Orange County NC

Biography of Francis Lester Hawkes

The old saying, that North Carolina is a good place to start from, is the key-note to the greatness of her people, as well as a term of reproach as accepted by them. All great men must seek the large centers of civilization in order to give to the world their message, but the great principles of their lives come from the land of their birth. A State is to be measured by the number of its good and great men, and not by material or physical predominance. Even intellectual gifts and culture cannot make a people great, but may … Read more

James J. Bacon

1st Class Private Infantry, Co. D, 83rd, Div., 330th Reg.; of Orange County; son of J. W. and Mrs. Mary E. Bacon. Entered service Aug. 5th, 1918, at Durham, N.C. Sent to Camp Wadsworth. Sailed for France Oct. 7th, 1918. Served as Prison Guard with Co. 219th P. W. E. Landed at Hoboken, N. J., on his return to USA Oct. 15, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Dix, N. J. Nov. 2nd, 1919. His ancestors served in the Mexican and Civil Wars.

Slave Narrative of Thomas Hall

Interviewer: T. Pat Matthews Person Interviewed: Thomas Hall Location: 316 Tarboro Road, Raleigh, North Carolina Location of Birth: Orange County NC Age: 81 My name is Thomas Hall and I was born in Orange County, N. C. on a plantation belonging to Jim Woods whose wife, our missus, was named Polly. I am eighty one years of age as I was born Feb. 14, 1856. My father Daniel Hall and my mother Becke Hall and me all belonged to the same man but it was often the case that this wus not true as one man, perhaps a Johnson, would … Read more

Joe A. Terrell

1st Class Private, 11th Cavalry. Born in Orange County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Terrell. Husband of Mrs. Mary Mae Terrell. Entered the service Dec. 5, 1912, at Columbus, Ohio. Was sent to Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., and from there to Camp Stuart, Va. Served as Troop Instructor. Mustered out at Camp Stuart, Va., Dec. 18, 1918. Served in Colorado during the 1914 coal strike.

Dozy H. Sykes

Private, Co. I, 106th Inf., 27th Div. Born in Orange County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Sykes. Entered the service at Hillsboro, N.C., Aug. 5, 1918. Was sent to Camp Wadsworth, S. C., and from there to Newport News, Va. Sailed for France Sept. 15, 1918. Returned to USA March 6, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., April 4, 1919.

Alex W. Clark

Private 1st class, Inf., Co. M, 30th Div., 120th Reg.; of Orange County; born Aug. 3, 1897; son of J. A. and Venie Clark. Entered service July 14, 1916, at Carrboro, N.C. Sent to Camp Glenn, N.C. Transferred to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for France. Landed June 5, 1918. Fought at Bellicourt. Killed at Bellicourt Sept. 29, 1918. On Mexican border from Oct. 1, 1916, until March 25, 1917.

Slave Narrative of Mattie Curtis

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Mattie Curtis Location: Raleigh, North Carolina Location of Birth: Orange County NC Age: 98 Occupation: Sewing Before And After The War An interview with Mattie Curtis, 98 years old, of Raleigh, North Carolina, Route # 4. I wus borned on de plantation of Mr. John Hayes in Orange County ninety-eight years ago. Seberal of de chilluns had been sold ‘fore de speculator come an’ buyed mammy, pappy an’ we three chilluns. De speculator wus named Bebus an’ he lived in Henderson, but he meant to sell us in de tobacco country. We come through … Read more

Julius H. Glenn

Private, Inf., Co. I, 30th Div., 120th Regt.; of Orange County; son of J. A. and Mrs. A. L. Glenn. Husband of Mrs. Eppie Glenn. Entered service June 27, 1917, at Hillsboro, N.C. Sent to Camp Sevier, Greenville, S. C. Transferred to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France May 17, 1918. Fought at Ypres and all other engagements with his Company. Returned to USA April 13, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, April 18, 1919.

Biography of Hon. Winfield Scott Pope

For many years Winfield Scott Pope was rated as one of the most highly respected residents and most prominent attorneys of Jefferson City. As lawyer and lawmaker he left the impress of his individuality upon the history of city and state when he was called to his final rest at the age of seventy-four years. He always held to the highest standards and ethics of the profession, his success being attributable at all times to his marked capability and merit. The story of his professional rise and progress is an interesting one. He was born in Davidson county, North Carolina, … Read more

O. L. Crabtree

Master Engineer, Junior Grade, 7th Eng. Train, 7th U. S. Engineers. Born in Orange County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Crabtree. Husband of Mrs. Marie Crabtree. Entered the service at Hillsboro, N.C., June 7, 1917. Was sent to Ft. Leavenworth, Kans. From there was sent to Camp Merritt, N. J. Sailed for France April 1, 1918. Fought at Vosges, St. Mihiel, Argonne. Returned to USA Aug. 5, 1919. Served with army of occupation at Luxemburg, Germany. Mustered out at Hoboken, N. J., Aug. 6, 1919.

Herbert G. Riley

Blacksmith 1st Class, Naval A. S.; of Orange County; son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Riley. Husband of Mrs. Mary Riley. Entered service Dec. 10, 1917, at Hillsboro. Sent to Bay Shore, L. I. Sailed for France Feb. 5, 1918, on French ship “La Touraine.” Was in France and Italy in Naval Air Service. Returned to USA Dec. 16, 1918. Mustered out at Hampton Roads, Va., July 30, 1919.

Coleman W. Allison

Sergt., 120th Infantry, Co. H, 30th Div. Born in Orange County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Allison. Entered the service at Warrenton, N.C., July 25, 1917. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Merritt, N. J. Sailed for France May 12, 1918. Fought at Ypres, Voormizelle, Bellicourt, Nauroy, Brancourt, Busigny, Mont-Brehain, St. Souplet. Returned to USA April 13, 1919. Landed at Charleston, S. C. Was mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., April 18, 1919.

Slave Narrative of “Aunt” Nina Scott

Interviewer: F. S. DuPre Person Interviewed: Nina Scott Date of Interview: May 17, 1937 Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina “Aunt” Nina Scot sat on her front porch. She was drinking some liquid from a bottle which she said would help her trouble. Being short of breath, she was not able to talk very much. She said that she was very small at the time she was set free. “My Marster and his folks did not treat me like a nigger,” she said, “they treated me like they did other white folks.” She said that she and her mother had belonged to … Read more

Biograhy of Dennis Heartt

If history consists of the lives of great men, whose names are “wrought into the verbs of language, their works and effigies in our houses,” North Carolina should contribute many pages to the epitome of civilization; for her institutions, public and private, have been established by men of superior abilities, who have spared neither time nor resources in the founding of a great State. In journalism, as in economic and political growth, the pioneer work has been done by men of strong personal character, who possessed the art of citizenship as well as the talents requisite for their chosen work. … Read more

Slave Narrative of Tempie Herndon Durham

Interviewer: Travis Jordan Person Interviewed: Tempie Herndon Durham Location: 1312 Pine St., Durham, North Carolina Age: 103 I was thirty-one years ole when de surrender come. Dat makes me sho nuff ole. Near ’bout a hundred an’ three years done passed over dis here white head of mine. I’se been here, I mean I’se been here. ‘Spects I’se de olest nigger in Durham. I’se been here so long dat I done forgot near ’bout as much as dese here new generation niggers knows or ever gwine know. My white fo’ks lived in Chatham County. Dey was Marse George an’ Mis’ … Read more

Owen S. Robertson

2nd Lt., Co. C, 30th Div., 120th Regt.; of Orange County; son of C. H. and Mrs. P. C. Robertson. Husband of Mrs. S. G. Robertson. Entered service May 13, 1917, at Hillsboro. Sent to Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., transferred to Ft. Monroe, Va., to Camp Sevier, Greenville. Sailed for France May 11, 1918. Was in all engagements with his company until wounded at battle near Mazinghien Oct. 18th by M. G. bullet. Sent to General Hospital, Brest. Returned to USA December, 1918. Mustered out at Ft. McPherson, Ga., March 1, 1919.

Orange County, North Carolina Cemetery Transcriptions

North Carolina Cemetery records are listed by county then name of cemetery within the North Carolina county. Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Following Cemeteries (hosted at Orange County, North Carolina Tombstone Transcription Project) Carrboro Community Cemetery Cole-Womble Cemetery Clover Garden Church Cemetery Demascus Church Cemetery Harward-Webb Cemetery Hillsborough Old Town Cemetery Surnames A – F Surnames G – M Surnames N – W James and John Paul Cemetery Long Cemetery New Hope Presbyterian Church Cemetery New Section Old Section … Read more

Eno Indians

The Eno tribe, likely of Siouan linguistic stock, was historically situated along the Eno River in present-day Orange and Durham Counties, North Carolina. Their exact origins remain unclear, with some doubts raised about their classification due to unique characteristics. Closely associated with the Shakori tribe, the Eno shared a village named Adshusheer, located near modern-day Hillsboro. First mentioned in 1645, they were noted for resisting Spanish advances and later appeared in colonial records as part of a confederation with other tribes like the Saponi and Occaneechi. By 1714, they began migrating toward Virginia, eventually settling in South Carolina, where they likely merged with the Catawba. The tribe’s name endures in several geographic features, including the Eno River and Enoree River, reflecting their historical presence in the region.

R. D. Herndon

Corporal, Artillery, Reg. 6, F. A. R. D.; of Orange County; son of S. L. and Cora Herndon. Entered service June 26, 1918, at Chapel Hill, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson. Promoted to rank of Corporal September, 1918. Was Battery Clerk four months. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., Dec. 7, 1918.

Claude M. Tolar

1st Lt., Adjt. Gen. Staff. Born in Orange County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Tolar. Entered the service at Hillsboro, N.C., May 17, 1917. Was sent to Ft. Logan H. Roots, Ark., and from there to Camp Pike, Ark. Commissioned as 2nd Lt. Aug. 15, 1917, and promoted to rank of 1st Lt. Sept. 12, 1918. Mustered out at Camp Pike, Ark., July 29, 1919.