Doc and Carrie Pearce - Part 2

Doctor Buck Pearce and Carolina Gupton

For today's post I am going to share stories taken from the book, Freckles and Red Hair, written by William Carl Collins - my first cousin twice removed. It was written sometime around 1992. The book does not have a published date, however he wrote a letter at the end of the book that is dated 1992. Carl was the last of Doc and Carrie's 44 grandchildren.

Carl was the youngest son of Zeffie, Doc and Carrie's daughter. Zeffie was married twice. She first married Robert West, the brother of Luther West. Remember, her sister Kate married Luther West. See the earlier post about their family. After Robert died, Zeffie moved back into her parent's home. Cora Hight, another of Doc and Carrie's daughters moved back into her parents home around the same time. Robert and Ollie Hight died days apart . There were 4 adults and 10 children living in the house and it got a bit crowded. So Zeffie decided to move in with Luther and her sister Kate. At that time Luther and Sol were running the store in White Level. Zeffie worked as a clerk in the West brothers' store. 

Cora stayed until arrangements were made for her to buy a home in Buies Creek in Harnett County, North Carolina. Buies Creek Academy, later known as Campbell University, was across the street. Cora turned the house into a rooming house for students and took in sewing. Hight House is owned now by the university. Campbell University has continued to have ties for my family, it is where my daddy went to school and where my late son, an avid golfer thanks to my daddy, attended golf camps.

Back to Doctor Buck and Carrie

Doc and Carrie were well off by the standards of the day, they had land and possessions. But they were not wealthy by any means. They had nine children and their income came from farming the land left to them by Plummer Pearce. Plummer's original two room log home had been enlarged to include an entrance hall and a parlor that doubled as a bedroom. A wing was attached to the main house together with a front and back porch. Not much is left of the house today.

Doc's formal schooling ended before he mastered the skills of reading and writing. But Carrie continued to teach him reading. Using the Bible for reading instruction caught his attention the most.

Early in the 1900's their home church, Red Bud Baptist, had grown into a large congregation. In the community of Gupton, the population had grown and there was a need to establish a new church.

Doc and Carrie moved to the new church of White Level Baptist Church, even though it was farther away from home. Doc was one of the first deacons and was elected the first Sunday School Superintendent, a position he served for 27 years.

Doc opened the Sunday School Assembly with a devotional and closed with one as well. This involved reading scripture, prayers and hymn singing.

Since Doc was not a fluent reader, with Carrie's help, he memorized the scripture for Sunday's assembly. Later he would stand before the congregation, open Bible in hand, and read the verses. He was often observed, his glasses perched on his nose, reading effectively with the Bible upside down.

In the Newspaper 

I hoped that you enjoyed reading more about Doc and Carrie.
Come back tomorrow for more of their story!

Pattie