Excerpt from the Local Briefs column:
A correspondent at Warrenton informs us that Mr. CHRISTMAS, father of Mr. L.T. CHRISTMAS, died last Sunday evening; and that it is quite sickly in that section.
Source: Banner-enterprise (Raleigh, NC). 19 April 1883. Available at Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
Probable Murder
Yesterday morning some parties found the body of one Simon MITCHENOR, colored, lying under the large wheel at Johnson & Barbour’s mill near Auburn, in St. Mary’s township, with a large gash across his throat, and it is supposed that he had been murdered.
He was at the election at Auburn yesterday and voted and left there late in the afternoon, accompanied by two colored men. Just before dark his nephew and another colored boy found his umbrella on a bridge near the place where his body was found this morning.
He was 47 years old, and was very quiet, industrious and inoffensive. The Coroner was notified, and has gone out to investigate the case.
Source: Banner-enterprise (Raleigh, NC). 19 April 1883. Available at Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
John WHITE, better known as “John Jew,” died at Franklinton on Monday, the 30th ult. He was well known by all the citizens of Franklinton, and many mourn his loss. He had been in bad health for some time, but no one was expecting his death so soon. John WHITE was for a long time employed at the Franklinton Hotel, and was well known by the traveling public, and was much thought of by the proprietors of the hotel.
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Editorial note: the obituary below also appeared in the same issue.
On Monday, 30th ult., at 11pm, John WHITE, a most trustworthy waiter in the Franklinton Hotel, after a short but very powerful attack of pneumonia, passed away in the vigor of manhood to his final rest. He leaves a wife and two children to miss his cherishing care. His honesty and fidelity had won for him many friends both white and colored. He came here a stranger from Richmond, Va., but he soon won the confidence and respect of the community by his upright course. We, who have for so long been associated with him our daily labors, can bear testimony to his faithful discharge of each and every duty making our labors lighter by his cheerful demeanor and merry conversation. But now he is gone – we trust and believe to that happy clime where there is no more labor, sorrow, sickness nor death. His friend — Fannie MAYFIELD.
Source: Banner-enterprise (Raleigh, NC). 10 May 1883. Available at Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
Ms. Carrie Asbury TODD, wife of Mr. Floyd TODD and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.M. ASBURY, passed peacefully to eternal rest in the early morning hours of February 8th, being a little less than eighteen years of age. She had been ill but a few days and therefore her death came as a great surprise and shock to many friends and acquaintances. This was a sad death indeed because a young life was so suddenly cut short and because she was a bride of only six months.
Her nearest relatives are a young husband, her father and mother, three brothers and two sisters. But they sorrow not as those who have no hope; for their loved one surely rests from the labors of a brief life well spent in the Master’s service. No community could ever boast of a more beautiful, self-sacrificing and loyal spirit than that of Sister TODD. At the early age of ten years she joined the Methodist Church in Seversville where she lived and died. And from her entrance into the church she was either a teacher or an assistant teacher in the Sunday school, and holding also other offices from time to time in the Sunday school, and Epworth League. When the summons came she was choir leader and teacher of a class in Sunday school.
Her saintly soul is with God but the world is richer for the privilege of having had so pure a life within it. We cherish her memory as one of the most precious of our heritages. She acted well her part and lived up to the full measure of duty and when the sun went down there were no clouds. Her pure soul has winged its way up <…> the supernal glory of another world and all we can do is to mourn her and place on her grave our tribute and affection and esteem. No; one thinks more we can do. And that is to follow Christ as she followed him til we see her and till we “see him as <…> is.” — W.F. ELLIOTT, Pastor.
Source: NC Christian Advocate, 11 March 1915. Available online at the Internet Archive.
We, the members of Oak Hill Sunday school of Oak Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Table Rock Circuit, herein express our great sorrow caused by the death of a dear little thirteen-year-old girl, Otie WHISENANT, daughter of Mr. Enoch WHISENANT. Her faithfulness to Sunday school in attendance and interest was remarkable. Her pretty, bright face was an inspiration. She was beloved, and she will be sadly missed.
Therefore, be it resolved:
First, That we reverently submit to the will of our Heavenly Father.
Second, That we extend sympathy that is heartfelt to the bereaved loved ones.
Third, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family, to each of the Morganton paper, and to the North Carolina Christian Advocate.
(Signed) – Mrs. Elmer SIMPSON, Mrs. James WALL, Miss Cleo WALL
Source: NC Christian Advocate, 11 March 1915. Available online at the Internet Archive.
John Henry HANES was born in Davie County, January 21, 1838, and died Feb. 18, 1915, at the age of 77 years and 28 days. He was a son of Joseph and Mary HANES, there being four sons and three daughters, and he was the last of these to pass away.
He was married to Louiza CLOUSE in November, 1865, and to this union were born three sons, Joseph, George and Lewis, and one daughter, Lula. Joseph died in infancy; all the rest survive their father and also their mother who died in September, 1902.
Brother HANES made a profession of religion in early life and joined the M.E. Church, South, at Fulton, where his membership remained till his death. He never moved from the house in which he was born, but in the old home in which he lived and died, in a few hundred yards of the old church, a beautiful little brick church, which begins to show age, and which stands as a monument to the faith and loyalty of the subject of this sketch, as well as to the other members of the the Hanes family who resided here or who were interested in here.
Brother HANES has been an office bearer in his church nearly all his life, serving as Sunday school superintendent, steward, and trustee. Some member of the Hanes family has been superintendent of this Sunday school for about 75 years, and Brother J.H. has been most of this time.
He was a man who could be dependend on in battle of right against wrong. He took his stand, and was always found on the right side of every moral question. He would vote for prohibition if his were the only vote. His faith in God was simple, childlike and firm, and his devotion to the causes of the Master was constant and true.
Brother HANES was so kind to every one whom he came in contact that he can appropriately be called the friend of all men. It would be hard to over estimate the value of such a life as his has been.
In the death of J.H. HANES Fulton church sustains a very great loss, all the other HANES’ had left Fulton community and all the older Hanes’ are dead except P.H. HANES, of Winston-Salem, who is a nephew of his.
Davie county has lost one of her truest and most patriotic sons, and the community has lost one of its best citizens and most valuable men.
On Saturday, February 20, at 11.a.m., a large number of mourning relatives while his body waited at the altar and accompanied his remains to the church where a large company were waiting. The house was well filled, conducted the funeral service, and he where he had conducted the Sunday school so often, the writer, his pastor, assisted by Rev. W.S. HALL, the pastor of Fork and Advance Baptist churches, conducted the funeral service, and he was laid to rest near the church.
There was a beautiful floral offering which has a language all its own.
We feel sure we know where to find him, and trust all the relatives and friends will prepare to meet him in the house of many mansions in the home that shall never be broken up, and where they never say goodby.
“How blest the rightous when he dies!
When sinks a weary soul to rest,
How mildly beams the closing eyes,
How gently heaves th’ expiring breast!
So fades a summer cloud away;
So sinks the gale when storms are o’er;
So gently shuts the eye of day;
So dies a wave along the shore.”
His pastor, E. MYERS, Advance, NC.
Source: NC Christian Advocate, 11 March 1915. Available online at the Internet Archive.
Robert A. HELMS was born near Monroe in Union county, N.C., March 9th, 1848, and died in his home in McAdenville, N.C., Feb. 27, 1915, having almost completed his 66th year. He was married in 1868 to Nancy D. RILEY, of Gaston, who survives him. To this union were born, three of whom, Joseph, John and Lizzie, are living.
Brother HELMS was converted when a young man, and joined the Baptist church. Later he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and lived a devoted member of the same until his death. I talked with Brother HELMS quite frequently during his last days, and he asked me many questions about “the heavenly home.” He suffered intensely in his last days, but I never heard him murmur nor complain. Several times he would almost shout and say he was just waiting to go.
A good friend, an esteemed neighbor, a devoted father, and a thoughtful and loyal husband has fallen. The funeral was conducted by the writer on Sunday afternoon of the 28th, and he was laid to rest in Ebenezer cemetery. May great grace abide with the bereaved ones. — Dwight W. BROWN. McAdenville, N.C.
Source: NC Christian Advocate, 11 March 1915. Available online at the Internet Archive.
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.
DIED – In this City, on Saturday the 23rd instant, Jere. Nichols, son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth NIXON, aged 2 years, 9 months and 19 days.
“Gone from the hearts that loved him,
Gone from his home away –
Gone in his childish beauty,
Like flowers in May.
Gone like the moonlight’s glimmer
From off the rippling stream;
Gone like the joyous pictures
Of childhood’s glowing dream.
He dwelleth now and kneeleth
Beside the throne of God,
In praise to Him who raiseth
The spriti from the sod.”
DIED — On the 25th of June, at the residence of her father-in-law, Mr. STRICKLAND, near Milton, Miss., Mrs. Marian W. STRICKLAND, aged 22, only daughter of John and Sophia LEWIS, formerly of Chapel Hill, N.C. Though a few months only had elapsed since she stood at the marriage altar, yet when the summons came she was by a lively faith in her Redeemer willing to part with husband, parents, and brothers. When informed by her almost heart-broken mother that she could not survive, she embraced all present, separately, and begged them to prepare to meet her in Heaven Dry up your tears, bereaved ones, you have the gratifying assurance that your loss is her gain.
Source: Semi-Weekly Standard (Raleigh, NC). 30 July 1853. Available at Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.