May 6, 2016 Coats Museum News
The Turlington name was likely as familiar as any other names in the Grove area. ,so surely the news had spread quickly that seventy-seven year old Stuart Turlington, widely known in Harnett County, was found dead in his smokehouse by Pug Denton. Carl and Harold Turlington of the Coats area and Eastwood, a dentist who lived out of the state, and Mrs. Thelma Wilson survived him. Mr. Stuart Turlington had extensive farming operations, owned the Turlington Cotton Gin and was described as one of the wealthiest men in the Coats section (Daily Record Jan. 29, 1958).
Governor Luther Hodges came to Dunn to dedicate the Tomahawk Farms at the time the Turlingtons were mourning Mr. Turlington whose burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery. Turlington was a lifelong resident of Turlington Crossroads and the son of the late Devereux and Betty Stuart Turlington. In addition to his children, he was survived by his wife, Dora Gibbs Turlington and two sisters, Mrs. Oscar Bain of Ponchatoula, LA. and Mrs. G.M. Stewart (Daily Record Jan. 30, 1958).
Was Turliington Crossroads part of the land which Willis Turlington had purchased from the Doushee Shaw heirs in 1839? The area was nicknamed by some as “Lick Log” according to Bickett Wade Turlington (born November 28, 1916).He shared with his daughter, Martha T. Parrish, in a 2004 interview that it was called Lick Log because of the salted log that was placed in front of the store at the crossroads. The animals that brought the customers to the store would stay around and lick the salted log rather than wander off. Turlington recalled that Lee Turlington ran a country store at the crossroads. Mr. Turlington had a room in the back of the store where dances were held. Does anyone wonder who attended those dances? Did he have a radio, piano or a band to dance by? Is that where young Floyd Whittington and Beulah Barbour Ennis played the piano? Was there later a poolroom in that store?
This I do know. According to the Kivett journals of 1900, there was a “Debro” Turlington sawmill in 1900. Do you think that possibly Mr. Turlington sawed cross ties for the railroad that came through Coats in the dawn of the 20th century? I do know that Devereux’s father was Andrew Jackson Turlington who had a gristmill before 1862 and a saw mill in 1872 according to Branson’s N.C. Business Directory (Harnett County) of those two dates. Where was Devereaux’s house? Was it on the curve across from the Coats Erwin Middle School? Is that the house now located in the field across from that same school? Was it in this house that there was a post office for Turlington from September 20, 1886 until it was discontinued on November 30, 1907 (Post Offices and Post Masters, V11).
According to the 1896-97 Branson’s N.C. Business Directory (Harnett), a spirit of turpentine manufactory was at Turlington and was operated by Taylor and Slocumb. We also know that Leonidas “Lon” L. Turlington inherited much land from Randol Turlington, son of Willis Turlington. Leondias L. operated the first post office of Turlington out of his house from October 6, 1885 until Devereaux Turlington took it over in his house on September 20, 1886. In 1896, 25 people picked up their mail at his house. Was this the house that was moved back several hundred yards from the NC 55 to the edge of the woods by Frank Turtlington in the 1990’s? The two story house was painted and refurbished even though the house appeared in fair condition as it sat in the curve before being relocated.
The Raleigh- Fayetteville Stage Road went right through the site of the Coats-Erwin Middle School. That was also the site of the Stuart Turlington‘s house that burned after 1965. It was just a short distance from the Shaw Half Way that is intact. Hence when Stuart Turlington died in late January 1958, he joined the rank of ancestors who had left a legacy of deep roots in Turlington, N.C.
How many of you recognize the name “Percy Flowers”? That is a very popular name in Johnston County and for those who do recognize it, the Feb. 4, 1958 Daily Record reported the he had been granted a mistrial when the jury would not agree on a verdict on liquor conspiracy charges.
Mrs. Ella Truelove Sorrell, 82, had died at Good Hope Hospital. Her funeral was held at Pleasant Grove (Old Field) with Rev. J.D. Capps. She was the widow of John Sorrell who was the son of John C. Sorrell. She was the mother of Mrs. Ila Williams and sister to Mrs. Mary Lee of Fayetteville. Does anyone know if John Sorrell and brother had a business in early Dunn?
I do know that Miss Mabel Lynch, the beloved Coats School librarian and civics teacher, was convalescing at the home of her sister, Mrs. Thelma Gainey on South General Avenue. Does anyone know the story on why this beautiful teacher never married?
Several Coats men (William McAllen, Willie Ammons, and Floyd Weaver) were summoned to jury duty for the March 17 term (Daily Record Feb. 4, 1958).
Name some of the dairies that were located in the Coats area in earlier days. Did you name the Hayes and Lee Dairies? Was there a dairy in the town limits? Was there a Gregory Dairy near Barclaysville? This I do know. An honor roll certificate for outstanding production of dairy herd was awarded to Carson Gregory. Thanks to his sons, Carson Jr. and Joe, he had been able to carry on his dairy business as he served in the General Assembly. Both of the young men had won countless ribbons and cash awards at the N.C. State Fair. Wade Stewart, a member of the Coats Jr. Order, entered the sheriff’s race. The Democrat, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Stewart, was from Buies Creek area. Most know that he is grandfather to Dr. Chris Stewart who practiced medicine in Coats prior to going to the medical school at Campbell University.
The county records were inventoried and the very old jury tickets, copies of bills paid and records no longer used were sent to the N.C. Archives in Raleigh (Daily Record Feb. 5, 1958).
Vice Chairman of the HCBOC Jarvis Pleasant was seeking a second term on the board for District 2 (Grove and Duke Townships). The popular farmer, civic, social and religious leader had made an excellent record on the board. Mr. Pleasant was a lifelong Democrat and was active in its affairs.
Recall that Reuben Stewart was postmaster of the Coats post office from December 15, 1904 to December 15, 1934 when Mrs. Lucy Kelly assumed the acting postmistress and then the position on July 30, 1935. R.O Stewart had married into the Bain family. Mrs. Stewart’s sister, Mrs. Chloe Bain Rambeau had lived to be 87 years old. She had died in Durham but her services were held at the Coats Primitive Baptist Church. She had lived near Angier for many years (Daily Record Feb. 7, 1958).
Death had claimed another citizen of the Coats area. Mr. Scotch N. McLeod of Route One, Coats had died at age74 on Sunday night in the Johnston Memorial Hospital. He was the son of the late Norman and Joannie Williams McLeod. His wife, Emily Lee McLeod, his son, Claude McLeod, and daughter, Madeline Wiggs survived him. His brother was Richard McLeod and half-sisters were Mrs. Dewey Williams and Lula Stone (Daily Record Feb. 10, 1958). Does anyone know some of the kinfolks of these people?
Think of the oldest groom that you can recall getting married in the area. The paper shared the news that Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Stephenson were enjoying wedded bliss. The 84 year-old great, great, grandfather and his 43 year- old bride were chauffeured to Dillon, S.C. for the ceremony by Coats businessman Herbert L. Johnson. Mrs. Stephenson’s first marriage gave her two children-A.J. Stephenson, Jr. and Miss Betty Stephenson, “a very pretty girl”. Mr. Stephenson’s children were Avie, Claudine, Silas, Irene Howard, Leonora, Benny Ray and Mrs. Nassie Dorman (Daily Record Feb. 10, 1958).
Thank you to those who gave Mother’s Day donations for Alice T. Johnson and birthday donations for Becky E. Adams.
Mark your calendar to attend the book signing by Brian Davis who has put together thoughts of Coats and its people in his latest book. The event will begin at 2:00 and close at 5:00 on Sunday-May 15th, 2016. Brian will also have a collection of items and books which will be displayed in his own exhibit in the Exhibit Hall.
The Turlington name was likely as familiar as any other names in the Grove area. ,so surely the news had spread quickly that seventy-seven year old Stuart Turlington, widely known in Harnett County, was found dead in his smokehouse by Pug Denton. Carl and Harold Turlington of the Coats area and Eastwood, a dentist who lived out of the state, and Mrs. Thelma Wilson survived him. Mr. Stuart Turlington had extensive farming operations, owned the Turlington Cotton Gin and was described as one of the wealthiest men in the Coats section (Daily Record Jan. 29, 1958).
Governor Luther Hodges came to Dunn to dedicate the Tomahawk Farms at the time the Turlingtons were mourning Mr. Turlington whose burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery. Turlington was a lifelong resident of Turlington Crossroads and the son of the late Devereux and Betty Stuart Turlington. In addition to his children, he was survived by his wife, Dora Gibbs Turlington and two sisters, Mrs. Oscar Bain of Ponchatoula, LA. and Mrs. G.M. Stewart (Daily Record Jan. 30, 1958).
Was Turliington Crossroads part of the land which Willis Turlington had purchased from the Doushee Shaw heirs in 1839? The area was nicknamed by some as “Lick Log” according to Bickett Wade Turlington (born November 28, 1916).He shared with his daughter, Martha T. Parrish, in a 2004 interview that it was called Lick Log because of the salted log that was placed in front of the store at the crossroads. The animals that brought the customers to the store would stay around and lick the salted log rather than wander off. Turlington recalled that Lee Turlington ran a country store at the crossroads. Mr. Turlington had a room in the back of the store where dances were held. Does anyone wonder who attended those dances? Did he have a radio, piano or a band to dance by? Is that where young Floyd Whittington and Beulah Barbour Ennis played the piano? Was there later a poolroom in that store?
This I do know. According to the Kivett journals of 1900, there was a “Debro” Turlington sawmill in 1900. Do you think that possibly Mr. Turlington sawed cross ties for the railroad that came through Coats in the dawn of the 20th century? I do know that Devereux’s father was Andrew Jackson Turlington who had a gristmill before 1862 and a saw mill in 1872 according to Branson’s N.C. Business Directory (Harnett County) of those two dates. Where was Devereaux’s house? Was it on the curve across from the Coats Erwin Middle School? Is that the house now located in the field across from that same school? Was it in this house that there was a post office for Turlington from September 20, 1886 until it was discontinued on November 30, 1907 (Post Offices and Post Masters, V11).
According to the 1896-97 Branson’s N.C. Business Directory (Harnett), a spirit of turpentine manufactory was at Turlington and was operated by Taylor and Slocumb. We also know that Leonidas “Lon” L. Turlington inherited much land from Randol Turlington, son of Willis Turlington. Leondias L. operated the first post office of Turlington out of his house from October 6, 1885 until Devereaux Turlington took it over in his house on September 20, 1886. In 1896, 25 people picked up their mail at his house. Was this the house that was moved back several hundred yards from the NC 55 to the edge of the woods by Frank Turtlington in the 1990’s? The two story house was painted and refurbished even though the house appeared in fair condition as it sat in the curve before being relocated.
The Raleigh- Fayetteville Stage Road went right through the site of the Coats-Erwin Middle School. That was also the site of the Stuart Turlington‘s house that burned after 1965. It was just a short distance from the Shaw Half Way that is intact. Hence when Stuart Turlington died in late January 1958, he joined the rank of ancestors who had left a legacy of deep roots in Turlington, N.C.
How many of you recognize the name “Percy Flowers”? That is a very popular name in Johnston County and for those who do recognize it, the Feb. 4, 1958 Daily Record reported the he had been granted a mistrial when the jury would not agree on a verdict on liquor conspiracy charges.
Mrs. Ella Truelove Sorrell, 82, had died at Good Hope Hospital. Her funeral was held at Pleasant Grove (Old Field) with Rev. J.D. Capps. She was the widow of John Sorrell who was the son of John C. Sorrell. She was the mother of Mrs. Ila Williams and sister to Mrs. Mary Lee of Fayetteville. Does anyone know if John Sorrell and brother had a business in early Dunn?
I do know that Miss Mabel Lynch, the beloved Coats School librarian and civics teacher, was convalescing at the home of her sister, Mrs. Thelma Gainey on South General Avenue. Does anyone know the story on why this beautiful teacher never married?
Several Coats men (William McAllen, Willie Ammons, and Floyd Weaver) were summoned to jury duty for the March 17 term (Daily Record Feb. 4, 1958).
Name some of the dairies that were located in the Coats area in earlier days. Did you name the Hayes and Lee Dairies? Was there a dairy in the town limits? Was there a Gregory Dairy near Barclaysville? This I do know. An honor roll certificate for outstanding production of dairy herd was awarded to Carson Gregory. Thanks to his sons, Carson Jr. and Joe, he had been able to carry on his dairy business as he served in the General Assembly. Both of the young men had won countless ribbons and cash awards at the N.C. State Fair. Wade Stewart, a member of the Coats Jr. Order, entered the sheriff’s race. The Democrat, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Stewart, was from Buies Creek area. Most know that he is grandfather to Dr. Chris Stewart who practiced medicine in Coats prior to going to the medical school at Campbell University.
The county records were inventoried and the very old jury tickets, copies of bills paid and records no longer used were sent to the N.C. Archives in Raleigh (Daily Record Feb. 5, 1958).
Vice Chairman of the HCBOC Jarvis Pleasant was seeking a second term on the board for District 2 (Grove and Duke Townships). The popular farmer, civic, social and religious leader had made an excellent record on the board. Mr. Pleasant was a lifelong Democrat and was active in its affairs.
Recall that Reuben Stewart was postmaster of the Coats post office from December 15, 1904 to December 15, 1934 when Mrs. Lucy Kelly assumed the acting postmistress and then the position on July 30, 1935. R.O Stewart had married into the Bain family. Mrs. Stewart’s sister, Mrs. Chloe Bain Rambeau had lived to be 87 years old. She had died in Durham but her services were held at the Coats Primitive Baptist Church. She had lived near Angier for many years (Daily Record Feb. 7, 1958).
Death had claimed another citizen of the Coats area. Mr. Scotch N. McLeod of Route One, Coats had died at age74 on Sunday night in the Johnston Memorial Hospital. He was the son of the late Norman and Joannie Williams McLeod. His wife, Emily Lee McLeod, his son, Claude McLeod, and daughter, Madeline Wiggs survived him. His brother was Richard McLeod and half-sisters were Mrs. Dewey Williams and Lula Stone (Daily Record Feb. 10, 1958). Does anyone know some of the kinfolks of these people?
Think of the oldest groom that you can recall getting married in the area. The paper shared the news that Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Stephenson were enjoying wedded bliss. The 84 year-old great, great, grandfather and his 43 year- old bride were chauffeured to Dillon, S.C. for the ceremony by Coats businessman Herbert L. Johnson. Mrs. Stephenson’s first marriage gave her two children-A.J. Stephenson, Jr. and Miss Betty Stephenson, “a very pretty girl”. Mr. Stephenson’s children were Avie, Claudine, Silas, Irene Howard, Leonora, Benny Ray and Mrs. Nassie Dorman (Daily Record Feb. 10, 1958).
Thank you to those who gave Mother’s Day donations for Alice T. Johnson and birthday donations for Becky E. Adams.
Mark your calendar to attend the book signing by Brian Davis who has put together thoughts of Coats and its people in his latest book. The event will begin at 2:00 and close at 5:00 on Sunday-May 15th, 2016. Brian will also have a collection of items and books which will be displayed in his own exhibit in the Exhibit Hall.