Zorah News, January 17, 1927

The following is from the New Bernian of January 18, 1927:

ZORAH, Jan. 17--Miss Eloise Wiley of this section spent the weekend with Miss Madie Bell Franks at Ernul.
  Guy Wetherington of Hallsboro spent Saturday night and Sunday with his mother, Mrs. H.B. Wetherington.
  Miss Mae Ipock of Jasper, who is teaching school at Clayton [sic, should be Caton], spent the week-end at home.
  Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Sutton were visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Toler Sunday evening.
  Henry Wetherington and son, Lewis, who are working at Havelock spent the week-end at home.
  Misses Oleta, Ora, and Mary Gray Wetherington were visitors at the home of Mrs. Nannie Toler Sunday evening.
  A large crowd attended Sunday school at New Haven church Sunday afternoon.
  Several new families have recently moved to this community.
  Mr. and Mrs. Bill Toler were visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Toler Sunday afternoon.

About a week later, the following article appeared (New Bernian, January 26, 1927):

ZORAH, Jan. 25--Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Toler and daughter, Thelma, spent Sunday at Bridgeton.
  Mr. and Mrs. Bill Toler spent the week-end at Spring Garden.
  Dalton Roberson, Mack Norman, Albert Morris, Hodil Norman [Hudie? Norman], and Hyman Stubbs were visitors at New Haven Church Sunday afternoon.
  Luther Lane, Miss Sena Knox and Miss Edna Whitford motored to Edwards Sunday.
  Miss Mae Ipock returned home Sunday evening.
  Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Rowe of Beaufort County spent Sunday afternoon at Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Stilley's home.
  Holmes Turner of New Bern passed this section en route to C.B. Wetherington's home.
  Mr. and Mrs. Luther Sutton of Vanceboro spent Sunday  at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Norman.
  T.E. Whitford and son, Edgar, motored to Edwards Sunday morning.
  There will be a minstrel show and a box party combined at Coyton [sic, should be Caton] School Saturday Jan. 29. All are invited.
  Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Wetherington spent Sunday evening at the home of Mrs. H.B. Wetherington.
  Henry Wetherington and son left Monday morning for Havelock.

Eloise Wiley was the daughter of John Redding Wiley and Effie B. Price and was born about 1914, while Madie Bell Franks was the daughter of Daniel R. Franks. [1930 census records for Pamlico and Craven Counties].
  Guy Wetherington was the son of Henry Bryan Wetherington and Laura Toler. He was born in 1894 and died in 1948.
  I don't have much information on Mae Ipock, other than she was a teacher.
  L.M. Sutton married Dorcas Knox. Bill Toler married Nan Ipock.
  Henry Willis Wetherington and son Louis Henry Wetherington worked with North Carolina Pulp Company.
  Misses Oleta, Ora and Mary Gray Wetherington were the daughters of Henry Willis Wetherington.
  Bill and Nan Ipock Toler were visiting his sister, Tom and Lucy Toler Toler.

Beginning with the second article, James Robert Toler and Celia H. Stilley Toler and daughter Thelma went to Bridgeton.
  Bill and Nan Ipock Toler went to Spring Garden, probably visiting some of Aunt Nan's family.
  Dalton Roberson later married Gladys Sutton; Albert Morris is possibly the son of Ed and Augusta Jones Morris; Hudie Norman was son of John Henry and Victoria Toler Norman; while nothing further is known about Hyman Stubbs.
  Luther Lane married Essie Knox, the sister of Sina Knox. Edna Whitford is probably Edna Earle Whitford, daughter of David Purifoy Whitford and Grace Leona Price.
  Mae Ipock (see above comments).
  Jesse and Sina Stilley Rowe lived in Blounts Creek and were visiting her brother Joshua Stilley and his wife Penny Toler Stilley.
  I'm not sure who Holmes Turner is, but he was visiting Charlie Bryan Wetherington, son of Henry Bryan Wetherington.
  Luther Sutton (see above L.M. Sutton) was visiting George Norman, no further information on him.
  T.E. Whitford should be I.E. (Ira E.) and his son Edgar.
  The other families mentioned in the article are identified above.
 

Zorah News, January 16, 1904

The following is from the New Bern Daily Journal of January 19, 1904:

  ZORAH, January 16th.
  Mr. I.R. Whitford of this place, has been elected keeper of the Neuse River bridge.
  Miss Amanda Whitford and Mr. J.R. Wiley went to Clayroot last Saturday.
  Larry Alston, the little son of Mr. D.P. Whitford, caused his people considerable anxiety last week by putting a bean in his nose.
  The recent bad weather has caused our schools to stop several days.
  Mrs. Mary Tunstall is quite sick with grip. Dr. Primrose of New Bern is attending her.
  Mrs. W.D. Toler is in quite a critical condition. She has been lying unconscious since Friday noon. Her recovery is doubtful.
  Mr. Jas. O. Wiley and sister, Miss Rosa, are visiting their sister Mrs. R.E. Lathinghouse, near Vanceboro.
  Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Whitford went to New Bern yesterday to visit their son, Mr. J.R. Whitford.
  Mr. Ransom Booth of Pollocksville is visiting at Zorah.
  The young people of our place had a very enjoyable dance at Mr. W.R. Arthur's last night.

  I.R. Whitford is Ira Romonas Whitford (1880-1948), son of Bryan Cox Whitford and Margaret Jane Wiley. He is probably the J.R. Whitford in the 8th paragraph that B.C. Whitford is going to see in New Bern.
  Amanda Rhesa Whitford (1877-1965) was the daughter of Stephen Edward Whitford and Artemisia Tuten. J.R. Wiley is probably John Redding Wiley (1877-1961), son of Azariah Wiley and Ellen Ann Stilley.
  Larry Alston Whitford continued his love for botany as a long-time professor at North Carolina State University.
  Mary Tunstall (1828-1906) was the widow of Alfred B. Tunstall (1828?-1903). She was the daughter of Calvin Morris and Sallie Reel. Both Mary and Alfred are buried in High Bridge Cemetery.
  Mrs. W.D. Toler (nee Sarah "Sally" Knox) was the daughter of William R. "Bill" and Dorcas Knox. She married William David "Willie" Toler. She died January 17, 1904, from complications following childbirth. The child also died. Both were buried in "Bethel Burying Ground" (now High Bridge Cemetery), but were later re-interred at the Knox Family Cemetery.
  James O'Neal (O'Neill) Wiley, Rosa Wiley, and Mrs. R.E. Laughinghouse (Nancy "Nannie" Wiley), were the children of Azariah F. Wiley and Ellen Ann "Nellie" Stilley, and the siblings of John Redding Wiley mentioned above.
  Ransom Booth was the son of Merritt Booth and the brother of Julia Booth (married Fred Willis Toler) and Claud Booth (and others).
  W.R. Arthur was William Roberson Arthur (1867-1929). He married Nancy Pauline O'Neal.

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).
 
 
 

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.

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

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.