My Journey Thru Time

By Evelyn DeFiore

Beginning in the 19th century Germany, a mother with three young children is deserted by her husband with no financial support. As the oldest boy reaches his teenage years, illness befell his mother, resulting in her death, and the adoption of her children. When the oldest child reached sixteen, he seized the opportunity to come to America, and have a better life.
South Carolina in the mid eighteen hundreds, also begins the life of another man, although born in a family of means. Both families encounter hardship and struggle, sadness and death, as the next generation continues down life's pathway to the tenth year of the twenty first century. ,

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463402372

Evelyn DeFiore

I feel that I am qualified to write this book because it is about my family history on both sides of my parent's, with one dating back to year 1645. I will soon be approaching my 80th birthday, and my family has no knowledge of the early years of their grandparent's and beyond. My book will provide some family history, some good and some sad that would otherwise not ever be known. My home is in Chicago, Illinois where I have spent the bigger part of my life, except for nine years in Greensboro, North Carolina during the Depression years, and two years in California in the 60's. I worked for Illinois Bell telephone company (now AT&T) for 34 years and retired in 1981. I lost my devoted husband in 2008 and cherish his memory. During my retirement years I have become somewhat disabled, and rely on my son and daughter's loving care to see me through my remaining years.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Staedtler’s

Germany 1869

My story begins in Halle, Germany (near Berlin) which was the birthplace of my grandfather, Frank Herman Staedtler born on June 6, in the year 1869. His mother, my great-grandmother’s name was Mary. She had one younger son, Mark and one daughter, named Gussy. When the children were young, their father deserted them leaving their mother to raise them without any financial support. When grandpa was about 12 years old, his father came to their home, and wanted to talk to him, but he was so angry with him for leaving them that he refused to speak with him. His father then left and he never saw him again. Later, he was regretful for not speaking to him, and giving him the chance to explain his reasons as to why he left them. About a year later his mother became ill and was in bed most of the time. She called to him Frank, will you go to the store and buy me some plums? Sure, I’ll go for you, he replied. The store was a few miles from where they lived, so she didn’t expect him back anytime soon. When he left the store with his purchase, he dug into the bag, and helped himself to a plum, and another, and another. By the time he reached home there were only a few left, and upon seeing the remaining plums, his mother told him to go ahead and finish the rest. As her illness progressed and her condition worsened, she again asked him to go to the store, and buy her some medicine. He agreed to go for her, and hurriedly left the house for the long walk to the store. Upon purchasing the medicine and leaving the store, he decided to take a short cut through the cemetery. When he was about half way through the cemetery, a large white angel appeared from behind one of the tomb stones. He was so frightened that he stopped momentarily, frozen in his tracks, then turned around, ran swiftly back out of the cemetery, and took the long way home. When he finally reached home, he learned that his mother had just died a few minutes earlier. Holding back the tears best as he could, he felt enormously convinced that when he saw the angel, that it was his mother saying good-bye to him.

The three children, now orphaned, were taken in by three adoptive families. Grandpa, then 14 years of age, became the adoptive son of a baker and his family living in Hamburg, Germany. He was taught the skills of baking during the two years that he lived there. Although he now had caring adoptive parents’ he always kept his birth name. When he was 16 years of age, he learned about a ship leaving for America. He, the baker’s son and a friend made plans to slip on board without anyone seeing them. This would be the only chance he would ever have of going to America, how exciting and adventurous it would be for the three of them. One chance in a lifetime and he was going to take it. When no one was looking, the three of them quietly slipped on board. They were now stowaways on the gigantic Ocean Liner headed for America, the land of many opportunities, as he was told. However, just before they shipped out, the baker’s son panicked with the thought of never seeing his family again, and quickly got off the ship. Grandpa, and his friend remained on board, and was able to stay hidden until the ship was well out to sea, then they were found. Learning that he had baking skills, he was put to work in the ship’s kitchen, baking pastries to earn his way over. He and his friend were provided three meals a day, and sleeping quarters during their long voyage.

New York 1885

When the ship docked in New York, he and his friend quickly made their way through crowds of passengers and got off. He didn’t understand the English language, and thought everyone was swearing at them by the tone of their voices. Soon after, he ventured to Panama, in South America, and lived there for about a year. His friend had no working skills to qualify him for employment, became discouraged, bored, and returned to Germany. Grandpa returned to New York where he learned to speak English. It was never learned how he obtained his American Citizenship, since he arrived in 1885, and Ellis Island was constructed one year later, on July 4, 1886.

North Carolina

After a short stay, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and got a job in a small bakery shop baking bread, and a variety of all types of delicious pastries. It was here in Charlotte that he met his future bride, Alexa Robertson, my grandmother.

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GRANDPA FRANK H. STAEDTLER—ABOUT 1886

As an adult, my grandfather was a handsome young man, with dark brown hair, and always wore a mustache. He kept it well trimmed, shaped, and was always well groomed. He had good family values.

My grandmother, Alexa was a beautiful young woman, and a few inches shorter than he was. She had dark brown hair, fluffed on the top or wore it rolled in a large bun, popular in those days, on top of her head. The back was rolled in a smaller bun, just above the neck. The style of dress in those days was mostly high necklines, long sleeves with the dress hanging just slightly above the ankle. Laced high top shoes was worn with no part of the ankle exposed.

Alexa was born in Stony Point, North Carolina, in Idell County. My great, great-grandmother (Alexa’s grandmother) was also born in the United States. Prior to that period in time, my great, great, great, grandmother left their Scotch-Irish family in Ireland, in search of a better life, and came to America.

When grandma Alexa was a young girl, she and her family lived on a farm raising pigs. They were immigrant workers, and were provided a house for their family to live in without charge as long as they worked for their employer. My grandmother worked on a loom making cloth in a cotton mill in Charlotte with her mother, my great-grandmother. Additionally, they also worked in the fields picking black-eyed peas’. After the peas’ were collected in a large bushel basket, a large cloth was laid on the ground where the peas’ were to be dumped. They removed their shoes, and with their bare feet started stomping the peas’, removing the shells. At the end of the day their feet were sore, bleeding and bruised.

Alexa had one sister, named Bessie, and three brothers, Rhone, Neal and Baxter. She had four additional siblings that died of Typhoid Fever, or Diphtheria within a year of their birth. Their names were Alexa, Maude, Ernest and Eva. When grandma’s nephew, Harvey (Neal’s son) reached the age of 16, or 17 he was boating, stood up for some reason, lost his balance, and fell backward into a shark infested body of water that led into the Atlantic Ocean. Grandma feared that he was attacked, and eaten by sharks, because his body was never recovered.

As a child, Alexa attended a small country school. All ages were in the same classroom, however they were separated by age groups, and taught accordingly—similar to the TV series Little House on the Prairie.

During Alexa and Frank’s courtship, she became very sick with a communicable disease, marked by a high fever, diarrhea, intestinal inflammation and headache. She had contacted Typhoid Fever which was caused by a bacterium, salmonella. She recovered after being doctored, and cared for by her mother.

During the time my grandfather, Frank lived, and worked as a baker in Charlotte, he met my grandmother, Alexa. After a short courtship, they were married, and the year that followed, their first daughter, Gertrude was born. When Gertrude was three years of age they moved to Greensboro from Charlotte, and grandpa became employed at a local bakery shop. Initially they rented a small house where my grandmother gave birth to two more of her five children,

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ALEXA ROBERTSON & FRANK H. STAEDTLER WEDDING 1887

Frank and Myrtle. They lived there for a few years, and relocated to a larger house as their family was expanding. They moved into their newly rented house on a Saturday, and on the very next day, Easter Sunday—their house caught fire, and burned to the ground. Myrtle (Mother) doesn’t know what caused the fire, because everyone had gone to another fire in the neighborhood, and no one was home at the time. Then, suddenly they heard someone say that their house was on fire. Startled, they all ran home as quickly as their feet could take them, but to their shocking discovery, they no longer had a home in which to live. They had lost everything—including furniture, their parent’s wedding portrait, clothing and food. Her mother had a big pot of cabbage cooking on the stove when they left the house to see the other fire. Now to make matters worse, there was no food to eat. The Lutheran Church, which they were members, came to their aid by providing them with some donated food and clothing. A neighbor was sympathetic to their needs, and offered them a place to sleep in their home for the night, and some food to eat. Grandpa slept elsewhere that night with thoughts of making a decision on what his next move would be. The next day, their father, in search of another place of residence, located, and purchased a home at 825 Dillard Street in Greensboro, North Carolina.

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825 N. DILLARD STREET, GREENSBORO, N.C.

They were now proud home owners. Their newly purchased home was a white two story, three bedroom frame house. One bedroom was located on the first floor, and two bedrooms on the second level. As you enter the house, you would be stepping into the vestibule. The parlor is to the right with one window facing the front of the house. Stepping back into the vestibule, and to the left were the stairs that led to the second floor. Frank claimed the first bedroom, and Gertrude and Myrtle had the second room that overlooked the front yard and sidewalk. Back to the vestibule area, and straight ahead, you will be entering the dining room with one window on the left wall, and on the far end of the room was a door that led to the back yard. On the right side of the dining room was a door that led to a small kitchen. Another door led from the kitchen to their parent’s bedroom, which was just behind the parlor wall. In the backyard stood a large garage, and to the right near the kitchen, a privy (outhouse). Within the next few years, Herman and Fred were born. They were now a family of seven. Sometime during that first year living in their new home, my grandfather planted two oak trees, one in the front yard, and one on the north side of the house. Additionally, four fruit trees: Apple, Cherry, Peach and Pear were planted in the back yard to the south of the garage. The next step was to build a frame for growing grapes. He assembled the wood he would use, hammer and nails, and went to work to complete his project. Next, was to plant the seeds, and watch the vines grow, intertwine in the frame, and in time yield grapes for his family.

At the age of four or five, Myrtle watched her mama as she dipped snuff each day. This one afternoon she decided to try it since no one was around to catch her in the act. Walking to the kitchen, she reached on top of the large kitchen range where the Railroad Snuff can was kept. She took a teaspoon, filled it with the snuff, and put it under her bottom lip, just like her mama did. The snuff was warm from being on the stove, as grandma liked it, but made Myrtle sick as a dog. She never touched it again.

One day when Myrtle (Mother) was about six years old, playing in her front yard with her brother’s Frank and Herman, a black girl of about 16 years of age walked past the house. Herman started making racial remarks at her. She turned around, picked up some rocks, and started throwing them at the boys. She missed them, but hit Myrtle in the head, just above the temple. She was bleeding profusely as she ran screaming Mama, Mama along the side of the house toward the back door. Bessie, her mama’s sister was visiting from Charlotte, N.C. When she heard Myrtle screaming, she looked out of the dining room window, and saw her face covered with blood. Her mama, Alexa, was bathing Fred, he was a baby at the time. Startled, she quickly handed Fred to Bessie, rushed to the door, and helped Myrtle inside. Alexa immediately started wiping the blood away, cleaning the wound, and comforting her. Her father, Frank was lying down on the bed taking an afternoon nap. He jumped up from the bed, the door flew open, and out he went in pursuit of the black girl responsible for throwing the stone. He ran as fast as he could, and caught up with her at the end of the same block in which they lived. She explained that the boys were calling her bad names, and didn’t mean to hit Myrtle, and was sorry. Her papa, Frank, let her go, because he felt it was the boy’s fault. The doctor was called, and arrived a short time later. He examined the wound, and commented If you promise not to touch it Myrtle, I will just tape it—instead of stitching it. Oh, I won’t touch it, Myrtle replied. A piece of surgical tape was then applied over the wound. The doctor explained to her parents’ that Myrtle was a very lucky little girl, because if the rock had penetrated a fraction of an inch more, it would have been fatal. It was never mentioned how Herman was punished for his careless slurs, but Myrtle always felt he was sorry, and every time he looked at the scar on her face, he would be reminded of that day.

There was segregation in those early years, and the black families lived in a designated area of town. When entering a public bus, they were required to sit on the long seat at the back of the vehicle. If that seat was full, they would have to wait for another bus.

Shortly after Myrtle was born, she caught malaria from grandma. With the help of their family doctor, and grandma’s loving care, her health was restored. Grandma tells of rocking her for hours in her wicker baby buggy. Another illness that grandma Alexa had to deal with, was the day that Myrtle was diagnosed with having typhoid fever. Grandma knew all to well of the seriousness of the disease, after losing four of her own siblings to the same disease years earlier. As instructed by their medical doctor, she followed all the steps necessary to rid Myrtle’s little body of the invasive virus, and was able to restore her back to health. A worrisome time for my grandma. However, it didn’t end there, as the children grew a few years older, they were attacked by another illness, scarlet fever. Gertrude became very sick, and the doctor was called to their home. After examining her, the doctor gave his diagnosis, She has scarlet fever, Alexa, and the house has to be quarantined. During the two or three weeks Gertrude was being treated, her brother Frank became ill with scarlet fever also. Being in the same household, it trickled down to Herman and Myrtle, however Frank and Myrtle both had convulsions, as well. After approximately six weeks, they were all well, and the quarantine was lifted. Grandma, and the children were so relieved that the illness was now behind them, and they would no longer be cooped up in the house all the time. The children ran outside to play, and grandma stepped out on the front porch. Taking a deep breath of fresh air Ahhhh, that feels good, grandma uttered with a sigh of relief—then went back in the house to attend to her chores.

As Herman and Fred grew a few years older, they shared the bedroom with Frank. I don’t know how happy Frank was about sharing his room with them, but he tolerated it for the few years that he lived there.

Alexa had been suffering with bad toothaches for some time, and decided to go to the dentist for some relief. She went to town, was examined by the dentist, and learned she had a disease of the gums (pyorrhea) that would require the removal of all her teeth. She made an appointment for him to come to the house to perform the task. A day or two later the door bell rang, grandma Alexa answered the door, and directed the dentist back to the kitchen. Bring me a wash basin and some clean towels, he requested in a firm voice—as he removed the surgical gloves, and pliers from his medical bag. He placed the wash basin in Alexa’s lap. Myrtle looked on as he began pulling her mama’s teeth, one by one. She could hear the teeth as they fell into the basin, ping—ping—ping. When he had completed the removal of all of her teeth, Myrtle noticed that the basin was more than half full of blood. She didn’t remember seeing the dentist give her anything to kill the pain, before, or after the ordeal. She just remembers the painful look on her mama’s face that day, and for a number of days that followed.

Grandma Alexa was sickly a great deal of the time when the children were growing up, and unable to attend church as she would like. Grandpa went to the Lutheran Church, and made arrangements for the Minister to come to their home, and Baptize the entire family. One Sunday, following the Baptism, Myrtle remembered her papa taking her to Church, just the two of them. She remembers wearing her new black patent leather shoes—that she was only allowed to wear on Sunday when going to church, or for a special occasion.

Christmas season was quickly approaching. Her papa always had the woodsman select a large spruce tree, and deliver it to the house. It reached almost to the top of the ceiling, and the branches were nice and full. Different color paper rings were made, attaching one to the other, and put on the tree. Next, came the strung popcorn, wrapping it around, and around the tree. Finally the candles in their holders were lighted, and carefully attached to selective branches on the tree. Frank, Herman, Fred, Gertrude, and Myrtle would all form a line, and start singing Jolly Ole Saint Nicholas and Jingle Bells as they marched around, and around the tree as their mama and papa joyfully looked on. Now it was bedtime, the candles were extinguished, they all said goodnight, and went to bed. They arose bright, and early on Christmas morning, had breakfast, lined up as before, and started singing ‘Jolly Ole Saint Nicholas as they entered the parlor. Their eyes all lit up as they marched around the Christmas tree, each anxiously looking to see if Santa Clause had left them something on the tree. Suddenly, Myrtle spotted a beautiful doll hanging on one of the branches. Look Mama! Papa!—it’s just what I wanted," as she reached in, and took it off the tree. Everyone had gotten exactly what they had asked Santa Clause to bring them. In addition to their gift, each had a horn, paper bag with a banana, apple, tangerine, orange, candy and nuts. Their mama and papa had a big smile on their face as they watched them enjoy their gifts. It was a happy Christmas, and one that Myrtle will always remember.

One night after everyone had gone to bed a few hours earlier, Gertrude awoke, and saw Myrtle with one leg out of their bedroom window. She was sleepwalking again. Gertrude knew better than to startle her for fear she would fall out of the window. She quietly got out of bed, walked softly, but swiftly over to her, and was able to get her safely back in bed. The next morning Gertrude sat down on the bed beside her, Myrtle, you were sleepwalking again last night, and was attempting to climb out of the window, you could have been killed! I don’t remember anything Gerty, I must have been really sound asleep. I just hope I don’t sleepwalk anymore, she replied. Myrtle always called her sister by the nickname she gave her, Gerty.

Early the next morning Gertrude quickly got dressed, being careful not to make any noise that would wake Myrtle. So far so good, she thought as she quietly closed the front door behind her, and started on her way. She had gotten about half a block from the house when she heard Myrtle calling her name, Gerty! Gerty! Wait for me! Myrtle flew out the door, and up the street to where Gertrude was waiting, Can I come with you, Gerty? pleaseee, can I come? Myrtle pleaded. Oh, okay. I guess, but we’ll have to go back home, and get you dressed, you can’t go in your nightgown you know, Gertrude replied—as she gave in to Myrtle’s plea. She didn’t have the heart to refuse her, not this time anyway.

A few years later, grandpa received a letter from his younger brother, Mark in Germany. An uncle, that Myrtle only heard her father speak of, but never had the opportunity of meeting, since he lived in Germany. He had never made a trip to Greensboro, or anywhere else in the United States for that matter. In his letter, he asked for some money, and a watch. Grandpa answered his letter, explaining that he was sorry, but unable to send him anything. He was struggling to raise his five children, and had no extra money that he could send him. He never heard from his brother again throughout his life. Mark thought he was rich, living in America, and just didn’t want to send him anything.

Some months had passed. Grandpa was sitting in his comfortable chair as his thoughts traveled back to his childhood days in Germany, and to his sister, Gussy. He asked Herman to write a letter for him, and mail it to her in Germany. When Gussy received it, she had to have an interpreter translate it for her. When she replied, it was written in German, and grandpa had no problem reading it. She told him that she had a feeling that when he left Germany many years earlier, she would never see him again. Sadly as it was, it became a reality. Gussy always lived in Germany, and never ventured outside of her country, not even on a vacation. Most likely, she lacked the money to finance the trip.

As the years passed, and all five children grew to adulthood, four of the five ventured into different lines of work:

—Frank followed in his father’s footsteps, and became a baker. Working in

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UNCLE FRANK STAEDTLER, JR.

the bakery alongside his father, he learned the skills of bread making, fancy pastries, cakes and pies.

—Herman applied for a job in a printing shop, and was hired. He started at the bottom learning the trade, and in time became proficient in all phases of the business. He never stayed at one place very long, because he developed a drinking problem.

—Frederick (Fred) tried working in the bakery with his father, and brother, Frank for a short period of time, but lost interest, and quit. He worked alongside Herman in the print shop for a while, and didn’t like it, and quit that job also. It was a time for experimenting with different jobs until he found one he liked. He then applied for a job as a cab driver at Willis Cab Company. He liked working outside, and out from under the supervision of a boss hovering over his shoulder eight hours a day, five days a week. He finally found a job he liked, and there he remained. One pocket was his money, and the other pocket was the money that would be turned over to the cab company.

-Gertrude worked at a cigar company rolling cigars for 12 years, then, she worked at the Blue Bell Sewing Machine Company until retirement.

—Myrtle initially worked at the bakery with her father as a sales clerk. She then began working on and off at the cigar company alongside Gertrude, while working sporadically at the bakery. She later worked at the Blue Bell Sewing Machine Company."

I asked Mother one day, if she remembered her very first boyfriend. Of course, everyone remembers their very first boyfriend! Myrtle replied. His name was Wayne Hopkins, and she met him while attending the first few years of grammar school. It was just a one—sided infatuation, because he never knew that she was attracted to him, and probably didn’t even like girls at such a young age anyway. She just thought he had a pretty face. After leaving school one afternoon, when she was approximately fifteen, she met Willie Wiley. He was in the Navy, and she became attracted to him. He often came to the house, and they sat on the swing together, just talking. After learning that he was going to be shipped out, he promised to write to her, but she never heard from him again. A short time later while working at the cigar company, she met Howard Wetherby. He appeared to like her, and on the days that she worked at the bakery he stopped by often to see her.

When Gertrude was about 16 years old, she began dating a young man by the name of Rober Snyder. He was a Furniture Refinisher. After about a five year courtship they were married on Mother’s birthday, April 11, and had the wedding, and reception at his parent’s home. He lived with his parent’s prior to their marriage as well. The preacher came to his home to perform the ceremony. They moved from their respective homes to a place of their own on Bessemer Avenue in Greensboro, N.C.

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UNCLE ROBER AND AUNT GERTRUDE SNYDER.

One day as Rober, and his mother were driving in his car, he had a fatal car accident, killing his Mother. From that day forward, he never drove again.

There was a four-year, four-month span between the birth of both of my grandfather’s, 1865 and 1869. Moving from the Staedtler family, we’ll begin by looking at the early years on my father’s side of the family, the Neisler’s, and learn how our parent’s met.

Chapter 2

The Neisler’s

Kustedingen, Germany 1645

There is a eleven generation history of the Neisler family line. However, my research begins with Hans Neuscheler, born in Kusterdingen, Germany in the year 1645. He married Barbara Wandel in 1669 and made their home in Wanweil, kingdom of Wurttemberg, near Stuttgart, Germany where they raised nine children. One of those children was Johannas Nicholas Neuscheler. Hans died at 86 years of age on September 14, 1731. Not far from Wanweil, near Stuttgart stood, early in the 18th century, a stone house that had been standing for five centuries. The name of the family that owned it was cut in large quaint letters over the entrance door. It was Neischler. It is believed that the name was misspelled by the source of information since no record exists for the spelling Neischler, and should have been Neuscheler.

Hans held the office of Grand Marshall (Mayor) in the kingdom of Wurttemberg, Germany. He had two sons: Frederick, who was harsh and arrogant, and Johannas, who was mild mannered. Johannas hated the arrogance of aristocracy and especially his brother. He immigrated to Charleston, South Carolina with his wife and 14 year old son, Johann in 1754, leaving his fortune in Germany. Shortly after arriving, he had his name changed to Neisler. Initially he was a shoemaker for a short time. After two land purchases, he became a farmer, then a plantation owner. He supported the American Revolutionary war by donating horses, cattle, forage, and flour to American troops.

Frederick, an arrogant aristocrat stayed in Germany and became the heir to the Nuescheler estate. It is unknown if he ever married and had children.

Johannas Adam, (1740—1801) moved the family line to Meechlenberg County, North Carolina in 1765. He purchased land on two occasions, 1765 and 1779. He also supported the American Revolutionary war by serving as captain in the North Carolina Militia between 1775 and 1785. He died in 1801 and is buried in the Coldwater Lutheran Church Courtyard (Cabarrus County) in Concord, North Carolina. A Neisler road was also discovered, and a map of the Cabarrus County area gives road and cemetery location.

About a hundred years later, our family line began to disburse due to marriages and business opportunities. Today, the Neisler’s stretch from coast to coast and have a multitude of careers. Since there are many descendants, I feel confident that the Neisler name will continue for generations to come.

My great, great grandfather, Joseph Neisler (1789-1874), was father to Joseph R. Neisler. He lived to be 85 years of age.

My great grandfather’s birth name was Joseph R. Neisler. He was born on October 11, 1834 and died at 69 years of age on December 25, 1903—Christmas day. He and a man by the name of Mr. Phifer jointly owned and ran a cotton mill on Rocky River in Concord, North Carolina. It was the second oldest there long ago, but no longer exists. He also ran a mill at Spencer Mountain before moving to Rock Hill, South Carolina. He met an attractive young girl by the name of Margaret E. Phillips, and after a short courtship they were married on May 5, 1860. Joseph was 27 and Margaret would have been 20 years old in one week. She was born on May 13, 1841 and died June 5, 1908 at the age of 67. During the course of their marriage they had five children, three boys and two girls; Edgar, Charlie, Ester, Carry and Wilbert Hall. Edgar was born in 1862 and died in 1864 at two years of age. Charlie was born in 1868, reached adulthood, married and had a son by the name of Hunter, however the name of his wife, and the date of death is unknown. Carry was born May 2,1876, and no death record was found. Ester was born on February 27, 1873. On June 7, 1893 she married Robert E. Lee Kerr when she was 20 years old. She was only married 11 years when she died on March 18, 1904. Wilbert Hall, my grandfather, was born February 13, 1865 and died January 11,1917 at the age of 52. These were all the children of Joseph and Margaret Neisler. At life’s end, they were all laid to rest at Laurelwood Cemetery in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

As Wilbert Hall, my grandfather left his childhood behind, and grew to adulthood, he met a young girl by the name of Willie Bett McGraw.

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WILBERT HALL NEISLER & WILLIE BETT MCGRAW

They both had an immediate attraction, and a courtship developed that soon led to their marriage. They lived in a white frame house on Wilson Avenue. The unpaved road was only one block long, and ended at a fenced-in cemetery. There were railroad tracks that crossed Wilson Avenue in the same block in which they lived.

Willie Bett, my grandmother was born August 2, 1868 and died August 11, 1906 at 38 years of age. Prior to her marriage to my grandfather, she lived in Concord, North Carolina. She had a sister by the name of Lola that lived in Charlotte, N.C. and visited them often. Willie Bett had six children, Hattie, Josie, Robert Lloyd, Carrie, Wilbert Hall Jr., and Joseph Earle. Hattie Mae was born December 7, 1890, and died May 11, 1958. She married Luther T. Fincher, and had two children—Luther and Virginia. Luther Jr. preferred being called L.T. When Luther Sr. died, Hattie later remarried Calvert (Cal) Steading, and had no children throughout their marriage; Josie was born February 17, 1893 and died April 16, 1893; Robert Lloyd was born November 11, 1894 and died May 16, 1896; Carrie Bell was born June 27, 1897 and died February 22, 1972. She married Joseph Edward Parnell and had three children. He, too, also went by his middle name Edward, (Ed for short.), Joseph Edward Jr. preferred being called J.E. As well; LaRue, and Jean were the names of their two daughters; Wilbert Hall Jr. was born January 3, 1900 and died July 30, 1980. As a young man, he married a beautiful young girl that lived in Asheville, North Carolina, Edna Riddle. They had four children; Norma, Nora, Donald, and David (twins). Hattie, Carrie and Hall, my aunt’s, and uncle all lived full lives, and became a part of my life in my growing years.

Joseph Earle, my father, was born on July 27, 1902 and died January 30, 1976 when he was 74 years old. When Dad was just a toddler, his mother (Willie Bett) died leaving Wilbert Hall Sr. (my grandfather) to raise their remaining four children, Hattie was 16—Carrie 9—Wilbert Hall Jr. 6, and Joseph Earle (Dad) 4 years of age. Hattie, being the oldest took on the bulk of the responsibilities, taking care of Dad and Hall, cooking and cleaning, although Carrie did her share of work as well—and was a big help to Hattie. Joseph Earle always followed behind Hattie, holding on to her apron strings, it was hard to get anything done.

As the boys grew a little older, they knew how to react when they did something that angered their father, and that was, to run as fast as they could. One day Wilbert Hall Jr. got his father upset with him for something he did, and knew he had better get the heck out of the house fast. He opened the door, ran as fast as his feet could take him to the end of the road, climbed over the fence, and hid behind one of the head stones in the cemetery. He stayed there until he felt his father had cooled down enough, and it was safe to come home, and not get a licking.

While attending school one day, Earle was chewing gum, and suddenly the teacher was walking toward him. I’ve got to think fast, he thought, so he swallowed it. To avoid being caught the next time, he stuck the gum in the inkwell on his desk. That was a close call, otherwise it would be the principal’s office again. One afternoon when Earle was wondering around in