Sarah Adaline Johnson Doby 1854-1908

Sarah Adaline Johnson was born in August of 1854 in Southern Davidson County. In 1860 she was living in Silver Hill, Davidson County. Since its discovery in 1838, silver, lead, and zinc were mined at the Washington Mine within the town. It was one of the “only” silver mines in North Carolina. The company that owned the mine was known as the “Washington Mining Company” and then the “Silver Hill Mining Company” and was largely controlled by a group of New York investors who also controlled the company town as well. During the American Civil War, lead from the mine was used in Confederate bullets according to Wikipedia. Silver Hill is located during the present-day town of Southmont.

This map of Davidson County, North Carolina Townships shows the Silver Hill Township where Adaline was born and grew up.

In the 1860 census, Adaline Johnson was living with her 30 year old father, Calvin and 33 year old mother, Mary at Silver Hill. Her father, Calvin (Caven) Johnson was a miner owning $25 of personal property. Other children in the home were Nancy, age 9, Lewis M, age 8, and Susan, age 3.

Calvin Johnson joined the Confederate Army on June 15, 1861. He deserted at Bull run on July 21st, 1861. Page 2 Civil War Service Records (CMSR) – Confederate – North Carolina – Fold3

Calvin Johnson most likely died before 1870. No record can be found of him in the 1870 census. Adalaine Johnson married Goldsbury Surratt aka Manley Goldsberry Doby on August 21st, 1870. This is her wedding picture. Adaline was 16 and Manley was 17.

In the 1880 census, Adaline and Manley have three children and they are living in Jackson Hill in Davidson County. The three children are James L (8), Cora Bell (7), Arrastus (5).

In the 1880 census, it appears Adaline’s mother, Mary Dickens Johnson is living with her daughter Susan and her husband, Jefferson Simpson and her two grandsons, William F Simpson and John F Simpson.

In the decade of 1890, there are several children added to the Doby household. Son Walter Finch is born in 1880, Son Columbus M is born in 1883, Daughter Mary Emma is born in 1885, Son Joseph Monte is born in December of 1886. Son Grover Cleveland is born in 1888 and Daughter Essie is born in 1890. Son Joseph Monte died in February 1889 and is buried at Clear Springs Cemetery in Denton, North Carolina.

The Dispatch reported a visit by Adaline to her mother, Mrs. Mary Johnson in August of 1898.

In February 1990, Adaline and Manley Doby move to Salisbury, North Carolina in Rowan, County.

In June of 1900, Adaline and Manley are living at the Town of Salisbury in Rowan, County. She is 47 and he is 49 and they have been married 29 years. He is a farm laborer and they rent their home.

They have had 13 children, 10 of which are living. Two of the deceased children are James born in 1872, and Joseph Monte born in 1886. The third is unknown. Daughter Cora Belle left the home in 1891 when she married William Robert Dunning. She is living at Healing Springs in Davidson County with her family.

Son Arrastus Merriman appears to have moved to Greenville, South Carolina and married Bertha Forrester in 1899. He also started going by the surname Surratt which was his paternal biological grandfather’s surname. The 1910 census indicates that he and Bertha had been married 11 years. Brother Grover Cleveland is also in his home in 1910 and he is going by the surname Surratt.

Children in Adaline and Manley’s home in 1900 are Walter (19), Columbus (16), Mary (15), Grover C (11), Essie (9), Maggy S (8), Goldsbury A (5).

Adaline’s mother, Mary Dickens Johnson is living with her daughter Nancy and husband Joseph Cavanaugh at Silver Hill in Davidson County in the 1900 census.

On July 25 of 1900, The Salisbury Weekly (page 3) reported Adaline’s husband Manley Goldsbury Doby died of typhoid fever after recovering from the measles.

In September 1900, Adaline (Adeline) visited her mother and became sick upon her return back home.

On June 12, 1902, Adaline’s mother Mary Elizabeth Dickens Johnson passed away. She was 78 years old. Mary Johnson is buried at Grace Lower Stone Church Cemetery in Rowan County with her son Lewis and his wife, Frances. The inscription on her tombstone reads:

On June 12, 1902, Adaline’s mother Mary Elizabeth Dickens Johnson passed away. She was 78 years old. Mary Johnson is buried at Grace Lower Stone church cemetery in Rowan County with her son Lewis and his wife Frances. The inscription on her tombstone reads:

Farewell Rest Mother Rest in Quiet Sleep while friends o’er thee weep.

Adaline’s oldest living son, Walter Finch Doby joined the military in July of 1902 and began a most interesting career. In October 1902, Daughter Essie Doby broke her arm.

Walter F Doby Troop B 3rd U S Cavalry reported from Yellowstone that snow was 28 inches deep and temperature 6 below zero in the Asheboro Courier on February 11, 1904. In August of 1906, Walter was back home in Davidson County. He was the First Sergeant of the Lexington’s Company A, Third Regiment. They spent a week on maneuvers at the Chickamauga Battlefield in Tennessee. Walter completed his three years in the Army just in time to assist in the burial of his youngest brother, Goldsbery Doby in 1906. Goldsbory fell sick and died in Durham, North Carolina. Adaline had moved there with her younger children after the death of her husband.

Walter was appointed to serve as a special police officer at the Jamestown Exposition in 1907.

Walter on his visit home in early 1907 was concerned about the opening of the Exposition.

While serving as a Powhaton Guard, Walter was injured in parade.

Adaline moved to Durham to live with her younger children. Adaline was living there in 1906 when her son Goldsbury died. In 1907, Adaline and daughter Maggie are living at 440 Wall Street, Durham. Daughter Elsie has married Rufus Robinson. They have a daughter, Ruby Latefa Robinson who was born January 7, 1908 in Durham. Adaline owned a lot at Jackson Hill in Davidson County which she had been deliquent in paying taxes on. Walter sold the lot at Jackson Hill in March of 1908.

In April 1908, Walter is in Panama and is a member of the Panama police force.

Walter makes sure that his mother has a copy of The Dispatch so she can keep up with her old neighborhood.

Sarah Adaline “Adline” Johnson Doby died December 13, 1908 in Durham, North Carolina where she was living with daughter Essie Johnson. Daughter Maggie also lived there. She was married to Bonner Rufus Robinson and they had one baby, Ruby Latefa Robinson.

Adaline was buried at Clear Springs Cemetery in Davidson County with her husband Manley who predeceased her. She was 54 years, 3 months, and 28 days old. Adaline’s children who were known to have died before her were Joseph Monte who died in February 1889, James who most likely died before 1900, Goldsbury Vance who died January 30, 1906, and Columbus who most likely died after 1900 but before 1910.

Surviving children were Cora Belle Doby Dunning who was married to William Robert Dunning. They lived at Healing Springs in Davidson County. Grandchildren who were living in 1908 were Ethel Lou, Bertie Alice, Minnie Irene, Fannie, Marry Adaline, Lillie Beatrice, Carrie, William Adam, and Walter Goldsbury.

Arrastus Merriman was married to Bertha Forrester and was living in Maudlin, Greenville County South Carolina and was using the surname of Surratt. His children who were alive in 1908 were James Clyde, Grace Virginia, and Maggie May.

Walter Finch Doby and Grover Cleveland Doby were single men. Walter was a policeman in Panama and Grover Cleveland was a farm laborer who was most likely living with his brother in Greenville, South Carolina.

Mary Emma Doby was married to Robert Lindsey Buie. She was living in close proximity to Cora Belle Doby Dunning in Davidson County. She had two sons: Grover Cleveland and Ceaurn “Kearney” Buie.

Sarah Adaline Johnson Doby’s descendants lived mostly in Thomasville, Denton, High Point, and Randolph County, North Carolina. They also lived in Durham, North Carolina and in Greenville, South Carolina. Their occupations were varied. The most common were like their neighbors, working in textile and furniture plants. Some were self-employed builders, farmers, and sawmillers. One helped to build the Panama Canal and one lost his life at Pearl Harbor. They liked to play sports and coached as well. Some were businessmen such as automobile dealers, insurance representatives and such. There were a couple of politicians: a state senator and a county commissioner.