Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc.

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

President: Marvie Shelor			
Vice President: Pauline Jolly
Secretary-Treasurer:  Elvira Crouse

Vol. 10, No.1	 	             	  March 1988			BULLETIN NO. 34

FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Dear Fellow Members:

	If you didn't get to our last meeting, you missed one of the best programs we have had.  Mr. John Greene, a Cherokee living in Ashe County, presented a detailed history of the Cherokee Tribe.  I wish we could get more programs such as this.

	Our cemetery book project is moving nicely.  Mrs. Lambert from Wilkes Community College is putting our information on a computer program. It will be completed before long.  We will be getting estimates from a printer and finishing up various details in the near future.

	I still want us to make a trip this summer to some historical site or place of interest. If anyone has a good idea, please let us know!

	We need better attendance at meetings and DON'T FORGET—This is the last chance to pay your 1988 dues! Recruit a new member!!

LETTER FROM MARTHA SETTLE TO JAMES A. SMITH BEFORE THEIR MARRIAGE.  (LETTER IS DATED SEPT. 4th, 1862. THEY WERE MARRIED SEPT. 26th, 1862)

Dear Mr.

	I take the present opportunity to reply to your letter tho at a very great loss.  I  have not determined how to write yet.  I must do the very best I can.  You spoke about 5 youngsters opposing you.  If your children do oppose I want to know it and if you do not tell me I shall always think hard.  

	You spoke of volunteering.  If it is your desire you must do so.  I shall not be in the way a purpose. If there is any person in view with you, you must use your pleasure. You spoke of my age. Do you know it?  If you do I would like to hear what you have to say about that.  I thank you that I am not so old as probably you heard I was and as to it, I am not scared.  So dear Mr. I will say no more on this at present.

	You confessed that love, and for what is it?  Not for beauty I know, nor wealth and I just want to know why it is.  You put some hard questions to me, to hard to answer now unless I knew what was your intention on this subject. You said something about me being a servant.  DO you not want the same or do you intend to make a lady of the girl you obtain for a companion?  Or would it not turn out as I remarked at the outset?  So now tell me the terms and I am ready to answer you questions.

	Do you think your children would be willing to brought under any person? So please answer these questions plain before I go any farther.  What would be my position were it the case that I was to be placed in such a condition as I was speaking of?  So no more on this subject.

	You can use your pleasure about Miss Will.  If you prefer to go to pay her a visit do not let me be in the way.  You spoke of seeing me when you pleased.  You can come and stay all night at any time but I shall not talk with you until you answer my questions.  You spoke of me being a servant.  Had not I as well remain a free servant as bound and not privileged to move my station? Do not take an offense at these questions.  They was not intended so.  It is only plain and to know your mind and intentions. If you would be true and candid with me on this cause, so no more at present.  Only I beg of you to pardon my folly and impute all to my ignorance.  Please to excuse my bad writing.

									Martha Settle

NOTE: Concerning “volunteering”, James Anderson Smith had considered enlisting in the Army of the Confederates during the Civil War, but he was born March 7, 1810 and was 51 years old at the time this letter was written.  His first wife, Mary M., who was the daughter of the first settlers in Alleghany, Mr. And Mrs. Absolum Smith, was born March 1, 1823.  She died February 3, 1861.  She and James Anderson had been married since March 15, 1843.  They had six children:

1.	Thomas W. Smith, born Jan. 29, 1846
2.	Jones Smith, born Oct. 11 1848
3.	Elizabeth Jane Smith, born Nov. 13, 1850
4.	Manliff Carter Smith, born April 7, 1853
5.	Charles W. Smith, born Jan. 4, 1856
6.	John N.B. Smith, born Sept. 29, 1858.

	James Anderson Smith's second wife, Martha Settle Smith, was born July 9, 1834 and died Jan 11, 1908.  They had three sons, all who became Methodist minsters.

1.	Joel Franklin Smith, born Nov. 4, 1863
2.	Reuben Noah Smith, born Jan. 28 1866
3.	James Ralph Smith, born June 20, 1986—he was my grandfather.

								Submitted by:
									Pauline (Swisher) Meals
INQUIRES:

	Anyone researching MAHAFFY family?  I am collecting anything and everything on them.  Need parents of John Mahaffy, b 1813, Surry, NC; died shortly after Civil War ca 1867; married Mary Holloway, b 1813-1820, died 31 Oct 1907, Wilkes (Rock Creek), NC. (Need to prove which Daniel Holloway was her father).  Effie Anders, Riviera, Arizona.

	Seeking genealogical data regards to Barton (Burton) WALKER, John and Rebecca (Ward) Walker, James and Sarah (Fender and/or Gross) Walker, Elizabeth Walker (sister to James?) also Mary Walker who resided in household of a Whitehead family, all in Ashe County North Carolina in 1850 or prior.  Would also appreciate information on above surnames in Yancy and/or Alleghany counties, North Carolina.  Will reimburse cost of copy and postage on request and/or exchange information.  Hazeldan (Clark) Ballard, Vina, California.  

	From William L. Poole, Macon, GA.  Would like to correspond/exchange information with anyone having knowledge of: Joseph COCHRAM/COCKERHAM and wife, Elizabeth “Bettie” ISOM; Children: SPENCER B. c1843, POLLY b. c1845, HUGH b c1847, JULIANN b. c1849, and CAROLINE b. c1853; all born in North Carolina. During the 1860 Census of Alleghany County, NC, they were living in the Glade Creek District.

	If anyone knows where the following books might be available, please contact Effie Andres, Riviera, Arizona.

			HISTORY OF NEW RIVER, ASHE, NC, by David Wood.
			FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME by Dr. Aras B. Cox.

MARRIAGE BONDS

	The following Marriage Bonds, Application for Marriage License, have been discovered in the records of William Weaver, Jr. when he was Deputy Clerk of Court in what was then Ashe County, North Carolina:

Name of Male		Name of Female			Date		       Other Person on Bond
John Cox		Frankley Stamper		25 Apr 1840		Jesse Cox
Tobias Taylor		Mary Tilly			27 Mar 1841		Stephen Taylor
Stephen Taylor		Elizabeth Privet			7 Jul 1841		Riley Stamper
Alexander C Long	Sarah Brown			11 Jul 1842		Solomon Long
Andrew Privet		Mehallah Wyatt			28 Dec 1843		John Blevins
Levi Stone		Frances Shepherd		3 Jun 1845		Christopher McCrary
Marion Wooddee		Vilindy Blevins			25 Apr 1846		George Ketchum
Stephen Taylor		Mandy Waggoner		13 May 1846		Alexander Taylor
Jese Sheets		Elizabeth Osborn			13 May 1846		Henry Woodde
Alfred Thompson	Sarah Brown			30 Oct 1846		Morris Hart
David Osborn		Nancy Woodde			16 Jan 1847		Jesse Bledsoe
John Stevans		Mary Proctor			21 May 1847		Wm E Brooks
Daniel Jones		Adalina Hart			27 Jan 1848		John Reeves
John Holloway		Patsy Waggoner			27 Jan 1848		Solomon Stamper
Hugh Caudill		Elizabeth Blevins			28 Jan 1847		Daniel Waggoner
Levi J Cornett		Frances Stamper			5 Feb 1847		Nathan Weaver
Calvin Thompson	Nesey Brown			9 May 1847		Allen Richardson
Henry Perry		Alpha Taylor			4 Jan 1848		Joshua Cox
Jacob Sheets		Nancy Miller			22 Jan 1848		George Miller
Jasper Osborn		Mary Sheets			19 Feb 1848		Eli Osborn

(PLACE  MARRIAGE BOND HERE: SCANNED INTO COMPUTER AS STATENCMARRIAGEBOND. PAGE 5 OF BULLETIN)

FROM THE PAGES OF LUNA WEAVER'S SCRAPBOOK:
	We are grateful to Luna Weaver for sharing her scrapbooks with us.  She has shard them with others for so many years that they are becoming threadbare.  However this is an opportunity for more people to enjoy some of the many interesting articles.

	Many articles are not dated, but the following would have been in the 1950's:

	PINEY CREEK SCHOOL HAS HAD COLORFUL HISTORY:

	Piney Creek's colorful forty-two year old history started back in the year 1910 when patrons of the old Piney Creek one-teacher school, Halsey one-teacher school and Kings' Creek two-teacher school decided to consolidate into a centrally located school. The site chosen was a hill top covered with virgin timber where the present school now stands.  Houston Parsons donated four acres of this timber land.  Al the building material that went into this school was cut, sawed, dressed and kiln dried here on the campus.  All labor was donated.  On completion of the building, all furnishings including desks, blackboards and equipment were given by interested patrons, without no outside help whatsoever.  The original building consisted of four classrooms and a large auditorium with a music room and dressing room. The school was called the Piney Creek Academy.  Its first teachers were Joe Critcher, Principal; Miss Pearl Fields; Mrs. Sadie Woodruff Hash and Mrs. Alma Smith Ross with a four month term.

	The next year a regular music teacher was hired and a piano was bought (i tis still in use and in good condition).

	The year 1911-1912 brought the first six-month term.  In 1917 the school was made an accredited high school and thus became eligible for county and state aid.  This year we had two graduates, brothers Howard and Conley Halsey.  Bert Wright was principal.  

	As the classrooms were filled to capacity two extra classrooms were built in the back of the auditorium and the dressing room was also used as a classroom.  The high school annex, built in 1922, consisted of four large classrooms, a library and science laboratory, and a shop in the basement.  In 1925 there was installed a complete Carbide lighting system which was used until the new building was completed.

	The first home economics classes were given in 1922-23-24 by Mrs. E.M. Williams who taught cooking in her own kitchen and sewing in a regular classroom.

	About the year 1926 an Agriculture and Home Ec. Building was constructed consisting of a classroom and shop downstairs, and a complete home ec. Department upstairs including furnished living and bedrooms.  Mr. Emerson Black, one of our graduates, was the first agriculture teacher.  Miss Edna Fletcher was our first regular home ec. Teacher.

	For many years we had an active commercial and stenographic class which offered unusual business opportunities to our students. 

	Before the event of bus transportation (about 1930-31) may of our students walked 12 m;iles per day in order to receive an education.  Several students that lived too far away to walk “batched” in cottages near the campus, going home over the weekends.

	In the year 1932-33 a modern brick gym was built and our playground enlarged by the purchase of more land.

	The years 1937-38 were great ones in our schools' history, with the construction of our present large, modern school building erected on the site of the old academy.  This building consists of 10 large classrooms, reading room, library and office built around a large auditorium was furnished and seated by donations of former students and graduates of the school.

	The furniture from the old building was used until this year when light oak furniture was placed in each room.  The modern heating plant was installed in 1950, new lights in the classrooms in 1950, new boards in 1951, the building was completely painted in the summer of 1952. Full-length mirrors, drawing easels and over $300.00 worth of library books have been added this year.

	Time and space does not permit us to list all of our outstanding graduates, we have had so many of them, but we will list a few: Conley Halsey, class of '17, Mgr. And owner of a large food distributing plant in Richmond, Va.; Howard Halsey, class of '17, Mgr. And owner of Educational Supply House, Atlanta, Ga.; Mrs. Ollie Ward Parker, outstanding musician; Lonnie Busic, Quentin Fender, Beulah Cockerham Young, Wilma Crouse all received their stenographic and commercial education here.  Dr. Ray Robert Perry of Shelby, Doctor of Pharmacy; Sidney and Robert Gambill, outstanding attorney's.

	Here is a 1912 Obituary:

	Mrs. Katie Gambill, wife of James Gambill, was born April 6, 1845, departed this life April 4, 1912, making her stay on earth 67 years, lacking two days. She was married to James M. Gambill Januray 6, 1866.  To this union were born 10 children, two died very young, 8 are still living—4 boys and 4 girls.  Charlie E. Gambill is living at Baltimore.  Robert, Tom and three of the girls still living with their father at home.  They are Bettie, Myrtle, and Ottie.  Sister Gambill joined the Primitive Baptist church at Elk Creek in the county of Alleghany, state of N.C. In 1867.  She lived a life in honor of her family, to her country and to her God.

	A noble one has gone to her everlasting inheritance, a home of the blessed.  This kind and devoted sister was ever ready to feed the hungry and willing to take care of the poor people in distress.  She was blessed with plenty of this world's goods and free to help those in need. The writer often visted this good home and shared with their kind hospitality.  She was buried in the graveyard at Elk Creek in the presence of a large congregation of people. Words cannot express our sympathy and respect for this good family.  May God bless and comfort Brother Gambill and the dear children.  A mother in Israel has gone from us. Just a few more beating winds and storms and it will all pass over with you and me.

	Written by request.						M.B. Martin

	LETTER FROM CUBA:

	Editor Star—Doubtless the people of Alleghany would be interested to hear from her soldier boys in Cuba, of which there are five here at present.   

	We enlisted in the Marine Corps at Denver, Col., May 12th, went from there to Mare Island, where we had quite a spell of training and then left for Philadelphia, doing a “Barney Oldfield stunt” from coast to coast.  We hit Phila when it was boiling roast, stayed a week and saw a little of the town, then boarded transport “Prairie” southbound.  The first day our was a joke, the second day they nailed down the dishes.  Favorite pastime was “feeding fishes” (seasick men heaving over the rail). Th rid day was better, the red cheeks were still pale.  Fourth day out, we got a glimpse of land and it sure looked good to our tired band.  It was on the evening of the following day we dropped anchor in Guantanamo Bya an dput up our camp at Deer Point.

	Worked like______ for a week or two, then things slacked up, not much to do.  All took liberty at towns nearby. After two or three days vacation and tramp, roll was called and every man found in camp.  We are keenly looking forward to going to the front. You should hear some of the boys cuss and swear because we are not there.  Our company commander pleads with us to have patience, “that we'll conquer all nations yet.”

	Tell my baseball comrades I'm still playing ball, two games Sunday—an average of three a week. Come on boys, I want to see you in our round-up of Germany, as we did on those smaller things.

									REX COX 	Oct. 1, 1917
									37th Co., 7th Regt., USMC
									Naval Station,
									Guantanamo, Cuba

1911 OBITUARY: The remains of Mr. Nathan Williams arrived on Friday and the funeral conducted Saturday with Masonic honors.  Details received state that he met death in a runaway accident.  He was on a visit to his daughter in Idaho.  Mr. Williams was a gentleman of the old school and was universally liked. Though about 70 years of age he as very active and had a large circle of friends who deeply deplore his tragic death.

WE WILL HAVE MORE ITEMS FROM THESE SCRAPBOOKS IN FUTURE BULLETINS!!!!!