North Carolina

Biography of A. H. Prevo

A. H. Prevo, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Charleston; was born in Randolph Co., N. C., Jan. 5, 1833; he is the only son of Alson H. and Pheriba (Phelps) Prevo, both natives of that State, the former of whom died when the subject of this sketch was a child, and the latter of whom now resides with her son, at the age of 70 years. At the age of 18 years he left the farm, and obtained employment in one of the lumber mills in the vicinity. In 1854, he came West as far as Fountain Co , Ind., … Read more

1884 Hester Roll Index

Há-tchoo-túc-knee, Snapping Turtle, a Half-breed, George Catlin, 1834

An index to the 1884 Hester Roll, compiled by Joseph G. Hester as a record of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in 1882-1883. This roll lists Cherokees residing east of the Mississippi River. Joseph G. Hester, a Special Agent, conducted the enumeration in 1882-1883, and the roll was approved by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs on January 24, 1884. The roll itself provides both the Chapman roll number and the English and Indian names of the individuals.

Biography of Charles Cornwallis

Charles Cornwallis, son of the first Earl of Cornwallis, was born in Suffolk on the 31st of December, 1738. He was educated at Westminster and St. John’s College, Cambridge. He entered the army in 1759, and succeeded to the title and estates of his father in 1761. He was the most competent and energetic of all the British generals sent to America during the Revolution, but the cruelties exercised by his orders on a few occasions, have left an indelible stain upon his character. It was in pursuance of one of his orders, issued soon after the battle of Camden, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Colonel Tarleton

Colonel Banastre Tarleton Was Born In Liverpool, England, On The 21st Of August, 1754. He Commenced The Study Of The Law, But When The War In America Broke Out He Entered The British Army And Came To This Country With Lord Cornwallis. He Served With That Officer In All His Campaigns In The South, And By His Daring Intrepedity, And Indomitable Energy, Greatly Contributed To The Success Of The British Arms At Camden. He Possessed A Sanguinary Disposition, As Was Exhibited In The Cruel Massacre Of Col. Buford’s Regiment At The Waxhaws. In Tracing His History In America, We Look … Read more

Biography of Dr. William McLean

Dr. William McLean was born in Rowan county, N.C., on the 2nd day of April, 1757. His father, Alexander McLean, was a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America, landinuy (now Gaston) about 175 . His mother was first married to a Mr. McKee in Pennsylvania, who afterwards removed to North Carolina and settled in Mecklenburg county. By this marriage she had one son, James McKee, a soldier of the revolution, and ancestor of the several families of that name in the neighborhood of Armstrong’s Ford, on the South Fork of the Catawba. After McKee’s death, his widow married Mr. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Polk

William Polk, son of Colonel Thomas Polk, was born in 1759, and was present at the Mecklenburg Convention of the 19th and 20th of May, 1775. He commenced his military career with his father in the expedition against the Scovillite Tories, in upper South Carolina, in the autumn of 1775. He was with General Nash when he fell at Germantown; with General Davidson, at Cowan’s Ford; with General Greene, at Guilford Court House; and with the same officer at Eutaw Springs. In the last named battle he was severely wounded, the effects of which he carried with him to his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of O. A. Reich

Mr. Reich is an American of German decent, and not a German as his name would indicate. He. was born in North Carolina in 1828, came to Texas in 1850. He is a brick mason, and out of his trade has acquired a nice little sum in money and lands. Like most of men who have made money in Texas, he came here with a few dollars and by economy, industry and promptness, has put himself in a condition to pass his old age in ease and comfort, if not luxury. Mr. Reich is owner of the addition to Bonham, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jones, Julia, Mrs.

Mrs. Julia Jones, daughter of Judge C. C. Dyer, was born in Fort Bend County in 1839. Her father was a native of Tennessee and was born at Dyersburg January 29, 1799, and came to Texas with William Stafford in 1824. In this same year he married Sarah Stafford, who was born February 5, 1809, near Raleigh, North Carolina, Judge Dyer had twelve in family six boys and six girls. He lived to quite an old age, served as county judge of Fort Bend County, and died in 1864 on his farm on the east side of the Brazos River, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Cason, Henry

There is an old Negro man of the above name still living at Richmond, who belonged to Captain Randall Jones. He says that Captain Wiley Martin lived with Captain Jones and died there, and that he waited upon him during his sickness, which lasted about three weeks. He also remembers Deaf Smith and when he died, and for many years knew where his grave was, but the spot is lost now. Henry was brought to Texas in 1832 by his master, Joseph Thompson, who sold him to Captain Jones soon after. Thompson came from North Carolina, and old man Henry … Read more

Biography of Pleasants, George W.

Austin Colonist George Washington Pleasants was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, March 30th, 1809, and came from there to Texas in 1830, and first settled at Columbia, and lived there until 1833. There was a great cholera epidemic that year at Columbia, which nearly depopulated the town. Mr. Pleasants had two sisters to die there; one, Fannie, was the wife of Kinchen Davis, and mother of Captain W. K. Davis, father of Judge J. H. P. Davis, of Richmond. Captain W. K. Davis was a Mier prisoner, as will be seen from the account elsewhere of that expedition. After the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Worthington, R. H.

R. H. Worthington is an old Texan, and one of the good and worthy citizens of Fort Bend County. He was born in Pitt County, North Carolina, on June the 6th, 1826, but came from Alabama to Fort Bend County in 1849. During the great yellow fever epidemic of 1853 he nursed patients almost incessantly, being a member of the Howard Association, organized at that time for the purpose of taking care of the sick. He escaped all of the dangers to life and health while engaged in this laudable work, and still resides at Richmond. His wife, Mrs. Mary … Read more

Biography of Ransom D. Blades, Sr.

This old settler and prominent citizen is the son of Edward and Ellen (Maynar) Blades, and was born in McMinn county, Tennessee, January 29, 1821. He was the second child and oldest son. His parents were natives of North Carolina, but moved to Tennessee shortly after their marriage. In 1836, when Ransom was fifteen years of age, they came to Greene county, Missouri, and settled on section 10, township 28, range 24. Then that part of the county was settled by only two or three families, and to the southwest of them there were no neighbors nearer than forty miles. … Read more

Biography of William M’Kerrall

This well-known subject was born in Orange county, N. C., June 17,1824. At sixteen he received the appointment to West Point Military Academy, and entered same class with Gen. Hancock. He was compelled to leave school, however, on account of ill health, and returned to North Carolina. There he entered Caldwell Institute, John Wilson, D.D., president, and took a regular collegiate course. At the outbreak of the Mexican war, young McKerall volunteered and was elected first lieutenant of Co. E of the North Carolina regiment, which company he served with during the war, latterly as acting captain. On one occasion, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Brown

Jim Brown purchased land in Section 25 of Battle Township, Ida County, Iowa, on October 10, 1873. On March 29, 1874, he came back to live on the farm. James Brown was born in Perry County, Ohio, January 16, 1843. He was from a family of 13 children, nine sons and 4 daughters. His father was John Brown and he was born in 1800 in Waterford County, Ireland, and at the age of 15 came to the United States, landing at New Orleans. He worked for 7 years in the Carolinas and Georgia, and then located in Perry County, Ohio, … Read more

Hiram Tyram Hunter

HIRAM TYRAM HUNTER: educator; b. Mars Hill, N.C., March 26, 1883; s. James Hardy and Martha Caroline (Braley) Hunter ; grad. Mars Hill Coll., 1908; B.A., Wake Forest Coll. 1908; M.A., Teachers Coll. (Columbia), 1917; Ed.M., Harvard, 1922; m. Glen Weaver of Weaversville, N.C., Aug. 7, 1912; children: Marthalou, Lucy Jane. Pres. Southside Inst., Chase City, Va., 1912-14; head Dept. of English, Womans Coll., Richmond, Va., 1914-16; Asso. prof. Edn. and head Dept. of Edn. Southern Meth. U., Dallas, Tex. 1917-19; prof. Edn. Baylor Coll., 1919-20; prof. Edn. and dir. Summer Sch., Wake Forest Coll., 1920-23; pres. Cullowhee (N.C.) State … Read more