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Stephen Decatur Whitaker, Sr.
Obituary
N.C. Tuesday, June 5, 1900
Andrews, May 31, 1900 - Capt. Stephen Whitaker of this place died at his
home at 11 o'clock p.m. on the 20th inst. He was the fifth son of James Whitaker and wife Mary Whitaker of Rowan County,
NC. He was born on February 9, 1814, in the Swannanoa Valley, in the then wilds of Buncombe county, and moved with his
father to Franklin, Macon county, in the year 1824, and in 1835 he moved with his father to Valley River, this county.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of David and Mary Taylor, April 2, 1837, she preceding him nine years. There were 15
children born unto them of whom 10 are now living. Two infants are buried here, two are lying in the west, but they
left heirs in that country; one lying in Georgia, buried among strangers, she left one heir.
Now it may be truthfully said that Stephen Whitaker was one of the pioneers
of this grand country. He helped to lay out and construct the public roads and aided in furnishing material to build
churches and school houses. At the land sale of 1838 he purchased from the State the farm upon which he raised his children,
and was in the last permitted to die at the age of 86, in the presence of seven children, some grandchildren, other relatives
and neighbors. By his indomitable courage and the judicial management of the net earnings from his farm, together with
moneys held in trust for his children, he accumulated land clear of incumbrance for each child a good home.
The deceased as a Confederate veteran, first acted under authority of Col.
W.H. Thomas as commissary at Camp Cooper, Chilhowie, Tenn., in the year 1862. In September of that year he was authorized
to raise a company. The first to volunteer was Joshua A. Young. His company (E) was mustered into service September
8, 1862. He did valiant service under the Southern cross in East Tennessee and Maryland under Gen. Early in 1864.
In August of that year he was discharged from the general hospital at Charlottesville, Va., with orders to proceed to Valleytown,
NC to await orders from his commanding officer, where he was soon put in command. On January 4, 1864, he was promoted
to Major, and on hearing of the surrender of Lee and Johnson in April, and Col. Thomas and Col. James R. Love at Asheville
and Waynesville on May 8th and 9th, he went to Franklin with a truce and surrendered his men to Col. Kirk on May 12, 1865.
Hence, he was the last field officer to lay down his arms in Western North Carolina, and on the 21st day of September, 1865,
he took the oath of allegiance.
But the mind of a man is such that we cannot follow in the footsteps of
one who was permitted to live 86 years. We are unable to note the many changes wrought in such a life. But we
may safely judge from the papers on file of the honest intention to deal justly with mankind. Therefore, we feel sure, judging
from such evidence, that he proved his faith by his works, believing as he did to help the pure and honest dealing was good
religion. Life is a great mystery, but death is greater. The deceased was conscious to the last. He bore
his afflictions without a murmur. He said people must die and for us not to be alarmed; that he must go. He asked
us to turn him over on his back, so he could die. But said his life was prolonged one hour, which he lived to a few
seconds. He was laid by the side of his wife at 3 o'clock on the 22nd just, in Valleytown cemetery.
How can one in preparation of death be so calm if he had no hope?
How could he bear his affliction with such fortitude? How could he tell us that he must go and not to be alarmed, if
he had no hope? Greater the mystery, how he knew his life was prolonged? How did he know he would live one more
wretched night? Still greater the mystery, how he knew he would only live just one hour. Was his life prolonged
by some prayer or was it by his own request.
J. Mc W. (written by his son, James Mack Whitaker)
Provided Courtesy of Ms. Rita Jones; she retains original copy of the
Mr. Stephen Decatur Whitaker, Sr., Obituary. Special acknowledgement to Ms. Carolyn Ellertson for her assistance.
Notes:
According to Stephen Whitaker’s
obituary and other sources, his rank is stated as Captain and sometimes as Major. This is how I reconcile
the captain v. major:
Stephen signed his parole document
as “Captain” Stephen Whitaker on May 12, 1865, (see "The Last Shot") and Union Colonel George Kirk, Federal 3rd NC Mounted Infantry, received it on that date. May 12, 1865, is also one month
after Lee's surrender to Grant. Stephen
commanded Walker's Battalion (aka 1st Battalion, Thomas' Legion) for a portion of the war. Battalion commanders
were typically a major or, one rank higher, lieutenant colonel. It appears that his promotion was recognized throughout the
legion, and even in his obituary.
The obituary refers to Stephen
Whitaker as both Captain and Major. It initially reflects: "May 31, 1900 - Capt.
Stephen Whitaker of this place died at his home at 11 o'clock p.m. on the 20th inst." It also has Whitaker being promoted to Major
on January 4, 1864. I believe the promotion date should reflect January 4, 1865, which is 3 months before
the war ended. The reason I believe it should reflect Jan. 1865 is because the obituary reflects: “On January 4, 1864, he was promoted to Major, and on hearing of the surrender of Lee and Johnson in April…”
Lee
and Johnson surrendered on April 9, 1865. Also, just before the promotion
comment the obituary states: “…under Gen. Early in 1864.” Gen. Jubal “Ole
Jube” Early and the Thomas Legion were not in the Shenandoah Valley
until June 1, 1864, which is also five months after the Jan. 1864 promotion in the obituary. Continuity leads me to believe
that he was nominated to "Major" and that the nomination also occurred in Jan. 1865.
In January 1865 the Confederate
command structure, and practically all communication with western North Carolina, was in shambles. It appears that Stephen was nominated for Major but the endorsement
in Richmond never occurred. That is probably why the obituary begins with: "Andrews, May 31, 1900 -
Capt. Stephen Whitaker of this place died at his home at 11 o'clock p.m. on the 20th inst."
We
must remember that Richmond
was in the process of being evacuated because of Grant's relentless bombardments during the 1865 Richmond-Petersburg Campaign.
Confederate records
were also being destroyed by both Confederate and Union officials. Some Confederates
viewed their documents as evidence for the Yankees. They further understood that all Confederate documents were incriminating
and paramount to "Treason against the Union." At the time, the Rebels didn't know if they would be hanged, shot or imprisoned
for their rebellion.
Union
or United States Army records were pretty well preserved, but unfortunately Confederate records weren’t. So when we
find bits-n-pieces of Confederate documents, it is really great.
It is also this writer's view that
Stephen Whitaker should have been officially promoted to at least major due to "rank verses responsibility."
There is no doubt that Stephen Whitaker's promotion would have been "approved" if: 1) communication with Richmond
was open and 2) Richmond wasn't under siege.
Additional Reading:
Recommended
Assistance in Researching Your Genealogy
and Heritage:
Stephen Whitaker Obituary Cherokee County North Carolina Andrews Valleytown Swannanoa Valley
Buncombe Franklin Macon Clay Haywood Graham County North Carolina Obituaries Records Newspapers Articles
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