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.

Roanoke Beacon – 12 Aug 1898

Commissioner’s Proceedings – At a special meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Washington County held August 1st 1898, with all members present, the following proceedings were had:

• minutes of the last meeting were read and approved
• ordered that the names of T.N. Gray and H.O. Gray be inserted as Road Contractors with Frank Gray
• ordered that Samuel Wilson be allowed one half ration per month until further orders
• ordered that Thadeus Lamb be allowed one full ration per month until further orders
• ordered that Geo. Rhodes be allowed one half ration per month until further orders
• ordered that Charles Hassell be released of poll tax until further orders on account of bodily infirmity
• ordered that Frank Gray be allowed the sum of $30.00 for furnishing nails, hauling lumber, labor of self and amount paid hands repairing Conoby bridge
• ordered that Walker & Myers be allowed the sum of $8.7 for lumber furnished for Conoby bridge
• ordered that Jno. L. Phelps, Sheriff, be allowed the sum of $24.15 for 2 days service and expenses incurred in covering S.A. Craddock to insane asylum at Raleigh, and board and turnkeys for Anderson Leigh
• ordered that W.H. Hampton be allowed the sum of $22.51 for supplies furnished to the poor house and outside poor for July
• ordered that J.P. Hillard be allowed the sum of $1.73 for preparing papers in lunacy case of S.A. Craddock
• ordered that J.A. Harrison be allowed the sum of $12.08 for one month service as keeper of poor house, making 5 garments and amount paid Hasty Garrett for 5 weeks washing at poor house
• ordered that Rufus Swain be allowed the sum of $8.40 for one days service as county commissioner and mileage, one months service as acting warden to the poor and for provisions furnished to Joseph Elliott for the months of May, June and July 1898
• ordered that the Roanoke Beacon be allowed the sum of $3.00 for publishing the proceedings of the Board for July
• ordered that F.M. Bunch be allowed the sum of $5.25 for one days service as county commissioner, one months service assistant warden to the poor, services hiring out jail prisoners, collection costs, etc.
• ordered that N.M. Ambrose be allowed the sum of $4.80 for one days service as county commissioner and mileage
• ordered that F.L.W. Cahoon, Sheriff of Tyrrell county, be allowed the sum of $4.70 for conveying Anderson Leigh form Columbia to Plymouth jail, turnkeys, board, etc, for said Leigh
• Board adjourned to meet the 1st Monday in September 1898

W.H. Stubbs, Clerk

Flipp
November 1, 1889
Pg. 3

“Flipp” – Makes a visit to the schools — has a talk with some of our business men — goes out to the railroad — gives the people some advice and goes to the Edenton Fair.

Mr. Editor – I closed last week by saying I would go to the Edenton Fair and write on my return, but after giving it a thought I guess I will go Wednesday and not return until Friday, that being too late for your paper I will write before going. Lots of the Plymouth people went over Monday and I should have been with them, but “that wife of mine” gave me to understand that she was to be my companion on the trip so I concluded to wait until Wednesday, I wrote John Bonner, of the Bay View, word to save me a room that looks like style don’t it?

After the boat left I called on Prof. Toms, principal of the High School. I found him sitting at his desk before about fifty pupils. I remained with him long enough to learn that he, though a young man, is thoroughly competent of carrying out his duties as a teacher. Heretofore our schools have failed to receive the proper attention, but, if I am not mistaken, Prof. Toms, with the right encouragement from our people, will build up a first-class school, which is one of the greatest needs of our town.

Leaving the high school I walked around to the Free School building where I met the teacher, Miss Margie Garett, who is conducting a primary class of about thirty as bright children as I ever saw, they, one and all, seem to be devoted to Miss Garrett, and she says that they are learning very rapidly. After a few words of encouragement to the teacher and scholars I withdrew and went home to dinner where I found “that wife of mine,” in all her female loveliness, sitting up to one of the best meals you ever stuck a tooth in. I filled up on roast beef and such like then I fired up the fur end of one of Gns. Haswells’s “coon skin” cigars, placed my feet on the window sill and rested. After resting for an hour I walked down to the stable to see how my horses was getting along, here I found to my horror that Ben Owens had bought one of those “Royal Bumpers,” a William Goat. I did not take much stock in him, though Mr. Owens said he was a dandy. I found my horse O.K., so I started down town. On passing the undertaking establishment of Nurney & Jackson, Joe Jackson called me in and we had a chat about making coffins and the like. He told me that his partner, Mr. B. Nurney, was sick at his home. I did not say the price of coffins as he told me they did not trust. I remained with “Joe” until he began to knock and kept up so much racket I had to leave. I loafed on down town, tried to get in conversation with several gentlemen but they were all off on the subject of the Railroad and I could not make a point.

Soon after night came on I walked into the Bay Oyster saloon, Weaver & Garrett, proprietors, the cook, Dan Nichols, brought in some of the finest oysters I ever ate. Instead of going home from the oyster saloon I stood on the corner and talked to a policeman until 10 o’clock, when I reached home, “that wife of mine,” gave me a round of being ont late, smelt of my breath like all wives do when their husbands stay out late, after rendering a verdict of not guilty she began to tell me about a new dress she was going to get of Reid & Duke, and a new bonnet at Mrs. Annie Walker’s, and a pair of those fine $3 shoes at G.H. Harrisons and various other things. I said nothing until she informed me that she had given B.F. Owens an order for a pony and phaeton like Mrs. Reed’s, then I gently raised from my chair, handed her my pocketbook which contained 14 cents, and told her if she could get a clear deed to buy the United States.

By the way, I forgot to tell you that I was among the multitude that walked out to see the Railroad on Sunday afternoon. As I sit in the office at the Latham House I noticed the large crowd going out but did not think much about it until I saw one man go out six times, then my curiosity being up, I started out with the procession, wondering all the time what was up, at last I09 came to the railroad. Yes, there right before me was a real railroad. Some of the visitors were counting the ties, some were counting the spikes, while others were saying how it should have been. Some it smited while others will have it changed. There before my eyes stood that wonderful “Iron Horse” which I have read so much about in the Beacon. I could hardly realize that a railroad was so close to Plymouth, but it is a fact, no hearsay , I saw it with my own eyes (by the help of a new pair of glasses I got from Yeager). I left the railroad about 4 o’clock giving my space to some of the more anxious of both color. It is my opinion that, unless the company have the railroad fenced in before the train starts, there will be an advance in the price of coffins and a man will not be able to get his life insured at any price. Just here I would say to those who never tackled a train, that if you should be walking down the track and see the locomotive coming, don’t insist on having it walk round you, or even giving you half the road, for it might cause some trouble in your family. “That wife of mine” says I need not fear the railroads for there is not enough roads in America to kill or cripple me as long as she holds a paid up accidental policy on my life.

Well, I go to Edenton tomorrow and take in the fair, will write next week. — “Flipp”

issuenov11889

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.

issuenov151889

“Flipp”
[...] Norfolk and is Arrested — Comes Home and Has A Round With Some of Our Business Men and Sees a Clerk Disfigured.
November 8, 1889

Mr. Editor: Boarding the beautiful steamer Plymouth on Wednesday morning of last week at 10 o’clock, accompanied by “that wife of mine,” we were soon steaming down the placid stream for the Edenton Fair. After a run of forty minutes we passed the light house and were out upon the glittering bosom of the Albemarle sound, the steamer, held steady by the strong arm of the man at the wheel, Capt. Williams, who has no equal as a commanding officer, glided over the white capped waves with as much grace as the swan. After a steady run of some fifty minutes we entered Edenton Bay, as pretty a sheet of water as can be found in the State.

At last, after an hour and fifty minutes spent most pleasantly on board the steamer we were landed safe at Edenton. We were at once escorted to the Bay View hack and were driven through the streets of that old historic town at a break neck speed up to the Bay View where we were met by that courteous proprietor, John Bonner. After partaking of a first-class dinner we went out to the Fair ground where everybody seemed to be having a good time. Leaving “that wife of mine” in the care of some friends I walked around to the stables to see the stock, there I met Mr. James B. Waters, the man who has few equals as a horse trainer, he told me he was going to pull the strings over “Gypsy Blair” in the next race, I told him at once that I had $50 to loose on her, some man near by took up the bet, so while he bet on another horse I pinned my faith and cash to “Gypsy Blair” and the result was this, I got the $50. The owner of the trotter, Mr. L. L. Newberry, said I ought to “divy” but I failed to see the point.

Well the fair was a grand success and everybody left satisfied, except “that wife of mine,” she wanted me to buy her a race horse, I refused of course and told her to go home, buy Jim Midgett’s steer and a side saddle and have her own time. One of the most creditable features of this occasion was the fact that the Plymouth and Edenton boys met and parted without a fight or even a cross word and it is the first time for years. I hope the old annimosity that has existed so long has passed into the forggotten future never again to be remembered by either town.

Well, I parted with “that wife of mine” she returned home and I boarded the N. 8 Train for Norfolk, arriving at that city I went at once to the Percel House where I remained all night, next morning I called on Mr. T. A. Perry, of the Perry Manufactoring Company, I found him to be the same old easy Perry we all use to know and like so well while in this town. Mr. Perry told me that his business was good and he had every encouragement of a future success. In the office I found his son Nelson, better known to our people as “Little Perry,” he is not much larger than when he left here, he asked me about his old chum, Charlie Jackson, and others of our citizen, who he said, use to take him for a play thing. I spent the time quite pleasant until on my way to the hotel at night, a man tried to take all the side walk, and I, with all the dignity of a Plymouthian, tried to break a few of his ribs and as he roled in the gutter I intended to prepare a job for the dentist, by knocking a few of his teeth down his throat when a policeman asked me to take a walk with him, and I think I would have spent the night in the station house but Bill Harrison came up and told the policeman that I was a good fellow and only wanted to start, within myself, a house of correction for the young man in the gutter, then the man that wore the blue and brass said I could go. I and Mr. Harrison walked down to the hotel, I thanked him for getting me out of trouble and he left me.

I spent Sunday very quietly and was glad to see Monday come, when I again boarded the train for home where I arrived O.K. On looking around town the next day, to see what had happened since I left, I found that Sam Beasley had traded horses twice, the first time he got a gray horse and the next time he got a horse that he has to go to the corner of a street to turn round he is so long sided.

On my round I stepped into the oyster saloon of Robt. Wright here I was served to oysters in the finest style. There were lots of customers in there and I could not get on to his popularity until I saw his ad in the Beacon, then I “caught on.”

On going to my wardrobe this Wednesday morning to look for my old clothes I failed to find them, but in their place hung as I thought new ones, but “that wife of mine” informed me that she had [...] the clothes cleaner, at work on them. Well, I doned a suit of them and went down to see Mr. Dan Garrett, the popular manager of Geo. E. Stevenson’s Food Store. I found him just as busy as if he had to sell all the corn, hay, and meal that was to be sold in town, while his clerk, Herbert Hooker, was equally busy, selling groceries of which they carry a large stock. After taking a look at that beautiful sign you spoke of last week I walked on down the street. On passing the Kentucky Stables I heard something fall, on looking in there was a certain young dry goods clerk pulling himself up off the floor looking like a cyclone had struck him. I could not imagine what had happened until he limped out with his pants torn in the mos conspicious places, saying something about the d–n goat, then I knew he had been fooling with one of those “royal bumpers.” If you are anxious to know who this clerk is, just walk in Hornthal’s dry goods store and yell “goats” and then see which of his clerks makes for the back door.” — “Flipp”