It’s Family Time~The Short-Lived Life of a Second Cousin

Childbirth today is a common everyday occurrence but back in the mid-1800 that was not the case. The mothers of those days risked their lives to have babies and many of them lost their life. Statistics show that in the 1880’s the mortality rate for pregnant women was one in every eight women 

Medicine was sadly lacking, there was no anesthesia thus opuim was mainly used to reduced the pain. Common thought was that women must suffer the pain of childbirth.

Mid-wives instead of Doctors cared for most of the women, in their home, in conditions very undesirable for childbirth.

Such was likely the case with Sophia Miller Furr.

Sophia Miller was born in 1822 to George Jacob Miller, Jr. and his wife Catherine “Katy” Dry. She was their “middle child and only daughter” between an older and younger brother. At age 19, on 20 April 1841, Sophia Miller married Solomon Furr. 

Their first and only child, a son, Franklin Henry Furr was born 21 Jan 1842. While I don't have a death date, we know that Sophia died at or shortly after the birth of her son Franklin Henry Furr. Franklin Henry Furr survived, married, and raised a large family passing away on 19 December 1911 in Polk County, Arkansas.

In 1844, Solomon Furr, widow, remarried. He took as his wife a young lady, age 17, by the name of Avaline Brown. To this union were born 2 daughters. Avaline Brown Furr was last enumerated in the 1860 census dying sometime between 1860 and 1870. Dr. Solomon Furr remained single after her death until 3 March 1894 at the age of 71 he married Mrs. Martha Jane Cox Scott.

Dr. Solomon Furr died 27 August 1895.

Death of Dr. S. Furr.
Dr. Solomon Furr, a well known citizen of No. 9, died last Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock from a stroke of paralysis which he received last Friday. He told his wife he felt sleepy, when she told him to stir about. He went out to the barn, and while there was stricken. He lingered until Tuesday when he died. Dr. Furr leaves a wife and three children, two sons and one daughter, Mrs. S. C. Bost The two sons are out west. Dr. Furr was about 75 years old. The remains were interred in the Furr burying ground.
[The Concord Times, Concord, North Carolina, 29 Aug 1895, Thu., Page 3, Column 2.]

Sophia Miller Furr is my 2nd Cousin 4 times removed.

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1. "North Carolina, Marriages Index, 1741-1868," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 10 August 2020), Marriage: Solomon FURR and Sophia Miller, Bond Date: 20 Apr 1841.

2. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed  10 August 2020); Memorial page for Lieut Solomon Furr; (29 May 1822-27b Aug 1895); Find a Grave memorial # 18373237, Citing Furr Family Cemetery; Mount Pleasant, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, USA.

3. 1850 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, population schedule, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 474A (Stamped); Line 26,, Dwelling 1107, Family 1107, Household of Solomon FURR; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 10 August 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 622.

4. 1860 U. S. Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, population schedule, Subdivision East of NC RR, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 92 (stamped); Line 7, Dwelling 956, Family 956, Household of Solomon FURR; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 10 August 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 890.

5. Solomon Furr, compiled military record (2nd Lt., Company B, North Carolina 7th Infantry Regiment), U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 (Provo, Utah: www.ancestry.com), N/A.

6. 1870 Census, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, population schedule, Township 9, Cabarrus, North Carolina, Page: 545A (stamped); Line 32, Dwelling 50, Family 57, Household of Solomon FURR; online database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 10 August 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 1126.

7. "Death of Dr. S. FURR," Obituary, [The Concord Times, Concord, North Carolina, 29 August 1895, Page 3, Column 2; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/: viewed 29 August 2020).

Last Will and Testament of James D. Liles

In today’s post, we will look at the Last Will and Testament of James D. Liles.

James D. Liles married Susan Brownfield Davis, daughter of Joseph B. Davis and Anne Keene, about 1838 or 1839. I haven’t yet found a marriage announcement or licensee. They had two children; a son and a daughter named within the Will posted below.  I haven’t found a death date for the son, Joseph, but it obvious that he was deceased before 1890 as he is not mentioned in the Will.

Mr. James. D. Liles died Monday. He was one of our oldest and best men. [Died 29 May 1893]

Susan Brownfield Davis Liles, the wife of James D. Liles, passed away before the Will was written and no death date has been found. 

Their daughter, Mary Thomas Liles married Hugh Giles Fladger, date unknown. 

 

Last Will and Testament of James D. Liles.

Transcription: 

I James D. Liles of Anson County North Carolina do make & Publish and declare this to be my last will and Testament.

Item: I give, devise and bequeath my entire estate and property of every description - real, personal and mixed to my daughter Mary T. Fladger to her and her heirs forever.

I nominate and appoint my daughter Mary T. Fladger to be executrix of this Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and Seal February 24th 1890.
                                                                                   James D. Liles {Seal}
In presence of the
witness underneath
this---
J. W. McGregor
R. T. Bennett

State of North Carolina}   Superior Court
Anson County} Office of the Clerk thereof   
The foregoing paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of the late James D. Liles of said County is this day propounded for probate in our said Superior Court by Mrs. Mary T. Fladger, the person named therein as executrix, and the due execution thereof is proven by the oath and examination of John W. McGregor and Risden T. Bennett, the subscribing witnesses thereto, who being severally duly sworn according to law, do depose and say  and each for himself deposeth and saith, that at the date therein Named, the said James D. Liles signed his name at the end of said paper writing, and declared the same to be his last will and testament, in the presence of these witnesses that thereupon these witnesses signed their names thereto as witnesses, in the presence of the testator  and at his request, and that at the time of the execution thereof as aforesaid by the testator, and the attestation thereof thereof as aforesaid by the witnesses the said James D. Liles, was of Sound mind and memory, of full age to execute a will, and was not under restraint to the knowledge or belief of these affiants. Therefore let said paper writing be admitted to probate and recorded as the last will and testament of the said James D. Liles deceased. Done at office in Wadesborough, this the 3rd day of July A.D. 1893, when and where the said Mary T. Fladger qualified as executrix and letters of Testamentary issued to her.
                             John C. McLanchlin,
                             Clerk of Superior Court

  

Susan Brownfield Davis, wife of James D. Liles, is my 2nd Cousin 5 times removed. 

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.[1] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JGD7-V?i=212&wc=32LV-SPD%3A169763901%2C169851601&cc=1867501

[2] James D. LILES (1890), WILL BOOK: WILL BOOK "D"; pages 333 & 334; Probate Office, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[3] Obituary, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, United States, 1 June 1893, Page 3, col 3. [Died 29 May 1893].