Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc.

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

President: Mildred Torney			
Vice President: Pauline Jolly
Secretary-Treasurer:  Elvira Crouse

Vol. 13, No.3	 	           		 September 1991		BULLETIN NO. 47

From the President:

	Fall, the season that belongs uniquely to the mountains, is here!  I hope everyone enjoys the beautiful foliage and tangy weather as I do.

	One of our main projects for the year is underway.  We are in the process of copying the old Alleghany tax records.  The records contain information that is not on the census, such as ages.  We hope this will be another useful tool for those trying to find lost relatives. A large number of people have been traveling and coming by to check out their genealogy records.

	We are proud to announce that the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce has pledged its support to our efforts to establish a Heritage Museum here.

	On a sad note, we are sorry to report the death of another one of our members: Mrs. Alene Johnson Richardson of Sparta on July 29, 1991.

	I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been so much help and to wish you God's blessings in the days ahead.

									Mildred Torney.

ASHE COUNTY
97TH REGIMENT, 24TH BRIGADE
North Carolina Militia 1861 – 1865

COLONEL 						COMMANDING OFFICER

GENTRY, JAMES M.

 	LIEUTENANT COLONEL

HARDEN, WILLIAM P.						VOLUNTEERED
RAY, GEORGE W.							2ND IN COMMAND

 	MAJOR

FOSTER, JOEL E.							3RD IN COMMAND

 	CAPTAIN

ASHELY, JOHN S. 							Area – STAGES CREEK
BROOKS, GEROGE W.						Area – PINEY CREEK
GOODMAN, JACOB						Area – OLD FIELDS
GRAYBAL, DAVID							Area – LAUREL 
HAM Jr., JOHN							Area – HORES CREEK
HARDIN, JOSEPH W.						Area – OLD FIELDS
HARDIN, WILLIAM P.						Area – OLD FIELDS
HARTOG (?), DAVID W.						Area – PINE SWAMP
JOHNSON, CAMLIN						Area – CRAMBURY 
NEAL, QUINCEY F.							Area – JEFFERSON 
PHILLIPS, GEORGE H.						Area – PINE SWAMP 
PIERCE, RUFUS K.							Area – CHESTNUT HILL
ROARKS, MICHAEL						Area – NORTH FORK
SHULER, PHILIP S.							Area - HELTON
SHUTZ, JORDAN							Area – PEAK CREEK
SMITH, JAMES G.							Area – JEFFERSON 

	1ST LIEUTENANT

BLACKBORN, HOMAR						Area – PINE SWAMP
BLEVINS, ALFRED							Area – HELTON 
CALL, WILLIAM B.							Area – OLD FIELDS
CARSON, SMITH M.						Area – CRAMBURY 
DUVALL, OWNE							Area – NOT LISTED
DUVALL, SAMUEL O.						Area – HELTON 
ELLER, HARRISON							Area – JEFFERSON 
GRAYBAL, JOHN							Area – LAUREL 
HAM, ABRAM							Area – HORSE CREEK
HOUEK, JACOB							Area – OLD FIELDS
LEWIS, JOHN							Area – STAGES CREEK
ORSBORN, CALEB							Area – NORTH FORK
POWERS, DRURYS							Area – PINEY CREEK
RAY, GEROGE W.							Area – JEFFERSON 
TAYLOR, ANDREW							Area – PEAKS CREEK  
WEAVER, NOAH							Area – CHESTNUT HILL
WITHERSPOON, SIDNEY						Area – CHESTNUT HILL

	2nd LIEUTENANT
ALLEN, BENJAMIN						Area – NORTH FORK
ANDERSON, FIEDLING H.					Area – HELTON 
ANDERSON, ORRAL						Area – CHESTNUT HILL
ASHELY, WILLIAM							Area – STAGES CREEK
BLACKBORN, EDWARD						Area – PINE SWAMP
BLEVINS, ELIJAH							Area – JEFFERSON 
DENNY, CORNELIUS HUTCHISON				Area – STAGES CREEK
EASTRIDGE, DAVID						Area – LAUREL
GOODMAN, JAMES						Area – OLD FIELDS
GRAYBAL, ALFRED						Area – LAUREL
GREER (?), ELI							Area – HELTON
HASLEY, DRURY							Area – CHESTNUT HILL
HOWELL, WILLIAM						Area – OLD FIELDS
JONES, ABRAM							Area – PINEY CREEK
JONES, JACINTY							Area – HELTON
KILBY, LEVI F.							Area – HORSE CREEK
LEWIS, NATHAN							Area – NORTH FORK
MILLER, GEROGE E.						Area – PEAKS CREEK  
PERSONS (?), ISAAC						Area – OLD FIELDS
RAY, THOMPSON C.						Area – OLD FIELDS
RAY, WILBORN							Area – JEFFERSON'S
SHUTZ, JACOB B.							Area – PEAKS CREEK 
TUCKER, JOHN							Area – PINEY CREEK
TUCKER, WILLIAM P.						Area – CRAMBURY
TURNER, NICHOLAS G.						Area – JEFFERSON'S
WALTER, GEORGE W.						Area – JEFFERSON'S
WEAVER, ELI							Area – HORSE CREEK
WOODEE, WILSON							Area – CRAMBURY

	END ASHE COUNTY MILITIA OFFICER LISTING

WILKES COUNTY
92ND REGIMENT, 23RD BRIGADE
North Carolina Militia 1861 – 1865

COLONEL 						COMMANDING OFFICER

SMITH, ROBERT M.				Area – WILKESBORO 

 	LIEUTENANT COLONEL

HAGUE, JAMES							2ND IN COMMAND

 	MAJOR

BECKNELL, ADOLPHUS A.					3RD IN COMMAND

 	CAPTAIN

ADAMS, JESSE P.							Area – COMPANY 4
BRYAN, JOHN Q. A.						Area – COMPANY 7
CARTER, BENJAMIN F.						Area – COMPANY 6
COMBS, JOHN							Area – COMPANY 2
DANCY, ALEXANDER B.						Area – COMPANY 9
GAMBILL, JAMES M.						Area – COMPANY 5
GOFORTH, SAMUEL S.						Area – COMPANY 3
JOHNSON, BENJAMIN P.						Area – ANITOICH 
JOINES, WESLEY							Area – COMPANY 8
LADD, ELIJAH							REGIMENT ADJUTANT
PARKER, WILLIAM H.						Area – COMPANY 1
PARKS, FELIX B.							Area – COMPANY 10
SPIERS, JOSEPH BRYAN						Area – COMPANY 7
WELLBORN, JOHN M.						Area – COMPANY 4
WILLS, AMBROSE							Area – ROCK CREEK
	
	1ST LIEUTENANT

BECKNELL, ADOLPHUS A.					Area – COMPANY 3
BLACKBURN, JESSE						Area – ROCK CREEK
BOUCHELL, JOHN							Area – COMPANY 1
BROWN, AARON H.						Area – COMPANY 9
JOHNSON, ELI F.							Area – ANITOICH 
JOHNSON, JAMES M.						Area – COMPANY 10	
JOINES, THOMAS M.						Area – COMPANY 8
JONES, BARTLETT S.						Area – COMPANY 6
MOORE, WESLEY							Area – COMPANY 1	
REDDING, ENOS M.						Area – COMPANY 4
SOMERS, UNKNOWN S.						Area – COMPANY 3
SPARKES, LEWIS WILLIAM					Area – COMPANY 7
WALLS, NATHANIEL 						Area – COMPANY 5

WILKES COUNTY 
93RD REGIMENT, 23RD BRIGADE
North Carolina Militia 1861 – 1865 

COLONEL 						COMMANDING OFFICER

HORTON, ALEXANDER H.			Area – ELK CREEK

 	LIEUTENANT COLONEL

LAND, JAMES CALVIN						2ND IN COMMAND

 	MAJOR

CHURCH, JOHN W.							3RD IN COMMAND

 	CAPTAIN

BALL, JOHN F.							REGIMENTAL ADJUTANT
BROWN, GEORGE W.						Area – H, BRICK HOUSE
CHURCH, ANDERSON M.						Area – C, HAYES
CHURCH, JOHN W.							Area – D, JOBS CABIN
DAVIS, JAMES P.C.							Area – I, BRUSHY MOUNTAIN
FERGERSON, JOSHUA M.						Area – G, WARREN CREEK
LAND, JAMES CALVIN						Area – F, STONY FORK   
MCNEIL, GEORGE W.						Area – COMPANY E
MCNEIL, JAMES M.						Area – B, FORK ROAD
PIERCE, WILLIAM N.						Area – A, REDDIN RIVER	
TRIPLETT, JOEL							Area – F, STONY FORK
WOODLY, JOHATHAN						Area – D, JOBS CABIN

 	1ST LIEUTENANT

FLETCHER, WESLEY						Area – D, JOBS CABIN
GILRATH, THOMAS J.						Area – I, BRUSHY MOUNTAIN
MCNEILL, WILLIAM A.						Area – B, FORK ROAD	
SWANSON, RICHARD C.						Area – G, WARREN CREEK
THOMPSON, JOHN H.						Area – COMPANY E
VANNOY, JAMES H.						Area – A, REDDIN RIVER
WALSH, W. HENDERSON						Area – F, STONY FORK
WALSH, WILLIAM L.						Area – C, HAYES
	
	2ND LIEUTENANT

BINGHAM, ROBERT S.						Area – A, REDDIN RIVER
BUMGARNER, JAMES L.						Area – B, FORK ROAD
CHURCH, HIRAM							Area – D, JOBS CABIN
ELLER, HENRY C.							Area – C, HAYES
ELLER, JAMES M.							Area – C, HAYES
FERGUSON, LINDSEY						Area – COMPANY E
HENDERSON, AMBROSE E.					Area – I, BRUSHY MOUNTAIN
HENDRICKS, JAMES K.						Area – F, STONY FORK
HENDRICKS, LOWERY						Area – F, STONY FORK
JAMES, POINTDEXTER						Area – H, BRICK HOUSE
JOINS, HUGH M.							Area – H, BRICK HOUSE
MARLOW, MELVIN							Area – I, BRUSHY MOUNTAIN
MCCLEMER, JOHN J.						Area – D, JOBS CABIN
MCNEILL, THOMAS W.						Area – B, FORK ROAD
PENNILL, WILLAN							Area – G, WARREN CREEK
RUSSELL, NATHANIEL A.						Area – G, WARREN CREEK
TRIPLETT, LINDSEY						Area – COMPANY E
WYATT, JOHN G.							Area – A, REDDIN RIVER

	END WILKES COUNTY MILITIA OFFICER LISTING

Submitted by Joy McKnight.  Obtained from Archives of Surry Community College.

Submitted by Mrs. Jessie Jones Johnson and Miss Alice Doughton, both life members, this undated newsclip from one of Mrs. Celo McMillan's albums:

MY NOTIONS ON BOB DOUGHTON			Typed from the original by
By John Wesley Clay			                            Jessie Jones Johnson

	“Lincoln of the hills” - I have heard that term applied to Bob Doughton of sacred memory, the stalwart mountaineer who represented the state of North Carolina for so many long years in Washingon. Botn in the hills, brought up with calves and colts, and acquainted with the sweat of honest toil, he could later walk and talk with seven Presidents, and with the great of the nation and of the world, and still not lose his head.

	As I remember, Doughton was for long years chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and he did more than keep our government solvent than did any other man, or group of men.

	In speaking of taxes he said: “You can shear a sheep once a year and get wool, but you can skin him only once.”  Lincoln never said a wiser thing.

	In speaking further on taxation he said: “Get as many feathers as possible with the fewest squawks from the goose.”  That is language the humble mountaineer can understand as well as the rich tycoon.  That is the essence of financial wisdom.

	Some years ago I was invited to speak at the homecoming of a little church near Laurel Springs, the home of Doughton.  The great statesman was there and he sat on the front pew.  During the prolonged service he wen tot sleep.  And who could blame him?  He was then in his 80s.  And the weather was in the 80s.  But Bob Doughton never slept on the job in Washington.  He was, perhaps, the greatest statesman our state ever produced.

	I understand that the government is now planning to erect a monument in Doughton's honor, but they are having trouble in selecting the location.  Some want it in Washington.  Others want it in one of the cities of North Carolina.  

	I for one would love to see the monument erected in Laurel Springs, N.C., the mountain village he called home. Or at the old homeplace of the great statesman.  Let it stand as an inspiration to the youth of the mountains he loved.  

Note: Robert Lee Doughton was born in 1863, and died in 1954.  The date of this newsclip can probably be placed as soon as possible following his death on October 1, 1954.  

	John Wesley Clay was a syndicated columnist at that time.  Just which newspaper this clip came from is not clear, but the back of it mentions Huntsville, Alabama, an interesting sidelight. 

PUBLICATIONS:

	FOR SALE: My family history ANCESTRY of William Henry Wright and Polly Ann Royal and Their Descendants, including 22 lineages: Terry, Irby, Scott, Riggs, Tompkins, Stayton, Matthews, Baker, Casey, Riggs of Accoma Co., VA, Hendricks, Dearinger, Paget, Cresson, Steelman, Atwood and Royal most from entry into Colonies until intermarriage into a branch of my family.  Five chapters of 326 pages including photographs.  Price for a limited time: $25, plus postage and packaging of $3.25.  Insurance $1.00 extra.  Address: Watie Delfa Ellis, South Roxana, IL.  

	Billings Families of North Carolina and Virgina, complied and edited by Naomi B. Gordon.  Research by Naomi B. Gordon, Alice Billings and Lewis W. Billings.  900 page genealogy, plus full-name index.  This book is 8 ½ x 11, gold stamped, sewn, with red hardback cover, contains 125 photographs, as well as Census records for those Head-of-Household families living in NC and VA from 1850 to 1910.  Over 15 years of research has gone into this work.  Included are all major Billings families living in NC and VA from 1790 to 1910, beginning with known Billings Revolutionary War veterans, Jasper (NC) and Jasper (SC).  These families are followed in their migrations to Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas, among other areas, and their descendants where known are given up to the present time.  Other families in these pages include: Absher, Alexander, Bauguess, Blackburn, Brooks, Brown, Burchette, Caudill, Church, Combs, Crabb, Durham, Edwards, Garris, Gentry, Johnson, Lovette, Osborne, Pruitt, Sparks, Spicer, Waddell, Wagoner, Walker, Wiles and Wood.  Cost of book: $68 including postage.  Mail to: Naomi B. Gordon, Dallas, TX.

	The Hicks Families of Western North Carolina (Watagua River Lines) BY John Henry and Mattie Hicks, co-authored by Barnabas B. Hicks.  This 400-page book identifies the earliest Hicks family in the Watagua area and the first ancestor of that family who came to America more than 300 years ago.  David Hicks settled on the west side of the mountains to escape persecution, or death, at the hands of Patriot militia headed by men who were prominent citizens at the time, some of them residents of the Watauga River area.  David was a Tory, as were several of the earliest settlers in this remote corner of the state.  The book focuses on Hicks families as well as Wards, Harmons, Holtclaws, Testers, Ashers, Whittentons, Duggers, Bairds, Farthings, Shulls, and many others who mingled with or married into the Hicks family.  Price: $35, plus $1.75 tax, $3.25 shipping.  For more information contact John Henry Hicks, Sugar Grove, NC.  

INQUIRIES:

	Researching any Taliaferro/Tolliver/Toliver NC, VA, TENN, KY, IND, ILL.  Will exchange information.  My ancestor, John Toliver m. Tabitha Howell.  John had brothers, Moses, Jesse, William, Charles and two sisters, Lucy who married William Maxwell and Sarah who married David Hickerson.  Eleanor Tolliver Waters, Woodstock, GA.

	Will exchange info with descendants of David Osborn b,. 1830/31, Grayson Co., VA.  Parents: Andrew and Nancy (Taylor) Osborn.  On 1840 Census of Ashe Co., NC, David was living with father, Andrew (Andy), bro. William (Buck) b. 1829/30, step-mother Malvina (Bledsoe) and sister Nancy Osborn, b 1839.  Sons not listed on 1850 Census, only Nancy.  My great-grandfather Mather “Mathias,” b. 1840 and other sons and daughters were listed.  David living with his uncle, Boswell Taylor, in 1850 in Grayson Co., VA.  In 1860 and 1870 Census of Smyth Co., VA are David and wife Mary “Polly” and their children Nancy, Margaret “Maggie”, Ed (or Edward), Finette “Netty”, but can't find son, William David.  Will be happy to exchange info on any of the above.  Everett E. Osborne, Melbourne, FL. 

	I have done some research on the families of Lt. David and his brother, Capt. John Cox, but have not found a connection with my Coxes.  Am stymied as to the origin of my Gr. Gr. Grandfather Granville H. Cox (1822-1888).  he was born in Grayson Co., VA, later owned land in Ashe (now Alleghany) Co., NC.  Would appreciate any information.  Karl T. Jaeckel, Denver, CO.