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Click here to view profile Bertie Mae Ausburn July 24th 1916 - June 16th 1957 Bertie Mae Ausburn was born on July 24th 1916 in Banks County, Georgia. She grew up in a household with her mother, Mittie Ausburn, and her grandfather, Benjamin Ausburn, who she looked up to as a father. She always said that she was raised by her grandfather and that she loved him dearly. When Benjamin was plowing the fields, he would gladly stop when Bertie Mae would bring him a glass of water. Bertie Mae (Right) and her Aunt Maud (Left) Father: Unknown Mother: Mittie Ausburn Half Siblings: Boyd Jackson , Lucille Jackson ________________ _______ Husband: Harve Deaton Children: Wayne Deaton Child with Jack Peyton: Martha Ann Deaton , Sensitive Content Unknown Father When Bertie's mother, Mittie Ausburn, was 18 years old, she had a child out of wedlock. It is currently unknown who the father of Bertie Mae Ausburn is. This was not talked about by the family and the information may have been lost through time. Bertie Mae's grandson told me that when Harve (Bertie's husband) was in his older age and had suffered many strokes, that he had brought it up and mentioned the name of Bertie's father. Unfortunately the name that was told to him has become a blur, he believes that Harve told him that it was a Charles "Langley" or "Langtree" or "Langford". Hopefully one day this will be revealed through lots of DNA testing. Early Life Bertie Mae was an active member at Damascus Church in Homer, Georgia. when she was five years old, Harve Deaton, had said she would be his wife some day and apparently Bertie Mae had cussed him out for it. Bertie Mae grew up with two aunts and one uncle. Maud, Essie, and Grant Ausburn . 1920 Census showing Bertie Mae Ausburn living with her grandfather, mother, and aunt In 1921, Bertie Mae's mother, Mittie, got married to Claude Homer Jackson. This would be her new step father. Mittie had two more children, Boyd and Lucille. Bertie Mae loved those children with a passion. Bertie Mae in her teenage years with unknown children Bertie Mae standing with step-son, Fred Gibson Top Row (L to R): Bentley Lewallen, Bobbie Jean, Benjamin Ausburn, Bertie Mae Ausburn, Claude Homer Jackson Bottom Row (L to R): Benny Lewallen, Mittie Ausburn, Lucille Jackson, Boyd Jackson L to R: Harve Deaton, Bertie Ausburn, Odell Meeler, Robert Meeler, Charlie Meeler This picture was taken when Ben Ausburn died. The Ausburn family is well represented here. The children on the front row left to right are Ruby and Rudolph Ausburn, Boyd Jackson and Eulean Lewallen. The second row: Bertie Mae Deaton, Belle Ausburn, Vassie Lewallen, Montene Ausburn, Marie Ausburn and Bentley Lewallen. Back row: Hubert Ausburn, Harve Deaton, unknown, Daisy Ausburn, Duck Ausburn, unknown, Grant Ausburn, unknown, Ralph Lewallen and Claude Jackson Bertie Mae Ausburn is on the right. She is with an unknown friend. Working for the Garrisons Bertie Mae Ausburn completed school up to the 7th grade and at age 16, she went to Cornelia and stayed with the family of Brawner Martin and Fletcher Garrison. She kept the house, cooked, and took care of the children. The children were Oland and Jacqueline. Bertie Mae stayed there until she got married at the age of 19. In 2023, I contacted Jackie Garrison at the age of 94. When I asked about Bertie Mae, she said that she remembered that Bertie was a "really country girl" and that "she was really poor". L to R: Brawner Martin, Jackie Garrison, Bertie Mae Deaton L to R: Jackie Garrison, Bertie Mae Deaton Marriage Bertie Mae Ausburn married Harve Wesley Deaton on February 21st, 1935 in Banks County, Georgia by Rev. Freeman Rice. Bertie's mother, Mittie, became very sickly. Bertie and Harve would pick Mittie's children up on Sunday afternoon and keep them at their house until Friday afternoon so they could go to school. Bertie got pregnant and they welcomed their first child, Martha Ann Deaton on July 5th 1941. Bertie's mother, Mittie, died the next day on July 6th 1941. Other people worked the farm to keep it going while Harve was busy building military equipment during WW2. It was a sharecropper's farm. There was always someone staying with them that worked for a room. Everyday there was someone at the door asking Harve and Bertie for food; they were always fed leftovers and given water while sitting on Harve's backdoor step. Bertie got pregnant once more but they had to bury their baby boy, Kenneth Wesley Deaton on March 13th 1943. He arrived too early and wasn't strong enough to make it. Bertie Mae was pregnant once more and Harry Wayne Deaton was born on July 29, 1946 and the war had ended. Headstone of Infant Kenneth Deaton L to R: Harve, Martha Ann, Bertie Mae L to R: Harve, Wayne, Martha, Bertie Bertie Mae holding Wayne Deaton and standing with Martha Ann. Bertie Mae holding daughter Martha Ann and standing with husband Harve L to R: Lucille Jackson, Bobbie Jean Lewallen, Bertie Mae and Harve Deaton holding Martha Ann Bertie Mae holding daughter Martha Ann Postcard send from cousin Ralph Lewallen to Bertie Mae Deaton while he was overseas in Africa during the war. Bertie and Harve's marriage certificate (Picture taken from Banks County Courthouse) Jack Peyton In August of 2023, a seemingly routine decision led to a profound discovery that would reshape the understanding of one family's history. It all began when my mother decided to take a DNA test through Ancestry.com. Little did we know that the results of this test would unravel a hidden chapter in our family's past. As the test results arrived, we were met with a shock that left us bewildered. Contrary to our expectations, the DNA analysis revealed that we did not share any DNA connection with the "Deaton" family, despite our longstanding belief that we were firmly rooted in this ancestral line. Even more bewildering was the fact that we shared 0% DNA with many of my grandmother Martha Ann Deaton's first cousins, individuals who were assumed to be close relatives. We were at a loss for what to make of this unexpected turn of events. However, as we delved deeper into the test results, another name emerged as a prominent clue. We noticed a significant number of first cousin matches with individuals bearing the surname "Peyton." The name struck a chord for my mom and I because we have a photograph from 1941 depicting a man named Jack Peyton holding a baby Martha Ann. Jack Peyton holding Martha Ann Deaton With newfound determination, we embarked on a quest to uncover the truth behind the connection between the Deaton and Peyton families. Our journey led us to uncover a crucial piece of evidence in the form of Jack Peyton's World War II registration card. It revealed that Jack Peyton had been the farmhand for Harve Deaton, Martha Ann's father, back in 1940. The card listed Bertie Mae Deaton, Martha Ann's mother, as someone who would always know Jack Peyton's address. With this newfound information in hand, our quest led us to the last living link in the chain, Jack Peyton's only son, Ronald Peyton. At the age of 77, Ronald was surprised to receive our call, as he had always known about the existence of a half-sister living in North Carolina. However, he had never known her name or her identity. Our call offered him the long-awaited answers he had sought for many years. To confirm the connection, we convinced Ronald Peyton to take a DNA test. The results of the test confirmed our suspicions, as it revealed that he shared 9% DNA (634 centimorgans) with my mother, which is consistent with the genetic relationship of a half-uncle. It became increasingly clear that Jack Peyton was likely the biological father of Martha Ann Deaton. The revelation of this hidden family secret left us with a profound sense of empathy for Martha Ann and Harve Deaton, who possibly lived their entire lives without ever discovering the truth. The circumstances of how Bertie Mae Deaton became pregnant by Jack Peyton remain unknown, buried in the annals of time, and lost to history. Living in Cramerton The family eventually decided to move to Cramerton, North Carolina on March 10th, 1950. Bertie's husband, Harve, had already been working in the Mill there because farming was not productive enough to support a family of four. While working in the mill, Harve was living with Bertie's cousin, Vassie Lewallen and her husband Garnett Smith. Harve was eventually offered a job to be the caretaker for the Cramer farm and a house came with the job; therefore, Bertie and the children made the full time move to Cramerton. Their house address was 583 Mountain Road, Cramerton NC. This was the first house Bertie Mae had with a bathroom, running water, and electricity. Bertie Mae and Harve Deaton at their Cramerton House Bertie Mae with her children, Wayne and Martha Ann Deaton Deaton Family in the yard of Stuart Cramer at the Maymont Mansion The family loved going to Friendship Baptist Church, this is where Bertie Mae's cousin, Vassie and Garnett Smith attended church. Harve and Bertie had became good friends with the preacher, Albert Pressley Millen, and his wife, Nellie. When attending a church dinner at Friendship Baptist Church in Belmont, the family got red measles (also known as rubeola). Everyone had gotten better except for mother Bertie Mae. Her measles turned into spinal meningitis. She laid in the hospital and went into a coma for 42 days. When she awoke, she was never quite right again and suffered physically and mentally. Things did not get better for Bertie Mae as there were instances where she had attempted suicide by trying to drown herself in the lake and her husband Harve jumped in and pulled her out. Harve had her committed to Broughton Mental Hospital on May 3rd 1954 and was she discharged on June 30th 1955. I was able to obtain Bertie's admission card to Broughton Hospital through the Broughton Hospital Library, everything that I was told was confirmed to be tru e about her medical conditions. On Sunday, June 16th 1957 at 9:15 pm, Bertie Mae Deaton, had gotten her husband's .32 pistol and shot herself in the right temple outside of the garage of her house . She was followed by her son Wayne outside and she told him, "Do your mother a favor and go back inside the house". Wayne ran back inside the house and told his sister, Martha. Martha replied "She's not gonna do it" and then the gun shot went off. Shortly before Bertie's death, her daughter, Martha Ann, had apparently been sneaking out of the house at night and was forming relations with the black folk down the road in "Baltimore Village". The town of Cramerton had assumed that Martha was dating black men. The local Ku Klux Klan heard about this and burned a cross in the Deaton's yard. Before Bertie Mae's death, she wrote a letter to her half brother, Boyd Jackson , which read "Make sure Blackie takes care of my flowers". According to Boyd's son, Ronnie, Boyd held onto this letter for a long time but that it was eventually burned in a house fire. Bertie Mae and friend Nellie Millen. Bertie Mae's Broughton Hospital Admission Card. Bertie Mae after contracting Spinal M eningitis The Gastonia Gazette June 18th 1957, Tue · Page 9 According to members of the family, there was a post-mortem photograph of Bertie Mae, but as of this writing, I have never seen the picture and it is unknown if it still exists today. Death Certificate of Bertie Mae Deaton Memory of Bertie Mae Deaton Written by Daughter, Martha Ann Deaton Bertie Mae was an excellent seamstress. She could cut a pattern out of a newspaper and it would look great. She made her daughter's fourth grade school teacher a velvet dress with sequins all over. She was a very good cook and loved all the Ausburn generation. As a child I remember a death in the community and the family was very poor. Mama went over to the house and each neighbor gave what they could to help out. Mama took chickens, eggs, ect. to the country store and traded them. She was so proud she was able to get each child and the father in the family a new set of clothes. She pruchased cloth and went home. She procceeded to make the mother a new dress. By late afternoon she delivered the clothes and had cooked their dinner as well. She always tried to help others. A message written by Bertie Mae in Martha Ann Deaton's 1956 yearbook Bertie Mae (Right) with brother-in-law, Isaac Deaton (Left) Extra Stories about Bertie Mae Ausburn In 2023, I visited Baltimore Village (African-American Community) in Cramerton with my mother. Baltimore Village is directly across the street to where Bertie and the family lived in Cramerton from 1950-1962. When knocking on the door of the oldest living locals in Baltimore Village, I told them that my great grandparents lived across the street in the 1950s. Immediately, I got the response, "Martha Ann Deaton?". All 3 locals that I spoke to, remembered Bertie Mae and the family like they spoke to them yesterday. One lady told me that she remembered Bertie Mae sitting on the porch of the house and when the children from Baltimore would walk to the store and pass the Deaton household, Bertie Mae would look out for cars to make sure no one got hit. One man told me that he remembered Bertie Mae coming over to help the people in Baltimore sew some clothing and that she was a very friendly woman. In 2023, I also spoke with a classmate of Martha Ann Deaton, she said she remembered Bertie well and that she had a real country voice and that she was always real friendly to her. She said she does remember Bertie Mae having breakdowns when she came to visit them and she would sometimes see Bertie cry for no reason. She also recollected the goodie bags that Bertie would sent her home with, filled with cake and cookies. Bertie Mae Deaton's Social Security Card Bertie Mae with children and famous Cherokee Indian, Molly Runningwolf Sequoyah In 2023, Roy Gibson (Brother of Fred Gibson) told me that he remembered walking down Baldwin mountain when Bertie Mae recognized him and picked him up in her and Harve's Ford A model coupe. He said she was driving with Martha Ann and Wayne in the car. Linda Deaton (Earl Deaton's daughter), told me the story that when Bertie Mae passed away, her glasses were left on the right side of the fireplace in their Cramerton home. When the family decided to put them away, the next day they suddenly reappeared right back on that mantle and the family decided to just leave them be and the glasses stayed their until they moved out. Every Picture I have seen of Bertie Mae Ausburn All Census Records

Click here to view profile Craig Allen Eury February 6th 1927 – February 7th 1976 Into the Life Craig Allen Eury was born on February 6, 1927, in Stanly County, North Carolina. He was the youngest child of Josephus Sanford Eury and Rosa Agnes Hill. His mother, Rosa, passed away in August 1933, when Craig was just 6 years old. He grew up in the Norwood area and later enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 27, 1946, at Camp Pickett, Blackstone, Virginia. Craig served in Company F, 350th Infantry Regiment. His service number was 44083959. He was released from active duty on April 17, 1947, after completing his one-year enlistment. Craig married Anna Carroll Johnson on February 8, 1948, in Chesterfield, South Carolina. Craig passed away on February 7, 1976, in Tennessee. He was buried at Cottonville Baptist Church Cemetery in Norwood, Stanly County, North Carolina. Father: Josephus Eury Mother : Rosa Agnes Hill Brothers: Leonard , Lester , Hugh , Paul , Willie , Joe Jr , Lawson Sisters: Mary Velma , Nannie (died at age 2), Lela ________________ _______ Craig's WW2 Registration Card. In 1945, he was 5'10 and 145 pounds. Obituary Hugh Eury's Funeral (Craig's brother) Top Row: Joseph Jr. Middle Row (L to R): Lawson and Craig Bottom Row (L to R): Paul, Lester, Leonard Veteran Headstone Registration

Click here to view profile Sarah Jane Caudell December 10th 1803 - September 24th 1885 Picture of Sarah Jane Caudell Sarah Caudell was born March 26, 1807 in NC and died January 10, 1871 in Banks County, GA. She married John Murray about 1826 in Franklin County, GA. She was the daughter of Benjamin Caudell, Jr. and Francis 'Fannie' Caudell. John and Sarah Murray are buried at the Murray Family Cemetery, Banks County, GA. There are other tombstones in that old family cemetery but all the names on them are illegible. They are Ben Ausburn's maternal grandparents. Father: Benjamin Caudell Mother : Francis Caudell ____________________ Husband: John Murray

Click here to view profile Lucinda Edna Ausburn May 9th 1834 - December 31st 1923 Lucinda Edna Ausburn was married to Wilborn Mickel Caudell on April 28th 1859 by James Brown in Banks County. They had eight children. His parents were John Caudell and Jane "June" Brown. She received a widows pension after her husband died in a wagon accident. She lived with her daughter Missouri in 1900, and lived with her daughter Emma in 1910 till her death in 1923. Fa ther : John Ausburn Mother : Jane Brown ____________________ Husband : Wilborn Mickel Caudell Children : Basheby, Missouri, John, James, Mary , Stephen, Cordelia, Emma Lucinda's grandfather, James Brown, was the first preacher of the Old Damascus Church. All Census Records

Click here to view profile James Thomas Davis November 23th 1866 – February 25th 1904 James Thomas Davis was born on November 23rd in Robbinsville, North Carolina. He is understood to be the father of both Etta and Cena Davis but there is no hard evidence of this. The mother was Leutica Carver. It is unknown whether James Davis had a relationship with these children. But Etta always said James Davis was her father. I currently have not seen any photos of James Thomas Davis. It is unknown if one still exists today. James Davis married Mahala Jane "Billie" Cooper on Jan 14th 1889 in Robbinsville. They had six children. They stayed married until his death in 1904. He is buried several feet away from his parents and the Carver family; consisting of Leutica, Azor, and Lucinda Carver. Fa ther: John Robert Davis Mother : Annie Starkey ____________________ Children with Leutica Carver : Etta Davis , Cena Davis Wife: Mahala Jane "Billie" Cooper Mahala Jane "Billie" Cooper Headstone of James Thomas Davis

Click here to view profile Maud Ausburn November 17th 1908 - February 20th 1991 L to R: Maud and niece, Bertie Mae Ausburn L to R: Maud Ausburn, Claude Jackson, Lucille Jackson, Harve Deaton holding Martha Ann Deaton Maud Lee Ausburn was the youngest child of Benjamin and Mary Caudell Ausburn. She was born November 17, 1908 in Banks County, GA. She died February 20, 1991 in Banks County, GA. She never married. She is buried at Damascus Church Cemetery, Banks County, GA. Memories of Maud Ausburn written by Martha Ann Deaton: "As a child I loved Aunt Maud. She kept house for Mallory Scoggins after his wife died and took care of his daughter, Ruby. I would spend the weekend with them. It was a great big white two-story house with a tremendous porch. It was about the nicest house I remember at the time. Aunt Maud would give me a dime to go to the store across the road that Mr. Scoggins owned in Hollingsworth, GA. He would feed me all kinds of junk, then give me candy to take back to the house with me. He would tell me not to tell Maud. He was a great person! He always told me about the girl that had twenty-five names and he could rattle them off so very fast. I almost believed him. Aunt Maud always fried chicken for Sunday morning breakfast. I enjoyed those visits, except for them insisting that I sing the latest song I had learned. My great-aunts were a very special part of my life." L to R: Maud and Martha Ann Deaton Father: Benjamin Ausburn Mother : Mary Louise Caudell Brother : Grant Wilmer Ausburn Sister : Mittie Lou Ausburn , Essie Ausburn ________________ _______ L to R: Martha Ann Deaton, Maud holding Wayne Deaton Mallory Scoggins house where Maud Ausburn worked L to R: Maud Ausburn and Fred Gibson

Click here to view profile David Deaton 25 November 1894 – 30 March 1921 David Deaton was born in November of 1894 in Graham County, NC. He was the second son of Leutica Carver and John Starlin Deaton. After his father died he went with his half-sister, Etta Carver Davis Deaton to Martha and James Wheeler's home in Towns County, GA. In the 1910 Census of Towns County, GA, he is listed as still living in the home with them. We have no knowledge of the year he left there. Harve Wesley Deaton, his half-brother, said he developed Tuberculosis and moved to New Mexico for his health. Photographic enlargement of David Deaton and friend. I have the original picture of this in a frame. Fa ther : John Starlin Deaton Mother : Leutica Carver Brothers: Reuben Deaton , Isaac Deaton , Robert Lee Deaton Half Brothers : John Henry Deaton, Jacob Leander Deaton , Harve Wesley Deaton ____________________ David Deaton is on the far right. It is unknown who the other men are.

Click here to view profile Charlotte Ann Parsons July 20th 1857 - 1913 Into the Life Charlotte Ann Parsons was born July 20th, 1957 to Duncan Livingston Parsons and Miranda Poole in Montgomery County, North Carolina. On January 19th, 1887, she married David Zebedee Poole. Charlotte's grandparents were Zebedee's great grandparents. They had four children together: Johnsie A Poole (born 1888), Annie Belle Poole (born 1889), David Franklin Poole (born 1993), Horace Ceaser Poole (born 1895). Charlotte, died in 1913 due to an unknown cause (Death Certificates weren't required in NC until a few months after Charlotte passed). She is buried at Parsons Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Candor, Montgomery County, North Carolina. Father: Duncan Livingston Parsons Mother : Miranda Poole ________________ _______ Husband: David Zebedee Poole Children : Johnsie A Poole, Annie Belle Poole, David Franklin Poole, Horace Ceaser Poole Charlotte's Headstone at Parsons Grove United Methodist Cemetery

Click here to view profile Johnnie Deaton Johnnie at her house in Demorest with father John Henry Deaton Johnnie Deaton was born in Homer, Banks County on November 18th 1933. She was the first descendant of John Starlin Deaton to graduate from college. She married Joe Downer in 1954. They had two daughters. Deborah Diane Downer was born in July of 1958 and Hazel Joann Downer born in September of 1963 in Habersham County, GA. Deborah Dianne Downer had two daughters. Hannah Erin Cunningham was born July 21, 1983 and Leah April Cunningham was born April 29, 1986. Hannah Erin Cunningham married Dustan Wilbanks in November of 2001 in Habersham County, GA. Hazel Joann Downer (Named Hazel because the first time her grandfather, John Deaton, saw her he thought she looked just like her Aunt Hazel did when she was born.) married Johnny Loudermilk in September of 1981 in Habersham County. They have a daughter, Melody Anna, born April 4, 1995, and a son, John Mark, born December 23, 1996 in Habersham County, GA. Johnnie passed away from cancer on September 2, 2003. Father: John Henry Deaton Mother : Cora Jane Lawrence Sister : Ruth Deaton, Hazel Deaton Brother : Stark Deaton ________________ _______ Husband : Joseph Tillman Downer Children : Deborah Dianne Downer, Joann Hazel Downer November 18th 1933 - February 2nd 2003 Johnnie and sister Ruth Deaton L to R: Cora, Johnnie, John Henry, Ruth Johnnie and husband Joseph Downer Johnnie (Far Right) with her family L to R: Cora, Ruth, John Henry, Johnnie L to R: Johnnie holding daughter Joann, beside her is daughter Dianne Downer Johnnie at her house in Demorest L to R: Martha Ann Deaton, Ernest Lee Deaton, Johnnie Deaton, Joseph Tillman Downer

Click here to view profile Mittie Lou Ausburn November 27th 1897 - July 6th 1941 Mittie Lou Ausburn was born to Benjamin Ausburn and Mary Louise Caudell on November 27th 1897 in Banks County, North Carolina. Mittie's mother, Mary, died when she was only 15 years old. Father: Benjamin Ausburn Mother: Mary Louise Caudell Brother: Grant Wilmer Ausburn Sisters: Essie Ausburn , Maud Ausburn _______________________ Child with Unknown Father: B ertie Mae Ausburn Children with Luther Watson: Boyd Jackson , Lucille Jackson Husband: Claude Homer Jackson L to R: Benjamin Ausburn, Mittie Lou Ausburn, Essie Ausburn holding Bobbie Jean Lewallen Sensitive Content Unknown Father of Child When Mittie Ausburn was 18 years old, she had a daughter named Bertie Mae Ausburn; however, it is currently unknown who the father is. This was not talked about by the family and the information may have been lost through time. Mittie's great grandson told me that when Harve (Mittie's son-in-law) was in his older age and had suffered many strokes, he had brought it up and mentioned the name of the man. Unfortunately the name that was told to him has become a blur, he believes that Harve told him that it was a Charles "Langley" or "Langtree" or "Langford". Hopefully one day this will be revealed through lots of DNA testing. Marriage Mittie married Claude Homer Jackson on April 28th 1921. It was originally believed that they had three children together: Laurene Jackson born October 9th 1925, Boyd Jackson born August 11th 1929, and Lucille Jackson born May 1st 1932; however, after DNA testing, through the son of Lucille Jackson, it has been determined that Claude Jackson was not the biological father of Lucille, rather it was a man by the name of "Luther Huttie Watson". This was apparently known to a select few, including Boyd Jackson's son, Ronnie Jackson, who told me that Luther "Luke" Watson, was his biological grandfather and that his father, Boyd Jackson, always knew this. It is unknown why or how the relationship between Luther and Mittie came to pass, but it is speculated that Claude Jackson may have been unable to have children. On June 8th 1927, Mittie lost her two-year old baby Laurene due to Bronchiolitis. Top Row (L to R): Bently Lewallen holding Bobbie Jean Lewallen, Benjamin Ausburn, Bertie Mae Ausburn, Claude Homer Jackson Bottom Row (L to R): Benny Euline Lewallen, Mittie Lou Jackson, Lucille Jackson, Boyd Jackson Mittie's father, Benjamin, died on September 13th 1937. He developed sepsis due to cellulitis in the right axillary region. Mittie at her fathers funeral Claude Jackson and Mittie's granddaughter, Martha Ann Deaton Death Mittie Lou Ausburn Jackson died on July 6th 1941, the day after her first grandchild was born. She had a gastroenteritis infection. Before she died, she asked her son-in-law, Harve Deaton, to take care of her two children, Boyd and Lucille for her when she was gone. Harve told her he would take care of them for as long as they would stay with him. The Banks County Journal Newspaper from July 18th, 1941 Death Certificate of Mittie Ausburn Mittie's Headstone Every Picture I Have Seen of Mittie Lou Ausburn All Census Records

Click here to view profile Reuben Deaton April 28th 1891 – September 1931 Rueben Deaton was the eldest son of Leutica Carver and John Starlin Deaton. He was born in April of 1892 in Graham County, NC. He married Lillie McDonald on March 25, 1913 in Graham County, NC. With her came Rube's new step-child. They later had a child of their own, Johnnie Starlin Deaton (February 7th 1915 - May 15th 1988). Rueben Deaton later married Calcina "Callie" Swayney, 1/8th Cherokee Indian. They had four children; however, only two survived to adulthood: Woodroe Deaton (February 20th 1928 - February 27th 2010) and Nellie Deaton (February 21st 1926 - July 31st 2020). Their first child was named "Lutitia Deaton", named after Rube's mother. She was born June 8th, 1923 and died December 24th 1923 at 6 months old of pneumonia in Swain County. Rube buried her on Christmas Day. They had another child, Charles Deaton, on May 4th 1925, he passed away May 12th 1925. Father : John Starlin Deaton Mother : Leuticia Carver Brothers: David Deaton , Isaac Deaton , Robert Lee Deaton Half Brothers : John Henry Deaton, Jacob Leander Deaton , Harve Wesley Deaton ____________________ Wife : Lydia McDonald Children: Johnnie Deaton Wife: Callie Swayney Children: Woodroe Deaton, Nellie Deaton Rube and wife Lydia McDonald pregnant with Johnnie, also with her son in 1915 L to R: Isaac Deaton and brother Rube Deaton When Callie Swayney Deaton died about 1924, Rueben took the children to Georgia. He left Nellie and Woodroe in the care of Margie and Bob Deaton, his brother and sister-in-law. They stayed there, with Rube visiting them, while remaining in Cherokee to work. When they were old enough, Woodroe and Nellie went to live at the school on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. In either 1932 or 1933, a large black car drove into the yard of Robert Deaton and several Indians got out. They informed him that Rueben had been killed. They took Robert Deaton back to Cherokee, NC to bury his brother. Brothers Harve and Isaac Deaton always said a member of the Swayney family killed Rueben. Jurlon Deaton quotes his father, Ike Deaton, as telling the following story. Rube was bad to drink and he went to sleep wherever he was at the time. He always slept with his head hanging off the bed. This particular night he was sleeping in another woman's house and someone came in and hit him in the head with a crowbar. In a newspaper article, Rube was accused by step-son for killing Callie Swayney. The body was exhumed and found that Callie had a crack in her skull. Rube's consequences for this are unknown. Callie Swayney's death certificate. Lutitia Deaton's death certificate. Charles Deaton's death certificate. Rube Deaton's WW1 Draft Registration Card Death Reuben died in 1932 after getting hit in the head. It was speculated that the son of Cherokee Indian, Molly Runningwolf, was the one who did it; however, Molly Runningwolf took the blame and served 21 months in prison. In 1947, Harve Deaton came to get answers to find out who really killed his half brother. Molly Runningwolf had thought he had come to kill her. In reality, he just wanted the truth. Molly begged him to believe her that it was not her or her son, but that it was a member of the Swayney family who did it. The meeting ended cordially. Harve brought along his wife Bertie Mae, children Fred, Martha Ann, Wayne, and his wife's half brother Boyd Jackson. In the interview below, there is a audio recording mentioning Molly Runningwolf's time in prison. Click here to listen to Molly Runningwolf interview Census Records

Click here to view profile Lanceford Cantrell Around 1787 – Around 1850 Lanceford Cantrell was born around 1787. He has an undocumented burial as no tombstone has been found. His grave was most likely marked with a fieldstone. He was the son of Isaac & Mary (Linder) Cantrell. In his youth he moved, with his parents, to Spartanburg County, South Carolina. He married Martha Cantwell about 1817 bringing his bride into the home of his mother. They lived there on the banks of Buck Creek for over twenty years. After his mother died he moved his family to a part of Union County Georgia that become Towns County in 1856. His family was recorded there on the 1850 census. Fa ther: Isaac Cantrell Mother : Mary Linder ____________________ Wife : Martha Patsy Cantrell