Compiled by Doris Cline Ward, Asheville, NC--Oct. 1993, "MerrimonFeatherstone - Ancestors and Descendants.":

Excerpt: "....Was not listed on the 1860 census but she was deeded landby S.t. Featherston in 1889, according to Bk. 25, page 539 in theHenderson County Land Records. In the 1912 edition of "The AshevilleCity Directory" her residence was given as 180 Charlotte St."

Ernest Harold Featherstone was born November 2nd, 1933, on a cotton farmin Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, the 4th son of Charles ErvinFeatherstone and Willie Myrtle Sipe (Ernest was 15 when his Dad died). Hewas named after his Uncle, Harold Sipe, a CIA agent for the federalgovernment, who bought the farm for the family. When his uncle died inthe line of duty, he bequeathed his gold pocket watch to his nephew,since Harold never married or had any children of his own. (To this day,the details involving the death of Harold Sipe's death remain amystery....the actual date of death is not known, his body was shippedhome from Washington, and only the year of death was provided to hisfamily, as evidenced on his tombstone in the Greenwood Cemetary inBelmont, North Carolina).

Ernest graduated from Belmont High School and later joined the U.S. Navystationed aboard a carrier. During his four year stint in the Navy hewas a cook (KP Duty) and a radio man, the latter of which initiated hisinterest in obtaining an education in electronic engineering. Hereturned to Belmont, NC after completing his Navy tour, where he attendedBelmont Abbey College. He worked several odd jobs in order to puthimself through school.

At age 22, he met and married Joyce Lee Cloninger on April 5th, 1957.After Ernest's marriage and birth of his first child (me, Darlene), hemoved his family to Raleigh, NC to complete his engineering degree at NCState University. Upon completing his degree the family returned to Mt.Holly and lived in the upstairs apartment of Mrs. Stroup's home onHickory Grove Rd. Ernie Jr., his second child and first son was bornwhile they were living with Mrs. Stroup and her sister.

Ernest and Joyce built their first home in Holly Acres, Mt. Holly, wherethey lived until about 1963. The family then moved to California wherehe worked for Collins Radio. They spent less than a year in Californiaand then transferred to Marion, Iowa, where his second son and thirdchild Michael Lee was born. Pamala Freshour, Ernest's Neice joined withthe family in Iowa, where she attended and graduated her senior year fromhigh school.

Ernest took an engineering position with General Electric Co. [G.E.] andmoved his family from Marion, Iowa to 410 Kale Street, Sattelite Beach,Florida, in 1965. He worked in Cocoa Beach at the Kennedy Space Centerfor G.E. from 1965-1969, during the Apollo 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, & 14 SpaceMissions. He met and worked with several of our nation's firstastronauts; Neil Armstrong [the first man to walk on the moon], JohnGlenn, Gordon Cooper, Alan Shepherd, Gus Grissom, and Wally Schirra. Heworked with other G.E. engineers in developing all the software for theSaturn 5 boosters and the Lunar Excursion Module [LEM], as well as theApollo Space Craft Module. The LEM was the craft that actually landed onthe moon!

In 1969, G.E. transferred Ernest back to Charlotte, NC, where hesubsequently took a position with RCA. He worked with RCA forapproximately 3-4 years and then took a position with J.P. StevensCompany as their Director of Engineering. Stevens transferred their baseof operations to Greenville, SC. After commuting for nearly two years,Ernest sold his Stanley 15+ acre home on Black Snake Rd. and relocated toGreenville in 1985.

In 1988, when J.P. Stevens was sold due to a hostile take-over, Ernestand Bill Sibley took key members from their engineering department topartner a new corporation, CC+I [Computer Control Plus Integration], athriving endeavor that specializes in automating and integrating processcontrol systems for industries world-wide.

He's come a very long way from that poor boy who grew up on that cottonfarm in Monroe, North Carolina.........we are proud of you Dad!

With Love, your daughter, Darlene Featherstone Lankford

Ernest and Joyce were introduced by Ralph and Nancy McCoig. At the timethey met, both were engaged to other people. Joyce was engaged to CottenHaney, and Ernest was engaged to Mary O'Reilly, an Irish woman he metwhile in the navy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ernest, my father, has always told the story about the first time he sawmy mother in church, she was wearing a red dress. She made quite animpression on him, because he elbowed my Uncle Ralph and told him, "Yousee that girl in the red dress?" "Yes" Ralph replied, and Ernest said,"Well I'm going to marry her!" They eloped on her Junior/Senior Promnight to York, S.C. were they were married secretly. They kept theirsecret for approximately a month and a half. [Darlene FeatherstoneLankford]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Brøderbund Family Archive #289, Ed. 1, Census Index: NC, SC, GastonCounty, 1870 North Carolina Census, Date of Import: Nov 21, 1999,Internal Ref. #1.289.1.9288.4]

Individual: Featherston, Frances
Race: W
Age: 22
Birth place: NC
Township: South Point Twp
Microfilm: Roll 1138, Page 794[Brøderbund Family Archive #289, Ed. 1,Census Index: NC, SC, Gaston County, 1870 North Carolina Census, Date ofImport: Jan 28, 2000, Internal Ref. #1.289.1.9288.4]

Individual: Featherston, Frances
Race: W
Age: 22
Birth place: NC
Township: South Point Twp
Microfilm: Roll 1138, Page 794

The 3 Sep 1850, Madison County, Illinois Census, M432 Roll 119, Twp. 3N5W (now know as Helvetia Twp. --Becky L. Brewer) p. 568 gives FrancesFetherston age 8/12, born in Illinois. Therefore we can assume thatFrances was born in February of 1850.

[Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security DeathIndex: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Dateof Import: Oct 15, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.72978.112]

Individual: Featherstone, George
Birth date: Mar 18, 1886
Death date: Sep 1974
Social Security #: 276-28-1533
Last residence: OH 44012
State of issue: OH

[Featherstone Simmons Descendants~9 2000.FTW]

[FEATHERSTONEHAUGH-1199.ged]

1900 Franklin Co., TN Census
George Featherston, head, b. Mar 1856, age 44, m. 22 yrs., TN NC TN
Ann Featherston, wife, b. Sep 1857, age 42, 6 children/5 living, TN TN NC
Bular Featherston, dau., b. Dec 1878, age 21, TN TN TN
Georgia Featherston, dau., b. Jul 1882, age 17, TN TN TN
Chancy Featherston, son, b. Nov 1884, age 15, TN TN TN
May Featherston, dau., b. Sep 1891, age 9, TN TN TN
Alta Featherston, dau., b. Apr 1895, age 5, TN TN TN

1910 Franklin Co., TN Census
George Featherston, head, age 54, m. 32 yrs., farmer, TN TN TN
Ann Featherston, wife, age 52, 6 children/5 living, TN TN TN
Bula Featherston, dau., age 30, single, TN TN TN
May Featherston, dau., age 20, TN TN TN
Alta Featherston, dau., age 15, TN TN TN

Burial - [place: Featherstone Cemetery, Franklin County, Tennessee]

Burial - [place: Featherstone Cemetery, Franklin County, Tennessee]

Aunt Helen was a very strong woman who suffered many illnesses throughouther life beginning at a very early age. Her spirit and determinationcoupled with her faith kept her going when most people would have givenup. I admired her courage and determination. It is said that I favorher a great deal.....especially when I am determined. My father,mother, and her daughters as well often tell me; "you look just like yourAunt Helen." I consider that a compliment.

Her funeral was held, Sunday, June 14, 1981 at the North Belmont Churchof God. Officiating were Rev. N.C. Jones and W. E. Lankford [my formerfather-in-law]. The pallbearers were her brother Clarence and his fivesons; Tim, Ronnie, Jack, Danny, and Butch. She is buried at HillcrestGardens.[Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social SecurityDeath Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A throughL, Date of Import: Oct 17, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.79667.5]

Individual: Freshour, Helen
Birth date: Sep 4, 1930
Death date: Jun 1981
Social Security #: 242-38-3296
State of issue: NC
Zip of last payment: 28120
[Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security DeathIndex: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Dateof Import: Oct 26, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.79667.5]

Individual: Freshour, Helen
Birth date: Sep 4, 1930
Death date: Jun 1981
Social Security #: 242-38-3296
State of issue: NC
Zip of last payment: 28120

Burial - [place: Doniphan Cemetery, Ripley County, Missouri]

Burial - [place: Ft. Smith, Woodlawn Cemetery, Arkansas]

Continued on---HOWELL COLSTON FEATHERSTONE DESCENDANTS~9 2000 file---

Burial - [place: Smyrna Methodist Chruch, Lowndesville, South Carolina]

[FEATHERSTONEHAUGH-1199.ged]

1900 Gaston Co., NC Census
James C. Featherston, head, b. Dec 1871, age 28, carpenter, NC NC NC
M.E. Featherston, wife, b. Jan 1860, age 40, 2 children/0 living, SC SCSC

An extract from the 1880 Census for Gaston Co., Southpoint Township,North Carolina reflects James W. Featherstone, a farmer, age 27 marriedto Nancy, age 27, who "keeps house" and their son Thomas, age 3.

James W. and Nancy "Stowe" Featherstone and their children's families areall buried in the Sandy Plains Cemetery in Belmont, NC. They weremembers of the Sandy Plains Church June of 1863. Formerly they weremembers of the Mill Creek Baptist Church 1834-1836, until it wasdestroyed by flood.[FEATHERSTONEHAUGH-1199.ged]

1880 Gaston Co., NC Census
James W. Featherston, head, age 27, SC SC SC
Nancy Featherston, wife
Thomas Featherston, son
living with Brown Lanebarger
(James W. clearly b. SC, wife and son could be SC/NC)

1900 Gaston Co., NC Census
James W. Featherston, head, b. Oct 1851, age 48, m. 23 yrs., NC NC SC
Nancy H. Featherston, wife, b. Oct 1853, age 46, 4 children/3 living, NCNC NC
William T. Featherston, son, b. Sep 1877, age 22, m. 1 yr., NC NC NC
John L. Featherston, son, b. Jun 1883, age 16, NC NC NC
Bessie E. Featherston, dau., b. Sep 1889, age 10, NC NC NC

1910 Gaston Co., NC Census
James W. Featherston, head, age 57, m. 33 yrs., NC NC NC
Hanna Featherston, wife, age 57, 4 children/3 living, NC NC NC
Joseph L. Beatty, son-in-law, age 25, m. 1 yr., NC NC NC
Bessie E. Beatty, dau., age 20, 1 child/1 living, NC NC NC
Janie Beatty, grand daughter, age 1 2/12, NC NC NC[Brøderbund FamilyArchive #289, Ed. 1, Census Index: NC, SC, Person County, 1870 NorthCarolina Census, Date of Import: Sep 14, 2000, Internal Ref.#1.289.1.11421.18]

Individual: Featherston, Jas W
Race: W
Age: 63
Birth place: VA
Township: Olive Hill Twp
Microfilm: Roll 1154, Page 633

Per Carol Houston, in Texas, on Sunday October, 25, 1998, a WilliamFeatherstone was transported to Accomack Co., Virginia in January1664/1665 by Robert Richardson. Apparently this William had a daughternamed Jane who married 1st John Cross and had a son William, she thenmarried a 2nd time (after 1731) Francis Hardyman. (Need tocross-reference and double-check all this information).
====================
Selected U.S./Internat'l Marriage Records, 1340-1980

Featherstone, Jane Gender : F
Spouse : Cross, John
Source Number : 2041.000
Source Type : Electronic Database
Number of Pages : 1
Submitter Code : PKS

Civil Action Papers, Lincoln Co., N.C. - 1989 Mc Allister-Sullivanpublishers, pg. 28:

"120 Elizabeth Black & James Miller vs. Jesse Featherston(attachment).....goods, etc...of Jesse Fetherston....sum of L29.19 whichsum Elisabeth Black & James Miller recovered against him for Debt &L3.2.11 Cost & Charges in said suit. ....have monies at Court firstMonday January...Joseph Dickson, Clerk at Office 12 October 1786.Fi.Fa. To January Session 1787.
#3..Elisabeth Clack & James Miller vs. Jesse Fetherston:

Debt 29.19. 0
Writ 0.10. 0
1 Continuance 0. 3. 0
Tax Fee 0. 5. 0
Dismission & Execution 0.11. 3
Sheriff 0. 8. 0
Attorney McCay 1. 5. 0
------------
33. 1.11
This Service .16. 6
==================
Pg. 89:

"383 ....goods, etc.... of Alexander Johnson...sum of L22.6.6 which JesseFeatherston recovered against him for Damage & L6.5.3 (ends here; suitwas heard July Court 1784 & is filed with 1785 Civil Action papers. Thereverse is blank)."

"384 (attachment).....goods, etc....of Robert Campbell....sum ofL39.13.5 adjudged Richard & Lewis Featherston for Costs & Charges in saidsuit...have monies at Court first Monday October....John Dickson, Jno.Den of the Demise of R. & L. Featherston vs. Richard Fen & RobertCampbell:..."
=============================================================

Per John Drew Featherstone, fellow Branch 5 contributor:

"Jesse G. moved to Benton County, Arkansas in the 1840s."
----------------------------------
1850 Osage Twp., Benton Co., AR Census; p. 65, 275/275:

"Jessee Featherston, 74, farmer, $500, NC."

Burial - [place: Roseland Park Cemetery, Anderson County, Texas]