Notes, obituaries, etc......

Notes, Obituaries, etc...

Martin Rufus Beam

When my friend Ed first mentioned his Grandfather's knife, I was greatly confused. How could this 60 year old fellow be the grandson of a Confederate soldier? That question was explained by Mr. Beam's multiple marriages. Ed brought the "knife" for me to see, along with a typed copy of Mr Beam's obituary. Ed said his Grandfather used the knife to cut hay after the war, and it had been lying under his kitchen sink in past years. A quick look into my copy of "Echoes of Glory, Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy", a publication of the Time Life Books, identified Ed's knife as a Confederate Navy cutlass. Wonder how an artillery man, from the foothills of NC, ended up with a Navy cutlass? Mr Beam had carved his initials in the handle, and the blade shows some wear, but the cutlass is in remarkable condition. I told Ed not to put it back under the sink!

We believe the obituary was published by one of the Cleveland County newspapers, but its name was not on the typed copy which reads:

"MR. RUFUS BEAM
'The passing away of a fine citizen, noble Christian, and brave Confederate Soldier'

In the death of Mr Rufus Beam of Fallston the county loses one of its best citizens, a noble and consecrated Christian, and one of the bravest and most honored Confederate veterans. After a long and continuous attach of kidney trouble, which for a long time did not seem dangerous, he succumbed to its fatal effects Friday morning at three o'clock.

Sixty-five years old, he had lived a long life of usefulness and consecration to duty. He had been married twice, the first time to Miss Sallie Warlick and the second time to Miss Mattie Whitworth. From the first marriage were born nine children and from the second, five. His wife and five children are left to suffer his departure.

Mr Beam was a Confederate soldier with a record for bravery and country devotion rarely surpassed. A member of the immortal seven of Captain Dickson Falls' company who were in active service till they laid down their guns at Gettysburg, he was a soldier loved by his comrades and confided in by his superiors, and a man always at his post. Till his death he and Rev A G Gantt were the only surviving members of this famous seven.

His remains were laid to rest at Pleasant Grove graveyard; Rev A G Gantt, his old friend and comrade preaching his sermon. Around his coffin at his funeral were gathered his old Captain, Dickson Falls of Blackland, Mississippi, and his old comrades Lieutenant T D Falls and Lieutenant P Y Carpenter.

His death is not alone a great loss to his family, but a loss to the county, for such men as he are the backbone of the state. We sympathize with the bereaved family and greatly deplore the loss."

Mr Beam died December 9, 1904.

My friend Ed & I wonder to whom the "immortal seven" refers? Why were they called by the name? Did they perform some really heroic deeds during the war? If you can give us any clues to this please contact me. Update 27 Aug 2005: Click on Captain Falls above to learn about the immortal seven.

Ed passed away. We buried him the day before Christmas Eve, 1998, at Palm Tree Methodist Church in Lawndale, NC, near his Mom's family. It was an honor to be counted among Ed's friends, and we miss him terribly. Rest in peace gentle soul.

Back to Company C, 55th Regiment of NC Troops

Marcus Parker

Uncle Mark enlisted in the Militia, the 90th Regiment, 22nd Brigade, District 2, in Cleveland County on
6 November 1861. His obituary was published Wednesday, February 1, 1905 in our local newspaper, "The Cleveland Star":

"CAPT. MARK PARKER DEAD
'One of Cleveland's Oldest and Best Known Citizens Dies Suddenly'

Early Sunday morning Capt Mark Parker died at his home at Pearl. Although he had attained the ripe old age of 82 years his death was not yet expected for he had always been possessed with remarkably good health and was apparently well and strong up to the time he received the deadly summons. He had lived a long life of toil and family devotion and his death is a great shock and loss to his children and grandchildren. The father of nine children, six of whom are living, he was devotedly loved and respected by all of them and even looked to by them as a comforter and protector. Five of the living are girls, and in his death they undergo a heavy loss. His services during the war won for him the distinction of captain, and never was he known to shirt a duty. He leaves only one brother, Mr Devenney Parker, himself a Confederate soldier who lost an arm fighting for the lost cause. The remains of Capt Parker were buried at Zion Baptist church Monday at 2 o'clock, Rev Z D Harrill conducting the funeral services. May the great Comforter and Healer console and protect his people in their hour of sorrow and bereavement."

If my Uncle Mark is on your tree, or you can offer any suggestions where to find his military records which are not in the NC Archives, I would love to hear from you. Also, his mom's maiden name is one huge brick wall for me, any help there would be most appreciated.

Back to Roll Call of Confederate Veterans.

Two Confederates in Cleveland, Officers in Two Big Battles

"The Cleveland Star, Shelby, NC
Friday, May 10, 1929
Two Confederates in Cleveland, Officers in Two Big Battles
'Capt Dickson and Lieut Parker Served at Gettysburg and Chickamauga Battles'

(By Prof W E White, Cleveland County Historian)

As the tenth of May arrives the minds of Southern people naturally turn to deeds of valor and heroism. This is Memorial day in the South and our minds rever to the gallant, bravely championed, the "Lost Cause".
Cleveland county perhaps has a distinction in Souther history today that does not belong to any other county in NC.-----------our borders is found two living ex-Confederate officers who participated in the two greatest battles of the Civil War. One of these officers was wounded at Gettysburg, while the other lost an arm at Chickamauga.

When Gen Robert E Lee invaded Pennsylvania in the summer of 1863, there was within the ranks of the army Capt E Dixon, of Fallston. Capt Dickson was a brave and efficient officer, and was in the heroic charge led by Pickett and Pettigrew on the third day of battle at Gettysburg. In this gory battle Capt Dixon was wounded in the heroic effort to drive the Federals from their stronghold.
After the Confederate misfortune at Gettysburg, General Lee sent General Longstreet to the assistance of General Braxton Bragg, the Confederate commander in the west at the time. Being reenforced by General Longstreet's corps, General Bragg joined battle with his adversary, General Rosencrans, at Chickamauga. One of the officers who took part in this, the greatest battle of the west, was Lieut Devaney Parker. Lieut Parker, though a native of Cleveland county, entered the service from Jackson County, of this state. Like Capt Ed Dixon, Lieut Parker was a brave and efficient officer. During the first day of this terrible battle of Chickamauga, he lost his right arm in the fearless performance of his duty.

May the last days of these heroic Confederate veterans be spent in happiness. Capt Dixon was 96 years of age on March 8, 1929, while Lieut parker is expecting to celebrate his 92hd birthday on July 2, 1929. Cleveland county and the entire South can afford to be proud of these noble veterans. W E White, County Historian"

My note: Mr. White spells Captain Dickson's name two different ways in the article, as both Dickson and Dixon. I have endeavored to leave is his misspelling alone. Mr. White was also in error of Uncle Devanie's age, he would have been 94 on July 2, 1929. Through the years the Memorial Day celebrations in Cleveland County dwindled , articles that once listed the heroic efforts and names of each surviving vet, became afterthoughts, with short lists gifts given by area merchants, and "entertainment" offered the veterans or surviving spouses. These elderly folks were served a dinner by the UDC, taken to the local movie house and trotted out to Sunset Cemetery to place flowers on graves of Confederate Soldiers. I can't help but wonder at the thoughts of 90something vets placing ornaments on the graves of their friends. The article for May 11, 1931, lists Mr. J F Walker, age 91, as the oldest living veteran, which indicates Uncle Devanie and Captain Dickson had passed away.

My quest is to find the exact date Uncle Devanie died. He was blind, infirm, and living in the Old Soldier's Home in Raleigh, North Carolina in the late 1920s. He is buried at Union Baptist Church, on Highway 226, near Polkville, in Cleveland County, NC. His marker is a Confederate memorial with no dates. If anyone has access to the Soldier's Home records, I would appreciate any information you could give on Uncle Devanie. I have found no obituary written for him during the years following Mr. White's article of 1929. How we do forget.....

Back to Uncle Devanie's salute.
Back to Capt Dickson, Company C, 55th Regiment of NC Troops

These pages, and the work thereof, are the exclusive property of Judith Parker-Proctor and may not be reproduced in any format for sale or profit by any individual, business, organization, internet service, or other entity.

Back to my list of pages.