Cabarrus County NcArchives Biographies.....Furr, Tobias & Allison 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Bill Furr bfurr1@charter.net December 31, 2008, 6:34 pm

Author: Bill Furr

Tobias (1817-1882) & Allison (1809-1889) Furr

Allison Furr went to Mississippi in 1846, but returned to Concord, North 
Carolina. He went back to Mississippi with his brother, Tobias, in two covered 
wagons in 1848. He built a two story house on the land he purchased from the 
Indians.

From "Mississippi A Guide to the Magnolia State," compiled and written by the 
Federal Writer's Project of the Works Progress Administration, The Viking 
Press, New York, 1943, page 487:

"Toccopola (Ind., the crossing of the Roads), was, before the white man came, 
an Indian village so old that in the annals of the Chickasaw the date is 
unknown. In 1840, however, two Carolinians, Tobias and Allison Furr, settled 
here. Tobias Furr built a water mill on the creek and Allison established a 
store at the crossing of two roads. Other settlers made home in the vicinity, 
and eventually the Indian name TOK-A-PULA was corrupted to Toccopola. 
Immediately following the War between the States, W. B. Gilmer, who was forced 
by a wound received in the war to forsake farming for school teaching as a 
profession, establishing Toccopola College, an academy for boys and girls. 
This college continued operation until 1907. Toccopola's future was shattered 
when the Gulf, Mobile & Northern R.R. passed it up in preference to Pontotoc, 
its rival."

William Meek Furr (1840-1906) -- son of Allison Furr (1809-1889)

Pontotoc Sentinel (Mississippi), 1906

A SAD CHRISTMAS

W.M. Furr, a Leading Citizen of this County, Suddenly Expires While His Home 
is Being Reduced to Ashes

Toccopola was the scene of an awful and distressing double calamity on 
Saturday night December 23, plunging the entire community in grief -- a sorrow 
shared by friends far and near, Pontotoc being conspicuous among the number of 
sympathizers.

On the date above mentioned, Mr. Wm. M. Furr's residence, a large two-story 
frame building, was discovered by one of the family to be on fire, having 
started from a fire-place in an up-stairs bedroom. When found, the fire had 
gained such headway that it was impossible to save the dwelling, although 
heroic effort was made. In spite of the cruel, greedy flames, considerable of 
the furniture and general contents were carried out. Calmly and collectedly, 
Mr. Furr had given instructions to the workers and had himself assisted in the 
removing of the household effects without any visible signs of fatigue or 
exhaustion. Suddenly, while helping to unlock a bedstead, he fell dead in the 
arms of a son who had just remarked, "It is getting too hot; we had better get 
out." It is not known whether death was due to excitement, distress, rupture 
of a blood vessel, or heart failure -- it might easily be attributed to any of 
these causes. The shock was great and almost beyond comprehension, making the 
material loss made by the fire sink into insignificance. Either misfortune 
wuld [sic] have been almost unbearable but two coming simultaneously, is 
crushing and the very thought of which strikes horror to the hearts of even 
those who are bound only by ties of friendship. God alone knows the anguish of 
wife, . . ..

William Meek Furr, Nov 21, 1840. Coming to this state when a boy, he settled 
in Toccopola, since which time he has been closely identified with that place, 
a prominent, public spirited citizen. His life is an open book all may read -- 
pages of merrit [sic] and true worth -- chapters of a useful, well spent life, 
the finale reflecting a life without a blot or blemish. He was a model man, 
filling every position with a true regard for charity, honesty and fair 
dealing with his fellow man.

For many years a consistent and zealous member of the Methodist church, he was 
serving as superintendent of that Sunday school at the time of his death. He 
was also a loyal Mason and loved the beautiful principles taught by that 
ancient fraternity.

As a Confederate soldier, his career is an honorable one, a credit to his 
family and to his country for which he fought. Enlisting August 1861 in 
Company "E" 19th Miss. Regt., Anderson's Division, Longstreet's Corps, Army of 
Northern Virginia, he served continuously until the surrender at Appomattox 
Court House in 1865.

Always interested in churches and schools, and realizing what they meant to 
the advancement and betterment of humanity, Mr. Furr was a liberal contributor 
to their establishment and support. He was a successful financier and for 
twenty-five years was a leading merchant in his town, doing a large, 
profitable business, and leaving a good estate. Since the Merchants & Farmers 
Bank was first established here, he has been one of the directors and his 
clear judgment and quick intuition will be greatly missed.

He was married to a Miss Pickens when quite a young man, the noble life 
partner of his joys and sorrows surviving. Eleven children blessed this union, 
ten of whom are left to mourn the loss of a good and wise father, who did his 
whole duty to them, inculcating right principles and giving each the advantage 
of an education. Two sons were off at college when the tragedy occurred, 
Marvin at Chicago and Esta at Atlanta. Both were wired and reached home just 
in time to attend their father's funeral which occurred at Lebanon cemetery 
Christmas day. A very large assemblage of relatives, neighbors and friends 
from other communities were present to pay their last tribute of respect to 
the honored and lamented dead. Revs. Hugh Edmondson and J. R. Roberson 
conducted the sad and impressive funeral service in a tender, touching manner 
felt by the entire gathering whose hearts were already surcharged with 
sympathy for the distressed family.


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