William "Bill" Patterson Taylor

Paternal Great-Grandfather William P. Taylor

When I was born in 1951, my sweet "Little Grandpa" was already 80 years old.  I only knew him for 13 years, but memories of visiting on his and Grandma's farm in Ellensburg are some of my dearest.

Baby Bill Taylor, circa 1873

My great-Grandfather, William Patterson Taylor was born July 24, 1871, in Taylor, Lewis County, Missouri. He was the second son of William Inskip Taylor and Ellen Elizabeth Williams Taylor. Professional photos of baby boys and girls often featured christening gowns or dresses with styled hair. Here is baby Bill, perhaps two years old.

My great-Grandfather's parents were William Inskip Taylor (the son of Jeremiah Martin & Clarissa Lovelace Taylor) and Ellen Elizabeth Williams Taylor (daughter of Spotswood S. & Elizabeth R. Sharp Williams.) William Inskip was born Nov. 18, 1837.  Ellen was born Feb. 25, 1845. Both were born in Marion County, Missouri. They married Dec. 27, 1866.

Image enhanced by Gary Lowe

Their home was in the town of Taylor, Lewis County, Missouri. The town was named after the Taylor family and still exists on maps. The home below was built in 1863.

Great-grandfather William P., his father William I., mother Ellen, sister Lulu Mae - Taylor Homestead c. 1890-1895

Photo above is from a xerox copy made in the 1970's. Many family members have copies, but the whereabouts of the original is unknown. When my great-grandparents married, they would have come to this homestead to live. Their first son, Lucius "Lou" was born here, March 13, 1900.  My paternal grandmother, Lillian Lee, was born here November 17, 1902.

Bruce and I met with family here and took a tour inside and around the grounds. Beautiful!

Photo of homestead as it now looks. The outside has been clad in "school brick". Some of the original clapboard can be seen inside the closets. Some windows have been changed and the "slave quarters" removed from the back of the house.  It is still owned by a Taylor family member, Cathy Taylor. Her lineage is through Leander "Lee" Winston Taylor, son of William Inskip Taylor and older brother of my great-Grandfather, William "Bill" Patterson Taylor. A younger sister, Lulu or Lula Mae Taylor McIntyre also grew up in this home. The home and land was held through three generations of Taylor family members, William Inskip, Lee Winston, and Lee Winchester. Of the acreage, 284 acres were sold by Lee Winchester Taylor. It's good to know that a fifth generation Taylor, Cathy, daughter of Robert Lee, has ownership of the home.

An interesting photo was found among the Taylor collection. The Missouri Giantess - Ella Kate Ewing, posed with family in Missouri. From left, great-Grandmother Allie with my grandmother Lillian (the baby) on her lap, great-Grandfather Bill with son Lucius on his lap. The next couple, woman and the man behind her, may be my great-Grandfather's older brother Lee and his wife. The fellow with the full and bushy beard is a mystery, (though he looks like William Inskip Taylor - who died in 1897). Note the fellow in front with a cap. Inscribed on the cap is Ella Ewing. He may be D.J. Buford, Ella's manager. The others are unknown to me at this time, but I suspect they are other Taylor family members. Photo circa 1903. Research shows that Reverend Jeremiah Taylor (1774 - 1848) was an organizer of the Harmony Grove Church that Ella (1872 - 1913) attended, and where she was buried.





Oldest Children -

Lillian Lee (about 1 year old), Lucius Patterson (about 3 years old)

Lucius "Lou" Patterson Taylor was born in March 1900, in Taylor, Lewis Co. MO.

Lillian Lee Taylor, my Grandmother, was born November 1902, in Taylor, Lewis Co. MO.  They would have spent the first few years on the homestead there, with family.














Moving to Canada

William Inskip Taylor died in 1897, leaving the Taylor Homestead to his two sons, Lee and Bill. From family stories told here and there, it seems that the two brothers did not agree on the division and use of the property.

Eventually great-Grandfather Bill Taylor sold his share of the property in Taylor, Missouri, to his older brother Lee. Then he and my great-Grandmother Allie moved to Acme, Alberta, Canada, arriving on April 19, 1905, to take advantage of the Dominion Lands Act for Canadian homesteading. They traveled with their two young children, Lucius (Lou), by now age 5, and Lillian, age 3. Great-great-grandfather William Bates (Allie's father) also joined them in Canada. Later they all moved to Carstairs, Alberta, Canada, where in April 1906, they took up personal residence on their homestead. Great-Grandfather Bill became a Naturalized Citizen of Canada, June 15th, 1908.

W.P. Taylor & his first winning Buff Cochin - Scored 94 1/2 circa 1909

On the Statutory Declaration of his Homestead, great-Grandfather Bill Taylor wrote of the dates he was setting up residence: "Apr.5.06 to May 26.06. Then on sec.31-29-27, which I bought, from May 27 06 to Octr.25 06. I then sold this land, but had already bought E.1/2 5-30-27, and lived on the latter from October 26th 06 to present date, except the period from Novr.15th 1907 to Mar.15th 1908, when my wife was living in town, but during this period I was back and forth to the farm, and it was really my home, and furniture, stock &c, were all there."

When asked what month and year that his present house was erected he answered thus: "October 1906. Previous to this I lived in my house on 31-29-27, except the period from Apr.5 06 to May 26 06, when living in a temporary shack on my homestead."

Regarding buildings and fencing he had erected, he wrote: "1 and 1/2 miles of fence, part 2 and part 3 wires. Value $120. Cattle shed 18 x 36. Value $50.00."

Regarding animals he owned, he wrote: "9 horses, 10 cattle. 22 hogs."

In the same Declaration he explained how much land was broken and how much was cropped. "In 1906 broke 10 acres, in 1907 broke 21 acres, in 1908 cropped 31 acres, in 1909 cropped 31 acres, in 1910 will have broke 30 acres on my other land, and cropped same last year." To the question, What area of said homestead can be brought under cultivation? He answered, "135 acres."
Dated at Carstairs, 18th January 1909.

Great-grandfather Bill at the far left.

Three more children were born -
Ruby Alice - December 28, 1907, Bates Inskip - May 5, 1909,  and William Robert - July 13, 1911.

From the back of the photo: Bates, Ruby and Billy at Green Acre on the farm, 16 miles east of Carstairs, Alberta, Canada. The cat in the background is old yellow Sam.

And, last but not least,
Little brother Albert Dudley joined the family September 11, 1913.

 Left to right, baby Dudley (about 1), Ruby (about 7), my grandmother Lillian (about 12), their father - Bill Taylor, Bates (about 5) and Billy (about 3). Photo circa 1914.

Great Grandfather William Patterson Taylor - photo taken in Carstairs, Alberta, Canada

Going back to the United States -

In 1918, great-Grandfather Bill and great-Grandmother Allie began to think of returning to the United States, with their four youngest children. Their son Lucius was already employed. My Grandmother Lillian was a teenager, living in Seattle with her Aunt Lulu Mae and Uncle Albert McIntyre, attending high school there.

First Grandfather made an application for a "Permit to Leave Canada", in which he stated that he was "to go to Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa & Illinois for the purpose of purchasing pure bred Percheron horses" ..... and that he wished "to be absent from Canada for sixty days." The permit was granted on February 8, 1918.










Great-Grandmother Mary Alice "Allie" re-entered the United States through Eastport, Idaho on April 19, 1919. The family soon moved to Hyak, WA, where great-Grandfather Bill was a sub-station operator on the electric train tracks that went over Snoqualmie Pass.  His position was Electrician Helper working between Cedar Falls to Hyak & Cle Elum, April 1919 - October 1919. From October 1919 - June 1922, his position was Operator.



















This photo was taken August 24, 1923, by Asahel Curtis. It's of the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway passenger train on track in Kittitas County, Hyak, WA.  Sub-station #16 near Hyak, where my great-Grandfather Bill Taylor worked from 1919 - 1922.







When my Grandmother Lillian Lee Taylor graduated from Ellensburg Normal School, she became a school teacher in the one room school at Hyak. It is likely that she taught her own sister, Ruby and brothers, Bates, Billy and Dudley.

In the years of 1922 - 1924 Grandpa Taylor worked for Exide Battery of Walla Walla, until the company sold out.

In 1924 he worked as a Forest Ranger under McKenzie D.R. at Rocky Run, which is located 1.4 miles SSE of Hyak, on Keechelus Lake.

In the fall of 1924 Grandpa was hired to work for the Highway Department in paving and construction. He held these various positions until retiring in 1934: Ax-man, Chain-man & Rod-man.

Alice Taylor, Lillian Taylor Lowe, Bill Taylor

In their later years, Bill and Allie moved to Ellensburg, where they and their daughter Lillian, bought a 10 acre farm and farmhouse at 715 E. Manitoba Street. Great-grandfather Bill  became a farmer in Ellensburg, WA. The farm is now the location of Ellensburg's hospital, but the home is still there, across the street and just as welcoming.

Bruce and I visited the Taylor home in October 2012.

Bates Taylor, Pat & Willie Lowe, Bill Taylor, Harrell Shull, Lillian Taylor Lowe

Christmas 1950 at the Taylor's home in Ellensburg, WA. This photo was taken in the main living room. Stairway led to three bedrooms, a parlor was off to the right, and the kitchen behind the photographer - Ruby Shull. My parents Pat and Willie Lowe had married in August 1950. Both look young and nervous. Out of sight of the photo, Dudley & Irene Taylor, great-Grandmother Alice and Grandmother Lillian's daughter, Norma Lee. By this time, there were so many Williams, Bills, and Billys, that my father chose to call himself Willie. And the name has stuck for 62 years.

Christmas Tree in the sitting room at Taylor's

Grandchildren from Thorp and Ellensburg gathered around great-Grandpa and great-Grandma Taylor.

Norma Lee & Lillian Taylor Lowe.

Bette, Diane, Keith & Jim, with their mother & father Irene and Dudley Taylor of Thorp.

Sharon & Joe Shull of Ellensburg.











And Here's Where I Come In -

Step-Grandpa Leonard Brown, great-Grandma Alice Taylor, Grandma Lillian Brown

My first real memories of visiting my great-Grandpa, who I affectionately called "Little Grandpa" and my great-Grandma Alice were around the time I was five years old. I was the first grandchild for Grandma Lillian Brown. Here I look a little spoiled. All the other cousins in the Taylor family ranged from 4 to 10 years old than me.This photo is at the home and farm in Ellensburg.

My Grandmother Lillian lost her husband/my Dad's father, Thomas Lee Lowe in 1947. In 1952, she married Leonard Douglas Brown, who she had known since she was a small girl traveling from Taylor, MO to Acme, Alberta Canada. Here are my little brother Bobby and me, with our grandparents, in Ellensburg.

Leonard D. Brown had an older brother, Walter, here on the left. Grandpa Brown is holding my little brother Bobby who looks none too happy. And on the right, my beloved "Little Grandpa" Bill Taylor.

Christmas 1959 at Taylor's home in Ellensburg

Great-Grandma Alice and Great-Grandpa Bill in the center. Their children, Bill Taylor, Lillian Lee Taylor Brown - newly married to Leonard Douglas Brown and Dudley & Irene Taylor. Cousins from Thorp and Ellensburg - Bette, Diane, Keith & Jim Taylor. Sharon and Joe Shull.










As I research the colorful life of my "Little Grandpa" William "Bill" Patterson Taylor, there are so many questions I would like to ask, if I could. This was a very bright man, who found a lovely wife, Mary Alice "Allie" Bates, and kept her happy and satisfied for 70 years. Together they raised six well-educated, kind and loving children. Over their lifetimes they loved and welcomed 12+ grandchildren.  Grandpa Taylor, this is for you.  I love you so much.


William Patterson Taylor passed away November 16, 1964. His beloved wife of 71 years, Mary Alice Bates Taylor passed away February 6, 1964. They are buried in the Taylor family plot at the IOOF Cemetery in Ellensburg, WA.


Ella Kate Ewing - Missouri Giantess

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Ewing

Mary Alice Bates Taylor

Paternal Great-Grandmother Mary Alice "Allie" Bates Taylor - A story of her childhood in pictures.

(The many tiny framed photos of her family were found among Allie's treasured possessions and have been in the Taylor family all these years. The frames are made of brass with a high content of copper.)

Great-grandmother Allie was born in Palmyra, Missouri, on July 5, 1876, to great-great-grandfather, William Booker Bates and great-great-grandmother, Adalaide "Addie" Virginia Hansbrough Bates. She was their only child.

Addie V. and William B. Bates - frame is 2 3/4" x 3 1/4"

Allie's father, William B. Bates, was born in 1843. (Online research shows him as William E. Bates, but many written family documents have "B" for his middle name of Booker.)

Allie's mother, Addie V. Hansbrough Bates, was born December 30, 1846 and died January 14, 1879. Addie graced this earth for 32 years. Allie was about two and a half years old when her mother passed away. Addie is buried in Bethel Baptist Cemetery near Palmyra, Missouri.
(We visited there in September 2012.)

This photo may have been taken c. 1878, based on the style of dress, (no bustle, fitted front).

Addie - frame is 2 1/8" x 2 5/8"

Another photo of Addie V. Bates. Based on the clothing style, likely the photo was taken in the early 1870's, when she was in her mid 20's.

Addie - frame is 2 1/8" x 2 5/8"

Addie Virginia Hansbrough would have been in her late teens when this photo was taken as the dress style is from 1860.

Addie and Alice Hansbrough, sisters, photo likely taken c. 1860, this photo is on glass

Great-grandmother Allie was named after her Aunt, Alice Adelia Hansbrough (later McPike), who was three years younger than Allie's mother Addie. When her mother passed away, Allie, who was only two and a half years old, was raised by her father William Bates, with the help of her Aunt Alice and Uncle Ben McPike.

Mary Alice "Allie" Bates - about 2 1/2 years old

Allie Bates - in a Tintype photo

Allie was a bright and attractive little girl and must have led an interesting childhood in Missouri. She would have spent her youth about 12 miles south of the home of her future husband, William "Bill" Patterson Taylor, who was growing up in the town and homestead of Taylor, Missouri.

Based on the dress style "Late Victorian" (1880-1881), she would have been about 5 or 6 years old.

Allie Bates, far left, classmates and teacher

Allie (far left) attended Stephen's Female College in Columbia, Missouri, studying: English grammar, moral philosophy, algebra and celestial geography among other subjects. She is with classmates and teacher, Mame Bradly, Mabel Hanby, Gini Gravely, Bess Peeler, Delia Lail and Kate Duncan. (She was likely 15 in the photo here. Allie married "Bill" when she was 16 years old.)

Mary Alice "Allie" Bates - 15 or 16 years old

Great-grandmother Allie was 16 years old when her father gave her permission to marry 21 year old great-grandfather William "Bill" Taylor. The marriage license was signed in Marion County, Missouri. They were married November 25, 1892.

Bill and Allie Taylor

The couple would have moved to the Taylor Homestead, north of Palmyra, Missouri. Bill's father, William Inskip Taylor, older brother Lee and he, himself, owned property there. The first two of their six children, Lucius Patterson and Lillian Lee (my grandmother), were born there.

In April 1905, Allie and Bill Taylor sold their property in Taylor, Missouri to Bill's brother Lee. They moved to Acme, Alberta and then to Carstairs, Alberta, taking advantage of the Dominion Lands Act. Four more children were born in Canada: Ruby Alice, Bates Inskip, William Robert, and Albert Dudley.

William Booker Bates - Allie's father

Allie's father was my great-great-grandfather, William B. Bates.  William Bates moved to Canada fairly soon after his only daughter and son-in-law did, to join their family.

In 1919, when the Taylors returned to the United States, first to Hyak, and then to Kittitas, WA, great-great-grandfather William Bates came with them. He died January 30, 1927 (he was 83 years old) and was buried in Ellensburg's IOOF cemetery, in the Taylor Family Plot. (In November 2012, we visited the cemetery and saw his headstone.)









I greatly appreciate the efforts of Bruce Clark, my sweet husband, for his technological expertise in photo repair and enhancement for digital display on my blog. A "BIG" Thank you to cousin Ward Taylor for being the "keeper" of the family treasures.

Grandmother Lillian Lee Taylor Lowe

Our Grandma Lowe ~ Brown ~ Grochow

Lillian Lee Taylor was born November 17, 1902, in Taylor, Missouri. She was the second child born to William Patterson and Mary Alice (Bates) Taylor.

Taylor, Missouri

When she was two years old, her father sold his half of the family farm to his older brother Lee.

Taylor Family Farm - William Patterson, father William Inskip, mother Ellen Elizabeth, younger sister Lulu May

William Patterson and Mary Alice (Bates) Taylor

William, his wife Mary Alice, Lillian's older brother Lucius (Lou) and she began the move to Canada. Papa Taylor took advantage of the Canadian Land Grand Act.

On their trip north a family named Brown, from Illinois, joined the caravan. The Brown children were Robert, Grace and a 13 year old named Leonard Douglas.






The Taylor and Brown families settled near Acme, Alberta, Canada. Lucius (Lou) and Lillian's younger sister and brothers were born there and the family enlarged. They were: Ruby Alice, Bates Inskip, William (Bill), and Albert Dudley.

Lillian, age 15

Many stories were told by Grandma of those early days growing up in Canada. One story was about the remittance man from England who had his own private movie theater. Another story was of the two English sisters that lived with the Taylors; one cooked and the other sewed. Then there was the time that she and her younger sister Ruby were invited out to dinner by an English brother and sister. The main course was 1 boiled egg - each!

She shared memories of the fact that water was brought in by the water wagon. Water was taken from a distant pond, which of course froze in the winter and every one ice skated. Lillian loved playing ice hockey. Another item of great interest in that time was the laying down of food stores for winter use.






The Taylor Family of Acme, Alberta, Canada, would have visited neighbors and school friends, as seen in the photos below of Grandma's friends who had a farm near Carstairs, Alberta, Canada.

Wood's home near Carstairs, Alberta, Canada, Ralph Heaton, Lillian (age 15), Ray Woods (brothers John & Harry Woods)

Henry Wood's farm east of Carstairs, Alberta, Canada - Harry Wood, Lillian (age 15), Ralph Heaton, Margaret Wood

Franklin High School, c. 1912

Grandma moved to Seattle in her high school years and lived with her Uncle Albert Webster and Aunt Lulu May McIntyre, (Lulu was younger sister to Papa Taylor.) She graduated from Franklin High School, in Seattle, WA, c. 1919.

Kamola Hall Dormitory, Ellensburg Normal School

She then attended Ellensburg Normal School  and received her teaching certificate.  She roomed in the same dormitory (c.1919 - 1921) that I roomed in 1969-1971, Kamola Hall, an all girl's dormitory.

Kamola Hall, 1971, friends - Lou, Steph, Maggie and me

Ellensburg Normal School became Central Washington College of Education in 1937, Central Washington State College in 1961, and finally Central Washington University in 1977. I attended Central from September 1969 - August 1971.

 I'm 60 years old and the Dormitory is 100 years old

I re-visited Kamola Hall, on the Central Washington University campus, in May of 2011, on its 100th Anniversary.











Grandma's first employment was the all-grades school at Hyak, WA, on Snoqualmie Pass, where her younger brothers and sister must have been some of her pupils. Their Papa Taylor was one of the sub-station operators.

http://content.statelib.wa.gov/u?/ellensburg,2240 - 1928

"A school teacher, stands in the doorway of the Hyak School building located at Hyak, Washington near the summit of Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Mountains.  The school served the children of Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad workers."

Grandma would have taught here c. 1922 - 1923.


When the Taylor family moved to Kittitas, WA, Grandma began teaching in the Kittitas Valley. One of the School Board director's name was Robert C. Grochow (R.C.)

She married Thomas Lee Lowe in 1927.  Her brother Dudley brought Tom to the Taylor home as Tom had fed Dud canned pineapple. Dud thought, "This man is worth knowing."

Grandma and Grandpa lived in Cle Elum where their son, William Thomas (my father), was born in 1928. They moved to St. Marie's Idaho where their daughter, Norma Lee (my aunt), was born in 1929.

Thomas Lee Lowe, 1930-41 - Othello, WA

They moved again to Othello, WA, to Kittitas, WA, and back to Othello, WA, always to places where Grandpa Lowe worked as engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.

Grandma led the singing at the Presbyterian Church and joined the Ladies Aid Society in Othello, WA.

The photo on the right is of the Easter Sunday School, 1932, in Othello, WA. My father "Bill" is the little 4 year old sitting down on the far right, with his sister, 3 year old Norma beside him.



Grandma also always provided ample hot food to the hobos who rode the rails during the Depression. Many times my father and my aunt would come home from school at noon lunch and a stranger would be sitting on the back porch having his lunch too, provided by Grandma.

The Lowe family moved to Poulsbo, WA in 1941, where Grandma resumed her teaching and she became the Poulsbo Elementary Librarian.

After the death of Grandfather Thomas Lee Lowe in 1946, Grandma re-met Leonard Brown, now a widower, and they were married. They continued to live in Poulsbo, WA.  They often visited extended family who were still located in Ellensburg and Thorp in Kittitas County, Ephrata, Grant County, and Alberta, Canada.

Grandpa Leonard Brown, Great Grandma Alice Taylor, Grandma Lillian (Lowe) Brown, Cathy Lowe c. 1956 Ellensburg, WA

We lost Grandpa Leonard Brown in 1969. Some time later Grandma re-met R.C. Grochow (from the time she was teaching in Kittitas, WA), and they were married in the Spring of 1972. At that time Grandma was living in Issaquah, WA. R.C. Grochow died in 1973, living Grandma a widow again.

Norma Lee (Lowe) Mathies, Lillian Lee (Lowe) Grochow and William Thomas Lowe, 1976

In 1981, she moved into a Redmond retirement home where she was still very much in charge of her life. After a serious operation in September 1988, she moved to a nursing home where she lived to the age of 91. We lost our Grandma in 1993.

She was known by many names - Mother - Mom - Grandma - Sis - Sister - Auntie Sis. A uniquely brilliant, kind, loving woman who left memories to warm the heart whenever her name is mentioned.

Lillian, Cathy & Bobby Lowe, 1953, her first and third grandchildren

This photo is very dear to me. My baby brother, Robert Thomas Lowe (Bobby) was born in April 1953. He died of polio, 2 1/2 years later. The loss of this precious baby was hard on our entire family: parents, big sister, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.

~ Much of the above history was provided by my Aunt Norma Lee Lowe Mathies. She is Grandma's daughter and second child, sister to my father William Thomas Lowe. I am grateful that she wrote down the memories and history of Grandma's life. ~

The Coulter Family of Catawba Co., No. Carolina

Examples of Ships of the 1740's and 1750's

The ship: "DRAGON", Georg Spencer, Master, from Rotterdam, Holland, last from Deal, England. With foreigners from the Palatinate and Zweibrücken, it arrived in port in Philadelphia Pennsylvania - Sept. 26, 1749, carrying 563 passengers. 

On board was one, Johann Martin Kolter - age 19. He adopted the anglicized name - Martin Coulter.

Port of Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1752

Lillian, school teacher and librarian

Except for my italics to clarify 
which member is named, 

this account below was handwritten by 
Lillian Lee Taylor Lowe Brown Grochow, 
in the year 1977. 

Lillian was the mother of William Thomas Lowe, 
my father.

The Coulter Family of Catawba County, No. Carolina 

Martin Coulter, the pioneer, was born in 1730, in the Palatinate. Concerning his birthplace, his great granddaughter, Dorcas Ann Coulter (Mrs. Thomas [Lafayette] Lowe) said, "He came from Germany along near the Swiss border; perhaps from the Swiss side, but I think from the German side." [note Dorcas Ann Coulter is Tom [Thomas Lee born 1887] Lowe's grandmother Lowe.]

Zweibrücken in Rhineland-Palatinate, now Germany, 19th century painting

He came to America on the ship "Dragon," Georg Spencer, Master, which sailed from Rotterdam, Holland, bringing 563 passengers, from the Palatinate and Zweibrücken, landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 26, 1749.

He married Catharine Rosanna Boone, born in 1733, in Pennsylvania, the second child of Joseph and Catharine Boone, and came to North Carolina with his bride in 1750. On May 1, 1750, Squire Boone headed the "Boone Caravan" down the Shenandoah Valley and into North Carolina. Doubtless Martin and his wife were in the group piloted by her uncle to lands along the eastern side of the Yadkin River.

North Carolina Colony, c. 1755

Where the Martin Coulters lived for the first few years in North Carolina is not known. He was a tailor and he probably followed this trade for a time in the neighborhood of the home settlement near Mockville, N. Carolina, or in Salisbury, N.C.

Catawbaw River to Yadkin River, Salisbury center, c. 1770

The first written record of Martin Coulter known in No. Carolina is in the minutes of the Rowan County Quarterly Sessions Court at Salisbury. These minutes record two items about him. First: April 18, 1758, Martin Coulter and John Anderson - non-suit; and second: Friday, April 31, 1758, his name is on the jury list.

There is no record of a home or ownership of land in the Rowan County Register or Deeds office. His first grant of land on which he built his permanent home was for 520 acres from the British Crown: April 6, 1765; his second: for 148 acres May 4, 1769; and his third for 7 1/2 acres: from the State of North Carolina, 1791. These tracts of land all joined making one continuous plantation. His western line was the meandering of the South Fork River, from a point not far below the junction of Henry's Fork and Jacob's Fork, southward to near the present Rocky Ford bridge.

Junction of Henry's Fork, Jacob's Fork, and South Fork, N 35° 38.162 W 081° 18.496 North Carolina

His plantation began at the junction of Henry's and Jacob's Forks, south to Rocky Ford Bridge, and the western border was the South Fork of the Catawba River

His first log house was built over a spring to insure a supply of water during hours of danger from Indians. Later a loghouse was built near the site of the house occupied by Elkanah Coulter. This latter site is marked "Mrs. Lowe" on Yoder's Map. The first house was in the creek valley about 1/4 mile to the west.

Martin Coulter was a progressive citizen as evidenced by the fact that he and William Deed, Nicholas Fry, Peter Ikerd, John Deed and four other men in 1773 purchased a tract of land from Philip Henry Greader, schoolmaster, the land having a schoolhouse, thereon, a condition of the purchase being these men would see that a school for the public was conducted. The site of this pioneer school building was on a small branch that falls into Sigmon Creek, about 1/2 mile above the bridge on which Highway 321 crosses the creek about one mile southeast of Newton.

He and his family were ardent patriots in the Revolutionary War. His great granddaughter, Mrs. Thomas [Lafayette] Lowe told of the great interest with which she often listened to her grandfather (Martin Coulter, Jr.) tell of his or his father's experiences in the war and of the anxiety they, at times, felt for the success of the colonies. How about the year, 1780, the father, though past military age, went with his sons, to the front and joined the ranks. Particularly voiced was the recollection of the description of an encounter with some of Cornwallis' men, in which his father came perilously near being captured. [note this Mrs. Lowe is Tom [Thomas Lee born 1887] Lowe's grandmother]

Other records indicate that he was in Major Chronicle's command at the Battle of King's Mountain Oct. 7, 1780. After the Battle of Cowpens, Jan 17, 1781, General Morgan ordered Colonel Samuel Hammond to take a detachment and keep track of Cornwallis movements. With 12 picked men he observed the march of the British Army and while the British were encamped at Ramsour's Mill, Jan 25, 1781. Colonel Hammond made his headquarters at Martin Coulter's place.

In addition to land grants mentioned, above, the records show that he both bought and sold land. When he divided his property between his sons, Martin Jr. and Philip in 1787, he owned 800 acres. [note Martin Coulter Jr., was Tom [Thomas Lee born 1887] Lowe's, grandmother Lowe's, great grandfather.]

He and his family were members of the German Reformed Church. He died in 1805 and is buried in the family burial ground atop a knoll over-looking the South Fork River, a few hundred yards south of his first home place. His wife, Catharine Rosanna Boone Coulter, lived until 1813. She is buried beside her husband.

Catharine Rosanna Boone was the daughter of Joseph Boone - This Joseph Boone was son of George Boone III who came from England and settled in Pennsylvania in 1717. Joseph was a brother of Squire Boone, the father of Col. Daniel Boone. Therefore, the wife of Martin Coulter, Sr. pioneer, was a first cousin of Daniel Boone. [Thus the end of Lillian's sketch regarding Martin Coulter, Sr.]

Further Research on the Coulter Family has brought forth more information on the German Community, Church locations and the Coulters involvement. 

THE HICKORY CHARGE

"Is composed of three congregations, Hickory, Bethel and Grace, all on the South Fork of the Catawba River. Of these churches only one is a union church, viz.: Grace. This place of worship is, perhaps, ten miles North-west of Lincolnton, in a community thoroughly German. About here it was the Yoders, Coulters, Reinhardts, Ramsaurs, Warlicks, Shufords, Wilfongs and Weidners had settled. It was for many years the most prosperous and intelligent Reformed congregation in the State. But owing to removals by death and dismissions to form other Reformed Churches, it has been very greatly reduced in number. Its early house of worship was, as common in this colony, of logs, and it was not until 1851 that this edifice, dear to the fathers, was made to give place to a neat brick house where the descendants of those good men who, in the wilderness, laid the foundation of the State and church, still worship after the fashion of the churches of the Reformation."

Grace Union Church and Cemetery, on the Hickory/Lincolnton Hwy.

In the Grace Lutheran Cemetery are buried many family members from both sides of my family. We find here: Lt. Col. Thomas Lafayette Lowe (great-great-grandfather), his wife Dorcas Anna Coulter Lowe (great-great-grandmother), their first son Thomas Lee Lowe (great-great uncle), and their second son Ottis L. Lowe, my great grandfather. From the Coulter family we find Martin Coulter, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth Aydelotte Coulter.

THE LINCOLN CHARGE

"This charge is in old Lincoln County now, as well as in old Lincoln County of Revolutionary fame. A large part of this county was settled as early as 1745-'50, when the Germans found Pennsylvania too straight for them and turned their faces to a sunnier and more fertile clime.
Daniels Church.—It may be found about 4½ miles North-west of Lincolnton. It is also a union (Reformed and Lutheran) church. It is one of the older German churches in that region, and dates in origin with St. Paul's. Its members were the Warlicks, Ramsaurs, Coulters, Reeps, etc. No means are found by which to determine who organized this Reformed congregation. Its first permanent pastor was Rev. A. Loretz, who lived quite near, and who sleeps in its ancient and populous grave-yard. A better house of worship is now demanded, and the two parties in the union are about to separate and build their own sanctuaries."

Information on Churches: http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr08-0371#p8-751