John Calvin Deese is my Great Grandfather. John Calvin was a son of Samuel Deese and Sarah Hill. Three different dates have been found for John’s birth; 10 November 1852 (calculated from age given on NC Death certificate 77y, 2m, 22d and a death date of 1 Apr 1930), 10 November 1854 (Tombstone) and 11 Dec 1853 (NC Death Certificate). 1 2 3
John and his brother Henry Harrison married sisters, daughters of James W. Huneycutt and Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” Page.
Henry Harrison married Nellie Isabelle Huneycutt and John Calvin married Louvena Huneycutt on 9 April 1884. Louvena was twenty eight years old when she married John Calvin. 4
John Calvin and Louvena had 4 daughters born between 1885 and 1889. These children were: Lucy Pearl, Theresa Sara, Etta M and Louvena Deese.
The 1889 birth of Louvena on 15 October resulted in the death of both Mother and child. The Mother died the following day after the birth of her child. The Child, Louvena died 1 year later on 17 October 1890. 5 6
This left John Calvin, a farmer, with 3 small babies to care for as well as his farm.On 4 February 1892, John Calvin Deese and Sarah Frances Gathings were united into Holy Matrimony.7 Sarah Frances “Fannie” Gathings was 32 and John Calvin was 39. Between 1989 and 1897 John and Fannie would add three more daughters to the three from John’s first marriage. These three children were Winnie Elizabeth, Cora Lee and Callie Blanche Deese.
Of these seven girls, six would live to adulthood; five of the six would marry and have families of their own. Cora Lee would remain unmarried her entire life.
John Calvin wrote his Last Will and Testament on 14 March 1908. He died in April 1930. 8
John’s daughter Lucy Pearl is my Grandmother. This Will is the earliest document I have that indicates she was married to my Grandfather. She is named in this Will dated 14 March 1908 as Mrs. Lucy Purvis (Item V) so I know she married Grandpa sometime before 14 March 1908.
The NC Death Certificate for “Calvin Deere” shows that he died 2 April 1930. Actually, he died about 11pm Tuesday night, 1 April 1930 as stated in his obituary. 9 10
Death of J. Calvin Deese.
Tuesday night at 11 o'clock Mr. J. Calvin Deese died at his home. He had been a victim of paralysis for a long time and the end was expected at any hour. The funeral was held in the Methodist church Thursday morning at 10 o'clock conducted by his pastor, Rev. C. L. McCain, and interment was in the Morven cemetery where a large number of sorrowing friends and relatives gathered to pay the last tribute to a man who had always labored with both heart and hand to do the right thing for his Master, his country and family. Mr. Deese was 77 years of age, he had been a citizen of Morven nearly all his life. He was twice married, first to Miss Lavenia Honeycutt and to this union three children were born, and second to Miss Fannie Gathings, and to them were born three children also. He is survived by his second wife and five daughters. They are: Mrs. Baldwin, of Palestine; Mrs. Jim Purvis, of McFarlan; Mrs. Reuben Phillips and Misses Lizzie and Cora Deese of Morven.
[John Calvin Deese, found under Morven News, The Messenger & Intelligence, 3 April 1930, Page 10.]
John Calvin Deese was buried in the Morven Cemetery, Morven, Anson County, North Carolina.
I have looked for quite some time for a photo of my great grandfather John Calvin Deese. If you are related or know someone who has a photo, I would be eternally grateful if you would contact me and share the photo.
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[1] 1870 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Gulledge, Anson County, North Carolina, Page 337B; Line 15, Dwelling 97, Family 97, Household of Sam DEES; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 29 March 2013); citing National Archive Microfilm M593, Roll 1122.
[2] State of North Carolina, death (2 April 1930), Calvin Deere [Deese]; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.
[3] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on 2 January 2010); Headstone for John Calvin Deese; (10 November 1854–1 April 1930); Records of the Morven Cemetery; Morven, Anson County, North Carolina, USA.
[4] State of North Carolina, marriage (9 April 1884), John Calvin Deese & Louvenia Honeycutt; https://www.ancestry.com, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
[5] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on June 2011); Headstone for Louvena Huneycutt Deese; (10 November 1857–16 October 1889); Records of the Cedar Creek Meeting House Cemetery; Lilesville, Anson County, North Carolina, USA.
[6] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on June 2011); Headstone for Louvena Deese; (15 October 1889–16 October 1890); Records of the Cedar Creek Meeting House Cemetery; Lilesville, Anson County, North Carolina, USA.
[7] State of North Carolina, marriage (9 April 1884), John Calvin Deese & Lavinia Honeycutt; https://www.ancestry.com, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
[8] Anson County, North Carolina, LDS FHL microfilm #018161: page 423 Will of John Calvin Dees; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
[9] State of North Carolina, death (2 April 1930), Calvin Deere [Deese]; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.
[10] OBITUARY: John Calvin Deese obituary, The Messenger & Intelligence, Wadesboro, North Carolina, 3 April 1930, Page 10, Morven News.
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