Ancient News--April 27, 1916

The Sun Journal published the following on April 27, 1916:

ZORAH NEWS.

Zorah, April 27--We are having some windy weather now.
Mr. and Mrs.W.H. Caton and children of Dover were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Caton Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Charley Caton were the guest of Mr. L.B. Caton Sunday.
Mr. Columbus Booth was the guest of Miss Annie Taylor Sunday afternoon, and her sister Miss Bessie was the guest of Miss Katie Gaskins a short while Sunday.
Mr. Thad Boyd of Truitt was the guest of Mr. Jesse Gaskins Saturday night and Sunday. Come again.
Mr. Mack Norman, Miss Katie Gaskins, Miss Bessie Norman, and Miss Oma Gaskins called to see Misses Janie and Annie Taylor Sunday evening.
Mr. Guy Wetherington came to Penciltucky Sunday and broke his new buggy. Ha! ha!
Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Gaskins called to see their son, Mr. Elbert Gaskins, at Broad Creek Sunday.
Mrs. M.E. Toler called to see Mrs. I.W. Toler Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Addie Stilley passed through Penciltucky Sunday en route to Truitt.
Mr. Mack Norman was the guest of Miss Katie Gaskins Saturday night.
There was a great alarm in Zorah when the wedding bells rung on the 16th. We are expecting them to ring again at the same place soon.
A large crowd of girls from Zorah attended the ball game at Truitt Saturday afternoon and report a nice time. The boys are expecting to play a match game Friday evening. Everybody is welcome to attend.
Let us hear from our sweetheart at Truitt. Wake up Truitt.
DARLING BLUE EYES.

  Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Caton were William Harvey and Myrtie Holton Caton. They were visiting his parents, Lewis Bryan and Arnecia Toler Caton. Charley and Amanda Cayton Caton were also visiting his parents.

  Columbus Booth was the son of Merritt and Mary Smith Booth. He was visiting Annie Toler (not Taylor). She and Bessie (and Janie) were the daughters of Abram Lincoln and Mary Norman Toler.

  Katie Gaskins was the daughter of John R. and Lizzy Toler Gaskins. Jesse Gaskins was their son, and Oma (Omie/Naomi) was their daughter. 

Mack and Bessie Norman were the children of John H. and Victoria (known as Puss John Henry) Toler Norman.

  Addie Stilley was the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Rice Stilley.

  As for the location of Penciltucky, the best anyone can figure is that it was down what is now the Cayton Road. This mention is the closest description of a location for Penciltucky that I can find..."Addie Stilley passed through Penciltucky en route to Truitt." Uncle Jesse Stilley (and family) lived at one time near R.W. Stilley's place, in the area where Jonathan Hannah had his trailer before he moved to the back of the Philpot field. If Addie Stilley passed through Penciltucky on the way to Truitt, he would have to have gone either down the Cayton Road or Purifoy Road to get to Truitt (Spring Hope Church area).

  For the alarm at the wedding, see my previous post on the wedding of Miss Mary Knox to Mr. Mack Wetherington.

[Posting updated to show that Katie Gaskins was the daughter of John R. Gaskins. She moved to Lenoir County and married George Washington Buck. In my records, I had she died young, but I discovered today that she lived until 1953.]

Ancient News, April 1916, An April Wedding 95 years ago

The following was found in the Sun Journal for April 18, 1916:

ALLEGES PERJURY IN CONNECTION WITH MARRIAGE LICENSE

S.E. Jones, of Zorah, Told the Register Miss Knox Was Eighteen.

MAN UNDER ARREST IS NOT THE BRIDEGROOM

  When S.E. Jones, of Zorah, this county, came over to New Bern last Saturday morning and told Register of Deeds S.H. Fowler that Miss Mary Knox, also of Zorah and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Knox of that place, was eighteen years of age and that he desired to secure a license permitting her to become the bride of Mr. Mack Wetherington, he probably did not think he would face a jury at the next term of Craven Court and explain why he said the young woman was eighteen years of age when she is only fifteen. However, such he will do.
  Mr. Jones secured the License and the wedding took place Sunday night at Ernul, being performed by 'Squire C.J. Heath. The parents of the bride, when they heard of the affair, decided to do about and they did, in fact their doing resulted in a warrant being sworn out for Jones charging him with perjury and today he appeared before 'Squire C.K. Hancock, this county, to answer to the charge.
  The bride's parents swore that she was fifteen years of age, that her birthday occurred last March and that it was their belief that the whole scheme was a concocted plan. Mr. Jones testified to the effect that he thought the bride was of age, that she had told him so and that he had no reason to believe otherwise.
  The affair culminated in 'Squire Hancock finding probable cause and binding Jones over to court under a bond of one hundred dollars, which he gave.

S.E. Jones was Shady Elcaney Jones, son of Azariah Jones and Sarah Jane Toler. He was born in Beaufort County in 1889 and died in 1936. He married first Nellie Jane Booth (1886-1929) in 1909, and in 1930 married Mary Emma Clemmand Ward. [The Jones Family of Blounts Creek by P.A. Jones, Jr., p. 137]

Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Knox were Charles Bryan Knox and Armetta Toler Knox.

Miss Mary Knox married Mr. Mack Wetherington (son of Henry B. and Laura Toler Wetherington) on 16 April 1916, 95 years ago on the day of this posting.

Martin Whitford Family Bible

Whitford-Smith-Whitehurst-Spite Family Bible

Original in possession of W. Richard Faulkner, Salisbury, NC, April 2011. 

Transcribed by Victor T. Jones, Jr., from photographs provided by W. Richard Faulkner, and from viewing the original. 

[New Testament Page]
The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Newly Translated out of the Original Greek: And with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. By His Majesties Special Command. Appointed to be Read in Churches. Oxford: Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the University, M DCC XXIII [i.e. 1723] 
[penciled in near bottom of page]
Nancy mother of H.P. Whitehurst
Daughter of Martin Whitford. 

[page 1]
Sarah Smith wife of Thos. Smith was born [illegible] the 19th in the year of our Lord God 1762.  
Nancy Whitford daughter of Marten Whitford and Marry his wife was born the 23 day of march in the year of our Lord & Saviour 1783. 
Betsey Smith daughter of Tho[s Smith] & Sarah his wife was born the [torn] of July, in the yeare of our Lord [&] Saviour 1781. 
John Smith Son of Thomas Smith [torn] his wife was born the 8 day of March [in] the yeare of our Lord & Saviour 1783. 
Polley Smith daughter of Thos. Smith and Sarah his wife was born April the 30 1785. 
Salley Smith daughter of Thos. Smith and Sarah his Wife was born Febury the 7 1788. 
Polley Smith daughter of the Same parents was bornd the 6 day of [faded in photo] 1791. 
Solomn Smith son of the same parents was born June the 5th day 1793. 

[page 2, End of the Apocrypha]
John Whitford son of Martin Whitford and Mary his wife was bornd October the 9, 1766.
One thousand seven hundred & sixty six. 
William Whitford son of Thos: Whitford and Sara his wif was born Novmbear ye 21 day about half an ouer past on oClok in ye aftrn. In year of our Lord God 1752 [photo has year cut off, year provided by W. Richard Faulkner] 
Henrey Purify Whithust Son of Shadrick Whithust and Nancy his wife was Bornd August the 19th day 1813. [Photo has the 9 in 19th cut off, day provided by W. Richard Faulkner] 

[page 3]
Thomas Spite son of Willum Spite and Elesabeth his wif was born Novmbear ye fost day in year of our lord God 1752
& mar marred on November forth day  David Whitford. [year of marriage not given] 

[page 4]
David R. Whitford son of John Whitford and Hollon his wife was bornd July the 30th Day in the year of our Lord—1784. 
Celia Whitford Daughter of John Whitford and Hollon his wife was born the 19th [in gutter of Bible and illegible on photo] of April in the year of our lord [in gutter of Bible]. 
Marten Whitford [smeared]
Martin Whitford Departed this Life November the 16th Day 1804. Aged 70 years and one month. 

[page 5]
Martin Whitford his Book
ana domney 174_ 

[page 6, end page of the Prophets]
God do men this book attend my book and hart Shall never part and this you See remember Me.
Martin Whitford 176[torn] 
Elezabeth Spite daftar of William Spite & Elezabeth his Wife Was born May ye fost in ye year of our Lord 1752. 

[page 6]
[Several entries too faint to read names, dates of 1710 and 1729 stand out.] 
Fanna giddens daughter of Agnes Giddens borned Junerary the 22 1782.
S
Sarah W 

[page 7, page before Tables]
John Whitford Son of Thomas Whitford and Sarah his wife War bornd October the first Day in the year of our Lord 1744.
[An entry written over and very faint.] 
John Whitford and Hollon his wife Was marred Apriel the 11th day 179[in gutter of book] 
John Whitford departed this life October the 8th 1829 about one Oclock in the morning  on Thursday after eleven days illness aged 63 Sixty three years lacking one day. 

[page 8]
[Several faint entries date 1740 legible on one.] 
Omeata boy called Jhon Mergn was born febrary ye 11 1748. Sold to Artar Jonston and is fre at thorty one year old sold by Thomas Whitford. 
Richard Whitford son of John Whitford and Sarah his wife was Bornd Desember the 12 day 1770. 
John Whi
John hear they was Bornd Desember the 18—1759. 

[page 9, page before Index]
John Whitford, Son of Thomas W and Sarah his wife was bornd October the first Day [in] the year of our Lord God 174[4] 
Elezabeth Whitford dafter of Thos. Whitford Was born July ye 24 day in ear of Our Lord God 1732. 
Marten Whitford son of Thos. Whitford and Sara his Wif Was born Otobr Ye fost 1 day in year of our Lord God 1734.

Ancient News, April 1916

The following is from the April 6, 1916, Semi-Weekly Sun Journal:

NEWS FROM ZORAH

Special Correspondence.
ZORAH, N.C., April 5--We are having some fine weather now, and the farmers are busy getting ready to plant their seeds.
Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Caton were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Whitford Sunday.
Mr. Levi Connoway and sister, Gladys, were the guests of Miss Mary Knox Sunday afternoon.
Miss Nina Gaskins visited Miss Janie Toler Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Columbus Booth, Mr. Artis Whitford, C.H. Booth, and Ed Booth were the guests of Mr. Zeffie Toler Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Gaskins and litte son, Alois, were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Gaskins, Sunday.
Messrs. Jimmie Toler and Mack Norman made a call at Mr. J.R. Gaskins' Saturday night.
Mr. Jessie Gaskins, Zeffie Toler, and Addie Stilley made a business trip to Truitt Sunday afternoon.
Miss Nina Gaskins and Jimmie Toler were out walking Sunday afternoon.
Mr. John Rowe took a pleasant trip through Penciltucky Sunday.
Miss Katie Gaskins was the guest of Miss Annie Toler Sunday morning.
Mr. Zeffie Toler made a call at Mr. J.R. Gaskins' Monday morning.
Misses Oma and Katie Gaskins are visiting their brother at Broad Creek.
The little black horse is still tied at Mr. Duffy Price's gate.
Our school closed March 30th. We all had a nice time.
Listen for the wedding bells the 16th.          SWEETHEART.

  Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Caton are Lewis Bryan Caton and Arnecia Toler Caton. They were visiting Arnecia's sister Permelia Toler Whitford and Addison Purifoy Whitford.

  Levi and Glady Connoway should be Conway. Gladys would be briefly married to Mr. Jimmy Toler.

  All of the Gaskinses mentioned are the children of J.R. [John Riley] Gaskins and Penelope Elizabeth Toler Gaskins. I'm not sure which brother was living at Broad Creek at the time, but probably Elbert Gaskins.

  The only local marriage I can find on April 16, 1916, is Mack Wetherington to Mary Knox. More on this next time.

Ancient News--Zorah, March 1916

The following is from the March 30, 1916, Semi-Weekly Sun Journal:

Zorah News Items

Special Correspondence.
ZORAH, N.C., March 30--We have been in a slumber for a long time, and have just awoke. We want to hear from Truitt and Askin once more.
Our boys have organized a baseball team and will play Saturday afternoon at Mr. H.B. Wetherington's. Everybody is invited to attend.
Mr. Guy Wetherington and Mr. Henry Caton spent Sunday at Small.
Miss Essie Toler was the guest of Miss Nina Gaskins Saturday night.
Mr. Artis Whitford was the guest of Mr. Claude Booth Sunday.
Mrs. Ardel Toler and children of Forest are visiting friends and relatives at this place.
Mrs. John Booth of Oriental is visiting at this place.
Mr. Guy Wetherington has purchased a new buggy. Look out girls!
Miss Bessie Norman spent Sunday at Penciltucky.
Master Clifford Toler won the price at Vanceboro commencement for a high jump, and Miss Neva Whitford won the prize for running.
Miss Mary and Essie Knox spent Sunday afternoon with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Knox.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Stilley and little son, James, spent Sunday at Mr. Isaiah Toler's.
Mr. Mack Wetherington was a guest of Miss Mary Knox Saturday night.
Mr. Harvey Toler was the guest of Miss Essie Knox Sunday.
Our school will close March 30, which has been taught by Miss Bertha Pipkin of Forest.
Everybody is looking forward to a pleasant time at the county commencement. Hope it will be a grand success.
Listen! The wedding bells will soon be ringing.
With best wishes to the Sun Journal.               JUST WE TWO.

Mrs. Ardel Toler and children are Minnie Ardell Pipkin Toler, the widow of Silas G. Toler, and their children Herman and Mavis. Silas died in 1914.

Penciltucky has never been positively identified, but based on other posts, it appears to be a "community"  up what is now Stair Ridge Road (off of the Cayton Road where Cayton Hunting Club has their camp). No one knows where the name came from, either.

Mr. Mack Wetherington eventually married Miss Mary Knox. And had he lived, Harvey Toler would have probably married Essie Knox. Harvey died in 1917, and Essie would marry Mr. Luther Lane.

Miss Bertha Pipkin, the school teacher, would marry Mr. Charles H. Toler in December 1916. The Forest is another name for the Antioch community.

Ancient News--March 1931, Askin News

The following is taken from The New Bernian of March 19, 1931:

Askin News

 Friends and relatives of Mrs. Reddin Toler are mourning her death. She passed away at the home of daughter, Mrs. Tom Jones, at one a.m. Sunday. She was buried in the Cayton cemetery Sunday afternoon.
 Mr. and Mrs. S.H. Gatlin and two daughters Mildred and Dorothy and Martha and Richard Morris visited Mr. Charlie Gatlin, of Rhems, Sunday.
 Relatives and friends will be glad to learn that Mr. Waldo Arthur is recovering nicely from a recent automobile accident.
 Messrs. Lewis Wetherington and Blake Adams attended the show in New Bern Saturday night.
 The farmers of this community are prospering in everything but acquiring the weather.
 The young people of Askin are very much interested in kite flying these windy days. There will be a kite flying contest at the fair grounds Saturday.
 Misses Edna Wiley, Martha Morris, Messrs. Mark and Richard Morris and Marrie Williams attended the show at New Bern Wednesday night.
 Mrs. Lena Harding and Mr. and Mrs. Snode Harding, of Chocowinity, were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. I.W. Toler Sunday.
 Mr. and Mrs. N.A. Scott and daughter of Washington were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sunday afternoon.
 Mr. Mark Morris who has been working in Southport the past year spent a few days last week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.E. Morris.

Mrs. Reddin Toler was Elizabeth "Lizzy" Foy and is buried in Pine Tree Cemetery. Her daughter, Mrs. Tom Jones, was Mary Susan "Mamie" Toler who married Thomas Edward Jones.

Martha, Richard and Mark Morris are all the children of Stephen Edward "Ed" Morris and Augusta Jones Morris.

Mr. and Mrs. I.W. Toler are Isaiah Willis and Vera Lucretia Whitford Toler.

Mr. and Mrs. N.A. Scott may be William A. Scott and Julia Ann O'Neal Scott, who are visiting Julia's sister Nancy Pauline and William Roberson Arthur. Waldo Arthur is the son of Nancy and William Arthur.

Ancient News--March 1931

The following was published in the Morning New Bernian of March 12, 1931:

Caton News

We are glad to have our school reopen after having been closed a week on account of measles. The teachers and pupils have recovered.
Mrs. Lee Atkinson, one of the teachers here, spent last week at her home in New Bern.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Toler spent Saturday in New Bern shopping.
Mrs. L.J. Lane visited her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Knox, Sunday afternoon.
Miss Mae Ipock, who teaches here, spent the weekend at Wilmington, Whiteville, and South Carolina with friends.
Mrs. Frank Atkinson and son-in-law from New Bern were in our community Monday.
Mr. Ervin Cayton visited relatives at Cove City Sunday.
The Zeppelin which passed over here last Monday created much interest among the grown people as well as the children, teachers report that the children are finding pictures and showing a greater interest in geography. The airport in New Bern has also brought about much talk in the community.
Mr. Faris was here with moving pictures last Friday night. A large crowd attended.
The boys and girls are showing a lot of interest in the 4-H club work which has recently been organized in the school by the help of the teachers and Mr. Faris.

Mrs. L.J. Lane (Mrs. Luther Jackson Lane) is Essie Knox Lane. Her grandparents would be William and Dorcas Tunstall Knox.

Ancient News--February 1931

The following was published in the New Bernian of February 11, 1931:

Caton News

Rev. Mack Prescott filled his regular appointment at New Haven church Sunday and preached to quite a large audience.
Miss Dezel Stilley spent Sunday with Miss Kathleen Cayton.
Miss Annis Whitford spent Sunday with Miss Lena Toler.
Miss Mae Ipock and Mrs. Lee Atkinson, who teaches here, spent last week-end in New Bern.
Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Tripp, of Washington, spent the week-end with Mrs. Tripp's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Toler.
Mrs. Lee Atkinson is still ill at her home in New Bern. We hope that she will soon be able to resume her duties at school. Miss Delphia Stilley is acting as her substitute.
Misses Kathleen and Muriel Gray Cayton visited Miss Ella Mae Toler Saturday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Knox, Miss Esther Stilley and Durwood Cayton visited friends in Bridgeton Sunday.

Ancient News--February 1906

The following is from the New Bern Daily Journal of March 3, 1906:

Zorah--Feby 28--Our farmers are busily engaged in making fences and clearing land, preparing for another crop.
Mrs. Jane Whitford who has been sick the past year, doesn't seem to get much better.
Mr. A.R. Whitford who went to Newport News some time ago, came home last week to see his mother.
Mr. G.A. Whitford went to Washington Saturday.
Miss Carrie Tunstall returned to her school in Jones County last week.
Mrs. Amanda Tuten of Edward spent last week at Mr. Silas Fulcher's.
Mr. J.M. Whitford and sister Miss Lizzie O'Neil spent Saturday night with relatives near Edward.
Messrs. Billy Yates and Jesse Latham of Gilead, spent Saturday night and Sunday at Mrs. Rose Whitford's.
Our Friendship and Pinetree schools had an exciting game of ball Friday afternoon, which resulted in a score of 14 to 21 in favor of Friendship.
Mr. S.M. Brinson our County Superintendent was here last week looking after our schools and delivered some able addresses on education which were highly appreciated by our students. He talks of consolidating our schools before another year.
Miss Rhesa Yates of Gilead is visiting relatives here.
Miss Susie Wetherington spent Monday night with Misses Mary and Cora Whitford.
Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Wiley of Cool Spring, visited relatives here last week.
Master Ivie Toler who has been spending a while on Blounts Creek returned home Friday.

Jane Whitford is Margaret Jane Wiley Whitford, wife of Bryan C. Whitford. She would eventually die in June 1906. A.R. Whitford is her son, Addison Rudolph, as is G.A. Whitford (Gilbert Arthur).
Carrie Tunstall may be Amanda Caroline Tunstall, daughter of Peyton Randolph Tunstall. If so, she later married Robert Pipkin.

Mrs. Amanda Tuten is Amanda Hollon Toler Tuten, daughter of Charles and Caroline Tunstall Toler and wife of Claudius E. Tuten. She is the sister of Mrs. Silas Fulcher (nee Verena Caroline Toler).

J.M. Whitford is John Malcolm Whitford, son of Lewis D and Rosa Tuten Whitford. There is a mistake here, in that Lizzie O'Neal is a cousin, not his sister. There is probably a line missing from this sentence, as in the New Bern Weekly Journal of 2 March 1906, is a "Durhams Creek" column which states: "Misses Mary Whitford and Lizzie Oneal, accompanied by Mr. John Whitford, all of Zorah, were the guests of Miss Maud Tuten on Saturday and Sunday."

Billy Yates is William Gilbert Yates, son of Weston and Josephine Tuten Yates, and nephew of Mrs. Rose Tuten Whitford. I'm not sure who Jesse Latham is at the moment. Rhesa Yates is the sister of Billy Yates [the name is also spelled Yeates].

Susie Wetherington is the daughter of Henry Bryan and Laura Toler Wetherington. She would later marry Mary's and Cora's brother Ira, all children of Lewis D. and Rosa Tuten Whitford.

J.O. Wiley is James O'Neill Wiley, son of Azariah F. and Ellen Ann "Nellie" Stilley Wiley. He married Della Whitford, daughter of William David and Florence Ipock Whitford.

Ivie Toler is actually Evie Toler, son of John A. and Susan (Rosa) Wiley Toler.

"Askin and Friendship School Baseball Results"

  The following is from the Semi-Weekly Sun Journal of February 21, 1916:

Askin and Friendship School Baseball Results

  Feb. 20, [1916]--The school boys of Askin challenged Friendship to play a game of ball. We concluded we would play them, so we answered to their call. And when those boys arrived here, such a sight we have never seen; red hair, freckles, and some were even green. And when the hour rolled around, the umpire called the game. And the way we boys beat them, was really a sinful shame. You could see those "pretty" Askin girls turn their heads in shame; they knew we country boys were easily winning the game.
  Those red-headed boys of Askin were mad enough to fight, and the way those freckles were shining was greater than an electric light. They called we boys rascals, all kinds of low-down names. But they were all very silent when they saw we had the reign. At the end of the 8th inning the umpire called the game; he saw to play them longer would win us too much fame. And so on the following Thursday, guess what we boys done? We played them in their city of Askin. Now wasn't that coming some.
  I hope you will understand how cheaply we were feeling get on a city diamond. Made us feel like an opossum stealing. The game was started nicely. Every player did his best, but we knew to again face those red-heads, freckles and specks, that we would never stand the test. And when a red-head would hit the ball, was the greatest thing of all--those "pretty girls" of Askin would hollow till they'd fall.
And when the game was ended, the tallyman broke the news, that Askin was victorious by a majority of two. The reason that they won this, we are willing to bet a quarter, that it was because they'd been drinking "Chautauqua Spring Water."          TONY

  Friendship School was located in Zorah (now Caton), on the north side of Little Swift Creek and served those in the community who lived in No. 1 Township. The school was located down the Whitford Road, and was later moved out to Hill's Neck Road (where it was at one time used as a storage barn by Uncle Leon Norman. It has since fallen down.) 

  The reference to "Chautauqua Spring Water" refers to an early attempt to create a spa in Askin. The waters from Chautauqua Springs and Blue Springs were bottled for sale. A large hotel was planned, but investors to the project did not raise the funds needed to support the effort, and soon the project was abandoned.

Zorah News, January 30, 1902

The following is from the New Bern Daily Journal of February 1, 1902:

ZORAH
---
Dangerous and Exciting Runaway. Personals. Rainy Weather.

Jan. 30--The mild weather of several days has been succeeded by a decided drop in temperature. A slow rain began to fall about 7:30 this morning and has continued through the greater part of the day.
A very interesting and dangerous runaway occurred here last week. Mr. H.A. Brown, Jr., of your city [i.e. New Bern] was in our section and while stopping to shut a gate, his horse started off and soon became frightened and ran away with the buggy. About a mile away he overtook Mr. G.A. Whitford who pulled his horse out of the road, grabbed a rail and as the running horse came up struck him on the head, breaking the rail, but failing to stop him, he jumped in his buggy and ran his horse after the other for a mile and a half. But of course he could not get from his buggy to the other, so he stopped took his horse out, and started on again on horseback, in pursuit. In the meantime, the runaway had overtaken Mr. B.C. Whitford, who driving quietly along, little dreaming of any danger, was suddenly startled a horse dashing into the hind part of his buggy, but he had the presence of mind to catch the bridle and stop him. He had only just succeeded in doing so when G.A. came galloping up in a hot chase. The horse had run four miles and the only damage he did was to break the back and one brace of Mr. Whitford's buggy. Everybody on the way had given them the road and looked on with dilated eyes.
It is a forcible reminder of the people in Gilpin's Ride, who opened the gates and cleared the way thinking it was on a wager.
Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Price little son, of Askin, spent last Thursday night with their daughter near Zorah.
Misses Mamie and Bessie Gaskins were the guests of Mrs. D.P. Whitford Saturday night and Sunday.
Mr. C.D. Fulcher of this place will soon go to New Town Pitt county where he has a position.
P.

The H.A. Brown mentioned appears to be the Hansy A. Brown listed in the 1900 Census as a 64 year old surveyor living at #25 Johnson Street in New Bern.
G.A. Whitford is Gilbert Arthur Whitford, while B.C. Whitford is Bryan Cox Whitford, Gilbert's father.
The mention of "Gilpin's Ride" refers to a poem by William Cowper titled "The Diverting History of John Gilpin" which was a popular children's book, and is available for reading on Project Gutenberg's website.
W.H. Price is William Henry Price, with his wife Mary and little son Milan. I'm not sure who the daughter is, but could be Grace Leona Price Whitford, wife of David P. Whitford (the Mrs. D.P. Whitford also mentioned above). Mamie and Bessie Gaskins were the daughters of Alfred Gaskins.
C.D. Fulcher is the Charles Daniel Fulcher and the son of Silas and Verena Caroline Toler Fulcher.

Zorah News, January 1902

The following was printed in the New Bern Daily Journal, January 17, 1902:

ZORAH--Death of Mrs. Toler. A Large Land Sale with Important Results.
January 15.--Our community has been saddened by the death of Mrs. Betsey Toler, who was reported in last article, as being sick. She was taken ill on Christmas Eve and continuted to grow worse until the 9th inst., when she was relieved of her sufferings here below by the summons from on high.
She was 76 years of age and had been a consistent member of the Baptist church during the most of her life. Two sons and three daughters are left to mourn the loss of a kind and loving mother.
Mr. David B. Caton and wife moved from Zorah, last week, to Blount's Creek Beaufort Co.
Mr. Jas. A. Harrington has returned to New Bern where he has been at work for some months.
Mr. O.C. O'Neal will begin timbering about 5 miles below New Bern on the road to Wilmington next week.
Mr. G.A. Whitford was in your city last night.
Mr. O.D. Jackson, of Norfolk who owns considerable real estate in this community, has just sold 10,000 acres to a company in Ohio. He still has several thousand acres of choice swamp land which we trust he will sell to some one who will develop it. We understand the above mentioned company will begin work upon their purchase, soon.

Mrs. Betsey Toler mentioned above is Elizabeth Lewis Toler, who married Amariah Toler, son of James Toler Sr. They had sons Emmett C. Toler (1858-1931) and Daniel Toler (1866-1935) and daughters Martha Toler (1856-after 1930); Annis S. Toler Harrington (1859-1940) and Julia Amanda Toler Cayton (1861-1933).
David B. Caton mentioned is the namesake of the Caton community. While he gave land to the community for a school in the 1880s, the community name of Caton did not come into use until the late 1920s and early 1930s. Prior to that the community was called Zorah (when a post office was established in the early 1880s).
James A. Harrington was the son of John B. and Annis Toler Harrington.
G.A. Whitford was Gilbert Arthur Whitford. A forthcoming Zorah News will have an exciting story concerning him.
More research needs to be done on the land transaction. Does anyone out there have any information on it?