The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-16
HISTORY OF FAMILIES.
or HUFHAM FALLS INTO THE
SPIRIT OF "YE oLDEN TIME
A GOLDEN WEDDING IN SAMPSON
Which Carried Or. human, e Colin 5 !"
and Other Venerables Back . tie
Shirt Of he Old South.

,,rpspnt month, near tllS ul'iuiHs -
Of Dublin and Sampson counties, there
was n gathering which IS worthy o1
loco in the annals Of time. 1t was TO
cr,n1,cn,orate the 5Oth anniversary OF
t1,n marriage of William A. Faison and
wife, Harriet Williams.
THE PLACE.
qba nlace is historic 1t is just mile
north of what, in my boyhood, was
known as "Duplin old court house.
This latter was the seat Of justice IoI
+he whole region. now known as Duphn#
and Sampson counties until SAMPSON
was set off as a separate county. IN
childhood some of the old buildings were
-+;n standing four miles west of War
saw on the left-hand side Of the roauN
which leads from Wilmington to Raj
eirh. Not far away there used TO standN
q eh1pel. built by funds from the pub
lie treasury in the days of the state
Church. The building of such a cnnrcif
among the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians OF
Dunlin in the expectation that they woulc
vvorshin in it or submit patiently TO Det
taxed for its support, is a striking Illus
+ratiOn of the wisdom, or rather OF thef
pn-wisdom of the colonial authorizes on
fhe time OF course, after a prler sea
son Of experiment it had to be sold by aciE
of the Legislature. with the glebe which
lay around 1T.
THE KEENAN, BROTHERS.
Mr.. Faison-s plantation was settled by
two Of the Kenan brothers, Daniel ana
General Thomas Kenan, about the yeaA
f736. They were of the colony Of splen3
did Scotch-Irish people who Wer9
brought in by McCulloch in the yeaH
ALREADY named The faras-of the twd
brothers were divided by Turkey creek
Daniels land was on the south side q
the creek and he set up one OF fhe
first manufacturing enterprises IN thaa
part of the State; a fulfing mill, O.
which the foundations and the dam sun
remain. The home of Gen. IhoInas
Eauan. ancestor of Col Thomas n
Roman +he present courteous and eIni
c;ant clerk of the Supreme court, was
~ tbe north side of the creek ana rnere
he was buried many years ago. Inc
memorial stone having disappeared 4
yeas replaced by Col. Kenan last year
No other family has been so honoreo
nv the people of Duplin county as thest
Kenans have been. They were gooe
soldiers in the Revolution and IN Gae lat'
war Some of them have filed the or
ace OF sheriff, others have been mem
hers Of the State Legislature, other
have been members Of the Fedora
House of representatives and one 9
tnem. father Of Col. Kenan, was mem
her of the Confederate Congress. Som
of them have also added high stations i
Alabama and Florida. The county sea
i named for them, Kenansyile. In
family record is without q stain; mad
luminous also by eminent service to tn
county and the State.
On the lands OF Gen. K%nan, near tn
present site of Mr.. Faison's residence
the first Masonic lodge in the countle
of Duplin and Sampson was built !
was stiH standing within the menor
Of persons now nving. Near the sam
ptace the citizens who were patrolling tn
country during the excitement create
Inv the instruction of Nat. Turner,
Virginia, about 1882, had their rede
yous.
Many years ago the lands Of the Kena
brothers were purchased by the lat
William Faison, of Sampson county, an
by him bequea thed to his son, the pre-
ent owner.
THE ENAIS0NS.
The Faisons were French Protestan
who removed to Germany just befol
tbe massacre of st. Bartholomew. Oh
of the family, Hemryk Faison, settle
in York county, n 1000, dying
1903 and leaving two sons. james, Il
younger of them, removed to Norbham
ton county, where he died about 10
leaving four sons One of them, Dixie
by name, remained atas Northampto
James. Elias and Henry removed
Sampson county, where in 1773, u
frst-named bought land of Henry
AIcCuloch. The youngest son, HEM
bought land, 1000 acres near the presei
Il -. ~ {lAfi nC 81
sion of his descendants. From him Il
DunIin branch of the family ha'
sprung. James and Elias We're office
in the American army during the Rev
Iution and from them the family
Sampson county have descended. For
hundred years and more it has been OF
of the most prominent and infiuentl
families in the county. They We're oft
chosen members of the State Iegisl
ture. Thomas d. Faison was in Z
Constitutional convention of 1889, al
was the youngest member OF the pod
For twenty-one years he was clerk
the county court and he died IN 10
while serving as Senator from his natl
county The family was well represe
ted in the armies Of the Southern 90
fedracy. Franklin J Faison, Heutena
colonel 20th n. G.. Infantry, was kill
ut the head of MS regiment in the bait
of Cold Harbor; Wesley and jam
Cromartie Faison We're also killed
battle. Others of the name perform
meritori0us service. But the family W
chiefly distinguished for their success
planters. ', Iliam Faison, who Oh
about 1857 or SO, left an estate Of sc
eral hundred thousand dollars. lie mi
ricd a daughter Of Matthew Nose
who came into the State from Virgin
lust before the Revolution. She was
sister Of Hon. William ID. Mosely, s.
.raI times member Of the State Legs
lure once Speaker Of the senate q
afterwards Governor Of Florida
William A. Fason was the son OF g
,ouplr. William Faison and Sus
Nosely. lie was graduate Of the ST.
University IN the time OF Pettigre
Ransom. Dr. T. e. Skinner and othe
Soon afterwards he married and settl
on the plantation which is still
home. Six children have blessed
union and all were present with |
grandchildren to share the festivities
this Golden Wedding.
GOLDEN WEDDING.
The spacious nome was beautiful
decorated throughout and everything