ABSTRACTS of NEWSPAPER ARTICLES for HYDE COUNTY, NC (1954) Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Project Archives by Hyde County NCGenWeb (jmack@bbs.carolina.net) # 5 ABSTRACTS of NEWSPAPER ARTICLES for HYDE COUNTY, NC (1954) ENGELHARD PERSONALS Mrs. Sudie FARROW has returned from Winston-Salem where she visited her daughter, Mrs. Moir EDWARDS, Rev. EDWARDS, and daughters, Gene and Ann, for several weeks. Miss Lillian WILLIAMS of Rocky Mount spent the week-end with her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. R.S. COX. Marie GIBBS of Greenville is spending a vacation with her grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Murel GIBBS. Lee Thomas SWINDELL has returned to Ohio after a visit with his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Albin SWINDELL. (The Coastland Times - June 11, 1954; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Miss Grace KEENEY of Baltimore is visiting her sister, Mrs. Theodore RONDTHALER and will occupy their home during their vacation absence. Mike and Ike RIDDICK of Greenville have enjoyed a visit with their grandmother, Mrs. Maudie FULCHER. J.T. BARNES of Rocky Mount visited his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Gary BRAGG last week-end. Mr. BRAGG has been in ill health for several months. Mr. J.N. EDWARDS of Belhaven is spending two weeks with his daughter, Mrs. R.S. WAHAB. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 11, 1954; pg. 7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Miss Kathleen BRAGG has returned from a visit with relatives in Norfolk. While there she attended the wedding of her niece, Diane CULLIPHER, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W.N. CULLIFER, SR. Miss CULLIPHER, who is well known at Ocracoke since she spent many summers with her grandmother, Mrs. Laura BRAGG, was married on Saturday, June 5th at 7:30 p.m. to William Lee KEMP, U.S.N., at the Tabernacle Church with Rev. DUNLAP officiating. Mr. & Mrs. Harvey WAHAB and son Harold, enjoyed a trip to Washington, D.C. and a visit with his son, O'Neal WAHAB and Mrs. WAHAB. Miss Susan SPENCER is recovering nicely from an eye injury received last week. She was flown to New Bern and small pieces of glass from a broken tumbler were removed from her eye. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 18, 1954; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MIDDLETOWN NEWS Mrs. Rhodes LUPTON and Susan are spending some time with Mrs. LUPTON'S grandmother, Mrs. Lillie COX. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 18, 1954; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LAKE LANDING NEWS Dr. J.E. SWINDELL of Raleigh visited his mother, Mrs. Sallie SWINDELL and his sister, Bettie, last week. G.E. BAUM and children, Walter and Nancy, attended the wedding of Misses Virginia and Carolyn BELL in Williamsburg, Va. on Saturday. The brides are the daughters of Dr. Baxter BELL, formerly of Swan Quarter. (The Coastland Times -June 18, 1954; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MISS LUTIE JENNETTE RECALLS TIMES PAST by Laura CREDLE When one visits Mrs. William JENNETTE at her home in Lake Landing, he feels that this frail, white-haired lady has a treasure of wisdom and memories and Hyde County lore. "Miss Lutie" was born in 1850 in pre-civil Hyde County. When July 14th rolls around this year, she will be 104 years old. Miss Lutie is living presently at her old home in Lake Landing with the family of her granddaughter, Mrs. J.A. WAITS. Mrs. WAITS is one of her 18 grandchildren and her four children are only a few of Miss Lutie's 27 great-grandchildren. She also has two great-great-grandchildren. Only two of Miss Lutie's own five children are living, Jones Mann JENNETTE of Lake Landing and Lawrence JENNETTE of Elizabeth City. Both of her daughters, Mrs. S.D. MANN of Middletown and Mrs. Otis FULFORD of Engelhard, died several years ago. Her third son, W.H. JENNETTE of Elizabeth City, with whom she lived before coming to Hyde County this spring, died early this year. With her soft white hair and dressed in a style reminiscent of the past, wearing old-fashioned black jewelry, Miss Lutie could be taken for a woman 20 years her junior. Despite her great age and failing sight and hearing, she is amazingly well and active. Far from an invalid, she is up and about almost every day. She climbs stairs easily, refusing help and goes to bed at night only under protest. Her great-grandchildren are her greatest source of pleasure. "Children weren't any trouble in my day", she says. "we had nurses for them. But the children don't bother me," she hastens to add. "They seem to love me so much and are always doing little things for me." As she solicitously warns the older children to "take care of the baby", one can see not only her love for these youngsters but a lifetime of love and care for all the children in her family. The old home where she lives with Mrs. WAITS was built in 1808 and according to her statement (borne out by many who have enjoyed her hospitality) has seen many good times. Today Miss Lutie enjoys the visits of friends and folks. She still welcomes visitors for an interesting chat, for Miss Lutie, unlike many older people, has not been left without friends by the passing of contemporaries but has made new friends among younger people. She has lived all her life in Hyde County except for a few girlhood years in Washington and recently when she lived with her granddaughter, Mrs. Reginald BISHOP in Belhaven and her son, W.H. JENNETTE in Elizabeth City. She is the daughter of Samuel BONNER of Lake Landing and recalls a time when Lutie BONNER was "the prettiest girl in Amity Methodist Church." As a young girl during the Civil War, Miss Lutie recalls fleeing to the woods with a young Negro girl when the Yankee soldiers came to their home. During her century and four, Miss Lutie has had a wide and wonderful personal experience. She has also seen many years of history in the making. Having lived through five wars as well as 104 years of the ordinary troubles of humanity, this cheerful old lady has formulated a philosophy of living that is well worth adopting. "I've seen a lot of things happen," she says. "I don't let anything bother me any more. After I have done my best, that is all I can do and there's no sense worrying about it." Which of us can question 104 years of wisdom? (The Coastland Times - June 18, 1954; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHANCEL LIGHTS AND ORGAN TO BE DEDICATED New chancel lights and a new Hammond organ will be dedicated Sunday, June 20th at a homecoming of the Fairfield Methodist Church, it has been announced by the pastor, Rev. A.H. STONE. The new lights have been given to the church by the Woman's Society of Christian Service of the church, and a new electric organ has been given by Sam JONES of Norfolk, formerly of Hyde County, in memory of his mother and father. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 18, 1954; pg. 5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Florence GASKILL has returned from Smithfield where she visited her daughter, Mrs. Mildred GUTHRIE. While there, she accompanied Mrs. GUTHRIE to Spartanburg, S.C. to attend the graduation of Rex GUTHRIE, Mrs. GUTHRIE'S son from Wofford College. Rex also received his commission as 2nd Lt. In the U.S. Army. He will be stationed at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas in the personnel division of the Medical Center. Rex was among those who made the dean's list at Wofford last semester. Enroute Mrs. GASKILL and Mrs. GUTHRIE'S car was stolen. It was recovered by the Chief of Police of Carthage in time for them to continue. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 18, 1954; pg. 6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Earl SPENCER and daughter of Plymouth and Mrs. Rouse LUPTON and daughter Susan of Swan Quarter, visited Mr. & Mrs. S.D. SPENCER. Mr. & Mrs. Fred BERRY were visitors in Nags Head on Sunday. They were accompanied by their daughter, Nelva, who will spend the summer with her aunt there. Mrs. Virginia MILLER has returned from Washington, D.C. after visiting her brother, Oscar AICHEL and his wife. Mrs. Della CAREY spent Wednesday in Washington with her sister, Mrs. S.S. NEAL, who was a patient in Tayloe Hospital. Mrs. Mack CARAWAN and children attended the graduation of Gloria Mae GIBBS on June 10th. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 18, 1954; pg. 7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ JUDGE BAUM TRIES CASE Charles Henry DANIELS, a Manteo Negro, pleaded guilty of failing to support his illegitimate child. The charge was brought by Mabel GIBBS of Lake Landing, grandmother of the child. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 25, 1954; pg. 1) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE LOOKS BACK ON HISTORY RUNNING 225 YEARS Ocracoke Island is making plans for staging its second July 4th celebration. When Marvin HOWARD, back home and retired after years in the U.S. Navy and Army, said last year at the Ocracoke Civic Club's spring meeting, "Let's have some fun," the outcome was the 4th of July parade, augmenting the annual pony penning and patriotic noontime service. For over 225 years Ocracoke went without a parade, but last year's was a big success. The celebration will be held this year on Saturday, July 3rd, beginning at early morning when riders will start driving the banker ponies down the sixteen mile of Reef to the corral on Silver Lake for a 10 a.m. pony penning. An added attraction inaugurated last year is the crowning of the "Queen of the Pony Penning", humorously characteristic of any Miss America event. At 11:30 a.m. a patriotic program is held at the schoolhouse. This year the newly organized Boy Scout troop will be responsible for the flag raising ceremony. The annual church dinner will be supplemented by dinners at home, with many visiting relatives expected. The parade will start at 2 p.m., led by Big Lum GASKILL and Marvin HOWARD and others, riding Banker stallions. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 25, 1954; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SWAN QUARTER NEWS Mrs. Claude GRANT and Mrs. H.W. GRIFFIN attended the homecoming in Fairfield on Sunday then they went to Nags Head to visit with Mrs. Marietta MANN. Mr. & Mrs. Sherwood HARRIS and Keith HARRIS of Norfolk visited their father, Staten HARRIS, during the week-end. Miss Betty Jean SWINDELL, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Maxwell SWINDELL of Leaksville (Leechville?), is spending a week with Mr. & Mrs. M.H. SWINDELL. Mr. & Mrs. R.W. BERRY, JR. and daughter of New Bern, are visiting his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Rube BERRY. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 25, 1954; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. Murray TOLSON, Samuel G. JONES, SR., and Mrs. Ruby GARRISH, organist at Ocracoke Methodist, flew to Fairfield Sunday to attend the "Homecoming Day" celebration and service at Fairfield Methodist Church. Only 18 minutes were required to transport them across Pamlico Sound from Ocracoke to Fairfield and Mrs. TOLSON describes it as a trip long to be remembered. Mr. TOLSON found the return trip so swift that he didn't recognize his hometown of Ocracoke as he approached it from the air. After attending the morning service and enjoying the mid-day meal at the church, at 2 p.m. they attended the dedication services of the new Hammond organ, which Mr. JONES presented to the church some time ago. Mrs. Maude FULCHER visited her daughter, Mrs. Gillis RIDDICK, in Greenville recently. Mr. & Mrs. Jim WYNN and family , formerly of Portsmouth, Va., are now living in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where Mr. WYNN is now stationed in the U.S. Navy. Mrs. Lane WYNN is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.F. BOYETTE of Ocracoke. Mrs. Aldina RUSH and daughter, Bonnie Jean, visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Preston GARRISH. Mr. & Mrs. John O'NEAL and daughter of Philadelphia, and Horatio O'NEAL of Washington, D.C., visited recently with their parents, Mr. & Mrs. I.W. O'NEAL. Mrs. Irvin S. GARRISH entertained a number of children on Monday honoring her daughter, Marsha, on her 8th birthday. Friends sympathize with Mr. & Mrs. Graham BUSKIRK in the death on Saturday of their infant daughter, Violet Jean BUSKIRK. The baby lived but a few hours. Mr. & Mrs. T.E. BUSKIRK, parents of Graham, and a brother, Gene BUSKIRK of Charleston, S.C., visited here recently. Tony MORRIS of Atlantic is spending the summer with his grandmother, Mrs. Warren SCARBOROUGH. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 25, 1954; pg. 7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Born to Mr. & Mrs. Russell NEAL of Hickory, Va. and Hyde County, a daughter, Peggie Lee, on June 7th in a Norfolk hospital. (The Coastland Times -Friday, June 25, 1954; pg. 8) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FAIRFIELD PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. Walter JONES and daughters of Portsmouth were week-end guest of their parents, Mr. & Mrs. Hertford JONES and Mr. & Mrs. Carl CUTRELL. Mr. & Mrs. F.C. GILL, Bud and Helen of Wilson, are spending the week-end at their home here. Mr. & Mrs. Edward DAWSON of Wilson visited his sister, Mrs. R.R. GRANT and Flave SPENCER. Robert C. SIMMONS of the U.S. Navy stationed in Bermuda for the past 6 months, is spending his leave with his parents, Mr. & Mrs. P.C. SIMMONS. Mr. & Mrs. Lindsey MIDYETTE of Raleigh and Mr. & Mrs. Paul OSGOOD and children of New Bern, spent the week-end with Mrs. A.B. MIDYETTE and Robena. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 25, 1954; pg. 9) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HYDE MAN CHOSEN FOR MISSIONARY SERVICE ABROAD Morgan C. McKINNEY, JR. of Engelhard was accepted June 16th as a candidate for missionary service abroad under the United Christian Missionary Society of Disciples of Christ. Approval of 27 young people was given by the Board of Trustees of the Society which met in Indianapolis, Indiana. A graduate of Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, N.C., Mr. McKINNEY is pastor of the Christian Church at LaGrange, N.C. Mrs. McKINNEY, the former June HOLSON of Wilmington, N.C., also has been accepted as a candidate for foreign missionary service. Scholarships will be granted to them for special training for missionary work. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 25, 1954; pg. 9) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD HONORS OLDEST MAN ON FATHER'S DAY Last Sunday relatives and friends met at the Engelhard Community Building in honor of John O. GIBBS who is going on his 93rd year. The Father's Day dinner has become an annual occasion when many come from adjoining counties bringing picnic baskets to help make the festive occasion complete. Long tables were set with all the season's tasty food served buffet style. Mr. GIBBS, who is quite active, enjoyed the honor bestowed on him and all of his six children attended as follows: I.W. GIBBS of Engelhard, Herman GIBBS of Manns Harbor, Walter GIBBS of Seven Springs, Emmitt GIBBS of Norfolk, Mrs. Lizzie SWINDELL of Bath and Mrs. Viola SELBY of the home. Others attending were grandchildren and great-grandchildren and Mrs. Herman GIBBS, Mr. & Mrs. Alton GARD and Elroy, Ferrell, Rachel, Myra and Darlene GARD, Mrs. Jennie TILLETT and Miss Inez GIBBS of Manns Harbor; Mrs. Walter GIBBS, Mr. & Mrs. McDonald GIBBS of Seven Springs; E.V. SWINDELL, Mr. & Mrs. Jack SWINDELL and son Eddie of Bath; Dennis SELBY, Sherwood SELBY, Mr. & Mrs. L.M. NEAL, Delia NEAL, Mrs. Florence GASKILL, Mrs. S.S. NEAL, and Patricia NEAL of Engelhard; Mr. & Mrs. Cecil GUTHRIE, Mr. & Mrs. Hubert GUTHRIE, Mr. & Mrs. George CREEF, Elizabeth and Shelia CREEF and Mr. Mary GIBBS of Manteo; Mrs. Addie GIBBS and Mather GIBBS of Gulrock; Mr. & Mrs. Shirlen SPENCER of Swan Quarter; Mr. & Mrs. William GIBBS, C.H. MIDGETT, Sam GIBBS, Don GIBBS, Mr. & Mrs. Henry HUNNING and Darryl HUNNING of Norfolk; Alton BAUM, Walter and Nancy BAUM, Mr. & Mrs. William GIBBS and Robert GIBBS of Lake Landing; Mrs. Mildred GUTHRIE of Smithfield; Douglas GUTHRIE of Ft. Jackson, S.C.; Mrs. Della CAREY of Richmond, Va.; and Mr. & Mrs. Bob BURRUS, JR. of Washington, D.C. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 25, 1954; pg. 10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. Murray TOLSON left Wednesday for Ocean View, Delaware where they will attend the wedding of Mrs. TOLSON'S granddaughter, Lois SIMPSON, on Sunday, June 27th to Allen A. POWELL. (The Coastland Times - Friday, June 25, 1954; pg. 10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FT. SILL, OKLAHOMA Cadet Sgt. William S. BURRUS, son of Mr. & Mrs. William P. BURRUS of Engelhard, is one of 481 first classmen (Seniors) from the U.S. Military Academy now attending the artillery school at Fort Sill. Cadet BURRUS, a member of the radio club, was appointed to West Point by the Honorable Herbert C. BONNER of N.C's 1st Congressional District. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 2, 1954; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SLADESVILLE NEWS J.A. LUPTON is improving from an illness at the home of his son, Harold LUPTON, at Belhaven. T.B. GIBBS and Kenneth GRAY attended the funeral of Thomas E. SANDERSON at Lake Landing Sunday afternoon. [I could not find the obituary for Thomas E. SANDERSON.] (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 2, 1954; pg. 5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SWAN QUARTER NEWS Miss Hortense BOOMER is at home with her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Henry C. BOOMER. She is winter librarian at Elizabeth City schools. Mr. & Mrs. Leland CARAWAN and Billy Joe CUTRELL left Saturday for Oakland, California to visit Mrs. CARAWAN'S sister, Mrs. A.A. JESSE and family. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 2, 1954; pg. 5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE LIFEBOAT STATION Chief Boatswain, Dewey H. SCARBOROUGH, USCG, has received Chief Boatswain Henry T. PEELE, as commander of the Ocracoke's Coast Guard Group and commanding officer of the Ocracoke Lifeboat Station. The group includes the Hatteras Inlet Lifeboat Station and the Ocracoke Lifeboat Station. PEELE, who has been at Ocracoke since October 1949, a native of Hatteras, has been named commanding officer of the Little Creek, Va. Lifeboat Station. (The Coastland Times -Friday, July 9, 1954; pg. 1) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT Born to Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy W. SPENCER of Engelhard, a son, Patrick Matthews, at the Tayloe Hospital on July 1st. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 9, 1954; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SLADESVILLE NEWS Mr. & Mrs. D.W. SEARS, Mary, Amanda, and Janet of Fairfield and Marie SEARS of Henderson, spent Tuesday with Mr. & Mrs. T.B. GIBBS. Sarah Elizabeth SEARS, who has been spending the past week with her grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. T.B. GIBBS, returned home with her parents on Tuesday. (The Coastland Times -Friday, July 9, 1954; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SERVING THE METHODIST CHURCH Leading the ranks of men from Hyde who have served and are serving is Alexander B. BERRY. He has chosen to serve through the Methodist Church. He has twice been chosen rural minister of the year in Virginia in 1952 and again in 1953. Born in 1912 in Swan Quarter, he is the son of Mr. & Mrs. A.B. BERRY. He has one sister, Mrs. P.E. HODGES of Norfolk. His mother died in 1941 and his father, now remarried, is living in Norfolk. He married Hazel Lockwood WINDLEY of Pantego. They have 4 children, Elva, Alexander III, Hazel Windley and Tim. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 9, 1954; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD SHOE MAN FINDS LIFE VERY INTERESTING by Laura CREDLE [partial article] When a little Engelhard boy wants a nickel for a drink for a quarter for a movie or a dime for something else he usually knows where to go and get it. "I like boys," says Rufus WILLIAMS as he sits out in front of his Engelhard shoe shop, "and they seem to like me. At least they will do most anything I ask them to." Their young devotion is the only repayment that Mr. Rufus asks for a lifetime of small change loans and gifts to Engelhard boys. He and his wife, "Miss Stella", have had four boys of their own, Roger, Edison and Chester. Ivey O'NEAL, whom they brought up from babyhood is as near to them as their own sons, they say. They have one daughter, Mrs. Thelma LASSITER, who lives in Hardville, S.C. Four grandchildren, 2 boys and 2 girls, are Mrs. Stella and Mr. Rufus' special pride. Mr. WILLIAMS was born and reared on a farm at Pleasant Grove 6 miles from Fairfield. His parents were Sylvester and Bertha WILLIAMS. He married Stella BERRY in 1917. She was born in Beaufort County but was living near Fairfield when they married. They lost their first home to a fire. "I've been shipwrecked too," he chuckles. "That was when Fred GIBBS and Lonnie GIBBS and I were fishing together." He doesn't laugh when he tells about the auto accident in February 1936 that sent him to the hospital for 18 days and kept him out of work for a year. Two of his friends, Walter HOOKER and Maxwell HARRIS, died in the same accident. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 9, 1954; pg. 5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GLIMPSES OF THE PAST by Carolyn LLOYD Jones QUIDLEY, who dropped in to ask if I knew who is the oldest citizen of Belhaven from point of residence. I didn't, but Mr. QUIDLEY thinks he probably is. Now approaching 77, he came to what was then Jack's Neck from Broad Creek at the age of 4 and has lived here continuously since. There were five families in the community then. He said he hunted squirrels up and down what is now Pamlico Street when he was a boy. His father, Richard Jones QUIDLEY, made a living farming, fishing, and doing carpentry work. The senior QUIDLEY helped build the house which is now the George CLARK residence and his twelve year old son helped. When it was recently remodeled, the present Richard Jones QUIDLEY was one of the carpenters. He was married 52 years ago to Janie SERMONS of Hyde County. They had seven children, five of whom are living. Mrs. QUIDLEY is now hospitalized with a broken leg. He is no longer able to work as a carpenter but he gardens a little and is in generally good health. The fact that he can't do the work he used to do surprises him but he has no complaints. The Lord has blessed him and "Miss Janie", he says, for he has never been in actual want and life has been good. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 9, 1954; pg. 7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD MAN NOW HOME FROM KOREA James Emory MIDYETTE of the U.S. Army, has returned from serving in Korea where he was stationed for over a year and is spending some time in Engelhard before reporting to Fort Jackson, S.C. Mrs. MIDYETTE is the former Dorothy BERRY of Fairfield who has been making her home with her parents who live in Lake Phelps while Mr. MIDYETTE is serving his country. (The Coastland Times -Friday, July 9, 1954; pg. 7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NATIVE OF OCRACOKE IS SON OF SIMY O'NEAL by Mrs. Myra E. WAHAB A lot of old-timers who read this will remember Simy O'NEAL and his entertaining ghost stories. Many sport fishermen will remember Simy as one of the best fishing guides on this coast. But a few may not know Benjamin Lee O'NEAL, Simy's son who has an excellent record with the U.S. Engineering Department, the U.S. Army and is now one of the most dependable men in the USCG. Ben is efficient wherever there is any kind of duty to be done. He is at home on a boat, in the engine room, on deck or in the galley as a good cook. Furthermore, he is doing the work of a yeoman in addition to other duties at the Ocracoke Lifeboat Station. He is active in civic welfare and church work. He is a gentleman whose slogan is "he serves himself best, by serving others first." Benjamin Lee O'NEAL was born September 3, 1919 to Emma Styron O'NEAL and the late Simon (Simy) O'NEAL of Ocracoke. Born following World War I, Ben was brought up and reared a typical bank barefoot boy, roaming the sandy beaches and finding work wherever possible. He entered Ocracoke school at the usual age, graduating with the class of 1937. He remained on the Island until 1938 when he got his first job away from the Island on Virginia Beach Blvd. as a service station attendant, staying only a short time. In November 1939 Ben went North and applied for work with the Engineering Dept., Philadelphia District. He worked as a deck hand and deck mate until joining the U.S. Army in 1941. As his selective service number was 29, Ben was the first to leave Ocracoke and his Island home to oppose Hitler and his superior forces. He was married April 5, 1941 to the former Naomi SIMPSON two days prior to induction. He took Basic Training at Fort Bragg, N.C., in Battery B, First Field Artillery Training and Replacement Center. Upon completion he was assigned to Battery B, 72nd Field Artillery Reg. as a Corporal. Ben was inducted for one year conscript training. He had completed 8 months service when the tragedy of Pearl Harbor occurred. Considered well-trained troops, Ben awoke one morning finding himself and his buddies boarding a troop train for parts unknown. Now a Sgt., leaving N.Y. Harbor and the Statue of Liberty behind with many thoughts of loved ones and of Ocracoke, Ben sailed down the Atlantic Coast, which at this time was infested with German submarines, on to Panama, through the Canal Zone and into the Pacific. Making his first stop in Melbourne, Australia some 40 days later, where he rested two weeks. He left Melbourne and arrived at Noumea, New Caladonia, where Ben was given extensive training. Here his division was formed and named the American Division for America and New Caladonia, the only division in the U.S. Army without a number. Anyone familiar with the Army during WWII will tell you that the division was the backbone of the Pacific fighting. Having served at Melbourne, New Caladonia and New Hebrides, Ben helped reinforce the First Marine Division under the command of Major General Alexander A. VANDERGRIFT, USMC, for which he holds a unit citation for strongly defending positions against the Japanese on Tulogi, Cavutu, Tanambogo, Florida and Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands, completely routing all the enemy forces and seizing a most valuable base and airfield (Henderson), therefore being on the first offensive of WWII. After spending several months on both Guadalcanal and the Fiji Islands, Ben returned to the USA via Samoa, as he was one of the selected few returned for the purpose of training and passing on valuable information to recruits which were flowing into the Army at this time. After being processed at Angel Island, California, he was transferred to the 70th Infantry Division at Camp Adair, Oregon as a platoon Sgt. Here he was stricken with malarial fever contracted in the Southwest Pacific, and was moved to Mitchell Convalescent Hospital at Camp Lockett, California. After spending 13 months as a patient, he was assigned to duty with the 1961st Service Command Unit, and advanced to Staff Sgt. Later he became Acting 1st Sgt. of one Rehabilitation Company until discharge October 15, 1945. He returned to the job previously held before induction with the Engineering Department, making his home in Wilmington, Delaware. On August 17, 1946, a son, Douglas Ray, was born. On November 20, 1946, having a yearning for service life, Ben enlisted in the USCG as a Seaman 1st Class and was assigned to duty at Ocracoke Lifeboat Station. He has been promoted to the rank of BM1 and is now serving as Relief Group Commander, Ocracoke Group. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 9, 1954; pg. 8) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SWAN QUARTER MAN BURNED John Small MIDGETTE of Swan Quarter was severely burned from the waist up at his home Wednesday afternoon when a pressure cooker exploded. The cause of the explosion is not known. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 16, 1954; pg. 1) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Miss Margaret SILVERTHORN has returned to Lexington, Kentucky after visiting her parents, Mr. & Mrs. John SILVERTHORN. Sunday dinner guests of Mr. & Mrs. Rufus WILLIAMS were Mr. & Mrs. Edison WILLIAMS and sons Larry and Shelton, Molly and Jane DEAL, Dallas BERRY, and Mr, & Mrs. Bennie HARRIS, all of Norfolk; Mr. & Mrs. Paul LASSITER and son David of Hardeeville, S.C.; Mr. & Mrs. Joe HARRIS, Mr. & Mrs. Clyde BERRY, Mr. & Mrs. Chester WILLIAMS and children Phil, Stella, Louise and Janice, and Ivey O'NEAL, all of Engelhard; and Jessie and Peggy WILLIAMS of the IOOF Home at Goldsboro, N.C. R.S. COX has returned from Durham where he spent the past week with his daughter, Mrs. Kenneth JENNINGS and family. Mrs. Henry HARDING and little daughter, Emily, are visiting her parents, Mr. & Mrs. R.L. ROPER. Mr. & Mrs. Donald HUNTER and children Donna and Debra, of McConnellstown, Pa., left after visiting her mother, Mrs. S.S. MARSHALL and family for the past 10 days. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 16, 1954; pg. 5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ JENNETTE FAMILY GATHERING A gathering of the JENNETTE family at the home of Mrs. J.A. WAITS in Lake Landing on July 14th celebrated the 104th birthday of the family matriarch, Mrs. William JENNETTE. Guests brought picnic lunches that they spread together on the lawn. Mrs. WAITS is Mrs. JENNETTE'S granddaughter and lives in her old home in Lake Landing built in 1808. Mrs. WAITS and her husband are at present remodeling the old house. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 23, 1954; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. Charles L. BURRUS and daughter Patricia Lynn of Greenboro, visited his parents, Mr. & Mrs. W.P. BURRUS and grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. R.E. CARTER, who live near here. Mr. & Mrs. Walter C. COX and children of Kinston, visited his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. W.H. COX. Mr. & Mrs. Max HODGES visited their son Wiley at the hospital in Belhaven. Mr. & Mrs. Gilvery HARRIS and family of Greensboro are spending this week with his mother, Mrs. Lyda HARRIS (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 23, 1954; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DR. & MRS. LIVERMAN ENTERTAIN Dr. & Mrs. J.H. LIVERMAN entertained at the Mattamuskeet Country Club last Saturday evening in honor of her sister, bride-elect, Miss Elizabeth LONG. Miss LONG will marry Fred POTTS of Washington on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Engelhard Christian Church. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 23, 1954; pg. 6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGLEHARD PERSONALS Mrs. Mildred GUTHRIE of Smithfield is spending her vacation with her mother, Mrs. Florence GASKILL. Mr. & Mrs. George WILLIAMS, Mrs. Lucence PENNINGTON and little daughter Patty of Alabama, have returned home after visiting Mr. & Mrs. Dave SWINDELL, parents of Mrs. WILLIAMS and Mrs. PENNINGTON. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 30, 1954; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT Clifton AUSTIN, JR. of Hatteras and Susan SPENCER of Ocracoke were married July 28 in the First Methodist Church of Elizabeth City. Rev. R.L. JEROME officiated. (The Coastland Times - Friday, July 30, 1954; pg. 5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Richard GIBBS, JR. and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Jabin BERRY, spent Friday in Portsmouth, Virginia. Mr. BERRY, who has been a patient in the hospital there, returned with them. Mr. & Mrs. Eddie WILLIAMSON and daughter have returned from visiting relative in West Virginia. Mrs. WILLIAMSON and daughter are with her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Ottawa BERRY while her husband is in service. Miss Dorinda BERRY spent the week-end with her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Jabin BERRY. Mr. & Mrs. Ray EDINGER and daughter Kerry Ann of Norfolk, spent the week-end with Mr. & Mrs. Frank BERRY. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 6, 1954; pg. 5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Mrs. Ansley O'NEAL was rushed by the Coast Guard boat to a Sea Level Hospital Saturday for an operation. The family has heard the operation was successful and she is recovering. According to Marvin HOWARD, Scoutmaster, the newly organized Boy Scout Troop 290 of Ocracoke took their first camping trip, hiking 10 miles down the beach and spending the night. Mr. & Mrs. Robert SWANK and sons of Port Jefferson, N.Y., visited her mother, Mrs. Authur O'NEAL. Ronald Lee DUDLEY of Washington is visiting his uncle, Hiatious O'NEAL. Mrs. Charlie W. GARRISH is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Robert HELMS at Goldsboro. Mrs. Kelly O'NEAL is visiting her son, Stuart O'NEAL, in South Hampton, Pa. Danny GARRISH, son of Mr. & Mrs. Jessie GARRISH, will enter E.C.C. this fall. He plans to study chemistry and physics, preparing himself for laboratory technician work. Fred Van KESTERN (Twinkie) returned to Port Jefferson, N.Y. on Saturday. Twinkie has been living with his grandmother, Mrs. Irving FORBES, for a year. Clyde FARROW, Ocracoke's lighthouse keeper, has been transferred to Washington, N.C. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 6, 1954; pg. 6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT Mr. & Mrs. Bill SPENCER of Ocracoke announce the birth of a son, William Jacob, July 29th in Buxton. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 6, 1954; pg. 8) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MRS. PATRICK HONORED Friends honored Mrs. Charles PATRICK on her birthday Monday night with a surprise party at the home of Mrs. Laura FARROW in Engelhard. Mrs. R.S. COX presided over a punch bowl at one end of the table and cake and nuts were served by Mrs. Richard MANN, Mrs. Elsie BERRY and Miss Janice MANN. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 13, 1954; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MRS. NANCY BERRY HONORED Mrs. Nancy BERRY of Engelhard was given a picnic by her family in honor of her birthday Sunday at the home of Cecil BERRY in Manteo. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 13, 1954; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FORMER HYDE OFFICIAL RECOUNTS LIFE AND PROGRESS OVER HALF A CENTURY A.L. CUTHRELL (photo), octogenarian, has held many offices and seen many changes in his beloved county. In the last half century the people of Hyde County have become better according to Mr. CUTHRELL, formerly of Fairfield who is now living with his son, Malcolm CUTHRELL, in Swan Quarter. He ought to know. He was High Sheriff of Hyde County from 1900 to 1905. "As a whole, people are more law-abiding now than they used to be," he says. "This is as it should be because they have better schools and more advantages. Of course, there will always be bad people and the highways and automobiles have created duties for the sheriff that I didn't have." Nevertheless, he believes that the people of Hyde County give the sheriff less trouble than they used to. During his term of office Mr. CUTHRELL recalls one murder. "It was down at an oyster house in Swan Quarter. Two men, Zion BAKER and Cliff MULLINS, murdered a man named WILLIAMS in a drunken brawl. It looked for a time as if they were going to be sentenced to execution. That really had me worried. At that time criminals in Hyde County were executed by hanging in the county seat, and had they been sentenced to death, I would have had to hang them. Fortunately, they were finally sentenced to a long jail term. When the Mattamuskeet Railroad was being built, Cliff MULLINS came back as part of a convict labor gang helping to build it." Mr. CUTHRELL was born in Fairfield. He ran the store now operated by Murrell SWINDELL for 10 years before buying a farm about a mile south of Fairfield in 1899 where he lived until May 1954. He was married in May 1895 to Carrie SWINDELL who was also of Fairfield. They had five children and of the five only one, Malcolm, is still living. Andrew Brock died in 1906. In 1938 Walter Cedric CUTHRELL died and in 1943 Holden L. died. "After my wife died in 1939, I lived alone for 5 years. Then my daughter, Aletha C. FITES, and her family came from Steelville, Illinois to make a home for me for the rest of my life. Mr. FITES died in August 1953 and I lost my daughter in May 1954. In May, after so many years in Fairfield, I left my home to come live with my son here. He and his wife have been wonderful to me and I am enjoying life in spite of losing my loved ones. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 13, 1954; pg. 9) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CAREER BROUGHT MANY MEDALS AND A PEACEFUL LIFE Linwood CUTRELL of Lake Landing, second child and only son of G.C. CUTRELL of Middletown, has received citations for outstanding service in two wars. During WWII he spent 5 years with the Armored Field Artillery in the European Theatre rising to the rank of Captain. Joining the 92nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion in Africa, Mr. CUTRELL fought and led in that group all through the war to Berlin. His group landed in Normandy in the days immediately following D-Day and were in the thick of the fighting across France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Leaving active service in February 1946, he remained in the reserves and was called again to serve 17 months in Korea. He received his permanent discharge in January 1952. He has a successful contracting business in Hyde County. In 1945 he married Edna DILLARD who had been for 3 years a Yeoman 1st Class in the U.S. Waves working in the Navy Intelligence Bureau. They have two little girls, Suzy Jane, 3, and Lynn Adams, 13 months. Their new home in Lake Landing is a tribute to Mr. CUTRELL'S building skills. When asked why he returned to Hyde County when so many other young men have chosen to leave, he replied, "One should live where he is happiest. Here is where we want to be." (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 13, 1954; pg. 10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT Miss Susan SPENCER, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A.A. SPENCER of Ocracoke, and Clifton E. AUSTIN, son of Mrs. Clifton AUSTIN of Hatteras, were married last week at Elizabeth City. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 13, 1954; pg. 10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CIVIL WAR RELICS SHOWN Mrs. J.T. CARAWAN of Oyster Creek has a revolver used by a soldier in the War Between the States. "It ain't the antique I value," says Mrs. CARAWAN, "it's the one who gave it." "Now this revolver," she points to an antique gun hanging over the door, "my father gave that to my son David on his birthday a long time ago. My father got that from a soldier in the Civil War. My father's name was Robert W. HARRIS, they called him Robby and he lived across the road yonder. He wasn't old enough to fight in the war, only 17, but he was a drummer boy. When the war was over he wanted one of the guns that a soldier had used, so he traded a shotgun to Ben WILLIAMSON of Juniper Bay for this revolver." She doesn't know where WILLIAMSON and her father were during the war, only that WILLIAMSON was a foot soldier. The revolver is a heavy .45 caliber that was loaded the old-fashioned way and bears a patent date of 1851. Since the recent death of her husband, James Tillman CARAWAN, Miss Effie has continued to live with her son David on the Oyster Creek farm she inherited from her parents and has been in her family for generations. "My father's farm was across the road yonder," she points out. "This is called the JARVIS Place. Years ago it belonged to the JARVIS family. My great-grandfather, Alfred JARVIS, lived on it in the early 1800's. He left it to his only daughter, Clara, who married a MIDGETT. This house is over 200 years old." A ladder-back rush seat chair she has was made by her grandfather, Ezekiel HARRIS. She shows a small thinly worn gold earring that belonged to her great-grandfather on her mother's side, Alfred JARVIS. "Men folks in those days pierced their ears and wore rings the same as women. He wore those earrings as long as he lived. He and his wife both died of measles when my grandmother was four." Mrs. CARAWAN repeats the story she had been told. "On his deathbed, my great-grandfather took the rings from his ears and put them in the ears of his four-year old daughter, " Mrs. CARAWAN has fond memories of this child who became Clara MIDGETT and her grandmother. The old lady lived to be 98 years old and was the source of Mrs. CARAWAN'S many stories of bygone years. A Bible that was published in 1819 came to her from her father's mother, Polly Anna HARRIS. Previously it had belonged to a family named HUDSON. Mrs. HARRIS bought it at an auction before the Civil War. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 13, 1954; pg. 10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ATLANTIC FLEET Bill T. SPENCER, chief boilerman, USN, son of Mr. & Mrs. Archie L. SPENCER of Middletown, and husband of the former Miss Marguerite L. PACK of Mermit, West Virginia, is serving aboard the destroyer, USS Harwood. SPENCER entered the Navy in August 1939. He graduated from Engelhard High School. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 13, 1954; pg. 11) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. Sam CAREY and children Syd and Janie of Richmond, Va., were accompanied home by his mother, Mrs. Della CAREY, and his aunt, Mrs. Retta NEAL. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 27, 1954; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HYDE COUNTIAN PASSES STATE BAR Claude D. DAVIS , former Hyde County sheriff, now living in Asheville, has passed the state bar examination after studying law in Asheville for the past 4 years. Mr. DAVIS, a native of Middletown, is presently employed as a special agent with the SBI in Asheville. He is the son of Mrs. Mattie Mann DAVIS and the late Thomas D. DAVIS of Middletown. He is married to the former Mary ROPER of Engelhard and they have one daughter, Elaine, who is two years old. A graduate of Engelhard High School and a veteran of Navy service, he is now 34 years old. (The Coastland Times - Friday, August 27, 1954; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright 1998 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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