Biography of John M. Mason

John M. Mason, a well-known farmer of the Fifteenth District, was born October 22, 1819, in North Carolina, and came to Smith (now Dekalb) County in 1827. He was the seventh of thirteen children born to Wiley and Nancy (Bensy) Mason. The father was born January 31, 1785, in Virginia. He served in the war of 1812, and was mustered out at the close of the war at Norfolk, Virginia. He moved to Caswell County, N. C., and from there to Smith County in 1827. He was a man of considerable intelligence, well versed in the Bible, in which he … Read more

Slave Narrative of Sarah Harris

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Sarah Harris Date of Interview: May 19, 1937 Location: North Carolina Date of Birth: April 1861 Interviewed May 19, 1937. Sarah Harris is my name. I wuz borned April 1861, on the plantation of Master John William Walton. My father wuz name Frank Walton and my mother wuz name Flora Walton. My brothers wuz name Lang and Johnny. My sisters: Hannah, Mary, Ellen, Violet and Annie. My grandmother wuz name Ellen Walton. She wuz 104 years old when she died. My mother wuz 103 years old when she died; she has been dead 3 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Baker

David Baker, son of Robert Baker, of England, married Mary Anderson, in November, 1756, and settled in Norfolk, Va. They had Elizabeth, Mary, Benjamin, David, Robert, Sarah, Dempsey, Thomas, and James. David was born in November, 1763. He married Judith Johnson, and they had-Sylvester, Thomas J., and John. Sylvester, who was born in 1791, married the widow of John Johnson, whose maiden name was Elsey Ward, and settled in Montgomery Co., Mo., in 1820. His children were-Judith, David W., Sylvester, Jr., William M., and John F. Capt. John Baker was born in 1795. He married Lizzie Johnson, and settled in … Read more

Slave Narrative of Sam and Louisa Everett

Sam and Louisa Everett, 86 and 90 years of age respectively, have weathered together some of the worst experiences of slavery, and as they look back over the years, can relate these experiences as clearly as if they had happened only yesterday. Both were born near Norfolk, Virginia and sold as slaves several times on nearby plantations. It was on the plantation of “Big Jim” McClain that they met as slave-children and departed after Emancipation to live the lives of free people. Sam was the son of Peter and Betsy Everett, field hands who spent long back-breaking hours in the … Read more

Slave Narrative of Sarah Harris

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Sarah Harris Date of Interview: May 19, 1937 Location: North Carolina Date of Birth: April 1861 Age: 76 Sarah Harris is my name. I wuz borned April 1861, on the plantation of Master John William Walton. My father wuz name Frank Walton and my mother wuz name Flora Walton. My brothers wuz name Lang and Johnny. My sisters: Hannah, Mary, Ellen, Violet and Annie. My grandmother wuz name Ellen Walton. She wuz 104 years old when she died. My mother wuz 103 years old when she died; she has been dead 3 years. She … Read more

Darius Webb Todd of Norfolk VA

Darius Webb Todd7, (Elnathan6, John5, John4, John3, John2, Christopher1) born April 11, 1806, died Sept. 29, 1879, at Norfolk, Virginia, married July 14, 1829, at Norwalk, Connecticut, Margaret Comstock, who died Nov. 8, 1840. Children: 1124. Sarah E. Todd, b. Jan. 19, 1830. 1125. Hanford Comstock Todd, born Feb. 17, 1832. 1126. John W. Todd, b. April 5, 1834. 1127. Darius Webb Todd, b. May 24, 1836. 1128. Theodore Todd, b. March 22, 1838. 1129. Margaret C. Todd, born Aug. 1, 1840, died May 21, 1899, married Oct. 2, 1867, William Paddock Coffin, who was born Sept. 10, 1832. Children: … Read more

Malcolm Howard Todd of Norfolk VA

Malcolm Howard Todd9, (George B.8, Frederick P.7, Thomas J.6, Caleb5, Gideon4, Gideon3, Michael2, Christopher1) born May 9, 1898, in Norfolk, Va., married Jan. 4, 1919, Mary Lucile Braithwaite. Child: 2792a. Malcolm Howard, b. Dec. 1, 1919, in Norfolk, Va.

George B. Todd of Norfolk VA

George B. Todd8, (Frederick P.7, Thomas J.6, Caleb5, Gideon4, Gideon3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Oct. 24, 1867 in Plattsmouth, Neb., went with his parents when they moved to Jamestown, N. Y., married Sept. 18, 1889, in Hampton, Va., M. Rosa Hart, who was born Dec. 4, 1869. In 1920 they were living in Norfolk, Va., where he was a merchant dealing in all kinds of farm machinery, motor trucks, engines, electric light plants, water systems etc. Children: 2424. Allene Ford, b. Sept. 17, 1890, in Jamestown, N. Y., m. June, 1917, Cecil W. Tucker. 2425. George B., b. March 27, 1892, … Read more

Biography of Edward P. Pitts, M. D.

Edward P. Pitts, M. D.,is a well known specialist at Atchison, where he had practiced as an eye, ear, nose and throat physician and surgeon for fifteen years. He is a native of Virginia and his ancestry for several generations lived in that part of the South. He was born in Northampton County, Virginia, October 13, 1880. This branch of the Pitts family came out of England and settled in Maryland in Colonial times. Doctor Pitts’ grandfather, Edward P. Pitts, was born in Somerset County, Maryland, in 1821, and became a prominent lawyer. He lived at Norfolk, Virginia, where he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph McFarland

Joseph McFarland, of Ireland, came to America before the revolution, and settled at Norfolk, Va. He joined the American army when the war broke out, and was killed in battle. He left a widow and one son, Robert, who settled in Madison Co., Ky., where he married Rhoda Quick, and they had Sarah, Joseph, and Rachel. Mr. McFarland’s first wife died, and he subsequently married Eva Farmer, of Virginia, by whom he had-Eleanor, Lucinda, Elizabeth, Permelia, Eliza, and Robert. Joseph McFarland settled in Montgomery County in 1825. He married. Polly Cundiff. Lucinda married James McGarvin, of Montgomery County. Eliza married … Read more