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Raymond Council Absher or "Ramie" as he was known was the youngest son of "Lewis McDaniel & Martha Ellen Billings Absher". He was born 5 Aug 1901 in Wilkes, NC; in the old home place of his grandfather Jacob Absher.
They were a farming family as were most people in the area. He learned from his father and his father before him, how to tend to crops, and when to plant. He often consulted the "Farmer's Almanac". When I was growing up he had a mule named "Rhody". He and "Rhody" would plow & tend the field. He had a wooden plow with a single blade as I recall; making neat & tidy rows. As soon as breakfast was over and light broke; he was out in the garden doing his daily chores. My brother "Ronnie" would often be on his heels. "Ronnie" was very close to him. I don't remember grandpa's garden ever having a weed that had time to grow for very long. His garden was almost perfect.
My grandfather tended to his life as he tended to his garden; "Steadfast & faithfully". He did not frett or become overly anxious. He did what he could to protect & nourish both. He never seemed to worry, as he knew Gods Grace would look over him.
He once said to me that "he was almost an "Infidel". I was young & at the time did not understand what he meant by that. As I grew older & more mature I understood; Once he married my grandmother "Nora Isadoe Felts" he converted from the "Holiness Church" to Baptist. There was a small "Holiness Church" above where the Absher family lived and where they attended church.
My grandfather first appears in the 1910 Census Record, age 8, Wilkes, NC living with his father "Dan" age 53 "respectively" & his mother "Martha Billings Absher age 54 "respectively". Martha's father "Jackson Billings" age 80 & widowed is living with the family. Martha's mother "Margaret Clementine Porter Billings" passed away in 1907. "Dan" & "Martha" have 3 other children at home "Carrie age 18" "Flora age 15" & "Dewey Pedro age 10". The Absher family lives in the same place in the Mulberry Township of Wilkes, NC.
The 1920 census records my grandfather "Ramie" age 18, living at home with his parents "Dan" & "Martha" age 60 "respectively" & his brother "Dewey Pedroe" recorded as age 16; this is incorrect in the record, he would be 20 years of age since he was born in 1899 & grandfather "Jackson Billings" age 89 is in the household. "Ramie" has a new sibling "Stella" age 6, who was given to "Dan" & "Martha" as an infant.
"Ramie" is recorded to be age 20 in the 1930 census; however this is incorrect in the record. He would have been age 29; being born in 1901. My grandfather is single and living at home with his parents "Dan" & "Martha" ages 72 "respectively". His brother "Roe" is listed as head of household, along with his wife "Bertha" & their 4 children. "Jackson Billings" passed away in 1921. They live at the old home place, Wilkes, NC. At this point in his life my grandfather seems to be a confirmed bachelor.
The Absher family and the Felts family were well acquainted with each other; William Connie "Con" Felts married my grandfather's sister "Flora" Ellen Absher in 1913. "Con" Felts was my grandmother's brother.
Grandpa's oldest brother "Coy" who was born in 1881; had a daughter "Cordelia" (grandpa's niece) who married "James Everette Felts" in 1921. "James Everette Felts" was another brother of my Grandmother's.
Then "Rom" Cronnie Romulus Absher who was "nephew" of my grandfather (Rom was the son of Oliver Filmore Absher who was born in 1883) (Oliver was brother to my grandfather) married "Hattie Belle Felts" in 1934. Hattie was sister to my Grandmother.
My grandfather was 32 years of age and my grandmother "Nora" or "Norie" Felts as she was known was 28 years of age at the time of their marriage; she was probably considered a spinster; women usually married much younger in those days. They married around the year of 1933. They lived in a small house on the hill on the other side of the creek. You could see the old family home from where they lived.
By the 1940 census "Ramie" age 38 & "Norie" age 35, have 3 children. "Martha Virginia" or "Jenny" as she was known, age 5, Jimmy Ray Absher or "Jim" as he is known, age 3, and J.D. Absher, age 1. They live in the same home "that they own" as when they married. They live in the Mulberry Township, Wilkes, NC. "Ramie" is listed as a laborer, and doing Roadwork. His highest grade completed was 6th grade. There must have been a one room school somewhere in the community.
"Ramie" & "Norie" have "Ivan Columbus Absher" 21 Oct 1941. Ivan was born in the Walnut Grove township. The "Walnut Grove Township" is where my grandmother's family lived. "Ivan" was 2 months & 27 days old at the time of his death 18 Jan 1942 in the Walnut Grove Township, Wilkes, NC. On Ivan's death certificate it is stated that he died from "Colitis" & something like "Colic". My grandmother said he was covered in hives and "that is what she thought he died from". My grandfather is listed as the funeral director on the death certificate. They buried their little son "Ivan" in the Cane Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Ivan's death was a tragic event for the family; and my grandparents never got over it; but they knew they would see "Ivan" in heaven.
Many times I watched my grandfather read his bible. He knew the good book from cover to cover and could easily quote from it. He never pushed his beliefs but led gently by example. He always used his glasses and a magnifying glass to read by. At some point in his life he lost his right eye (after the "1942 Draft Registration". "The loss of an eye would have been mentioned on the Draft Registration Card"). Grandpa was pushing back some brush when a green branch or stick broke and part of it flew back and pierced his eye. He never complained about his sight and I never asked him when it happened; I just remember what my grandmother told me. He had a glass eye but he never wore it. It was kept in a jar of buttons. Sometimes I would go to the jar to get a button; and there would be grandpa's glass eye looking at me.
The family moved a few times until they settled in McGrady. My grandmother's brother Earl & Vaughn Felts lived a short distance from them. When my dad "Jim" grew up and started his family; he lived on one side of his parents and "Jenny" with her family lived on the other. "J.D." & his family lived about 1 mile away, but you could take a shortcut thru the woods and be there in 5 minutes; but that seemed a long way away for my grandparents.
My grandfather died 22 April 1988, at Wilkes General Hospital; with his family around him and my brother "Ronnie" holding his hand; as once grandpa held my brothers when he was little. It was truly a sad passing for everyone in the family. He left behind such a wonderful legacy and will always be in our hearts.
There are so many things that I could say about my grandfather "Ramie" but that would be a book. He made whistles and told his grandchildren so many stories; I wish I could remember them all clearly.
I will tell you that once when I was little; about age 3; in the winter, it was dark and snow was falling as it had all day. The snow was heavy on the ground. A knock came at our door; it was grandpa. Grandpa had trudged through the snow to our house. My grandparents lived a short distance from our home. He kicked off the snow and came in and asked if everyone was OK. As he was about to leave; I pitched a fit. I cried and cried; begging momma and daddy to please let me go with him. It was so dark and cold outside and the snow was deep. It would have been better for me to have stayed at home and for him as well. Grandpa asked them to please let me go with him. They relented and finally said yes; and I was so happy. Grandpa put me on his back with a quilt or blanket over me and I remember looking out into the dark with the moonlight glinting off the snow; seeing the flakes of snow falling down as he carefully put one foot in front of the other; his feet crunching in the tracks he had made before. I will always remember how warm and comforting it was; the feeling from that night. It has lasted throughout my life.
All through my years that I knew him; I never heard my grandfather ever say a bad word against anyone. I never saw him do anything he should have regretted or felt remorse for. He is what I think a true man of God should be. He did not just read the bible and hear the preacher; he lived his life in the word every day by his thoughts and actions.
I could only hope to be as good as my grandfather. If we all aspired to be as gracious, kind and devoted to God & family as my grandfather' we would be happier & the world would be a better place.
By: Debbie Absher - Granddaughter of Raymond "Council" Absher (2017)
(Debbie Absher daug of Jimmy Ray Absher son of Raymond Council Absher son of "Dan" Absher son of Jacob Absher son of John Lewis Absher aka John Absher Sr.)
I have a tree on "Ancestry" named "On The Waters of Halls & Mulberry Creek."
Raymond Council Absher or "Ramie" as he was known was the youngest son of "Lewis McDaniel & Martha Ellen Billings Absher". He was born 5 Aug 1901 in Wilkes, NC; in the old home place of his grandfather Jacob Absher.
They were a farming family as were most people in the area. He learned from his father and his father before him, how to tend to crops, and when to plant. He often consulted the "Farmer's Almanac". When I was growing up he had a mule named "Rhody". He and "Rhody" would plow & tend the field. He had a wooden plow with a single blade as I recall; making neat & tidy rows. As soon as breakfast was over and light broke; he was out in the garden doing his daily chores. My brother "Ronnie" would often be on his heels. "Ronnie" was very close to him. I don't remember grandpa's garden ever having a weed that had time to grow for very long. His garden was almost perfect.
My grandfather tended to his life as he tended to his garden; "Steadfast & faithfully". He did not frett or become overly anxious. He did what he could to protect & nourish both. He never seemed to worry, as he knew Gods Grace would look over him.
He once said to me that "he was almost an "Infidel". I was young & at the time did not understand what he meant by that. As I grew older & more mature I understood; Once he married my grandmother "Nora Isadoe Felts" he converted from the "Holiness Church" to Baptist. There was a small "Holiness Church" above where the Absher family lived and where they attended church.
My grandfather first appears in the 1910 Census Record, age 8, Wilkes, NC living with his father "Dan" age 53 "respectively" & his mother "Martha Billings Absher age 54 "respectively". Martha's father "Jackson Billings" age 80 & widowed is living with the family. Martha's mother "Margaret Clementine Porter Billings" passed away in 1907. "Dan" & "Martha" have 3 other children at home "Carrie age 18" "Flora age 15" & "Dewey Pedro age 10". The Absher family lives in the same place in the Mulberry Township of Wilkes, NC.
The 1920 census records my grandfather "Ramie" age 18, living at home with his parents "Dan" & "Martha" age 60 "respectively" & his brother "Dewey Pedroe" recorded as age 16; this is incorrect in the record, he would be 20 years of age since he was born in 1899 & grandfather "Jackson Billings" age 89 is in the household. "Ramie" has a new sibling "Stella" age 6, who was given to "Dan" & "Martha" as an infant.
"Ramie" is recorded to be age 20 in the 1930 census; however this is incorrect in the record. He would have been age 29; being born in 1901. My grandfather is single and living at home with his parents "Dan" & "Martha" ages 72 "respectively". His brother "Roe" is listed as head of household, along with his wife "Bertha" & their 4 children. "Jackson Billings" passed away in 1921. They live at the old home place, Wilkes, NC. At this point in his life my grandfather seems to be a confirmed bachelor.
The Absher family and the Felts family were well acquainted with each other; William Connie "Con" Felts married my grandfather's sister "Flora" Ellen Absher in 1913. "Con" Felts was my grandmother's brother.
Grandpa's oldest brother "Coy" who was born in 1881; had a daughter "Cordelia" (grandpa's niece) who married "James Everette Felts" in 1921. "James Everette Felts" was another brother of my Grandmother's.
Then "Rom" Cronnie Romulus Absher who was "nephew" of my grandfather (Rom was the son of Oliver Filmore Absher who was born in 1883) (Oliver was brother to my grandfather) married "Hattie Belle Felts" in 1934. Hattie was sister to my Grandmother.
My grandfather was 32 years of age and my grandmother "Nora" or "Norie" Felts as she was known was 28 years of age at the time of their marriage; she was probably considered a spinster; women usually married much younger in those days. They married around the year of 1933. They lived in a small house on the hill on the other side of the creek. You could see the old family home from where they lived.
By the 1940 census "Ramie" age 38 & "Norie" age 35, have 3 children. "Martha Virginia" or "Jenny" as she was known, age 5, Jimmy Ray Absher or "Jim" as he is known, age 3, and J.D. Absher, age 1. They live in the same home "that they own" as when they married. They live in the Mulberry Township, Wilkes, NC. "Ramie" is listed as a laborer, and doing Roadwork. His highest grade completed was 6th grade. There must have been a one room school somewhere in the community.
"Ramie" & "Norie" have "Ivan Columbus Absher" 21 Oct 1941. Ivan was born in the Walnut Grove township. The "Walnut Grove Township" is where my grandmother's family lived. "Ivan" was 2 months & 27 days old at the time of his death 18 Jan 1942 in the Walnut Grove Township, Wilkes, NC. On Ivan's death certificate it is stated that he died from "Colitis" & something like "Colic". My grandmother said he was covered in hives and "that is what she thought he died from". My grandfather is listed as the funeral director on the death certificate. They buried their little son "Ivan" in the Cane Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Ivan's death was a tragic event for the family; and my grandparents never got over it; but they knew they would see "Ivan" in heaven.
Many times I watched my grandfather read his bible. He knew the good book from cover to cover and could easily quote from it. He never pushed his beliefs but led gently by example. He always used his glasses and a magnifying glass to read by. At some point in his life he lost his right eye (after the "1942 Draft Registration". "The loss of an eye would have been mentioned on the Draft Registration Card"). Grandpa was pushing back some brush when a green branch or stick broke and part of it flew back and pierced his eye. He never complained about his sight and I never asked him when it happened; I just remember what my grandmother told me. He had a glass eye but he never wore it. It was kept in a jar of buttons. Sometimes I would go to the jar to get a button; and there would be grandpa's glass eye looking at me.
The family moved a few times until they settled in McGrady. My grandmother's brother Earl & Vaughn Felts lived a short distance from them. When my dad "Jim" grew up and started his family; he lived on one side of his parents and "Jenny" with her family lived on the other. "J.D." & his family lived about 1 mile away, but you could take a shortcut thru the woods and be there in 5 minutes; but that seemed a long way away for my grandparents.
My grandfather died 22 April 1988, at Wilkes General Hospital; with his family around him and my brother "Ronnie" holding his hand; as once grandpa held my brothers when he was little. It was truly a sad passing for everyone in the family. He left behind such a wonderful legacy and will always be in our hearts.
There are so many things that I could say about my grandfather "Ramie" but that would be a book. He made whistles and told his grandchildren so many stories; I wish I could remember them all clearly.
I will tell you that once when I was little; about age 3; in the winter, it was dark and snow was falling as it had all day. The snow was heavy on the ground. A knock came at our door; it was grandpa. Grandpa had trudged through the snow to our house. My grandparents lived a short distance from our home. He kicked off the snow and came in and asked if everyone was OK. As he was about to leave; I pitched a fit. I cried and cried; begging momma and daddy to please let me go with him. It was so dark and cold outside and the snow was deep. It would have been better for me to have stayed at home and for him as well. Grandpa asked them to please let me go with him. They relented and finally said yes; and I was so happy. Grandpa put me on his back with a quilt or blanket over me and I remember looking out into the dark with the moonlight glinting off the snow; seeing the flakes of snow falling down as he carefully put one foot in front of the other; his feet crunching in the tracks he had made before. I will always remember how warm and comforting it was; the feeling from that night. It has lasted throughout my life.
All through my years that I knew him; I never heard my grandfather ever say a bad word against anyone. I never saw him do anything he should have regretted or felt remorse for. He is what I think a true man of God should be. He did not just read the bible and hear the preacher; he lived his life in the word every day by his thoughts and actions.
I could only hope to be as good as my grandfather. If we all aspired to be as gracious, kind and devoted to God & family as my grandfather' we would be happier & the world would be a better place.
By: Debbie Absher - Granddaughter of Raymond "Council" Absher (2017)
(Debbie Absher daug of Jimmy Ray Absher son of Raymond Council Absher son of "Dan" Absher son of Jacob Absher son of John Lewis Absher aka John Absher Sr.)
I have a tree on "Ancestry" named "On The Waters of Halls & Mulberry Creek."
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Raymond Council Absher or "Ramie" as he was known was the youngest son of "Lewis McDaniel & Martha Ellen Billings Absher". He was born 5 Aug 1901 in Wilkes, NC; in the old home place of his grandfather Jacob Absher.
They were a farming family as were most people in the area. He learned from his father and his father before him, how to tend to crops, and when to plant. He often consulted the "Farmer's Almanac". When I was growing up he had a mule named "Rhody". He and "Rhody" would plow & tend the field. He had a wooden plow with a single blade as I recall; making neat & tidy rows. As soon as breakfast was over and light broke; he was out in the garden doing his daily chores. My brother "Ronnie" would often be on his heels. "Ronnie" was very close to him. I don't remember grandpa's garden ever having a weed that had time to grow for very long. His garden was almost perfect.
My grandfather tended to his life as he tended to his garden; "Steadfast & faithfully". He did not frett or become overly anxious. He did what he could to protect & nourish both. He never seemed to worry, as he knew Gods Grace would look over him.
He once said to me that "he was almost an "Infidel". I was young & at the time did not understand what he meant by that. As I grew older & more mature I understood; Once he married my grandmother "Nora Isadoe Felts" he converted from the "Holiness Church" to Baptist. There was a small "Holiness Church" above where the Absher family lived and where they attended church.
My grandfather first appears in the 1910 Census Record, age 8, Wilkes, NC living with his father "Dan" age 53 "respectively" & his mother "Martha Billings Absher age 54 "respectively". Martha's father "Jackson Billings" age 80 & widowed is living with the family. Martha's mother "Margaret Clementine Porter Billings" passed away in 1907. "Dan" & "Martha" have 3 other children at home "Carrie age 18" "Flora age 15" & "Dewey Pedro age 10". The Absher family lives in the same place in the Mulberry Township of Wilkes, NC.
The 1920 census records my grandfather "Ramie" age 18, living at home with his parents "Dan" & "Martha" age 60 "respectively" & his brother "Dewey Pedroe" recorded as age 16; this is incorrect in the record, he would be 20 years of age since he was born in 1899 & grandfather "Jackson Billings" age 89 is in the household. "Ramie" has a new sibling "Stella" age 6, who was given to "Dan" & "Martha" as an infant.
"Ramie" is recorded to be age 20 in the 1930 census; however this is incorrect in the record. He would have been age 29; being born in 1901. My grandfather is single and living at home with his parents "Dan" & "Martha" ages 72 "respectively". His brother "Roe" is listed as head of household, along with his wife "Bertha" & their 4 children. "Jackson Billings" passed away in 1921. They live at the old home place, Wilkes, NC. At this point in his life my grandfather seems to be a confirmed bachelor.
The Absher family and the Felts family were well acquainted with each other; William Connie "Con" Felts married my grandfather's sister "Flora" Ellen Absher in 1913. "Con" Felts was my grandmother's brother.
Grandpa's oldest brother "Coy" who was born in 1881; had a daughter "Cordelia" (grandpa's niece) who married "James Everette Felts" in 1921. "James Everette Felts" was another brother of my Grandmother's.
Then "Rom" Cronnie Romulus Absher who was "nephew" of my grandfather (Rom was the son of Oliver Filmore Absher who was born in 1883) (Oliver was brother to my grandfather) married "Hattie Belle Felts" in 1934. Hattie was sister to my Grandmother.
My grandfather was 32 years of age and my grandmother "Nora" or "Norie" Felts as she was known was 28 years of age at the time of their marriage; she was probably considered a spinster; women usually married much younger in those days. They married around the year of 1933. They lived in a small house on the hill on the other side of the creek. You could see the old family home from where they lived.
By the 1940 census "Ramie" age 38 & "Norie" age 35, have 3 children. "Martha Virginia" or "Jenny" as she was known, age 5, Jimmy Ray Absher or "Jim" as he is known, age 3, and J.D. Absher, age 1. They live in the same home "that they own" as when they married. They live in the Mulberry Township, Wilkes, NC. "Ramie" is listed as a laborer, and doing Roadwork. His highest grade completed was 6th grade. There must have been a one room school somewhere in the community.
"Ramie" & "Norie" have "Ivan Columbus Absher" 21 Oct 1941. Ivan was born in the Walnut Grove township. The "Walnut Grove Township" is where my grandmother's family lived. "Ivan" was 2 months & 27 days old at the time of his death 18 Jan 1942 in the Walnut Grove Township, Wilkes, NC. On Ivan's death certificate it is stated that he died from "Colitis" & something like "Colic". My grandmother said he was covered in hives and "that is what she thought he died from". My grandfather is listed as the funeral director on the death certificate. They buried their little son "Ivan" in the Cane Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Ivan's death was a tragic event for the family; and my grandparents never got over it; but they knew they would see "Ivan" in heaven.
Many times I watched my grandfather read his bible. He knew the good book from cover to cover and could easily quote from it. He never pushed his beliefs but led gently by example. He always used his glasses and a magnifying glass to read by. At some point in his life he lost his right eye (after the "1942 Draft Registration". "The loss of an eye would have been mentioned on the Draft Registration Card"). Grandpa was pushing back some brush when a green branch or stick broke and part of it flew back and pierced his eye. He never complained about his sight and I never asked him when it happened; I just remember what my grandmother told me. He had a glass eye but he never wore it. It was kept in a jar of buttons. Sometimes I would go to the jar to get a button; and there would be grandpa's glass eye looking at me.
The family moved a few times until they settled in McGrady. My grandmother's brother Earl & Vaughn Felts lived a short distance from them. When my dad "Jim" grew up and started his family; he lived on one side of his parents and "Jenny" with her family lived on the other. "J.D." & his family lived about 1 mile away, but you could take a shortcut thru the woods and be there in 5 minutes; but that seemed a long way away for my grandparents.
My grandfather died 22 April 1988, at Wilkes General Hospital; with his family around him and my brother "Ronnie" holding his hand; as once grandpa held my brothers when he was little. It was truly a sad passing for everyone in the family. He left behind such a wonderful legacy and will always be in our hearts.
There are so many things that I could say about my grandfather "Ramie" but that would be a book. He made whistles and told his grandchildren so many stories; I wish I could remember them all clearly.
I will tell you that once when I was little; about age 3; in the winter, it was dark and snow was falling as it had all day. The snow was heavy on the ground. A knock came at our door; it was grandpa. Grandpa had trudged through the snow to our house. My grandparents lived a short distance from our home. He kicked off the snow and came in and asked if everyone was OK. As he was about to leave; I pitched a fit. I cried and cried; begging momma and daddy to please let me go with him. It was so dark and cold outside and the snow was deep. It would have been better for me to have stayed at home and for him as well. Grandpa asked them to please let me go with him. They relented and finally said yes; and I was so happy. Grandpa put me on his back with a quilt or blanket over me and I remember looking out into the dark with the moonlight glinting off the snow; seeing the flakes of snow falling down as he carefully put one foot in front of the other; his feet crunching in the tracks he had made before. I will always remember how warm and comforting it was; the feeling from that night. It has lasted throughout my life.
All through my years that I knew him; I never heard my grandfather ever say a bad word against anyone. I never saw him do anything he should have regretted or felt remorse for. He is what I think a true man of God should be. He did not just read the bible and hear the preacher; he lived his life in the word every day by his thoughts and actions.
I could only hope to be as good as my grandfather. If we all aspired to be as gracious, kind and devoted to God & family as my grandfather' we would be happier & the world would be a better place.
By: Debbie Absher - Granddaughter of Raymond "Council" Absher (2017)
(Debbie Absher daug of Jimmy Ray Absher son of Raymond Council Absher son of "Dan" Absher son of Jacob Absher son of John Lewis Absher aka John Absher Sr.)
I have a tree on "Ancestry" named "On The Waters of Halls & Mulberry Creek."
Raymond Council Absher or "Ramie" as he was known was the youngest son of "Lewis McDaniel & Martha Ellen Billings Absher". He was born 5 Aug 1901 in Wilkes, NC; in the old home place of his grandfather Jacob Absher.
They were a farming family as were most people in the area. He learned from his father and his father before him, how to tend to crops, and when to plant. He often consulted the "Farmer's Almanac". When I was growing up he had a mule named "Rhody". He and "Rhody" would plow & tend the field. He had a wooden plow with a single blade as I recall; making neat & tidy rows. As soon as breakfast was over and light broke; he was out in the garden doing his daily chores. My brother "Ronnie" would often be on his heels. "Ronnie" was very close to him. I don't remember grandpa's garden ever having a weed that had time to grow for very long. His garden was almost perfect.
My grandfather tended to his life as he tended to his garden; "Steadfast & faithfully". He did not frett or become overly anxious. He did what he could to protect & nourish both. He never seemed to worry, as he knew Gods Grace would look over him.
He once said to me that "he was almost an "Infidel". I was young & at the time did not understand what he meant by that. As I grew older & more mature I understood; Once he married my grandmother "Nora Isadoe Felts" he converted from the "Holiness Church" to Baptist. There was a small "Holiness Church" above where the Absher family lived and where they attended church.
My grandfather first appears in the 1910 Census Record, age 8, Wilkes, NC living with his father "Dan" age 53 "respectively" & his mother "Martha Billings Absher age 54 "respectively". Martha's father "Jackson Billings" age 80 & widowed is living with the family. Martha's mother "Margaret Clementine Porter Billings" passed away in 1907. "Dan" & "Martha" have 3 other children at home "Carrie age 18" "Flora age 15" & "Dewey Pedro age 10". The Absher family lives in the same place in the Mulberry Township of Wilkes, NC.
The 1920 census records my grandfather "Ramie" age 18, living at home with his parents "Dan" & "Martha" age 60 "respectively" & his brother "Dewey Pedroe" recorded as age 16; this is incorrect in the record, he would be 20 years of age since he was born in 1899 & grandfather "Jackson Billings" age 89 is in the household. "Ramie" has a new sibling "Stella" age 6, who was given to "Dan" & "Martha" as an infant.
"Ramie" is recorded to be age 20 in the 1930 census; however this is incorrect in the record. He would have been age 29; being born in 1901. My grandfather is single and living at home with his parents "Dan" & "Martha" ages 72 "respectively". His brother "Roe" is listed as head of household, along with his wife "Bertha" & their 4 children. "Jackson Billings" passed away in 1921. They live at the old home place, Wilkes, NC. At this point in his life my grandfather seems to be a confirmed bachelor.
The Absher family and the Felts family were well acquainted with each other; William Connie "Con" Felts married my grandfather's sister "Flora" Ellen Absher in 1913. "Con" Felts was my grandmother's brother.
Grandpa's oldest brother "Coy" who was born in 1881; had a daughter "Cordelia" (grandpa's niece) who married "James Everette Felts" in 1921. "James Everette Felts" was another brother of my Grandmother's.
Then "Rom" Cronnie Romulus Absher who was "nephew" of my grandfather (Rom was the son of Oliver Filmore Absher who was born in 1883) (Oliver was brother to my grandfather) married "Hattie Belle Felts" in 1934. Hattie was sister to my Grandmother.
My grandfather was 32 years of age and my grandmother "Nora" or "Norie" Felts as she was known was 28 years of age at the time of their marriage; she was probably considered a spinster; women usually married much younger in those days. They married around the year of 1933. They lived in a small house on the hill on the other side of the creek. You could see the old family home from where they lived.
By the 1940 census "Ramie" age 38 & "Norie" age 35, have 3 children. "Martha Virginia" or "Jenny" as she was known, age 5, Jimmy Ray Absher or "Jim" as he is known, age 3, and J.D. Absher, age 1. They live in the same home "that they own" as when they married. They live in the Mulberry Township, Wilkes, NC. "Ramie" is listed as a laborer, and doing Roadwork. His highest grade completed was 6th grade. There must have been a one room school somewhere in the community.
"Ramie" & "Norie" have "Ivan Columbus Absher" 21 Oct 1941. Ivan was born in the Walnut Grove township. The "Walnut Grove Township" is where my grandmother's family lived. "Ivan" was 2 months & 27 days old at the time of his death 18 Jan 1942 in the Walnut Grove Township, Wilkes, NC. On Ivan's death certificate it is stated that he died from "Colitis" & something like "Colic". My grandmother said he was covered in hives and "that is what she thought he died from". My grandfather is listed as the funeral director on the death certificate. They buried their little son "Ivan" in the Cane Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Ivan's death was a tragic event for the family; and my grandparents never got over it; but they knew they would see "Ivan" in heaven.
Many times I watched my grandfather read his bible. He knew the good book from cover to cover and could easily quote from it. He never pushed his beliefs but led gently by example. He always used his glasses and a magnifying glass to read by. At some point in his life he lost his right eye (after the "1942 Draft Registration". "The loss of an eye would have been mentioned on the Draft Registration Card"). Grandpa was pushing back some brush when a green branch or stick broke and part of it flew back and pierced his eye. He never complained about his sight and I never asked him when it happened; I just remember what my grandmother told me. He had a glass eye but he never wore it. It was kept in a jar of buttons. Sometimes I would go to the jar to get a button; and there would be grandpa's glass eye looking at me.
The family moved a few times until they settled in McGrady. My grandmother's brother Earl & Vaughn Felts lived a short distance from them. When my dad "Jim" grew up and started his family; he lived on one side of his parents and "Jenny" with her family lived on the other. "J.D." & his family lived about 1 mile away, but you could take a shortcut thru the woods and be there in 5 minutes; but that seemed a long way away for my grandparents.
My grandfather died 22 April 1988, at Wilkes General Hospital; with his family around him and my brother "Ronnie" holding his hand; as once grandpa held my brothers when he was little. It was truly a sad passing for everyone in the family. He left behind such a wonderful legacy and will always be in our hearts.
There are so many things that I could say about my grandfather "Ramie" but that would be a book. He made whistles and told his grandchildren so many stories; I wish I could remember them all clearly.
I will tell you that once when I was little; about age 3; in the winter, it was dark and snow was falling as it had all day. The snow was heavy on the ground. A knock came at our door; it was grandpa. Grandpa had trudged through the snow to our house. My grandparents lived a short distance from our home. He kicked off the snow and came in and asked if everyone was OK. As he was about to leave; I pitched a fit. I cried and cried; begging momma and daddy to please let me go with him. It was so dark and cold outside and the snow was deep. It would have been better for me to have stayed at home and for him as well. Grandpa asked them to please let me go with him. They relented and finally said yes; and I was so happy. Grandpa put me on his back with a quilt or blanket over me and I remember looking out into the dark with the moonlight glinting off the snow; seeing the flakes of snow falling down as he carefully put one foot in front of the other; his feet crunching in the tracks he had made before. I will always remember how warm and comforting it was; the feeling from that night. It has lasted throughout my life.
All through my years that I knew him; I never heard my grandfather ever say a bad word against anyone. I never saw him do anything he should have regretted or felt remorse for. He is what I think a true man of God should be. He did not just read the bible and hear the preacher; he lived his life in the word every day by his thoughts and actions.
I could only hope to be as good as my grandfather. If we all aspired to be as gracious, kind and devoted to God & family as my grandfather' we would be happier & the world would be a better place.
By: Debbie Absher - Granddaughter of Raymond "Council" Absher (2017)
(Debbie Absher daug of Jimmy Ray Absher son of Raymond Council Absher son of "Dan" Absher son of Jacob Absher son of John Lewis Absher aka John Absher Sr.)
I have a tree on "Ancestry" named "On The Waters of Halls & Mulberry Creek."
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