The following is from the New Bern Daily Journal of January 19, 1904:
ZORAH, January 16th.
Mr. I.R. Whitford of this place, has been elected keeper of the Neuse River bridge.
Miss Amanda Whitford and Mr. J.R. Wiley went to Clayroot last Saturday.
Larry Alston, the little son of Mr. D.P. Whitford, caused his people considerable anxiety last week by putting a bean in his nose.
The recent bad weather has caused our schools to stop several days.
Mrs. Mary Tunstall is quite sick with grip. Dr. Primrose of New Bern is attending her.
Mrs. W.D. Toler is in quite a critical condition. She has been lying unconscious since Friday noon. Her recovery is doubtful.
Mr. Jas. O. Wiley and sister, Miss Rosa, are visiting their sister Mrs. R.E. Lathinghouse, near Vanceboro.
Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Whitford went to New Bern yesterday to visit their son, Mr. J.R. Whitford.
Mr. Ransom Booth of Pollocksville is visiting at Zorah.
The young people of our place had a very enjoyable dance at Mr. W.R. Arthur’s last night.
I.R. Whitford is Ira Romonas Whitford (1880-1948), son of Bryan Cox Whitford and Margaret Jane Wiley. He is probably the J.R. Whitford in the 8th paragraph that B.C. Whitford is going to see in New Bern.
Amanda Rhesa Whitford (1877-1965) was the daughter of Stephen Edward Whitford and Artemisia Tuten. J.R. Wiley is probably John Redding Wiley (1877-1961), son of Azariah Wiley and Ellen Ann Stilley.
Larry Alston Whitford continued his love for botany as a long-time professor at North Carolina State University.
Mary Tunstall (1828-1906) was the widow of Alfred B. Tunstall (1828?-1903). She was the daughter of Calvin Morris and Sallie Reel. Both Mary and Alfred are buried in High Bridge Cemetery.
Mrs. W.D. Toler (nee Sarah “Sally” Knox) was the daughter of William R. “Bill” and Dorcas Knox. She married William David “Willie” Toler. She died January 17, 1904, from complications following childbirth. The child also died. Both were buried in “Bethel Burying Ground” (now High Bridge Cemetery), but were later re-interred at the Knox Family Cemetery.
James O’Neal (O’Neill) Wiley, Rosa Wiley, and Mrs. R.E. Laughinghouse (Nancy “Nannie” Wiley), were the children of Azariah F. Wiley and Ellen Ann “Nellie” Stilley, and the siblings of John Redding Wiley mentioned above.
Ransom Booth was the son of Merritt Booth and the brother of Julia Booth (married Fred Willis Toler) and Claud Booth (and others).
W.R. Arthur was William Roberson Arthur (1867-1929). He married Nancy Pauline O’Neal.