My Passage Through Time

Friday, February 19, 2016

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

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Doctor Buck "Outlaw" Pearce

Doctor Buck "Outlaw" Pearce and Carolina Virginia Gupton

My great great grandparents

Doctor Buck Pearce was born January 31, 1850 to Plummer Pearce and Martha Ann Leonard. Notice that she was a Leonard; this is another line back to John Leonard, the Eldler.

Carolina Virginia Gupton was born July 16, 1854 to E.A. Gupton and Mary Ann Aycock.

Doctor Buck had many versions of his name; Dock, D.B., Doctor, and somewhere he got Outlaw.

Carolina also went by Carrie.

Their upbringing had a big affect on how they lived their lives. Plummer was a circuit rider preacher and E.A. Gupton was a sheriff. Although Plummer passed away when he was 6 years old, Dock had a strong faith that becomes apparent in the choices he made during his life.

Dock and Carrie's story is interesting and a bit lengthy so I know I will be splitting it into at least 2 posts, if not more.

The 1850 Census was the first census to list members in the households by name. Before 1850 there are tally marks for the ages in the household but only the head of the household was listed by name.

That being the case the first census that we find Dock listed is in 1850

Doctor was born in January of that year and is listed as 10/12 for his age. Two more children would be born into this family. Plummer would pass away in 1856, six years later.

I am having trouble finding the family in the 1860 census. I will continue to look. There is one entry for that time period that I am not sure is the correct family. For that reason I will not list one for that year.

Above is the 1870 Census, Martha is living with her three youngest boys. There is some confusion as to when Carrie passed away. There is a Martha Pearce on the U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedule that passed away in 1870. But if you look on the marriage document below, it says that in 1873 she was living. Hmmm, another puzzle to nail down.

On October 21, 1873 Doctor and Carrie would marry at the home of her parents.

In the 1880 Census D.B. and Carolina are living with their three children and two servants

The 1890 census records have been destroyed so we move to 1900.

Six more children have joined the family since 1880.

The last entry is for a daughter-in-law.

Before moving to the next census, let's see what's in the newspapers.

December 12, 1890 Doctor Buck serves on a jury.

Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Pearce and E.H. Conn get married.

This is the oldest daughter of Doctor and Carrie.

October 30, 1895

May 21, 1897

There is much more to come tomorrow..

Thanks for stopping by!!

Pattie

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Luther Martin West

Luther Martin West and Katie Louise Pearce

My Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother

Luther was born to William Robert West and Elizabeth Greenway on September 2, 1883 and Kate was born to Doctor Buck Pearce and Carolina Virginia Gupton on April 8, 1885.

From Luther's death certificate we know that he was born in Granville County. But on the 1890 Census he is listed as living in the household of his older brother and his widowed father in Franklin County, North Carolina.

Kate's family had been residents of Franklin County for several generations.

Kate and Luther married on February 22, 1905 at her parents' home.

In the 1910 Census Kate and Luther have one child, Iva. Living in the household with them are Luther's brothers, Sol and Robert Jr.

In the next entry of the 1910 Census we find Luther's aunt, Ada and her husband Edward Moore living on the same property. Also living in their household is Luther, Sol, Robert Jr, and Ada's father - Robert West.

This pattern of sharing their home is seen on several census records.

In 1917 Luther had to register for the draft for World War I. Wonder why he listed his birth two years earlier??

In the 1920 Census, Luther and Katie have added 5 more children. Zeffie and Sol, Luther's sister and brother are sharing the household. There is also an aunt listed living with them.

In the 1930 Census, Sol is listed as head of household with his wife Annie. Luther and Kate are listed as brother and sister-in-law. Luther and Kate's children are listed as nephews and nieces. They have a boarder staying with them at this time. Another difference on this census, Luther's occupation has changed from farmer to merchant. He was running a small community store in White Level.

In the 1940 Census, the last published census, Luther and Kate are living with their son Douglas.

From other entries on this census, Luther's brother Sol and his family are living close by. Luther and Kate's son, Graham, is also just a few houses away.

Kate passed away April 2, 1959 and Luther followed her a few years later on November 4, 1963.

They are buried in the White Level Baptist Church cemetery. When Luther passed he had 14 grandchildren according to his obituary.