Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameElizabeth Sophronia Dunn 
Birth24 Feb 1891, Stanly County, NC (about 8 mi S of Mt Pleasant)
Death11 Feb 1971, Raleigh, Wake County, NC
BurialBear Creek PBC Cemetery, Stanly County, NC
FatherFranklin Lafayette Dunn (1859-1938)
MotherMillia E. “Millie“ Lambert (1868-1892)
Spouses
Birth17 Oct 1883, Cabarrus County, NC
Death12 Feb 1965, Butner, Granville County, NC
Burial14 Feb 1965, Bear Creek PBC Cemetery, Stanly County, NC
Occupationfarmer
FatherJonathan Monroe Page (1853-1930)
MotherMargaret “Maggie“ Shaver (1852-1927)
Marriage20 Dec 1908, by Johnnie D. Harwood, Justice of the Peace
ChildrenFranklin Monroe (1910-1985)
Bertha Lee (Died as Infant) (1911-1911)
Dora “Isabelle” (1913-2000)
Esther Eugenia (1915-2009)
Jesse Floyd (1916-1998)
George Alexander (1921-2000)
Hoyle Philmore (1923-2000)
Notes for Elizabeth Sophronia Dunn
Elizabeth Dunn Page
By Franklin and Mamie Page, March 1977
Edited by Nelson Page
Elizabeth was born on her father's farm which later became known as the "Lou Allmon Place". At this time the family consisted of her parents, grandmother Selina James Dunn, sister Jennelind, and Eliza Russell, an 11 year old orphan taken in by the family. When Elizabeth was 20 months old her mother died.
"She had only a few years of schooling, but all her life she was an avid reader of Grit, True Story, and Comfort magazines. Not only was she an excellent speller, but a good reader with a keen memory." [MFP]
All her life Elizabeth was known as Lizzie by friends and relatives. She never joined a church but attended on various occasions preferring denominations other than the Primitive Baptist. "Her life was marked by her unfailing kindness and generosity." [MFP] The one formal step she took was baptism in 1921 by a traveling evangelist, Alexander (Sandy) Dougal. Son George Alexander was named after Alexander Dougal of Scotland and George Butler of Maryland who were holding evangelistic services in a tent on a neighboring farm at the time of his birth. The two evangelists were hosted in the Page home for some of their stay.
After spending the first year of their marriage with her father, Elizabeth and Daniel had a 26 year career of tenant farming on six different farms. During these years Elizabeth had seven children, worked on the farm, did the house work, tended a garden, milked the cows, took care of the children, and sewed for the family. In mid-life she also sewed for the public and once made 14 dresses in one week in addition to her usual chores. While living at Old Hall the family had mumps and Elizabeth was unable to have more children.
"Moving into her own home in 1940, at age 49, was one of the big events of her life." [MFP]
Elizabeth enjoyed music and listening to the radio. A high light of her life was the time she entertained Charlie and Bill Monroe in her home. She was also a fan of J. E. Mainer, Roy Acuff, and the Kentucky Blue Grass Boys. In her youth Elizabeth had played the banjo, the auto harp and organ, and the accordion. Now she played gospel and country music on her phonograph which was cranked by hand.
"In 1958 I measured land on the farm of a Mr. Freeman on the Stokes Ferry Road below Liberty. In conversation after finishing he seemed to recall Daniel and Lizzie from dances they and he had attended. To what extent was Lizzie's distaste for the Primitive Baptist Church theological, and to what extent was it musical? No musical instruments are ever used in a Primitive Baptist Church." [NFP]
Elizabeth cut her children's hair and later became the barber for many of her neighbors. Starting at 5¢, her price rose to 10¢ or two for 15¢, and finally 15¢ or two for a quarter.
Elizabeth seldom left home, and when she did began preparing to go home about 2 or 3 pm. Appeals to stay longer always drew the same response, "I've got to get home and milk the cows." There were few days in her life when she didn't milk the cows.
Elizabeth had no use for doctors and never saw one until past age 70. All of her children were delivered by midwives. However her mental faculties were failing before Daniel's stroke in 1962, and only his help enabled them to live at home. When he entered the hospital their home was abruptly and permanently broken. After about six weeks with her children, Elizabeth had to be taken to a doctor and was diagnosed diabetic. A week in the hospital was required to adjust her insulin dosage. A trial period in the homes of her children showed the necessity of institutional care, and in Mar 1963 Elizabeth was placed in Patterson Rest Home, Spencer, NC. Initially she did quite well, and during that time saw and held her great-granddaughter, Eileen Page. But increasing mental confusion forced the home to request her removal, and in Feb 1967 she was transferred to Dorothea Dix Hosp in Raleigh. Unaware of the world around her, Elizabeth lived there four years until her death on 11 Feb 1971. "On a bitterly cold day, among blowing snow flurries, Elizabeth was buried beside her husband at Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church." [MFP]
By Franklin and Mamie Page, March 1977
Edited by Nelson Page
Elizabeth was born on her father's farm which later became known as the "Lou Allmon Place". At this time the family consisted of her parents, grandmother Selina James Dunn, sister Jennelind, and Eliza Russell, an 11 year old orphan taken in by the family. When Elizabeth was 20 months old her mother died.
"She had only a few years of schooling, but all her life she was an avid reader of Grit, True Story, and Comfort magazines. Not only was she an excellent speller, but a good reader with a keen memory." [MFP]
All her life Elizabeth was known as Lizzie by friends and relatives. She never joined a church but attended on various occasions preferring denominations other than the Primitive Baptist. "Her life was marked by her unfailing kindness and generosity." [MFP] The one formal step she took was baptism in 1921 by a traveling evangelist, Alexander (Sandy) Dougal. Son George Alexander was named after Alexander Dougal of Scotland and George Butler of Maryland who were holding evangelistic services in a tent on a neighboring farm at the time of his birth. The two evangelists were hosted in the Page home for some of their stay.
After spending the first year of their marriage with her father, Elizabeth and Daniel had a 26 year career of tenant farming on six different farms. During these years Elizabeth had seven children, worked on the farm, did the house work, tended a garden, milked the cows, took care of the children, and sewed for the family. In mid-life she also sewed for the public and once made 14 dresses in one week in addition to her usual chores. While living at Old Hall the family had mumps and Elizabeth was unable to have more children.
"Moving into her own home in 1940, at age 49, was one of the big events of her life." [MFP]
Elizabeth enjoyed music and listening to the radio. A high light of her life was the time she entertained Charlie and Bill Monroe in her home. She was also a fan of J. E. Mainer, Roy Acuff, and the Kentucky Blue Grass Boys. In her youth Elizabeth had played the banjo, the auto harp and organ, and the accordion. Now she played gospel and country music on her phonograph which was cranked by hand.
"In 1958 I measured land on the farm of a Mr. Freeman on the Stokes Ferry Road below Liberty. In conversation after finishing he seemed to recall Daniel and Lizzie from dances they and he had attended. To what extent was Lizzie's distaste for the Primitive Baptist Church theological, and to what extent was it musical? No musical instruments are ever used in a Primitive Baptist Church." [NFP]
Elizabeth cut her children's hair and later became the barber for many of her neighbors. Starting at 5¢, her price rose to 10¢ or two for 15¢, and finally 15¢ or two for a quarter.
Elizabeth seldom left home, and when she did began preparing to go home about 2 or 3 pm. Appeals to stay longer always drew the same response, "I've got to get home and milk the cows." There were few days in her life when she didn't milk the cows.
Elizabeth had no use for doctors and never saw one until past age 70. All of her children were delivered by midwives. However her mental faculties were failing before Daniel's stroke in 1962, and only his help enabled them to live at home. When he entered the hospital their home was abruptly and permanently broken. After about six weeks with her children, Elizabeth had to be taken to a doctor and was diagnosed diabetic. A week in the hospital was required to adjust her insulin dosage. A trial period in the homes of her children showed the necessity of institutional care, and in Mar 1963 Elizabeth was placed in Patterson Rest Home, Spencer, NC. Initially she did quite well, and during that time saw and held her great-granddaughter, Eileen Page. But increasing mental confusion forced the home to request her removal, and in Feb 1967 she was transferred to Dorothea Dix Hosp in Raleigh. Unaware of the world around her, Elizabeth lived there four years until her death on 11 Feb 1971. "On a bitterly cold day, among blowing snow flurries, Elizabeth was buried beside her husband at Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church." [MFP]