Year: 1882
The Landmark, Statesville North Carolina
Newspaper articles contributed by Twylla Teer and abstracted by Elsie Arcuri.
Some of these articles were almost impossible to read. PLEASE view microfilm before accepting it as fact.
Definitions:
ult. = last month
inst. = present month.
Periods intentionally omitted after abbreviations, initials, etc.
January 20, 1882
DIED
At his residence in Alexander county, on the 9th inst. of typhoid fever, Mr Wm Johnston, son-in-law of Dr Flowers
February 3, 1882
Sudden Death
Sheriff Mays, of Alexander, was in town last Monday. He reports the sudden death of Mrs E B Kennedy, of Sharpe’s township, his county, on the 23d of January. She had been, apparently, in good health, up to the time of her death. On the morning of the day in question she had been left alone in the house, and when some member of the family went in, between 9 and 10 o’clock, she was found lying dead in the floor.
[ This was Sarah E. Murdock, wife of Erastus Bennett “Ben” Kennedy. Erastus was a brother to James L. Kennedy.]
Feb 10, 1882
Snow fell Saturday to the depth of one-half inch on the Asbury and other mountains near the Alexander line.
Mr A Somers is putting up a grist mill near his saw mill. Mr J W Hager has improved his residence and is shortly going to put up a new store house.
The health of the community is good, and there are no marriages.
Letter from Sharpesburg
Correspondence of The Landmark
Rev W B Pressly was around last week, visiting the schools in this township. Everybody is pleased with him. The children say they wish he would come every day. Mr Pressly is the right man in the right place.
Mr R P Patterson, one of Alexander’s finest young men, has returned to his home near Taylorsville, his school having closed last Friday.
We had a heavy rain Friday night which raised the creeks past fording between here and Statesville. Therefore we had no Saturday mail which was a disappointment, especially so to the readers of the spicy LANDMARK, which improves with every issue.
Feb 24, 1882
Suicide in Alexander
Mr W G Bennett, a merchant at Mt Pisgah, Alexander county, a young man about 30 years of age, came to his death last Sunday morning about 2 o’clock by an act of suicide. He had been heard, on several occasions, to declare his intention to take his own life. His habits were not temperate, and during all of last week he had been drinking more or less. Friday he was at Olin and that night returned home. Saturday he told a friend that he intended to kill himself. Some time during the afternoon he went into a lumber room where, as was afterwards ascertained, he swallowed a quantity of laudanum. He locked the door and returned to the store, and shortly thereafter fell into a stupor. As soon as his true condition was ascertained Dr Mack Little was sent for. The physician however did not arrive until 1 o’clock Sunday morning. An hour thereafter Mr Bennett died, though in the meantime he had been aroused to consciousness.
In the lumber room there was found an empty laudanum bottle. There are grounds for suspicion that the deceased took strychnine with the laudanum. He was a well-to-do young man and there appears to have been no special cause for his suicidal act. He leaves a wife and three or four children.
March 3, 1882
Amputation of a Leg
Yesterday Dr J A Allison of this place, assisted by Dr J F Long, of Statesville township and Dr Mack Yount of Catawba, amputated the left leg of Mr Lee Sherrill, who lives in Alexander county about nine miles from Taylorsville and who has for years suffered from caries of the bone. The leg was taken off just above he knee. The patient was put under the influence of chloroform and the operation successfully performed. Mr Sherrill was very weak at the time and the amputation of the leg offered the only hope, and that a slender one, of saving his life.
Mar 24, 1882
EPHRAIM DAVIS
His Trial for Complicity in the Thompson Murder
The Testimony for the Defense
Newton Enterprise
John Ball: I live in Wilkes, 8 miles this side of Wilkesboro, 300 or 400 yards from James Parker’s. I live 1 /12 miles from Solomon Sloop’s. John Adams lives south-west from my house, about three miles. Two men came to my house on June 17th. They enquired the way to the graded road.
Solomon Sloop: I live in Wilkes about two miles from John Adams’. Two men came to my house one night, woke me up and asked the way to John Adams’. They gave me a quarter of a dollar to show them the way out to the road. They were never there at any other time. I had heard a day or two before of the murder of Miss Thompson.
John Adams: I live two miles from Solomon Sloop’s. Lige Church and Dockery were never at my house to my knowledge. They never ran a switch in my house. They never gave me any money. I live in a house built with hewn logs, ceiled inside and weather boarded outside. There is no hole nor any way by which a switch could be stuck in.
Cross Examination: I had a talk with Jim Jones a few days after the murder. I told him two men passed my house one night and heard one say, “shall we stop, or shall we go across the Yadkin.” I never heard that I was charged until Sheriff Church came to arrest me, but said if I was sent to the penitentiary and ever got back, I would kill Bill Transau. I did not make no effort to kill Dockery while under arrest. I did not send word to Jim Parlier to keep his wife at home for God’s sake.
W A Fairchild: I live about 3 miles from Lige Dockery. I have a son named Gilson. He left home about sunrise on the 10th of June to go to Wilkesboro. He was to go by Wilson Walker’s store. In going by Walker’s he would have to go by Elijah Dockery’s. I was at Walker’s also. I saw Harrison Dockery that morning pass my house, going up by the mill, in the direction of his father’s. My son brought back a sack of flour that day. I feel certain that it was the day, because I wanted the flour for the approaching meeting at Mt Pleasant meeting house, which embraced the second Saturday and Sunday in June.
Cross examination: I am positive that it was Harrison Dockery I saw on the 10th of June.
Gilson Fairchild On the 10th of June I went up to Wilson Walker’s. I went by Elijah Dockery’s. He called me and got in the wagon and rode with me to the Blue Ridge road. I stopped at Wilson Walker’s, got some loading, went on to Wilkesboro and brought some goods back for Walker. Dockery never rode with me at any other time.
Wilson Walker: I live half a mile from Elijah Dockery. I am a merchant. On Friday before the second Sunday in June I got Gilson Fairchild to haul a bill of goods from Wilkesboro.
Emily Dockery: I am the stepmother of Harrison Dockery. I saw him get in Gilson Fairchild’s wagon the day he hauled goods for Wilson Walker. This was Friday before the second Sunday.
R A Rector: I saw Harrison Dockery on Friday evening at Hayes’ still house. The next day I started to Salisbury, I stopped at night in Alexander. I heard of the murder about 10 o’clock Sunday. I never saw Dockery at the still-house at any other time.
F C Ellis: I saw Harrison Dockery at Hayes’ distillery on the 10th of June.
Mrs Laura Harris: I live in Wilkes county, on Neaked Creek, [ sic ] about two miles from Lige Church’s. I saw Lige Church and Harrison Dockery pass our house on Thursday morning, June 9th. That day I went to my uncle’s passing Lige Church’s between 9 and 10 o’clock. I saw them at work in Church’s new ground. That afternoon I saw Dockery at the same place at work by himself. I passed Elijah Dockery’s Thursday and Mrs Dockery asked me to go to meeting with her on Saturday, which was the second Saturday in June. I did not go to my uncle’s but once that summer. My attention was called to the fact of seeing Dockery and Church at work that day after Dockery’s arrest about 3 weeks from that day. The new ground was about 200 yards from the road.
Sidney Summerland: I saw Lige Church at work on the 10th of June, about 2 or 3 o’clock, and made an agreement with him to go to Hayes’ distillery to get a dram that evening. I went to the distillery and saw Church there late in the evening.
Jonathan Sloop: I live in Wilkes county, about 2 1/2 miles from Lige Church’s. I saw Lige Church on the 9th, 10th, or 11th of June, as I went to his father’s after some cradles which he had fixed for me. I met Sidney Summerland on the same day.
Lewis Welsh: Lige Church and Harrison Dockery were at my house on Thursday or Friday night before the June meeting. They came to my house late at night and gave me a drink of whiskey.
William Beatty: I live in Wilkes county. I know John Adams. He has a good house. I have never seen any place about the jamb which a switch could be stuck in.
Ephraim Davis: I never had any talk with Lige Church and Harrison Dockery below Ferguson’s about stealing Thompson’s money. Never talked with them anywhere about that matter. I never went with Church down to Thompson’s about two weeks before. I was never there. I went with Joel Triplett to Cranberry, and then to Tennessee. I worked for Ferguson from March to about the 11th of June. I then went to Taylorsville, Tennessee and drew a three months pension. Came back in about four days. I sold the check to Mr Eller, for $18; got two five dollar gold pieces, and some greenback and silver. I never got any money from Lige Church. I never asked Harrison Dockery if he had got his share of the money. I had a difficulty with Lige Church. Church drew a pistol on me about five or six years ago, and I prosecuted him. I was arrested in Tennessee, by Munday and Teague.
Cross examination: I left North Carolina, on the 12th of July, and had not heard of the murder of Miss Thompson before that time. I was working at Ferguson’s up to that time. The first I heard of the murder was from a man by the name of Satterwaite, who said that Lige Church and Harrison Dockery were accused of killing her and that Dockery had been arrested. This was some time in August. I have been indicted three times. Harrison Dockery and I have not been friendly.
Eller: I live in Watauga. Am a merchant. I bought an $18 check from Ephraim Davis some time last spring. I paid him $10 in gold and some greenback and silver.
J H Ferguson: I live in Wilkes county. I have a stock farm about 18 miles distant. Ephraim Davis was working for me in last June. He worked for me up to July. During that time he went by my stock farm, and said he was going on to Tennessee. He came back in a few days and had some gold and some greenback. I got a ten dollar gold piece from him.
J O Rosseau: I saw John Adams have about $100 or $150 some time ago. His character, morally, is very bad. He always meets his contracts. Ephraim Davis’ character is bad.
John Hampton: I know John Adams. I know his general character. For truth and honesty it is good. His moral character is bad. In 1864 I sold him about $90 of old coin. About two years later I sold him $3 of the same kind.
Many other witnesses with regard to character were introduced, whose testimony was substantially the same as the last two. The jury’s verdict of guilty was returned Saturday evening, after which the judge pronounced the sentence that “Ephraim Davis be confined in the penitentiary for the term of his life.” The counsel for the defense appealed, and the prisoner on Monday was removed to the Statesville jail, to be continued until he can give bond for his appearance at the next term of court.
April 28, 1882
A Destructive Forest Fire in Alexander
Mr Robt K Murdock, of this place has received a letter from his brother. Mr Thos F Murdock, of York Institute, Alexander county, under date of the 24th, giving him an account of a destructive forest fire in that vicinity on Thursday and Friday of last week. The fire originated Thursday afternoon on the Enos Mitchell place, just west of Rocky Face mountain. It was first seen in a dead tree, and before this could be cut down several others were on fire. A fierce wind drove the flames in the direction of the mountain. They swept over a cleared field, communicating from one dead tree to another, until they struck the woods again. Directly the fire was seen on the Big Rocky Face, about 150 feet from the foot. It spread rapidly, got around to the north, burning fences, timber and everything in it’s way. As night came on and the wind lulled, the force of 100 men who were fighting it, got the fire checked on the north and east sides of the mountain, but it was still coming on from the direction of Little Rocky Face It was so rough in there that nothing could be done except to rake and fire against it, and about 11 o’clock at night the crowd thought it was safe to leave till morning. Early Friday morning the whole section turned out and it was kept under control on Mr Murdock’s side of the mountain, but here was some hard fighting east of Mr Allen’s before the fire was subdued.
About three-fourths of the Big Rocky Face was burned over, “and” says the writer of the letter from which we get our facts, “to tell how badly it burned everything will injure any man’s reputation for truth if he describes it as it is. The trees on the west side are burned to the top; the leaves and buds are burned off to the top; the bark is burned off a great many trees and the laurel is burned up all except the stubs in a great many places. The wheat is killed around the fences for several rods. I think we are damaged at least $300 or $400. I think we lost near 50 apple trees, some of them full of apples; about 3,000 rails -?- and some estimate the wheat at 3 acres. Mr Allen lost one string of his orchard fence and one row of trees is much damaged. The farms where the fire originated lost heavily in fence and fruit trees, growing wheat and oats.”
Mr Murdock thinks the fire ran up the mountain as fast as a horse can run on good road. It came suddenly up on Numa, Fletcher Allen and Cephas Mitchell while they were fighting it in one direction, and they had to make a close run to keep from being surrounded by it and burned to death.
This is the greatest fire that has ever occurred in that section in the lives of the oldest men. The same day there was a great fire on Poor’s Knob and also at Russell’s Gap in the Brushy Mountains.
Jurors, Tax-Listers and Crops in Alexander
To the Editor of The Landmark:
Below you have a list of jurors drawn for spring term, 1882, Alexander Superior Court, and also tax listers for the several townships.
JURORS DRAWN FOR 1ST WEEK
W R Hefner, P L Watts, G W Patterson, Levi Bumgarner, W A Price, J Mill Jones, Jesse Bowman, Wm Baker, J A Barnes, Joseph Woodring, T J White, M L Millstead, D Butler Little, G W Flowers, A V Turner, W R Sloan. J W D Martin, Jno W Connolly, Benjamin Hines, P P Matheson, P A Childers, Jr, S J Harrington, J M Milhollen, Fielding McLain, W E Millsaps, H C Adams, J S Miller, J C Bell, W H Drum, M M Deal, G M Burgess, Jno M Deal, W W Gryde, J C Wike, S H Harrington, Miles Deal
JURORS FOR SECOND WEEK
D A Fry, W J Beckham, S W B Flowers, C R Alexander, W C Payne, J W Adams, J F Walker, Thomas Little, N R White, W C Crouch, A C Jones, C C Harrington
April 28, 1882
TAX LISTERS FOR 1882
Miller’s Township – T A Hudson
Sharpe’s – R M Sharpe
Gwaltney’s – W C Linney
Sugar Loaf – M M Baker
Little River – A B Oxford
Ellendale – F B Rees
Wittenberg’s – W W Fry
Taylorsville – C T Sharpe
Wheat is looking fine, thus far. Farmers are well up with their work. All the stock are enclosed as far as the stock law boundary, which is about one mile west of Lower Little River. Wheat is looking fine, thus far. Farmers are well up with their work. All the stock are enclosed as far as the stock law boundary, which is about one mile west of Lower Little River.
Dr M L Corpening of Caldwell county, has located in Taylorsville.
Taylorsville NC, April 24 1882
May 5, 1882
Where is There a Similar Coincidence?
Correspondence of The Landmark
Mr and Mrs David Holman before they married, made a public profession of religion at the same time: were baptized and joined the Baptist church at the same time; raised a family of twelve children – all of whom married (except one son and he lived to years of maturity) – six sons and six daughters; the daughters are all living and all widows except one; one son-in-law living. Mr and Mrs David Holman died May 1852, at an advanced age, with the respect and entire confidence of all who knew them. Mr Holman died two hours before Mrs Holman and they were of course buried in the same grave, at Society Church.
April 1882
May 26, 1882
Celebrated at Last
Mr J S Moore, of Alexander county, who was so nearly killed the night about two months ago, before he was to have married, his horse having fallen with him into a ditch, has fully recovered and accomplished, on the 10th inst. his praiseworthy purpose to get married. He was united in marriage on the date just mentioned, to Miss Lilly, daughter of Mr Sydney Morrison, of Concord township, Rev W M Hunter officiating.
W A Pool, Esq, the excellent clerk of Alexander Superior Court, was in town Wednesday, and reports a good condition of affairs in all respects in his county.
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, ALEXANDER COUNTY
In the Superior Court
Isaac Wallace and David Wallace, merchants and traders under the name and style of Wallace Bros
against
J R McLain and W P McLain, constituting the trading firm of J R McLain & Bro
Publication under an Order of the Superior Court at Fall Term, 1881
This is an action brought in the Superior Court of Alexander county by Wallace Bros the above named plaintiffs, against the above defendants, J R and W P McLain, for recovery of $230.68 with interest, due by note.
This is therefore to command the said W P McLain, one of the defendants above named, to personally be and appear before the Judge of our Superior Court to be held for our said county at the Court House in Taylorsville on the 10th Monday after the 4th Monday in March, 1882 and answer the Plaintiff’s complaint now on file in the office of the Clerk of Court of said county, and let him take notice that if he fails to appear and answer as aforesaid the Plaintiffs will take judgment for the relief demanded in the complaint.
Witness my hand and seal of said Court, May 9th 1882.
W A Pool, CSC
of Alexander County
June 2, 1882
Mr N P Alexander of Alexander county, was in town Wednesday with a chicken which has three wings.
Mr Leander Alexander, an aged and worthy citizen of Miller’s township, Alexander county, is now very low and his life is despaired of.
Mr Henry Mock, who has a mill on Elk Shoal creek, near the Alexander line, says he can buy 1,000 bushels of corn within two miles of his mill, at $1 per bushel.
To Mr John Lingle, of Chambersburg township, this county, and to Mr J W Connelly of Gwaltney’s township, Alexander county, we are indebted for presents of time May cherries. They looked well in a pie and their excellence exceeded their good looks.
Luke Stevenson, colored, the oldest man in Alexander county, died, last Monday, where he was raised, on the old Billy Stevenson place in Gwaltney’s township. He was a brother of old Ned Locke, whose death we announced about a year ago, and the neighbors say he was not less than 100 years of age.
Mr J M Duke, who lives three miles west of town on the Taylorsville road, has a reputation as a maker of grain-cradles, and those who have ever used his cradles want no other. He and his boys have made 60 this year, to date, besides doing a large amount of repairing. Mr Dule ought to move to town, open a shop, employ hands and go at it right.
A Singular and Very Painful Accident
Mr C O Alexander, of Miller’s township, Alexander county, bought a cow, week before last, near Taylorsville, and had it taken for him to Elk Shoal postoffice. He went there for it, Monday, the 22nd ult, and roped it for the purpose of driving it home. He wrapped the rope around his right hand and had barely done so before the cow started to run. She made two or three jumps, knocked him against a tree and threw him to the ground. The rope was snatched from around his hand and Mr Alexander arose from the ground and started after the cow, conscious of great pain but not aware of the extent of the injury which he had sustained until a negro called to him that he had lost his thumb. He looked at his right hand and found that it was even so, and retracing his steps found about an inch and a half of the thumb of the hand, and attached to it the muscle of the thumb, which attaches itself to the bone of the arm near the elbow, had been snatched out with the thumb. We have never seen or heard of a similar case, but even if Mr Alexander’s good character did not forbid doubt in the matter, Dr B H Yount, who dressed the hand, has the thumb and muscle, preserved and in his possession. Mr Alexander suffered terribly for a time after getting home, and even yet the track in his arm through which the muscle had been jerked, is sore and painful, but he was in town Wednesday and anticipates no further serious inconvenience.
Happily, if there is a family anywhere from which a thumb can be spared, Mr Alexander’s is that family, for he has a son who has three-one more than the law allows.
June 16, 1882
Mr Samson Lane, late of Goldsboro, and formerly for a short time a citizen of Taylorsville, where he went to practice law, is now a resident of San Antonio, Texas.
Sudden Death
Wednesday morning of last week Harry Norton, colored of Miller’s township, Alexander county, aged about 80 years, came in from work and made preparation to eat breakfast. He had been combing his head, and walking to the table with the comb in his hand, sat down and undertook to cut the bread with it. His wife saw that something was the matter with him and at once put him to bed. He uttered no articulate sound after he sat down to the table, and in two and a half or three hours, died.
June 23, 1882
Sudden Death
On Monday of last week a Mrs Adams, who lived near Moravian Falls, Wilkes county, while driving up the cows in the evening, was taken suddenly sick and died. She was the wife of a son of John Adams, of Wilkes, who was accused of complicity in the murder of Caroline Thompson, of Alexander county, on the 10th of June, 1881, and had been deserted by her husband some time since.
Broad Shoal postoffice, Alexander county, has been established, with Thomas Little as postmaster.
June 9, 1882
Two Tombstones
In the marble yard of Mr N T Miholland, of this place is to be seen a neat headstone which has just been lettered to the order of R S Templeton, Esq of Barringer township. It is to be erected to the memory of a colored man who was Mr Templeton’s body servant in the army and bears this inscription:
“John Templeton York, servant of R S T died April 12 1881, aged about 40 years. Erected by R S Templeton for services rendered as a body servant during the late war, for three years. Peaceful be thy slumbers, John.”
This evidence of Mr Templeton’s appreciation of the services of a faithful servant, is eminently creditable to his warm heart and generous instincts.
In the same yard is to be seen a headstone which is apt to attract the eye of the passer-by. It was ordered by James Thompson, of Alexander county, and is to be placed over the grave of his daughter, whose name is connected with one of the most hideous tragedies to be found in the chronicles of the State. The story is told in the inscription which reads thus:
“Margaret Caroline, daughter of James Thompson, born January 31, 1830. Murdered June 10 1881 by Lige Church and Harrison Dockery.” The old man Thompson delayed his order for the tombstone until he should be justified by the solemn finding of a court of law in using the word “murdered” upon it and connecting the names of Church and Dockery with it.
MARRIED
In Alexander county, on the 25th ult. Mr Wm Smith of Wilkes, to Miss Dora Sharpe of Alexander.
Mr Leander Alexander, of Alexander county, died Saturday June 3d, and was buried Sabbath evening at Union church ground, given years ago by David Alexander for a grave yard. The deceased was 83 years 8 months and 13 days old, and was a ruling elder in Elk Shoal Associate Reformed church.
July 7, 1882
Died
In Alexander county, little Lottie McIntosh daughter of O P and D McIntosh, aged 8 months. “Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
July 21, 1882
Alexander Items
R P Matheson Esq, of Taylorsville, had his wheat crop threshed last Monday. From one stack he threshed out 107 1/2 bushels.
Alexander’s wheat crop turned out well. A darkey made 33 1/2 bushels from one sown.
Mr Hiram James, of Little River township, died last Monday morning, aged about 70 years. He was a well known citizen.
J G Sharpe Esq, of Sharpe’s township, the county surveyor, is in a dangerous condition from irreducible hernia. Drs Long and Allison went up from Statesville, Wednesday, to see him.
Alexander county Democratic convention to nominate candidates for the Legislature and the various county offices and to appoint delegates to the congressional and senatorial conventions, will meet at Taylorsville the first Saturday in August.
This is Alexander’s year to name a senator for Iredell, Alexander and Wilkes, to run with Iredell’s nominee. Only Messrs R Z Linney and J P Matheson are mentioned in this connection and one or the other of these gentlemen will probably be chosen.
August 4, 1882
Alexander Mining Matters
Some very valuable discoveries have recently been made at the Emerald and Hiddenite mine. Prof Hidden has gone North now for a few weeks’ rest, and meantime work at the mine has been suspended.
Mr Smeaton has been greatly encouraged by his discoveries and will probably go regularly to work in a short time.
Mr Osborne Lackey has recently found some fine specimens of Hiddenite on his land in Sharpe’s township, just west of the Emerald and Hiddenite mine.
Alexander County Teachers Institute
The teachers institute for the white teachers of Alexander county will begin at Taylorsville on the 14th of August and continue for two weeks. I have secured the services of Profs J H Hill of Statesville, and H T Burke of Taylorsville, and H T Burke of Taylorsville. I hope every teacher in the county who possibly can come will come and not lose the great advantages offered by the instruction of such eminent teachers.
Lectures are expected during the term from Rev J B Marsh, Rev W R Gaultney, Hon W M Robbins and others. Come out, teachers, and let us have a good time.
D Mc Matheson
Co Supt for Alexander
August 18, 1882
New Church in Alexander
A new Presbyterian church has lately been organized in Miller’s township, Alexander county. It started with 17 members and began its organization by electing Jacoby Lentz ruling elder and R F Lackey deacon. The congregation have been worshipping heretofore at a stand in a grove near Elk Shoal postoffice, but the heirs of the late Ezekiel McLelland have given it 4 acres of land and it is hoped to have a church before a great while. Rev P P Winn, of this place, preaches for the congregation the first and third Sundays of each month. Ten or 11 members are expected to join next Sunday, when the organization of the church will be completed.
August 25, 1882
Paralysis in Alexander County
One day last week Mrs Ambrose Robinett, who lived near Taylorsville, was stricken with paralysis and died.
Thursday of last week Mr Isaac Russell of Sugar Loaf township, Alexander county was stricken with paralysis, in his field, and was found speechless and unconscious, he has since rallied some. On or about the same day Mr J P White, of Wittenberg, township, the same county, sustained a paralytic stroke.
A new postoffice, which is called Grade, has lately been established on Rocky creek, Alexander county, Mr J P Brewer postmaster.
Sep 1, 1882
At Catawba Superior Court yesterday a nol. pros. was entered in the case of John Adams of Wilkes charged with complicity in the murder of Caroline Thompson, et Alexander.
June 10th, 1881
Letter from Alexander County
Correspondence of The Landmark
Mr W J Davis is going to run for register of deeds independent of convention. He is a Democrat and would doubtless make a good officer, but I think he just wants to sell a lot of furniture that he has on hand.
I live close to Mr J F Sharpe. He is very low but is improving slowly.
Crops in this section, around Liberty campground are fine. This camp meeting embraces the first Sunday in October.
It is raining today and the farmers can go to breaking land and sowing oats in good earnest as they have been grumbling about the ground being hard.
Mr Aaron Kennedy, the gunsmith of this county, died last week of old age.
Dr Lackey, with his lady is on a visit to his father’s in Alexander county.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
H W Mays and others
against
T F Murdock, Admr of Jas F Stephenson, deceased
A Special Proceeding in the nature of a creditor’s bill, under Chapter 45 of Battle’s Revisal, having been instituted against Thomas F Murdock, Admr of James F Stephenson, for settlement of said estate, all the creditors of said estate are hereby notified to appear before me at my office in Taylorsville, on or before the 7th day of October 1882 and prove their claims and file evidence thereof before me in said cause.
W A POOL CSC of Alexander Co
Sept 1, 1882
Sep 8, 1882
Letter from Alexander County
Correspondence of The Landmark
Mr J F Sharpe is still improving slowly.
Mr Warren’s mill has not been doing much grinding lately on account of dry weather, but since the rain he has commenced to grind in good earnest, and his customers are pouring in from all sides.
There is some building to commence soon. Mr Butler Little is hauling lumber to build a store house on his place at Patterson’s branch, on the Charlotte road, and Mr Bud Moose is going to build near the post-office on the Statesville road.
Mr Aaron Kennedy, the aged man whose death I spoke of last week, I have learned was 82 years of age. Perhaps he was the oldest man in this section.
Me W E Hidden, the superintendent of the Emerald and Hiddenite Mining Company, will resume work Wednesday, September 6th.
Mr John Williams, near here, has the finest tobacco crop I have seen this year. He is a new resident in this locality and I hope he may have great success in the raising of tobacco and that he will encourage others to follow his example.
The Pam. Thomas & Co threshing machine just finished threshing a few days ago. They have threshed more grain in this county and the upper edge of Iredell than any other machine has ever heretofore threshed. We congratulate them upon their enterprise, and hope that they may have the patronage of our farmers again next year.
Yours
YOUNG SUBSCRIBER
Miller’s Township, Alexander Co
Sept 4 1882
The New Church in Alexander
The organization of the new Presbyterian church in Miller’s township, Alexander county, has been completed by the election of Mr O N Smith as a ruling elder, with Mr Jacob Lentz, and Messrs N P Alexander and W T Watts, deacons, with Mr R F Lackey. Messrs Smith and Alexander were ordained last Sunday, Messrs Lentz and Lackey had already been and Mr Watts is yet to be. New Salem is the name of the congregation. Messrs J Lentz, O N Smith and W T Watts have been appointed a building committee and the erection of the church will be begun as early as possible.
Mr J S Leonard, his family and Mrs H A Bost are at the Sulphur Springs, in Alexander county, where they will be followed by Miss Ettie Bost as soon as she is strong enough to travel.
MINERALS!
THE FARMERS of Alexander, Iredell, and Catawba counties are constantly finding crystals of QUARTZ, BERYL, RUTILE, “NEEDLE ROCK”, etc, loose in the surface soil, they are requested to bring the BEST OF THREE to the undersigned, who will pay the highest cash price for them. Specimens of GREEN CRYSTALS are desired in particular, and for which the BEST PRICES will be paid.
Call on or send to
W E HIDDEN
EMERALD MINE
Stony Point, NC
Sept 8th 1882
Sep 15, 1882
An Unexpected Marriage
“When the cat’s away the mice will play.” Capt R M Allison was taken by his party loyalty and admiration of Vance, to Taylorsville last Tuesday. He had not gone half way upon his road when Rev W A Wood, DD was summoned to his house. The license was ready and it took the minister but a short time to say the words which married Mr D F Stevenson and Miss Eva Allison, good and fast. Taking conveyance through the country, they reached Salisbury that afternoon, and took the Richmond & Danville train for Baltimore, where they went to attend the Oriole.
We throw the old shoe after them and the whole town says “Amen.” The bride is a universal favorite, admired no less for her brightness and amiability than for her beauty of face.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
H W Mays and others
against
T F Murdock, Admr of Jas F Stephenson, deceased
A Special Proceeding in the nature of a creditor’s bill under Chapter 45 of Battle’s Revisal, having been instituted against Thomas F Murdock Admr of James F Stephenson, for settlement of said estate, all the creditors of said estate are hereby notified to appear before me at my office in Taylorsville, on or before the 7th day of October 1882, and prove their claims and file evidence thereof before me in said cause.
W A Pool, CSC of Alexander Co
Sept 1 1882
Letter from Alexander
Correspondence of The Landmark
Just in from a trip to Brushy Mountains, Wilkes county. Starting from home on Monday morning, and after a few hours drive, over a considerably rough road, I arrived at a beautiful peach orchard, where I found some excellent fruit, and after taking in a few, I sailed forth for a Baptist church by the name of Liberty, and on arriving there, I found a large and respectable audience of mountain people attending a protracted meeting, and after conversing with the most prominent gentlemen of that section, I found that crops of all kinds in Brushy Mountains are better than they have been in five years. Sheep and cattle are as fat as you like, but as for politics those that do not vote Democratic will vote Republican. They say they will not have anything to do with that unclean thing called the Liberal party.
After a sermon by Rev J S Gwaltney, which was very interesting, I sailed out up a little stream called Waterferry, and spent the night as never did I before, with a kind and respectable old gentleman. Next morning at half past seven o’clock I sailed out homeward. I began to think that never would I reach the valley of Rocky creek, but half past ten I landed.
Now concerning the affairs in this neighborhood:
People have got their grain all threshed out. All kinds of crops are good generally. Fodder is now ready to take.
Mrs Nancy Mayberry is very sick with a fever.
As for politics we are strictly Democratic and Republican and expect to continue so. We will not patronize the Harris-Mott machine, where all unclean, office seeking, broken down politicians drift to.
M W D
Rocky Creek, Sep 3 1882
A Preacher’s Mistake
Correspondence of The Landmark
And it came to pass, in Miller’s township, in Alexander county, during a protracted meeting a few nights ago, conducted by Rev N S Norton and the circuit rider of this circuit, that the latter was preaching away in good earnest and all of a sudden he stopped in the midst of his discourse saying that owing to the rain that was falling he would have to leave the subject and let the people go into the house.
Now behold the people began to look around in wonder and astonishment saying within their hearts, What doth this man mean for behold it was clear weather and not a drop of rain was falling. Now some might say that he (that the preacher) was beside himself; others might say that he is full of wine; but behold none of these things were so.
Now I will solve this mystery. Now behold they the people, had gathered together in the grove and the preacher was in the stand, and it was covered; and he hearing the leaves rattle over his head, thought it was raining; but the people went to their homes to rest the balance of the night, leaving the preacher to enjoy the joke as best he could.
Lang Teague(?)
Sep 4th 1882
Sep 22, 1882
VALUABLE PROPERTY FOR SALE
THE UNDERSIGNED will sell for cash, to the highest bidder on the 10th day of October A D 1881, on the premises, a Lease Interest, being an unexpired term or five years in a Lot of Land containing 5 acres, on the waters of Shelton Creek, in Alexander county NC formerly known as the Cook & Halyburton Saw-Mill, but now occupied by – Jenkins and known as Jenkins Saw-Mill together with all the Machinery thereto belonging, consisting of an Improved Circular Saw- Mill and Shingle Saws, etc.
Said sale is made by virtue of a power of sale contained in a Mortgage executed by George R Halyburton to Robt Lackey, upon said Term, in said Lands, and on said Machinery, of date 28th day of January, A D 1881, to secure the payment of the sum of ($523.61) five hundred and twenty-three dollars and sixty-one cents, with interest thereon and the costs and charges of this sale. Said Mortgage duly registered in the Register’s office for Alexander county in Book E, page 184, June 13, A D 1882.
ROBT M LACKEY, Mortgagee
Sept 8, 1882
As will be seen by a card in another column, W A Pool, Esq, withdraws as a candidate for clerk of the Superior Court of Alexander county. This is to be regretted, 1st, because Mr Pool is a most excellent officer; 2d, because he adds much strength to our ticket in his county. But having for a number of years served his people with great fidelity, he returns to that higher calling which he abandoned some years ago on account of ill-health and other causes, and will devote the remainder of his days to the service of his Master. We trust our friends in Alexander will find as good a man to take his place.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Jere Smith and others
against
W B Matheson, Ex of Hiram James, dec
A Special Proceeding in a nature of a creditor’s bill, under Chapter 45 Battle’s Revisal, having been instituted against W B Matheson, Ex of H James, for a settlement of said estate, all creditors of said estate are hereby notified to appear before me at my office in Taylorsville on or before he 9th day of October, 1882, and prove their claims and file evidences thereof before me in said cause.
W A POOL, CSC of Alexander Co
Sept 1 1882
Who Beats This?
Mr Ellis Hanes of York Institute, Alexander county, brings us the largest apple we ever saw. It was raised by Mr Solomon Davis of Sugar Loaf township, Alexander county, an weighs 25 1/2 ounces. It is simply immense and Mr Hanes assures us that there are plenty more of the same sort and size where it came from.
Sep 29, 1882
Midgets, Politics, Crops, and Gaugers in Alexander
Correspondence of The Landmark
In looking over your paper I see one of your correspondents has been taken with the midgets. I would sympathize with him but you see he was a little out of his place. He was up stairs and his good wife was down stairs, so he says; so I advise him, before being taken with another attack, to move his roosting place. If he had been where he ought to have been, that is with his wife, he would not have had such a time with fire in his skin. Now Mr ” Alas. P Yorick” the next time you are taken with such a spell you should strip off your clothes and take hogs lard and grease all over. This will relieve you in a few minutes. Then go and sin no more.
Now a word concerning this community. We are strictly Democratic, and expect to elect Democrats, from the bottom rail up to the gate post. You can understand that little Alexander don’t love Republicanism nor Liberalism nor any such isms.
People are getting along with fodder very slowly, owing to us being badly tangled with the storm. The corn is damaged some but no so much as we thought. Good crops of corn, in fact better than have been for several years. We have a good mast of chestnuts and acorns upon the mountains, but the unwelcome fence law deprives us of the benefit of it its bounds.
Some are making brandy in this neighborhood and they are getting tired of seeing so many cork-screw and bung-auger four dollar a day men galloping over the country with their noses in every pot. The women are getting afraid to put a kettle on the fire for they expect some gauger to stick his nose in it. The frogs have got afraid to crawl out of the ponds with their mouths full of water, for they expect to meet some gauger with a hydrometer in his hand and a rod under his arm. So if a man drinks a dram the first thing is ” have you been gauged?” If not hide out: the gaugers are coming.
Yours
J P B
Grade, Alexander Co NC
Sept 22 1882
A CARD
To the Voters of Alexander County
Having seen the last issue of THE LANDMARK the card of W A Pool, the Democratic nominee for clerk of the Superior Court of Alexander county, withdrawing his name from the canvas as a candidate for the office of clerk, I have concluded, through the many solicitations of my friends, to announce myself as a candidate for that office, subject to the action of the convention of the Democrats of the county should one be held. In support of my claims, allow me to make the following suggestions:
1. To make an equal distribution of the offices, the eastern portion of the county should be entitled to one, at least.
2. I have held the office of county surveyor of your county for seventeen years, an office coupled with a great deal of labor and little involvement. While action in that capacity I endeavored to discharge the duties of that office faithfully, honestly and without partiality.
3. Many of you are aware of my present condition. I am unable any longer to make a support for my family on my small farm. I am advised and feel confident that I can discharge the duties of clerk.
Should you see fit to honor me with a sufficient number of votes for my election, I shall endeavor to discharge the duties of the office faithfully, honestly and with justice to all.
Very respectfully
J Frank Sharpe
September 25th 1882
Nov 3, 1882
A Fatal Railroad Accident
As the mail train on the Paint Rock branch of the Western North Carolina Railroad was coming east last Friday, the trestle at Sandy Mush, near Alexander’s gave way and let the engine through. The engineer, Mr Charley Gordon, was caught in the wreck and was bruised and scalded, receiving injuries from which he died the same evening. It seems that the train was not wrecked and that no one else was hurt.
Mr Gordon lived in Salisbury. He had been an engineer on the road for 20 years at least, and was well known along the line. He had for several years had apprehensions of the awful fate which overtook him. Mr Gordon leaves a wife and several children. He was a member of the Knights of Honor, which gave him $2,000 insurance upon is life, and also a policy for $2,000 in an accident company.
Nov 17, 1882
Arrested on Suspicion
Frank Milstead, white of Alexander county, was arrested lat Saturday evening and put in jail at Taylorsville under suspicion of having been implicated in the recent burglary of the house of W A Pool, Esq clerk of Alexander Superior Court. It is stated that he made a proposition to Charles Rector, some ten day before the robbery, to join a gang if he would make a certain oath, and that Rector divulged this conversation and it lead to the arrest of Milstead. We understand that Mr Pool’s loss is about $600.
Alexander
Bennett’s majority was 365. Linney led the ticket, receiving a majority of 416. Matheson, Democrat, for the House, had a majority of 115 over Carson, independent. The majority of McIntosh, Republican, for the clerk of Superior Court, 111; that of Mays, independent, for sheriff, over all, 175, for register, 200.
Nov 24, 1882
Dr Carson Dead
Dr John M Carson, for many years a prominent citizen of Alexander county, and often a member of the Legislature, died at his residence in Taylorsville yesterday.
We learn from Taylorsville that there is no evidence to implicate Frank Milstead in the recent Pool burglary in that place, but he has been arrested on another charge. Charles Rector denies that Millstead ever had the conversation with him that has been ascribed to him.
December 8, 1882
Mr John A Miller, who lives near Liberty church, Alexander county, died at this residence last Sabbath night. To say that he will be missed tells the truth tamely. His loss is severely felt by all.
DIED
At the residence of her husband about two and a half miles from Taylorsville, on the night of the 4th, the wife of Mr Thomas Watts.
Dec 22, 1882
The Old in Aleck
A correspondent writes us from Stony Point that there is, about 3 miles from that post-office, and old gentleman of the name Prichard, who is 96 years old and still able to go to church,; and that “old Tom Patterson, ” as the people call him, is 95 years old and is living with his fourth wife. He has 21 sons and 4 daughters. He came from Ireland in his 18th year and according to our correspondent, is able to say “bejabbers” yet.