashionable place that “will take its place in history with Delmonico’s in New York.”

October 1932: Inman’s Café to be called “Ideal” as a result of a contest among citizens.

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The Ideal Cafe became Alex's Cafe when the business was purchased by Jacob Carlyle (Alex) Alexander (1904-1963).

Caswell County Top Ten Historians

 Caswell County Top Ten Historians

1. Millard Quentin Plumblee (1906-1987)

2. William Stevens Powell (1919-2015)

3. Eliza Katharine Kerr Kendall (1921-1997)

4. Richmond Stanfield Frederick, Jr., J.D. (1947-    )

5. Sallie Gibbs Pridgen Anderson (1915-2012)

6. Dr. Houston Gwynn Jones, Ph.D. (1924-2018)

7. George Andrew Anderson (1869-1945)

8. Mary Yarbrough McAden Satterfield (1907-1993)

9. Dr. Emilie Vanessa Siddle Walker, Ed.D. (1958-    )

10. Elizabeth Pierce Parker McPherson (1929-2019)

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Bill Powell and HG Jones are the only "professional" historians on the list.

Of course Bill Powell authored "A History of Caswell County North Carolina 1777-1977" (1977), with much of the information upon which Powell relied provided by M. Q. Plumblee. Plumblee had extensive Caswell County research files and actually drove Powell around the county as Powell was gathering materials for the book.

HG Jones was a friend for decades. We corresponded extensively. Because of his other interests and responsibilities he could not focus much of his attention on Caswell County. However, when he found a subject of interest he wrote about it, this includes his excellent history of Bedford Brown (1795-1870). That is why I, somewhat presumptuously, placed myself ahead of HG on the list. While this was tough, I know more about Caswell County overall than HG. My writings are extensive, having written every word you will find at the following:

https://ncccha.org/

The ranking is based upon my many decades of studying Caswell County and its environs. I new personally seven people on the list. Of course, I am welcome to all input that would suggest a different order and/or additions/deletions. Thanks, Rick

I understand. Jean Scott has helped me greatly over the years with respect to Milton history. She is a gem. I have known her all my life and love her. I have read every "Milton Memories" column she wrote for The Caswell Messenger.

But, her focus is very narrow. I recently re-read "Their Highest Potential" by Dr. Emilie Vanessa Siddle Walker. Jean's focus remains very narrow. She shared her memories of Milton and what her mother and Mary Satterfield told her (and left to her in written form).

Please understand this is no criticism of Jean. And, of course my list is subjective. However, I believe I know more about the history of Caswell County than any living person. Thus, I have eliminated Jean from the top-ten list.

A major reason for posting a top-10 list was to encourage comments and discussion. Please read all 259 pages of "Their Highest Potential" and let me know what you think -- especially Chapter Six.

I love Jean Scott's anecdotes describing the "characters" of Milton and who sat in front of her at the Milton Presbyterian Church, who graduated with her, about her family, about Connally Methodist Church, etc. However, her remembrances, which I have enjoyed for many years, do not, in my opinion, merit inclusion on the top-10 list. Of course, I may be wrong.

For many years Sallie (a native of Duplin County, NC) served as editor of the Caswell County Historical Association's monthly newsletter. She actually was more than the editor. She wrote all the content!

Sallie and husband Zeke extensively studied the history of Caswell County, along the way collecting many research materials, which now are housed in the Sallie and Zeke Anderson Research Room at the Richmond-Miles History Museum in Yanceyville. Unfortunately, because the museum is rarely open, access to those materials is greatly limited.

A few years back, in memory of Sallie and Zeke, I donated five large boxes of Caswell County materials I had collected over the years. I last met with Sallie in 2007. She died in 2012. Zeke died in 2005.

Motor Vehicles in Caswell County, North Carolina

Motor Vehicles in Caswell County We recently completed this photographic series (January 2022). Click the link above to access the collection. Below is the first entry in the series. Click the image to see a larger version.

This is a 1915 or a 1916 Model T Ford - the first year of electric headlights for the Model T was 1915 and the last year of the more angular radiator was 1916. Source: Thomas Gunn

Martha Eliza (Marnie) Hatchett (1896-1993) at the Bartlett Yancey House. In 1921 she married Samuel Murphey Bason (1894-1986).

Genealogical Research Requests

 Dear Folks:

I subscribe to and/or am a member of a number of historical and genealogical Facebook groups, message boards, and list servers. I am the administrator of several and the webmaster for various genealogical and historical websites. Over the past several decades I have seen thousands of queries posted. Below is what I have learned. Take what is useful. While the context is Caswell County, NC, I believe the applicability is universal. 

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1. It would help greatly when posting a query to give as much information as possible. Just asking for help finding a relative that once lived in Caswell County is not likely to generate much interest.

(a) Give as much temporal (dates) and geographic (place) information as you can.

(b) If you know the person was once in another area (such as another state), provide that data.

(c) If the family had property in Caswell County, tell where it was.

(d) If you already have some census information or estate records, share them.

(e) If there were variations in the name (given name or surname), explain them.

(f) Let people know the sources you already have consulted so they do not waste their time trying to help you.

(g) Also, a super way to generate interest in your query is to provide something of possible value to others in your message. You are more likely to generate assistance with your plea for help if you include something of value in your message. Too many messages just say: "Help me."

(h) ALWAYS check the Caswell County Genealogy database and the Caswell County NC GenWeb website before asking for help (and state in your message that you have consulted that resource). These resources will be found at:

Caswell County Genealogy

Caswell County NC GenWeb

2. If you post a query with a document attached, you are much more likely to see positive results. If you need help, ask the site's administrator.

I recently observed a lengthy exchange of messages about a will in the possession of one of the participants. Discussion about the will went on for weeks, but no one ever thought about posting the will. That will could have been scanned and uploaded for all to see.

If you are using a genealogical software program to record your findings you can create a GEDCOM file that can be uploaded to show in detail to what your query relates. Snippets of your family tree can be converted to GEDCOM files and uploaded. Genealogy programs such as Family Tree Maker allow outline descendant and genealogy reports to be created. These then can be copied to your message. They need not be long, just enough information to help others help you.

Ransom Frederick (c.1815-1888) Land Grant

 Ransom Frederick Land Grant

North Carolina Land Grants

File No. 99 (No. 176), Ransom Frederick, 19.80 acres on the waters of Storys and Richland Creek

State of North Carolina

Know ye that we have granted unto Ransom Frederick nineteen and eight tenths acres of land in Person County on the waters of Story's and Richland Creek. Beginning at an Ash and pointers [at] Reuben Walton's corner in Tapp's line running thence east with said Walton's line eight chains and twenty five links to a pine stump and pointers said to by Byasees corner then south twenty four chains to a stake in Charles S. Winstead's line thence west eight chains and twenty five links to a rock, thence north on Tapp's line twenty four chains to the beginning. Entered 21st Febry 1856. To hold to the said Ransom Frederick his heirs and assigns forever. Dated 22nd Sept 1856.

Wm Hill Secretary          Th. Bragg

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Rev. William Spencer Campbell (1859-1939)

Rev. William Spencer Campbell (1859-1939) served as minister of the Milton Presbyterian Church (Milton, Caswell County, NC) 1891-1896, being the tenth person to hold that position.

He is a son of Rev. William Addison Campbell of Richmond, VA (1829-1896). Note the sender of the above 1892 envelope/letter is Rev. W. A. Campbell, 319 W. Grace St., Richmond, VA. Click the image to see a larger version.

For a brief church history go to Milton Presbyterian Church

Click the image to see a larger version.

The Evening Times (Washington, D.C.) June 10, 1896 page 8:

"Richmond, Va., June 10.—Rev. Dr. W. A. Campbell, the well-known Presbyterian minister and writer, died at his residence last night in this city. He had been in failing health since the early part of the year, but his condition was not considered alarming unit a few days ago.

"Dr. Campbell was a man of find character and unusual natural gifts. He had filled many important pastorates, and was for several years evangelist of the synod of Virginia; was for some time traveling agent of the Virginia Bible Society, and on the death last year of Mr. T. D. T. Walford became secretary of the society. He was also secretary of the peace conference. Dr. Campbell leaves a wife and five children."