Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Aunts & Uncles~“The Life of William Thomas Graves and Mary Gilley Lassiter”

from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of William Thomas Graves and Mary Gilley Lassiter was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

“The Life of William Thomas Graves and Mary Gilley Lassiter”

William Thomas Graves was born around 1836 in Chesterfield, South Carolina. He was the son of David W. Graves (1812-1898), a tailor by trade, and grew up in the close-knit community of Chesterfield County during the antebellum period. In the 1850 census, young Thomas was living with his grandmother Mary Graves, along with his father David and sister Sarah J. Graves. At just 14 years old, Thomas was already learning the skills that would help him become a farmer in the years to come.

Mary Gilley Lassiter was born in 1839 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, to Eli Lassiter (1816-1880) and Mary Gainey (1814-1870). Her father Eli had moved from North Carolina and established himself as a farmer in the area. The 1850 census shows young Mary, then about 10 years old, living with her parents in Chesterfield County. Her middle name "Gilley" was discovered years later in a family Bible, adding a sweet piece of family history that had been tucked away on little scraps of paper.

Marriage and Building a Life Together

On July 26, 1857, William Graves and Mary G. Lassiter were married at the residence of James Hewitt in Chesterfield County. Both were described as being "of the district" in the parish register of St. David's Parish. Thomas was about 21 years old, and Mary was approximately 18. They were starting their married life together during a time of growing tension in the South.

By 1860, the young couple had established their own household. The census that year shows Thomas working as a farmer at age 25, with Mary at his side at age 20. They already had a baby daughter, Clary G. Graves, who was just ten months old. It must have been an exciting but challenging time for the young family, working the land and raising their first child.

The War Years and Tragedy

The outbreak of the Civil War would dramatically change the course of William Thomas Graves' life. On August 13, 1861, Thomas enlisted in Company C of the 8th South Carolina Infantry, leaving behind his young wife and daughter. Like so many men of his generation, he answered the call to serve, though it would prove to be a fatal decision.

Tragically, Thomas never made it home from the war. On October 15, 1862, just over a year after enlisting, he died of pneumonia at Charlestown Hospital in Virginia. He was only about 26 years old. His death left Mary a widow at approximately 23 years old, with a young daughter to raise and another child on the way.

Mary's Struggle and Resilience

The years following Thomas's death were incredibly difficult for Mary. By August 3, 1866, her circumstances had become so desperate that she sought help from the Freedmen's Bureau. The records paint a heartbreaking picture: Mary Graves, described as a "white widow" aged 27, was living in Cheraw on Abner Struther's lot with her two young daughters (both under 7 years old) and her mother Mary Lassiter, who was 52. To survive, Mary maintained a small garden and took in sewing and washing. The entry notes that she had "a free ticket on R. R. from MacFarland Pres." and was directed to bring references before receiving three days' worth of rations for her family.

This period, just after the Civil War ended, was a time of tremendous upheaval and hardship throughout the South. The economy was in ruins, and many families like Mary's were struggling just to put food on the table. The fact that she needed to apply for rations from the bureau shows just how desperate things had become.

The Children

Despite the hardships, Mary raised her two daughters:

Clarinda G. Graves (October 23, 1859 - August 1, 1933) was born in Chesterfield before her father went to war. She was baptized on January 1, 1874, at St. David's Church when she was 14 years old, with Jacob Gainey, Miss R. A. Reddy, and Reverend Jno W. Motte serving as sponsors. The baptismal record refers to her as "Clara Edna Green," though she was known as Clarinda. On November 25, 1878, she married Christopher Wesley Teal (1851-1922), and they built a life together in the Zoar section of Chesterfield County. She died at the age of 73 at her son E. T. Teal's home and was remembered in her obituary as leaving "her children as a precious legacy the memory of beautiful Christian motherhood."

Nancy Jane Graves (born 1862) was born in Chesterfield, likely after her father's death or just before he left for war. She too was baptized on January 1, 1874, at St. David's Church at age 12, with the same sponsors as her sister. The 1870 census shows her living with her grandmother Mary Lassiter and her mother and sister in Cheraw.

Historical Context

The lives of William Thomas and Mary Graves were shaped by some of the most tumultuous events in American history. They came of age during the 1850s, a decade of increasing sectional tensions that would ultimately lead to the Civil War. Their marriage in 1857 occurred just four years before South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.

The Civil War (1861-1865) devastated the South, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers like Thomas. Disease, particularly pneumonia and other camp illnesses, killed more soldiers than combat during the war. The 8th South Carolina Infantry, in which Thomas served, saw action in several major campaigns before his death.

The Reconstruction period that followed the war was equally challenging. The South's economy was shattered, with many families reduced to poverty. The Freedmen's Bureau, established in 1865, provided assistance not only to formerly enslaved people but also to destitute white Southerners like Mary Graves. The fact that she needed such assistance in 1866 reflects the widespread hardship of the era.

Legacy

Though William Thomas Graves' life was cut short at just 26 years old, his story represents that of countless young men who left their families to fight in the Civil War and never returned. Mary's story is equally representative of the widows left behind, who showed remarkable resilience in the face of tremendous adversity.

Their daughters carried on the family name and built new lives in Chesterfield County. Clarinda, in particular, lived a long life and was remembered fondly by her community. The discovery of family records tucked into an old Bible by later generations shows how these stories continue to matter to descendants, connecting us to ancestors who lived through some of America's most challenging times.

William Thomas Graves is my 2nd Great GrandUncle; his wife my 2nd Great GrandAunt by marriage.

__________________________

1. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 106A, Line 8, Dwelling 110, Family 110, Household of Mary GRAVES; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 20 November 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.

2. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 171; Line 3, Dwelling 1082, Family 1080, Household of [William] Thomas GRAVES; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 20 November 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.

3. Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (https://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 13 October 2013), entry for Thomas GRAVES, Private; Co. C, 8th SC Infantry; Confederate.

4. Brent H. Holcomb, St. David's Parish, South Carolina Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832,: Parish Register 1819-1924 (Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1991), pages 87-68.

5. Holcomb, St. David's Parish, South Carolina Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832, NARRIAGE at July 26, 1857 at the residence of James Hewitt, William Graves and Mary G. Lassiter, both of the district, page 105.

6. The South Carolina Genealogical Society, "Freedmen's Bureau Ration Book: May - September 1866 Darlington, South Carolina," The Carolina Herald (Summer Issue 2003): Page 27.

7. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 259A(stamped); Line 39, Dwelling 164, Family 170, Household of M. LASITER; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 4 January 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.

8. Holcomb, St. David's Parish, South Carolina Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832, The Feast of the Circumcision, Nancy Jane Graves, aged 12, daughter of Mary and Wm. Thos. Graves. Sponsors Jacob Gainey, Miss R. A. Reddy & Revd. Jno W. Motte, page 67.

8. Holcomb, St. David's Parish, South Carolina Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832, The Feast of the Circumcision, Clarinda Graves, aged 14, daughter of Mary and Wm. Thos. Graves. Sponsors Jacob Gainey, Miss R. A. Reddy & Revd. Jno W. Motte, page 68.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

52 Cousins~"Across the State Line: The Life of John Eddins in Two Carolinas"

The “52 Cousins” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of John Eddins (1851-1925) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

"Across the State Line: The Life of John Eddins in Two Carolinas"

Early Life and Family Background

John Eddins was born on May 21, 1851, in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, to James Ellis Eddins Sr. and Diana "Ann" Boan. He grew up in a large family during the turbulent years leading up to and following the Civil War. His father James (1828-1894) was a farmer who worked the land in the Chesterfield area, while his mother Ann (1818-1868) managed their growing household until her death when John was just seventeen years old.

John had eight siblings who survived to adulthood: William Manuel (1853-1928), Frank T. (1855-1918), Mary Ann (1857-1894), Henry (1868-1922), Winnie (1872-1917), Hattie (1879-1935), James Ellis Jr. (1879-1942), Carrie (1881-1955), and Emma Mae (1882-1954). Growing up in this large farm family, John would have learned early the values of hard work, cooperation, and family loyalty that would serve him throughout his life.

Marriage and Family

At the young age of seventeen, John married Sarah Frances Goodwin on September 16, 1869, at the residence of her mother, Mrs. Sarah Goodwyn, in Chesterfield County. The ceremony was recorded in the St. David's Parish Register. Frances, born in 1848, was actually a few years older than John, which wasn't uncommon for the time. Their marriage would last an impressive 53 years until Frances's death in 1921.

Together, John and Frances built a strong family of their own, raising five children who survived to adulthood:

Sara Ann (1871-1948)

Charlie Thomas (1874-1950)

Lewis E. (1876-1940)

Agustus "Gus" Robert (1879-1949)

John Henry (1882-1955)

Census records indicate that Frances gave birth to nine children total, though sadly only six lived, reflecting the harsh realities of child mortality in the late 19th century.

Life as a Farmer in South Carolina

In 1880, when John was about 29 years old, the family was living in Cheraw, Chesterfield County, where John worked as a farmer. The census that year captures a snapshot of their young family: John and Sarah Frances with their four oldest children—Sarah Ann (8), Charles (6), Louis (4), and baby Agustus, just 8 months old. All the children had been born in South Carolina, showing the family's deep roots in the area.

The 1886 Property Transaction

On October 30, 1886, John participated in a significant family legal matter that sheds light on the close-knit nature of the Eddins family. Following the death of his mother, Ann Eddins, John joined with his siblings Frank T. Eddings, William Eddings, and Mary Ann Graham, along with R. T. Grant, as heirs at law to quitclaim a piece of property to E. A. Goodwin for the sum of one dollar.

The property in question was an 11¼-acre tract located about three miles from Cheraw on the public road leading to Chesterfield Court House. The deed describes the land beginning at the public road near a branch at the corner of land formerly belonging to William T. Goodwin, running south to the La Coste estate, then east and back to the road. This transaction suggests that E. A. Goodwin may have been related to John's wife Frances (née Goodwin), and the nominal one-dollar payment indicates this was likely a family arrangement to consolidate property ownership or settle estate matters.

Mary Ann Graham had to make her mark with an "X" on the document, indicating she couldn't write, which was not unusual for women of her generation in rural South Carolina.

Move to North Carolina

By 1900, the Eddins family had relocated to Red Hill in Marlboro County, South Carolina, though interestingly, the census recorded both John and Frances as having been born in North Carolina. John, now 50, continued his work as a farmer. The household included three of their children still at home: Gus (20), John H. (17), and daughter Fannie (14). The census noted that after 31 years of marriage, Frances had borne 9 children, with 6 still living.

Sometime between 1900 and 1910, the family made a permanent move across the state line to Lilesville in Anson County, North Carolina. This area, just across from the South Carolina border, would become John's final home. By the 1910 census, John was 59 and Frances was 62. They had been married 45 years, and of their 8 children, 5 were still living.

Later Years and Legacy

The 1920 census finds John and Frances, now 69 and 71 respectively, still living in Lilesville. John continued to identify himself as a farmer, likely working a smaller operation or helping his sons with their farming endeavors in his later years. The couple was living alone at this point, their children grown and established in their own lives.

Frances passed away in 1921, ending their 53-year marriage. John lived four more years as a widower, likely supported by his children who lived nearby.

Death and Burial

John Eddins died on August 15, 1925, in Lilesville, Anson County, North Carolina, at the age of 74. His death certificate listed his father as James Eddings and his mother as Ann Bone (Boan), confirming his family origins. The next day, August 16, he was laid to rest at Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery, located on Highway 742 about five miles south of Wadesboro, North Carolina.

His tombstone spells his name "Eddins" (with an 'i'), though throughout most of his life and in official records, the family name was spelled "Eddings" (with an 'e'). This variation in spelling was common in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in rural areas where literacy rates varied and records were kept by different officials.

Historical Context

John's life spanned one of the most transformative periods in American history. Born just ten years before the Civil War, he grew up during Reconstruction in South Carolina, witnessed the end of the 19th century, and lived to see the Roaring Twenties begin. As a farmer in the Carolinas, he would have experienced the shift from the plantation economy to sharecropping and tenant farming, the arrival of railroads that connected rural communities, and the gradual modernization of agriculture.

Through it all, John Eddins remained what he had always been: a farmer, a family man, and a steady presence in his community, leaving behind a legacy of five children, multiple grandchildren, and descendants who carry his memory forward today.

John Eddins is my 1st Cousin 3X Removed.

___________________________

1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 31 October 2015); Memorial page for John Eddins; (21 May 1851–15 August 1925); Find a Grave memorial # 31082168, Citing Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery; Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, USA.

2. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 2, Page: 263, Line 39, Dwelling:#17, Family:#18, Household of John EDDINGS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : online June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm T9-1225.

3. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Deed Book#8: pages 696 - 698, Heris at law of Ann Eddings to E. A. Goodwin; Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

4. 1900 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Red Hill, Marlboro, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0096, Page:#11B/232B(Stamped); Line:#74, Dwelling:#200; Family:#207, Household of John EDDINGS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : online June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1536.

5. 1910 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina;, enumeration district (ED) 0010, Page:#13A/140A(Stamped); Line:#49, Dwelling:#153; Family:#153, Hpusehold of John EDDINGS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : online June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1096.

6. 1920 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Lilesville, Anson, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 11, Page: 5A/157A(Stamped); Line:#7, Dwelling:#86; Family:#1, Household of John EDDINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : onlinr June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm Series: T625, Roll: 1283.

7. John Eddings, death certificate 198 (Death Date: 15 Aug 1925), NC State Archives., North Carolina Deaths, 1908-67, Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina.

8. Complied by A. Haynes Dunlap & Steve Bailey, Cemeteries of Anson County, Volume II; Anson County Historical Society, 2000, page 35. Tombstone of John Eddins; 21 May 1851–15 August 1925, Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Anson County, North Carolina.

9. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, John Eddins (21 May 1851–15 August 1925), Memorial # 31082168.

10. Marriage: Brent H. Holcomb, St. David's Parish, South Carolina Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832,: Parish Register 1819-1924 (Greenville, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1991), page 109.

11. Obituary: MRS. S. F. EDDINS. obituary, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, United States, 3 March 1921, Page 4, Column 2.

12. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Sarah Frances Goodwin Eddins (20 December 1848–24 February 1921), Memorial # 31082240.

Note: Surnames spelled Goodwin/Goodwyn; Eddins/Eddings

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Aunts & Uncles~Nellie Johns Heustess: A Life Cut Short

The “Aunts & Uncles” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Nellie Johns Heustess (1891-1928) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

"Nellie Johns Heustess: A Life Cut Short"

Early Life and Family Background

Nellie was born in July 1891 in Marlboro County, South Carolina, to Joseph Henry John (1849-1929) and Laura Driggers (1869-1898). Her father's surname was originally spelled "John," but sometime around 1900, an "S" was added, making it "Johns." This change in spelling occurred during Nellie's childhood and is reflected in various census records from that era.

Tragically, Nellie's mother Laura passed away in 1898 when Nellie was only about seven years old. Her father Joseph Henry was left to raise his children as a widower. According to the 1900 census, he had been married for 18 years before Laura's death.

Growing Up with Siblings

Nellie grew up in a large family with several siblings:

Walter Joseph Johns (1883-1964)

Julius Johns (1887-1937)

Annie Bell Johns Boan (1888-1923)

Fannie Johns (born July 1892)

Mamie Johns (born July 1898)

The 1900 census, taken on June 18, 1900, captured nine-year-old Nellie living with her father and siblings in Bennettsville Township, Marlboro County. At that time, she was living with her father Joseph, along with brothers Walter (16) and Julius (13), sisters Annie Bell (12), Fannie (7), and baby Mamie (1). Life as a young girl in turn-of-the-century rural South Carolina meant helping with household duties, especially in a motherless home.

Marriage and Family Life

In October 1909, at about age 18, Nellie married George Washington Heustess (1887-1961), known as "Wash." He was the son of Richard and Bettie (Nelson) Heustess of Marlboro County. The newlyweds appeared in the 1910 census, enumerated on April 18, 1910, living in Smithville, Marlboro County. The census noted they had been married only six months and had no children yet.

Over the next 18 years, Nellie and Wash would have ten children together:

Frank Heustess (1912-1994)

Johnny W. Heustess (1914-2002)

Alma Heustess (1916-1988), later Alma Heustess Blockover

Pauline Kate Heustess (1919-1992), later Pauline Kate Heustess Gainey

Charles Heustess (1920- )

Ernest Heustess (1921-1984)

William Thomas "Tommy" Heustess (1923-1988)

Ethel Heustess (1924-1924) - sadly lived only a short time

Andrew Heustess (1926-1971)

Vance Heustess (1928-1928) - also died in infancy

By 1920, the family had moved to Cheraw in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. The 1920 census shows Wash, age 33, and Nellie, age 28, living with their children Frank (7), John (5), Alma (3), Katie (2 years, 8 months), and baby Charles (10 months old). The family would continue to grow through the 1920s.

Historical Context

Nellie lived through remarkable times in American history. Born in the post-Reconstruction South of 1891, she grew up during a period of significant change. The Spanish-American War occurred when she was seven years old in 1898—the same year she lost her mother.

As a young woman starting her married life, she witnessed World War I (1914-1918), which brought rationing, war bond drives, and anxiety for families across the country, even in rural South Carolina. The women's suffrage movement culminated in 1920 with the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote when Nellie was 29 years old and the mother of five children.

The Roaring Twenties brought dramatic social changes, new technologies like radio and automobiles, and economic prosperity—though life in rural South Carolina likely remained more traditional. The decade also saw the implementation of Prohibition (1920-1933), which banned alcohol nationwide.

A Heartbreaking End

Nellie's life came to a tragic and premature end on January 18, 1928, in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. She was only about 36 years old. According to her death certificate, she died from Bright's Disease, a term used at that time for kidney disease.

Family stories passed down recall the heartbreaking circumstances of her death. Nellie died just a few days after giving birth to her youngest son, Vance. One family member, who was about six years old at the time, remembered that when Wash was told of Nellie's death while sitting at the dinner table, he said he had to finish his breakfast first. The baby Vance, who also died in 1928, was reportedly given to Ida (believed to be Ida Oakley) to care for.

Nellie was buried on January 19, 1928, at Bethesda United Methodist Church Cemetery in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, where her grave can still be found today.

Legacy

Nellie Johns Heustess left behind a grieving husband and eight surviving children, the youngest only a toddler. Her death from childbirth complications was all too common in that era, before modern medical advances made pregnancy and delivery much safer. Though her life was brief, she left a lasting legacy through her descendants.

Her husband Wash faced his own struggles in the years following Nellie's death. The 1950 census shows him as a patient at the State Hospital Mental Institution in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina—poignantly, the same county where Nellie had died 22 years earlier. Wash lived until 1961, more than three decades after Nellie's passing.

Today, Nellie is remembered through her Find a Grave memorial (#34328761), where family members have left virtual flowers in her memory, keeping alive the story of a young mother whose life ended far too soon.

Nellie (Johns) Heustess is my GrandAunt.

___________________

1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 22 July 2013); Memorial page for Nellie Johns Heustess; (July 1891–18 January 1928); Find a Grave memorial # 34328761, Citing Bethesda United Methodist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

2. 1900 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 87, page 55A, dwelling 365, family 383, Household of Joseph John; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1536.

3. 1910 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Smithville, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0090, Page: 12B/82B (stamped), Line 83, Dwelling 30, Family 35, Household of G. W. HEUSTESS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 20 January 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm T624.

4. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 36, Page 34B/95B (stamped), Line 73, Dwelling 727, Family 731, Household of George W. HEUSTESS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 3 June 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T625_1690.

5. Nellie Huestes, death certificate 000520 (18 January 1928), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.

6. 1900 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Hebron, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 92, Page 153B/8B; Line 58, Dwelling 149, Family 149, Household of Richard Huestess; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : online June 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1536.

7. 1930 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 13-12, Page:#12B/256B Stamped; Line:#82, Dwelling:#219; Family:#219, Household of George W HEUSTESS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : online July 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm T626_Roll: 2192.

8. 1940 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 13-14, Page 201A/15A; Line 30, Household #234, Household of George HEUSTESS; digital images, 1940 CENSUS (http://Ancestry.com : viewed 2 June 2012); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 3799.

8. 1950 U. S. Census, Richland County, South Carolina, population schedule, : Columbia, Richland, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 47-39, 70, 6, George Washington HEUSTESS; digital images, 1950 CENSUS (www.archives.gov : on line July 2025); citing https://1950census.archives.gov/search/.

10. George Washington Heustess, Richland, South Carolina, USA death certificate 004276 (Death Date: 17 Mar 1961).

11. George W. Heustess obituary, [The Cheraw Chronicle, Thursday, March 23, 1961, , 23 March 1961.

12. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 22 July 2013); Memorial page for George Washington "Wash" Heustess; (5 August 1887–20 March 1961); Find a Grave memorial # 34328337, Citing Bethesda United Methodist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

Saturday, January 10, 2026

52 Cousins~Charlotte "Lottie" Raley Hinson (1806-1885): A Life in the Carolina Piedmont

The “52 Cousins” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Charlotte "Lottie" Raley Hinson (1806-1885) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

Charlotte "Lottie" Raley Hinson (1806-1885): A Life in the Carolina Piedmont

Early Life and Family Background

Charlotte "Lottie" Raley was born around 1815 in Lancaster, South Carolina, during the early years of the American republic. She was the daughter of James Raley and Ester Eddins (born 1781). Growing up in the Lancaster District of South Carolina, Charlotte came of age during a time when the region was still developing its agricultural economy and establishing its communities in the post-Revolutionary War era.

Marriage and Family Life

Around 1835, Charlotte married John Calvin Hinson, who was born in 1813 in South Carolina. Their union would span five decades and produce a remarkably large family of fourteen children. Charlotte took on the demanding role of mother and homemaker during an era when raising such a large family required tremendous physical labor and resilience.

Their Children

Charlotte and John Calvin raised the following children:

Harriet Hinson (b. abt 1836, Flat Creek, Lancaster, SC – d. before Oct 30, 1897, Colorado City, CO)

John Marion Hinson (b. abt 1840, Flat Creek, Lancaster, SC – d. July 13, 1863, Gettysburg, PA)

Andrew Newton Hinson (b. Sept 22, 1841, Lancaster, SC – d. Nov 23, 1898, Croft, Mecklenburg, NC)

William Jasper Hinson (b. Sept 7, 1842, Flat Creek, Lancaster, SC – d. Jan 25, 1916, Paw Creek, Mecklenburg County, NC) - married Nancy Martha Scott

Calvin Rayley Hinson (b. 1846, Lancaster County, SC – d. 1870, Boone, Watauga, NC)

Martha Nancy Hinson (b. May 4, 1848, Chesterfield, SC – d. Dec 13, 1933, Rock Hill, York, SC)

Sarah J. Hinson (b. 1850, Lancaster, SC – d. Jan 27, 1915, Church, Wetzel, WV)

Rev. John Hinson (b. Oct 1851, Lancaster County, SC – d. Apr 10, 1921, Cleveland County, NC) - married Jane Williams

Elizabeth A. "Sallie" Hinson (b. 1857, Flat Creek, Lancaster, SC)

Queen Elizabeth Hinson (b. 1857, Lancaster County, SC – d. July 27, 1891)

Dr. Francis Columbus Hinson (b. Feb 13, 1859, Lancaster County, SC – d. Mar 20, 1919, Pleasant Hill, Lancaster, SC)

Calvin Columbus Hinson (b. June 15, 1860, Lancaster County, SC – d. July 20, 1937, Waxhaw, Union, NC)

Franklin Hinson (b. abt 1863, Lancaster County, SC) - married Mary E. Dellinger

Samuel L. Hinson (b. 1864, Lancaster County, SC) - married Alice Eugene Starr

Life in South Carolina and the Move to North Carolina

For the first fifteen years of their marriage, Charlotte and John Calvin established their home in the Flat Creek area of Lancaster, South Carolina. The 1850 census captured the family as farmers, with Charlotte managing a household that included eight children at that time, ranging from fourteen-year-old Harriet down to one-year-old Sarah.

By 1860, the family was still in Lancaster, though the census now listed them in Lancaster, North Carolina (likely a census enumeration designation). The household had grown even larger, with eleven children present. Charlotte, then around 54 years old, was listed as a farmer alongside her husband, reflecting the reality that pioneer women were full partners in the agricultural enterprise.

The Civil War Years

The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 brought tragedy to the Hinson family. Their son John Marion Hinson died at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 13, 1863, one of the most significant and deadly battles of the war. This loss must have been devastating for Charlotte, who would have anxiously awaited news from the front lines while managing her large household during wartime shortages and uncertainty.

Later Years in North Carolina

By 1870, Charlotte and John Calvin had relocated to Catawba Springs in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Interestingly, the census listed John Calvin as a physician, suggesting he had taken up medical practice. The household had changed considerably – only three of their younger sons remained at home: Calvin C., Franklin, and Samuel. A housekeeper named Julia Perkins and her daughter Nancy also lived with them, perhaps indicating that Charlotte's health or circumstances required additional help.

The 1880 census found the family in Caldwells, Catawba County, North Carolina. At 65 years old, Charlotte was still keeping house with John Calvin, now 69. Their daughter Sallie and son Sammie remained at home, along with two grandchildren – Mary J. and Charley Hinson. After decades of raising her own children, Charlotte had taken on the care of her grandchildren as well.

Property and Final Days

In February 1883, Charlotte and John Calvin transferred property to their son Calvin C. Hinson – a 23-acre tract on the waters of Ball Creek in Catawba County. Charlotte signed the deed with her mark (an "X"), which was common for women of her generation who may not have had formal education but managed complex household operations nonetheless.

Charlotte "Lottie" Raley Hinson passed away on February 4, 1885, in Catawba, North Carolina, at the age of approximately 70 years. Heartbreakingly, she died just four days after her husband John Calvin, who had passed on January 31, 1885. Their joint death notice appeared in the Charlotte Democrat on February 20, 1885, marking the end of a marriage that had lasted nearly fifty years.

Historical Context

Charlotte lived through some of the most transformative years in American history. Born during Thomas Jefferson's presidency, she witnessed the War of 1812, westward expansion, the rise of the cotton economy in the South, the devastating Civil War, and the challenging Reconstruction era. As a mother who raised her family through these turbulent times – moving from South Carolina to North Carolina, losing a son at Gettysburg, and helping to establish her children throughout the region – Charlotte embodied the strength and perseverance of pioneer women in the 19th-century South.

Her legacy lived on through her many descendants, including a reverend, a doctor, and generations of farmers and citizens who continued to build communities throughout North and South Carolina.

Charlotte "Lottie" Raley Hinson is my 1st Cousin 4X Removed.

___________________________

1. 1850 U S Census, Lancaster County, South Carolina, population schedule, Lancaster, South Carolina, Page:#174A (Stamped); Line:#32, Dwelling:#637, Family:#637, Household of C. [Calvin] HINSON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed February 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 854.

2. 1860 U S Census, Lancaster County, South Carolina, population schedule, Lancaster, South Carolina, Page: 196; Line:#2, Dwelling:#864; Family:#871, Household of Calvin HINSON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed February 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1221.

3. 1870 U. S. Census, Lincoln County, North Carolina, population schedule, Catawba Springs, Lincoln, North Carolina, Page: 138B; Line:#22, Dwelling:#60; Family:#60, Household of John C. HINSON; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : online February 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 1146.

4. 1880 U. S. Census, Catawba County, North Carolina, population schedule, Caldwells, Catawba, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 044, Page: 452B (Stamped); Line:#32, Dwelling:#NL, Family:#196, Household of John C. HINSON; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : online February 2024); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 0957.

5. "Death Notice from the Charlotte Democrat," Charlotte Democrat, Charlotte, North Carolina, 20 February 1885, Page 3, Column 6.; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : online February 2025); Charlotte Democrat, Charlotte, North Carolina. https://www.newspapers.com/image/168119256/?clipping_id=148760113.

6. North Carolina, Deed Book: 20, pages 369 & 370, Calvin C. Hinson from John C. Hinson & Wife; Register of Deeds, Newton,Catawba County, North Carolina.

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

“Aunts & Uncles” ~From Carolina to Texas: The Journey of Timmey Ellen (Parsons) Sellers

The “Aunts & Uncles” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Timmey Ellen (Parsons} Sellers" (1819-1899) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

"From Carolina to Texas: The Journey of Timmey Ellen Parsons Sellers"

Early Life and Family Background

Timmey Ellen Parsons was born on September 2, 1819, in Chesterfield, South Carolina, into a family that would soon face significant challenges. Her father, Abington Parsons (1784-1826), and mother, Mary (1796-1845), had created a life together in the Chesterfield District, but tragedy struck when Timmey was just six years old. Her father passed away on April 13, 1826, leaving Mary to raise their six children alone.

Timmey grew up as one of six siblings: her older sister Ann (born June 27, 1818), who later married Richmond White; her younger brother Raymond (born December 5, 1820); sister Elizabeth (born March 9, 1822), who married William Sellers; and her youngest siblings Thomas (born May 10, 1823) and Mary M. (born April 10, 1825). Growing up in a household headed by a widowed mother in the 1820s and 1830s South Carolina would have presented considerable challenges, though census records show the family maintained some stability, including ownership of enslaved people.

Marriage and Young Family

After spending her youth in her mother's household—the 1840 census still shows her living at home at age 21—Timmey married Noah Sellers (1819-1894) sometime in the latter half of 1840. Though no official marriage record has been found, legal documents from 1843 confirm she was Noah's wife by that time, and the birth of their first child in 1841 helps narrow down the wedding date.

The young couple wasted no time starting their family. Their children came in fairly quick succession:

James Calhoun Sellers (1841-1901)

William A. Sellers Sr. (1842-1932)

Thomas E. Sellers (1844-1918)

Andrew Jackson Sellers (1846-1905)

Susannah Sellers (1848-)

Mary Annettie Sellers (1852-1919)

George Washington Sellers (1855-1859)

Josiah Sellers (1857-1860)

Tragically, Timmey and Noah lost two of their sons in childhood—little George Washington died at just four years old, and Josiah passed away at three.

Land Dealings and Moving On

In September 1846, Timmey and Noah made an important financial decision by selling her inherited land. The deed shows they sold Timmey's distributive share of her father's estate—approximately 30 acres in Anson County, North Carolina, just across the South Carolina line—to Roderick Shaw for $25. This transaction represented Timmey's final connection to her father's property, land that had been divided among Abington Parsons' heirs after his death two decades earlier.

Life in Tennessee

By 1850, the Sellers family had relocated to Tennessee, appearing in the census for District 12, Carroll County. At that time, Noah was 28 and Timmey was 29 (though she was actually 31), and they had five children with them, including newborn Susannah. The family had made the significant decision to leave South Carolina behind and start fresh in Tennessee.

The 1860 census finds them in District 2, Henderson County, Tennessee, with eight children at home. Life continued in Tennessee through the turbulent Civil War years and beyond. By 1880, the census shows Noah and Timmey, now in their early sixties, still in Tennessee (listed as Madison County, District 14), with two adult daughters—Susannah and Mary—still at home, plus a granddaughter named Lillie, age 8.

Final Years in Texas

As Timmey aged and her health declined, her family faced the question of how to care for her. Family memories passed down through the generations tell us that neither her daughter Lillie (actually her half-sister) nor her daughter Mary could adequately care for the elderly woman, and daughter Susannah was dealing with mental illness herself. The solution came from sons James and Andrew, who took their mother to Ellis County, Texas, to stay with their brother William.

Timmey Ellen Parsons Sellers died on December 24, 1899, in Ellis County, Texas, just shy of her 80th birthday. She was laid to rest in Milford Cemetery in Milford, Ellis County, Texas.

Historical Context

Timmey's life spanned nearly the entire 19th century, a period of tremendous change in American history. She was born during the "Era of Good Feelings" under President James Monroe, grew up during the Age of Jackson, married during the early years of westward expansion, raised her family through the turmoil of the Civil War and Reconstruction, and died at the very end of the Victorian era as America stood on the threshold of the 20th century. Her journey from South Carolina to Tennessee and finally to Texas mirrored the westward movement of countless American families seeking new opportunities and better lives on the frontier.

Timmey Ellen (Parsons) Sellers is my 2nd Great GrandAunt

Saturday, January 3, 2026

52 Cousins~Remembering Dr. David Richard Perkins Sr.: Country Doctor and Family Man

The “52 Cousins” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Dr. David Richard Perkins Sr. (1878-1930) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

"Remembering Dr. David Richard Perkins Sr.: Country Doctor and Family Man"

Early Life and Family Background

David Richard Perkins was born on June 2, 1878, in Chesterfield, South Carolina, the son of James Franklin Perkins (1836-1910) and Margaret Emeline "Aunt Mag" Davis (1840-1926). David grew up in a large, bustling household near the Chesterfield Court House, where his father worked as a farmer. The 1880 census shows young David, affectionately called "D.R." by those who knew him, as a curious three-year-old boy surrounded by numerous siblings in the family farmhouse.

His father James had been born in Virginia but made his home in South Carolina, while his mother Margaret was a South Carolina native through and through. David grew up with a houseful of brothers and sisters, including William A., Julia, Margaret, Julia B., Mary T., Eliza J., John D., James E., and C. Virginia. By 1900, when David was 22, he was still living at home with his parents, who had been married an impressive 45 years and had raised 14 children, with 12 still living.

David would maintain close ties with his siblings throughout his life. His brothers John, Bascom, and Bill eventually settled in Douglas, Georgia, while his sisters scattered across the South—Mrs. George Rivers in Chesterfield, South Carolina; Mrs. L. L. Shaw in Defuniak Springs, Florida; Mrs. Irish Jones in Cullowhee, Georgia; Mrs. Adelia Duncan in Douglas, Georgia; Mrs. C. A. Lawson in Wadesboro, North Carolina; and Mrs. Minnie Horton in McBee, South Carolina.

Education and Professional Training

Young David received his early education at the high schools of Chesterfield County, where he proved himself to be a dedicated and bright student. His academic excellence and desire to help others led him to pursue medicine, and he enrolled at Baltimore Medical College in Maryland. According to local newspapers, he was "the best read member of his class" during his time at medical school—quite an accomplishment that spoke to his intelligence and work ethic. He graduated from Baltimore Medical College in 1903, around the age of 25, and immediately obtained his medical license to practice.

Marriage and Family

On June 5, 1904, at age 26, David married M. Arlena "Lena" Sturdivant (1882-1942) in Union County, North Carolina. Lena was 22 years old at the time, the daughter of James N. Sturdivant and Josephine Sturdivant.

The couple would build a loving family together, raising six children:

George Oscar Perkins (1905-1985)

Selma F. Perkins (1906-1985)

Bascom Wheeler Perkins (1908-1973)

David Richard Perkins Jr. (1914-1989)

James Norris Perkins (1917-1991)

Ney Barrett Perkins (1920-1992)

By the 1910 census, the young family was living with Lena's father in Lanes Creek township. The household was lively with three small children—Oscar (5), Selma (3), and baby Bascom, who was just over a year old. The 1920 census shows the family had grown to include five children at home, and by 1930, all six children were part of the household, ranging from young Ney at age 9 to Selma at 23.

Medical Practice in Lanes Creek Township (1903-1910)

After securing his medical license, Dr. Perkins began his professional career in Lanes Creek township, Union County, North Carolina. For seven years, he served the rural community with dedication and skill, building what was described as "a splendid practice." He was noted as being "very successful in his work" during these formative years as a physician. The local newspaper praised him as "a young man of fine character" who had established himself well in the community.

During this time, he was building not just his medical practice but also his young family, as his first three children were born while the family resided in Lanes Creek. The community came to know him as a skilled and compassionate doctor who combined medical expertise with genuine care for his patients.

Moving to Marshville (1910)

In the summer of 1910, Dr. Perkins made a significant decision that would shape the rest of his life and career. He moved his family to the town of Marshville, arriving around August 1, 1910, to establish his medical practice there. The Monroe Journal announced the move, welcoming him warmly: "We are glad to welcome Dr. Perkins to our town." The newspaper noted his excellent education and character, mentioning he was "the best read member of his class while in the medical college at Baltimore."

The move to Marshville proved to be both professionally and personally rewarding. Dr. Perkins quickly built up "a fine practice" and became not only prominent in his profession but also "a leader in the work of advancing civilizing influences" in the community. He was described as "a man of high character, intelligence and probity—full of benevolence for the people; appreciative sympathy for the worthy needy, and for all kind and earnest words to those who strive."

Professional Life and Community Standing

Dr. Perkins established his medical office in a wooden building between Harrell Brothers Company's store and the Bank of Marshville in the heart of town. He maintained his office there with furniture and a stock of medicines, ready to answer calls day or night. His practice flourished, and he became known throughout Union County as a dedicated general practitioner.

In February 1918, during a meningitis outbreak, Dr. Perkins treated Lem Jordan, son of W. T. Jordan of south Marshville, consulting with Dr. Armfield several times on the serious case. A trained nurse, Miss Mary Bowman, assisted with the around-the-clock care, and thankfully the young man recovered. This case demonstrates the collaborative nature of rural medical practice and Dr. Perkins's commitment to his patients' wellbeing.

Tragically, in December 1911, fire struck Marshville between midnight and 1 o'clock in the morning. The blaze destroyed the wooden buildings where Dr. Perkins had his office, along with C. L. Gulledge's grocery. Nothing was saved from the buildings. Dr. Perkins lost all his office furniture and his small stock of medicine in the fire, which originated near a stove flue. Despite this setback, he rebuilt his practice and continued serving the community.

World War I Era

During World War I, Dr. Perkins registered for the draft in 1917-1918 at age 39. His draft registration card described him as having a medium build and medium height, with dark hair and brown eyes. His wife Lena was listed as his nearest relative. While there's no indication he served overseas, the war years brought their own challenges to rural medical practice, with influenza and other illnesses affecting communities across North Carolina.

By October 1919, times were good enough that Dr. Perkins purchased a new touring car—quite a modern convenience that would have made his house calls much more comfortable and allowed him to reach patients more quickly across the rural roads of Union County.

Final Years and Death

In his final years, Dr. Perkins continued his devoted service to the Marshville community. The 1930 census, taken just months before his death, shows him at age 51 living with Lena and five of their children still at home. However, his health began to decline, and he suffered from what was described as "a lingering illness of many weeks."

Dr. David Richard Perkins died on November 12, 1930, in Monroe, North Carolina, at the age of 52. His death certificate listed the cause as carcinoma of the small intestines—cancer that had taken its toll over time. His son Oscar served as the informant on the death certificate.

Funeral services were conducted at the family home on November 13, 1930, followed by burial in Marshville City Cemetery. He was survived by his widow Lena, their five sons (Oscar, Bascom, David Jr., Norris, and Ney), and daughter Selma, as well as his three brothers and six sisters scattered across the South.

The community mourned the loss of a physician who had served them faithfully for nearly three decades. His obituary in The Charlotte News noted that he had "graduated from the Baltimore Medical College about 28 years ago and began practice in this county soon after," dedicating his entire professional life to the people of Union County.

Life as a Rural Family Physician in North Carolina (1900-1930)

Being a family physician in rural North Carolina during Dr. Perkins's era meant living a life of constant availability and deep community connection. Country doctors like Dr. Perkins were on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, traveling dusty roads by horse and buggy in the early years and later by automobile—like the touring car Dr. Perkins proudly purchased in 1919—to reach patients scattered across farms and small communities.

These physicians treated everything from childhood illnesses and injuries to delivering babies, setting broken bones, and managing chronic conditions, often with limited resources and no backup. They worked in an era before antibiotics, so infections that would be easily treated today could be life-threatening. The 1918 influenza pandemic would have tested every rural doctor's skills and endurance. Doctors frequently consulted with one another on difficult cases, as Dr. Perkins did with Dr. Armfield during the meningitis case, since they couldn't simply refer patients to specialists in distant cities.

The financial reality was challenging too—many patients paid with produce, livestock, or promised payment "when the crops came in." Yet these doctors were pillars of their communities, respected not just for their medical knowledge but for their character and compassion. They knew their patients' families for generations, celebrated births, mourned deaths, and carried the weight of being one of the few people with any medical training for miles around. Dr. Perkins embodied this tradition of service, building relationships that lasted decades and earning a reputation as a man of "high character, intelligence and probity" who showed "benevolence for the people" and "appreciative sympathy for the worthy needy." His nearly thirty years of dedicated practice represented the very best of rural medicine in an era when being a country doctor was as much a calling as a profession.

Dr. David Richard Perkins Sr. is my 2nd Cousin 3X Removed.

___________________________

1. State of North Carolina, death certificate no. 296 (12 November 1930), Dr. D. R. PERKINS; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.

2. 1880 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 005, Page 323C, Line 22, Dwelling 222, Family 222, Household of James F. PERKINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 18 July 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T9-1225.

3. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 21, Page 106B/22B; Line 97, Dwelling 416, Family 423, Household of James F. PERKINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 18 July 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1523.

4. 1910 US Census, Union County, North Carolina, population schedule, Lanes Creek, Union County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 0124, Page 19B/274B; Line 70, Dwelling 329, Family 329, Household of Jos N. STURDIVANT; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 27 August 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1134.

5. Ancestry.com, "World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database, www.ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : online January 2025), David Richard Perkins, Sr.; https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6482/records/23023772.

6. "MENINGITIS AT MARSHVILLE.," disease Outbreak, The Monroe Journal, Monroe, North Carolina, 19 February 1918, Page 1, Column 2; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : obline February 2025); The Monroe Journal. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monroe-journal/187803408/.

7. 1920 US Census, Union County, North Carolina, population schedule, Marshville, Union County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 151, Page 3B/118B (stamped); Line 89, Dwelling 60, Family 61, Household of D. R. PERKINS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 27 August 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T625, Roll 1324.

8. 1930 US Census, Union County, North Carolina, population schedule, Marshville, Union County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 13, Page 5A/12A (stamped); Line 1, Dwelling 97, Family 104, Gousehold of David R. PERKINS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 27 August 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T626, Roll 1723.

9. State of North Carolina, death certificate no. 296, (12 November 1930), Dr. D. R. PERKINS.

10. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 25 August 2012); Memorial page for Dr. David Richard Perkins; (2 June 1878–12 November 1930); Find a Grave memorial # 66090936, Citing Marshville City Cemetery; Marshville, Union County, North Carolina, USA.

11. "Dr. D. R. Perkins Laid to Last Rest, 15 November 1930," Page 3, Column 3.">

12. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, M. Arlena Sturdivant "Lena" Perkins (29 May 1882–17 February 1942), Memorial # 66090718.

13. 1940 US Census, Union County, North Carolina, population schedule, Marshville, Union County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 90-16, Page: 6B/175B (stamped); Line 54, Household #109, Household of Lena PERKINS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 27 August 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T627, Roll 2979.

14. North Carolina, death certificate # 250 (17 February 1942), Mrs Lena Perkins; http://www.Ancestry.com, Union, North Carolina.

15. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, M. Arlena Sturdivant "Lena" Perkins (29 May 1882–17 February 1942), Memorial # 66090718.

Thursday, January 1, 2026