The information on this page my help establish a time frame for the use of the 1st & 2nd County Homes by the Superintendents. 

James W. O'Brien
1850 - 1929

JOHN TAYLOR - Keeper of the Poor House served between 1851 and 1860. The 1860 United States Federal 
Census for Richmond County, Wolf Pit District, Dwelling #557 shows John Taylor 33, b. NC, Keeper 
of the Poor House, Mary Jane Taylor, wife, 21; Christopher C. Taylor 2 yrs, and and Mary Nicholson 
65, b. Scotland, Pauper. It is not known exactly how long John A. Taylor served as Keeper of the Poor 
House. In addition to Christopher Columbus Taylor b. 1858, John and Mary J. would become parents of 
Nancy J. b. 1860; Mary b. 1862; Martha b. 1863; John M. Taylor b. 1865; and Caroline Taylor b. 1867. 

JOSEPH SMITH, Keeper of the Poor House between 1870 and 1880. He was born about 1812 South Carolina.
During 1860 Census he and his family were in Steels District, Richmond County. This Census shows 
Joseph Smith 48; Delina 43; Jane 17; Sarah A. 16; Alexander 10; Elizabeth 7; and Nancy Smith, 3 years. 
The 1870 Census of Rockingham Township. Dwelling #60 shows he is Keeper of the Poor House; Nancy Smith 
54; Mary Smith 17; and Nancy Smith, 12 years. The 1880 Census of Adamsville, Marlboro County, SC shows 
Joseph Smith 68, father, wid., in the household of son-in-law Frank W. Bryce 26, daughter Nanny 23, and 
Mary 2 yrs. Frank W. Bryce was born December 18, 1854 and died September 12, 1902. Today he rests in 
Mary Love Cemetery, Hamlet,  NC

ALAMANDER TAYLOR - The 1880 Federal Census of Rockingham, Richmond County shows Dwelling #66: 
Alamander Taylor 51, Keeper for House, Marthey 48, wife; Mary Taylor 50, sister; Noah Taylor 15, (b) 
servant. It is believed that John Taylor, first Keeper of the Poor House and Alamander are brothers. 

Hugh Gilbert McLean
1877 - 1954

JOHN ARCHIBALD MCNAIR - J.A. McNair was the first Superintendent to be paid a salary, rather than by 
the number of "Inmates". From Ike's information, J.A. must have become a superintendent around 1892. He 
is said to have served six years. The 1900 Census of Anson County, State Farm, dated 14 June, shows "J" 
McNair born July 1853, NC, 47, married, works as Steward under Supervisor State Farm, James M. Wall 60. 
( Steward: One who is in charge of the household affairs of a large estate, club, hotel, or resort.) John 
Archie McNair born July 28, 1853 died September 28, 1934, Chronic Myocarditis, buried Eastside Cemetery, 
Rockingham. He was a son of John N. McNair b. NC and Clementine Baldwin b. NC, married Sarah Ann McKenzie. 
Death Certificate Informant W.E. McNair, Rockingham, (estimated years of service  1892-1900) 
 
THOMAS JEFFERSON GIBSON - From the record of Ike London, T.J. Gibson served as superintendent for 
one year. Irving Long shared that his great-grandfather was a busy man. T.J. worked at a grist mill, 
saw mill, on the railroad, and served as "Boss" of the "Poor Farm". 
(estimated years of service  1889-1901)

R.L. MCDONALD served as superintendent one year according to Mr. Ike London. Mr. McDonald may be 
the same person who served as Sheriff of Richmond County 1918-1922. More information is needed. 
(estimated service years 1901-1903)

TEMPLE COLEMAN GIBSON served as superintendent for one year. He was a brother to Superintendent Thomas 
Jefferson Gibson. Another Brother was Luke Gibson Sr. Many Richmond County People claim Luke Gibson as 
their ancestor. Temple is shown on the Census of 1900 with family members along with the residents of the County Home.(c1900-1905)

DAVE SEDBERRY is said to have served as a superintendent of the county home four years. (estimated years of service  1905-1908)

Samuel Franklin Key
1891 - 1950

JOHN HADLEY is said to have served as a superintendent of the county home for two years. However, 
John Hadley remains a mystery as no records have been found to indicate anyone of that name who 
served as a superintendent. More information is needed. (estimated service years 1929-1936)

JAMES WILLIAM O'BRIEN - five and three-quarters years. Mr. J.W. O'Brien is found on the Census of 
1910 with his wife Martha and children along with the residents for whom he cared. He was the father 
of Josie who married another superintendent, Hugh Gilbert McLean. His grandson, R. Carol McLean, 
remembers stories about him while he was superintendent.  (estimated service years 1910-1912)

WILLIAM THOMAS BALDWIN - Sept. 1912 - 1920. While still superintendent he purchased from Richmond 
County the same 132 acres or two adjoining tracts of land that were surveyed by the County Commissioners 
of Richmond County for the purpose of a Poor House and registered in Book 88, page 465, as earlier 
described. This deed was made the 5th day of November, 1917. This transaction ended the use of this 
property as a cemetery and the Richmond County Home for the Poor.  Unfortunately, there are no records 
of Will Baldwin and the residents for whom he cared on any Census. However, Will Baldwin signed death 
certificates as supt. from 1914 through 1920.

The original superintendent's home and several of the houses built for the residents, stand today on 
Baldwin property. The Superintendent's home has been used in the past for the "Haunted House" at Halloween. 
One of the remaining residents' houses on the Baldwin property serves as a silent place to watch wildlife. 
The cemetery once used for burying the poor and infirm when death called is now a peaceful spot in the woods with no signs of the area 
ever having been a cemetery.

R.A. Easterling (4-19-1883) &
Daisy Anna (5-25-1884) pose
soon after their wedding in 1903

HUGH GILBERT MCLEAN served for almost six years as Superintendent at the 2nd County Home. As a matter of 
fact, the McLeans were living at the County Home when the Home caught fire. Mrs. McLean was able to rescue 
their children while her husband took care of the residents. Everyone escaped, but the McLeans lost everything. 
Mr. R. Carol McLean was one of the five children saved from the fire. It was Carol's interest in recording the 
two cemeteries relating to the County Homes that has resulted in this project. (estimated service years 1925-1927)

SAMUEL FRNKLIN KEY. A Superintendent of the 2nd County Home, Mr. Frank signed death certificates from 
1927 into 1936. He was a son of Cornelius H Key (1867-1918) & Sarah Anne Smith Key (1869-1927). He married 
Thelma Aydlotte Key 1897-1949. Their son Earl Key of Rockingham, believes his father was among the last 
superintendents, serving from the late 1930's to World War II. Unfortunately, there are no exact dates. 

ROBERT ARCHIE EASTERLING. R.A. Easterling, his wife and several of his children are shown on the 1940 
Census along with the residents in his care. His son Thomas, remembers living at County Home #2  while 
his father served as superintendent. He shares some of the family life in his book, FURROW IN THE CLOUDS. 
"In the 30s and 40s, folks with disabilities or those unable to care for themselves due to old age 
often moved into county homes to live. It was the way communities cared for their less fortunate people 
who had no families, and these homeless folks often worked in gardens or with livestock to help pay their 
way. Roosevelt's New Deal had shined a spotlight on poverty and the plight of the elderly, and Richmond 
County needed someone to restore their County Home. Dad decided he was the man to do it and approached 
the commissioners with a plan to turn the "poor house" into a self-supporting farm with livestock, 
crops and other commercial ventures." (estimated service years 1936-1945)
Source: pgs. 50, 53, 54 FURROW IN THE CLOUDS The Story of Young Thomas Easterling, written Richard Drebert

Temple Gibson with wife Sarah & children - Edna, Lila & Coleman

 Go to Fire Damages County Home
 Go to History of County Homes
 Go to Remembering County Homes #1 and #2
 Go to County Home Residents Buried Potters Field
 Return to What's New in Richmond County


From the Research of May MacCallum, Richmond County Historical Society

Contact: Myrtle Bridges, NCGenWeb Coordinator for Richmond County

©Copyright January 15, 2014 by Myrtle N. Bridges