Margaret Elizabeth McLemore

Notes:

Honored for the "rare store of knowledge concerning economic, political, social and family history (that she) assembled at the (Johnston County) Public Library giving thousands of people opportunity to fulfill their search for family roots and appreciation of the heritage of Johnston County." She was for many years the curator of the Heritage Center of Johnston County in Smithfield, North Carolina. She remains Curator Emeritus.

Publication: The News and Observer .. Raleigh, N.C. Date: August 14, 2005 Section: City & State Feature: Tar Heel Of The Week By Marti Maguire - Staff Writer

JOHNSTON'S HOME-GROWN HISTORIAN STILL GOING AT 94

SMITHFIELD - Barbours, Woodalls and Creeches beware. If your kin hail from Johnston County - or even passed through in the last few centuries - Margaret Lee knows a thing or two about them. Lee is a walking storehouse of county history. For nearly 40 years, she has clipped newspapers and collected letters; wills and other family memorabilia that form the backbone of the genealogy collection at the Johnston County Heritage Center. Most counties have some kind of local history center; often tucked in the comer of a public library. But thanks largely to Lee, the Johnston Heritage Center boasts thousands of books, photos, microfilm and artifacts, all housed in a three-story building converted from a bank. At 94, Lee still spends about five hours a day, six days a week, at the center, helping people research their ancestry and clipping tidbits from old newspapers and other sources for her voluminous files. "She'd come Sunday if we were open," says the center's director, Wingate Lassiter. Lee says her fascination with history started when she was a child who kept a close eye on her neighbors in the Cleveland area of Johnston County. Her father was a country doctor. "My parents scolded me for being nosy," Lee says. "I think too much curiosity has paid off." Earlier this year, Lee was honored as one of 25 "Living Legends of Johnston County" for her contributions to preserving local history. Her knowledge of local families is also legendary. "She can tell you not only who they are and where they live, but when they came here and where they come from," says Grover Miller, a fellow volunteer at the center. Her blue eyes look for familiar features as soon as she meets someone new, and her first words are always the same: "What's your name?" She smiles knowingly as a red- haired young lady scours a pile of census records for information on her family, the Woodalls. Many county residents, including a county commissioner and the former health director, share the name. "She has the hair of a Woodall," Lee says. Cookie Pope, chairwoman of the Johnston County commissioners, got a lesson on her family history from Lee; to whom she is distantly related. Lee gave her a newspaper clipping recounting a moonshine still being found on the property of Pope's great-grandfather.

A doctor's daughter

Lee grew up in the Cleveland community, where her father, George Ammie Mclemore, traveled dirt roads treating patients, first in a horse and buggy and later by car. She planned to study at Women's College in Greensboro (now UNC-Greensboro) to become a teacher, but attended classes for only one year. She first postponed college because she had surgery for scoliosis. When her mother, Nellie Johnson McLemore, died in 1934, the 24-year-old Lee took charge of her two brothers and two sisters, the youngest of whom was 8 at the time. That ended her hopes for finishing college. She married in 1941 and had three children. Her husband, Denton Lee, owned a store In Smithfield where he sold and repaired electronics and appliances. He died of a heart attack in 1965. Daughter Mary Nell Ferguson says Lee has collected newspaper clippings and records of special occasions as long as she can remember, whether they were news articles about neighbors or her children's report cards. "Anything that had anything to do with anyone she knew or loved, the clipping would be kept," Ferguson says. "She definitely had an interest in keeping history." Lee had never worked outside the home until 1967, when a librarian offered her $100 to organize newspapers in a room of the county library. She started by clipping articles of interest and filing them by subject. At the same time, she started collecting other bits and pieces, such as copies of the inside covers of family Bibles bearing the handwritten names of generations of owners. When she had enough information, she would collect donations to bind the material in books. For 10 years, she earned minimum wage working at the library part time. Then she retired and continued as a volunteer. Her collection kept growin "She just clipped and gathered until it got so big they no longer, had room in the library," says Miller, the volunteer.

History gets a home

As the holdings outgrew two library reading rooms, Lee cast her eye on the building across Third Street. When First Citizens Bank vacated the space, she worked with the bank's president and the county commissioners to move the collection there. The center opened in the former bank in 2000. Today, its holdings include hundreds of books like the ones Lee originated. Among them are census records, rolls of Civil War soldiers and lists of county cemeteries, roads and churches. Rotating exhibits greet visitors on the first floor - currently a selection of pottery made in Smithfield in the 1930s. The elevator, in the former bank vault, takes visitors to the third- floor collection that Lee began. Nearly any history book that touches on Johnston can be found on its shelves, and the genealogical information spans Eastern North Carolina and reaches into southern Virginia. Annual "road shows" reap documents and stories from the county's past, and the center solicits artifacts from Johnston families. Visitors come from across the country to research their ancestry. Lee now holds the title of curator emeritus. She takes a cab to the center every day from her home a few miles away. Poor hearing makes it more difficult for her to help researchers, but she still steps in when needed, and she still adds to her files. On a recent morning, her desk was covered with articles from the 1940s on roads being paved. Ferguson says her mother knows she has done a lot to document county history but doesn't dwell on the extent of her contributions. "When she looks around," Ferguson says, "it doesn't occur to her the magnitude of what she's done."

MARGARET McLEMORE LEE .. BORN: Sept. 26, 1910, in the Cleveland community in western Johnston County FAMILY: Husband, Denton Farmer Lee, died in 1965 at age 54; daughters, Mary Nell Ferguson of the Cleveland community and Mary Ann Stubbs of Smithfield; son, Denton Farmer Lee of the Cleveland community; surviving siblings, Eloise Grady of Smithfield and Robert McLemore of Springfield, Ohio ANCESTRY: Lee's mother's family were Johnsons who came from Virginia (a branch from the same tree as county namesake Gabriel Johnston; Lee says some just dropped the "t."), Another famous ancestor is Andrew Johnson, part of another branch that moved to Tennessee. The McLemores came to Johnston County from Scotland. EDUCATION: Graduated from Smithfield School and briefly attended Women's College in Greensboro RELIGION: Member, First Presbyterian Church of Smithfield

Obituary

MARGARET MCLEMORE LEE ..

Smithfield (NC) Margaret McLemore Lee - 96-year-old curator emeritus of the Johnston County Heritage Center - died early Monday (12 Feb 2007) at Johnston Memorial Hospital.

In 1967 she went to work part-time at the brand-new Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield where she began collecting local history and genealogy in what became known as the Johnston County Room. In 2000, the widely acclaimed collection moved into a separate home of its own across the street: today's Johnston County Heritage Center.

Although Mrs. Lee officially retired as a library employee in 1991, she continued her service as a daily volunteer in the Johnston County Room and later at the Heritage Center until a few days before her death.

She was born Sept. 26, 1910 in Johnston County's Cleveland Township as Margaret Elizabeth McLemore, daughter of Dr. George A. McLemore and Nellie Emily Johnson McLemore. Her father was a country doctor who moved the family to Smithfield in 1923. Margaret graduated from Smithfield High
School in 1927 and attended North Carolina College for Women (today's UNC-Greensboro). She married Denton F. Lee in 1941 and worked as bookkeeper for her husband's radio I and appliance business in Downtown Smithfield until his death in 1965.

Mrs. Lee joined Oakland Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Township in 1922 and in 1925 moved her membership to Smithfield's First Presbyterian Church where she served as treasurer of the Sunday School from 1947 till 1982, as the church's first woman ordained deacon, and as president of the Women of the Church. She also served as historian for the Women of the Church of Granville Presbytery as well as Women of the Church of the Synod of North Carolina.

During her term as president of the Smithfield Woman's Club in 1963-64, she won national recognition from the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Sears- Roebuck Foundation for the club's Community Improvement Program.

She was the first president, in 1965, of the Historic Hastings House Association, which saved Smithfield's oldest surviving residence.

She was organizing regent for the Smith-Bryan Chapter of N.C. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She was also a charter member of the Johnston County Historical Society.

She was a charter member of the Johnston Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and served as a volunteer with Contact Teleministry from 1972 until 1987.

She was a member of the first Girl Scout troop organized in Johnston County, in 1923. In 1983 Mrs. Lee was named a "Distinguished Citizen" by the Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce.

In 1996 she served as the first Grand Marshal for Cleveland Township's Fourth of July celebration.

In 2000 she was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian award bestowed by the State of North Carolina.

In 2005 she was honored by the Johnston County Heritage Commission as a "Living Legend of Johnston County." That same year she was named "Tar Heel of the Week" by The News & Observer of Raleigh.
Mrs. Lee was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. George A. McLemore of New York City, and a sister, Lucile McLemore Austin of Smithfield, as well as her husband.

She is survived by daughters, Mary Nell Lee Ferguson and husband, Jerry of Cleveland Township, Margaret Ann Lee Stubbs and husband, David of Smithfield; son, Denton F. Lee, Jr. and wife, Jane of Cleveland Township; a brother and sister - Dr. Robert A. McLemore of Springfield, Ohio and Eloise McLemore Grady of Smithfield; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church on South Third Street in Smithfield.

A graveside service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Oakland Presbyterian Church on Cleveland Road, followed by a memorial service at
11 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian in Smithfield.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to either of the following: the Johnston County Heritage Center, P.O. Box 2709, Smithfield, NC, 27577; First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1159,
Smithfield, NC 27577; the Margaret McLemore Lee Endowment, Johnston Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 2350, Smithfield, NC 27577.


File: Obit..Lee, Margaret McLemore..2-12.2007

(Courtesy of Robert McLemore Butler, "The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) on 2/13/2007)

Margaret married Denton Farmer Lee on 2 Feb 1941 in Johnston County, North Carolina. Denton was born on 1 Dec 1910; died in Jul 1965; was buried in Sunset Memorial Park, Johnston County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The 1910 census showed that he was a Physician in General Practice.

The information on the family of George and Nellie McLemore was excerpted by Robert McLemore Butler from SAMPSON COUNTY HERITAGE, Cumberland County Library, Fayetteville, NC.

According to the 1906 "Yackety Yack", the Fourth Year Medical Class included George Ammie McLemore of Parkersburg, N.C. "His jokes are like bad news." Age 27, height, 5 feet, 10 inches, weight 140. Wake Forest Medical College (1) and (2); University College of Medicine, Richmond, Va. (3); "Phi" Literary Society, W.F.C. In June, 1906, he was awarded an M.D. from the University of North Carolina. That same month he began his medical practice in Cleveland Township, Johnston County, North Carolina. As his patients were scattered all over the countryside, he used a horse and buggy for travel until 1914. He recalled his hardest work was during the flu epidemic of 1918 when he was called upon to keep going day and night. During his career he delivered more than 5000 babies and saved uncounted lives. He also wrote a cartoon and quip series "Aunt Roxie Says" for the Smithfield Hearld.

In 1953, Dr. McLemore married second Mrs. Geneva GODWIN ROWLAND.

A biographical clipping from the North Carolina Collection is referenced as follows:

NAME: McLemore, George Ammie (1878-1961) CALL NO.: CRBo N87 REEL NO.: 24 PAGE(S): 672

http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/b75/b75Mc.html

George married Nellie Emily Johnson on 22 Dec 1908 in North Carolina. Nellie was born on 25 Jun 1881 in Johnston County, North Carolina; died on 17 Apr 1934 in Johnston County, North Carolina; was buried in Oakland Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Johnston County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Edward Robert JOHNSON and Elizabeth HARRISON.

Notes:

Married:
They were active members of the Presbyterian Church.He was ordained an Elder in 1910.

Notes:

At the time of the 1860 census, he appeared to have been living with his grandfather, Raiford McLemore.

In 1870, he may have been living with his Aunt, Nancy McLemore Lockemy.

1880 Federal Census

David MCLEMOORE Self M Male W 27 NC Farming NC NC
Maggie M. MCLEMOORE Wife M Female W 22 NC House Keeping NC NC
George A. MCLEMOORE Son S Male W 2 NC NC NC
Adda D. MCLEMOORE Dau S Female W 4M NC NC NC Source Information:
Census Place Mcdaniels, Sampson, North Carolina
Family History Library Film 1254981
NA Film Number T9-0981
Page Number 46B

David married Margaret "Maggie" Penelope Hall about 1877. Margaret was born on 23 Apr 1854 in Sampson County, North Carolina; died on 19 Jan 1926 in Sampson County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her mother, Annie Hall, was living with the family in 1900. She was shown as born in Jan 1825 and the mother of 7 children, four of whom were still living.
Bonnie Seiler shows her as the daughter of Tobias and Ann E. HALL.

Notes:

Married:
At the time of the 1900 census, she was shown as being the mother of seven children, all still living. She and David had been married 21 years.

Notes:

FindAGrave shows him as a son of Tobias McLemore.

At the time of the 1850 Sampson County Census, there appear to be two (2) Hezekiah McLemore's that are enumerated. On the 1850 Sampson County census, Northern Division, dated October 18, 1850, a 23 year-old Hezekiah McLemore was listed, newly married to 23 year old Caroline McLemore. These are the ancestors of Margaret McLemore Lee of Johnston County, North Carolina, who has extensively researched these families. She shows that Hezekiah was the son of Raiford McLemore. Approximately one month earlier, on September 15, 1850, in the Southern District of Sampson County, there is a listing for a 30 year-old Hezekiah McLemore. He was living alone in household 487, but the census indicated that he was newly married within the year, but no wife is listed with him. The listing immediately preceding his is that of Raiford McLemore--father of the 23 year old Hezekiah in the Northern District. As these Northern and Southern District were enumerated more that a month apart, it possible that Hezekiah was simply double counted, with his age being listed incorrectly on the Southern District census. That he was shown as newly married on both census reports adds some credence to this possibility.

At the time of the 1860 census, in the Northern District of Sampson County, Clinton P.O., a 32 year old Hezekiah McLemore can be found. Living with him is 31 year-old Matilda, and a 4 year-old girl named Celestial. Margaret Lee and Robert Butler both indicate that Hezekiah's first wife, Caroline, died shortly after giving birth to their son David, and that Hezekiah remarried Matilda Fowler. Her last name is cited as Campbell in Rev. William McLemore's Sampson index, but this appears to be in error. Hezekiah's son, David is not listed in the household. He is instead living with his grandfather, Raiford.

The 1870 census listing for 70 year-old Raiford McLemore in 1870 shows him still in the Southern Division of Sampson County, along with 37 year old Mary, 22 year old Rachel, 15 year old Amos, 8 year old David, and 7 year old Louanne. Although it is known that the 8 year old David was his grandson, Raiford's relationship to 7 year Louanne is not known. It is also not known of Mary, some thirty years younger than Raiford, was his daughter or a second wife.

Robert McLemore Butler shows Hezekiah M. McLemore as a Pvt 2nd Co A 2nd Artillery Regt. Born 1843 (sic) in Sampson County, Enlisted February 9, 1863 in Clinton. Robert has a copy of a letter he wrote to his father on March 22, 1863 from Fort Cashwell. Hezekiah was hospitalized December 21, 1864 at Wilmington with typhoid pneumonia. Furloughed December 27, 1864 for 60 days.

Margaret McLemore Lee indicated that Hezekiah McLemore died circa 1864 at Fort Fisher during the Civil War, from "illness." However, Robert McLemore Butler found the following death notice of Hezekiah "Died---in Sampson on 2 Jan 1865, at the residence of John FOWLER, Esq., Mr. Hezekiah McLEMORE, in the 39th year of age. (b. 8 Feb 1827..Buried at McLemore Cemetery, Roseboro, N.C. h/o Matilda J. (FOWLER) McLemore. It appears that Hezekiah died from pneumonia while on furlough.

The last major stronghold of the Confederacy, Fort Fisher was the site of two major battles and finally fell January 15, 1865. This earthen fort kept the Cape Fear River and the port of Wilmington open to blockade runners which delivered vital supplies to Confederate armies. Located here are the remains of the fort, a visitor-center with slide orientation and daily guided tours. http://webcom.com/rudd/things/fort/

1866 Sampson County NC Will Bk 36 Pg 56 31 Jul 1866 Hezekiah McLEMORE Widow Matilda J. (FOWLER) MacLEMORE dowery....Plus (Courtesy of Robert McLemore Butler)


The following deed was transcribed by Robert McLemore Butler:

DATUS ROYAL TO HEZIKIAH McLAMORE DEED - SAMPSON COUNTY BOOK 29 PAGE 337

STATE OF NORTH Carolina - SAMPSON COUNTY ?February 13th 1849 .. This indenture made the thirteenth of February in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and forty nine between Hezikiah McLamore of the one part and Datus D. Royal of the other part both of the County and State aforesaid witnesseth that the said Datus D. Royal for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred dollars to him in hand paid and secured to be paid by the said Hezikiah McLamore hath by these presents absolutely bargained sold assigning conveying confirmed and forever set over unto Hezikiah McLamore his heirs Executors Administrators and assigns conveys confirms and forever one certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Sampson butted and bounded as follows on the East side of Little Cohare - beginning at a Dogwood on the North side of The Fayetteville Road thence with the said Road S 40 N 46 1/2 poles to a stake by the Side of the Road near a cotton tree thence S 24 E 49 poles to a Stake thence S 50 W 104 poles to a Small Maple at the run of Bearskin thence down the run to the mouth of Little Bearskin thence up the run of the Same N 57 E to a small _______ gum by the new bridge thence S 5 E 6 1/2 poles to a water Oak Stump by the run of the branch thence up the Said run N 5 E 48 poles thence N 45 E 33 poles thence N 21 E 40 poles N 52 E 2.3 poles thence N66E 9 poles to a bay tree thence W47 ____ to a pine Stump thence N 108 poles to the main Road Sams Corner 92 poles to a large pine stump thence N 85 W 29 poles to a pine thence S 37 W 85 poles to a stake thence S 50 E 33 poles to stake thence S 17 W 80 poles to a stake by the lot thence S 60 E 8 poles to the Beginning containing two hundred and eight and one quarter acres which tract or parcel of land with Singular the benefits advantages and appurtenances _________ unto belonging or in any wise apportioning the said Datus D. Royal doth absolutely bargain sell release convey and confirm unto the Said Hezikiah McLamore his heirs and assigns forever in fee simple and the said Datus D. Royal doth hereby _________ and agree to witnessth __________ Hezikiah McLamore his heirs Executors Administrators ________ forever to ________ granted and bargained land _________ from and against him the said Datus D. Royal or his heirs or any other person or persons whatsoever laying any lawful claims thereto in witness whereof I the Said Datus D. Royal hath here unto set my hand and Seal the day and date above written.

Datus D. Royal

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presents of: John Gainey Raiford McLamore

State of North Carolina Sampson County Court of Pleas and Bargains Orcantor Fosster February Term 1849 Thus the foregoing Deed was fully acknowledged in open court and ordered to be Registered Thomas Faison Clk Registered the 6th of April 1849 W. Royal Reg.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
North Carolina, Sampson County, Northern Division, PO Clinton
Enumerated 19 Jun 1860
Page 30
228-209
Hazekiah McLamore 32 M Farmer 500 523 NC
Matilda McLamroe 31 F
Celestial A McLamore 4 F

Hezekiah married Caroline Campbell before 1850. Caroline was born about 1827 in Sampson County, North Carolina; died about 1852 in Sampson County, North Carolina; was buried in McLemore Family Cemetery, Roseboro, Sampson County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Robert McLemore Butler writes that Caroline died when her son David Alderman McLemore was born.