Richard "Dixie" Cheek &
& Martha Jennings

Richard "Dixie" Cheek, son of Chesley CHEEK & Phebe WOODRUFF, was born Sept. 8, 1834, in Ashe Co., NC, and died July 19, 1913, in Alleghany Co., NC. He married Martha "Patty" Jennings, daughter of Solomon JENNINGS & Sarah FENDER, Jan. 28, 1857, in Ashe Co., NC. She was born Dec. 31, 1838, in Grayson Co., VA, and died July 22, 1935, in Alleghany Co., NC. Richard & Martha Cheek are buried at the Pleasant Home Union Baptist Church in Vox, Alleghany Co., NC.

Children of Richard "Dixie" Cheek & Martha "Patty" Jennings:

1. +Sarah Frances Cheek, b. 1858, Ashe Co., NC; d. 1946, Harford Co., MD; m. (1) Young G. EDWARDS, son of Isom C. EDWARDS & Linea "Linnie" HACKLER, June 30, 1877, Alleghany Co., NC (b. May 2, 1855; d. Oct. 25, 1880); m. (2) Green Berry TODD, son of Armistead TODD & Lydia MURPHY, Feb. 7, 1886, Alleghany Co., NC (b. 1854; d. 1929, Harford Co., MD); bur. Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery, Harford Co., MD.
2. William Cheek, b. abt. 1860, Alleghany Co., NC; d. bef. 1870, Alleghany Co., NC.
3. +Rosa Jane Cheek, b. Mar. 13, 1865, Alleghany Co., NC; d. Sept. 11, 1946, Fountain Green, Harford Co., MD; m. (1) David TOMPKINS, Aug. 31, 1884, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Dec. 4, 1859; d. May 13, 1889); m. (2) Isaiah Mitchell COOMES, son of William H. COOMES and Margaret MOORE, Apr. 16, 1892, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Nov. 27, 1869; d. Oct. 5, 1954); bur. Oak Grove Baptist Church, Bel Air, Harford Co., MD.
4. +Robert Cheek, b. Jan. 1867, Alleghany Co., NC; d. aft. 1930, possibly in the Midwest; m. Cynthia DICKENS, daughter of William DICKENS & Elizabeth WILSON, Feb. 16, 1888, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Jan. 1869; d. aft. 1930).
5. +Mack M. Cheek, b. Aug. 2, 1871, Alleghany Co., NC; d. July 18, 1936, Payette Co., ID; m. Laura Ennice COCKERHAM, daughter of John R. COCKERHAM & Mary Little KENNEDY of Wilkes Co., NC, Dec. 28, 1899, Alleghany Co., NC (b. July 18, 1875, Wilkes Co., NC; d. May 9, 1937, Payette Co., ID); bur. Riverside Cemetery, Payette, ID.
6. +Richard Emmett Cheek, b. Sept. 1876, Alleghany Co., NC; d. aft. 1930, Oxford, Chester Co., PA; m. his 2nd cousin, Cora A. EDWARDS, daughter of John EDWARDS & Emilie "Millie" MCGRADY, Sept. 13, 1897, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Jan. 1880; d. aft. 1930).
7. +Romulus Z. Linney (R. Lynn) Cheek, b. Aug. 1879, Alleghany Co., NC; d. aft. 1930, Oxford, Chester Co., PA; m. (1) Olivie May JENNINGS, daughter of William JENNINGS & Christina "Tina" DUNCAN, July 26, 1901, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Dec. 22, 1884; d. Feb. 12, 1904); m. (2) Mollie McDora CHOATE, daughter of Joshua Sabret CHOATE & Margaret "Peggy" FENDER, June 12, 1905, Alleghany Co., NC (b. June 27, 1877; d. aft. 1930).
8. Lillis Nannie Cheek, b. Sept. 1883, Alleghany Co., NC; d. Jan. 11, 1971, Forsyth Co., NC; m. her 2nd cousin, James McKenny TRUITT, son of Robert Lee TRUITT & Rosa Ann RICHARDSON, Oct. 16, 1904 (b. Jan. 5, 1884; d. Aug. 11, 1980). Children: Gwyn Robert Truitt (1905) m. Wady Eula EDWARDS; Everette Carr Truitt (1913) never married; Living; Living; Living.

Notes

ichard "Dixie" Cheek was the oldest son of Chesley and Phebe Cheek of Alleghany County, NC. He married Martha "Patty" Jennings on or about January 28, 1857, and proven by their marriage bond. Richard, Patty and their family lived in the Vox area of Alleghany County adjoining the the lot belonging to the Pleasant Home Church. (View map.)  The house he built stood until the early 2000's when it was torn down by the landowner. Richard also owned land in the Crab Creek area which he inherited from his father.

Richard served in the Civil War for two years and lost the little finger of his left hand at the battle of Drewry's Bluff in May 1864. He was reported absent without leave on July 10, 1864, the day after the first Battle of Petersburg. Like many soldiers, he probably deserted due to the appalling conditions of warfare and crisis on the home front. His father had been murdered, allegedly by "bushwhackers," in April 1864, leaving his mother and three unmarried sisters alone and without protection during a time of violence, political instability and economic collapse. Both of "Dixie's" brothers also served in the war and fought at Petersburg: Abner was wounded in the lung on July 16, 1864, and died in the hospital on July 31st; William was taken prisoner on July 30, 1864.

After the war, "Dixie" resumed his life as a farmer. He died on July 19, 1913, and is buried at the Pleasant Home Union Baptist Church in the Vox community of Alleghany Co., NC. Patty died on July 22, 1935, and is buried next to him.

Records

Jan. 28, 1857. Richard Cheek & "Marty Jennings" posted a marriage bond in Ashe Co., NC. Witnesses: Robert GAMBILL, Clerk, and T.C. DOUGLUS, J.P.

Note: Alleghany County was created from Ashe County in 1859.

1860 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, Glade Creek Twp., p.436 (HH#678):
CHEEK, Rich'd, 25, farmer, value of real estate $--, born in NC

-- Martha, 20, NC

-- Sarah F., 3, NC

-- William, 4/12, NC

1860 Census, Agricultural Schedule, Alleghany Co., NC: RICH. CHEEK: no land, value of farm $5, value of farm implements $1, no horses, no asses/mules, 2 milch cows, no working oxen, 4 other cattle, 12 sheep, 20 swine, value of livestock $200. (Source: New River Notes.)  Note: he is listed between CHIS. CHEEK and LEVI WILLIS (WILLEY).

CIVIL WAR: Richard CHEEK enlisted on May 3, 1862, in Co. I, 61st NC Inf. Reg't, as a private. The military records state that he was born on Sept. 8, 1834, and was 27 years old at enlistment. He was a farmer and a resident of Alleghany Co., NC. On rolls Nov. 15, 1862, and Apr. 15, 1863. Detailed on May 12, 1863, to arrest deserters and conscript. Deserted on Aug. 26, 1863. Returned Nov. 23, 1863, and detached to Petersburg, VA. Returned on May 1, 1864. Wounded in left hand on May 14, 1864, at Drewry's Bluff, VA. Hospitalized on May 15, 1864, at Richmond, VA (finger amputated). AWOL on July 10, 1864. (Source: American Civil War Soliders, Ancestry.com; "Ashe and Alleghany in the Civil War" by Jeff Weaver.)

From The Weekly Standard, Raleigh, NC, June 1, 1864: "Headqrs. 61st Regiment N.C. T. Clingman's Brigade, near Drewry's Bluff, May 18, 1864. For the gratification of friends of this regiment, I send you a list of the killed and wounded during the skirmishes of the 13th, 14th and 15th, and the general engagement of the 16th, and the skirmishes of the 18th and 19th with the enemy near Drewry's Bluff, Virginia: … Company I—Wm. T. CHOATE commanding. Wounded—1st Sgt. George GRIMSLEY, Sgt. F.M. MITCHELL severely, Corpl H.D. ESLEPT [ESTEP] Privates Isham BLEVINS, Richard CHEEK, William CHEEK, Jr., slightly; Silas GOINGS severely; Jos. HUDSON, John MABE slightly; James MOXLEY mortally; John MOXLEY, Isaac RICHARDSON slightly."

1870 Census, Alleghany Co., Glade Creek Twp., p.271 (HH#5):
RICHARD CHEEK, 36, farmer, $1,000, $155, NC

-- Martha, 28, keeps house, NC

-- Sarah F., 12, at school, NC

-- Rausey J., 6, NC

-- Richard, 2, NC

CHILDERS, James, 25, at home, NC

1880 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, Glade Creek Twp., p.241 (HH#14): RICHARD CHEEK, 46, farmer, NC NC NC

-- Martha, 43, wife, NC NC NC

-- Rosa, 16, dau, " " "

-- Robert, 13, son, " " "

-- Mc, 9, son, " " "

-- Emit, 5, son, " " "

-- Rz. Linna, 3, son, " " "

CALE, William, 24, farm laborer, NC VA VA

CHEEK, Elizabeth, 35, sister, NC VA VA

1900 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, Glade Creek Twp., p.134 (HH#96): RICHARD CHEEK, Sept. 1833, age 66, NC NC NC, farmer

-- Martha, Dec. 1837, wife, age 63, 10 children born, 7 living, NC NC NC

-- Romulous L., son, Aug. 1879, age 20, NC NC NC

-- Lillis, dau, Sept. 1883, age 16, NC NC NC

EDWARDS, Reid M., grandson, Dec. 1879, age 20, NC NC NC, farm laborer

1910 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, Glade Creek Twp., p.2 (HH#33):
R.L. CHEEK, 30, m(2) 4 yrs, NC NC NC, farmer

-- Mollie, wife, 31, m(1) 4 yrs, 3 children/2 living, VA NC NC

-- Clarence, son, 2, NC NC VA

-- Dee, son, 1, NC NC VA

CHEEK, Richard, father, 78, m. 52 yrs, NC NC NC, farmer

-- Martha, mother, 70, m. 52 yrs, 10 children/7 living, NC NC NC

July 2, 1917. Martha CHEEK applied for a Confederate widow's pension. Age 78, resident of Vox, NC, widow of Richard CHEEK who served in 61st Regt., enlisted May 3, 1862. Certification signed by William CHOAT and James WAGONER. Pension approved by the Alleghany County Pension Board (H.D. ESTEP, H.M. CROUSE, D.P. TAYLOR.)