Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc.

P.O. BOX 817, Sparta, N.C. 28675

President: Wilma R. Foster			
Vice President: Peal Reeves
Secretary-Treasurer: Lou Reid Landreth

Vol. 5, No. 4	 	             December 1983	 	BULLETIN NO. 17

FROM THE PRESIDENT:

	Every year about this time the year comes to an end and we always seem to be amazed that it has occurred so quickly.  We usually exclaim about all the things we “didn’t get done,” but this year, I am going to exclaim about some of the things “WE DID GET DONE.”

	Number one of course is the great accomplishment of the publication and release of the “Alleghany Heritage Book.”  The sales have been good and everyone seems to be really pleased with the book.  Many people are coming back for more copies once they have had a chance to read theirs.  We are very proud of everyone who took part in this publication, especially Lou Reid Landreth, June and M.O. Zimmerman, and Pearl Reeves, who spent unbelievable hours getting it all together.  They greatly deserved the Governors Award for Volunteer service which was presented to them in a ceremony in Sparta on December 6, 1983.  This was an honor to the Society and all of Alleghany County.

	We did not have quite as good lucky with our attempts to locate a home for our museum.  To date we have not been able to find a suitable site, but we will really work toward that end in 1984.  I guess we can’t expect to publish a book and start a museum in the same year now can we?

	Everyone is asked to please follow up on any idea you may have or think of regarding a building or land for the museum.  Let’s really get to work and see if we can’t find someone who wants to make donations, land, house or money, so we can have a museum for the county to really be proud of.

	It seems that you are going to be stuck with me as your president for another year.  I have enjoyed working in this position this year and do thank each of you for your support.  That, by the way, is the reason I agreed to try one more year, you promised to support me again!  Thank you for your faith in me and I will do what I can—with your help.  

	A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to each and everyone and lets make 1984 another GREAT ONE for our Society. 

HERITAGE BOOK NEWS:

	We are proud of all the nice comments on our Heritage book and want to share some of them with you:

	From Arkansas: “Thanks to all of you wonderful people for putting out this book.  All the history recorded in this book could no be found anywhere else.  The book shows it is a labor of love on the part of the Heritage Book Committee.  I twill benefit many people at present and for years to come.  Enclosed please find my check for another book.”

	From Washington State: “I want to thank you and all who worked so diligently and unselfishly on the book.  I appreciate it and also your locating lost cemeteries.  I recognized most of the names from Mama’s fond memories and reminiscing.  I learned from the article on Laura Belle Rutherford that her daughter, Aunt Nan Williams, was still alive.  I like the way the names are indexed in the book, makes tracing people easier.  I wrote to Cynthia McMillan, Mama’s childhood friend who lives in Kennett Square, Pa.  Many thanks again.

	From State Road: “We want to buy two more copies of the book.  We have sketches in the Surry Heritage Book also and I am so glad I contributed to both.  We are so indebted to al of you for your time and efforts in preserving family records for posterity.  We know how hard all of you have worked and we shall be forever grateful.”

	From Roanoke, Virginia: “You all did a great job and I can only imagine the hours it must have taken, thinking of he several I spent on just about two pages I contributed.  I stayed up until 12:00 on night reading about people I’ve known and many other hours when I have stayed with three children.  Please express my appreciation to the entire Committee for the outstanding accomplishment.  Thank you for letting me know about the history so our family could be included.”

	From Whitehead: “Your history book of Alleghany County is a masterpiece which will become more precious as time goes on.  I know Merle would have been proud of the Wagoner house.  I know the work must have been long and tiresome but you and all who had a part in it will b honored for many years to come.”

	From Alabama: “Reading your book my emotions were at an all time high to be able to follow my family history in such a wonderful book.  I can’t possibly express my feelings for such an effort as your Society made to publish this data.  My wife and I would like to get copies for our family for Christmas.  Please advise how we place an order.”

	From Idaho: “We are so thrilled with “Alleghany County Heritage.”  I knew it would be nice, but never dreamed it could be so much.  It is a treasure.  And all the work and time that went into it!  I just love every page.  Besides all the family and other people I knew, there are lots of names I recognize through hearing Mom talk about them.  I want to order another book for my daughter in California.”

	From Minnesota: “I want to compliment all of you people who helped put out the Alleghany County Heritage.  What a mammoth job that was!  I have just published a very small (60 pages) book on my husband’s family, so I can imagine what it must have been for that huge book. It is really wonderful to have and I’m sure your efforts are appreciated by many, many people.”

	From Florida: “We are thrilled with our Heritage Book! You have done a magnificent job and we trust you are feeling satisfaction that your job has been finished.  We get to looking at it—and time just gets away from us!  Surely many persons will consider it a treasure to pass on to a new generation.  Please accept our thanks and deep appreciation.”

	WE COULD GO ON, but you get the idea of what some of our mail has been like.

ANNOUNCMENT:

	A new Genealogical Society has been recently formed in Alexander County.  They would like to share information, family histories and County records with others who would benefit from them.  Anyone interested in membership or exchange of information should contact The Alexander County Genealogical Society.

HISTORY OF ALLEGHANY COUNTY

The following is the second installment 
of a series to be included in this
Bulletin.  It was written about 1912
by S.F. Thompson

ROARING GAP

	Within the last few years Roaring Gap has attained importance as a Summer resort. A large and well-arranged hotel on a site commanding charming and magnificent views and visa.  It is on top of the Blue Ridge at an elevation of nearly 3,300 feet.  A number of nice cottages have been built here, which give this resort the appearance of a modern, well-arranged town.

	THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE HELD THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES IN THE COUNTY:

Register of Deeds

Thompson Edwards		1865-1868
F.M. Mitchell			1868-1880
F.G. McMillian		1880-1882
F.M. Mitchell			1882-1886
J.C. Rup			1886-1892
J.N. Edwards			1892-1898
S.F. Thompson		1898-1904
Jno. F. Cox			1904-1908
G.D. Brown			1908-   -

Sheriff

Jesse Bledsoe			1859-1864
J.C. JONES			1864-1870
J. Wyatt			1870-1882
Berry Edwards		1882-1884
George Bledsoe		1884-1885	Died
W.F. Thompson		1885-1888	Appointed
W.S. Gambill			1888-1894
L.J. Joines			1894-1898
D.R. Edwards			1898-1904
S.A. Choate			1904-1908
Jno. R. Edwards		1908-1910
S.C. Richardson		1910-   -

Clerk of Superior Court

Wm. A.J. Fowlkes		          1868
B.H. Edwards			1868-1873
J.J. Gambill			1873-1882
R.S. Carson			1882-1890
W.E. Cox			1890-1898
J.N. Edwards			1898-1910
S.F. Thompson		1910-   -

Clerk of County Court

Allen Gentry			1859-1862
Hort Reeves			1862-1866
C.G. Fowlkes			1866-1868

State Senators

Jesse Bledsoe			1878
F.J. McMillan			1880
W.C. Fields			1892
W.C. Fields			1898
Stephen A. Taylor		1904
R.L. Doughton		1908
Jno. M. Wagoner		1910

	FIRST ORDER MADE BY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT THEIR FIRST MEETING:

	At a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on the 16th day of November 1868 “Ordered by the Commissioners that William C. Field be appointed overseer of the road from I.W. Landreth’s commencing at the form of Elk Creek near Stephen Landreth’s to State Road.”  (William C. Fields here referred to later became a distinguished lawyer and legislature).

	SOME OTHER INTERESTING ORDERS PASSED BY THE COMMISSIONERS WERE

	AT A MEETING HELD AT Sparta in respect of the memory of Col. J.H. Parks, deceased, J.T. Hawthorne was elected chairman and F.G. McMillan, secretary.  After eulogizing remarks by W.C. Fields, E.L. Vaughn, Dr. J.L. Smith, upon motion of E.L. McMillan, were appointed to draft suitable resolutions in respect of the memory of the deceased in their insuperable loss.

	Resolved, that the Secretary of the meeting furnished the family of the deceased a copy of these proceedings.

					F.G. McMillan		J.T. Hawthorne
					Secretary			Chairman
					June 7, 1880

	At a meeting of the Commissioners for said County, present J.T. Hawthorne, Chairman, for the purpose of receiving the report of the building of the Court House in Sparta.  Present J.T. Hawthorne and C.J. Edwards.  This day the building committee made a report signed by J.T. Hawthorne, Alex Hampton, Allen Jones, J.H. Parks, Esq., now deceased having been one of the said building committee is of the following language:

	September 14th, 1880.  To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of said County: We the undersigned building committee having been duly appointed to let contract and superintend the building of a Court House in the County of Alleghany and town of Sparta, did contract the building of said Court House to H.F. Jones for the sum of Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Five Dollars.  Whereas the said H.F. Jones has builded the same and on the day and date____________________ tendered said house to the Committee and after inspection we do herby agree to receive said house.  WE therefore recommend to your workships that you receive this report, and order that the remainder of the money be paid to H.F. Jones, contractor, and in testimony whereof, we affix our names day above written.

								J.T. Hawthorne
								Alex Hampton
									Building Committee

	We have examined the of said building committee and it is hereby ordered that the same be and is hereby in all things confirmed.  It is ordered by the Board of Commissioners that J.R. Wyatt, Sheriff, and ex-officio Treasurer of said County of Alleghany, pay to H.F. Jones, the builder of the new Court House in Sparta, the balance of the money now due him for building the same, the sum of Fourteen Hundred and Seventy-Five Dollars.

								J.T. Hawthorne, C.B.C.

	September 15th, 1880.  It appears from the records that the County borrowed money from Salem Bank for building Court House.

	J.H. Doughton appointed to survey county lines between Wilkes and Alleghany, from Grandfather Mountain to Airbellows year 1879.  For his services was allowed $2.25.

							TO BE CONTINUED*******

MEMBERSHIP:

	1984 Membership dues are now due.  If you haven’t renewed your membership now is the time to do so. Also see if you can’t get at least one new member!