Fetna Jane Little

 Fetna Jane Little was born 28 October 1858 in Union County NC, the daughter of Joseph Knox Little and Jeanette Deas. She lived in New Salem, Union County, NC all her life. On 2 February 1879 at the age of 20 she married Noah Columbus "Lum" Curlee of Union County NC.

Fetna Jane and Noah had eight children who are listed in the post about Noah Columbus Curlee. The eldest of these children was my grandmother Saphronia Mae Curlee.

Fetna Jane died in Marshville Union County NC 28 January 1949 at the age of 90. She is buried with Noah at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Union County NC.

Sarah Emeline Parker obituary

Mar 12 1930
Mrs. Emeline Parker Hill, widow of the late J. P. Hill, Confederate veteran, died at her home in Burnsville township Wednesday of last week, aged 81 years, four months and five days. Mr. Hill died a number of years ago.
To them were born 11 children, seven of whom are living. They are W.H., J. W., E.I., and Rev M. D. Hill, of Union County; D. J. Hill, Mesdames H. F. Curlee and B. H. Edwards, of Burnsville township. She also leaves one sister, Mrs. George Brewer, and the following brothers: Messrs. Watt, W. H., M. T., Jimmie and J. A. Parker. Mrs Hill is survived also by 67 grandchildren and 71 great-grand-children. Mrs. Hill was loved by all who knew her, and was a consecrated Christian, having been a member of Rocky Mount Baptist church for 65 years.
The funeral was held in Rocky Mount Baptist church last Thursday morning at 11 o'clock by her pastor. Rev. T. E. Stanley, Rev. A. Marsh, of Marshville, and Rev. Tommie Melton, of Stanly county, in the presence of a large gathering. Interment was in the cemetery. The pall bearers were six of Mrs. Hill's grandsons, Harvie and Henry Curlee, Claude McSwain, Giff Edwards, Robert and Clifford Hill. Flower girls were eleven of her granddaughters, Misses Arvie, and Audie Edwards, Cora, Ruth, Blanche, Bessie, Myrtle, Kate, May, Mary and Virginia Hill.

S E Parker obituary appeared in the M & I Newspaper, Wadesboro, NC on Mar 12, 1930


Leonidas C. McSwain in The Hills of Rocky River:

"My father Claude McSwain said that there were two chairs placed half way between the cemetery and church. When the pall bearers reached the chairs, they sat the coffin in the two chairs one at the head and one at the foot, then the pall bearers changed sides to rest their arms, picking up the coffin they continued to the grave."

Noah Columbus "Lum" Curlee

 Noah Columbus "Lum" Curlee was born 27 December 1856 in Union County NC. He was the eldest of three sons of Claiborne Clement Curlee and Narcissa Howard. The 1860 Federal Census shows him living with his parents and younger brother Caliborne in Olive Branch, Union County, NC. I am unable to find Noah Curlee in the 1870 Census. His mother Narcissa Howard married Henry Swink after his father Claiborne was killed in 1862 in the Civil War.

Noah Curlee married 2 February 1879 in Union County NC, Fetna Jane Little, who was born 28 October 1858, the daughter of Joseph Knox Little and Jennette Deas. Fetna Jane died 28 January 1949 and is buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Union County NC.

Eight children were born to Noah and Fetna Jane:

1. Saphronia Mae Curlee , my grandmother, was born 1880 and died in 1934. She was married to Mallie Devotion Hill, my grandfather
2. Lonnie Curlee: 1881-1884
3. James Thomas Curlee: 1887-1946 married Ollie E Carten
4. Susan Janet Curlee: 1890-1960 married Charles Turner
5. William Robert Curlee: 1892-1971 married Glennie M Mitchum
6.  Robert C Curlee: born  abt 1892
7.  Seaborn Curlee: 1895-1984 married Mary Lily Smith
8. Margaret Odessa Curlee: 1898-1966 married (1) Lonnie Clyde Moore and (2) James Clingman Griffin

Noah and Fetna Jane lived in New Salem, Union County, NC until his death 26 February 1933 at the age of 76. He died of bronchial pneumonia. He was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Union County NC.

Another Handwritten Family History from Julius Walter "Wattie" Hill

Great Grand Father Julius Hills children Julius Hill Born Jan 10 1802 Died Oct 18 1876

Julius Hill ordained Deacon of Rocky Mount 1865

Born to Julius and Mary Hudson Hill children names as Following

1.Allen Hill  Dont have wife name

2.William Hill Dont have wife name

3.Martha Hill married 3 times

First to Embrey Walters Second to Abb Nash. Third to Isaha McEntyre

Second set of children Mother peggy Howard

1 James Plesant Hill married to Sara Emeline parker Hill

2 Mary Hill married John Austin

3 Eliza Hill married Jim Wilkerson

4 Henry Hill First marriage Nicy Lowder no children

Second marriage Alice Edwards

Grand Father Julius mother was Mary Yates. She was married First To Julius Hill (someone added: not proven prob John Hill) Second marriage to Evan Smith. She was Buried st the Thomas Graveyard 1 mile from Rocky River on the Left of the Road. I couldn’t find her grave. J W Hill and Edmon Hill Both knew this to be true. They are her Grand Children and the Two oldest Grand sons of Julius Hill

transcribed as written

Handwritten Family History by Julius Walter "Wattie" Hill

Important Record

Grand Father Julius owned land and his old Home place was Located right this side off Rocky River where the Low Water Bridge Is. he was Killed by run away Team of mules on Right side of road This side of River.

My Dady stayed with grand mother peggie at night until she fell and broke her hip. Then she stayed with her Boys in their home, James Plesant Hill and his Family, and then part time at her other son Henry Hill she died at uncle Henry Hill and she is Burried philadelphia Baptist Church in Stanly County.

She told my Dady lots of storys about her & Grand Father Julius Hill Life to gather and my Dady Lived to be her oldest Grand son He was the last oldest He passed away 1961 He was 84 years 2 month old at his Death.

By J W Hill Faye Daughter Historian

This was copied and written as originally written

Saphronia Mae Curlee

Saphronia Mae Curlee was the eldest child of Noah Columbus "Lum" Curlee and Fetna Jane Little. She was born in Union County NC 1 May 1880 and died 30 August 1934 in New Salem Union County NC. She is buried at Rocky Mount Baptist Church near Polkton Anson County NC.

Fronnie married Mallie Devotion Hill in 1901 at the age of 21. Until her marriage, she lived in Union County, but the 1920 census shows her and Mallie living in Burnsville NC in Anson County. In 1930 the census shows her again living in New Salem in Union County NC and there she lived until her death. She died at age 54 from spotted fever according to her death certificate leaving behind her husband and eight children. Her son Harold predeceased her in 1916. She was also survived by her mother, Fetna Jane Little Curlee, and several brothers and sisters.

Mallie Devotion Hill

Mallie Devotion Hill was the sixth child of James Pleasant Hill and Sarah Emeline Parker. He was born  21 Jan 1881 and died 13 Jul 1956. He was born in Anson County NC, lived in Marshville Union County NC for 37 years and died in Mercy Hospital in Charlotte Mecklenberg NC.

He was married in 1901 to Saphronia Mae Curlee, daughter of Noah Columbus Curlee and Fetna Jane Little. Fronnie was born in Union County NC 1 May 1880 and died in New Salem Union County NC 30 Aug 1934. Mallie and Fronnie had nine children – 7 boys and 2 girls. Mallie Devotion was a Baptist minister and served the pastorates of North Wadesboro, McDonald’s and Barbee’s Grove in Stanly County. He retired from the ministry several years before his death.

He died of coronary thrombosis related to coronary decompensation. He was ill only 2 days before he died. He is buried at Rocky Mount Baptist Church near Polkton in Anson County NC along with Fronnie.

 There is a discrepancy regarding his date of birth. His death certificate states he was born in 1880 and his tombstone states he was born in 1881.

The children of Mallie Devotion and Sophronia Mae are:

1.       Fred Columbus Hill: 23 May 1902-30 Oct 1965. Uncle Fred married (1) Nora Mae Stegall 21 Mar 1905-10 Dec 1953 and (2) Estelle Rawls Bynum 3 May 1916-20 Dec 2006

2.       Irene Miller Hill: 27 Jan 1904-19 Oct 1982. Aunt Irene married Lonnie Durant Phifer 24 Jun 1901-20 Dec 1959

3.       Martin Alexander Hill: 15 Sep 1905-30 Mar 1985. Uncle Martin married (1) Laura Whitley born 1901 and (2) Monita “Nita” Jones

4.       Bessie Mae Hill: 22 May 1907-28 Jan 1992. Aunt Bessie married Albert Lee Parker 3 Oct 1903-12 Mar 1998.

5.       Heath Morrow Hill: 15 May 1909-1 Feb 1985. Uncle Heath married Mary Willie Phillips 26 May 1918-22 Mar 2011.

6.       Harold Hill: 24 Dec 1911-12 Oct 1916

7.       Julius Edmund Hill: 7 Nov 1914-11 Feb 1946. Uncle Jerry married Edna Elizabeth Roberts 18 Feb 1918-17 Apr 1987

8.       Otis Baxter Hill: 27 Jun 1917-8 Sep 1978. Uncle Otis married Violet Starling.

9.       *Lonnie Clinton Hill: 2 Jul 1919-27 Aug 1974. Lonnie Clinton Hill is my father. He married my mother, Clara Geneva Wilson, 14 Jun 1924-28 Jul 2009.
Grandpa Hill's second wife was Mollie Polk. I am unable to find any information on her other than her birth date of 1883.

Sunday's Obituary

J Walter Hill Dies In Charlotte Tuesday

J. Walter Hill, 84, died Tuesday at 3 am at the home of a daughter, Mrs James Williams, in Charlotte. He was a son of the late James and Emmaline Parker Hill of Anson County. He made his home on Rt 2 Marshville until two years ago when he moved to Charlotte. He was a member of the Union Grove Baptist Church.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at Rocky Mount Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Figenia Broadaway Hill; three daughters, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Dewitt Simpson, Mrs. Ted Johnson, all of Charlotte; three sons, Vascar and Robert Hill, both of Marshville, Oscar Hill of Peachland, 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

James Pleasant Hill

James Pleasant Hill, my great grandfather,  was the third child of Julius Hill and Margaret Harward. He was born in Anson County NC 6 July 1841 and died in Anson County NC 6 April 1912. He is buried at Rocky Mount Baptist Church in northern Anson County.

Plez, as he was called, married Sarah Emeline Parker, 7 November 1848-12 March 1930,  the daughter of William Nicholas Parker and Dianna Penelope Burns. Emeline is buried at Rocky Mount Baptist Church with Plez.

Plez and Emeline had these children:

Mary Frances Hill, 1 February 1869-17 April 1938, married Henry Fulton Curlee, 13 April 1868-11 October 1945

William H Hill, 8 October 1871-2 April 1947, married (1) Eliza Aldridge born ca 1869 (2) Ellen Laura Edwards, 20 September 1866-10 February 1901

Adolphus C Hill, 8 January 1874-10 January 1874

Margaret Lugenia Hill, 31 March 1875-26 December 1964, married (1) James Thomas "Tom" Curlee, 3 May 1869-15 September 1902 (2) 17 December 1905 William Asbury "Billy" McSwain, 17 March 1861-16 July 1937

Julius Walter "Wattie" Hill, 16 March 1877-16 May 1961, married Figenia Broadaway, 7 July 1878-28 April 1927

*Mallie Devotion Hill, 21 January 1881-13 July 1956, married (1)*Saphronia Mae Curlee,  1 May 1880-30 August 1934 and (2) Mollie Polk born ca 1883

Edmund Lilly Hill, 19 May 1882-19 March 1957, married Mary Ellen "Ella" Thomas, 18 August 1884-11 February 1967

Anna Maria Hill, 12 March 1884-16 March 1954, married Braxton Howard Edwards, 11 March 1885-28 March 1966

James Hill, 19 June 1886-4 May 1928, never married

David Jefferson Hill, 5 January 1890-11 April 1951, married Lillie Pearl Williams, 27 January 1888-15 May 1984

Colon P Hill, 6 March 1893-21 January 1925, marriage unknown

James Pleasant Hill enlisted in CSA in Wadesboro NC and paid $240 for his horse and $30 for his horse equipment per the company Muster roll. He had to report to Camp Vance near Kitrell Springs NC. Traveling to Camp Vance in Orange County NC was said to be 160 miles from Wadesboro.

Pvt James P Hill enlisted at the age of 20 for the war. He served in Company A 59th Regiment NC Troops (4th Regiment NC Calvary).

*Mallie Devotion Hill and Saphronia Mae Curlee are my paternal grandfather and grandmother.

Rocky River

Rocky River heads in southeast Iredell County and flows south along the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus line for a short distance, then across Cabarrus to the Stanly-Cabarrus line for a short distance. Then it flows along the Union-Stanly line with Long Creek flowing into Rocky River between Oakboro and Aquadale. It then flows along the Anson-Stanly line where Richardson Creek runs into it. Richardson Creek Starts in southwest Union County flowing through the city of Monroe then into northwest Anson County where it runs into Rocky River. Also there is Lanes Creek which flows from southern Union County into Anson County then northeast to northwest Anson County where it runs into Rocky River. Rocky River then flows into the Pee Dee River south of Norwood, North Carolina at what is known as "the forks".

Before the bridge across Rocky River was built, the people of the community had to cross the river by way of a ford, sometimes spelled fjord. The ford is where Julius and his family crossed in the mid to late 1800s. The remnants of the ford are still at the bottom of the river and can be seen when the water is low.

Text and photo from The Hills of Rocky River  by  Leonidas C McSwain, Frieda Griggs & Faye Simpson

Julius Hill & Margaret Harward

Julius Hill is my 2nd paternal great grandfather. His second wife, my 2nd paternal great grandmother, was Margaret "Peggy" Harward. Her father, Jacob Myrick Harward, it is said, came from England about 1797. Margaret's mother was Mildred "Milea" Yates(Yeats) possibly the sister of Julius's mother Mary. Margaret was born 15 January 1809 in Stanly County NC and died 24 September 1898 in Stanly County NC. She is buried at Philadelphia Baptist Church about four miles west of Oakboro. Reliable sources say the reason she wasn't buried at Rocky Mount Baptist Church with Julius was that the river was at flood stage when she died. The family was unable to cross the river with her body so they decided to bury her at Philadelphia while the river was flooded. When the river level was back to normal, the family decided to leave her body at Philadelphia.

Julius and Margaret had four children:

Henry Wilson Hill 11 Oct 1837-9 Jul 1917 married (1) Eunicey  Ann Lowder and (2) Alice Glovenia Edwards
Mary J Hill 30 Jul 1839-8 Mar 1903 married John Wesley Austin
*James Pleasant Hill 6 Jul 1841-6 Apr 1912 married Sarah Emeline Parker
Massey Hill ca 1845-ca1850

1850 Federal Census lists:
Julius Hill 47 yrs old, farmer with property valued $1500, born in North Carolina
Margaret, 37 yrs old, born North Carolina
Allen Hill, 17 yrs old, farmer, born North Carolina
Martha Hill, 16 yrs old, born North Carolina
Hillsman Hill, 13 yrs old, born North Carolina
Henry Hill, 11 yrs old, born North Carolina
Pleasant, 9 yrs old, born North Carolina
Mary Hill, 7 yrs old, born North Carolina
Massey Hill, 5 yrs old, born North Carolina
Sarah Smith, 55 yrs old, born North Carolina

*James Pleasant Hill is my paternal great grandfather. 

Julius Hill

 

Julius Hill, son of Mary Yeats(Yates) and John Hill (only conjecture), was born 10 January 1802 in North Carolina and died 18 October 1876 in Anson County, North Carolina. He had a farm on the Rocky River at the Low Water Bridge.  

Julius was married first to Mary Hudson who died 10 February 1836. His children with Mary were: 

William Hill 1820-6 January 1863 married 24 Decemeber 1840 Obedience "Beedie"  L Ramsey

Eliza Ann Hill ca1827-11 August 1904 married James M Wilkerson

Martha Hill 15 June 1833-3 June 1897 married (1) Asabury Walters (2) Abner Nash (3) Isaiah McIntyre

Allen H Hill 1833-ca1909 married 10 January 1853 Louisa Thomas

Hillsman C Hill 10 February 1836-25 January 1850

Julius Hill was known as a "fighting man" during his day. One day a man came from South Carolina and told him he had heard that Julius was the champion in his area. Julius told him that he used to be, but now he was too old to fight. The man insisted that they fight and they did. The man from South Carolina was whipped. He told Julius Hill after the fight that he had been beaten by a better man.

Julius Hill was killed by a pair of runaway mules while hauling a load of fodder. His neck was broken. He was killed near Rocky River below the home place of Fulton Curlee.

Welcome

Welcome to my Genealogy Blog

 I have been fascinated with dead people for years now. My mother is to blame for it. She dabbled in her family history and actually wrote several family histories....I guess she did more than dabble, didn't she?! I helped her do some of the research at the SC State Archives and gradually became hooked on it myself. That started the ball rolling. Of course, I had to find out something about my father's family.

Well, all that was years ago and I have notebooks full of family history sheets, copies of censuses, handwritten notes from others interested in my family. Several years ago I decided I needed to be a little more organized, so I joined Ancestry.com and started my online tree. At present I have almost 6500 people in my main tree and still have information that hasn't been posted.

 My father's family surnames include Hill, Curlee, Burns, Parker, Allen, Harward (Howard), Little, Deas (Deese,Dees), Yates (Yeats), Hutson (Hudson), Barbee and several others. Most of these came from Virginia to North Carolina, specifically Anson, Union & Stanly Counties. I have come to a screeching halt with my Hill line, but I will tell you about that in another post.

 My mother's family surnames include Wilson, Brazell, Gulledge, Dial, Haithcock, Addison, Dunning and several others. As far as I know the Wilsons came from Scotland, but I have no documentation of that. The Wilson line is another that has me stymied. Most of the other families came from England. All of them settled in Lower Richland County SC.

 Since my family hasn't provided me with enough research , I have also begun work on my husband's line. But that is another post.

As I write to this blog, I hope some of this information is beneficial to you.