Roanoke Beacon Blog

From the Roanoke Beacon:

At a special meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Washington county held Monday, March 6, 1899, with Jas. A. Chesson, Jos. Skittletharpe and J.M. Reid present, the following business was transacted.

• Ordered that Louis Basnight be released of poll tax until further orders, on account of bodily infirmities, including poll tax for the year 1898.
• Ordered that Lonie Smith be released of poll tax for the year 1898, on account of poverty and infirmity.
• Ordered that C.M. Norman be released of poll tax for the year 1898, on account of poverty and infirmity.
• Ordered that Jno. L. Phelps, Sheriff, be and he is hereby authorized to collect a single tax from any and all delinquents on the tax books for the year 1898.
• Ordered that Sarah Garrett be released of tax on $150.00, part valuation on her lot in the town of Plymouth for the year 1898, the building having been burned off said lot.
• Ordered that Joseph Swain, keeper of the poor house, be allowed $3.50 per M. for splitting 3,000 rails, for repairing the fences around the poor house lanes, when the work is performed.
• Ordered that the bridge across the public road near Roper, known as Beaver Dam or Secil Landing, be, and the same is hereby made and declared a county charge.
• Ordered that C.J. Spear be, and he is hereby authorized to furnish half-rations to Levi Collins, Levi Clayton and Fred Littlejohn until further orders.
• Ordered that M.M. Alexander be, and he is hereby authorized to furnish whole rations to Daniel Overton and Thaddeus Lamb until further orders.
• Ordered that Richard Elliott be, and he is hereby authorized to furnish whole rations to Willis Boyd and Ebenezer Phelps until further orders.
• Ordered that N.B. Mizell be, and he is hereby authorized to furnish Ann Davenport, Annis Hassell and Joseph Elliott whole rations until further orders.
• Ordered that W.M. Bateman be allowed the sum of $20.79 for bills of stationary bought of Edwards & Broughton for S.C. Clerk’s office, ex. charges, &c, on same and certified copies of Sheriff and Register of Deeds’ bonds to State Auditor.
• Ordered that Jno. L. Phelps be allowed the sum of $62.60, his account for feeding jail prisoners, turnkeys, &c, as per acct. filed.
• Ordered that W.C. Hassell be allowed the sum of $25.79, his accout for supplies furnished poor house and outside poor for Feb. 1889.
• Ordered that R.P. Barnes be allowed the sum of $4.80, his acct., for conveying B.W. Lewis to Plymouth jail and serving 12 bond orders.
• Ordered that Joseph Skittletharpe be allowed the sum of $5, his acct., for cash paid for coffin and expenses burying Elizabeth Purlington.
• Ordered that R.E. Flora, Sheriff Currituck Co., be allowed the sum of $5.00 for arrest, board, &c., of Thos. Jones.
• Ordered that W.H. Stubbs be allowed the sum of $69.14, his acct, for services as Clerk Board Co. Commissioners, and for other services or fees, as per acct. filed for months Oct., Nov., Dec., 1898 and Jan and Feb 1899.
• Ordered that Roanoke Beacon be allowed the sum of $3 for publishing proceedings of the board for Feb. 1899.
• Ordered that Jno. C. Gurganus be allowed the sum of $15.83, his acct. for 2 months service as keeper of the poor house for Jan. and Feb. 1899.
• Ordered that J.M. Ambrose be allowed the sum of $21.48 for provisions furnished to T.S. Lamb, Levi Clayton, Fred Littlejohn, Thomas Blount and Levi Collins for past 4 months.
• Ordered that Jno. L. Roper, Lumber Co, be allowed the sum of $12, their acct, for lumber furnished and smith work on Mackey’s Ferry bridge in Sept. 1898.
• Ordered that Jno. L. Roper, Lumber Co., be allowed the sum of $42.24, their acct., for lumber furnished and labor repairing Lee’s Mills bridge.
• Board adjourned to meet on the 1st Monday in April 1899.

On Ancestry.com, there is a book titled Branson’s North Carolina Business Directory: containing facts, figures, names and locations, revised and corrected annually – that includes some information about Washington County. I thought it would be of interest to share an excerpt here as many of these names I have come across in the newspaper:

COUNTY OFFICERS
Clerk of Superior Court – J.A. Nelson
Coroner – Theophilus Ash
Commissioners – R.S. Goelet, Ch; J.B. Chesson, jun.; M. Jackson, A.M. Phelps, G.W. Jones
Register of Deeds – John Carroll
Sheriff – J.M. Bateman
Surveryor – H.F. Phelps
Solicitor 2nd District – Joseph J. Martin
Treasurer – Levi Jackson, jun.

Hotels & Boarding Houses
Hotel, Plymouth – Spruill & Davenport
Hotel, Plymouth – Mary Lee (col.)
Sanders House, Plymouth – R. Sanders

Lawyers
Armistead, T.S., Plymouth
Collins, Josiah, Scuppernong
Jones, E.W., Plymouth
Johnston, S.L, Plymouth
Latham, L.C., Plymouth

Physicians
Hardison, H., Scuppernong
Lewis, H.G., Mackeys Ferry
Norman, H.H., Scuppernong
Wolfe, H.E., Lees Mills
Walker, Barry M., Plymouth
Ward, W., Plymouth

There is more here, so if you have an Ancestry membership, it’s worth checking out [link here], not only for this county, but others. If you

Roanoke Beacon – 22 Jul 1898

Cupid’s Capers – The M.E. Church at Roper was the scene of a pretty marriage last night at 8 o’clock, the contracting parties being Mr. W.B. Jones, a popular salesman of that town, and Miss Florida Spruill, one of Washington county’s most lovable young ladies.  The attendants were: Miss Alice Cahoon with Mr. Johnnie Hassell,  Miss Bessie Brown with Mr. Clem Chesson; Maid of Honor, Miss Eloise Johnston; Best Man, Mr. Jas. Spruill.  The wedding march was played by Mrs. J.T. Lewis.

After the ceremony the bridal party, with a few invited friends,  repaired to the home of the bride’s parents, where a reception was held until 11 o’clock.  Our best wishes are extended to the happy couple.

Beacon Flashes
January 10, 1890
pg. 2

• Mr. Geo Houston is the happy man – it’s a girl.
• Mr. R. L. Williams, of Roper, gave us a call on yesterday.
• Mr. S. M. Whaley made a short visit to Norfolk this week.
• Miss Belle Fagan is visiting Miss Pattie Williams at Roper.
• Mr. J. F. Jackson has opened a bar on Washington street.
• Miss Adelia Skittlethorpe has returned from a visit to Creswell.
• Hon. J. L. Howell, Mayor of Creswell, was in the city this week.
• Dr. B. F. Hallsey and wife, of Roper, were in the city yesterday.
• Miss Carrie Hilliard, is visiting her sister, Mrs. W. T. Spruill, at Roper.
• Miss Ida Woodley, of Creswell, is the guest of Miss Adelia Skittlethorpe
• Miss Nellie Chesson, of Roper, was the guest of Miss Lizzle Goelet this week.
• Mr. Geo. Houston gathered ripe straw berries from his garden from his garden on Wednesday.
• Mr. Johnnie Whaley filed the pulpit at Ware’s Chapel on Sunday afternoon last.
• Messrs. Charles Everett and William Ausbon of Palmyra, were in the city this week.
• Master Willie Bowen, formerly with R. Schultz & Co., has accepted a position with W. H. Hampton, as salesman.
• Dr. H. P. Murray, wife and children are visiting in Wilmington, N.C., as the guests of the doctor’s parents.
• Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Owens spent the past week in Baltimore as the guests of their daughter, Mrs. J. W. Reed.
• Miss Mamie DeCromia is again honoring our city with her presence. She is the guest of her sister, Mrs. H. Peal.
• Messr. J. H., E. R. and Robert Ausbon, of Scotland Neck, have been visiting relatives in the city for the past week.
• We notice that needed improvements is being made on the residence of Mrs. Annie Walker, on Third street.
• Mr. James Harrison has moved his family from the country to town, and is occupying one of the Jackson houses on Main street.
• Misses Annie and May Whaley, and Mr. Johnnie Whaley left Monday morning to resume their studies at the Western Maryland College.
• Mr. Edward Crocket, who has been on a visit to his aunt, Mrs. P. V. Clark, for the past week, returned to his house in Norfolk on yesterday.
• Mr. Haywood Davenport, formerly of this place, but now of Brunswick, Ga., is visiting her sister, Mrs. Laura Latham, at Latham House.
• Rev. William Pettigrew, who has been visiting relatives in Plymouth for the past week, left on the 6 o’clock train this morning for his home in Ridgeway.
• Bishop A. A. Watson held services in Grace church on Thursday night of last week, at which time Mrs. W. H. Hampton and Mr. J. E. Davenport were confirmed.

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Notice
December 13, 1889
Pg. 2

Let the creditors of Daniel Swain take notice that a petition has been filed with me by the widow of said Swain to have her homestead alloted from the lands of said Swain in Washington County, adjoining the lands of S. Patrick and others. — J. A. Chesson, J.P.

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The New Choir
November 15, 1889
Pg. 3

A choir was organized at the M.E. Church on Sunday afternoon last, with the following members: Misses Hope Hunter, Ida Whaley, Fannie Manning, Gertie Chesson, and Allie Rogerson, as Sopranos’; Miss Belle Fagan, Alto; Messrs. R. B. Latham and D. Garrett, Teanor’s, and Messrs. W. H. Midgett, and W. W. Scarboro, Bass, Miss Belle Fagan, Organist.

These members all have strong musical voices, and under the training of their accomplished teacher, Mrs. E. B. Norman, we are sure they will soon be perfect. As an organist, Miss Fagan has but few equals. This church has long needed an organized choir and we hope the members will take pride in it and look upon it as a duty they owe their Church and their God.

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“Flipp”
October 18, 1889
Pg. 3

He spends a night with an Alliance man – takes in the town and has a chat with some our business men.

Mr. Editor — I never did write any for a journal before and may not succeed now, but I am in town again and to occupy my mind I will write you a short letter.

I was out in that rain on Sunday night last, was coming up the second road in a cloud of dust when night sod and the rain came on. I stopped all night at a man’s house don’t remember his name, but this I do remember, that he was an Alliance man – gave me ‘liance for supper and for breakfast so I left next morning determined to be an alliance man myself. I came into town by Mr. B. F. Owens house, which I notice is one of the handsome residences to be seen on the road between Plymouth and Columbia. I noticed many other fine and comfortably situated residents on this street among which are J. M. Reid’s, A.O. Gaylord’s, E. A. Carter’s, J. F. Norman’s, E. R. Latham’s and others.

While driving in I was wondering where to stop my horse, and remembering that I saw the name of B.F. Owens in the Beacon, I drove up to that large stable of his, and just as you said, he keeps polite grooms and everything in order. Why Mr. Editor them darkies were so dog gone polite one of the fall down over the other to get to my horse first. Mr. Owens waled out of his office, whip in one hand, cigar in the other and was so courteous that I accepted his invitation to look at his fine stock, and bless my life that man talked so fast that before the boy got the harness off of my horse I had traded for a fine black and we were on our way down to D.O. Brinkley & Co.’s to get a, no not a drink, but one of the best cigars you ever puffed away at. Mr. Brinkley told me that his partner, Col. Fitchett, was up in the mountains and would be home in a few days, but if we wished anything in the way of accommodation just call on him. I tell you he is one of the finest men that ever mixed a cocktail, he gave us a knock down to his clerk, Mr. Louis Landing, who Mr. Owens says is the best boy that ever slung red liquor over a bar counter. Just here let me say that I never visited a bar that was kept in a more orderly manner, everything is quiet and every one has to behave when in this bar so “Dave” says.

Here I left Mr. Owens to go back to his stables and I walked across the street to see S. Adler. I was surprised to find such a large and well assorted stock of general merchandise, the old man was standing in the door and said as I came up, “py tam its wet come in,” we went in and were glad to see behind the counter the handsome face of Mr. E. S. Chesson, he seems to be quite proficient in the manipulation of the yard stick. Behind the other counter Master Tommie Rogerson was just appearing out of a barrel of flour. We walked back to the office where, upon a high school at his desk, found Mr. T. J. Lewis he seemed sorter glad to see us but brushing the hair back from his brow, asked us to excuse him as he was quite busy, we did so and walked out of the store.

[...] Murray the medical man and E. E. Murray the dentist, both busy, they are doing a big business. We did not get chance to talk to them as the medical man was called out and some man came in with about three yards of red flanel on his jaw and told the dentist that the tooth ache, they [..] his office and in a few seconds reappeared leaving the red flanel and aching tooth behind, the patients face was about ten inches shorter, and with a smile of satisfaction he said, “Dat air doctor gits there.”

After leaving the Murray Drug Store I loafed down to Reid & Duke’s and after pushing and shoving for several minutes I succeeded in getting through the immense crowd of customers and into the office, here I met Mr. E. F. Duke and Mr. J. E. Reid the junior members of the firm, they told that Mr. J. M. Reid, the senior member, was out at the time attending to some business around their shingle yard. Taking a look down behind the long counters I saw Mess. R.H Brown, Joe Norman, C A Walker, E R Marriner and two other salesmen moving with lightening speed from one customer to another. Turning to Mr. Duke I asked if those men were kept as busy as that all the time and he said “almost and said “almost and sometimes we have to leave the office to help them.” From the office I made a visit to the meat department where barrel after barrel of pork and fish was roled out. From here I went to the second story where I found the furniture and clothing clerks busy. From there I made my way to the street, satisfied in my own mind that Reid and Duke were getting their share of the public patronage.

Weary with my days adventure, I wended my way home, hoping to find a good supper waiting for me, but instead, that wife of mine had been down to Mrs. S. A Blount’s Millinery store and bought one of those new winter hats, which she had to take around and show to all the neighbors, and asked their opinion iof it and tell them how cheap it was, hence I found no supper, but as she seemed to be so happy over the hat I said nothing and went to bed. Thus ended the day. — “Flipp”

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