The Little Dutchman

Organ Lutheran Church

In an attempt to understand what the life of early German settlers must have been like, my two sisters and I visited one of the oldest churches in Rowan County, North Carolina. Zion Lutheran Church, also known as Organ Lutheran Church, founded in 1745, and located on Organ Church Road Salisbury, North Carolina. The founders of this Lutheran church, known as ‘Pennsylvania Dutch’ because of the language they spoke and not the area of Europe they were from, were those Germans who began migrating from Pennsylvania in the mid-1700s, taking the ‘Great Wagon Road’ to the ‘back country’ of North Carolina to begin their lives anew as farmers and laborers. As I walked around the churchyard looking at the names on the gravestones, Misenheimer, Kluttz, Shuping, Shue, and of course, Fesperman, I wondered what my ancestors were like and how they lived. At some point in my wanderings, I realized how beautifully kept the church and yard were.

Organ Lutheran Church

 That thought brought back a memory from my days living in Germany in 2009. Walking through the villages, the parks, or riding on the train in modern day Germany, one cannot help but notice how clean and kept everything is. While Americans in Germany are sleeping in on Saturdays, the German down the street has been up since daylight with a bucket of soapy water and a stiff brush scrubbing the street in front of the house. The neighbor has swept the garage and driveway clean; windows washed down, cars cleaned from bumper to bumper and all this before 8am. Germans do the ‘quiet chores’ during the ‘quiet hours’ because at 8am on the dot, when the quiet hours are over, the lawnmowers and chainsaws start up and yards are mowed and wood is cut and stacked for the coming winter. Hammers and saws magically appear and repairs completed on the house, the shed, and the fence. The Germans seem to have a renowned passion for cleanliness, orderliness and rules; they are just as passionate in their belief that ignorance is not an excuse and laziness must be the cardinal sin. Walking around the churchyard, I realized that some of these hardy German people brought this culture with them and passed it down to generations after them, as was evident in the churchyard I was standing in. Unfortunately, there was at least one generation that did not get the message, my fourth great grandfather, Michael Fesperman, the little Dutchman.

German village

Michael Fesperman, born 13 Apr 1792, is my great-great-great-great-grandfather and he and I both are descendants of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Prior to 1840, he resided in Cabarrus County, North Carolina where he met and married Leah Dry on 20 Feb 1816. It is possible that Michael Fesperman is somehow related to the Henry Fesperman found on the 1840 Montgomery County, North Carolina Census listed between 60 and 70 years of age. Leah Dry, born 18 Apr 1794, is the daughter of Andrew and Barbara Teems Dry.

ancestry.com

Michael and Leah had nine children:
Phillip Allen (29 Oct 1816) married Elizabeth A. Carter and remained in Stanly County
Paul Alexander (7 Nov 1818) married Elizabeth Morten and migrated to Webster County, Missouri
Martin A (8 Aug 1820) married Mary Ann Lilly and remained in Stanly County
Leah Caroline (Abt. 1823) married William ‘Buck’ Marks and moved to Montgomery County (my line)
John M (Abt. 1825) I am unclear at this time what happened to John
Heathy (Abt. 1826) married Green Carter and remained in Stanly County
Henrietta L (Abt. 1830) married Tillman Carter and remained in Stanly County
Catharine (Abt. 1832) married Guilford Harris and remained in Stanly County
Mary (Abt. 1838) married a Callaway but I am not sure if she remained in Stanly County

At some point between his marriage in 1816 and 1835, Michael Fesperman moved his family to West Pee Dee River, Montgomery County, North Carolina. The Fesperman family lived within a mile of Dr. Francis Joseph Kron, who had migrated to America from Trier, Prussia and had settled in Montgomery County, North Carolina to make his living as the community doctor. Dr. Kron lived in present day Morrow Mountain and makes mention of Michael Fesperman in his journal dated 1835 saying, “The first inhabited plantation, about a mile from my house, where one Michael Fesperman, a millwright and ingenious mechanician lives; to one accustomed to real farming and careful husbandry, presents nothing but desolation to faithful an image of three-fifths of the plantations in the County. That renders the neglect in this case, more remarkable, is the ability of the proprietor to do better for he is an intelligent and industrious man, and his force of boys enough to show fairer sights. It seems indeed as if the abode was intended as a contrast with the character of its inmate. A man remarkable for the neatness of the machinery he undertakes to finish, yet suffers his fences to be down and rotting in every quarter, his house to be but in-perfect security from rain or cold, his children to be bare-footed and all but naked, his horses and cattle but slovenly sheltered and himself to put up with any way short of perishing from improvidence and neglect. Of this man, a sensible little Dutchman, we intend yet to make a postmaster and a magistrate”

google image

Indeed, on 11 Mar 1836, Michael Fesperman becomes the Post Master for Stony Gap, Montgomery County, and later Stanly County, North Carolina. As of this writing, I have not been able to find any documentation that Michael Fesperman was a magistrate.

NC Postal History

NC Postal History

It is obvious from Dr. Kron’s journal that my fourth great grandfather was an intelligent, ingenious, albeit disorganized individual. Michael Fesperman was everything from a millwright to a farmer, postmaster, commissioner of public buildings (see Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Stanly County 1841-1850 pg. 15) and possibly was even the magistrate of Montgomery or Stanly County. Yet, it would seem, for all of Michael Fesperman’s genius in his work life, his home life suffered. Even with nine children, four of them boys, the Fesperman home and farm seemed to be in neglect with no one putting in the time required to keep things in working order.

Michael Fesperman land grant for 17 ½ acres dated 3 Dec 1838

ancestry.com

Michael Fesperman land grant for 50 acres dated 4 Dec 1840

ancestry.com

The earliest Census that I am sure of is 1840. As noted in a previous Blog, the Census, prior to 1850, only captured the first and last name of the head of the family and everyone else counted by male/female and age range. Researchers now must guess who the numbers are by age range. You can see my guesses below the Census. There is no listing for males between 20 and 30 so I can safely assume that Phillip and Paul have already moved out of their father’s home and are on their own.

ancestry.com

My guess work

Michael Fesperman land grant for 5 acres dated 29 Nov 1842

ancestry.com

Michael Fesperman land grant for 90 acres dated 24 Dec 1844

ancestry.com

Michael Fesperman land grant for 18 acres dated 10 Jan 1849

ancestry.com

In the year 1841, the land west of the Pee Dee River became Stanly County, North Carolina. We must go there to find the Fesperman family in 1850. Michael Fesperman, age 56, listed as a Millwright with a Real Estate value of $200 ($6,028). The only children remaining at home are Henrietta (16), Mary (12), Martin (29) and John (25). We can see that Martin and John are learning their father’s trade and are working in the family business to become Millwrights themselves. It is interesting to note that Mary is attending school, Henrietta can read but neither Martin nor John can read.

ancestry.com

A millwright is an artisan or tradesman, who installs, dismantles, repairs, reassembles, and moves machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites. In the 1800s, millwrights designed, installed, repaired and moved anything mechanized – as a water wheel used that powered the local stone mill where grain was ground into flour or at a sawmill where timber was cut.

google images

Michael Fesperman land grant for 2 acres dated 5 Dec 1850

ancestry.com

The year 1860 certainly looked great for Michael and Leah Fesperman. All the kids were gone and his Real Estate Value was $3000 ($85,000), Personal Estate $1500 ($43,000). He lists his Occupation as Farmer and Mechanic, still a Millwright, just a change of name for that job.

ancestry.com

In the year 1870, we see that Michael has shortened his name to Mike. At 76, Michael looks to remain employed as a Millwright. His Real Estate Value has increased to $12,600 ($227,000) but his Personal Estate is down to $250 ($4,500). Wife, Leah is 75 and we see a namesake from her Dry family is living with or visiting. I have not yet determined who this Leah Dry (15) belongs to but I am sure she is probably the older Leah’s Great Niece, one of her brother’s granddaughters.

ancestry.com

It is in March 1870, right before his 77th birthday, that Michael Fesperman becomes concerned about his health and decides to write his will. Below is a transcription of the handwritten will of Michael Fesperman. It seems that my fourth great grandfather has remained bitter towards his daughter, Leah Caroline Fesperman Marks, for more than twenty years. In another Blog I wrote about family tradition saying that Michael Fesperman hired William Buck Marks to educate his children and he and Leah ran off together and married. It is a romantic tale yet I have searched and found no proof that William Marks was an educator. Every Census but one claims he cannot read or write and shows his occupation is a shoemaker. Leah was nearly 27 years old when found on the 1850 Census with William Marks and their first child, Jane R. Why would a 27-year-old woman need to be educated? The 1840 Census, even with guessing, makes clear that she is living at home with her parents. Sometime between the 1840 Census and 1848/49, she meets and marries William Marks and has a child. I do not know how they met or under what circumstances. Perhaps Michael Fesperman and William Marks were business partners of some sort. Perhaps William Marks made shoes for the Fesperman family. Whatever the reasons, it is clear that Michael Fesperman never restored his relationship with his daughter and most likely never knew his grandchildren.

copy owned by Don Fesperman

On 22 Mar 1873, Michael Fesperman, died, (it is ironic to note that I would be born exactly 96 years later, across the river, in Troy) his wife, Leah Dry Fesperman, having died 28 Nov 1868, both buried in Badin Baptist Cemetery in Badin, North Carolina.

Badin Baptist Church, Badin, NC

On 27 Mar 1873, A.G. Fesperman and P.A. Fesperman were in Probate Court before J.M. Redwine, Probate Judge, and made an application for letters of administration upon the estate of Michael Fesperman. I guess my fourth great grandfather never got around to signing the will that he wrote in 1870.

ancestry.com

On the 13 and 16 Apr 1873, A.G. and P.A. Fesperman sold the belongings of Michael Fesperman. Of note, it is quite interesting that Leah Marks (the disowned daughter) showed up at the estate sale and bought items that belonged to her mother and father. The first item is a bed, second item is a cotter pin, and the fourth item is gum camphor.

ancestry.com

After paying funeral expenses and debts, the balance from the estate sale divided equally among the children of Michael Fesperman - about $5,900 each.

ancestry.com

In what looks to have become a very long and drawn out court battle between the children over the sale of more than 800 acres of land belonging to Michael Fesperman, finally, the case closed in 1901.

Michael Fesperman will located here:
Ancestry.com

The Defiant Leah Caroline Fesperman Marks

YouTube

The 1949 William Wyler film, The Heiress, staring Olivia de Havilland as spinster daughter Catherine Sloper, reminds me of what my 3rd great-grandmother, Leah Caroline Fesperman, must have been like. Catherine, aka Olivia de Havilland, who, at the beginning of the movie, seems to have submitted to life’s cruel fate to make her a spinster, finally falls in love. Unfortunately, it’s with a man whom her father dislikes. Somewhere towards the end of the movie, Catherine, who has finally become tired of her father’s constant put downs towards her and the man she loves, reaches deep down inside herself and pulls out a tigress that has been hiding inside her since birth. In a fire storm of tongue lashes at her father after he threatens to disinherit her if she marries this man, Catherine whips out pen and paper and begins to write herself out of her father’s will. It is epic! And it is exactly what happened to my 3rd great-grandmother.

Leah Caroline Fesperman was the fourth child born to Michael and Leah Dry Fesperman about 1823 in what was then designated as Montgomery County, North Carolina. In 1841, about ten to twelve years before Leah meets her husband, William Marks, the land west of the Pee Dee River became Stanly County, North Carolina with Albemarle as the county seat. The land east of the Pee Dee River remained Montgomery County, North Carolina with Troy becoming the county seat. The Pee Dee River is literally the dividing point between the two counties. Both Leah Fesperman and William Marks lived on the west side of the river along what is now Valley Drive and near the current Morrow Mountain State Park. However, around 1848/9 they run away together across the river, to the community of Eldorado.

Google Maps

We first see Leah on the 1840 Census listed as age 15 thru 19 living in West Pee Dee River, Montgomery County, North Carolina. Up until 1850 Census takers were only allowed to take the name of the head of the family and all other family members were just counted as male/female within a certain age group. Fast forward to today and researches must guess who the family members were based on age. It is quite frustrating. You can see my guesses in the below screen capture.

1840 Census

Thus far, I have only been able to find the following family members for Leah Caroline. There are two unknowns listed on the 1840 Census and, at this time, I do not know who they are. They may have been a brother or sister who had died from some epidemic or was killed as a young person and the documents lost forever in the court house fire in the mid to late 1800's. Philip and Paul are not showing on the 1840 Census as living in their father’s house. Both are listed on separate Census’ as heads of their own houses.

The Fesperman’s lived within a mile of Dr. Francis Joseph Kron who had migrated to America from Trier, Prussia and had settled in Montgomery County, North Carolina to make his living as the community physician. Dr. Kron lived in an area now known as Morrow Mountain (see above map) and he makes mention of Michael Fesperman in his journals dated 1835, saying, “The first inhabited plantation about a mile from my house, where one Michael Fesperman, a millwright and ingenious mechanician lives.”

Dr. Francis Joseph Kron
Stanly County Museum

Read about Dr. Kron: http://stanlycountymuseum.com/dr-francis-kron/

In researching Michael Fesperman, (and I am nowhere done with finding tidbits of data on him) I have built a profile that tells me that he had his hand in so much that nothing he ever did could ever be fully accomplished. He was a very busy man, probably too busy. I will write more on him in the upcoming posts so; stay tuned for my Blog on the “Little Dutchman.”

Some refer to the period of time between 1830 to 1850 as the antebellum years, a Latin phrase meaning literally "before the war," while others refer to it as the Plantation era. Either way, this is the period that Leah Caroline grew up in. Her father, Michael Fesperman, as stated by Dr. Kron in his journal, was an ingenious millwright (mechanic). Leah’s family was most likely at the top end of upper middle class as her father still had to work to make a living but was probably paid very well for the work he performed. Leah probably grew up in a house similar to Dr. Kron’s, which can be seen today at Morrow Mountain State Park.

Google images

Family tradition says that Leah and William met when Michael Fesperman, Leah’s father, hired William Marks to educate his children. I have no proof that this is true and no proof that William Marks was an educator. Census records list him as a shoe maker and I only found on one Census where he claimed he could read and write. By 1845 the youngest of Leah’s siblings would have been Mary, 7, Catherine, 15, Henrietta, 17 and John, 20. Leah was 22 in 1845 and Martin would have been 25. Perhaps Mr. Fesperman hired William Marks to educate his younger daughters. Certainly, William and Leah would have seen one another if he was coming to the house to give lessons.

One thing though is for sure, they did meet and, defying her father, Leah left with William Marks. I imagine in a firestorm that Michael Fesperman never forgot because on the 11th day of March 1870, some 25 years after that fateful day he watched his daughter leave with William Marks, he wrote in his will the following:

ancestry.com

By 1850 we find Leah living with William Marks in Montgomery County, North Carolina. She is 27 and he is 50. They have a one year old daughter, Jane R.

ancestry.com

1860 finds the couple in the Fork (Eldorado) community with five children, three daughters and two sons.

ancestry.com

The Marks’ family is still living in Eldorado in 1870. The two oldest daughters, Jane and Cyrona, have married and moved out. Julia remains at home (she will marry Lee Thomas Hamilton in 1876). The two younger boys, Edward and Thomas, are missing and two females, Mary and Martha, are listed. See my Blog The King of the Uwharrie for an explanation on Mary and Martha.

ancestry.com

The years between 1870 and 1880 saw the Marks children, as with all families, grow up, get married, leave home and start families of their own. Those joyful times of weddings and grandchildren seemed to have been overshadowed by the death of Leah’s husband, William Marks. I don’t know exactly when William Marks died but I do know it was between the dates Feb 1876, when Julia was married and the Census taken in Jun 1880.

The 1880 Census finds Leah still in Eldorado but now a widow, living alone. I can’t help but wonder what Leah saw when she looked back on her life. Was her life filled with happiness or sorrow? Was she glad that she defied her father and followed the man she loved? I suppose we will never know how Leah Caroline felt about it; however, on behalf of all her descendants, we are very glad she found the will to defy her father; otherwise, we all would have never been born.

ancestry.com

Michael Fesperman, Leah’s father, died in Mar 1873, just three years after he wrote his will. His oldest son went to probate court to prove his father’s last will and testament but because Michael Fesperman, the busy man that he was, never got around to signing his will, the court would not prove it. Instead, the oldest son, Philip, was appointed Administrator of the estate of his father.

It would seem that not everyone in the family had disowned Leah for running off and marrying William Marks as her brother included her as a rightful heir to the estate of her father, Michael Fesperman.

ancestry.com

Leah Caroline Fesperman Marks died after 1880. Thus far, I have not been able to find any death or burial records. Family tradition says that she is buried next to her husband, William Marks, at Prospect Baptist Church on River Road, near the Eldorado community, in an unmarked grave.

The King of Uwharrie

Tom Marks

One hundred and five years before the federal government designated the land of Uwharrie as a National Forest, my great-great-grandfather, Thomas Martin Marks, was born there. As he grew up, he roamed the hills and backwoods of this beautiful place, which, in his time, they called Flagtown or the Uwharrie Reservation. Every stream, creek and trail was Tom Marks personal playground. I am sure by the time he was 10 years old he could find his way through the endless miles of forest without getting lost; which, I suspect, is the reason I am not able to find him on the 1870 Census.

East Morris Mountain

Later in life, Tom Marks would live close to Moccasin Creek near the ‘blue hole,’ where my parents swam as children, and near to his beloved Uwharrie River, on what was then called Tom Marks Road, but is now US Service Road 544, in Eldorado, North Carolina. The older generations still call it Tom Marks Road. As far as Tom Marks was concerned, this land was his land and he loved every inch of it, so the family tradition goes. I, of course, never knew Tom Marks and neither did my parents, but my grandparents did, and the colorful and vibrant stories that they told of him are legends unto themselves.

Uwharrie River

Thomas Martin Marks was the youngest child born to William Buck and Leah Caroline Fesperman Marks. He makes his first appearance on the 1860 Census as a 2-year-old toddler. His middle initial, listed as C, has often made me wonder if the Census taker just made a mistake or if he changed his name later in life. The family has always known him as Thomas Martin. Thomas had an uncle named Martin Fesperman and I believe that Thomas was named for his uncle, Leah's brother, Martin.

Being the baby of the family, especially with three older sisters and one older brother, probably meant Thomas spent half his time being pampered by his sisters and the other half getting beat up by his older brother, who, by the way, used to be the baby, until he came along.

ancestry.com

In 1870, Thomas is nowhere to be found; and as noted in previous Blogs, neither is his brother, Edward. I have searched relentlessly through Census records in Montgomery County as well as surrounding counties for Thomas and Edward both but to no avail. I can only guess why the two boys have disappeared in 1870, but have no concrete theories as to their whereabouts.

ancestry.com

google image

In previous Blogs, I have stated that I do not know who Mary and Martha are on the 1870 Census, I still do not know what their relationship is to William and Leah Fesperman Marks, but I now know that Mary did exist. Finding out all I can about my family, and especially William Buck Marks, is the very reason why I chose to start this Blog. It is helpful for me to search for information in a chronological order, as I have done with the children of William and Leah Fesperman Marks, and to write that information down in the same order, as I have done in my Blogs. I have now discovered several clues that I would have normally overlooked otherwise. While searching for a marriage record for Thomas and Barbara Lefler Marks, I ran across this wonderful little nugget of information tucked away in the Marriage Register of Montgomery County, NC. At the bottom, it states NAMES OF WITNESSES: J.K. Hamilton, Mary Marks.

I quickly searched, and found, the actual marriage license and, there at the bottom, is Mary Marks signature with a notation that she, like J.K. Hamilton, is of Montgomery County, NC. I was, of course, elated to have discovered this gold nugget of information and will begin my search (again) for Mary Marks. For now, let us focus on Thomas Marks as this Blog is really about him.

On Jan 24, 1876, J.K. Hamilton applied for a license for the marriage of Thomas Martin Marks, age 20 years (his real age is closer to 18), the son of William Marks and Leah (Fesperman) Marks and Barbra Lefler, age 20 years, the daughter of Daniel Lefler and Sallie (Walker) Lefler. Both sets of parents are living and residents of Montgomery County. I knew from my previous Blog about Julia that William Marks was alive when she married Lee Thomas Hamilton on Feb 24, 1876 so; it is no surprise to find William Marks alive when Thomas married a month prior to Julia.

ancestry.com

Thomas Marks and Barbra Lefler are united in matrimony by Justice of the Peace, L. Dennis, on the 26th day of January 1876, at the residence of William Marks. J.K. Hamilton and Mary Marks of Montgomery County signed as witnesses present at the marriage.

ancestry.com

Who exactly is this Barbara Lefler who is to become my great-great-grandmother? Born Barbara Elizabeth Lefler on 10 Oct 1856 (according to her gravestone) to Daniel Lefler and Sarah ‘Sally’ Walker; Barbara is the oldest of nine children. She has five brothers and three sisters. I am a little sketchy as to where Barbara was born as I have not been able to find a birth record for her as yet. Neither am I able to find a Census record for 1860 for her. At this point in time I am hesitant to say she was born in Montgomery County or that she was living there as a young child. I will, of course, continue to search. Once I find the record I will update the Blog.

The year 1870 finds the Lefler family living in Eldorado. Daniel lists his occupation as a farmer, typical for 1870, with a personal estate of $100 (about $1800). Barbara looks to be going by her middle name, Elizabeth. She is listed as 11 years old and ‘at home’ meaning she is not attending school. She has three younger siblings, John (9), Thomas (5) and Sarah (2). There is also listed a sick boarder, John Steed (26).

ancestry.com

1880 finds the Lefler house filled to the brim, it would seem. Not only has Daniel and Sarah (Walker) Lefler added four more children to their family, George (10), Fannie (8), Crissie (5) and McClane (2), but Barbara is back home with her own child, Lucy Marks (2). I find it curious that Barbara is listed as Lefler, rather than Marks, as she and Tom were married in 1876. I have no explanation as to why Barbara is living with her parents. I do know that she must have been pregnant though as her second child, Jarvis, would be born around 1880.

ancestry.com

Searching old Newspapers is a great way to find out what your ancestors were up to in their day. Little did I know the infamy of my great-great-grandfather until I ran across an article in the Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, NC) dated Dec 8, 1883. The article noted that Thomas Marks, the “Redmond” of Montgomery, illicit distilling activities had caught up with him and Deputy Milton (or Melton), a Revenuer, along with a local posse, arrested him at his work place. Tom talked the deputy into taking him home to clean up and tell his family goodbye before going to jail. I am still not exactly sure what “Redmond’ means but am pretty sure it is some derogatory slang word that was used back in the day to describe someone that the public thought was a troublemaker. If anyone out there knows what ‘Redmond’ means or who the mysterious X.Q.L. is that wrote the article, please leave a comment.

newspaper.com

The 1890 Census records were destroyed in 1921 when the building they were housed in caught fire. If interested, you can find more historical details at the Archives website: https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/spring/1890-census-1.html

By 1900, the Marks family has settled down in Eldorado and Thomas is working as a Day Laborer. Two other children, Lucy Amelia, whom we saw on the 1880 Census, and Jarvis, whom I believe was born around that same time, have already married and left home. Lucy married C.M. Turner on Dec 20, 1898. Jarvis married Ida Mitchell on Sep 2, 1900. Six more children have been added to the Marks family, Will (Tero) (16), Phrona (15), Lillie (11), Charlie (9), Fannie (6) and Sallie (4).

ancestry.com

By the year 1910, the Marks family has moved from Eldorado, Montgomery County to Albemarle, Stanly County. Tom Marks lists his occupation as a fisherman. Only Fannie (17) and Sallie (14) are still at home. Will Tero married Eula Carter on May 24, 1903. At this time I am unsure who Saphronia married. I believe it may have been a Chapman but I have yet to find solid proof. Lillie Mary married Travis Nathaniel Morris on May 15, 1905. Charlie served time in the military although I have not found the specific dates.

ancestry.com

By 1920, Thomas is back in his beloved Eldorado with wife Barbra. Their son, Charlie (20), is living with them. Fannie married Charles Clayton Loftin on Dec 14, 1915 and Sallie married Roscoe Franklin Brock on May 2, 1917.

ancestry.com

The year 1930 shows that Thomas and Barbra are now living in Uwharrie. Charlie married Cora Brock on Jul 24, 1921.

ancestry.com

On Aug 10, 1931, Barbara Elizabeth Lefler Marks, age 73, died. She was buried at Uwharrie United Methodist Church in Montgomery County, North Carolina.

ancestry.com

My grandmother remembers that after her grandmother, Barbra Lefler Marks passed away, family members went to the cabin where her grandfather, Tom Marks, lived and made him come home with them. They believed him too old to be by himself in his cabin in Uwharrie. On Dec 18, 1932, at the age of 77, Thomas Martin Marks, my great-great-grandfather, died. His death reported by his son, Charlie Marks.

ancestry.com

Tom Marks was buried, next to his wife, at Uwharrie United Methodist Church in Montgomery County, North Carolina.

findagrave.com

I am not sure when the article “Old Tom Ruled the Wild Narrows” was written as I have never found a date on it; but I know it was written by Fred T. Morgan of the Stanly News and Press (SNAP); it would seem that Tom Marks’ infamy remained well after he died.

Stanly County Museum

Read more about Fred T. Morgan here:
http://stanlycountymuseum.com/fred-t-morgan/

Read the article “Old Tom Ruled the Wild Narrows” here:
https://issuu.com/stanlycountymuseum/docs/fred_t._morgan_scrapbook_02_001

While searching for information on Tom Marks, I happened by an article written by a lady that I would discover is related to me. We both share Tom Marks as our great-great-grandfather. Her through his son, Jarvis, and me through his daughter Lillie (as well as his son Will Tero - my father's side). I found it amazing that even though we had never met we had heard the same stories about our great-great-grandfather.  You can read her article, "Was Tom Marks ‘The King of Uwharrie’?" here:
http://www.courier-tribune.com/article/20150829/OPINION/308299961

My grandmother told the last tale, from her generation, about Tom Marks on 27 Dec 2015. She was almost 13 years old when he died in 1932. She remembered going to his funeral at Uwharrie United Methodist Church. Tom would have been her grandfather, the father of her mother, Lillie. She remembered Tom Marks as a tall man, who loved to play his fiddle, talk to his honeybees and paddle her and her siblings across the river on his raft. My grandmother died this year at the age of 97. To my knowledge, she was the last person alive who held a real memory of the legend that we, his descendants, call The King of Uwharrie.

It's my generations turn now, to keep the family tradition going.