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Calvin Kerley, a native of Alexander County, was born in 1872, the year the Covered Bridge opened across the Yadkin River between Jonesville and Elkin. He survived the bridge by 49 years, dying in 1962 at age 90. He is buried in the historic Jonesville Cemetery beside his wife,
Sarah Elizabeth Amanda Watts Price Kerley, also an Alexander native.
In the 1890s, there were three recessions back-to-back, and the Kerleys sold their property in Taylorsville and moved to Jonesville.
Mr. Kerley was Sarah’s second husband.
Sarah’s first husband was Levi Price. There were six Price
Sarah Elizabeth Amanda Watts Price Kerley, also an Alexander native.
In the 1890s, there were three recessions back-to-back, and the Kerleys sold their property in Taylorsville and moved to Jonesville.
Mr. Kerley was Sarah’s second husband.
Sarah’s first husband was Levi Price. There were six Price
children--Texie, Flossie, Cordelia, Jim, Mag and Kerley. When Levi passed away in the late 1880s, he left Sarah not only with the children to parent but also three farms to look after.
Sarah was able to hire a good man to operate the farms--Calvin Kerley. She fe
ll in love with Mr. Kerley, and they were married.
In Jonesville, Calvin and Sarah moved into what became known as the Kerley House, standing adjacent to the Mathis House. It was in this home that the other Kerley children were born, Maude in 1901, and Sam about three years later.
Mr.Kerley
Sarah was able to hire a good man to operate the farms--Calvin Kerley. She fe
ll in love with Mr. Kerley, and they were married.In Jonesville, Calvin and Sarah moved into what became known as the Kerley House, standing adjacent to the Mathis House. It was in this home that the other Kerley children were born, Maude in 1901, and Sam about three years later.
Mr.Kerleyopened a two-story shop on West Main Street and began using his talent for making cabinets, coffins and furniture to earn a living for his family. His shop had no boastful sign on it, but became known as Mr. Kerley’s Coffin Factory, and it remained in operation into the 1940s. The shop stood in the abandoned first road bed for the main Jonesville highway, parts of which lay next to the present West Main Street, but about 20 feet lower. Under the shop, in the old road bed, was a big crawl space, high enough for a man to stand under and a perfect spot for children to go exploring.
Around 1920, an auction sale was held at the Galloway House on Surry Avenue on the Big Elkin Creek. At the sale, Mr. Kerley purchased an old grand piano. About 20 years later, Miss Mary Mathis asked Mr. Kerley to design her a little drop leaf table out of the old piano, which was made of teak wood. He delivered the table to Miss Mary, who lived diagonally across the street from the coffin factory, one afternoon early in 1940. The table was cherished by Miss Mary until her death in 1979. It is now owned by her nephew, Charles Mathis.
Lois, the Kerley’s oldest child, was an eye witness to the night the Jonesville Schoolhouse fell in during a Christmas program in 1912. The school auditorium, heated by a potbellied stove, was upstairs and approximately 300 persons were present. Lois survived, but three persons died. Lois Kerley married Lester Martin and they made their home in Island Ford. Their daughter Lavene married Shorty Minton.
Maude Kerley married Carl Oliver and they later purchased and lived in the Kerley House, long after Sarah had died and Mr. Kerley had remarried. Sam Kerley moved away but sometimes visited. Maude’s daughter, Don Oliver Martin, provided four of the pictures exhibited here. Don’s husband, Thad, and Thad’s brother Leon operated Martin’s Doughnuts, which for a generation was the most famous business in Jonesville.
Sarah’s son Mag was a long-time resident of Jonesville. Price Chapel of Jonesville First Baptist Church is named for him and his wife, Lona. All of Mag and Lona’s children—except for Elizabeth Price Gwyn Kenan for whom a scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is named—are deceased.
Sarah's daughter Flossie Price married Gaston Deal and they were the parents of Brack Deal, who operated an orchard between Wilkesboro and Taylorsville. During apple season, Brack Deal was a frequent vendor of apples at the Saturday curb market (in the 1930s and 40s) on East Main Street in downtown Elkin.
Sarah’s daughter Kerley Price Vestal was mother of Mozelle Vestal for whom the Mozelle Vestal Kitchen dormitory at Campbell University is named.
Sarah’s daughter Texie Price married Willie Brown, and they made their home on West Main Street near the Kerley House. Among Texie and Willie’s grandchildren is Bonnie Stewart, wife of Dr. Hal Stewart of Elkin.
This is a work in progress. If you find an error or want to volunteer additional information, contact the writer.
Around 1920, an auction sale was held at the Galloway House on Surry Avenue on the Big Elkin Creek. At the sale, Mr. Kerley purchased an old grand piano. About 20 years later, Miss Mary Mathis asked Mr. Kerley to design her a little drop leaf table out of the old piano, which was made of teak wood. He delivered the table to Miss Mary, who lived diagonally across the street from the coffin factory, one afternoon early in 1940. The table was cherished by Miss Mary until her death in 1979. It is now owned by her nephew, Charles Mathis.
Lois, the Kerley’s oldest child, was an eye witness to the night the Jonesville Schoolhouse fell in during a Christmas program in 1912. The school auditorium, heated by a potbellied stove, was upstairs and approximately 300 persons were present. Lois survived, but three persons died. Lois Kerley married Lester Martin and they made their home in Island Ford. Their daughter Lavene married Shorty Minton.
Maude Kerley married Carl Oliver and they later purchased and lived in the Kerley House, long after Sarah had died and Mr. Kerley had remarried. Sam Kerley moved away but sometimes visited. Maude’s daughter, Don Oliver Martin, provided four of the pictures exhibited here. Don’s husband, Thad, and Thad’s brother Leon operated Martin’s Doughnuts, which for a generation was the most famous business in Jonesville.
Sarah’s son Mag was a long-time resident of Jonesville. Price Chapel of Jonesville First Baptist Church is named for him and his wife, Lona. All of Mag and Lona’s children—except for Elizabeth Price Gwyn Kenan for whom a scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is named—are deceased.
Sarah's daughter Flossie Price married Gaston Deal and they were the parents of Brack Deal, who operated an orchard between Wilkesboro and Taylorsville. During apple season, Brack Deal was a frequent vendor of apples at the Saturday curb market (in the 1930s and 40s) on East Main Street in downtown Elkin.
Sarah’s daughter Kerley Price Vestal was mother of Mozelle Vestal for whom the Mozelle Vestal Kitchen dormitory at Campbell University is named.
Sarah’s daughter Texie Price married Willie Brown, and they made their home on West Main Street near the Kerley House. Among Texie and Willie’s grandchildren is Bonnie Stewart, wife of Dr. Hal Stewart of Elkin.
This is a work in progress. If you find an error or want to volunteer additional information, contact the writer.
--CHARLES GRAY MATHIS
Sources:
Maud Elliott Mathis
Mary Mathis
Weeta Elliott
Don Oliver Martin
Charles Mathis
Ruth Underwood Martin
Bonnie Hall Stewart
Judy Wolfe
Lois Kerley Martin
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