The following was printed in the New Bern Daily Journal, January 17, 1902:
ZORAH–Death of Mrs. Toler. A Large Land Sale with Important Results.
January 15.–Our community has been saddened by the death of Mrs. Betsey Toler, who was reported in last article, as being sick. She was taken ill on Christmas Eve and continuted to grow worse until the 9th inst., when she was relieved of her sufferings here below by the summons from on high.
She was 76 years of age and had been a consistent member of the Baptist church during the most of her life. Two sons and three daughters are left to mourn the loss of a kind and loving mother.
Mr. David B. Caton and wife moved from Zorah, last week, to Blount’s Creek Beaufort Co.
Mr. Jas. A. Harrington has returned to New Bern where he has been at work for some months.
Mr. O.C. O’Neal will begin timbering about 5 miles below New Bern on the road to Wilmington next week.
Mr. G.A. Whitford was in your city last night.
Mr. O.D. Jackson, of Norfolk who owns considerable real estate in this community, has just sold 10,000 acres to a company in Ohio. He still has several thousand acres of choice swamp land which we trust he will sell to some one who will develop it. We understand the above mentioned company will begin work upon their purchase, soon.
Mrs. Betsey Toler mentioned above is Elizabeth Lewis Toler, who married Amariah Toler, son of James Toler Sr. They had sons Emmett C. Toler (1858-1931) and Daniel Toler (1866-1935) and daughters Martha Toler (1856-after 1930); Annis S. Toler Harrington (1859-1940) and Julia Amanda Toler Cayton (1861-1933).
David B. Caton mentioned is the namesake of the Caton community. While he gave land to the community for a school in the 1880s, the community name of Caton did not come into use until the late 1920s and early 1930s. Prior to that the community was called Zorah (when a post office was established in the early 1880s).
James A. Harrington was the son of John B. and Annis Toler Harrington.
G.A. Whitford was Gilbert Arthur Whitford. A forthcoming Zorah News will have an exciting story concerning him.
More research needs to be done on the land transaction. Does anyone out there have any information on it?