There were 2 white mules on the farm that worked the field until 1949 when my Grandfather purchased his first tractor, a John Deere B.
There have been horses, mules, and ponies on the farm since 1979. The farm at present has a tobacco allotment, raises corn, pumpkins, and a hay field. The farm covers about 60 acres.
When the war broke out, his family tried to hold on to what they had, but mostly lost everything to the war effort. He and his brothers were raised by the black caretakers that were part of the co-op at that time so their father could support the Southern cause. After the war, as many farmers did, Gaston managed to pick up the pieces from the land and move forward. Farming was the instant cure.
As a young man, Gaston (Mr. Gas as he was called by locals), married Ann Willis October 22, 1863 - August 5th 1936. Jefferson Davison was President of Confederate States of America. She was from the Down East area, and they had 7 children. They were Zeb, Fred, Leo, Clemmy, Helen, Eliwood, and Lula.
(This italisized portion is submitted by Colleenn Sadler) From what my sister has been able to determine, my great grandmother Ina Victoria Laughinghouse Rice lived on Gaston Wetherington's farm in Onslow County. She apparently was a servant or laborer. My grandmother, Nellie Fillingame gave an interview to L. ELbert Wethington and indicated that Gaston Wetherington was the father of:
Sadie Rae Rice - born 1903 and died 1915
Rosa Lee Rice - born 1905 and died 1941
Nellie Bee Rice (my grandmother) - born 1906 and died 1993
Joy Rice - born 1908 and died 1976
Guy Rice - born 1911 and died 1926
She indicated to Mr. Wethington that Ina was married to a John Rice and he had left her and took a daughter that they had together. After Ina moved to Jones County, she had another son Bruce Waters (adopted last name). He was born July 1915. There is some discussion that Bruce's father was a Hood. Ina died in 1918 and was in Jones County at that time.
You said if I had some questions that you would run them by Mrs. Baba.
Did you know of the John Rice that Ina was married to (any information)?
Do you know when he left her, where he ended up at?
What was the child's name or any details of the child he took with him?
Did Ina live on Gaston's place in Vanceboro before moving to Onslow?
Where did Ina go after leaving Gaston's (any information)?
Have you seen any pictures of Ina or her children?
Sadie Rae (1st child with Gaston) apparently died in Onslow County. Do you know where she is buried?
The 1910 census records shows Ina Rice listed Gaston and his family.
Gaston, a short man in stature, was well known for his ill-tempered, demanding ways. Once he shot his wife, Ann, in one of his tantrums. It was only a flesh wound, but she hid under the house all day until he cooled down. Once the Ku Klux Klan burned a cross in his yard, telling him to "shape up or they would move him out!"
In the late 1890's, Gaston went to work for the government, running a whisky still. Most people say he got most of his training in the backwoods with other beverage makers. Sometime around the turn of the 20th century, he came up with a particular blend of whisky, and sold the patent to the U.S. Government.
From what Louis Fred Wetherington (Gaston's son) says, that was where the money came from to settle in Onslow County in 1905 (now Breezy Meadows Farm & Stables). He said his father had the finest horses and buggys around. Loved to socialize. He continued to make moonshine, but had his still in the Black Community (Silverdale area). There, he didn't have to worry about the revenuers coming around. He had the security and the distributors all in one place.
If you know what to look for, you can still see remnants of his wine venture as well. Some of the grape vines still produce. They were pulled up for farming and pushed to the edge of the woods where a good number survive to this day.
In his day, clearing was done with dynamite, mules and horses. Once I helped my grandfather Fred blow stumps. My job was to carry the corn basket with the fuses and caps, and stay out of the way. I must have been 8 or 9 years old at the time. He would bore a whole in the side near the bottom, fill it with the right amount of dynamite, set the cap and fuse. He would light it and we would run! When it went off, the windows would shake and the dirt would fly. What was unique was him telling me about Gaston buying dynamite in Newport, and bring it back by mule and wagon. He mentioned a survey layed out and not to blow stumps near the Indian burial grounds. He said that Christians didn't bother graves, no matter who they were. In this same area, I found an Indian arrow head and a few years earlier, my grandfather found another within a hundred feet of mine.
There is a spring near the site, and the water runs all the time. It is not strong, but it's there, even in very dry times. I am sure the Indians camped all along this swamp area. You must remember the White Oak River is only a mile through the woods. Here is where the fresh water is.
Luckily, I have an idea of where the burial grounds are, according to my Grandfather's account of what his father said. I hope in the near future, some credible people will look for the sites and mark them.
Gaston has been dead nearly 80 years, but his life lives on through Breezy Meadows Farm & Stables.
Academic Scholar - Valedictorian - Class of 1937, White Oak
1939 - Valedictorian - Kings College, Greensboro, NC
1953 graduate ECU, Greenville, NC - noted for academic achievement - bronze plaque in Rawls Bldg
Pearl Harbor Veteran - US Army - TSgt
I loved to hear stories about him going to bed with snow on the ground, seeing stars through the roof.
Got up in the morning and made fire for heat and stoked wood.
Althea (Althia) Lola Wetherington Velez
11-23-21 to 02-27-04
daughter of Fred and Janie Wetherington
Althea and brother Aldred made many trips to Europe and Asia. Visited Holy Land twice.
Marshall Wetherington, Lois Stanley Wetherington, Elsie Dow (5-29-1898 to 09-09-01) grandmother of Butch Velez.
Elsie was German immigrant who moved here in 1912 with an older cousin.
(L to R)
Margaret Joliff Wetherington (wife of ALdred Wetherington), Janie Morton Wetherington
(daughter of Agnes Jane and Edward Morton, grandparents of Butch Velez)
Tobacco was brought to the barn by mule and truck. Was handed to loopers and later hung in the curing barn.
Photo by Andy Velez
Adolph Wetherington, Leroy and Julius
Louis Fred Wetherington Farm was a full working and self-supporting farm. Only staples were bought.
The farm produced tobacco (cash crop), corn, peanuts, garden (a lot of canning was done),
chickens for eggs and meat, hogs for meat and lard.
All of Butch Velez's formative years were on this beautiful farm. Only Hollywood could recreate it.
It was all destroyed after 1988 with the death of Janie Wetherington who at 94 kept everything intact.
Front porch of house Butch Velez grew up in.
House destroyed after 1988.
son of Gaston Lenoir Wetherington
Moved from Vanceboro, NC where Gaston ran a government whiskey still around 1904.
At one time she taught elementary school.
Daughter of Bazil Riggs
One of 16 children.
Mother of Janie P. Morton Wetherington.
Her mother was a Tuscarora Indian. She grew up in Grants Creek area.
son of Gaston Lenoir and Ana Willis Wetherngton.
Moved to Cove City, NC where he lived intil 1957.
Brother of Louis Fred Wetherington.
Andrew "Andy" Velez, Jr.
08-21-20 to 08-25-02
Great Great Grandfather of Butch Velez
Civil War Veteran
Wounded at Mannasas, VA.
Picture taken after a reunion of his Confederate Civil War unit.
Wife was Tuscarora Indian.
Great Great Grandmother of Butch Velez
Married to Basil Riggs
Prepared by:
Bessie Morris and Bessie Morse
Born: December 15, 1841 in Onslow Cty
Married: April 9, 1859 in Onslow Cty
Died: January 20, 1923 in Grants Creek, Onslow Cty
Father: Asa Riggs
Mother: Francis Harrington
Born: April 15, 1842 in Onslow Cty
Died: July 16, 1921 in Onslow Cty
Father: Levi Melville
Mother: Sarah Lovitt
Name: Edwin B. Riggs
Born: January 10, 1860 in Onslow Cty
Died: as a young child
Name Jeff Davis Riggs
Born: April 18, 1861 in Onslow Cty
Died: July 12, 1907 in Onslow Cty
Married: April 10, 1990 in Onslow Cty
Spouse: Hepsie Ann Morton
Sarah Frances Riggs
Born: June 15, 1863 in Onslow Cty
Died: August 1, 1947 in Jones Cty
Married: February 14, 1883 in Onslow Cty
Spouse: Elijah James Conway
Name: Julia Ann Riggs
Born: July 15, 1864 in Onslow Cty
Died: March 22, 1957 in Onslow Cty
Married: February 13, 1884 in Onslow Cty
Spouse: Benjamin Daniel Stanley
Name: Susan Katherine Riggs
Born: February 12, 1866 in Onslow Cty
Died: December 4, 1941 in Grants Creek, Onslow Cty
Married: November 4, 1885 in Onslow Cty
Spouse: Jacob H. Conway
Name: Agnes Jane Rigg
Born: April 15, 1867 in Onslow Cty
Died: December 11, 1949
Married: November 29, 1887 in Onslow Cty
Spouse: Edward James Jr Morton
Name: Martha Caroline Riggs
Born: May 15, 1868 in Onslow Cty
Died: July 21, 1931
Married: November 29, 1887 in Onslow Cty
Spouse: Samuel Walter Bright
Name: Mollie Riggs
Born: September 5, 1869 in Onslow Cty
Died: April 2, 1926 in Onslow Cty
Married: August 7, 1889 in Onslow Cty
Spouse: John Morton
Name: Laura Etta Riggs
Born: October 9, 1871 in Onslow Cty
Died: September 9, 1953 in Onslow Cty
Married: November 12, 1893
Spouse: Bazil Thomas Jones
Name: Emma Elizabeth Riggs
Born: March 30, 1873 in Onslow Cty
Died: March 13, 1943 in Onslow Cty
Married: ?
Spouse: John Redman Riggs
Name: John Calhoun Riggs
Born: October 27, 1874 in Onslow Cty
Died: September 3, 1960
Married: August 14, 1901 in Onslow Cty
Spouse: Rena Freeman
Name: George Allen Riggs
Born: December 24, 1875 in Onslow Cty
Died: as a young child
Name: Lera Riggs
Born: October 20, 1876 in Onslow Cty
Died: January 1897
Married:
Spouse: Sam Holland
Name: Levi Asa Riggs
Born: March 10, 1878 in Onslow Cty
Died: May 3, 1957 in Onslow Cty
Married: December 26, 1899 in Onslow Cty
Spouse: Hester Riggs
Name: Viola Riggs
Born: January 23, 1881 in Onslow Cty
Died: as a young child
Name: Daniel Franklin Riggs
Born: May 11, 1883 in Onslow Cty
Died: May 14, 1963 in Onslow Cty
Married: December 13, 1902
Spouse: Agnes Jane Barber
Early 50's
photo by Althea
Andrew Velez Sr. was a Ship's Captain transporting troops to the South Pacific during World War II.
Grandfather of Butch Velez
Andy Velez was a World War II veteran, machinist, blacksmith, amateur magician, welder, carpenter.
Father of Butch Velez. Ran first local machine shop set up in Fred Wetherington Pork House on 1949.
