Zorah News, January 4, 1904

  The following article is from the New Bern Daily Journal of January 6, 1904:

  Christmas passed of[f] very pleasantly at our place. Dancing seemed to have been the order of the day among the young people, there being as many as five during the holidays.
  Among our older, hunting was the chief source of amusement. Mr. A.D. Whitford killed a fine deer, others killing squirrels, birds, etc., in considerable numbers.
  Among the visitors at Zorah during the holidays not already mentioned were Mr. Herbert Stilley and Miss Bettie Knox of Washington, Messrs. Arthur Simpson and Amos Bell of Onslow County, Mr. Paul O'Neal of Kinston and Mr. Jno. M. Whitford of Kinston, Miss Clara Mills of Blounts Creek, Mr. T.A. Tuten and Miss Ruth Adams of Edward, Mr. Gales Yates and Mr. Peter Hill and sister, Miss Viney, all of Gilead, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Harris and family of Vanceboro, and Hon. I.W. Miller and family of Alliance.
  Mr. G.A. Whitford made a business trip to Greenville last week.
  Mr. E.G. Wise of Pamlico was at Zorah Friday.
  Mr. D.M. Peel has recently moved from here to Mr. Fred Rowe's place near New Bern.
  Our place is coming to the front in the way of marriages just now. Mr. Robert Toler and Miss Celia Stilley both of this place were happily married yesterday by Mr. J.H. O'Neal, justice of the peace.
  Another wedding was reported but we do not know whether it took place.

  A.D. Whitford could be Addison Purifoy Whitford (Addie...A.D.?), otherwise I can locate no Whitford with initials A.D.
  According to the 1900 Census for Washington, Beaufort County, Herbert M. Stilley was the son of Thomas E. and Pauline Stilley, and lived at 412 North Second Street in Washington. Herbert was born in February 1889. Living in the same household was Bettie Knox (single), born in January 1850, and was a "Servant" of the Stilley household. [Year: 1900; Census Place:  Washington,  Beaufort,  North Carolina; Roll: 1182; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0011; FHL microfilm: 1241182. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.] Bettie was probably Elizabeth Knox, William R. (Bill) Knox's sister, and aunt of Charles B. (Charlie) Knox.
  I am not sure of the connection with Arthur Simpson, Amos Bell of Onslow County or. Paul O'Neal of Kinston. O'Neal may have been related to the O'Neal family who lived on the Hill's Neck Road near McRay Whitford's present home. Nor am I sure of the connection with Clara Mills.
  Jno. M. Whitford is John Malcolm Whitford, son of Lewis David Whitford and Rosa Keul Tuten Whitford.
   T.A. Tuten may be Thomas Atkins Tuten, son of Thomas A.E. Tuten and nephew of Rosa K. Tuten Whitford. Gales Yates was a son of Josephine Tuten Yates and also a nephew of Rosa K. Tuten Whitford. Peter and Viney (Lovina) Hill were neighbors of Gales Yates in 1900, but I am unsure of who Ruth Adams is, or Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Harris, I.W. Miller, or E.G. Wise, at present.
  G.A. Whitford is Gilbert Arthur Whitford (Sr.), son of Bryan Cox Whitford and Margaret Jane Wiley.
  D.M. Peel[e] is Duncan McRae Peele married Emma Knox (in 1895). Emma was the daughter of Bill and Dorcas Knox, and sister of Charles B. Knox.
  Robert Toler is James Robert Toler, son of James Lawrence Toler and Sina Ann Dunn. Celia Stilley is the daughter of William Joyner Stilley and Elizabeth Taylor Dunn (sister of Sina).