Alvin Rosco Stancil 1902
Alvin Rosco was born May 11, 1876,
and died April 1, 1935.
|
Alvin's children |
With Fannie Columbia Pittman
Beulah Lindolph Stancil July 5, 1910 Johnston County, NC -Aug. 21, 1985 |
Vernard Alvin Stancil June 9, 1913 Johnston County, NC -Dec. 6, 1991 Clinton, NC |
Five Unnamed babies died at birth |
With Esther Ann Peedin
Unnamed Daughter died at birth 1917 |
Pluma Esther Stancil Sullivan Oct. 10, 1918-Oct. 18, 2008 |
Virginia Penny Stancil Fulghum Nov. 4, 1921-Dec. 16, 2008 |
Glenn Warren Stancil Nov. 30, 1924-Oct. 27, 2008 |
Donell Franklin Stancil July 3, 1932- |
Alvin Rosco Stancil was born May 11, 1876.
Alvin was the seventh child and fifth son of Tom and Delaney.
Alvin was named Roscoe for a politician and Alvin for his mother's half brother, Alvin Raines.
Alvin was a man of
many talents. He had jet-black hair, blue eyes, a quick wit and a quick temper.
He exhibited a special interest and ability in mechanical things from an early
age.
Alvin attended Woodard School November, December, January and February.
With this schedule, children could help with the fall harvest, spring planting and attend
school.
Alvin joined Holly Springs Free Will Baptist Church. Probably when his Ma's brother, Elder John Henry Sasser served from 1895 to 1898.
Alvin was a fine looking fella, many of the local girls wanted to go with him.
In spring of 1899, Alvin went to the Cabin Community, in Duplin County and supervised the
growing of tobacco. He traveled by horse and buggy.
The Cabin Community looked forward to Alvin's arrival. A group of farmers met
with him.
Alvin said, "I will tell you about tobacco, starting at the beginning." And he
did.
"Tobacco is a very good money crop. Enough money can be made to
live comfortable the rest of the year. I'm here to help you succeed."
When the nearby Smith Community needed help, he contacted his younger brother
Harvey. Alvin and Harvey participated in community and church activities. Their musical ability was
welcomed. Alvin played the violin and Harvey played the banjo.
They were popular and warmly received by the communities.
Harvey met his future wife, Gertrude Williams, at the Smith Chapel Church. The
season lasted seven weeks. After the season was over, Alvin stayed and
worked in a general store owned by William James Kennedy. Alvin courted Myrtle "Mertis"
Smith and Della Mercer. Della was the daughter of Celia Jane Mercer Kennedy and
step-daughter of William James Kennedy.
Alvin met Eva Ann
Mercer, another step-daughter. Alvin thought she'd be perfect for his younger
brother George. Alvin wanted to arrange a meeting.
Alvin and Harvey were invited back over Christmas. They took George along.
The three of them traveled
all the way by bicycles to Warsaw, N.C. This was about 50 miles.
They were met by Will Mercer, Mr. Kennedy's step-son and driven the rest of the
way in his buggy.
After a courtship, George married Eva. They lived in Johnston County for a year,
then moved to Duplin County and finally back to Johnston County. They brought a
12-year-old Negro boy back with them, Ashley Johnson. George needed a farm
hand. George and Alvin bought a farm, the Haywood Hales' Place together. Alvin, George, Eva,
Effie, Emmette and Ashley
moved in about 1904. This farm was large enough for Alvin and George and one tenant.
Years earlier, Alvin had taken an orphan
boy, Jim Batey, to his parents' home. Now that Alvin was living with George and Eva, he
brought Jim over to help work. The two extra hands were important in a day when
so much manual labor was necessary.
Before the farm could be divided, George and Eva moved to Duplin
County. George sold his
interest in the farm to Alvin. Ashley stayed in Johnston County.
Alvin and Fannie were married on Dec. 25, 1904, according to The Johnston
County, North Carolina Marriage Registry. A.R. Stancill was 27 and
Fannie Pittman was 28. Justice of the Peace J. H. Parker of Selma, N.C.,
married them. Witnesses included John Archer Stancil and U.N. Eason.
John Thomas gave Alvin some of the original Henry Sasser Homestead. This land
was inherited through Delaney. Alvin built a house, barn and purchased a large
farm bell used to call him to dinner and to sound a fire alert.
In July of 1906, Alvin's youngest brother Tommy and Fannie's sister Mamie,
married.
During this time washing clothes was done in the back yard over a hot fire. A
large iron pot was placed on a fire and filled with water. Clothes were boiled
and stirred with paddles to clean them. They were rinsed in another pot of clean
water and wrung out by hand. Clothes were hung on lines or fences.
In 1912, Fannie was washing clothes while 2-year-old Beulah played in the
yard. Fannie's skirt caught fire. She panicked, raced inside the house.
Fortunately, Alvin's tenant farmer, Frank Reeves was plowing nearby. He saw it
all. Frank rushed to the house, smothering out the fire. He saved her life.
Fannie was burned severely, especially on her back. She had terrible scars that
caused her difficulties the rest of her life. Alvin had two stores during his lifetime. His first one was about 1914. He sold
popcorn, peanuts, candy in addition to the usual items found in a country store.
Alvin's tenant farmers made credit purchases. They settled up when crops were
sold. One day Emmette got Ralph to taste a brass button. Ralph swallowed it.
Emmette was spanked. Ralph was given a dose of castor oil and taken to Alvin's
Store, where George bought him popcorn. This took care of the problem and Ralph
passed the button.
An insurance agent sold George and Alvin disability insurance policies. The
premium was paid annually. Alvin let his lapse. Alvin met Esther Ann Peedin, when he was invited to play the violin at Abedenago
B. Atkinson's home in Beulah Township, during a neighborhood gathering.
Abendago married Sarah Jane Hales, half-sister of Alvin's Pa. Esther
was petite with light brown hair and blue eyes. Alvin found Esther fascinating
and wanted to court her.
Musical gathering were often held in the Peedins' Pine Level home. Alvin met her brothers, Millard,
who played the violin and James who played the mandolin. Alvin, Harvey,
Leumos Stancil and Fletcher Hill were invited, along with many
others. Leumos was Josiah Stancil's son and Fletcher was
Tempy Ann's son. George and son Ralph, 8, at the time, were by the woodpile when Alvin and
Esther drove by. George greeted them and they stopped to visit. Ralph said that
he thought Esther was the "least person" (smallest, most petite) to ever get
married. According to the Johnston County Marriage Registry: A. R. Stancil of
Beulah, 38 and Esther Peedin of Pine Level, 27, were married
by Minister J. H. Whitley on March 29, 1916 in the road. Witnesses were Paul
A. Boyette, Luther Munford and Z. H. Munford. Paul was Esther's first cousin, Gray B. Boyette's son.
Alvin had looked forward to having his children home again. It had been a long and lonely 14 months. Esther was anxious to create a home for Vernard,
Beulah and Alvin. They needed Esther's special love and stability. She was
a devoted wife and stepmother.
Alvin was a noted horse and mule trader. He always had a nice horse and buggy.
Alvin's beautiful bay French Coach stallion, "Dan," pulled his buggy and also
fathered many fined foals in the neighborhood. One filly Alvin kept was a bay,
named "Trixie." George traded his spotted mule "Zeb" to Alvin for another
mule, "Rodie." George wanted a matching pair of mules.
Cleaning the Stancil Family Graveyard (2160 Glendale Road, Kenly, NC) was done annually. Alvin, Harvey, George
and families helped. Early markers were wooden, most were
stone. Six of Alvin's babies were buried there. At least two were daughters.
There was a snow and sleet storm in January of 1920. Alvin hitched his steer Old
Ben to the ox cart and visited George and Eva, Henry and Frances and Harvey and
Bertha.
Alvin kept sheep and cattle. The sheep were sheared in the spring. A man
traveled around shearing the sheep and buying the wool. Clippers were attached
to a hand crank that was turned manually. Alvin had mostly white sheep.
Sometimes twins were born. Raising sheep was not profitable. Alvin
eventually sold all of them.
Alvin's children were musical. Beulah, Pluma and Glenn sang together. Alvin
bought a piano and Beulah played the piano by ear. Alvin, who had perfect pitch,
would say, "You kids are out of key." Alvin was a perfectionist.
Although Harvey was better known for creating nicknames, Alvin did
nickname Carletta, John's daughter, "Carspinner."
A beautiful and friendly, sable and white collie, 'Bob,' greeted visitors to
Alvin and Esther's farm. Bob was an excellent cow dog and popular with the kids.
One hot summer day, Alvin decided Bob's sable and white fur coat was making
him too hot. Alvin solution was to shear him. Alvin had sheared sheep before, he
had the 'Know How.' Bob's long hair and distinguished looks were gone. Even his
mistress Esther didn't recognize Bob. The neighborhood dogs didn't either!
Esther served fried chicken often and sometimes traded frying chickens for fish,
to keep variety in their diet.
In 1935 Alvin's health began to fail. He sought help at Duke Hospital. The doctors wanted him to remain in the hospital, but Alvin's
desire was to return home.
Alvin's epitaph is very appropriate for this unique man.
Alvin opened a watch repair shop in Kenly. His life long mechanical gifts were a
great asset. Alvin was a self-taught watch repairman and jeweler. He used a
large magnifying glass and a set of fine jeweler's tools.
Alvin went with many girls, but true love eluded him until he met Fannie
Columbia Pittman at one of the community vocal reunions held at her church,
Branch Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. Fannie, who grew up in Selma, was the daughter of William Monroe Pittman
and Mary E. 'Molly' Avera Pittman. Fannie was born June 26, 1876.
Alvin and wife Fannie attended Holly Springs Free Will Baptist Church and joined in
community activities. Alvin and Fannie looked forward to becoming parents.
Through the years sadness was mixed with happiness. Five of their seven children
died at birth. Burials were in the Stancil Graveyard. They rejoiced in the safe
arrival of Beulah Lindoph on July 5, 1910. Grandma Delaney delivered her.
Beulah had brown eyes and jet black curly hair, a real beauty.
Alvin and Fannie were among the first in the neighborhood to have a telephone,
rented by the month. The Phone Company ran the original line, then it was up to
the subscribers to keep the line in good repair. Brothers Harvey and John Archer also had phones.
Frank was an accomplished carpenter. Alvin hired him to build a house on the
70-acre farm inherited from his pa.
Frank was also a blacksmith, maintaining a blacksmith shop on Alvin's farm.
Alvin hired Frank Reeves to build a rental house for Manley Creech, son-in-law
of his brother Henry. It was named The Manley House because it was built for
Manley and his wife Lillian.
Alvin and Fannie welcomed a new family member. Vernard Alvin arrived on June 9,
1913. He was delivered by grandmother Delaney. There was joy once again
after a difficult year. Beulah was excited to have a brother.
Fannie grew a vegetable garden. She worked hard to make sure there were
vegetables over the winter months. She raised chickens for eggs and meat. Some
of Fannie's chickens had six toes, a real oddity.
Fannie became pregnant again in 1914 and the family was happy. They were ready
to welcome another child. A black cloud of grief hung over the family. Fannie
died during childbirth on Jan. 26, 1915. She hemorrhaged, the child died,
too. Delaney had died only 14 days earlier. Not only was Delaney her
mother-in-law, but the best midwife in those parts. Many felt that if she had been there, the outcome would have been different.
Fannie was buried in the Stancil Graveyard. These words were chosen for her
marker,
A tender mother and a faithful friend
After Fannie died, her ma, Molly Pittman, took Beulah, 5 years old, and Vernard,
2 1/2 years old, to live with her. Her home was near Branch Chapel
Church. Alvin not only had to cope with losing his wife and child, but with not
seeing his children. Alvin continued to farm and make a living for his family,
but he longed for his children, and they wanted to come home.
Alvin arrange for Beulah and Vernard to live with one of his trusted tenants, Roscoe
Pope. He lived in the Manley House with his wife Kersey and three children:
Nathaniel, 7, Luby, 6, and Mamie,
3. Alvin began looking beyond sorrow
toward a future with Beulah and Vernard.
Alvin closed his store after Fannie died. He sold out the remaining
merchandise. After a time, Roscoe Pope rented the store and it reopened. Business
wasn't good and it closed again.
Alvin no longer wanted a telephone after Fannie died. He gave it to George who
installed it beside his front door.
Alvin began courting Esther. His majestic French Coach Stud pulled the
buggy. Esther was the daughter of Penny Boyette and Sanders Peedin. Sanders'
full name was Sanders Amos Jackson Joshua Newit Peedin.
Esther was one of 14 children born to Penny and Sanders. Penny and Sanders
married in 1874. Sanders owned his own farm and
employed farm laborers. They attended the Primitive Baptist Church.
Esther's ma
Penny, grew up in the O'Neal Township area of Johnston County. She was the eldest
child of Larkin G. and Chloe A. Boyette. Larkin was a well to do farmer who had
owned a number of slaves. He built the Boyette Slave House that later became a
school. Chloe was Delaney's aunt.
Alvin was ready for marriage and so was Esther. On their wedding day, Wednesday
March 29, 1916, they traveled by buggy to Smithfield for their marriage license.
Then they drove by Preacher J. Hardy Whitley's home. He was the pastor at Holly
Springs Free Will Baptist Church. Alvin and Esther sat in their buggy, while he
performed the ceremony.
Molly Pittman, Vernard and Beulah's grandma, once visited and gave Vernard a silver dollar and Beulah some loose change, saying
affectionately, "I love you little devils, because you're Fannie's children."
There was never a shortage of love in Alvin's home.
Alvin had a number of tenants and farms in Johnston County. Among his tenant
farms were two near Micro, the Smith Place and the Hawkins Track, a two-horse
farm or two-tenant farm, it was about 30 acres. He had a
place near Gilliam Stancil's Store in Shoeheel. Gilliam was an adopted son of James Henry Stancil
(his uncle). Alvin kept the Haywood Hales' Place.
Alvin invested in a sawmill close to the pond, behind Emmette Stancil's
Store. There was a spring in a hole and it was dug out so water there could be
used for the sawmill's boilers. Later the sawmill was relocated closer to the
back of the property, near the "Jim Place," on the south side of the spring.
Alvin moved the sawmill again, this time across the field towards the Henry
Stancil Old Place. Many large pines were cut from that property.
Alvin was the first of his brothers to buy a car. It was a black 1916 Chevrolet.
He sold his horse and buggy to George. This was the same buggy used by Alvin and
Esther when they were married. Alvin had a variety of cars over his lifetime.
Among them were a Ford Whippet and a Chambliss. The best was a 1931 Ford.
The first year that George Ira was elected Justice of the Peace, Alvin
was elected Sheriff of Kenly. Alvin didn't have a pistol yet and when he needed
one to perform his sheriff duties, he borrowed the 32 caliber pistol from
George. This was the pistol George always took with him on those long trips to
Duplin County.
Henry decided to sell the farm inherited from his pa. Alvin purchased it with
funds borrowed from the Federal Land Bank. Henry bought a farm nearby and built
a new house close to Harvey's Land.
Frank Reeves moved from Alvin's farm.
Milford Hales and his family moved in. Milford
was the 'bound son' of Jesse Hales. He was the son of Stancil family friend,
Marceline Edwards. Jesse Hales was one of Alvin's Pa's half brother. Milford was a tenant farmer
at Alvin's for two years.
Doc Battle, a Negro man, once lived in the Frank Reeves House and worked as a
tenant farmer for Esther. Doc was well liked in this community. Years later, in
1951, Doc went to Florida to farm for Ralph, George Ira's son. Ralph's auto
accident prevented him from farming for several months.
Alvin had a work ox that he trained to kneel down while getting his harness
attached. Alvin would say, "Down Bright." Alvin also had a good pair of work
oxen and often farmers in the community used his yoke of oxen.
Alvin usually did not personally farm. He had a number of tenant farmers. He did
however farm tobacco one year with Raymond Hill. Ralph only recalls seeing him
plowing on a few occasions over the years. Alvin did assist in driving tobacco
trucks to the barn and hanging tobacco in the barn. Ralph never observed Alvin
or Harvey cropping tobacco, but of course they were between 40 and 50
years old then. Neighbors knew that Alvin and Harvey held the distinction of
being instrumental in the growing of tobacco in Duplin County. They were highly
regarded tobacco growers in Johnston County throughout their lives.
Alvin was known as a fair-minded man. He never forced a tenant farmer, whose
time was up to leave, until he had a place to move. He paid the debts of at
least one, Raymond Hill, putting his own life in peril. Raymond was married to
his niece, Mavis Stancil Harvey's daughter.
Alvin had the first vise in the neighborhood he shared.
He also had the first stalk cutter, used for cotton and corn in the area. Two mules pulled it. Harvey, George and others used it. Alvin also had one
of the few stump pullers.
Alvin and Esther had five children. Esther was at her mother's in Pine Level when
her first child was born. Tragically this daughter died at birth.
Later they had Pluma Esther born Oct. 10, 1918, a baby born between Pluma and
Penny that died at birth, Virginia Penny born Nov. 4, 1921, Glenn Warren
born Nov. 30, 1924, and Donell Franklin born July 3, 1932.
Alvin had several cows used for milking. He sold some for beef. Alvin kept a milk
cow for his personal use. Occasionally a woman in the neighborhood could not
nurse her baby. A milk cow was a necessity. Whenever possible Alvin would loan
the family a cow. He saved more than one baby's life.
Esther raised chickens, geese and turkeys. She sold eggs and older hens when
they quit laying. Eason's Restaurant in Selma bought Esther's eggs as did Dobbin
Bailey's General Store in Kenly. They were always top quality eggs. Esther
stopped selling eggs in the 1950s. Grandpa Peedin gave Esther turkeys. Turkeys
were not known for their intellect. It took extra attention and effort to save
them from themselves. It was common for them to look up into the sky when it
rain and to come close to drowning. Virginia recalled that Esther never roasted
a single turkey.
One of Alvin's least favorite jobs was breaking up the ground for Esther's
annual garden. Alvin used his favorite mule Rhodie. Esther grew a variety of
vegetables each year, beans, corn, squash, collards,
cabbage, butter bean, peas, strawberries, cucumbers, turnips, onions, and Irish
potatoes. Watermelons were grown in a separate patch.
Alvin and Esther played music together. Esther
played the piano, organ and guitar. She had a lovely voice, often sang while
Alvin accompanied her on the violin.
Alvin also played the banjo. He could play most anything by ear, and most
instruments. Alvin's most requested numbers were 'Over The Waves,' 'Whispering
Hope,' 'Silver Threads Among The Gold' and 'Turkey In The Straw' when his
audience insisted. Often Harvey played the banjo with him.
Occasionally after Alvin had a disagreement with Esther he would sing, "When I'm
Gone You'll Soon Forget Me!" This relieved the tension and all was soon
forgiven. Theirs was a long lasting love affair.
Alvin said to his children, "You do what I tell you to do." One day Alvin told
Virginia, "Go into that stall, run that red horse out." Virginia hesitated, "I'm
afraid, Daddy." Alvin wisely replied, "If I thought that horse would hurt you, I
wouldn't send you in there." Virginia ran the horse outside without incident.
Alvin and Esther were members of Holly Springs Free Will Baptist Church. Harvey,
George and John Archer sat in the Amen Corner, their wives sat with the other
women and babies. Alvin, by contrast, always sat with Esther and the children.
Alvin was one of the few fathers who regularly attended school PTA meetings.
Alvin and his brother Joe had a grain threshing business in 1924. Sometimes
George helped too. Alvin furnished the gasoline engine. Wheat was fed into the
thresher. The engine acted up. Alvin oiled it, and made adjustments while
it was running. While tinkering with it his left pointer finger got into the
machine and it was cut off at the first joint. "I don't know if I'm going to be
able to play my violin," were Alvin's words of despair. Miraculously Alvin was
still able to play.
George wrapped the finger in his hankerchief and took it home. He told sons Emmette and
Ralph and nephew Clyde to bury it, in the graveyard by Fannie's grave. Emmette, Ralph and
Clyde picked up the hole diggers, carried the wrapped finger to the graveyard.
They dug a hole in a spot beside Fannie's grave. Curiosity got the best of
them. Ralph, always full of curiosity unwrapped the finger for good look before
the burial.
In 1925, a special Foot Washing Service was held during the Quarterly Meeting, at
Holly Springs Free Will Baptist Church. Most men from the neighborhood attended.
Seventeen-year-old Ralph washed Alvin's feet and as he did, Alvin said, "No
foolishness now Ralph, if ever a man needs a blessing I do."
Alvin never made whiskey but had a Still and let Jim Lucas and Jim Yelverton use
it. John Archer's sons, Arthur and Millard, used the Still, too. The Still was
made by the 'Ten Smith' company. It came in several different pieces. Beer was
put in a container, boiled and the steam off the beer collected, this was the
whiskey.
Alvin bought a 1928 Fordson Tractor and used it to disk his land. This
four-cylinder tractor produced 20-horse power at 1,000 RPM. A large 50-gallon
fuel drum for gasoline was kept down at the barn.
Alvin opened The Shop House in 1930. His tenants used it, so did folks in the neighborhood. Tenants charged items needed and
settled up when the crops were sold. Daughter Virginia sometimes ran the store.
Alvin bought Glenn a bicycle. Glenn was proud of his new bike. Cousins "G.I."
George Ira Stancil Jr. and "Junior" Thomas Emmette Stancil Jr. had bicycles but not as fine as his. George
bought a bicycle for his foster son, Bill.
A stroke took his life on April 1, 1935. Alvin's body was prepared for burial at Grizzard's Funeral Parlor in Kenly, above Mr. Grizzard's General Store. Niece
Mamie Stancil combed Alvin's hair for his funeral. Alvin wore his hair it in the
'Roach' style at the time of his death. His coffin was purchased from Mr.
Herbert M. Grizzard. Some folks still built coffins at home. Wide pine boards
were kept for this purpose.
A black hearse returned his body home for the traditional Wake. The coffin was
place in the new addition of the house. Family and friends remained with the
open casket throughout the night. Rev. James A. Evans, pastor of Holly Springs
Freewill Baptist Church, preached from the front porch. A black hearse arrived
from the Grizzard Funeral Parlor.
They took the coffin to the Stancil Family Cemetery. Employees of Mr. Grizzard
had dug the grave. Esther and some of the children sat in a car at the cemetery,
for the final words of Rev. Evans, while family and friends stood nearby.
Vernard knelt beside his Pa's grave and let his tears fall.
A fond husband, a tender father and a friend to all
Based on memories of Ralph Stancil (nephew), Virginia Stancil Fulghum (daughter),
Hilda Stancil Stover (niece), Mamie Stancil Carraway Blair (niece), public
information and newspaper articles.
www.stancilreunion.com
Contact Us