The Presnell Family by

Aner Rominger

Our nation is two hundred and four years old in this year of 1980, and we all should be aware of our heritage and history. Your writer being a descendant of' one of the oldest pioneer families of' Watauga Co, N.C. will try to record our Presnell Family History. The Presnell's were among the earliest settlers of Watauga Co. The descendants number many thousands, it would be impossible to attain all names and birth dates. I have done a lot of researching both in public and college library, birth and death records, marriage records, war dept. and old Bibles. I was born in 1900, so I remember things my grand-parents and great grand-parents told me. My great grandfather James Presnell III, who came to what is now Watauga Co. in late 1790 or early 1800's and settled in the Tom's Knob section, and by old grants-deeds-and wills. Had over one thousand acres of land. He cut timber and built a Primitive Baptist log Church. Almost all the older Presnell's were Primitive Baptist or hard Shell Baptist as they were sometimes called. I can remember going to the Old Zion Church when I was a .small girl. They followed the practice of foot washing, and sang songs in a minor key, which I thought was very beautiful. Among the songs Wayfaring Pilgrim, From The Fountain, Lily White Robe, Promised Land, Old Time Religion and The Ninety And Nine. I remember several of the old Primitive Ministers or Elders as they were called. Monroe Presnell, James Presnell, George Presnell, Aud Presnell and Hill Stines.

Elder Tom Ward, who married a Presnell descendant, now has a Primitive Baptist Church on Watauga River Called Pilgrim Rest. I want to give credit to some of my friends who helped me with this record. Ida Presnell Harmon who helped me get started in 1969. Ida died in 1975. To N. Duke Ward who died in 1976, at age 82.

Due to illness I could not get younger generations up to this date. I hope what I have collected will help those seeking Presnell genealogy to trace their ancestors and to go on from there listing their own children and grand-children.

My mother was Cameline Presnell, daughter of Oliver Jerome and Susan E. Presnell. She always loved her people and Eli Finley Tester. She died of cancer on April 27, 1947.

I am proud of my Presnell ancestors and some of them were quite famous. The Mosley Family who married into the Presnell family traced back to 1325. William Mosely, born in 1605 was a wealthy jewelry merchant in Delft, Holland. He was born in Nottingham England but moved to Holland.

The Maupin family also married into the Presnell Family I have traced the Maupin's back to 1390. Marie Julie, born in 1680 married Jacob Presnell, or Presnall as it was then spelled, Her ancestor Amos De Maupin born - I620, married a grand-daughter of Anthony (King of Navarre France).

I have also traced the Daniel's chart back to 1205-in England. A descendant Mary Ann Daniel married James Presnell (I) . I got this information from First Family's of America at the Belk Library, Boone, N.C. to get started on the charts.

Mrs. Sylvia Baird (a Presnell descendant) helped me with the charts. She lives at Virginia Beach VA. She is. a great-grand daughter of James Presnell IV, and Nancy Trivette Presnell. Coming down to the present generation, Aunt Annie Presnell Rominger was very good with her arts and crafts. She made her own designs, hooked rugs, place mats and wall hangings. She also made her own designs and knotted bed spreads, hand tying the lace fringe for them. Her crafts sold very well. She sold enough to buy a new Chevrolet car. Mrs. Pearl Presnell is well known for her hand tied lace. Nancy Bell Presnell Bell has written hundreds of poems. Among them, A Fox Hunt On Cosby -- I Am Never Alone -- A Blue Star Mother's Prayer -- and Where Is My Daddy. Edd Presnell is well known for his wood carving Dulcimers Etc. My brother Nelson R Tester, a retired school teacher, writes gospel songs. One's he has had published by James D, Vaughan, music publishers are: No Love Like Jesus' Love -- I Want To Be Ready When He Calls -- Come Go With Me. These were published in the 1980 Vaughan Book.

HISTORY of PRESNELL FAMILY

As compiled by Aner T. Rominger

Jacques (Jacob) Presnell the first, of France was a member of the Hugenot army

during the 16th century. Of the Huguenots, it has been said there have been few people on earth so upright and single minded. So faithful in the discharge of their duties toward God and man, So educated in aim, so dignified in character.

The truth seems to be that the Huguenots were men of such ability and

trust-worthiness they were chosen where public service demanding highest integrity and capacity was to be rendered. The enlightened independent firm God fearing spirit of the French protestants has blended it's influence with that of the puritan to form our national character, and to establish those civil and religious institutions of which we are distinguished and blessed above all people.

We are constantly reminded of the fact that France lost her best blood when her protestant subjects were massacred or exiled The earliest mention of the French in colonial Virginia is the year 1610. As the seventeenth century waxed, so did the Huguenot emigration to Virginia.

Jacob Presnell went from France to England, from there he emigrated to Jamestown Virginia. He and his wife Sarah, also of France, moved from Jamestown to Middlesex County Virginia. The Presnells’ were in Manchester County England before coming to America.

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Jacob Presnell (II) was born in France in 1679. He was also a Huguenot, he died in 1716 or 1717. He was the son of Jacob (I) and Sarah. Jacob (II) also went from France to England, and then came to Virginia. He married Mary Julie Maupin in 1700. Mary Julie was born in France in 1680, she was a descendant of Anthony, King of Navarre, she died in Middlesex county Virginia. Mary Julie was the daughter of and Mary Spencer Maupin. I have traced the Maupin family. They fled France during the same period that the Presnell's did, the Maupin's came from Pyrennes and the Presnell's Du Rhone which is not too far away.

All these French were supposed to go to Mankintowne, Virginia, a place specially built for the refugees. But since so many were loyal to the English for letting them stay there after they had to flee France, many stayed in Williamsburg and Middlesex county Virginia, and remained loyal to each other. The Presnell's or (Pressnall's) as it was then spelled, came to America on the ship NASSAU.

********** James Presnell (I) or Pressnall as it was spelled then, Son of Jacob Presnell (II) and Mary Julie Maupin, was born in Middlesex Co. VA. in 1708. He died in 1792. He married Mary Ann Daniels Oct. 12 1732. Mary Ann was born 1713 or 1716, in Middlesex Co. VA. She died in Chowan Co. NC. in 1800. Mary Ann was the daughter of William and Mary Mosely Daniels. I think James Presnell (I) was the ancestor of all the Presnell's in North Carolina. From the Parish Register of Christ Church, Middlesex Co. VA. It reads: “James Presnell son of Jacob and-Mary (sometimes spelled Marie) Julie Maupin, {note from Major Michael C. Presnell – this claim is incorrect -- the register only gives the first name Mary – I do not believe there is any connection between the Presnell family and the Maupin family!} was baptized March 9, 1708. From Early Marriages of Virginia - Parish Register: married -- James Presnell and Mary Ann Mosely Daniels, 12 October 1732.

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James Presnell (II) son of' James (I) and Mary Ann Daniels Presnell was born in 1736 in Chowan Co. NC. He was in the American Revolution, he married Sarah Harvey in 1759. Sarah was born in 1741 and died in 1771. They had one son, Nathan Presnell, born in 1759. James (II) died in 1821. Nathan Presnell (I) Son of' James Presnell (II) and Sarah Harvey Presnell - was born 1759 in Chowan Co., NC. He married Mary Whitehead. They moved to Chatham Co. and then to what is now Alexandra Co, NC. They had four son's and perhaps other children. William : married Ann Watkins. Eligah : Married Kathy Munday. James (III) Born 1796, Married Susan Benfield.

Soloman: Born 1810 came to what is now Watauga Co. in 1827. Married Mary Mundy. She was born in what is now Alexander Co. NC. James Presnell (III). Son of Nathan and Mary \Whitehead Presnell, was born in 1796 and died 1885 at age 89. He married Susan Benfield in 1818. Susan was born in 1804 and died 1898 at age 94. James was born in Chatham Co, NC. Susan was born in Taylorsville, Lincoln Co. NC., the daughter of George Benfield and Sarah Hartzel Benfield. James (III) and Susan moved to what is now Watauga Co. NC. in the early eighteen hundreds to the Tom’s Knob section, where he and his family owned a lot of land. According to old grants and deeds, over one thousand acres. They had nine children; 5 boys and four girls. Names of children are listed below: Harvey Miles (I) Born n 1820-died 1908. He married Rilda Hicks, daughter of Harmon and Nellie Tester Hicks. Harvey Miles, was in the Civil War. George:: Died at a young age Eli (I) Born June 1831, died January 24 1903. Married Eliza Harmon, daughter of Council Harmon and Betsy Tester Harmon. Nathan (II) Born July 16, 1838, died August 29, 1887. He married Sarah Melinda Shupe, daughter of Betsy Shupe. Sarah was born 1842 or 1843. Died March 8, 1912.

James 4th, Born February 18, 1840, died February 12, 1920. First wife Caroline Ward. Second wife Hannah Ward, sister to Caroline. Third wife, Nancy Trivette. Fourth wife Oliver. Sarah: Oldest daughter, married Joe Hicks. Nancy: Married Samuel Hicks II. Ann: First married Riley Ward son of Duke Ward (II) and Lucy Tester Ward. Second husband was William Hicks. Clarissa (Known as Aunt Clare) married Calvin Ward son of Duke Ward (II) and Lucy Tester Ward.

James (III) and his wife are buried at the Mast cemetery in the Rominger community in Watauga County in unmarked graves in the flat section of the cemetery nearer the Charlie Mast home.

James and Susan belonged to the Old Zion Primitive Baptist church,

the old log church near their home. Almost all the older Presnell's were Primitive Baptist and are buried at the Mast Cemetery. All the old grave markers have fallen down.

Harvey Miles Presnell Family Harvey Miles Presnell (I): Known as Hilos, was the son of James Presnell (III) and Susan Benfield Presnell, was born in Watauga County N.C. in 1820 and died in 1908. He married Rilda Hicks, daughter of Harmon Hicks and Nellie Tester Hicks. Granny Hicks, as she was known, was born in 1823 or 1824. Died in 1902. Harvey Miles was a veteran of the Civil War. In the history of the North Carolina Cavalry, it reads, Harvey Miles Presnell transferred from Company C. 5th Battalion, N.C. Cavalry August 3,1863. Muster roll dated November 28,1863 carries the remark: “Absent without leave since September 12. 1863. Left wagon train near Dalton, Ga.” The grave marker got from the War Depart. By a great-granddaughter, Mrs. Aner T. Romiger reads:

HARVEY MILES PRESNELL PVT. CO. C. N.C. CAV.

CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY 1820 1908

Miles and Rilda are buried at the Mast Cemetery, Rominger community in Watauga Co. N.C. His parents James Presnell (III) and Susan Benfield Presnell near him. Also three of his grandchildren are buried near him. Children of Oliver Jerome and Susan Presnell. Rilda, Ida, and David. Great grandpa Miles was a great hunter, and there was plenty of wild game in the western N.C. mountains at that time, wild turkey, quail, ruffled grouse, deer, partridge, pheasant, rabbits, wild duck, squirrel, opossums and mountain boomers. Plenty of trout in the streams. In spring and summer there was wild strawberries, black-berries, huckle- berries, crab apples, dew berries, wild plums, and grapes for making jams and jellies. Great Grandpa and other farmers raised lots of hogs and turned them loose to forage for themselves. The hogs multiplied and fattened on beech nuts, hickory nuts, chinquapins and chestnuts. To identify their hogs they marked their ears.

Great Grandpa Miles was also a great bear hunter, and at one time had floor and walls of his log cabin covered with bear skins. He went blind around 1900, and was an invalid the rest of his life. Harvey Miles and Rilda had twelve children: James Mitchell: Born 1843 or 44, married Mellisa Dyer, daughter of Joel and Polly Callihan Dyer. Eli Taylor : Born March 2, 1845- died February 12, 1939, married America Banner daughter of John and Betsy Shiposh Banner. Oliver Jerome : Born July 7, 1849 – died February 23, 1935, married Susan Presnell daughter of Nathan (II) and Sarah Shupe Presnell in 1874. Harmon : Born 1853, married Kizzie Ward daughter of Riley and Ann Presnell. Miles (II): Born 1847, married Caroline Presnell, daughter of James (I) and Caroline Ward Presnell. Polly : Born 1855 – died January 8, 1935. Belle: Born 1857 died at a young age, married a Mr. Cable who lived in Butler, Tenn. Grant: Born June &, 1864, died September 20, 1951. Married Ellen ??? Daughter of James (IV) and Nancy Trivette Presnell. Jard: Married Elizabeth Flannery. John C. : Born March 18, 1862 – died October 28, 1918, married Mary ??? Trivette, daughter of Elisah and Eveline Trivette. Lincoln: Born 1870, married Katherene ( known as sis ) Tester, daughter of Robin and Katie Ward Tester.

James Mitchell Presnell Family

James Mitchell Presnell: Was the son of Miles Presnell (I) and Rilda Presnell. Born 1843 or1844 in what is now Watauga County N.C. He married Mellisa Dyer, daughter of Joel and Polly Dyer. Their children are as follows. Schofield: Married Etter Way Castor. Hamilton: Married Linda Keller. John (II): Born October 25, 1882. Married Cora Presnell, daughter of ??? and Cindy Eggers Presnell. Ben W.: Born November 12, 18872 – died March 24, 1920. Married Sarah ??? Trivette, daughter of Elisah and Eveline Trivette. Garfield: Married Lillie Ward. Lincoln (III): Married Dorthy Harrison. Council (III): Married Vicki Guy. Allen: Married an Indian, Bamma Honeycut. Kizzie: Married Monroe Presnell, son of Eli and Eliza Harmon Presnell. Mary: Married John Ward, son of Riley Ward Jr. and Anne Hicks Ward. Finley: Died young, never married.

Ben Presnell Family

Ben Presnell: Son of James Mitchell and Mellisa Dyer Presnell. He was born November 12, 1872. Died March 24, 1920. He married Sarah Ellen Trivette, Daughter of Elisah and Eveline Harmon Trivette. Sarah was born August II, 1870, died March 24, 1945. Their children are and were. Ocie May: Born November 4, 1896, married Roy B. Dugger. Shelly: Born June 12, 1898. Died March 19, 1962. Never married.

Perley L: Born February 24, 1900. Died March 18, 1920. Never married. Link: Born October II, 1902. Married Ann Younce. Martha: Born October 18, 1904. Died October 10, 1905. Freddie: Born August 12, 1906. Married Mildred Clowes. Valentine: Born February 14, 1909. Died July 30, 1909. Mary E.: Born March 22, 1911. Died March 31, 1955. Married Joe Fletcher. Audie: Born September 1, 1914. Died February 24, 1971. Married Vera Johnson.

John C. Presnell (II) Family John C. Presnell (II): Son of Mitchell and Mellisa Dyer Presnell. Born October 25, 1882. Married Cora Presnell daughter of Nathan and Cindy Eggers Presnell. Cora was born August 6, 1882. John (II) is now living with his daughter ( Thelma) near Boone, N.C. at this writing April 29, 1980. Their children are. Clark: Born May 13, 1907. Married Ethel Presnell daughter of Lee and Martha Presnell. Clate: Born January 22, 1910. Married Ruth Ward daughter of Gold and Arlene Ward. Ruth was born November 23, 1912. Clate and Ruth have one son, Charles Presnell, born May 30, 19?1. Charlie: Born May 1, 1916. Married Virgie Presnell daughter of Loyd and Ida Presnell. Nathaniel: Born January 2, 1925. Married Rachel Henson. Thelma: Born November 10, 1927. Married Wilbern Ward.

Eli Taylor Presnell (III)

Eli Taylor Presnell (III): Born March 3, 1845. Died February 12, 1939. Son of Harvey Miles and Rilda Hicks Presnell. He married America Banner, daughter of John and Betsy Shiposh Banner. America was born in 1844 and died September 27, 1936. They are buried at the Presnell Cemetery near their old home place which is in Watauga County N.C. Names of their 7 children follow. Jane: Married Dow Ward, son of Calvin and Clarrisa Presnell Ward. This is

the only information I have on her family at this time. Betty: Born October 5, 1873. Date of death unknown. Married Smith Oliver, son of John W. and Sarah Church Oliver. After his death she married Dan Yates. Annie: Born 1875. Died 1957. Married Marion Rominger, son of Alfred E. and Elizabeth Starr Rominger. Lou Zenia: Born May 5, 1880. Date of death unknown. Married Goulder Council Harmon, son of Goulder Carroll and Lucinda Ward Harmon. Mary: Born March 3, 1877, died February II, 1904. Married Luther Yates. Ninevah V: Born May 1, 1883. Died March 12, 1965. Married Luecretta Tester Daughter of Duke and Alice Presnell Tester. Kimmie: Born September 9, 1888. Died April 6, 1965. Married Nat L. Glenn, son of Elisha and Mary New Glenn.

Betty Presnell Family Betty Presnell: Daughter of Eli Taylor (III) and America Banner Presnell. Born October 5, 1873, died November ?, 1966. She married Smith Oliver, son Of John W. and Sarah Church Oliver. Betty is buried at Canton N.C. and Smith At Mast Cemetery in Rominger Community, Watauga County N.C. They had three girls. Rosa: Born 1895, married Henry Norby, lived out west. Pearl: Born 1897, married Amos Presnell, son of James Presnell (IV) and Nancy Trivette Presnell, moved away from N.C. Minnie: Born March 17, 1899, married Leonard Presnell, son of Josephus and Martha Caroline Eggers Presnell, Minnie and Leonard live at Vilas, N.C. Betty’s second husband was Dan Yates, their children are. Ida: Born April 20, 1902, married Jack Baird, son of Joe and Cordelia Ward Baird. They live at Sugar Grove, N.C. Eurstia: Born March 16, 1903. Benny: Born July 14, 1906, died August 16, 1972. Hazel: Born November 1, 1908. Honea: Born July 18, 1904. Florence: Born November 23, 1913.

Annie Presnell Family

Annie Presnell: Daughter of Eli Taylor and America Banner Presnell. Born 1875, died 1957. Married Marion Rominger, son of Alfred and Elizabeth Starr Rominger. Their children Lizzie: Married David Trivette, son of Carrol and Martha Harmon Trivette. Ester: Born October ?, 1900, died September 30, 1915. Sarah: Known as Babe, married Talmago Watson. Leonard: Deceased. Married Myrtle Phillips, foster daughter of Nate and Alice Castle Phillips. Wilborn: Married Mattie Shull, daughter of Jerd and Callio Shull. Wilborn and Mattie had three children: Shirly, Shelby, and Harold Dean. Harold Dean was born March 22, 1947, died October 10, 1960. Shirly first married Don Wheeler. They had three children. Kathy, a baby who died in infancy, and Mike, born December 4, 1965. Shirly is now married to Frank Guy.

Mary Presnell II

Mary Presnell II was the daughter of Eli Presnell III and America Banner Presnell. She was born on March 3, 1877 and died on February 11, 1904. She married Luther Yates. Their children are as follows: Martin Yates – born January 30 1900; died on April 22, 1971. He married Eula Mills on July 27, 1921. Alfred Yates – born on February 10, 1903; died January 5, 1969. He first married Callie Ward in 1921. Married Birdie Trivette.

Lou Zenia Presnell Family

Lou Zenia Presnell Harmon was born on May 5, 1880. She was the daughter of Eli and America Banner Presnell. She married Goulder Council Harmon. He was born on April 24, 1874. Their children are as follows: William Otis Harmon – born April 27, 1899. He is now deceased. Melvina Harmon – born July 30, 1900: now deceased. Edward Harmon – born September 24, 1902: now deceased. Danville Miles Harmon – born February 29, 1904.

Graydon Ninevah Harmon – born June 8, 1906: died September 28, 1958. Willard Grover Harmon – born May 1, 1909. Iris Carrol Harmon – born February 2, 1912. Clyde Eli Harmon – born November 15, 1915. Ruby Anna Harmon – born June 28, 1918. Howard Carson Harmon – born April 9, 1921. Stacy Edward Harmon – born June 5, 1927: now deceased.

Kimmie Presnell Family Kimmie Presnell married Nat L. Glenn, May 2, 1908. Kimmie was born September 9, 1888: died April 6, 1965. Nat L. Glenn was born March 5, 1886: died April 9, 1955. Their children were as follows: Ruth Glenn – born May 19, 1909; married Cling Hicks. Leonard L. Glenn – born Dec 5, 1910; married Claire Ward. Grover Howard Glenn – born March 8, 1914; married Marie Rosa Love. Floy Easter Glenn – born November 25, 1915; died March 23, 1916. James Edgar Glenn – born April 30, 1917; died February 1967; married Bertha Harmon. Ralph P. Glenn – born July 20, 1919; married Alice Harmon. Della Edna Glenn – born June 28, 1922; married Frank Glenn, first time; second time Lawrence Shepherd Jr. Ruby Glenn – born November 2, 1929; married Loyd Norris. Raymond Glenn – born May 30, 1925; married Lena Matheson. Raymond died April 12, 1978. Willis C. Glenn – born April 16, 1933; married Earl Norris.

Orbituary of Raymond Glenn

Raymond Glenn, 52, of Rt. 1, Sugar Grove, died Wednesday. Born May 30, 1925 he was the

son of the late Nat L. and Kimmie Presnell Glenn of

Watauga County. He was a veteran of World War II and a

member of Antioch Baptist Church.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs Lena Matheson Glenn;

three sons, Kenneth and David Glenn of the home. Dennis

Glenn of Blowing Rock; four daughters, Mrs. Linda Wilcox

of Boone, Mrs. Levita Hicks of

Sugar Grove. Mrs. Libby Trivette of Vilas. Miss Lisa

Glenn of the home; three brothers, Leonard and Howard

Glenn both of Sugar Grove, Ralph Glenn of Vilas; four

sisters, Mrs. Ruth Hicks and Mrs. Edna Shepherd, both of

Sugar Grove, Mrs. Ruby Norris of Greensboro, Mrs.

Willis Cooper of Sanford and by five grandchildren.

Services were conducted Friday afternoon at the

Antioch Baptist Church. Officiating were the Rev. Carl Wilson, the Rev. Gene Smith, the Rev. Bynum Trivette and the Rev. Rayner Matheson.

Burial followed in the church Cemetery.

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Directors, Boone, was in charge of arrangements.

Ninevah Vance Presnell Family

Ninevah Vance Presnell was born May 1, 1883 and died March 12, 1965. He married Luecretta Tester on July 4, 1905; she was born Oct. 18, 1888 and died Dec. 28, 1960. Their children were as follows: Henry Clay Presnell Nellie May Presnell Mary Bradie Presnell America Hazel Presnell Pina Fairy Presnell Mildred Alice Presnell Feb. 7, 1931; died April 1, 1931. Bonnie Ida Presnell James Frank Presnell Baby boy – born July 10, 1927; died July 10, 1927. Sarah Geneva Presnell Henry Clay Presnell was born Nov. 6, 1906; married Bertha Stines on November 6, 1926. Their children were as follows: Mary Presnell Rilda Presnell Ransom Presnell Calloway Presnell ( dead ) Zinnia Presnell Ida Presnell Gurney Presnell (dead) Fay Presnell Married second time to Hazel Estep on November 21, 1946. She was born July 4, 1920. Their children were as follows:

Kenny Presnell – born Dec. 12, 1947. Louiza Presnell – born July 14,??? Keith Presnell – born July 15, 1950. Billy Presnell – born October 25, 1951. Benny Presnell – born June 25, 1952. Bulah Presnell – born August 4, 1953. Patty Presnell – born March 28, 1957. Sue Presnell – born June 13, 1958.

Bradie M. Presnell Family

Bradie Mary Presnell was born on June 21, 1909. She was the daughter of Ninevah and Lou Tester. She married Charlie Mast who was the son of John and Martha Trivette Mast. They were married March 12, 1927. Their children are as follows: Hazel Mae Mast – born December 13, 1927. Charles Hugh Mast (Cecil) – born January 1, 1932. Virginia Dare Mast (Betty) – born April 1, 1934.

Pina Fairy Presnell Family

Pina F. Presnell was born May 26, 1912; married Jones C. Harmon on June 27, 1929. He was born April 13, 1907. Their children were as follows: Bobbie Ray Harmon – born October 16, 1930; married Irene Harmon on April 12, 1950. They have two children: Randy born in 1951 and died April 15, 1951. Charlene born July 8, 1960. Ida Marie Harmon born July 3, 1933; married William Harmon May 27, 1951. They have one child, Chris who was born June 9, 1964.

Bonnie Ida Presnell Family

Bonnie Ida Presnell was born March 10, 1915; married Edward H. Harmon December 1, 1935. Edward was born May 2, 1914. Bonnie Ida died in 1975. They had one daughter: Evelyn Nell Harmon – born January 15, 1941; married Johnny R. Lawrence on Dec. 25, 1959 He was born Sept. 1, 1939. Their children were as follows: John Donald Lawrence born January 5, 1963; died January 8, 1963. Elizabeth Louise Lawrence

born January 12, 1966 and John R. Lawrence known as “John Boy” was born September 21, 1974.

Frank Presnell Family

Frank Presnell was born April 28, 1918; married Ruby Guy and their children were: Frank Jr., Kathy, Nick and Phil. He was married the second time to Maude Trivette and they had a son named Tommy Presnell.

Nellie May Presnell Family

Nellie May Presnell was born April 14, 1921; married Sidney Allen Harmon on July 29, 1954. Sidney was born March 2, 1922. They had one son: Lester Harmon born October 20, 1959. Nellie died March 11, 1978. Sidney died June 14, 1979 and Lester died June 14, 1979.

America Hazel Presnell Family

America Hazel Presnell was born July 31, 1924; married Auborn Wily Trivette on February 1, 1947. He was born June 5, 1925. Their children were as follows: Audrey Lou Trivette born Sept. 25, 1947; married ???Greene on May 28, 1966. Their children were James Keith Greene born April 1, 1967; Baryon Lee Greene born March 23, 1970. Mildred Carolyn Trivette born Jan. 31, 1949; married to Ronald Norris Oct. 14, 1967. Olivia Ellen Trivette born Oct. 29, 1950. Thelma Sue Trivette born August 25, 1952: married to Ken Trivette Oct. 24, 1972. Marlyn Diane Trivette born March 26, 1954; married to Victor Darthing August ?, 1972. Rita Faye Trivette born March 17, 1956. Pamela Jean Trivette born Nov. 19, 1957. Connie Lynn Trivette born Oct. 16, 1959. Gary Len Trivette born Aug. 26, 1961. Elizabeth Ann Trivette born Nov. 24, 1963. Andrew Vance Trivette born April 4, 1966 Sarah Geneva Presnell born June 9, 1932; married to Dwight Brown Dec. 24, 1954. He was born may 17, 1932. Their children are: Debra Ann Brown born Oct. 4, 1955. Charles Dwight Brown born March 6, 1957.

Olliver Jerome Presnell

Olliver Jerome Presnell (known) as Uncle Rome) Born July 7, 1849, died February 23, 1935. The son of Harvey Miles and Rilda Hicks Presnell. Married Susan E. Presnell, daughter of Nathan Presnell (II) and Sarah M. Shoupe Presnell in 1874. Susan was born on October 11, 1859, died December 2, 1930. Susan is buried in the Tester Cemetery at Rt. 2, Butler, Tennessee. Oliver Jerome is buried in Suton Cemetery at Cosby, Tennessee. Their children were: Sarah Cameline: Born March 29, 1880, died April 27, 1947. She marrried Eli Finley Tester, son of Harrison and Phoebe Lee Tester, December 25, 1897. Daisy Ellen: Born May 7, 1887, died March 27, 1948. Married Palier Hicks son of Goulder and Caroline Ward Hicks. Three other children died at a young age; David, Rilda, and Ida. They are buried at the Mast Cemetery, Rominger Community, Watauga Co., North Carolina. Oliver Jerome was a keeper of bees and a farmer. He was very good where bees and farming were concerned.

Taken from 1915 Watauga Democrat No hard time for the farmer who bustled last year. Our old friend Olliver Jerome Presnell who resides all alone at his home on Beech Creek, in remitting to this paper “adds” I killed a pig that weighed 602 pounds, from which I got 52 pounds of lard. From my bees I got 3,000 pounds of fine honey of which I sold all except 500 pounds. I also raised 350 bushels of a very fine crop of corn as could be found in Watauga County.

But eat no chicken: By Nathan Duke Ward

Years ago for sick people the first thought was to fix them some chicken and chicken broth, for most anyone any time would have an appetite for chicken. In the first years of my married life, with a brother-in-law that we will call Press, we would work for an uncle to both of us. He was Oliver Jerome Presnell, born 1849, and he owned the best farm in the Dyer Hill section of Watauga County, North Carolina, and was one of the best farmers of the County, and he was well equipped for farming.

He kept a team of horses, several cows, some young cattle, hogs, a flock of Plymouth Rock hens, an orchard of apples, peaches, plums, cherries, two plots of strawberries, and several hundred hives of bees, well equipped for making honey, and he produced it by the thousands of pounds. In 1914 the late Floyd Ward, of Vilas, later of Elizabethton, Tenn., where he did a dairy business, sold real estate, and for some years was a town official, and where he died several years ago, he came to Uncle Jerome’s one morning with a wagon and several cans to buy honey for himself, his neighbors and friends. Jerome had it and we took out a thousand and fifty pounds that day and sold it to him for ten cents a pound ($105.00) for the lot. I helped take out the honey and beside being stung several times I became sick of honey from tasting the different kinds, for Jerome would call off what honey was made of as he would take it out. He claimed to know what it was made of by seeing it. One day when I started home for the day, Jerome asked me to go by a store and telephone Dr. W.C.Tate, of Grace Hospital at Banner Elk to make him a call at his home next day as he was not well. Banner Elk was seven miles from his home. About mid-morning next day Dr.Tate came riding in on a little bay mare. He put up the mare and they went into the house. Dr.Tate stayed until after lunch and then rode the seven miles back to Banner Elk. He instructed Jerome to send for more medicine when his supply gave out if he needed it. Then Dr.Tate shouldered his saddle bags and my uncle asked him what was the fee and Dr.Tate told him it would be $7.00. So the doctor gave a fourteen mile ride, and a lot of medicine for his lunch, feed for his mare and $7.00. It took most of the day to make the trip. I stopped working for Jerome before his supply of medicine gave out, but Press was still working. So when Jerome needed more medicine he asked Press to ride one of his horses over and get some more. And he told Press to be sure and ask the doctor of he could eat chicken. So Press rode over to Banner Elk. Press said he found Dr.Tate and told him his uncle needed more medicine and Dr.Tate fixed him up another supply. Press paid for it and climbed in the saddle and headed back towards Dyer Hill, seven miles away. He rode about two miles and then he remembered that he did not ask the doctor if it would be all right for his uncle to eat chicken. He did not want to go back and ark him, so he said to himself, “I’ll fix it up some way.” On arriving back to Jerome’s Press gave him the medicine and repeated what the doctor told him to tell him. Then Jerome said: “And did he say that I could eat chicken?” Press said the doctor said, “Tell him drink all the chicken broth he can get but eat no chicken.” So Aunt Susan fixed chicken about three times a week and she and Press dined on chicken while Jerome made out on other food, and did drink broth, but he “ate no chicken.” Nathan Duke Ward

Tall Tales Told By Rome

Grandfather Rome (Jerome Presnell) had this little dog trained as an o’possum dog. He said it was the best ‘possum dog in North Carolina. He said he would take the dog out hunting and all he had to do was to roll up a ball of dirt and let the dog bark at it and it would turn into a ‘possum. Grandpa said that he took his rabbit beagles and one really cold day in February went up on the mountain side to rabbit hunt. He said the dogs just chased rabbits all around him, he could see their mouths moving but not a sound did they make, so he took them home. One hot day in July he was on the same hill side hoeing corn and all at once dogs just began to bark all around him with not a dog in sight. Come to find out the dog’s barks had frozen in the air in February and was just getting thawed out in July. Grandpa said he had this big domernecker rooster that weighed about twelve pounds and had spurs about three inches long. One morning the rooster failed to crow and this disturbed him as he depended on the crow of the rooster to awaken him, so he hunted and hunted for him. One day he found this big black snake out behind the barn – the snake had swallowed the rooster but his spurs had caught on each side of his mouth. So he killed the snake and set the rooster free. The rooster jumped upon a rail fence and began crowing. One time grandpa and his brothers Jeard and Mitch went bear hunting. After a long time they came upon a mother bear with her cub. Instead of the bear running from them like they were hoping it took after them. Jeard began to holler, “Run boys! Run boys! Climb up in the tree!” They all took off running and Jeard out ran them and when they caught up with him he was sitting on the ground with his legs and arms around a tree. He said, “Hurry boys and climb up here before she gets you!” He was so scared he thought he was up in the tree but was sitting on the ground. One cold day grandpa was rolling logs off the mountain to a saw mill. He had broken the handle out of the cant hook that he was rolling the logs with, so he found a long black stick to roll the logs the remainder of the day. When it came time to go home he used the stick for a cane. When he got home he set the stick up in the chimney corner and he sat down by the fire to warm and it was crawling off – it was a big black snake that had frozen stiff and was now thawed out. Related by Ida

Sarah Cameline Presnell

Sarah Cameline Presnell: Born March 29, 1880, died April 27, 1947. She was the daughter of Olliver Jerome and Susan Presnell. Born in Watauga County N.C. Married Eli Finley Tester, son of Harrison and Phoebe Lee Tester December 25, 1897. Eli Finley was born February 24, 1873 in Watauga County N.C. Died October 29,

1954. Finley and Camoline are buried at the Tester Cemetery at Route 2, Butler Tennessee. They had 14 children, 13 are still living at this time May 16, 1980. David Coy Tester: Born May 28, 1899 Never married and lives alone at Hampton, Tennessee. Aner: Born October 26, 1900, married Coy A. Rominger, son of Rev. Smith and Ellen Mast Rominger, April 21, 1918. Coy died February 20, 1956 and is buried at the Piney Grove Methodist Church Cemetery, Rominger community Watauga County, N.C. They have one son Charles R. Rominger, born January 12, 1926. Married Mary Ellen Adams, daughter of Dolph and Ellen McNiel Adams, August 21, 1948. Charles and Mary have three sons. Charles Jr. Born September 8, 1954 Michael C. Born November 18, 1956. Married Judy Crane December 1, 1979 Perry Lee. Born August 17, 1960. Aner now lives at Vilas, N.C. Watauga County. Harvey Earl: Born june 26, 1902. Married Nettie Andrews. Their children are Carroll and Harvey, Nettie died and Earl married Nattie Luther, they had no children. After her death Earl married Clara Grindstaff, divorced her and married Earsil Bunton, they lived at Route 2, Butler, Tenn. Rilda: Born May 19, 1904. Married Dewey H. Campbell in 1921. Dewey died March 9, 1974. They had 10 children. Lena, Charlie, Lettie, Lora Mae, Cloe, Clifford, Clyde, Carl, Clay, and Claude. Lettie died October, 1949. Cloe died October 24, 1932. Lettie is buried at the Bluffton Cemetery, Cosby Tenn. Rilda now lives at Newport Tenn. Dewey, Rilda’s husband was the son of George and Ama Finley Campbell. Finley P: Born January 27, 1906. Married Loudell Tew, she died in May 1980. No children. Finley P. lives at Warnes Robbins Geargia. Ben W: Born December 17, 1907. Married Lillie Baird, daughter of Henry and Encie Baird, May 19, 1937. They have 2 boys. Glenn Allen and Richard Wayne, who both now live at Hampton, Tenn. Lillie died August 13, 1980. Ida: Born March 23, 1909. Married Donald Finney, son of Garfield and Ida Baily Finney, December 2, 1924. Donald died January 15, 1971, and is buried at Elk River Cemetery Butler, Tenn. Route 2. They have 8 children. Bonnie, Lena, D.C.Jr. Billy, Bobby, Shirly, Shelby, and Peggy. Luke Lee: Born July 17, 1911, died April 6, 1967. Married Dee Cable, on September 5, 1933. Dee was the daughter of William and Ella Anderson Cable. Their children are: Charles Herman, Phyliss Juanita, Carolyn, Patsy Mae, and Stephan Kent. Luke is buried near his home at Route 1, Butler, Tenn.

Nelson: Born November 5, 1914. Married Margie Lewis, daughter of Lawson and Hattie Mains Lewis October 10, 1937. They have 2 children. James Robert and Linda Kay. Nelson and Margie live at Route 2, Butler, Tenn. Ruby: Born August 3, 1916. Married Rev. Victor Trivette, September 15, 1934. Victor was the son of Masten and Nettie Mast Trivette. They have 2 sons. Howard and Gary. Victor and Ruby now live at Kannapolis N.C. Louis: Born March 13, 1918. Married Alta Bunton, November 13, 1938. Their children are: Geraldean, Marshall, Mary Edith, Charles Robert, Ronda Smith, Barbara Ann, and Kathy Marie and Kennith Wayne. Louis lives at Grafton, Ohio. Ruth: Born May 30, 1920. Married Eugene B. Jones March 14, 1939. Their children are: Eugene B. Jr. (known as Butch), Franklin Finley, Kenneth Edward, and Robert Lawrence. Ruth and Eugene live at Johnson City, Tenn. Anna Mae: Born November 13, 1922. Married J.D.Cooke, July 12, 1944. Their children are: Patricia Ann, Sandra Kaye, Brenda, James David, and Steve Allen. Anna Mae divorced J.D.Cooke and is now married to Richard Enter. They live at Akron, Ohio. William Howard: Born June 7, 1925. Married Lorraine Foster June 23, 1948. Their sons are: Stoward Doyle, and Richard Howard. Howard and Lorraine divorced and Howard married Irene Cameron October 26, 1957. No children. They live at Morristown, Tenn. He is known as Bill Tester there. Sarah Cameline and Finley Tester worked very hard to raise their 14 children. They lived on Laural Creek below Rominger N.C. where they had a large farm. She canned and dried a lot of fruits and vegetables for the winter months. She was also Postmistress of Rominger Postoffice for several years. Eli Finley Worked on the farm and had a country store. He bought and shipped evergreens to northern states. They belonged to Zion Hill Baptist Church while the lived in N.C. They moved to Tenn. Route 2 Butler, In the Sugar Hollow section around 1919 or 1920. They belonged to Elk River Church there, Finley was the choir dirctor, Sunday school teacher and Superintendent. They also had a large farm in Tenn. Finley ran a small country store there also. Cameline raised turkeys, chickens, ducks, and geese there.

I REMEMBER MAMMA AND DAD

By Their children

Memories are golden treasures that no one can erase, Memories of our childhood, smiles on a happy face.

In the spring mamma would place fifteen eggs under a cluckin’ fussy hen on her nest in the wood shed or in the barn. We kiddies loved to watch the ‘diddles’ hatch. Then we would build a pen for the mother hen that mamma called a chicken coop. It had slats allaround the bottom to allow the ‘diddles’ out but keep the fussy mother hen in. We had to keep her in the chicken coop a few weeks to keep her from scratching up everything to feed her little ones. I remember wash day! Mamma would gather the clothes and I would help carry them along with the galvanized wash tubs and old scrubbing board to the branch in the hollow coming from the spring in Sugar Hollow. Then I would carry water from the branch to fill the old iron kettle while she started the fire under the kettle. When the water was hot it was removed to one of the wash tubs and mamma began to wash the white clothes with her lye soap on the wash board. Meanwhile, I would refill the old black iron kettle and keep the fire going because the white clothes must be placed in the kettle along with some red devil lye to boil – After the white clothes were sparkling white they were removed to one of the tubs to begin their rinsing. The colored clothes, which had been washed and laid aside, were put into the hot water for a short period. When all the clothes had be washed, boiled and rinsed we would shake each garment as we hung it over the barb wire fence to dry. Wash day would begin at 8 a.m. and extend to 2 p.m. Usually, the children were sent back to the fence to gather the dry clothes just before dark. I remember Dad with his “note book” (song book) laying beside his ‘specks’ on the table or wherever! In the morning while mamma was fixing breakfast, dad would be singing. In the winter time he sat singing in the living-room beside the fire and in warm weather he sat singing on the porch. While dinner was being prepared – dad sang and after supper dad sang! He would roll his “note” book (I think he called his song book this because he dearly loved to sing the notes of the music) up, put it into his pocket and carry it to the work field – and while we rested at the end of a row, we had to help dad sing. He was called “loudy” by the neighbors because of his clear loud tone of voice that they constantly heard echoing over the hills. Dad would roll his ‘note’ book and carry it in his pocket to church where he led the church choir for thirty or more years. Yes, I remember my dad singing! “When the Roll is Called up Yonder” “Tell Mother I’ll be There” “When They Ring Those Golden Bells” and “Sweet, Sweet Hour of Prayer.” I remember dad debating with his dear friend, John Jones, from the Beech Creek section. I can recall four or five of such events – one in particular. Their question of debate was “Which is the worst ev’ Corn Liquor or a Flapper Woman.” Dad won the debate with the last rebuttal when he had a young man to appear on stage dressed as a

flapper woman – high heels, silk stockings, short skirt and a string of pearl beads and his face was vividly painted. When he began slinging the pearls, chewing his gum and swinging his hips it brought the house down with laughter. I remember mamma at apple-butter making time. We would peel and slice apples all afternoon and until 10 o’clock at night and early the next morning the apples would be placed in a big copper kettle – thirty gallons in one batch. We would stir the apples all day and when the time was right mamma would put in the sweetner, sometimes sugar but usually molasses and cinnamon for flavoring. We would stir some more until the apple butter was done the mamma would put the butter in earthen crocks, cover them tightly and then place the crocks in the cellar. This was mostly used in the packing of lunches for eight school kids, Louis, Ruth, Mae and Howard in grade school and Ben, Luke, Nelson and Ruby in high school. I remember corn huskin’ bees, hilarious! If you found a red ear you won a kiss from your favorite person. Dad would keep the young people busy shucking corn while mamma and her lady friends would be cooking and baking ‘possums’ (corn bread and sweet milk fed and fattened for weeks for the occasion) and sweet potatoes – a delicacy for the older folk but shunned by the younger people. Yes, those were happy, happy days! I remember my mamma’s frequent visits to the woods for the purpose of gathering and digging herbs and roots, not only for sale but for her own medical remedies. I recall going to the Alf Sheffield place about a mile below us to gather balm of Gilead buds. Mamma would take about two tablespoons of mutton tallow and heat it in a frying pan with a handful of balm of Gilead buds, mash the buds up while the mixture cooled and when the grease was all out of the buds she would strain the mixture and place it in a jar. This balm of Gilead salve was clear and would keep for months or until used for cuts, bruises, ect. She transferred some of the small balm of Gilead trees to their land and Earl said they are still there. Mamma also had a sure-cure remedy for killing head lice. Each year she would sow a row of larkspur in her garden, not only for the beautiful flowers but for its usefulness in her medicine shelf. She constantly combed the kid’s heads with a fine-tooth comb and if a head louse was found (I had one sister that was sure to bring a louse home on her head if only one was in her class room) mamma would boil the leaves from larkspur the pour off the solution and wash the affected head – a couple days of treatment the head would be free of lice. For itch: Mamma would mix sulfur, hog lard, gun powder and white pine resin. This had an awful odor but very effective. Yes, I remember Mamma and Dad. By Ruby My dad kept a general store at Laurel Creek. He traded the merchandise for galax, fern and sprays, this was then taken by wagon to Elk Park to be shipped to the North Eastern States to be used for decoration. I remember him trading food products to the

neighbors for chestnuts. When dad would get about one hundred pounds of chestnuts he would take them to Elk Park and ship them to Baltimore. I usually would slip me a pocket full of the nuts each day, but it seemed as if I always get the wormy ones. By Coy PICTURE I remember dad’s and mamma’s store at Laurel Creek. Dad would get a big barrel of chocolate drops at a time. Finly P., Ida and I drilled a hole through the floor under the counter and one of us would stay in the store, drop the chocolate drops through the hole and another one of us would be under the floor catching the chocolate drops. Dad also kept the flour, coffee and sugar in barrels. One day when we were “Playing house”, Ida, Finly P. and I chewed our birch sticks into good soft tooth brushes for which to dip snuff. (We used brown sugar for snuff.) It was my turn to go to the store for the brown sugar – but before I could get it dad came in and I crawled into the sugar barrel to hide but the customer that came in with dad ask to buy brown sugar – when dad took the lid off the barrel he lifted me out by the shirt – gave me a wallop, but I kept the sugar. An old lady, well known in the community as a witch, came to the store with a big butcher knife and said to dad, “blood or flour”, dad gave her a sack of flour. By Ben I remember mamma telling about a Mr. Hicks coming to court Aner – when he came Aner ran and hid so mamma had to entertain Barney. Dad had an old horse that had broken his neck and it had healed and left a crook on his neck and the horse was grazing on the yard and Barney asked mamma what caused his neck to be crooked. When she told him that the horse had broken his neck and it healed up crooked, Barney looked at mamma and said, “Well, did it die?” When dad was in Cosby and mamma at home, dad wrote her several letters and she hadn’t answered them. So dad wrote mother another letter and said,” If you don’t get this letter, just write and let me know.” When Earl was just a small boy he came running to mamma and said,”Mamma there is a big bumble bee on your bed laying honey!” by Ida Dad owned a little store at Laurel Creek. A little corner of the building was used as the Rominger Post Office. The wall just had little “cubby” holes in which to place the mail for each patron. In the beginning the mail was carried on the back of a man walking, later the mail was carried by a man on horse back. Mamma was postmistress for several years. Dad was highly esteemed in the community where he lived. He was Justice of Peace and could serve as judge for simple trials and minor offenses. He performed the ceremony of several weddings including: John Presnell and Cora Presnell in 1903;

Hattie Dyer and Sherman Presnell in 1902; John Presnell and Mary Mast in 1903; Nat Glenn and Kimmie Presnell in 1908 and Gold Ward and Arlene Ward in 1912. by Aner I remember dad distilling white birch oil and mountain tea oil. The still was located just below the old store building at Laurel Creek. The flat boiler with a copper bottom was used. The boiler was about 4 feet wide and six ft. long. We used white birch bark and twigs. These were placed in the boiler with just enough water to make a good steam. This steam would come through the vaporizer in the form of birch oil, red in color. The oil sold for $12.00 per pound. It would take all day to make a run of birch oil. The mountain tea oil was made the same way. I remember dad wanting to raise the back of the store building as it was on the ground. He had six men using a long pole to pry the building up at one end while dad put a large rock beneath to make the building off the ground. The building was let down on dad’s thumb – the men stood around dumbfounded as dad was yelling with pain! Mamma ran, got the ax and put the handle under the building and priced the house up by her self so dad could remove his hand. By Earl Dad liked to play jokes on people. One night they were having a revival meeting at a church near his home, so he decided to have some fun. He got a white sheet and went below the church near an old fence row and waited for the people to come from the church. When the crowd got to where dad was hiding he jumped out to scare them not knowing that the sheet was hung on a root. So when he jumped and yelled “boo” the sheet jerked from him and thinking something had hold of him, it scared him so badly he left the sheet and out ran the whole crowd. Dad was the first to reach the house, and the only one that had been scared. By Finly P. I remember mamma always having every available space on flowers. She had lots of flowering shrubs along with the dahlias, glads and other beautiful flowers. She brought a memosia tree from Alabama, on the bus, to set out in her yard at Butler. Mamma always had all types of poultry – chickens, turkeys, geese, guines and ducks. She saved the feathers for pillows and featherbeds or feather – ticks. A feather tick was made by using strong closely woven material made in the form of a sack large as the bed. The nice fluffy feathers were put into the large flat sack and the end was seamed together. These were used on the beds to keep us warm in the winter. Dad was always ready to work by day break. He would be up by 4:30 a.m. and start the fire in the fireplace and cookstove. On Saturday he would always cut the wood to be used for Sunday and he would never open the store on Sunday except for medicine. If someone needed medicine on Sunday, dad would go through the cellar into the store to get medicine. By Rilda I remember ‘sorghum making time when dad and the boys would fodder and cut the cane and haul it to the central place in Sugar Hollow. The juice was extracted by placing the cane stalks between two huge rollers and the horse going around and

around to turn the rollers. The women would boil the molasses in the long boiler while the kids had fun playing on the pile of squashed cane stalks. After the boiling and skimming of the juice, about 6 hours, the ‘sorghum would be ready to put into jars and lard tubs. Everyone would ‘sop’ the boiler – the taste would charm any king. By Louis I remember mamma and dad working so hard in the field. They always had large crops of corn, wheat, potatoes, beans, buckwheat, cane and tobacco along with a spacious garden. Mamma would work along with the others in the field then come to the house and with the help of one of the girls, prepare dinner and then go back into the field without rest. The garden was her special task of caring for, with the exception of cultivating between the rows of vegetables. She would fill between 500 and 600 jars of food yearly – mostly half-gallon jars. The shelves in the cellar were filled with jars of beans, corn, peas, beets, berries, pork and beef, etc. She would yearly fill large earthen crocks, holding 15-20 gallons each, with pickle beans, pickle corn and kraut. Mamma would walk for miles to pick huckleberries and usually came home with half-bushel or more with the delicious berries. By Ruth Mamma would make two large stacks (about 36) of buckwheat pancakes for breakfast. She prepared the batter and when the cook stove was very hot she would wine the eye on the stove with a meat skin and fry a buckwheat pancake on each of the six stove eyes at a time. These were so good with the freshly churned butter and maple syrup, also made at home. Another breakfast we looked forward to was mamma’s speciality of hot chocolate pudding. The pudding was prepared by mixing egg, sugar, flour, milk and cocoa. This was stirred as it cooked until thickened and creamy. This was good eating with hot biscuits and butter. By Mae We had straw-ticks on our beds instead of innerspring mattresses. Each fall, just after the threshers came to thresh the grain, we would empty the strawticks of the old crumbled straw. Mamma would wash the empty strawticks and we would take them to the straw pile to be filled with the new straw. The newly filled ticks were almost round and the first few nights we had a rather fussy time trying to sleep without rolling off the bed but we would soon root out a comfortable spot to just fit into. I loved the smell of the new straw. Sometimes mamma would put boneset leaves in with the straw – she said,” To help us sleep better.” By Howard I remember dad telling us about being chased by a panther. About midnight he was on his way home from visiting with his girl friend. He soon observed that he was being followed. Knowing the ways of the panther, he recognized that one was close behind him and he only had a few matches and searched, as he hurried along, for something to light for a torch. He had been told that the panther was afraid of fire. As he would run, the panther would run, when he slowed down, the animal did the same. Dad knew that he was nearing the little log school house and none too soon! His

matches and torch were giving out and the panther was now close enough to be see in the light of the torch. Dad suddenly made a run for the little log building and as he made a rush for the door, these white things ran by him and between his legs, scaring him half to death! Some sheep had been sleeping in the house and ran out when dad started in. He spent the remainder of the night in the building, unable to sleep but feeling safe and secure from the panther. By Nelson

Daisy Ellen Presnell

Daisy Ellen Presnell: daughter of Olliver Jerome and Susan E. Presnell. Born May 7, 1887, in Watauga County N.C. Died March 27. 1948. Married Palier Hicks, son of Goulder and Caroline Ward Hicks. Their children are as follows: Lou Dellia: Born August 4, 1906. Died May 12, 1964. Married William E. Laws in 1922. Susie: Born January 28, 1910. Died December 24, 1935. Married Pat Nicely in 1929. Katie: Born January 1, 1912. Married Coy Presnell January 1939. Cora: Born April 5, 1914. Married Samson Hicks October 3, 1933. George Dewey: Born January 7, 1918. Married Mabel Wilson in December 1946. Flora: Born February 8, 1921. Married Jason C. Hopson July 15, 1944. Polly: Born March 12, 1922. Married Dewey Lee Hopson December 1943. Lee Roy: Born September 1924. Married Wanda Carroll in December 1945. There may be other children not listed. Daisy Presnell Hicks and Palier Hicks are buried at the Richardson Cemetery, near Elk Park, Avery County N.C.

Harmon Presnell Family Harmon Presnell: son of Miles Presnell (I) and Rilda Hicks Presnell, was born in 1853. Married Kizzie Ward, daughter of Riley and Ann Presnell Ward. Their Children were: Jerome (III): Married Mary Hicks, daughter of Henry and Alice Hicks. Newt: Born 1880. Married Martha Ward, daughter of Jackson and Cameline Harmon Ward March 24, 1899.

Ida: Born May 25, 1886, died February 9, 1920. Married George Presnell, son of Nathan Presnell (II) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. Polly: Married Ebb Hicks. Riley: Married Jane Eggers. Cordie: Married Tommy Ward. Caroline: Married London Ward, son of John Ward and Christie Ann Presnell Ward. Ann: Born 1897, died April 4, 1976. Married Jim Ward.

Newt Presnell Family

Newt Presnell: Son of Harmon and Kizzie Ward Presnell, married Martha Ward, daughter of Jackson and Cameline Harmon Ward. Their children were: Charlie: Married Delphia Ward daughter of Riley and Hanna Presnell Ward. Ida: Married Sherman Presnell. No children. Vina: Married Riley Harmon.

Miles Presnell (II) Miles Presnell (II): son of Miles Presnell (I) and Rilda Hicks Presnell. Born 1847. Married Caroline Presnell daughter of James Presnell (IV) and Caroline Ward Presnell. They moved from Watauga County N.C. to Laurel Mountain near Hot Springs N.C. Caroline lived to be 105 years old. They raised one girl and six boys, who were: Belle: Born 1883, died December 1973. Married Captain Presnell, son of Andrew and Jane Eggers Presnell. Enoch: Born ???, died January 3, 1965. Married Bessie Norton. I just know of one daughter, Mrs. Idar Mooneyham of Hot Springs N.C. No information available on Miles sons Blain, Sherman, Joe, and Pleas. Eli (IV): Now living in Hickory N.C. Aunt Caroline was very famous and people came from miles around to see her. She tended her own garden after she was over one hundred years old.

Polly Presnell

Polly Presnell: Daughter of Miles Presnell (I) and Rilda Hicks Presnell. Born 1855, died January 8, 1935. Her children were: Miles Love: born 1882. Married Matilda Presnell, daughter of Nathan Presnell (III) and Cindy Eggers Presnell. Shot to death on Beech Creek. Leonia: Married Wheeler Hicks, son of Goulder and Caroline Ward Hicks. Hattie Belle: Married Roy Guy. Bertha: Married Valentine Presnell, son of John and Mary Jane Trivette Presnell. Matilda: Married Avery Presnell, son of Josephus and Martha Eggers Presnell. Roosevelt: Born December 2, 1902. Married Grace Harris. Georgia: Married Troy Ward, son of Samuel and Effie Ward.

Roosevelt Presnell

Roosevelt Presnell: Was born on December 2, 1902. He is the son of Polly Presnell. He married Grace Harris on March 18, 1923. Grace was born in 1907. Their children and grandchildren ware as follows: James Arlie Presnell: Born on July 17, 1930. He married Marie Love on February 9, 1959. Their children are: Kenneth who was born on December 4, 1951. Jimmy Wayne was born on June 20, 1953. Pauline: Born October 31, 1932. Married James Ward on August 6, 1950. Their children are: Lola who was born on June 11, 1951. Married William ?orner on February 14, 1970. They had one child, Jamie who was born on January 14, 1972. Dallas James who was born on December 6, 1952, Leila Beth who was born on July 4, 1955. James Miles: Born on March 30, 1934. Married Juanita Presnell on October 25, 1952. They have three children. Kaye who was born on June 15, 1954. Married Freddie Hollifield on September 16, 1972. Janice Grace who was born on May 18, 1956, and James Michael. Della Ray: Born on March 22, 1936. Married George Allen Presnell on february 38, 1956. They have three children. Connie Ray who was born on May 17, 1957. Teddy Allen who was born on February 24, 1962, and Bobby Allen who was born on October 5, 1965. Benjamin Franklin: Born on January 2, 1946. Roby Lawson: Born on August 14, 1947.

Belle Presnell

Belle Presnell: the daughter of Miles Presnell (I) and Rilda Hicks Presnell. She was born around 1857 in Watauga County N.C. She married Bert Cable of Tennessee. She died near Butler, Tennessee, and was carried back to Watauga for burial by Ninevah and Roby Presnell. She is buried in Mast Cemetery in Watauga County near her father and mother. I have been told by old people that remember her that Belle was a beautiful woman, tall and slender.

Grant Presnell Family

Grant Presnell: was the son of Miles Presnell (I) and Rilda Hicks Presnell. He was born on June 7, 1864 in Watauga County N.C. and died Septenber 20, 1951. He married Ellen Presnell who was the daughter of James Presnell (4) and Nancy Trivette Presnell. They moved to Cosby, Tennessee. He is buried in the family cemetery in the McMillion community located in Cosby, Tennessee. Their children are as follows. Pardee: Died in March of 1925. He was killed in a logging accident in Oregon. Willard: Died In 1930. Never married. Nancy: Born on December 14, 1894. Married James H. Bell. Nancy lives at Newport, Tennessee. Marshall: Now lives in Austin, Texas. Helena: Died in 1954. Hobart: Died in 1947 or 48. Major: Address unknown. Lawrence: Born on August 23, 1913. Married Gertrude Nance on October 3, 1941. Now lives at Fayetteville, N.C. Grant, Hobart, Marshall, and Major built a thriving evergreen business. They gathered and sold galax, princess pine, and pine cones. After Grant’s first wife Ellen died he married Julia Presnell, daughter of Nathan and Melinda Presnell. No children by this marriage.

Nancy Presnell Family

Nancy Presnell: Daughter of Grant and Ellen Presnell, was born December 4, 1894 in Watauga County N.C. She married James Bell of Newport, Tenn. Aug. 18, 1912. They had 11 children.

Edmond Pardee: born June 7, 1913. Died December 4, 1917. Chester: Born May 9, 1915. Married Rene Dorsey. They now live at Cosby, Tenn. He retired from the Army as a Lt. And at present is operator of Holiday Gulf station in Cosby. Clyde: Born April 11, 1917. Married Elsie Beckham, and now lives at Hawthorn, Florida. He retired from the U.S.Army as a Chief Warrant officer. Mary: Born February 23, 1919. Married Doyle Smith. Now lives at Morristown, Tenn. A retired school teacher. Hazel: Born August 26, 1920. Married Charles Kuzmaul. Now lives at Fallston, Maryland. Wilma: Born March 30, 1922. Married Joe Proffit. They live at Newport, Tenn. James Jr.: Born 27, 1925. He is a real estate agent in Corpus-Christi, Texas. Dorthy: Born November 11, 1926. Married Bill Hodges, lives in Gainesville, Florida. Louise: Born December 10, 1929. Died September 1975. Married Jack Kyker. She was a language teacher (foreign) at Morristown, Tenn. Until her death. Francis Arlene: Born August 24, 1931. Only lived two days. Charles: Born June 27, 1936. Retired Air Force Sgt. Now a R.N. at Lake Shore Hospital, Knoxville, Tenn.

Jardon Presnell Family

Jardon Presnell: ( Known as Jard) son of Miles (I) and Rilda Hicks Presnell. Married Elizabeth Flannery, known as Aunt Betsy. Betsy is buried at the Mast Cemetery, Watauga County, N.C. Do not know where Jard is buried. Three children were born to them. Polly: Born august 27, 1886. Died July 31, 1973. Married Charles Gilliam, son of John Gilliam and Susan Mast Gilliam. Polly and Charles are buried at the Mast Cemetery. They had three girls. Mae who died young. Delia who married Ben Harmon and now lives in Pennsylvania, Pearl who is widowed and now lives in Boon, N.C. Wesley: Born August 31, 1890. Married Nola Trivett, daughter of Grant and Martha Guy Trivett. No information on his family. Willard: First married Mary Tester daughter of Duke and Alice Presnell Tester. After Mary’s death, Willard married Tina Mast, daughter of Bill and Callie Mills Mast. Millard and Tina had ten children. Epsie, who married a Wagnor from Tenn. Bessie, who married Rev. Vilas Minton from Boone, N.C. Earsel, married Homer Coffey from Boone. Jard, not married lives near Boone. No information on Lilly, Carl, Coolege, Hazel, Beatrice, and Marsha Lee.

After Tina died Willard married Blanche Oxentine. They had one son, Willard Jr. who married Margaret Costner. They had two children, Tammy and Willard Jr. III.

John C. Presnell

John C. Presnell: was the son of Miles and Rilda Hicks Presnell. He was born March 18, 1862 and died on October 28, 1918. He married Mary Jane Trivette, die daughter of Elisah and Eveline Trivette. John is buried at the Mast Cemetery in the Rominger Community, Watauga County, N.C. Their children were: Martha: Born in January 1881. Married Lee Presnell the son of Andrew and Jane Eggers Presnell. Both are now deceased. Roby: Born March 8, 1883 – died April 11, 1973. Married Ida Tester the daughter of Duke and Alice Tester. They were married on January 2, 1909. Roby is dead. Ida lives in Boone, N.C. Elisah: Born March 13, 1888. Married Dolly Ward, the daughter of Mike and Lizzie Johnson Ward, on February 5, 1911. Died 1977. Sheridan: Born April 12, 1890. Married Nancy Hicks, daughter of Brownlow and Lucinda Presnell Hicks. Sheridan now lives in the Beverdam section of Watauga Co. Annie Belle: Born April 15, 1892. Married Audie Presnell the son of James (4) and Nancy Trivette Presnell. Valentine: Born October 1893. Died 1978. He married Bertha Presnell the daughter of Polly Presnell. Mack: Born July 27, 1896. Married Pearl Farthing daughter of Jessie and Nora Glenn Farthing. They live on Laurel Creek. Ella: Born September 20, 1898. Married James Love. Ella is deceased. Leander: Born February 22, 1906. Lives In Johnson City, Tenn.

James Roby Presnell

James Roby Presnell: The son of John (I) and Mary Jane Trivette Presnell. He was born on March 8, 1883, died April 11, 1973. He married Ida Tester, daughter of Duke and Alice Presnell Tester on January 2, 1909. Their children were: David C: Born on June 28, 1911. Died June 23, 1937. Married Thelma Presnell. Ninevah G: Born on March 27, 1914. Married Ladybird Presnell daughter of Aud and Annibelle Presnell. Mary A: Born May 20, 1916. Married Gold Presnell son of Nathan and Melinda Presnell. Gold died March 18, 1960. After his death she married Roy Peterson.

John W: Born January 11, 1919. Married Gladys Yates who died September 24, 1968. After her death John married Dare Ward Issacs. Blanche L: Born December 21, 1921. Married Beryl Harmon who died on Feb. 18, 1970. Blanche died in 1974. Arnold C: Born August 9, 1924. Married Marie Ward. J. Ottie: Born January 23, 1928. Married Lena Ward. Ruby M: born July 27, 1931. Died June 14, 1932. Ida M: Born April 21, 1934. She was blind at birth. Died October 5, 1971.

Elisah Presnell (4)

Elisah Presnell (4): The son of John and Mary Jane Trivette Presnell. He was born March 13, 1888. He married Dollie Ward, the daughter of Mike and Lizzie Johnson Ward. They were married February 5, 1911. Elisah died September 28, 1977. There children are: Elizabeth: Born November 21, 1912. Married Vernon Brannon. Loy: Born June 3, 1915. Married Richard Gilliam the son of Bill and Cora Harmon Gilliam. Mike: Born December 3, 1917. Died at the age of 17 months. John: Born November 30, 1922. Married Hazel Rominger, the daughter of Dewey and Florence Tester Rominger on September 20, 1942. Robert Lee: Born May 30, 1927. Married Frances Halcomb on October 4, 1949.

Mack Presnell

Mack Presnell: Son of John and Mary Jane Trivette Presnell. Married Pearl Farthing daughter of Jessie and Nora Glenn Farthing. Their children are: Mary: Married Charlie Trivette, son of Joe and Mary Rominger Trivette. Jessie: Married Linville Harmon, son of Cooly and Linda Hicks Harmon. Bessie: Married Linville Hicks. Pauline: Married Arville Hillsaps or Millsaps. Carrie Lee: Married Captain Estept. Donald Dean: Married Ada Hicks. Mack and Pearl live on Laural Creek on the Finley Tester place.

Lincoln Presnell

Lincoln (Link) Presnell: Was the son of Miles (I) and Rilda Hicks Presnell. Born in 1870. In Watauga County, N.C. He married Catherine (Sis) Tester, daughter of Robin and Katie Ward Tester. Link is buried in Tenn. And it is believed Sis is buried in the old Presnell Cemetery in the Beech Creek Community in Watauga of Watauga County. Their children were: Sarah Ann: Died at the age of 14 or 15. Rebecca: Who was blind never married. Joseph: Married Nettie Tester, daughter of James and Rachel Brewer Tester. Joe now lives at Boone, N.C. Cindy: Married Ben Harmon, son of Riley and Grizy Glenn Harmon. Cindy is buried in the Farthing Cemetery, Butler, Tenn. Rilda: No information. Paul: Married Okie Heaton and lives near Watauga River. Steve: Married Ima Jane Heaton. After Catherine’s death Lincoln married a widow Heaton on Carter County Tenn. They had one son Gentry that this writer knows of.

Eli Presnell (I)

Eli Presnell (I): Son of James Presnell (III) and Susan Benfield Presnell. Born in Watauga County. N.C. June 18, 1831. Died January 24, 1903. He married Eliza Harmon, daughter of Council and Betsy Tester Harmon. Eliza was born July 18, 1832. They are buried in the old Presnell cemetery in the Beech Creek section of Watauga Co. N.C. Their children are: Nathan(III): born in 1856, died 1937. Married Cindy Eggers. Council: Married Nancy Hicks, daughter of Harmon and Nellie Tester Hicks. Miles (III): Married Lottie Hicks, duaghter of Harmon and Nellie Tester Hicks. Andrew: Married Jane Eggers. Josephus: Born March 12, 1861. Died May 23, 1939. Married Martha Caroline Eggers, who was born January 4, 1867. Died May 16, 1943. She was the daughter of Washington and Lucinda Eggers. They are buried in the Beech Creek section of Watauga County, N.C. Monroe: Married Kizzie Presnell, daughter of Mitchell and Melisa Dyer Presnell. Susan: Married Marion Stout. Ellen: Married Jim Younce. Sarah: Married Landon Guy. Clarica: Married Will Guy. Jane: Never married.

Nathan Presnell (III)

Nathan Presnell (III): was the son of eli (I) and Eliza Harmon Presnell. He was born in Watauga County, N.C. in 1856. He died in 1937. He married Cindy Eggers. Their children are as follows: Cora: Born in 1882, married John Presnell, the son of James Mitchell and Melissa Dyer Presnell. Daniel: born in 1890, died 1973. Married Julia Cook. Matilda: Married Miles Love, the son of Polly Presnell Love. After Miles death Matilda married Robert Ward. Nathan and Cindy are bureid at the old cemetery at Beech Creek, N.C. near Hover Presnell home.

Daniel Presnell

Daniel Presnell: Son of Nathan (III) and Cindy Eggers Presnell married Julia Cook. Their children are: Jasper, Albert, Warren, Claud, Carl, Roy, Lois, and Dare who married Lionel Guy, and is famous for her gospel singing.

Council Presnell

Council Presnell: The son of Eli and Eliza Harmon Presnell married Nancy Hicks the daughter of Harmon and Nellie Tester Hicks. She was a sister of Rilda Hicks who married Harvey Miles Presnell. Their children are Mattie, Susan who married Kell Harmon, and Lottie.

Andrew Presnell

Andrew Presnell: The son of Eli (I) and Eliza Harmon Presnell. He married Jane Eggers. Their children are:

Eli Captain: Married Belle Presnell (II) the daughter of Miles (II) and Caroline Presnell. Buna: Married Roby Hicks the son of Samuel (III) and Becky Hicks. Lee: Married Martha Presnell the daughter of John and Mary Jane Trivette Presnell. Martha Ellen: Married Manuel Hicks. Andrew and Eliza are buried in the old Presnell cemetery on Beech Creek above Hover Presnell’s home.

Josephus Presnell

Josephus Presnell: was the son of Eli (I) and Eliza Harmon Presnell. He was born on March 12, 1861, died May 23, 1939. He married Martha Caroline Eggers. Martha was born on January 4, 1867, died in 1943. They are bureid in the Presnell Cemetery in Beech Creek, N.C. Their children are: Sherman: Born February 19, 1884. Married Hattie Dyer. Lewis: Born August in 1886, died on February 4, 1956. Married Cora Price. Lillie: Born August 25, 1888, married a Mr. Tebit in Iowa. Leonard: Born June 29, 1895. Married Minnie Oliver, the daughter of Smith and Betty Presnell Oliver. He now lives at Vilas, N.C. Filmore: Born on May6, 1898, died August 13, 1913. Luna: Born July 11, 1900, married Omar Baaird who was the son of Joe and Cordelia Ward Baird. Luna is widowed and now lives at Boone, N.C. Raeligh: born on July 13, 1904, died April 22, 1978. Avery: Born June 6, 1906, married Matilda Presnell who was the daughter of Polly Presnell. They had one son Robert. Matilda is dead, Avery now lives at Vila, N.C.

General Sherman Presnell

General Sherman Presnell: Was born on February 19, 1884. He is the son of Josephus and Martha Eggers Presnell. He married Hattie Dyer and their children are as follows: Loyd: Married Ida Presnell the daughter of Captain and Belle Presnell. Bertha: Married David Presnell the son of Monroe and Kizzie Presnell. Ira: Married Eliza Presnell the daughter of Monroe and Kizzie Presnell. Pearl: Married Dennis Teague. Pina: Married Ralph Gilliam.

Earnest: Married Pearl Dyer. Raymond: Married Lena Presnell, daughter of Monroe and Kizzie Presnell.

Leonard Presnell Family

Leonard Presnell: Is the son of Josephus and Martha Eggers Presnell. He was born on June 2, 1895. He married Minnie Oliver on December 18, 1914. Their children are as follows: Annie Ruth: Born October 16, 1916. Married John Sherwood. Conley Alvin: Born March 29, 1919. Married Marie King. Mamie Jane: Born August 13, 1921. Married Lee Watson. Bynum Floyd: Born August 1,1924. Married Ruth Mooney. Retha Mae: Born August 30, 1927. Married Charlie Pore. Baxter Filmore: Born November 1, 1931. Married Betty Bagby. Helen Mae: Born October 12, 1934. Married Boyd Parlier.

Luna Presnell

Luna Presnell: Was born on July 11, 1900. She is the daughter of Josephus and Martha Eggers Presnell. She married Omar Baird, the son of Joe and Cordelia Ward Baird. Their children are as follows: Joe Caroll: Married Sylvia Baird. Daroll: Married Juanita Millsaps. Marie: Married Harold Farthing. Caroll and Sylvia live in Virginia Beach, Va. There are no children. Darrol and Junita have one son, William Omar Baird born September 2, 1947. Marie and Harold have the following children: Sharon Elizabeth born July 7, 1948, married Gary Lee Harbin and the have one child, Martha Rena Harbin. Diane born December 20, 1949, married Terry Beach and the have two children: Stephanie Michelle Meach and Meridith Meach. Thomas Harold born October 7, 1954.

Nathan Presnell (2)

Nathan Presnell (2): Son of James Presnell (3) and Susan Benfield Presnell. Born July 16, 1838 in Ashe County in the section that is now Watauga. Died August 29, 1887. Married Sarah Melinda Shupe, daughter of Betsy Shupe. Sarah Melinda died March 8, 1912. They are buried in the Mast Cemetery. Their children are:

Susan E. Presnell: Born October 11, 1859, died Decmeber 2, 1930. Married Oliver Jerome Presnell, son of Miles and Rild Hicks Presnell. Thomas Presnell: Born September 15, 1861, married Mary Ann Presnell, daughter of James Presnell (4) and Hannah Ward Presnell. Chrystay Ann Presnell: Born November 14, 1863, died March 15, 1931. Married John Ward, son of Riley and Ann Presnell Ward. Mary Presnell: Born 1865. Married Robin Tester (2) son of Robin Tester (I) and Katie Ward Tester. Martha Presnell: Born February 2, 1868, died 1926. Married Benjamin Ward in 1885. Ben Ward was the son of Duke Ward (3) and Susan Glenn Ward. Alice A. Presnell: Born February 8, 1870, died May 21, 1966. Married Duke Tester, son of Robin (I) and Katie Ward Tester. Nathan Talbert Presnell: Born June 30, 1874, died February 12, 1932. Married Hessie Hicks, daughter of William and Ann Presnell Hicks. After Hessie’s death Nathan Talbert Married Susie Hicks, daughter of Samuel (3) and Becky Harmon Hicks. Hannah Presnell: Born April 5, 1872, died December 21, 1932. Married William Riley Ward, son of Duke (3) and Susan Glenn Ward in 1887. Lillie Presnell: Born March 29, 1876, died September 16, 1877. Julia Presnell: Born April 1, 1878, died 1947. Married Ben Hicks, son of Samuel (3) and Becky Harmon Hicks. Sarah Melinda Presnell: Born April 18, 1879, died 1945. Married Nathan Presnell (5), son of James (4) and Hannah Ward Presnell. George W. Presnell: Born August 1, 1882, died September 9, 1977. First married to Ida Presnell, daughter of Harmon and Kizzie Ward Presnell. After her death he married Melvina Ward, daughter of Tommy and Rilda Presnell Ward.

Susan Elizabeth Presnell

Susan Elizabeth Presnell: Daughter of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell, born October 11, 1859. Died December 2, 1930. Married Oliver Jerome Presnell, son of Harvey Miles and Rilda Hicks Presnell in 1874. Their children are: Sarah Cameline: Born March 29, 1880, died April 27, 1947. Married Eli Finley Tester, son of Harrison and Phoebe Lee Tester. They were married December 25, 1897. Daisy: Born May 7, 1887, died March 27, 1948. Married Palier Hicks, son of Goulder and Caroline Ward Hicks.

Susan and Jerome had three other children who died at a young age. Their names were: David, Rilda, and Ida. These children are buried at the Mast Cemetery in the Rominger community of Watauga County near their Grandfather Harvey Miles Presnell. Susan was a Beautiful woman with a good disposition and was very hospitable. She was a good cook and housekeeper. She spun wool from the sheep raised on their farm to weave into cloth to make their clothes. She used bark, roots and herbs to dye the wool. Susan is buried in the Tester Cemetery at Route 2, Butler, Tenn.

Thomas Presnell

Thomas Presnell: Son of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. Born September 15, 1861. Married Mary Ann Presnell, daughter of James (4) and Hanna Ward Presnell. Their children are: Sam: Married Florence Stines, daughter of Edd and Nettie Stines in 1912. They live somewhere in Tenn. Monroe: No information. Elijah (4): Married Lovie Ward, daughter of William Riley and Hanna Presnell Ward. After Lovie’s death he married Dolphia Ward, sister to Lovie. Craft: Born August 10, 1893. Died February 13, 1958. Married Nola Ward, daughter of William Riley and Hannah Ward Presnell. Wheeler: Born 1899 or 1900, died February 1975. Married Eva Ward. They had two sons. Charles and Larry. They live in Johnson City, Tenn. Cline: No information. Bobby: Lives somewhere in Texas. Annie: Married James Hicks, son of William and Ann Presnell Hicks. Laura: Married Wheeler Hicks, son of Goulder and Caroline Ward Hicks. Minerva: No information. Bertha: No information. Buna: No information. Melinda: No information. Thomas and Mary Ann moved near Jonesboro or Johnson City, Tenn. And I have been unable to contact them for information concerning their family.

Christy Ann Presnell

Christy Ann Presnell: Daughter of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. Born November 14, 1863 in Watauga County, N.C. Died March 15, 1931. Married John Ward, son of Riley and Ann Presnell Ward. Their children are: Harmon: No information. Colonel: Married Josephine Hicks. Lillie: Married Garfield Presnell, son of Mitchell and Melissa Dyer Presnell. Thomas: Married Rilda Presnell, daughter of Mitchell and Melissa Dyer Presnell. Rilda died and Tom married again. Aleck: Married Callio Laws. London: Married Caroline Presnell, daughter of Harmon and Kizzie Ward Presnell. Ina: Married Roe Barlow. Jim: Married Anne Presnell, daughter of Harmon and Kizzie Presnell. Hedge: Never Married. Was shot and killed near Watauga river. McKinley: Married Grace Bentely. Christie Ann: Married George Hicks. Margie: Married Council Harrison. Marcus: Married Lula Harmon. Smith: No information. John and Christy Ann Ward lived at Matney for years. They had a large farm there and a general store. They moved to Bever Dam. John lived to be in his nineties. One child still living at this time. Margie.

Mary Presnell Family

Mary Presnell: Daughter of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. Born 1865. Married Robin Tester. Their children are Duke and David. Mary and Robin Tester are buried in Mast Cemetery, Rominger, Watauga Co. N.C. They are buried near Mary’s father and mother. Katie Ward Tester, mother of Robin Tester (2) is buried near them. Some of Robin’s children are also buried nearby.

Martha Presnell

Martha Presnell: Daughter of Nathan (2) and Mary Shupe Presnell was born February 2, 1868, died 1926. Married Benjamin Ward (3) in 1885. Benjamin was the son of Duke (III) and Susan Glenn Ward. Their children were:

Gold: Born July 17, 1888, married Arlene Ward, daughter of William (Bill) and Rebecca Harmon Ward. Elsie: Married Roby James, son of Joe and Sarah James. Susie: Married Sam Hicks, son of Ben and Julie Presnell Hicks. Martha and Ben are buried at the old Ward Cemetery, near Watauga River, Watauga County. Gold Ward is buried there also. Arlene is buried in Pilgrams Rest Cemetery at Pilgrams Rest Primitive Baptist Church on Watauga River, Watauga County.

Alice Presnell

Alice Presnell: Daughter of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell was born February 8, 1870, died in 1966. Married Duke Tester, son of Robin and Katie Ward Tester in 1888. Alice was a member of Pilgrams Rest Primitive Baptist Church. She is buried in the Presnell Cemetery, Watauga County, N.C. Alice and Duke’s children are: Mary: Born February 23, 1891, died July 1909. Married Willard Presnell, son of Jerd and Betsy Flannery Presnell. Ida: Born March 31, 1893. Married Roby Presnell, son of John and Mary Jane Trivette Presnell January 2, 1909. Ida is still living at this writing August 1980, in rest home near Boone, N.C. Caloway: Born October 18, 1894. Married Cora Hicks, daughter of Hedge and Maggie Olliver Hicks. Sarah: Born April 23, 1898. Married Duke Ward, son of Riley and Hanna Presnell Ward. Sarah is living in Elizabethton, Tenn. At this writing. Alma: Born June 24, 1902. Married Hill Stines, son of Edd and Nettie Stines. Martha: Born May 2, 1905. Married John Stines, son of Edd and Nettie Stines. Lives somewhere in Tennessee. Birdie: Born February 1909. Married Hardy Hicks, son of James and Anne Presnell Hicks. They live in Tenn. Mack: Born September 5, 1912, died in 1965. Married Berlie Harmon, daughter of Wayne and Nora Mast Harmon. James: Born June 17, 1915. Married Rosa Presnell, daughter of Nathan (V) and Linda Presnell. Alice Presnell Tester lived to be 96 years old and had 10 children, 63 grand-children, 166 great-grandchildren and 48 great-great grandchildren.

Hannah Presnell

Hannah Presnell: Daughter of Nathan (2) Presnell and Sarah Shupe Presnell was born April 5, 1872, died December 21, 1932. Married William Riley Ward, son of Duke Ward (3) and Susan Glenn Ward. Their children are: Rilda: Born August 29, 1888, died 1963. Married James Ward, son of Jackson and Cameline Harmon Ward. Lovie: Born November 20, 1891, died 1944. Married Eligah Presnell, son of Thomas and Mary Ann Presnell. She is buried in Mt. Lawn Cemetery Boone, N.C. Duke: Born August 17, 1894, died December 9, 1976. Married Sarah Tester, daughter of Duke and Alice Presnell Tester. Duke is buried in Mountain City, Tenn. Nola: Born September 24, 1898, died 1971. Married Craft Presnell, son of Thomas and Mary Ann Presnell. Dolphia: Born July 24, 1900, died 1968 or 1969. Married Charlie Presnell, son of Newt and Martha Ward Presnell, after his death she married Eligah Presnell. Nathan Talbert: Born June 4, 1903, died September 7, 1976. Married Stella Hicks, daughter of James and Anna Presnell Hicks. Buried at Ward Cemetery. Dare: Born September 24, 1905. Married Howard Ward, son of Monroe and Callie Woodring Ward. Howard died and Dare married again. Cameline: Born June 9, 1908. Married Carson Masten. Hanna Presnell Ward and Riley Ward are buried at the Talbert Ward Cemetery near Watauga River, Watauga County, N.C.

Talbert Presnell

Talbert Presnell: Son of Nathan (II) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. Born June 30, 1874, died February 12, 1932. He first married Hessie Kicks daughter of William and Ann Presnell Hicks. They had one daughter. Birdie: She married Loyd Welch. Hessie died and Talbert married Susie Hicks, daughter of Samuel (III) and Becky Harmon Hicks. They had two children: Luvania: No information. Lilly Mae: No information. After Susie died, Talbert married Ida Presnell daughter of Enoch and Bessie Norton Presnell. They had one son – Nathan Presnell. Talbert was born in Watauga County, N.C., and is buried near Hot Springs, N.C.

Julia Presnell

Julia Presnell: Was born April 1, 1878 – died 1947. Daughter of Nathan and Sarah Shupe Presnell, married Benjamin Hicks son of Samuel and Rebecca Harmon Hicks on February 4, 1894. Their children are: Samuel: Born November 4, 1894, married Susie Ward, daughter of Benjamin and Martha Presnell Ward on June 21, 1912. Nathan: Born February 19, 1896. Married Rena Hicks, daughter of Andy and Susanne Presnell Hicks on January 18, 1913. Becky: Born April 26, 1898. Married Roby Stines, son of Edd and Nettie Harmon Stines. Susie: Born October 10, 1905 – died September 5, 1913. Sarah: Born May 2, 1915. Married Windsor Hicks, son of Andy and Susanne Presnell Hicks. Nettie: Born August 25, 1918. Married Edd Presnell, son of Nathan and Melinda Presnell on March 17, 1935.

Sarah Melinda Presnell

Sarah Melinda Presnell: Daughter of Nathan (II) and Sarah Shupe Presnell, Born April 18, 1879 – died 1945. Married Nathan Presnell (V), son of James (IV) and Hannah Ward Presnell. Their children were: Pina: Born March 13, 1901 – died December 7, 1914. Sherman: Born 1900 – died November 4, 1973. Married Alphia Hicks, daughter of Hedge and Maggie Olliver Hicks. They had 4 children. Daily: Married Lina Stines, after her death he married Mary Ellen Ward. Daily and Lina had 4 children. Julia: First married Grant Presnell son of Harvey Miles and Rilda Hicks Presnell. After Grant’s death, Julia married Sam Hicks son of Ben and Julia Presnell Hicks. Sam and Julia had one son, “Sammy” who lives at Highland Hall near Boone, N.C. Hannah: Married Jonah Harmon. They had one daughter, Ella Mae. Born July 2, 1932. Ella Mae married James Ward, son of Dayton and Elsie Ward. After James’ death she married Blain Ward, son of Custer and Gladys Shell Ward. Pearlie: Married Willard Yates, son of Calvin and Roxie Watson Yates. They have 7 children. Pearlie died in June 1980. They lived at Banner Elk, N.C. Gold: Born May 13, 1913, died March 18, 1960. Married Mary Alice Presnell, daughter of Roby and Ida Tester Presnell. They had 3 children: Ruby: who married Jimmy Hagaman. Goldie: who married Raymond Hicks. Roy: who married Glinda Harmon.

Edd: Married Nettie Hicks, daughter of Ben and Julia Presnell Hicks. They had 4 children: Lucille: Married Bob McGrew. Julia Ellen: Married Bill McGrew. Marthana: Married David Ward. Baxter: Jenette Ross first and Reva Napier the second time. Vance: Married Anna Hicks, daughter of Nathan and Rena Hicks. They had 4 children: Susie: Married Bobby Presnell. Reva: Married Luke Napier. Divorced and married Baxter Presnell. Eunice: Married Bill Napier. Richard: Rosa: Married James Tester, son of Duke and Alice Presnell Tester. They had 6 children. Wilkie: Married Gladys Farthing. Marie: Married Hoyt Combs. Joyce: Married Ransom Presnell. Lois: Married Kenny Presnell. Wildo: Married Shirly Louise Farthing. Sarah Rose: Married Jimmy Shelton. Sarah Melinda and Nathan are buried at the Mast Cemetery, Watauga Co. N.C.

George W. Presnell

George W. Presnell: Son of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. Born August 1, 1882, died Sept. 9, 1977. Married Ida Presnell, daughter of Harmon and Kizzie Ward Presnell. Their children were: Newt, Talbert, Dewey, Harvey, Glenda, Jerome, Frona, and Grace Presnell. Ida died and George married Melvina Ward, daughter of Tommy and Rilda Presnell Ward. Melvina was born July 10, 1904. Died Aug. 21, 1976. Their children were: Felix, Linny, George Jr. (who was killed in a bicycle accident), Luvenia, Sarah, and Rilda Presnell. Melvina and George Presnell are buried at Mt. Lawn Cemetery, Boone, N.C. George Jr. is also buried at Mt. Lawn. Frona, by George’s first wife Ida Presnell, married William Hicks. He was the son of Hedge and Maggie Olliver Hicks. They live on Laurel Creek, but their address is Banner Elk, N.C.

James Presnell (4)

James Presnell (4): Son of James (3) and Susan Benfield Presnell, born Feb. 18, 1840, died Feb. 12, 1920. James first married Nancy Caroline Ward, daughter of Jessie and Lucy Shupe Ward. They have one daughter Caroline Presnell, who married Miles Presnell (2) son of Miles Presnell (I) and Rilda Hicks Presnell. Nancy Caroline died and James Married her sister, Hanna Ward. They had 4 children. Mary Ann: born 1860. Married Tom Presnell, son of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. Sherman: Married Nealie Grimsley, moved to Tenn. Sam: Died a young man. Nathan (5): Born 1870, died 1955. Married Melinda Presnell, daughter of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. James and His third wife Nancy Trivett Presnell had 11 children. They were: Ellen: Married Grant Presnell, son of Miles and Rilda Hicks Presnell. Lucinda: Married Brownlow Hicks, son of Samuel (3) and Becky Harmon Hicks. Elizabeth Nancy: Married Henry Yates. “Betty” as she is known, was born Sept. 7, 1879, died Feb. 10, 1962. They are buried at Liberty Church Cemetery, Matney, N.C. Susie Ann: Married Andy Hicks, son of Samuel and Becky Harmon Hicks. Daniel: Married Lula Cool, daughter of Abner Cook, They moved to Tenn. Amos: Married Pearl Olliver, daughter of Smith and Betty Presnell Olliver. They moved to Montana. John: Married Mary Mast, daughter of John and Martha Trivette Mast. They also moved to Montana. Pardee: Married Della Birchfield. Moved to Tenn. Martin: Moved out west, married a girl from Norway. Harrison: Twin to Martin, married Sally James, daughter of Joe and Sarah James, They moved to Tenn. Audie: Married Anna Bell Presnell, daughter of John and Mary Jane Trivett Presnell. James and his fourth wife Lou Olliver had no children, but they raised another son of James Presnell (4) Fred Presnell who was born around 1907. Fred lives near Bristol, Tenn. James and three of his wives are buried at the Mast Cemetery in the Rominger community of Watauga Co. N.C. Do not know where his fourth wife is buried.

John Presnell Family

John Presnell (4): Son of James (4) and nancy Trivette Presnell, married Mary Ellen Mast. Mary was born Oct. 5, 1889. The daughter of John and Martha. Their children were: Bula: Born Aug. 30, 1903, died Dec. 11, 1903. She is buried at Mast Cemetery in Watauga Co., N.C. Lula: Married Chris Kramer. Eddie: Married Irene Sanage. Dare: Married W.F.Hutchins in 1924. He died in 1930. Dare then married Walter Farrier in 1944. Monty: Married Bon Allen. Eureka: Married Newill Chambers. Ruth: Married Henry Parsons. Ruby: Married Pete Peterson.

Elizabeth Nancy (Betty) Presnell

Elizabeth Nancy Presnell: Daughter of James (4) and Nancy Trivette Presnell. Born Sept. 7, 1879, died Feb. 10, 1962. She married Henry Yates. Their children are: Lorinia: Born Jan. 1, 1896, married Roscoe Caudell. They live at Boone, N.C. Eliza: Born Oct. 21, 1898, died 1939. Married Walter Ward, son of James and Sarah Shell Ward. Annie: Born June 12, 1901, died Dec. 7, 1977. She married Fred Baird. Julius: Born May 9, 1903. Now deceased. Married Addie Mast, daughter of Bill and Callie Mills Mast. Bob: Born May 25, 1905. Now deceased. Bonnie: Born Sept. 18, 1908. Married Bud Mast, son of Bill and Callie Mills Mast. They lived at Rominger for years but now live at Sugar Grove, N.C. Thursa: Born May 4, 1913.

Sarah Presnell

Sarah Presnell: Oldest daughter of James (3) and Susan Benfield Presnell. Married Joe Hicks. No further information.

Nancy Presnell

Nancy Presnell: Daughter of James (3) and Susan Benfield Presnell, married Samuel Hicks (2) son of Samuel Hicks (I). They had one son Samuel Hicks (3) who married Becky Harmon, daughter of Council and Betsy Tester Harmon. Nancy was born 1823, died 1848. She is buried in the Old Sammy Field Cemetery, on land now owned by Alfred Rominger.

Anne Presnell

Anne Presnell: Daughter of James Presnell (3) and Susan Benfield Presnell. Anne first married Riley Ward, son of Duke (2) and Lucy Tester Ward. Their children were: Riley Jr.: Married Anne Hicks. John: Married Christy Anne Presnell, daughter of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. Kizzie: Married Harmon Presnell, son of Miles (I) and Rilda Hicks Presnell. Alice: Married Henry Hicks. Caroline: Married Goulder Hicks. Riley Ward died with cancer and Anne Presnell Ward married William Hicks, son of John Hicks. Their children were: Hedgie: Married Maggie Olliver. James: Married Anna Presnell, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann Presnell. Hessie: Married Talbert Presnell, son of Nathan (2) and Sarah Shupe Presnell. Hardie: Died unmarried.

Clarissa Presnell

Clarissa Presnell: (Known as Aunt Clara) daughter of James (3) and Susan Benfield Presnell, married Calvin Ward, son of Duke (2) and Lucy Tester Ward. Their children are: Jackson: Married Cameline Harmon, daughter of Council and Betsy Tester Harmon. Dew: Married Jane Presnell, daughter of Eli Taylor Presnell and America Banner Presnell. Lucinda: Married Carroll Harmon, son of Goulder and Rebecca Ford Harmon. Polly: Married Rev. George Trivett. James: Married Mattie Harmon, daughter of Riley and Ellen Estept Harmon. Rebecca: Married Loyd Millsaps.

Eligah Presnell

Eligah Presnell : Son of Nathan (I) and Mary Whitehead Presnell. Married Katie Mundy. Their children: Roxanna: Married William G. Bingham son of George H. and Mary Ann Davis Ginham. Marjorie: Married Frank Dugger. Leona: Married Hugh M. Issacs, son of Soloman Issacs. Lillian: Never married. Harriet: Married Henry Brinkley. Rebecca: Married Wiley Cole. Sally: Married Jess Fisher. Carolina: Married George Moody. Elisah: Married Carolina Bingham. Abner: Unknown went west.

Solomon Presnell

Solomon Presnell: Son of Nathan (I) and Mary Whitehead Presnell. Born in Chatham Co. N.C. 1810. Came to Watauga Co. 1827. He married Mary Mundy who was born in what is now Alexander Co. in 1813. Their children were: Melvin: who died in infancy. Carolina: Died at age three. Wesley Wayne: Born July 22, 1837, on Cove Creek at Vanderpool Place. He married Susan Adeline Gragg Mar. 17, 1861. Amanda: Married Holden Moody. Benjamin: Was killed Bentonville. Squire Adams: Married Catherine Hartly first, second marriage was to Mattie. James M: Married Rebecca Green. Rufis W: Married Sally Vandyke. N. Jerome: Married Caroline Hodges. N.Jerome was born 1850. Mary A: Married David Fox. OLDEST MAN --- In the death of Jerome Presnell, the county, so far as is known by this corner, lost her most venerable citizen… Born in 1850, Jerome was a bug husky lad when the Union split and the nation’s great Civil War errupted… He saw the

nation spanned with rails and lived to see the iron horse all but supplanted by the motor carriers… the automobile and the flying machine, and the atom bomb, radio and television made their debut during this time, the kerosene lamp supplanted the home made candle, and homespun jeans gave way to northern fabrics… Jerome witnessed the evolution of our school system from a few weeks term, presided over by a school master who attempted to put across a course in all subjects, to a standard nine months term… He saw the muddy trails which passed for roads transformed into ribbons of asphalt and concrete, and watched the age of wheels bring untold riches to the nation… He saw a lot during his century long travels, and enjoyed life…Never one to seek out unhappiness, or to covet an overabundance of material things, Jerome went contentedly along, living peacefully with his fellows, and bring cheer with the radiance of his smile… Watching unending changes he refused to become too much a part of it, and held fast to those fundamental virtues, which he was taught in another age… He lived simply and wholesome and a lot longer than most. This was taken from a past edition of the Watauga Democrat. N.Jerome Presnell: The son of Solomon and Mary Mundy Presnell, was born in 1850. He married Caroline Hodges. Their children were: Lela: Born 1884, married Ira Harrison. Maggie: Born 1887. Married Spencer Campbell. Lucinda: Born 1890. Married Burette Presnell. Willie: Born 1899. Married Nanny Greer.

Wesley Wayne Presnell

Wesley Wayne Presnell: Known as Col. W.W. Presnell was the son of Solomon and Mary Mundy Presnell. Born July 22, 1837 on Cove Creek road at Vanderpool Place. He married Susan Adeline Gragg March 17, 1861. Col. W.W. died Aug. 24, 1925. Susan Adeline was born June 14, 1837, died Feb. 12, 1907. Col. W.W. was a confederate veteran of the Civil War. He lost an arm in the war and after his discharge he became a school teacher. His wife Susan Adeline also lost an arm during the same trying period while feeding a cane mill. Col. W.W. and his wife are buried at the Greer Cemetery Vilas, N.C. Col. W.W. was register of deeds from 1870 to 1886. He was with Co. D 58 Reg. commanded by John B. Palmer in the year of 1862.

Joe Presnell Family

Joe Presnell: Son of W.W. and Susan Gragg Presnell. Their children are: Ella: Married an Issiac. Ruth: Married a Green. Flo: Married a Taylor. Addie: Married a Danner. Burette: Born in 1902. Married Lucinda Presnell, daughter of N.Jerome Presnell.

PICTURES

(Jacob) Presnell, The First

Lived in France in the 16th century. Was a member of the Hugenot army. His wife’s name was Sarah also of French Decent. They lived in the Du Rhone area of France which is near Marseille France. Jacob Presnell (I) went from France to England, from there he emigrated to Jamestown Virginia, eventually moving to Middlesex County Virginia. The Presnells were in Manchester County England before coming to America.

Jacob Presnell (II)

Was born in France in 167?. He was also a Hugenot. He died in 1717. He married Mary Julie Maupin in 1700. Mary Julie was born in France in 1680. She was a descendent of Anthony, King of Navarre. She died in Middlesex County, Virginia (Exact date unknown). Her ancestors came from the Pyrennes area of France. The Presnells came from the Du Rhone area of France.

James Presnell (I)

James Presnell the first was the son of Jacob Presnell (II) and Marie Julie Maupin. Born in Middlesex County Virginia 1708. He died in 1792. He married Mary Ann Daniels October 12, 1732. Mary Ann was born 1713(18). Died in Chowan County N.C. in 1800. It is thought that James Presnell (I) is the ancestor of all N.C. and Tenn. Presnells.

James Presnell (II)

James Presnell (II) the son of James 1st, was born if 1736 in Chowan County N.C. He married Sarah Harvey in 1759. She was born 1741 and died in 1771. James (II) died in 1821. They had one son Nathan Presnell.

Nathan Presnell (I)

Nathan Presnell the first was the son of James Presnell second and Sarah Harvey Presnell. He was born 1759 in Chatham County N.C. He married Sarah Whitehead. They moved to Alexandra County, N.C. They had three children.

James Presnell (III)

James Presnell (III) son of Nathan and Mary Whitehead Presnell. Was born 1796 and died 1885 at the age of 89. He married Susan Benfield in 1818. She was born 1804 and died in 1898 at the age of 94. They moved to what is now Watauga County N.C. in the early 18oo’s to the Toms Knob section where he and his family owned much land. According to old grants and deeds over one thousand acres. They had nine children, 5 boys and 4 girls.

Harvey Miles Presnell (I)

Harvey Miles Presnell (I) was born 1820 and died 1908. He married Rilda Hicks daughter of Harmon and Nellie Hicks. Miles was in the Civil War Private Co. C. N.C. Cavalry. His wife rilda was born 1823 and died 1902. Miles was known as a great bear hunter, and at one time had the floor and walls of his log house covered with bear skins. Miles and Rilda had twelve children.

Grant Presnell

Grant Presnell born June 7th, 1864. Son of Harvey Miles and Rilda Hicks Presnell. Married Ellen Presnell daughter of James Presnell (IIII) and Nancy Trivett Presnell. They moved from Watauga County N.C. to the vicinity of Del Rio Tennessee some time around 1910. From there they moved to the McMillian community near Cosby Tennessee a few years later. They had 8 children.

Pardee, the oldest was killed while hooking tongs for an overhead skidder in March of 1925 at Astoria Oregon. Willard, who was crippled by scarlet Fever at an early age, died in 1930. Nancy: born Dec. 14th 1894. Died ____19__ Hobart: Died 1947. Marshall: Born 1903, died 1984 lived in Austin Texas. Helena: Died in 1954. Major: Died 19 __ was killed by a car in Texas. Lawrence: The only surviving member of this family as of June 1984. Living in Fayetteville N.C.

Lawrence Presnell

Lawrence Presnell born August 23rd, 1913 near Del Rio Tennessee. The only child of the Grant and Ellen Presnell family to be born in Tennessee, and at present time June 1984 the only surviving member of this family still living. Married Gertrude Nance Presnell in October 3rd 1941. Served in the armed forces during W.W.II in the European Theater. They have two children.

Phyllis Ann Presnell Petersen

Born October 16th, 1942 Married Gary Lee Petersen of Lincoln Nebraska They have two children. Brian Jens Petersen born July 1st, 1969 Karen Marie Petersen born May 28th 1975. Presently living in Raleigh N.C.

Larry Thomas Presnell

Born January the 15th, 1949. Married Vicki Gilmore of fayetteville N.C. They have one child Megan Elizabeth Presnell Born October 30th 1979 Presently living in Maryland.