Category Archives: Richmond

BELL, Mrs. W.T.R. – (d. 1915)

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A death that brought sadness and gloom to all our town occurred at Spartanburg, S.C., Monday night, when in the home of her son Charles, Mrs. W.T.R. BELL passed away.

Mrs. BELL was born March the 18th, 1848, at Newport, N.C., in Carteret County. She died March 1, 1915, being nearly 66 years of age.  The remains were brought here yesterday and services were conducted from the Methodist church, of which she had been a consistent member for the greater part of her life, by her pastor, Rev. Albert SHERRILL, in the presence of a great concourse of sympathizing friends.

On January 1, 1868, she was married to Capt. W.T.R. BELL, a native of Ocomac county, Va.  She lived to make him a happy home for 47 years.

She leaves to mourn for her the husband, who, as a life-long teacher of large experience, has charge of Boiling Springs High School.  A son Charley, clerk in the post office at Spartanburg, S.C; another son, James, Superintendent of the Graded Schools of Rockingham, N.C.; one daughter, who is the wife of Mr. T.P. REYNOLDS, of Asheville.  These relatives were all present at the funeral services.  The floral tributes were large and beautiful.

Mrs. BELL was one of the sweetest spirits that ever graced a home or blessed a community. — Albert SHERRILL

Source: NC Christian Advocate, 11 March 1915.  Available online at the Internet Archive.

Cole’s Lawyers Plea Insanity (1925)

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Richmond County Court House, Rockingham, NC, Oct. 4 (AP) – Laying aside temporarily their plea of self-defense, attorneys for William B. COLE tomorrow will continue their introduction of evidence to support their plea that at the time the cotton manufacturer killed W.W. ORMOND he was insane.

Five witnesses were sworn Saturday and three of them had been heard when court was adjourned, Miss Edith McLEOD, W.B. LEATH and George BEVERLY, a student at Duke university.

Miss McLEOD and LEATH, employees of Hannah Cotton mill, described COLE’s “queer” actions since last February.  BEVERLY described a conversation he had with ORMOND some time in March.

The two remaining witnesses  are scheduled to be called tomorrow, together with medical men who will be asked to describe the reactions of a mind under abnormal conditions.

COLE was visited today by his family.  Many of his friends called at the jail during the day to speak to him.

The 12 jurors from Union county this afternoon were permitted to exercise themselves along the winding roads that fringe the town.  They left the courthouse about 4 o’clock and accompanied by Sheriff H.B. BALDWIN skirted the business section for a short walk.

Source:  Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 5 October 1925. Available online at Google News Archive.

 

WATKINS, Jesse & MORGAN, Sarah Ann – (m. 1836)

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MARRIED
watkins-morgan-marriage-1836

Source: Raleigh Standard, 21 January 1836.  Available online at Chronicling America: Historic American Newpspaers

R.L. Steel Invention (1889)

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R.L. STEELE, of Rockingham, Richmond county, N.C. , is the inventor of a most wonderful adding machine.  It is very simple in construction and never makes a mistake.  A column of figures of any length can be quickly and accurately added.  Mr. STEELE will apply at once for a patent.

Source: Roanoke Beacon,  23 August 1889.  Available online at digitalnc.org.

JONES, L.C. – (d. 1889)

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Col. L. C. JONES, Superintendent of the Carolina Central Railroad, died of heart disease, in Wilmington, on Friday of last week.  Col. JONES was born in Richmond county and was about fifty-four years old.

Source: Roanoke Beacon, 19 July 1889.  Available online at digitalnc.org.

EWING, Isaac (d. 1857)

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DIED — In Richmond county, on the 9th ult., Mr. Isaac EWING, Sen., in the 83d year of his age. At 11 years of age he came to this state with his father from Maryland, and settled where he lived to the day of his death.

Source:  Fayetteville Observer, February 23, 1857

SMITH, James W. (d. 1856)

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DIED – Near Rockingham, Richmond county, on the 26th of Dec’r 1856, Mr. James W. SMITH, aged between 40 and 50 years.  Also on the same day, Ann McNEILL, aged 12 years.

Source:  Fayetteville Observer, February 2, 1857

TERRY, James N. & EVANS, Ludy (m. 1856)

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MARRIED — Near Rockingham, Richmond county, on the 10th of November 1856, by the Rev’d Mr. LEDBETTER, Mr. James N. TERRY to Miss Ludy EVANS.

Source:  Fayetteville Observer, February 2, 1857

Defense Says Slayer Insane (1925)

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Richmond County Courthouse, Rockingham, N.C., Oct. 3 (A.P.) – The first determined effort in the defense of William B. COLE to prove the wealthy cotton manufacturer insane at the time he killed W.W. ORMOND, his daughter’s former sweetheart, came today.

A crowded courtroom also heard the state charge the defense with publishing copies of “slander” letters received by COLE for the purchase of creating sentiment in his behalf and obtaining evidence for his cause.

After COLE was submitted to a gruelling three-hour cross-examination during which the state sought to force the admission that he killed ORMOND “to shut his tongue” and not to protect himself, the defense swore five witnesses, two of whom testified to the “queer acts” of the defendant.

Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 4 October 1925. Available at Google News Archive.