Historical Highlights Of Williamston Before The War
Town Limits Extended
Only To Elm Street
Two Schools Were
Maintained in the
Town Back in 1860
Krliflious Activities Highly
Year* Ago Were Centered
In Two Churches
1
WtLLIAMSTON IN 1860
In the year I860 the corporate lim
its of the town were stretched no
further from the river hill than the
street crossing Main above J. K.
Carstarphen's residence. This street
was then tr county road. The .Episco
pal Rectory stood in a field the only
house above the home of Elder C.
B. Hassell on Main Street.
The Staton residence, combining
architectual design with beauty of J
finish, was situated on the lot now j
occupied by the Slade home, and
marked the limits of the town in the
Northwest. This whole section was
a grove of magnificent oaks, pre
senting a very different appearance
from now. That part of tho town
known as "New Town" occupied the
same space as at present. The most
noticeable residence in this part be
ing that of the Duggan's, built in
1849 by Mr. Friely Moore. The bus
iness houses were of small dimen
sions, that of Elder C B. Hassell, a
large three-story building was the
largest and stood on the corner now
occupied by the store of J. H. Elli
son and Co. The only brick building
was on the lot now occupied by N.
S. Peel and Co. In this was kept a
general merchandise store by John
C. Lamb, who raised the first com
pany of volunteers in the county. He
was promoted to the office of Col
onel of the 17th Regiment, and gave
up his life for the Confederate cause.
Mr. Amelick Williams in the build
ing now occupied by T. C. Cook, and
Mr. William Bagley in a store sit
uated on his residence lot, were two
of the most prominent merchants.
Capt. John Lanier occupied a store
in the corner of his yard which was
removed just a few years ago. W.
H. Carstarphen occupied a building
(since burned) situated on the pres
ent site.
These merchants went to New
York to purchase goods?frequently
driving to Plymouth and taking a
steamer to Franklin, thence by rail
to the North. This was considered
quite a journey. Goods were brought
by sailing vessels The vessels went
North laden with shingles and nav
al stores. Three of the most promi
nent of these were the "Alice Gib
son," owned by Henry P. Gibson; the
"Martha Moore" and "Coenine" own
ed by Messrs. f\ and G Moon-. These
vessels were built at the shipyard
about a mile above the wharf on the
Bertie shore. A trade with the West
Indies was carried on by these ves
sels, cargoes of salt and molasses be
ing given in exchange for naval
stores. Two steamers came up the
river daily?the "John G. Styles,"
Capt. Moore, and the "Alice of Wind
sor," Capt. Lafayette Thrower.
The goods displayed by the mer
chants were euiifoes, W cents the
yard; French Calicoes, 15 cents the
yard; ginghams, organdies, silk* tis
sues, serges, etc. The materials were
not so different from those of the
present day only in quality. The col
ors were mon;. endurable than those
of the present generation?a genera
tion of gaudy hues and designs. But
the styles! The best idea of these can
be had from a copy of Godey's Lady's
Book?the fashion exponent of the
day. In this one would see most en
ormous hoops, angel sleeves, and
rigid stays?Nothing at all like the
straight form of the present. Low
neck and short sleeves were worn
even in the winter. The costume was
not complete without a round, flat
collar of French work or handsome
lace All clothes were made by hand,
machines being extremely rare. The
lingerie of our mothers was orna
mented with a great deal of hand
embroidery?one of the favorite fan
cy works of the day. Tatting, net
ting and knitting were also femi
nine occupations of the times. The
ladies of the town at this period had
one Sunday bonnet a year?dark rib
bons for trimmings making a change
for winter. Sun bonnets were usual
ly worn except to church or on most
ceremonious visits.
The gentlemen were brave in
home-made attire, linen, etc., for
summer fine boots with very tiny
heels, home-made shirts, the bosom
ornamented with tucks sewn by
hand?sometimes drawn work, while
some of the most foppish had hand
embroidered bosoms. High standing
collars were not worn; turn down
collars were used entirely and as a
general thing black or white string
ties. No ready-made clothes were to
be had ? tailors made up broad
cloth suits for formal occasions.
Mails were carried through the
country?the route through here ex
tended from Halifax to Plymouth.
People received mail once or twice
a week. The political situation was
discussed as portrayed In the Ral
eigh Sentinel and Richmond Exam
iner?the latter being the strongest
Southern paper of the time. Elections
were held in August every two years
and the Whigs and Democrats op
posed each other strenuously.
The Bar was represented by Jesse
Stubbs, William Ebom, Judge Asa
Biggs, and Col. Carraway. Hon. Pa
trick Winston, of Windsor, and Judge
Henry Gilliam, of Ed en ton, were the
BURNED
Recalling her early life in
Hamilton. Miss Bell Whitaker,
of Enfield, recently stated that
the Yankee raids on the town
made a lasting impression in
her memory.
"I remember very well the
burning of the Ben Cloman, the
Arthur Cotten, Robert Weathers
bee . and Bennett Baker homes
in the town during the war."
Miss Whitaker said. "My father's
slaves put it out," Miss Whitaker
added.
Miss Whitaker stated that no
one was killed in Hamilton by
the Yankee raiders.
Miss Whitaker is the daughter
of the late John Byrum and Em
ma Yarrell Whitaker.
most prominent lawyers attending
court at that time.
The courthouse and jail which
stood at the brink of the river hill
made the center of the town at a
still earlier period. The medical fra
ternity was represented by I>rs.
lialsey and Yates.
The Episcopal and Methodist
Churches were the only ones in
town. A large number of the citizens !
were Primitive Baptists and wor
shipped at Skewarkee as now. Rev. i
Alfred Watson, who is now Bishop 1
if East Carolina, was Rector of the '
Episcopal Church, lie lived in Plym- I
>uth and frequently walked the en
lire distance, being a man of wonder
ful endurance The Methodist pas
tor was Rev. Mr. Chaffin. Elder C.
B Hassell was pastor at Skewarkee.
The wealthy classes rode in car
riages with their slave drivers.
Horseback Was a popular mode of
travel.
Two good schools flourished
the town. The Male Academy at the
present building (since repaired) and
the Female Academy 111 what is now
Mrs Alex Smith's residence. Prof.
Chase, of Vermont, was principal of
the Male Academy. Northern wo
-nen were employed to teach us it
W'as considered degrading for a
txiuthein woman to do any work
>utside of home. Boys studied Greek
md Latin and were prepared for
Chapel Hill and other colleges. The
firls had Latin, music and painting
ind were usually sent to Salem,
Creensboro. St. Mury's and Mur
freesboro. The girls were more giv
n to games and play than at the
present time.
The youthful light heart and yes,
very often light head, being the same
thing in a different setting -in all
times and countries. Slaves spun and
wove cloth for clothing and had their
daily tasks but never a care for the
future; for Master and Mistress
would see that they were warm in
the winter and had sufficient food
md careful attention?m sickness. -
Christmas came in 1860 and with it
Christmas cheer, but a theme fraught
with most potentous meaning was
beginning to engage the village gos
sip. The school boys began to lose
interest in their studies?games no
longer possessed the same charms
for them?they dreamed of muskets,
the roaring of cannon and fleeing
Yankees The fife and drum no
longer meant a general muster- but
P company forming to go to the
front to battle for the honor of the
South
'Twas a long good-bye to the dear
old regime, for in 1861 the Civil War
began and the old town gave her
bravest and best.
(Written by the late Miss Hattie
Thrower, the sketch of Williamston
in I860 appeared in The Enterprise
ill November, 1002 Quite a few
changes have followed since the
sketch was prepared The J K. Car
starphen home referred to is the
house located on the corner of Main
and Elm Street. The Staton home
referred to was that of McGillicudah
Staton, grandfather of Mr. Jim Sta
ton, which occupied the entire block
now surrounded by Academy, Smith
wick and Hassell Streets and Sim
mons Avenue, but there was no
Simmons Avenue at the time. The
home was either burned by the
Yankees during .the war or fired
when a lamp turned over, some
claiming the first and others claim
ing the lamp caused the fire. The
Huggan home is now occupied by
the Joe Godards. Elder C. B. Hassell
did business in a three-story wooden
building on the corner of Main and
Swithwick Streets Where the Alpha
Cleaners are now located. Smith
wick Street was then known as Sixth
S'"'et Th<- only brick building of
l,lal day was located on the site iiuw
occupied by the Virginia Electric
and Power Company. Amelick Wil
liams did business about where the
Courtney Furniture store is now lo
cated, and William Bagley had a
store just below the new post of
fice building. John Lanier had a
St0T.,m the yard whcre Attorney
and Mrs. Hugh G. Horton now live
comer Main and Watts Streets, w!
H. Carstarphen, buying the business
from John S. Pinner Co., operated
a store where the Sinclair Station
now stands, corner Main and Smith
wick Streets. The store was rebuilt
following a fire and was operated by
*?r- Carstarphen's son, the late C.
D. Carstarphen, the combined opera
tion lasted almost a century. Hie
store was razed Just a few years ago
and part of the lumber was used in
building the high school gymnasium.
?Editor's Note.)
NEW CAROLINA WAREHOUSE OPERATORS
JOHNNY ?;( KKIN
n^ t*: fflmsr
JMII\ A AUNMM.
One of the strongest organiza
tions in this section of the State
was perfected several months
ago for the operation of the New
Carolina Tobacco Warehouse, one
of the largest houses in the area.
Messrs. Johnny Gurkin, Sylves
ter Lilley, W. D. Odom and John
A. Manning will operate the large
house this season, offering to the
farmers of eastern North Caro
Una the services of an experienc
ed and able personnel. Messrs.
Odom and Manning are joining
the organization this year for the
first time, but they have gained
a wide experience in the tobac
co business from the farm to the
factory. Mr. Odom has been ac
tively engaged in the?operation
of a warehouse for a long num
ber of wars, and is widely and
I favorably known to hundreds of
farmers throughout northeastern
i North Carolina Mr. Manning, a
farmer himself, is widely known
; as the head of the peanut com
pany hearing his name, but he is
also remembered for\}iis work in
the warehouse business here a
. few years .ago Messrs. t lurk in
and Lilley need no introduction
j to the farmers of this section
They have gamed an enviable
record in the business by their
courteous, sympathetic associa
tion with tobacco growers from
fifteen or more counties They
have, through bard work, fair
and honest dealings, gained the
confidence of farmers and they
-are eoi i ii" In make a-strung bid
for an increased patronage at the
Carolina house here this m a on
?lii[>s Were Built
Oil Roanoke River
The details have been lost through
the years, but it is an established fact
that shipbuilding was a leading bus
iness on the Roanoke River a short
distance above the Norfolk. Balti-\
moro and Carolina Boat Line here.
It Was owned by the Slades who
w? i ' pn?ni ( i in this section of the
country and who later migrated to
other sort ions of the country to play
a. |>n>miiient part in the early history
L.?4- the Nation.: r "
I'h. iv aii r.-cords stlowing' that
the hipyard. located on the Bertie
ule .-f tlie 11. ani, was in operation
a ..M.i 1> JJilu. .Hid it 1^ believed
lis hu.atu ... was maintained as
late as 1 <".50 and possibly later.
F t.ibhslu d a. a port of entry dur
ing the Revolutionary period Ske
w.trkey. later t.? be known 'as Wil
11:i;n: t? in \\.t a 11 . ? 1 y hipping cen
."U'trt .anpnuihiang. At
;.lea.-l *hi< ? ? \ v ? I- ? *he "Alee Gib
? .or.." ? ..whit u was named after Mrs1.
I 11i vim Tin ? wit's sister. the 'Mar
tha Mo..re" and the "Coenine" were
built m Mi.' 11\ . r shipyard
A(Mr arr +ir-. iti b. learned. life"
hipy ai .1 !iei .? u a one id only two
cm i I.:t.1 .in live Roanoke. The old
r an Albemarle". was built along
the ho res of the Roanoke m Halifax
County -md placed m service during
itir Ciril .W.i.i. Th. yard hidy is be
ne V ed 1?i have be. n abandoned firi
a to Unit time.
MEN ? COME OUT OF
THE "DOG HOUSE"
Build the Family
A HOME
Begin Saving Now
There is 110 tomorrow for the iinli\hlnal who reaehes man's
estate. If lie expeets to realize his |?ersoiml ambition. as
well as that of his family, in owning a home, steps must he
taken now. Begin saving svslemaliealh now ami within a
few months the equity" yon possess in Buihliiig ami Loan
stoek will enable yon to begin eonslriieling a home. all
your own. For parlienlars. see lis.
THE NEW SERIES
M ill O/h-ii
SATURDAY
si:ri KMKKH 6, mi.
Miikf your plan* In Ink)' xlock ill lliix iii'H xi-rii-H.
Don't Mail until llu- nr\l xriiix. Itc^iu naviii|<
now anil hooii lliix iiixliliiliou will axxixl you in
fiiiaiK'in^ your lionii'.
MARTIN COUNTY
Building & Loan Association