WATAUGA COUNTY, NC - HISTORY - A History of Watauga County, North Carolina Sketches of Prominent Families, Part 7 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon Williamson ==================================================================== A History of Watauga County, North Carolina John Preston Arthur Sketches of Prominent Families NOTE: These family histories are from the last 75 pages of A History of Watauga County, North Carolina, with sketches of prominent families by John Preston Arthur, Copyright 1915 John Preston Arthur. Page 340 permanently to his Beaver Dams farm, where he farmed and dealt in live stock for a time, afterwards engaging in the lumber and timber business. He has refused all offices except that of justice of the peace, preferring a quiet life to politics. Five children bless this union, the entire family being members of the Baptist Church. Rivers Family.-- Dr. James Gray Rivers was a son of Samuel and Rebecca Rivers, who wre Virginians by birth. Rebecca Rivers was born Grey, while Samuel Rivers was a descendant of one of three brothers who came to America from England, landing at Edisto Island, S. C., one of them having been named Horace, as is evidenced by his name engraved on a heavy silver ladle now in the possession of Rev. Dr. Murray and wife, of Spencer, N. C., Mrs. Murray having been a Rivers before her marriage. Dr. James Grey Rivers married Miss Lucretia Jane Rhea, who was born at Clarksburg, W. Va., near the Ohio River. Her father was R. P. Rhea, also born in West Virginia, and a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. He became a teacher of great note, aand had the honor of having taught Gen. T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson, as will be seen from any authentic life of that great Confederate soldier. He was a dull student, according to Mr. Rhea. Dr. J. G. Rivers refugeed from Carter County, Tennessee, to Watauga County, North Carolina, during the Civil Wa, serving in the home Guard till the capture of Camp Mast in February, 1865. He suffered many hardships and lost much property, living as he did on the border line between Tennessee and North Carolina. He moved in Boone in 1865, where he practiced his profession of medicine till his death in 1878. He left four children, all of whom are living except one. R. C. Rivers, Miss Nannie Rivers and the wife of J. W. Farthing survive. Sands Family.-- David Sands was born April 4, 1791, and died June 30, 1884. His father was Joseph Sands, who was born in 1743 and died October 15, 1821. He came from Scotland. The Sands family lived about three miles east of Boone, and a postoffice of that name still recalls the family name. David was a son of Joseph. Of David Dr. Elisha Mitchell has this to say in letterss to his wife, published by the University of North Page 341 Carolina, 1905 (p. 56): "Rode from Shearer's down to David Sands, Esq., a bachelor with three or four sisters, and his mother with him. He showed me some ore from Tennessee which he supposed to be antimony, but which proved to be micaceous oxide of iron. Walked with him to see a white substance in the creek on his land. It was the porcelain clay. Sands rode down with me to Esquire Miller's. We passed through a meadow, beautiful like those of Yankeeland." This was David Miller's. Shearer Family.--Robert Shearer the first was a Scotchman and came to Ashe before the county was formed from Wilkes. He settles near Three Forks Church, to the left of the road and at the foot of a hill still called Shearer's Hill. Just when he was born or the maiden name of his wife are not known now. He lived to a great age and his grave is in the graveyard of Three Forks Baptist Church, of which he was a consistent member. There were eight children: John Shearer, born August 9, 1792; died January 2 1858. He married Mary Greene, April 27, 1815. She was born August 15, 1797, and died August 30, 1868. Louisa Shearer, born May 7, 1817, married Thomas Cottrell and died January 31, 1896. Susannah Shearer was born December 10, 1818, married William Cottrell and died December __, 1896. Robert Shearer was born July 24, 1823; married, first, Myra Coffey, November 26, 1854, and, second, Martha Estes, February 19, 1860. He died December 2, 1895. His widow survives. John Shearer was born May 5, 1828; died January 11, 1908. William Shearer, born June 28, 1830, and moved to the West. Sarah Shearer, born March 7, 1843, and moved to the West. Hannah Shearer was born May 11, 1838: married Milton Brown, who is dead, but she survives and lives on New River. Mary Shearer, born May 15, 1843; died April 25, 1844. the daughters of the first Robert Shearer were; 1. Elizabeth, who married Joseph Greene; 2. Sallie, who married Gilbert Hodges; 3. Polly, who married Richard Greene; 4. Nancy, who married Daniel Greene, brother of Richard. Robert Shearer's sons were: Jack, who married Mary Greene, sister of David and Richard; Thomas, who married Patsy Farthing, daughter of Rev. William. Page 342 Children of Robert Shearer, the Second-Milton Shearer was born September 4, 1855, married Mary Ann Estes, September 24, 1884 and lives in Lenoir. Mary Shearer was born Ocy 31, 1861; married L.N. Perkins May 18, 1889 and lives at the old Shearer homestead, near Boone. Myra Shearer, born November 8, 1863; married J.G. Pulliam, July 24, 1888, and lives in the West. Sherrill Family. - William W. Sherrill was born January 23, 1828 in Caldwell County, and he married Mary Hartley, who was born August 14, 1830, in Caldwell County. William W. died January 11. 1903, while his widow still survives. They were married in 1849. Their children were: George P., who was born December 9, 1850 at Deals Mills, Caldwell County and married Mary Grinder, March 28, 1869. Their second son was David, who went to Texas, where he died; Luoisa married Wade Sherrill; Jason married Titia Wilson; Vienna married William Edmisten.; Zeb Vance married Free Love Cole; George M. Married Rebecca Payne and went first to Cherokee and then to Kansas, where he married a second time; William, who married Mary Hartleu; Thomas who married , first, Polly Wilson, and second, a Satterwhite, and third, a Sherrill; Sarah, who married William Wilson; Amanda who married Miles Bowman. Still another married a White and moved to Cherokee. The father of David was William who was born in 1733 and died in 1829. He had at least two children, David and William. Tradition says these were English people who came first to New York and thence to North Carolina. Settling on Catawba River, at Sherrill's Ford, below Newton. William was a farmer and wagonmaker and a man of all work. Shull Family.-From the genealogy of Simon Shull and family, taken on Watuaga River, Ashe County, North Carolina, January 30, 1814, the following is culled: Simon was son of Frederick and Charity, born in Lincoln County October 24, 1767. Mary Sheifler, daughter of Philip and Mary Ormatenfer Sheifler, was born May 5, 1772 in Loudoun County, Virginia. Simon Shull's children were Elizabeth, born on John's River, March 6, 1891; the rest were born on Watuaga River; Mary, Page 343 born March 19, 1793; Sarah born March 2, 1795; Phillip, born February 15, 1797; John, born March 24, 1799; Joseph, born April 22, 1801; Temperance, born October 16, 1804; Elizabeth, born April 10, 1808. Simon Shull married Mary Sheifler on Upper Creek of Catawba River, March 25, 1790, Wm. Penland officiating. Elizabeth Shull died February 25, 1794, two years and eleven months old; Joseph died April 7, 1886; Elizabeth died January 1897; Adeline Taylor died April 15, 1894. Joseph Shill married Lizzie Mast October 28, 1835; W.F. Shull married Mary Brown September 28, 1869; Temperance Shull married W.H. Horton March 24, 1961; N.S. Shull married Mary Gilmore;P.P. Shull married Cindy Gragg March 26, 1866; B.C. Shull married Ollie Berry; John T. Shull married Cheny Hayes Novermber 5, 1874; J.M. Shull married Sarah Greene January 12, 1882 and after her death he married Allie Baird August 30, 1888; John T. Taylor married Addie Shull March 28, 1878; Mary married David Mast; Sarah married James Ward; Phillip married Phoebe Ward; Joseph married Lizze Mast; Temperance married Ben Councill; Elizabeth married Noah Mast. Joseph Shull's children were William F., born September 18, 1836; Temperance C. Born August &, 1838; Noah S. born April 15, 1840; Phillip P. born July 20, 1842; Ben C., born October 23, 1845; John T., born October 27, 1853; James J., born May 23, 1859; Mary Adeline. Born March 28, 1861. Phillip Shull's family.-Phillip married Phoebe Ward and their children were Elizabeth who married Wm. Cannon; N. Canada who married Elmyra Green; Mthilda, who married Jesse Gragg; Thomas who married Polly Spainhour; Polly who married James Edmiston; Rhoda, who died unmarried; Sarah, who married Phillip Duvall; Temperance, who married A.J. Baird; Willaim, who married Eugenia Campbell; Carolina, who married Alexander Ward; Simon who married Martha Baird; Joseph Carroll, who married Eliza I. Mast; Phoebe Sophina, who married Peter Dana. Phillip Shull's Family.-- Phillip married Phoebe Ward and their children were: Elizabeth, who married Wm. Cannon; N. Canada, who married Elmyra Green; Matilda, who married Jesse Gragg; Thomas, who married Polly Spainhour; Polly, who married James Edmisten; Rhoda, who died unmarried; Sarah, who married Phillip Duball; Temperance, who married A. J. Baird; William, who married Eugenia Campbell; Carolina, who married Alexander Ward; Simon, who married Martha Baird; joseph Carroll, who married Eliza I. Mast; Phoebe Sophina, who married Peter Dana. Smith Family.--George Smith was the first of this family to come to these mountains, arriving about 1780. According to his Page 344 Bible, he died April 30, 1838, aged ninety-one years and fifty days. Elizabeth, his wife died March 8, 1842, aged ninety-two years and ___________ days. Their children were: Abner, died May 20, 1850, aged sixty-nine years. He had two sons, Bennett and Jehiel; Bennett died November 15, 1844, aged forty-two years, eight months and twenty-two days; Abner. Mehetabel was the wife of Abner. She was born Fairchild and died March 3, 1855, aged eighty- four years, nine months and sixteen days; Bennett Smith married Elizabeth Moody December 23, 1824. Bennett Smigh's children were; Abner, who married Chaney Green, Polly, who married George Hayes. Aabner's children were: Bennett, who married a Kimes; Polly, who married James Rayfield; Elijah, who married Emma Austin; Elizabeth, not married; Sally, who married Pink Henson; George, who married, first, Emma Price, and second, Mary Bingham; Rebecca, who married Julius Isenhour. The daughters of the first Abner were: Rhoda, born August 27, 1799; Mary, born February 27, 1802; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Reese, March 17, 1825; Susannah, who married Jacob Moody April 28, 1831; Rebecca, who married Jacob Norris March 27, 1835; Mary, who married Wm. Roland June 6, 1835. Jehiel was born September 16, 1806, and died January 10, 1885. He was twice married, his first wife having been Rachel Adams and his second wife Elizabeth Dugger, whom he married September 15, 1835. Jehiel's children were: Ebenezer, born March 3, 1828; Bennett, Born January 29, 1835, and married Jane Green December 6, 1856; Wiley, born June 27, 1836, never married; Carolina, born January 5, 1838, never married; Rhoda, born march 22, 1839, married Finley P. Mast; Henry, born March 3, 1841, never married; William, born September 18, 1842; never married; Mary, born October 9, 1845, married Tillett Combs; Martha, born June 15, 1847, and Jehiel, born October 27, 1849. Martha married D. J. Lowrance. Bennet Smith married Jane Green December 6, 1856, and their children were: Carolina, born May ,, 1857, and died April 26, 1859; John C. Smith, born Janury 28, 1861, and married Sarah C. Mast January 2, 1881. Abner and Bennett Page 345 Smith settled at Silverstone, Abner having been in the legislature in 1821 and 1825, while his great-grandson, Abner W., was sent there in 1914. Story Family.--This name is also spelt Storie. The first of the family who came to Western North Carolina was Jesse, who settled on King's Creek. He came from Pennsylvania and married Frances Bradley. Their children were Joshua, John and Eli, all of whom married and reared large families, Eli moving with his family to Missouri many years ago. About 1815 Joshua and John were living on the old Thomas Lenoir place on the Yadkin River, both having married Greens, but about 1825 they removed with their families to Ashe County, following members of their wives' families, one of whom settled at the Wm. Gragg place and the other at Blowing Rock, near the present store of Mr. Holtshouser, while a third settled at what is now Green Park. The Storys, however, settled at what is now known as Bailey's Camp, where Thomas H. Story, son of Joshua was born. The nearest mill to their home at that time was what is now known as Winkler's, two miles south of Boone. The children of Joshua were: Elvira, William, Thomas, Lucy, Channie, Jesse, Amos, Isaac, Rufus, Martha and Noah. John's children were: Walter, Bettie, Ann, Jonathan, Rachel, Eliza, Sena, Mary and Jesse. William, Noah and Jesse (son of John) were in the Federal army in the Civil War, while Walter, Jonathan, Rufus, Jesse (son of Joshua) and Amos were conscripted into the Southern army. Isaac was in the Home Guard. Some of he others tried to enlist in the Federal army, but could not get through the lines. The homes of the Storys were open to the Federal soldiers and sympathisers, and the women of the families often waded the streams to cary food to outlayers, Bettie and lucy once taking a wounded Yankee to Coffey's Gap in the night on an old horse, while on another occasion they hunted and found the body of a man named Hines, who had been killed by the Home Guard, and buried in decently. Jesse, son of John, is the only survivor. It is said that the Toledo Blade a few years ago stated that the Story family came to America on the Mayflower in 1620, but afterwards moved to Page 346 Pennsylvania. This is a very prolific family, the single school district of Aho having out of 105 children of school age, twenty-nine Storys. Of the present family, Mr. G. L. Story has been active in promoting good roads in Watauga County. Swift Family.--Samuel Swift came from Germany and settled where Joseph Johnson now owns on cove Creek. his children were: Samuel, who married _________; Hila, who married Berryman Fletcher; Rhoda, who married james Lewis; Polly, who married jack horton, sheriff; Sarah, who married william Proffitt; Emily, who married Bartlett Hilliard; Massy, who married Calvin Moody, and Nancy who married Hugh Harman; Thomas who married a Greene; Elias, who married an Adams, a daughtrer of Squire Adams. Tatum Family.-- Elijah Tatum was born April 16, 1816, and married a cousin, S. Goodin Tatum, November 21, 1852, near Old Fields, in Ashe. She was a daughter of Joseph Tatum and wife, Sarah Pearson. Joseph was reared in Ashe, but Miss Pearson came from Burke. Elijah's father was George and was reared in Ashe and was a brother of Joseph. Their home was what is now Riverside. George married Delphia Jennings, of Old Fields. The father of George and Joseph was James and a soldier of the Revolutionary War. James' wife was a Miss Sheppard, of Ashe. James was born in Rowan County, from which he came to Ashe before the Revolutionary War when he wa about fourteen years old. His father had come to America from England. Elijah had nine children. Only two of his boys lived to be grown--George and John. George married a daughter of Jacob Walters, of Burke, and John married Zora C. Tugman about 1880. Her father was Thomas Tugman and his wife was Anzanette Davis, daughter of W. S. Davis. Elijah's children were: James, who married Julia, and Senter, who married Page 347 Evelyn Tatum, sisters, and daughters of Joseph Tatum. George Tatum had two brothers, Joseph and Buckner, the latter having married a Miss Sheriff of Ashe. John Lee Tatum is a son of Elisha, and has an old sword which tradition says was used by James Tatum in the Revolutionary War. James is buried in Ashe County, near Riverside, the new railroad station. James and Senter, sons of Elijah, moved to Newtonia, Mo., where James died about 1907. Buckner moved to Georgia about 1845. Tester Family -- Samuel Tester came from Scotland and settled at the mouth of Cove Creek before 1840. His wife was a Miss Foster. Their children were: Robin and Ransom, Jennie, who married Hiram Hix; Ellen, who died young, and another who married a man in Tennessee. Robin married first a daughter of David Hix; Ellen, who died young, and another who married a man in Tennessee. Robin married first a daughter of David Hix and their children were Finley, Harman and Elizabeth. Robin's second wife was Datie Ward, daughter of Duke, and their children were Robin, Duke, James and Samuel; Sarah, who married Councill Harman, and another daughter who married Waightstill Davis; Celie, who married a Panther, and still another who married Link Pressly. Ransom married Fannie Hix, daughter of Harman, and their children were Harman, Samuel, Ellen and Polly. Thomas Family -- William Thomas was the first of the name and was born in Salem, N. C., and married Sarah Sutherland, of Ashe County. Their children were Alfred, Margaret, Sarah, Joseph, Steven and William. By a second marriage to Mary Greer, there were the following children: William K., Thomas, Wiley and Elizabeth. Alfred was born in 1823 and married Malinda Wilson; Joseph was born in 1825 and married Sarah Wilson' Stephen was born in 1837 and married Lidia Porter; Sarah was born in 1828 and married Alexander Osborn; Margaret was born in 1821 and married Reuben Potter; William, born in 1834, married a Miss Potter; Alexander, born January 26, 1830, at Sutherland, and married Elmira M. Ward in 1853. Alex. ran away from his uncle, Joseph, when the former was about eighteen years of age, going to Missouri, where he remained about eighteen months, and then crossed the plains to California in 1849. He returned via the Panama route in 1853. Page 348 He married Elmira M. Ward in 1853 or 1854 and settled at the old Samuel Baker farm on lower Watauge River, where Samuel Baker had lived till about 1909. (Ashe County Deed Book D, pp. 207, 210.) He died December 13, 1909, and was buried at St. John's Church. Col. Joe B. Todd -- He was born September 2, 1822, and died December 11, 1903. From the old Todd family Bible, printed in Edinborough by Mark and Charles Kerr, MDCCXCI, it is learned that James Todd was born July 31, 1757, and Margaret Erwin, his wife, October 14, 1759. These were married March 11, 1784; and that John Sharp Todd, father of James, was born December 11, 1724, and his wife, Nancy, was born June 7, 1739. James Todd died November 17 1814. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and Mrs. Lizzie McGhee, of Boone, has the old powder-horn he used in that war. Col. Joe B. Todd's first wife was Caroline McGhee, a daughter of the first Jordan Councill, and wife of William McGhee, who was born December 5, 1830, and died September 1, 1873. Two of their children are buried in the cemetery at Boone: Joe C. Todd, born November 8, 1855, and died November 1, 1858, and Maggie E., born July 7, 1853, and died February 12, 1858. James Polk Todd and Mary, wife of F. P. Moore, and William G. Todd, three of his children, survive him. Colonel Todd's second wife was Mrs. Eliza Edmisten, widow of Harrison Edmisten and a daughter of Mr. Dancy, of Wilkes County. Colonel Todd was a non-commissioned officer in the Mexican War, having first volunteered in Boone, but, there being delay in calling out the volumnteers from Ashe County, he went to Cabarrass County, joined a company there and went to Mexico with them, participating in several battles. He received a pension till the Civil War, and it was restored long after the close of that struggle. He was colonel of the 98th North Carolina militia. He was a candidate for clerk of the Superior Court in August, 1852, but was defeated by George M. Bingham, who, however, resigned, owing to an impediment in his speech, and a young lawyer named Clewell was appointed in his place. Upon Page 349 Clewell's removal from Watauga, Col. Joe B. Todd was appointed by the court, and he was sent for in the night, his residence then being at Dugger, now Penly Postoffice, east of the Blue Ridge. He was first liewtenant in Company D of the 1st North Carolina cavalry in the Civil War, but resigned on account of heart disease and returned home. He re-entered the service soon, however, joining the 37th North Carolina Infantry. After the close of the war, he was elected clerk of the Superior Court and served till the arrivalof Judge J. L. Henry, when he was removed because he could not take the iron-clad oath. He was elected to the legislature in 1872, and then in 1882 to the office of clerk of the Superior Court, which office he held for twelve years after the close of the Civil War, this makes the longest service of anyone in this office in Watauga County. Colonel Todd was highly esteemed by all. He was a fine sportsman, delighting in hunting and fishing. Trivett Family The great-great-grandfather of Larkin M. Trivett lived in Pennsylvania before the Revolutionary war, in which he was a soldier and during which he was killed in battle. His widow with two sons moved to Surry County, North Carolina, where one of these sons married and reared a large family of six or seven boys, two of whom settled in what is now Watauga County. One of these was named John, who settled on the south side of the Blue Ridge on Stony Fork, near the Wilkes line. He married Sallie Elrod, daughter of Adam Elrod, and reared one son and two daughters. The son was named Elijah, and he married Irena Carleton, daughter of Wyatt Carleton and his wife, Nancy Livington. Elijah was the father of thirteen children, ten of whom are still living. One of the daughters of John Trivett, of Stony Fork, married Larkin Greene, son of Solomon, and they reared a large family of boys and girls. The other daughter of John Trivett married David Adams, son of Allen Adams, and his wife, Maggie Greene (familiarly known as Aunt Peggy Adams), and they reared a large family. John Trivett, of Stony Fork, had a brother whose name was Samuel, and he settled in the western part of Watauga