Year: 1883
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.
Jan 5, 1883
Sheriff’s Settling
Sheriff Watts of Iredell, and of Alexander, settled the State tax of their respective counties for 1882 today, through the Merchants’ and Farmers’ National Bank, of Charlotte. Sheriff Watts paid $8,479.75 as Iredell’s State tax for last years, and Sheriff Mays $2,159.18 as Alexander’s share. The sheriffs of Iredell and Alexander nearly always settle their State taxes together, and to their credit be it said, always on good time.
At the residence of the bride’s father, Mr Jas S Miller, by Rev W M Hunter, December 20th, 1882, Mr Charlie B Morrison, of Iredell county, and Miss Mary J Miller, of Alexander.
DIED
At her residence in Miller’s township, Alexander county, January 1st, 1883, Mrs Emily E Malone, wife of Mr Andy Malone, aged 64 years, 4 months and 15 days. She was a pious woman and died in the faith.
Feb 9, 1883
Thos F Murdock, Esq will as administrator of the late J F Stephenson, sell, at Taylorsville, on the 5th of March, one of the most valuable farms in Alexander county, known as the “Queen” place, containing about 350 acres of land, 30 or 40 of which is fine bottom, in cultivation.
Feb 16, 1883
MARRIED
On the 15th of February 1883, at the officiating justice, by E B Stimson, J P, Mr J W Kerr and Miss R C Barnhart, daughter of A W Barnhart. All of Iredell county.
On the 28th ult. by B Reese, Esq, Mr Logan Teague and Miss Sarah, daughter of Mr David Mitchell. All of Alexander county.
At residence of the bride’s father in Shiloh township, on the 13th inst. Mr Elijah Cooper of Bethany township, and Miss Vander, daughter of Mr Peter Little, of Shiloh.
Feb 23, 1883
PATRICIDE IN WILKES
John Adams of Brushy Mountain Township, Shot and Killed by His Son
By the kindness of different friends in Wilkes, who have written to us fully of the occurrence, we have the details of a shocking tragedy which was enacted in Brushy Mountain township, in that county, between 8 and 9 o’clock on the evening of ‘Friday last, the 16th inst. John Adams was the victim and his son, Allen, or “Dick” as he is often called, was the slayer, The son had but recently returned home, having been at work in the coal mines in Virginia. On the day in question Joshua Miller was at the house of Adams and he and Allen had, had a difficulty. They quarreled during the greater part of the afternoon and into the night, when young Adams kicked Miller several times and told him that if he resented it he would kill him. Miller, however, made no hostile demonstration, and Adams’ ill-treatment of him continued until the elder Adams interposed objection. Dick thereupon fell to cursing and abusing his father most violently, charging him, among other things, with having harbored John Cheatham, who killed Ray in Wilkes about six years ago. Adams ordered his son to leave the house, telling him that he should not stay there and talk thus to him. The quarrel between father and son continued until the father, exasperated beyond the point of endurance, picked up a piece of axe handle timber and advanced upon his son, who passed into the house, took down a rifle and went out at the back door. John Adams followed him through the house, and just as he opened he middle door Dick fired upon him from the back yard. The rifle ball struck him full in the chest and he fell to the floor and died almost instantly.
After he had fired the fatal shot the son went up to the dead body of his father and with bitter curses bade him get up and take a drink with him. He lingered about the place for a length of time, forbidding any one on the premises making known the occurrence in the neighborhood. So far from manifesting remorse, he said he had this laid up for his father ever since the old man had choked him. He told a younger brother that this was the fourth man he had killed, having previously killed three in Virginia, and that he intended to kill eight more in the Brushy Mountains, after which he would “give up”. After having remained upon the scene of the tragedy probably as long as he thought it prudent to do so, the murderer fled under the cover of darkness, and at last accounts had not been captured, though the sheriff and a posse were in pursuit of him.
As soon as the knowledge of the murder reached the corner he summoned a jury and proceeded to hold an inquest over the body of the dead man. The verdict of the jury was in accordance with the facts as recited above.
The murderer is known in Wilkes as a desperate character. For several days prior to the murder he had been dodging the officers of the law to avoid arrest under a peace warrant. For sometime past there had been bad feeling between him and his father, and on a former occasion he had shot at him and again had tried to kill him with as axe.
John Adams was a very industrious man and leaves good property, the fruit of his own labors. He, it was who was suspected of complicity with Elijah Church and Harrison Dockery in the Thompson robbery and murder in Alexander county in June 1881, was arrested, tried and acquitted. He was a very wicked man but it is said of him, strangely enough, that in any matter in which he gave his word he was absolutely reliable. Bearing a bad character in almost every respect, he was credited with a scrupulous regard for his plighted faith, being a man of whom it could be said that “his word was as good as his bond.” This quality, his industry and a certain candor redeemed him from utter badness, Wm Transau, Esq was his prosecutor in the Thompson case. He said that if he was made to suffer in that matter he would kill Transau. Questioned in court to this conditional threat, he not only avowed it be re-iterated it in the presence of judge and jury.
Not the least interesting incident of this shocking case is the fact that John Adams came to his death by a rifle which he had bought for his unnatural son when the latter was a little boy.
Messrs M W Gibson, of this county, J M Pressly of this town and C W Carson, of Taylorsville, have returned from Baltimore, where they have been attending medical lectures, for the vacation.
March 9, 1883
DIED
At his residence in Ellendale township Alexander county, of consumption, on the 15th of February, Mr Archibald Montgomery.
Marriage
At the residence of the bride’s father, in Alexander county, March 1st 1883, by Rev W M Hunter, Mr Jno Amos Morrison and Miss Lethia J daughter of Mr Joseph Miller, of Sharpe’s township.
An Unsuccessful Chase
A letter from Wilkes informs us that Deputy Sheriff Privett, of that county, with a posse, had an exciting chase, a few days ago after Dick Adams, who recently killed his father in Brushy Mountain township. He was fired at several times, but succeeded in making his escape.
March 16, 1883
This morning, half-past 2 o’clock, at the residence of her son, Col J S Miller, Mrs Nancy Miller, wife of the late Thos Miller, aged 73 years, 5 months ad 14 days. For some time she had suffered from a severe bronchial cough, and for days her death was expected.
Mrs Miller was a native of Ireland. At the age of 9 she came with her father, Mr Joseph Patterson and family to this country and settled in Iredell, now Alexander county.
She managed well her household. A woman of surling Christian worth, self-sacrificing in her devotion to her children, and she died in the abundant assurance of their tender care and final devotion to her.
She will be buried at New Stirling tomorrow, noon.
The New Magistrates
Below we give a list of the magistrates appointed by the Legislature for this county and for Alexander. In every township the term of at least one magistrate expired, and then under the act for this of this Legislature two additional magistrates were elected for each township and in townships which already had three the number was increased to five. We have not succeeded in getting a list of the magistrates appointed for Wilkes and Yadkin.
ALEXANDER
Miller’s – O P Mcintosh, E L Hedrick, N P Alexander
Sharpe’s – R M Sharpe, J A Beckham, W J Davis
Gwaltney’s – C E Tilley, W F Patterson, W C Beckham
Sugar Loaf – W D Gryder, Wesley Laws, W F Campbell
Lttle River – R Watts, Thos Barnes, J A Barnes
Ellendale – J C Bell, W S McLeod, M Pennell
Wittenburg’s – Z T Moretz, Adam Flowers, Van W Teague
Taylorsville – J P Matheson, Tobias Barnes, C T Sharpe, W L Alspaugh
April 13, 1883
Railroad Election In Alexander
At the request of a public meeting of the citizens of Alexander county, held at the courthouse at Taylorsville, the board of commissioners of that county, at their meeting the first Monday of this month, ordered an election to be opened and held at the several precincts of the county on Thursday, 10th of May next, on the question of making a subscription of $22,000 to any railroad company chartered prior to the 24th of April, 1868, that may construct a railroad from some point on the Western North Carolina Railroad between Salisbury and Hickory, to Taylorsville, Wilkesboro, Patterson, & under an act of the present Legislature, said subscription to be paid in the bonds of the county, running 20 or 30 years, and bearing 6 per cent interest and the bonds not to be issued until the road is graded to Taylorsville.
Our readers are familiar with the legislation under which this movement is made by the people of Alexander. Upon the failure of the friends of the Yadkin Valley branch of the Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Railroad to succeed in engrafting upon the bill for the sale of the State’s interest in that road any guarantees for the construction of the branch to Patterson, Senator Linney introduced and succeeded in getting passed a bill appropriating the $55,000 which has accrued from the sale of the State’s stock in the road named to any railroad which would build a road from some point on the Western road between Salisbury and Hickory to Taylorsville, Wilkesboro, Patterson and the Tennessee line – one-fourth of this sum to be paid by the State Treasurer (county bonds to be issued meantime) when the road is graded to Taylorsville, another fourth when it is graded to Wilkesboro, another when graded to the Yadkin and another when graded to Patterson.
The people of Alexander are operating under this act, and our information is that the subscription will carry if the people can be gotten to the polls. We should be glad if it did and if the road were built, as a railroad is Alexander’s great need. We believe the understanding is, that if the road is built, it will be from Statesville and be an extension of the Atlantic Tennessee & Ohio Railroad.
NOTICE!
Sale of Valuable Real Estate!
By virtue of a decree of the United States Circuit Court, for the Western District of North Carolina, passed at the December Term, 1882, of said Court at Charlotte, in the case of Hiram Sibley et al. against Roxana Simonton, Executrix of Robert F Simonton, deceased, we will sell to the highest bidder, FOR CASH on Monday, the 7th day of May, 1883
At the Court House door in the town of Statesville, in said district, the following described real estate, to-wit:
One Tract of Land in Alexander county, near the town of Taylorsville, containing 11 1/2 acres, more or less, known as the “Bogle Mill Property.”
April 20, 1883
Mr A J Malone of Miller’s township has a hen which laid an egg which had three yolks.
Mr Robt Lackey of Sharpe’s township has a ewe which has given birth this spring to triplets, all of which are living.
Mrs Sallie Looper wife of Mr Richard Looper of Gwaltney’s township, died on the 5th.
Mr Robt Carson the father of the late Dr John M Carson and Rev Alfred Carson, lives in Sharpe’s township at a hale old age. He will be 91 in August next. He never used tobacco, but always took a drink when he wanted it and does yet. He can walk 4 or 5 miles without fatigue and has promised himself the pleasure of an early walk to Taylorsville. He is in full possession of all his faculties and is active and useful.
The bulk of the tobacco of Alexander finds a satisfactory market at Statesville.
Assessors and List-Takers for Alexander and Yadkin
We have succeeded, after some delay in procuring lists of the assessors and list-takers for the counties of Alexander and Yadkin, appointed by the commissioners of these counties at their meetings on the first Monday of this month. In Alexander, the first named person in each township is the list-taker for that township, as well as being of one of the assessors.
ALEXANDER
Miller’s Township – O P McIntosh, W D McLelland, H H Drum
Sharpe’s – T F Murdock, W R Sloan, Jacob Lentz
Gwaltney’s – W C Linney, W F Patterson, James W Adams
Sugar Loaf – W W Gryder, Milas Deal, D M Baker
Little River – Amon Bumgarner, Thomas Barnes, A B Oxford
Ellendale – F B Reese, J C Bell, A C Watts
Wittenberg – A P Johnson, Z T Moretz, W W Fry
Taylorsville – C T Sharpe, J M Jones, Thomas Little
April 27, 1883
North Carolina, Alexander County
Superior Court April 23rd 1883
Amanda M Watts against George S Watts
Action for Divorce
The complaint will be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court within the first three days of the next Term. The Defendant will appear and answer or demur to the complaint during the Spring-Term, 1883, of Alexander Superior Court, else the Plaintiff will take judgment against the Defendant for the relief demanded in the complaint.
J T McINTOSH, CSC
May 18, 1883
The Alexander Railroad Election
At the election held in Alexander county a week ago yesterday, on the question of railroad subscription, the proposition carried overwhelmingly. Below is the vote of the county by townships:
| Township | For Road | Against Road | Reg Vote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miller’s | 136 | 0 | 161 | |
| Sharpe’s | 167 | 0 | 182 | |
| Gwaltney’s | 124 | 0 | 201 | |
| Sugar Loaf | 126 | 0 | 135 | |
| Little River | 126 | 0 | 146 | |
| Ellendale | 173 | 1 | 191 | |
| Wittenburg | 116 | 5 | 181 | |
| Taylorsville | 248 | 0 | 251 |
1204 6 1448
A note from Taylorsville, giving the above figures, says “we mean business and are going to have a railroad.”
June 1, 1883
Alexander Court
The spring term of Alexander Superior Court will convene at Taylorsville next Monday. This will be a one week term as there is not much business on the dockets. The most important case is that of Clark Bruce, charged with complicity in the Thompson robbery and murder. The editor of THE LANDMARK expects to be at Taylorsville Monday and Tuesday of next week and will be pleased to meet his friends and patrons and add to their numbers.
Serious Injury to an Aged Man
Yesterday a week ago Mr Thomas Patterson, of Sharpe’s township, Alexander county, a brother of Mr John Patterson, of this lace, walked out into a tract of land which he was having burned off, when a burning tree toppled and fell, striking him across the back and shoulders and prostrating him to the earth, face downward, with such force as to drive his head half way into the ground. Relief was soon at hand and tree being lifted off of him he was carried to the house. He was still alive, Tuesday afternoon, but his family and friends have no hope of his recovery. Mr Patterson is upwards of 80 years of age, and has been a cripple for some years past, having to walk upon sticks. Sustaining such an accident at his age, it is a matter of wonder that he was not killed instantly. Doubtless he would have been but that the tree in falling struck another or fell across a log, thus lessening the force of its fall.
June 8, 1883
Alexander Court
A representative of THE LANDMARK was at Taylorsville Monday and Tuesday of this week. Judge Gudger and Solicitor Adams were on hand. The judge’s charge, which was quite lengthy, was very well spoken of. C Thomas Sharpe, Esq, was foreman. The dockets were light. Up to Tuesday evening cases on the State docket had been disposed of as follows:
State vs Crockett Wilson and others, trespass; nol pros.
State vs Joseph Bently, assault and battery; continued.
State vs David Haas, affray; nol pros and with leave.
State vs Wm Watt, colored, affray; continued.
State vs Amanda Marlow, retailing; in jail for want of bond.
State vs Emanuel Matheson and John Mock, affray; nol pros.
State vs Philo Pierce, disturbing religious meeting; guilty; sentenced to 30 days in the county jail.
State vs R W Munday, assault and battery; submitted; judgment suspended on payment of costs.
State vs Quincy Mitchell, larceny; continued.
State vs Jo Hines and W J Holloway, colored assault and batter; guilty; Hines fined $20 and costs and Holloway $15 and costs. Holloway went to jail.
State vs Lewis Lippard, colored assault and battery; submits; fined $15 and costs.
State vs Pres Daniels, assault and battery; defendant called and failed; judgment nisi.
State vs. Charles Rector, assault and battery; submits; judgment suspended on payment of costs.
State vs. HE TO Campbell, assault and battery; submits; judgment suspended on payment of costs.
State vs. WE DO Royal, tearing down fence; continued.
State vs. WE SO Hines, larceny; continued.
The case of Clark Bruce, for participation in the Thompson murder and robbery, was continued and moved to Iredell. Mess Linney and Jones, of the local bar, have been retained to aid the solicitor in the prosecution, while Messrs A C McIntosh Jr, and Armfield & Armfield will appear for the defense.
Messrs Long, Bingham and Furches of Statesville, Burkhead, McIntosh and McCorkle of Newton, Cowles of Wilkesboro, and Cline of Hickory were the visiting lawyers at the court.
The commissioners of Alexander, at their meeting Monday, voted $50 for a teachers’ institute to be held some time this summer.
A large new Methodist church will be built at Taylorsville this summer. Rev W D Nelson, the preacher on Alexander circuit, is pushing the movement actively.
There was the usual amount of horse swapping Tuesday, and the traders were generally drunk and dressed up. They were never before known to present such an array of good clothes.
Taylorsville has a paper. It is a four column folio. Mr W P Hedrick editor and proprietor. It appears semi-occasionally and changes its name and enlarges every time. The size of the last paper was about 2 x 4. It has neither politics nor religion. The clerk of the Superior Court is general agent for it.
June 15, 1883
DIED
At her husband’s residence in Charlotte on the 10th inst. Mrs Dr M A Bland.
In Gwaltney’s township, Alexander county, on the 5th inst. of cancer, Miss Lucy Gwaltney.
June 22, 1883
Item from Alexander
Correspondence of The Landmark
Farming in Gwaltney’s township is on a boom -fine seasons, plenty of rain. Wheat is splendid. There is more than an average crop of wheat this year. Oats is short, owing to the drouth. Tobacco is nearly all set, though small crops generally.
R S Carson took a tape worm from a rabbit’s stomach some time ago, which seems to be a curiosity. It was one-half inch in width; its length was unknown, but was great.
C E Tilley has a hen which, the other day, laid three eggs, all in one day. A fine hen if she continues thus and poultry and eggs keep up. She will make Mr Tilley a little fortune.
Mrs Sarah Stout died June 3rd, at her son’s, C G Stout’s residence, in Alexander. She was 81 years old and had been afflicted thirty years. After services conducted by J Marsh, the remains were interred in the grave yard at Sulphur Springs.
Mrs Simpson Shoemaker, wife of Buns Shoemaker, died June 11. Her death is lamented by many friends. She had been married but a short while and bid fair for a long life.
Business seems to be growing slowly but surely in this county.
Daniel Benton is erecting a store house on the Taylorsville and Hamptonville road, near Hopewell church. He says that he will have his goods ready for the blackberry harvest.
B
Grade PO, NC
June 16 1883
On Sunday last I got out of the shade at 12 o’clock and wended my way up to Stony Point church to hear my friend and neighbor boy, J W Browning, preach his first sermon. I found quite a crowd there and they were still coming till 2 o’clock when we went in and quickly every seat was taken up and there was no more room. It looked more like the Sunday of a quarterly meeting than just to hear a boy preach his first sermon. But at it he went, and all must have been surprised, for I never saw so still a house to have so many people in it. He preached a fine sermon. It would have done credit to an older head than his. All were pleased with Mr Browning’s first effort. He has had a pretty hard time of it to get from the plow handles to the pulpit. He had almost as it were, to light his way through shot and shell, but he came out victorious in the end. He will now with a little training an study, make his way to the top of the ladder. Of course we make due allowance for a double portion of chicken that is allotted to every Methodist minister.
I must not forget the flying Dutch-man. We have him in this township. He can build a house and move into it in three days, and in three days more he will be gone. He has built more houses in this township than there are in Taylorsville, except the court house and jail. He never has planted a crop and stayed with it to gather it, for as soon as he gets his corn worked, the second time he must move. He cannot raise any chickens, for when a hen goes to setting eggs he moves and that does the work for the eggs. The sow may return to the wallow and the dog return to his vomit, but Albas Craige must move at all times.
LONOKE
Murdock NC, June 19 1883
Mr J A D Stephenson shows a beautiful piece of rutile which was recently found in Alexander county and which he ahs had polished in New York. It is for a present for a son of a friend of his in Kansas, with whom he has for some time been exchanging specimens.
Indicted for Obstructing the Mails
Miss Mary Bennett, of Alexander county, was before United States Commissioner W G Bogle at Taylorsville, Monday on a warrant sworn out by W P A White Esq, postmaster at McCurdy, Iredell county, under sections 3972 and 3995, charging her with obstructing the United States mail. Mrs Kayle of Yadkin county, has the contract to carry a semi-weekly mail from Hamptonville to Taylorsville and return. When petition was offered for the establishment of the McCurdy office, a plat of the roads leading to and from it was sent to the Postoffice Department. McCurdy is not exactly on the main road, but is reached from the main road on the Taylorsville side through a semi-public road which saves a good deal of time and about six miles travel per week. The Postmaster General adopted this as a post-road. The smaller road runs through the lands of Miss Bennett. Some time ago she stopped it up and the result is that the mail-rider now has to branch off of the public road to get to McCurdy and then double back to the main road. For closing the road in dispute Miss Bennett is indicted for obstruction. She claims that it was never anything but a private road, kept open by her sufferance and that she had the right to shut it up at any moment. Mr White claims that it has been a public road from time immemorial. The commissioner continued the case until the 27th inst. at Bennett’s store, holding Miss Bennett in a bond of $100. She is represented by R Z Linney Esq. The case has been the occasion of much talk and is one of great neighborhood interest.
Back from Texas
Mr J W Miller of Alexander county, who has been living eighteen months in Texas, arrived here night before last on the way to his old home. He exhibited in our office, yesterday morning a tarantula, a centipede and a scorpion, preserved in alcohol in separate bottles. They were taken in Travis county, Texas, where they are numerous. The tarantula is a frightful looking object-a great spider, the sting of which is as deadly as the hit of a rattlesnake. Mr Miller thinks he will not go back to Texas. He considers North Carolina the better state. He says that while money is more abundant there than here, it’s purchasing power is nothing like so great, and people there with abundant means live poorer than our poor people live here. The Texas wheat crops, he reports, is a failure this year, and corn is looking badly.
July 6, 1883
MARRIED
In Taylorsville on the 1st inst. by R B Marsh, Mr Robert Anderson and Miss Lucy Bruce. All of Alexander.
Letter from Alexander
To the Editor of The Landmark
I propose writing to you of the northeast corner of Gwaltney’s township, Alexander county, but must premise my letter by stating that I am no land agent-have not a dollar’s worth of real estate for sale.
This little corner of Gwaltney’s township is situated about 12 or 13 miles from Taylorsville and about 20 miles from Statesville, and is bounded on the east by the Iredell line, and on the northwest by the Wilkes line through this corner of the township runs Rocky creek, a distance of about three miles. On this creek are some of the finest bottom lands in the county. The lands lying on this creek from the Iredell line to the Wilkes line, are assessed at about $10,500. In this little unexpected corner of little Alex is one of the healthiest spots of the county. We can boast of more springs and branches of living water than any other portion of the county. The soil is somewhat diversified, containing very slick bottoms, some poor and much strong hill land, well – for pastorage and well situated for fruit culture. Lands can be purchased a from $3 to $10 per acre, according to quality and location. The beautiful living stream of Rocky creek, flowing through this corner of our county, renders Gwaltney’s township one of the most prosperous, looking to its future development, as it respects machinery and manufacturing interests. It only requires the development of the resources to make this one of the most interesting and most delightful parts of the county. New settlers meet a warm welcome and the citizens vie with each other in deeds of hospitality towards all new corners.
The people are sober, industrious and law-abiding. Very little spirituous liquor is sold in the part. There is only one distillery in operation in this township, and all the whiskey made at this is sold in Statesville by the wholesale.
Corn is plenty in our little rich corner of Gwaltney’s township and is worth about 55 to 60 cents.
Crops look well in this community. The wheat is excellent in this county and more than an average crop. We have fine seasons, plenty of rain, and on the 26th of June we had one of he hardest rains I ever saw, which raised our beautiful little Rocky creek to a considerable height and overflowed a good portion of our bottom corn, but did very little damage.
What we lack in this corner is better roads, better and more machinery, better stores and more of them and more postoffices established, more churches, school houses etc., and then we will be a prosperous people.
Wishing THE LANDMARK success, I subscribe myself, A ROCKY CREEK FARMER
Martin’s Mill, Alexander Co, NC
June 2 1883
Death of a Good Woman
Mrs Martha Linney died at the home of her husband, W C Linney Esq Sr, in Gwaltney’s township, Alexander county, a week ago to-day. Mrs Linney was a daughter of the late Joseph Baxter, of Rutherford county, and inherited much of the brain power of that distinguished family. She was a woman of extraordinary sense and of great worth. Her husband, two daughters and four sons – Messrs R Z, W C Jr, J W, and V A – survive Mrs Linney. She died at the age of about 65 years.
July 13, 1883
DIED
In Shiloh township, July 1st, Miss Laura Brown. The deceased was a lovely young woman, a member of the Presbyterian church. She was punctual in her attendance on worship and in her appreciation of it. Such was her zeal that the undersigned has known her to walk several miles in feeble health to the house of God. She was called away in the bloom of youth, but not until ripe.
At his residence five miles from Taylorsville on the morning of the 9th inst, Dr Eli Daniels.
July 20, 1883
Two Incidents from Alexander
of The Landmark
Jake Moose, of Iredell county, was squirrel hunting a few days ago, on NC CorrespondenceBeckham’s plantation, in Sharpe’s township, Alexander county, near the South Yadkin river, about two miles below where the Thompson murder was committed. Some folks have been on the lookout for robbers ever since the deed was committed. Moose was in a very thickety place when he found, as he said, the robbers’ den. He hastily went for help and succeeded in getting Messrs Bob and Harve Lackey. While he was gone C M Beckham, who had an old sow that had been missing for some time, was out hunting for her, and had just found her, when he heard somebody coming. As they came up very close he heard Moose say, “Be ready, boys: we are very near the damed place.” But when they came to the d–d place they found to their surprise that the robbers’ den was only the place where Beckham’s old sow had given birth to one dozen, more or less, of pigs.
E E combs of Sharpe’s township, Alexander county, has prosecuted ‘Edward Johnson for rocking his house and using vulgar language before his folks. It is believed by the majority of people that Combs is only trying to run Johnson off. Combs, when he had secured the warrant and gave it to the officer, told him to give Johnson the hint before arresting him. But Johnson was too smart for him, and when he heard that the officer had the warrant for him he went and asked him to see it. If Combs cannot prove that Johnson did rock the house, Johnson is going to slap the dead wood on Combs for swearing a lie.
W F
July 16th 1882
Miss Willie Johnson and Miss Minnie Erwin, two of Concord’s fairest daughters, are visiting Taylorsville, the guests of Mr E M Stevenson.
Mr R P Matheson and R Z Linney are attending Watauga court and Mr Linney is accompanied by his daughter, Miss Eola.
Mr Willie T Nelson, our popular young minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, has raised over $400 to erect a handsome church on a vacant lot above Mr Linney’s office. Mr Nelson is energetic and persevering, and with little work has raised the above amount and feels confident that he will be able to raise the balance in a short time by subscription and a sale of the old church and lot. Messrs Smith, Kirley & Co take the contract to build the church and will complete it during the summer.
Croqueting is the principal amusement in our little town these hot days and the champion players challenge any club in the State for a match game.
CITIZEN
Taylorsville, NC, July 17 1883
July 24, 1883
DIED
On the 14th of August, Mary Woods, the wife of Mr D K Woods, of Rowan county, in the 74th year of her age.
In Alexander county, March 6, 1883, Catherine, wife of David Alexander, age 97 years and 3 months, leaving 74 grand children, 25 great-grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Aug 17, 1883
Death Record
Mr John McKoy, the Alexander county jailor, died suddenly Monday night. Monday evening he appeared as well as usual and the next morning was a corpse.
Mr Gilbright James, a well know citizen of Catawba county, living near Catawba Station, died last Sunday night after a sickness of three or four weeks.
Two reference courts sat at Taylorsville last week and excited a good deal of interest. One of the cases was that of Levina Wittenberg against D M Wittenberg and W P Wittenberg, before E M Stevenson and R M Sharp, Esqs. The other, Ellis Haynes against G W Flowers, before E M Stevenson and J P Matheson, Esqs.
Aug 31, 1883
Mr J A Beckham of Sharpe’s township, Alexander county, brought to our office yesterday a twig from the limb of a peach tree on which eight well developed peaches had grown. Two had fallen off but six still clung to the stem. The peach is a red cling, and Mr Beckham says the tree is so prolific that it is about to break to pieces under the weight of its fruit.
Sep 7, 1883
Alexander Items
The wheat crop in Alexander has turned out to be immense. No such crop was ever raised before.
The Associate Reformed Presbytery drew to Elk Shoal church last Sunday almost, if not quite, as large a crowd, as there was at Rocky Springs camp-meeting. Some persons estimated the attendance at 2,500. There was preaching morning and afternoon, both in the church and at a stand nearby.
There has been some excitement over a report that a lunatic, whom Sheriff Baker, of Ashe, was taking to the asylum at Raleigh, escaped from him in this county last week, while passing through. If so he was re-captured.
Alexander is laying herself out in the dried fruit business. The good price encourages the people to save quantities of it. The children of one family cored, sliced, and dried nicely 100 lbs, put it up in clean white sacks and got 12 cents a pound for it. The good price was the result of the care taken in handling.
The Alspaugh factory property was sold, Tuesday by OR UP Matheson, commissioner for partition. It was bought by Messrs Alspaugh Bros for $7,000. The matter will be held open for twenty days at the end of which time, if there is not a 10 percent bid put on it, the commissioner will recommend the confirmation of the sale.
Work on the new Methodist church at Taylorsville is going right forward. The building has already been framed and weatherboarded.
Sep 14, 1883
The First Fruits of the Earth
The first load of new crop tobacco, offered on this market, was sold yesterday by Mr J S Matlock, of Alexander county, at the Farmers’ Warehouse. The price which it brought was altogether to Mr Malock.
Sep 28, 1883
Letter from Alexander
to the Editor of The Landmark
The rain which has been long looked for makes it a little difficulty to save fodder. Some has been damaged already. The people are not near done gathering.
The sparkling Rocky creek got a little above its banks this week and tore the end off of the forebay of Martin’s mill, which was soon replaced; and Joe is still waiting for your corn.
Tobacco looks well, though the late season has given it the second growth which will make it late ripening. Mr J T Stout has a tobacco plant which he says is strange looking. Its growth is natural, but one half of the plant is as white as snow and the other half is of a natural green.
Mrs Hethey Redman, wife of Darnadus Redman and mother of the late J W Redmank, all well known in Statesville, died the 20th. She lived alone in a hut near J W Williams. She has been helpless for a long time.
Mr George Daniels, who is known in Alexander county as once deranged and afterwards recovered, has again lost his mind. He attended meeting at Pilgrim, a few weeks ago, and has since been deranged from religious excitement.
Grade, NC. Sept 22 1883
Oct 5, 1883
Sale of Cotton Factory and Mineral Springs
At the sale of the Sulphur Springs property, in Alexander county, including cotton factory and mineral springs on Tuesday for the present week, Mr R R Gwyn, of the Elkin Manufacturing Co, bought in the factory lot for $3,600, and Mr R P Matheson of Taylorsville, the sulphur spring lot, paying $1,150. The sale is not yet confirmed, being left open until the 1st Monday in December for additional bids.
Jurors for Federal Court
Alexander county – T C Patterson, E M Stevenson, Julius A Beckham, John Davidson, C A Gant.
Oct 19, 1883
Mr Preson Daniels, of Alexander county, was riding in a sweeping gallop across the back lot adjacent to the Farmers’ Warehouse, Tuesday afternoon, when his horse stumbled and fell and broke its neck. Considering that the animal was a very good one it can be pardoned to Mr Daniels that he sat down by the dead body of his beast and wept.
Oct 26, 1883
Sheriff Mays of Alexander, was in town Tuesday, with his daughter, Mrs J T Flowers, of Missouri, who had been on a four months visit to her old home. She took the train her Tuesday morning for Missouri, carrying to her husband a pair of twins with which she enriched him while she was here. Four young men from Alexander county, W P and Wm Patterson, a Martin and a Smith, left with Mrs Flowers.
1880 Washington- Jackson Co MO Census: J Tillett Flowers age 30 b. ca 1850 NC ; Martha A age 25; Maude B age 5; infant age 11mos
1900 Kansas City Ward 11, Jackson Co MO Census: Joseph T Flowers age 53; Martha A age 47; Maud B age 25; Herbert W Flowers age 20; Margaret E age 16; Mary C age 16; John T age 12 [Census data provided by Jerry Dagenhart]
Nov 2, 1883
Came from California for her
Mr J W Mitchell of California, and Mrs R M Connor, widow of the late Dr Connor, were married by Rev Mr Norton, at the home of the bride in Shiloh township, this county, Wednesday. Both are natives of Alexander county. They had known each other and there had been kindly relations between them in their youth. Many years ago Mr Mitchell went to California. His wife and Mrs Conner’s husband both died and negotiations between these two were opened up. It was all arranged, it is presumed, by correspondence. At all events Mr Mitchell arrived here recently, went to Mrs Conner’s house, and Wednesday they were married. They will not go to California at once.
Nov 9, 1883
A handsome wedding card, received some days ago, announced the marriage of Prof William Earl Hidden, of the Emerald and Hiddenite Mining Company, Stony Point, Alexander county, N C, to Miss Josephine W Morton, at the bride’s residence, 25 Orleans street, Newark, N J, Tuesday, Oct 30th. Congratulations and best wishes.
Mr Dent Campbell of Alexander county, who has been running the cotton gin of Messrs W Turner & Co at Turnersburg, this fall, had the fingers of his right hand, and the hand itself, badly lacerated in the gin, last Saturday. He did not lose any of his fingers though the bones of some of them were sawed nearly in two.
Nov 40, 1883
DIED
In Alexander county, on the 18th inst. a daughter of Mr J R Maberry, aged about two years.
Dec 1, 1883
Burglary in Alexander
Night before last the residence of Mr Osborne Lackey of Sharpe’s township, Alexander county, was entered by burglars who robbed it of a considerable amount of money and other property. The persons who bring this news to Statesville are unable to tell the amount of the loss.
Dec 4, 1883
Bogle Mill property in Alexander county, 11 1/2 acres subject to the dower, bought by David Wallace at $100.