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.

Township Tuesday posts will share news specific to a township of local relevance.

Roanoke Beacon – 28 Oct 1898

Lakeview Breezes

• How about the Prof. at Creswell, he is “out ‘o sight.”
• S. DUVALL and T.H. GRAY were in Gum Neck last week
• S. POOLE and H.C. GRAY are at East Lake on a timber deal
• Quincy SAWYER was in our midst last week for a short while.
• Alexander DAVENPORT lost a fine mare this week with staggers
• Gray BROTHERS shipped twenty-five fine fat hogs last Monday night
• We have been informed that there is a stranger at the home of Mr. Thos. HOLMES, It’s a boy.

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 – 16 Sep 1898

Beacon Flashes

• Mrs M. OWENS has been visiting friends near Edenton this week.
• Mr. W N COOPER has returned home from a visit to Baltimore.
• Mr. G H HARRISON has been North this week to purchase new goods
• Miss Nona BRINKLEY is manipulating yard stick at M. OWENS & Co.
• Mr. C D LOANE and wife have been visiting the northern states this week.
• The Republicans and Populist Senatorial Conventions will be held here today.
• Mr. W F OWENS, of Creswell, was here this week visiting his uncle, Mr. B OWENS.
• Mr. L P HORNTHAL has been north this week purchasing new goods for his fall and winter trade.
• Attorney Edmund ALEXANDER returned Wednesday from a professional visit to Columbia.
• Mr. W A ALEXANDER returned home from Virginia Beach Monday, bringing his family with him.
• Mr. W L SHARED has purchased the R B LATHAM residence corner Main and Washington streets.
• Miss Janette MARTIN was called to Avoca Saturday by the illness of her mother. She returned on Monday.
• Rev. <…> B GREEN wade has been holding a series of meetings at Christian Hope, on Long Ridge, the past week.
• Mr. Herman HORNTHAL, of Norfolk, has been in our town this week visiting his brother, Mr. L P HORNTHAL.
• Miss Mattie BENNETT, of Williamson, has been visiting relatives and friends in our town the past two weeks.
• Mr. J A Wiloughby, of the firm of J A Wiloughby & Co., has been in Baltimore this week burying fall goods.
• Mr. L L OWENS has rented the Hornthal residence corner, Main and Jefferson streets, and gone to keeping house.
• Mr. W L SHERROD’s new store is nearing completion. It will be one of the largest and best buildings in the town.
• The pretty Miss Eloise DAVENPORT, of Brunswick, Ga., is here visiting her aunt, Mrs. Laura LATHAM, and other relatives.
• Mr. H H Brown left Monday for Newport News, Va., where he has gone to do some important business. We wish him much success.
• Miss Irma MARSH, who has been visiting our town for two weeks as the guest of Miss Nina HARDISON, returned to her home in Bath, Monday.
• Miss Leslie HARRISON left Wednesday morning for Morganton, where she will resume her standing <…> upon her duties as Librarian for the D. & D. Institute.
• Mr. Mathias OWENS, of the firm M. OWENS & Co., has been in New York this week selecting fall and winter goods. Their stock this season will be out of sight.
• Mrs. Annie LATHAM returned home on Wednesday from Delaware where she had been visiting relatives for several weeks. While absent Mrs. LATHAM purchased her fall and winter goods.
• Our friend, Hon. H B WARD of Plymouth, the silver tongued orator, and Democratic nominee for the Senate from this District spoke at the town hall Thursday evening last. He is a fine orator and made a lasting impression upon our people. Messrs. WARD and MILLER will be glad to have a joint debate with the fusion nominees and when they get through with them they will be too sick for duty. Bet the fusionists will never canvas the district with them. — Washington Progress

Roanoke Beacon
15 Jul 1898
pg. 3

Died – at his home near Mackey’s Ferry on Friday night last, Joseph W. Blount, Esq., aged 67 years. The deceased had been in ill health for several years, suffering from a complication of diseases, and his death was no surprise to his relatives and friends, though the death of such a prominent man naturally casts a gloom over the entire county.

He leaves one son, Mr. Wheeler Blount, who resided with him at his old home, and one daughter, Mrs. W S Davenport, of Mackey’s Ferry, and three brothers, one being Mayor Levi Blount, of this town; Mr. Edward Blount, who resided near him, and Mr. Alfred Blount, of Roper.

The deceased was a consistent member of the M.P. Church, an affectionate and devoted father, a loving brother and a kind and sympathetic friend.

The remains were laid to rest in the family grave yard at the old home on Saturday afternoon beside the dear ones who have long since preceded him to the world beyond where they waited to bid his spirit welcome.

The BEACON extends to the bereaved family and friends our heartfelt sympathies. Peace to his ashes.

County Commissioner’s Proceedings
27 May 1898

At a special meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Washington county held on Monday May 2nd with all members present the following business was transacted:

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.

issuejan101890

Marriage Licenses
January 3, 1890
pg. 3

The following marriage licenses were issued by Register, J. P. Hilliard, during the month of December, 1889:

• White:
  • L L Newberry and Lena Reid
  • W A Forbes and Katie Johnston
  • Charles Martin & Bertha Newberry
  • Ellis Davenport and Mary Lamb
  • James Craddock and Carthia Lamb
  • Wm. Ange and Mary Reddic
  • W. W. Chambers and Jennie Skittletharpe
  • A S Johnston and Inez Lewis
• Colored:
  • N B Bell and Susan Armistead
  • James Clagon and Eliza Kenedy
  • W H Pettiford and Mary Moore
  • Wm. Cooper and Clemie James
  • Wilder Smith and Mary Reddick
  • Amithy Giffer (Anthony Giliam) and Caroline Phelps
  • Littleton Ford and Jane Carter

issuejan31890

Died
October 25, 1889
Pg. 3

Mr. Masy Davenport, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of this county departed this life on Sunday night, Oct. 20th at his home near town. The deceased was in the 89th year of his age, was an honest and obliging man, and in his death the county loses one of its best citizens. Our sympathies go out to the bereaved family and friends.

issueoct251889

Beacon Flashes
December 13, 1889
Pg. 3

• Hines and Everett are building a machine shop near the A. & R. depot.
• Rev. C. W. Robinson was absent from his church only one Sunday at Conference.
• Mr. W. M. Whaley, of Norfolk, is in the city, the guest of his father, Mr. S. M. Whaley
• B. J. Skilles is erecting a large two-story building on Water street to be used as a restaurant.
• Dr. W. H. Ward who has been attending lectures in Baltimore for the past two weeks returned home yesterday.
• Miss Cattie Boney, who has been visiting her brother, Capt. John Boney, has returned to her home in Duplin Roads.
• Mrs. A. Barden, who has been on a visit of two weeks to her sister, Mrs. Wilson, at Greenville, returned home on Monday night.
• Mr. C. V. W. Ausbon, who has been clerking for R. Schultz & Co. at E. City, returned home Saturday last, owing to ill health.
• The Band was out serenading Monday and Wednesday nights. Prof. J. W. Piercy has charge now and the boys are getting better and better all the time.
• A fine horse belonging to Mr. B. F. Owens had his leg broken by falling through a trestle on the A. & R. R. R. on Monday last, Mr. Owens will bring suit against the Road for damage.
• A horse belonging to Messr. Davenport & Piercy ran away on Tuesday. It became frightened while standing at the R. N. & B. S. B. Co.’s wharf and ran up to water street, taking up that street towards Baynor’s livery stables, clearing the street as it went. No serious damage was done other than the total demolishing of the cart to which it was hitched.

issuedec131889