It wasn't long before Tom left. Tom and Delaney Cathern Sasser, daughter of Henry Sasser and Martha Patsy Bagley, had gone to school together at Woodard School. They had been seeing each other for a while. No one was surprised when they married on Sunday, July 15, 1860. Tom and Delaney moved in with her mother and stepfather, Oliver Raines.

In the 1860 Census Tom was a farm laborer and so was his brother-in-law Tom Sasser.

John Thomas' cabin built in 1830s by Henry Sasser. All of Tom and Delaney's children were born there. Three children of George Ira Stancil were also born in the log cabin, including Lola Myrtle, Hilda Maie and George Ira Stancil Jr. It was located in Beulah Township in Johnston County. By Renn Stancil Hinton

Tom and Delaney's first child, Henry was born Oct. 18, 1861. He was named for Delaney's father, Henry Sasser.

Delaney inherited farm land and the log cabin built by her pa. Tom moved his family into the log cabin and began farming. Tom like many young men joined the Confederate cause. On Feb. 28, 1862, Tom enlisted with Sgt. Jackson Raines in Selma, N.C. Jack was the brother of Oliver Raines.

Tom fought in Virginia and told his grandson Ralph, "I saw people falling like flies." Tom fell into a ditch and lay as flat and still as he could. He was discouraged.

Tom returned home sometime in 1862 for a time. Their second son Samuel was born Sept. 5, 1863. He was named for Tom's father, Samuel Stancil. Tom returned to the war. When the war ended, Tom kept his Army issued muzzle loader. Tom decided to move his family to the Little Pee Dee River.

The land along the river was fertile and good for farming. Delaney rode in the two wheel cart pulled by a horse. Tom and his hound dog, "Heck," walked beside the cart. The 140 mile trip took five or six days. Tom found a good piece of land with a cabin, good well and shade trees. He raised corn and cotton one season.

Tom moved his family back to Johnston County. They moved back into the Sasser cabin. Tom didn't like the location of the cabin and moved it closer to the location of the George Ira Stancil Sr. homestead at 2160 Glendale Road, Kenly, N.C. Tom left the old kitchen up in the field, and he built a new one. He built barns and stables for his stock.

With an adz, Tom hewed a 16 foot by 4 foot water trough out of lightered pine log. Tom cut large pine trees to make the 10 foot long rails for the fence around his cabin. There was open range during this time. Each farmer had his own special mark on the ears of his livestock.

George and Eva's mail was put in Tom's mailbox. Tom enjoyed sitting on the front porch, rocking and reading the paper. It was delivered by the mailman. Tom talked to all those who can by. He, of course, knew everyone in the neighborhood and no one passed by without stopping for a few words with Tom. Tom had all the news.

Wife Delaney had a stroke a few days before her death. She was 72 years old when she died on Jan. 11, 1915.

After her death, Tom stayed with different sons, but spent most of the time in his own home. He spent most evenings with Eva and George and their children. Ralph and Rachel's nightly job was to go down, and tell their Grandpa it was time to eat.

Ralph never wanted to go, unless he heard his Grandpa sneeze twice. He thought he wouldn't be there. On some evenings Rachel and Ralph would take Tom his supper in a little wagon. Grandpa always rewarded them with pennies or candy.

— Renn Stancil Hinton