Solomon Pless was born in 1825 in either Cabarrus or Montgomery County, North Carolina. The youngest son of Peter and Elizabeth Boger Pless, Solomon first appeared as chainbearer in a pair of 1844 Stanly County land grants issued jointly to his father and Leonard Green. Solomon married Elizabeth Caroline Furr in the late 1840's. She is the daughter of Mathias W. and Mary Page Furr. The 1850 Stanly County census lists Solomon and wife Caroline living beside Peter Pless. The young couple has a new born daughter named Julia.
Born 1 Jul 104, Mathias W. Furr married Mary [Polly] Page on 7 Jan 1829 in Cabarrus County. In 1835, Mathias deeded the land on which Flat Rock Lutheran Church was built. From some of the death dates found in the cemetery, a congregation likely met at [Flat Rock] prior to 1835. Written 9 ___ 1856, and proven May 1861, Mathias Furr left a last will and testament. The will does not name his wife or children. Thouogh intentions are clear, no child is named. W. Mathias Furr died on 16 Mar 1860. He and wife Mary are buried at Flat Rock in the same row as Peter Pless and Solomon Pless and wife.
The loose estate records for W. Mathias Furr provide a wealth of information. First, Mary's petition for widow's dower right indicates that Mathias had 1,800 acres of land. On 22 Jan 1861, a commission layed off three tracts totaling 372 acres in the vacinity of Flat Rock church. Also, among the many holdings listed in the accounting of Mathias's estate, included is money in the "Charlotte Mint." It appears Mathias either owned a mine or was at least heavily involved in gold mining. On 2 Apr 1860, the following notice for final settlement lists all heirs to the estate of W. Mathias Furr:
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Stanly County In the Probate Office April 2nd 1872
To Isrial J. Furr, Levi L. Furr, Wilson Furr, Probate Judge |
Solomon's father also died in the 1850's. From the 19 Sep 1854 will of Peter Pless, son Solomon was bequeathed 200 acres of land. Though Peter lived to the late 1850's, he deeded 100 acres of the 200 acres to Solomon only six days after the will was written. On 28 Feb 1860, Leonard Green sold Solomon Pless 110 acres. Being "one half a tract of land" was this the remaing part of the two hundred acres granted jointly in 1844 to Leonard Green and Peter Pless? Known as "the Needham Whitley Place," the land was situated on a branch of Island Creek and adjoined that of Dennis Hunnycutt and Silas B. Shinn. Proven in probate court on 20 May 1869, the transaction was witnessed by Levi Furr and George Long.
In 1860, the Stanly County census lists the Solomon Pless Family as:__________________. Remaining in Stanly County for most of the civil war, Solomon Pless and friend Joseph H. Hatley enlisted on 27 Aug 1864 at Camp Holmes in Raleigh, North Carolina. Solomon served in CSA Co. A, 34th Reg, NC until the close of the war. This unit was raised in Burke County, North Carolina. Solomon's name appears on the roll of prisoners that surrendered at Appomattox Court House in Virginia on 9 Apr 1865.
The children of Solomon and Elizabeth Caroline Furr Pless are:
George and Julia made their home on west side of Island Creek on lands deeded to Julia by her father and mother. George continued to operate a Grist mill on Island Creek where Stanfield-Big Lick Road crosses the creek. On the southwest bank was brick kiln where the family made bricks for their homes. The family also owned a lumber mill on the large farm. Though much of this home grown industry was put into motion by Solomon or possibly Peter Pless, George W. Thomas ran a small rural store on the lands. I have heard stories of barrels of dry goods and overnight wagon trips by George to purchase sales goods in Charlotte. Some relatives even say that at night, you could see George counting his gold by lamp light in the old store house.
From 1880 through the 1900 census, Solomon and Caroline Pless are listed as living in the home of George and daughter Julia Thomas. Caroline died in 1907 and Solomon in 1909. George W. Thomas died on 28 Dec 1822, and is layed to rest in the lower cemetery at Love's Chapel, UMC in Stanfield. An obituary published 5 Jan 1923 in the Stanly News and Herald reads as follows:
Mr. George W. Thomas who had suffered a severe attack of influenza and pneumonia died last Monday night, Dec. 25.Julia Pless Thomas lived with her sons Daniel A., Henry and Sylvester Thomas until her death in 1926. Julia is layed to rest beside her husband at Love's Chapel. The children of George and Julia are:
The funeral services were held at Love's Chapel Church, Wednesday at 2 o'clock. The bereaved family have our deepest sympathy.
A. John E. Thomas Born 20 Feb 1872 and died when his gun misfired on 20 Mar 1895. John E. Thomas is layed to rest beside his parents at Love's Chapel.
B. Jane Alice Thomas Born 19 Sep 1877 and died 26 Nov 1953, Jane married Henry Yow.
C. David Luther Thomas Born 28 Mar 1878 and died 25 Jun 1963, David married on 8 Apr 1900 to Emma Jane Morgan.
D. Minnie Thomas Born Jan 1884, Minnie married Rev. Tilden Sasser.
E. Henry Washington Thomas Born 24 Jan 1884 and died 8 Nov 1948, Henry married first Ara Bell Honnycutt b. 7 Jan 1895. Ara was killed in a car wreck on 3 Apr 1931. Henry married second Elsie Wilma Dry born 14 Apr 1903 d. Aug 1983.
F. Ellen Thomas Born 1885 and died in 1919, Ellen married Albert Hatley.
G. George Sylvester Thomas married 5 Mar 1911, Lessie Sasser, the daughter of Henry and Frances Sasser.
H. Daniel Arthur Thomas Born 28 Feb 1890 and died 18 Apr 1966, Daniel married 23 Aug 1914, Eva Lucinda Burris, daughter of George and Magdeline Burris.