PEOPLE - early times
Men with sawmill machinery. Far right holding pole, Thomas Dawson Jackson.
"My great-grandfather [Jackson] ran a sawmill with Mr. Wit Nicholson there in Etowah."
Far left, James Leander Gash. [Information provided by family desendants.]
Who are the other men in this photo?
"My great-grandfather [Jackson] ran a sawmill with Mr. Wit Nicholson there in Etowah."
Far left, James Leander Gash. [Information provided by family desendants.]
Who are the other men in this photo?
George Washington Weese & Sally Jane Orr Weese, with daughter Addie and son Gerald. George and Sally were married December 30, 1897 and raised their family in the Orr Cabin Home. Addie Weese Morgan became Etowah's postmaster in 1949, following Pearl Gash's retirement. Photo courtesy of Janice Greer Sumner.
On the railroad tracks and dressed for church, a trip to town, or perhaps a special occasion.
Who are these ladies and the two children?
Who are these ladies and the two children?
Charles Overton English (1864 - 1951) & Annie Hood English (1871 - 1937), holding baby Arthur. Right, adult children - Arthur Hood English ( 1894 - 1967 ) and Mary Loee English Turner (1896 - 1992). A third child, Charles Raymond English (b. 1903) is not pictured.
Charles' father, Rev. A. F. English (Alexander Fletcher English, 1830 - 1896), is remembered as the founder of the English Chapel located in present day Pisgah Forest, Transylvania County. Charles is pictured below (on left) in September 1940 at the time when the 1860 chapel was rebuilt using stone gathered from the Davidson River and neighboring states. Note the stones piled up in the background. Standing next to Charles English is Joseph McCune Orr (1853 - 1948). According to the caption, the newspaper photo below was taken three weeks prior to a "home coming day to be held Sunday, Oct. 13." By reverse calendar, Sunday, October 13 occurred in 1940. The Chapel was dedicated a year later in 1941. Newspaper clipping (name of newspaper?) is from a 1997 scrapbook compiled by Ophelia Mull Dickson, courtesy of the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. |
Annie Belle Bird Orr (first row) and her six children. (year unknown)
1st row: Samuel Harrison. 2nd row, left to right: Mary Miriam Orr, Jennie Ruth Orr
3rd row, left to right: Oliver Sample, Bessie Belle, Thomas Franklin
More about Annie who served as Etowah's Postmaster 1909 - 1913.
1st row: Samuel Harrison. 2nd row, left to right: Mary Miriam Orr, Jennie Ruth Orr
3rd row, left to right: Oliver Sample, Bessie Belle, Thomas Franklin
More about Annie who served as Etowah's Postmaster 1909 - 1913.
James Wilson Morgan (1849 - 1939) and Orrie Osgood Greer Morgan (1854 - 1935). Married 1877 and moved to Etowah from Buncombe County. The couple is buried at Shaws Creek Methodist Campground Cemetery.
Photo courtesy of Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society |
Morgan lived in Etowah and taught at Oak Forest School and is the father of
George O. Morgan, 1st Etowah Grange Master, and Wilson Avery Morgan, the railroad engineer. |
"James Wilson Morgan was the oldest son of Elijah Morgan. He was born 9 March 1849. He married Orrie Osgood Greer, daughter of Reverend and Mrs. Manson Greer in 1877, and moved to Etowah in Henderson County, North Carolina where he became one of the leading educators in that area. For forty-five years he was an active teacher, teaching at some time in practically every community of the county. Two of his earliest schools were Hopewell and Oak Forest, which were one room buildings. Following the end of his teaching career, he served two terms as superintendent of county schools. Later he served on the county Board of Education until his death in 1939. His wife, Orrie, died in 1935." "The Morgan family is of Celtic origin, being descended from the Celts who migrated to Wales." Henderson County Heritage, Vol. #, p. 303-304, HCGHS. |
Thomas Tuff Whiteside (1874 - 1962)
Right, in front of Whiteside's Service Station, circa 1935 - 1940's. The station building, remodeled for private residential use today, still stands on McKinney Rd. Photos courtesy of Jerry Murphy, Tuff's great grandson. Below, Tuff and dog on the steps of a home in Big Willow with locust and rhododendron railings (Is this Tuff's home?) |

Wilford Seymour Conrow (1880 - 1957)
Wilford Seymour Conrow was a well known North Carolina portrait artist. He was born in New Jersey and is buried in Big Willow at Bryn Avon in the private Mallet Family Cemetery.
Conrow married Lyna Beach Mallett (2 Nov 1911) and many Conrow portraits of Mallet family members are displayed throughout Bryn Avon, the Mallet family estate. Conrow is known for his portraits of many men and women distinguished in the fields of art, religion, education, and business. He was a friend of Paul and Mildred Whitener, founders of the Hickory NC Art Museum where many of Conrow's works are in permanent collection.
Sources: National Register of Historic Places, Bryn Avon application March 2, 1999.
Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory NC, and Allen Rizzi
Wilford Seymour Conrow was a well known North Carolina portrait artist. He was born in New Jersey and is buried in Big Willow at Bryn Avon in the private Mallet Family Cemetery.
Conrow married Lyna Beach Mallett (2 Nov 1911) and many Conrow portraits of Mallet family members are displayed throughout Bryn Avon, the Mallet family estate. Conrow is known for his portraits of many men and women distinguished in the fields of art, religion, education, and business. He was a friend of Paul and Mildred Whitener, founders of the Hickory NC Art Museum where many of Conrow's works are in permanent collection.
Sources: National Register of Historic Places, Bryn Avon application March 2, 1999.
Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory NC, and Allen Rizzi