THE MONROE ENQUIRER

“The Monroe Enquirer, B.C. and Eugene Ashcraft, proprietors, is the oldest paper in the county, and its long career has been one of extreme usefulness to its town and county. Messrs. Ashcraft Brothers bought the paper in August, 1893, and have since conducted it with conspicuous success. The paper owns its own building, which is elegantly fitted for the purposes of the paper. This office is well equipped and they have a large circulation and a fine advertising patronage. The paper was established in 1872 by W.C. Wolfe and W.J. Boylin. Mr. Wolfe conducted it for a long time alone, and was succeeded by Mr. Boylin, who continued to run the business till 1893. Mr. B.C. Ashcraft, the editor is a man of wide reading, and each week “gets up” an interesting paper. He is of liberal education, and was the first student of the A.&M. College of the State. He has been chairman of the county board of education and is now treasurer of the city of Monroe. Mr. Eugene Ashcraft is a very fine practical printer and business manager. Messrs. Ashcraft Brothers are admirably fitted for their work and are making a notable success.” Sketches of Monroe & Union County - Stack & Beasley 1902

Photograph scanned from Sketches of Monroe & Union County
 
More research on these early owners…

WILLIAM CONSTANTINE WOLFE

"According to tradition, the Wolfes first settled in Pennsylvania and came to North Carolina about 1750. They settled in that part of Mecklenburg County which is now Cabarrus County, not far from Mt. Pleasant, on Paul's Run. He [Conrad Wolfe] was one of the original members of old St. John's congregation. General Rufus Barringer's grandfather (John Paul Berringer) was also a member of the same church. Philip Wolfe, his father and mother and two brothers came.” Ancestry.com

William Constantine Wolfe (1852-1929) was born 15 Sept 1852, the son of Hilliard J. Wolfe (1823-1885) (son of Conrad Wolfe of Mecklenburg County) and Rozanna Jane Wilson (1832-1856). Hilliard and Rozanna had another son, James Leard Simeon Wolfe, born 17 July 1855, who only lived eight months, dying 25 March 1856. After Rozanna’s death, 5 Feb 1856, H.J. Wolfe married Cornelia Evelyn Lee.

Hilliard J. Wolfe, merchant and family, was first noted in Monroe in the 1870 census. William C. Wolfe married Virginia Lee 23 Oct 1873 in Union County. By the 1880 Monroe Census, William C. Wolfe 30 was noted as editor of newspaper; in household were Virginia 28, Frederick 5, Nellie 3, Bright 2 and school teacher sister-in-law Mary L. Austin 40. William’s parents and siblings were living nearby. Wolfe-Ashcraft House

WALTER JAMES BOYLIN

Walter J. Boylin (1857-1917) was born in Wadesboro, Anson County, the son of John Boylin and Harriet Paul. He married Mary Elizabeth Grady (1859-1927), daughter of John Grady and Mary Ausbrook. The 1880 Monroe Census recorded: Walter 26 “edits newspaper,” Mary 21, Ira 4 and one-year-old Fred. By 1900, the Boylin family was recorded in Nashville; Walter was a “typesetter.” Walter died 18 Dec 1917 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee.

BAXTER CLEGG ASHCRAFT

Baxter Clegg Ashcraft (1868-1921), born in Lanes Creek Township (Beaver Dam Post Office), was the oldest son of Civil War veteran John Benjamin Ashcraft (1834-1901) and Sarah Lavenia Marsh (1843-1920), who were married 7 Nov 1865. In 1861 J.B. Ashcraft was Lieutenant Colonel Ashcraft, Company S, 37th Infantry Regiment North Carolina.

Baxter’s siblings included: Eugene (1870-1936), Thomas Alfred “Tom” (1872-1954), John Clayton (1875-1941), Watt (1877-1919), Anne Lois (1879-1881) and Effie Jeanette (1882-1969).

On November 14, 1900, Baxter Clegg Ashcraft married Mary Mobley Blair (1871-1951). She was the daughter of Isaac Hilton Blair and Louisa Miller.
  • 1870 Lanes Creek Township Census: farmer John B. 35, Sallie L. 26, “Clanndy” 2, Eugene 6mo., John J. Wise 6 and Franklin B. Ashcraft 21.
  • 1880 Monroe Census: farmer John B. Ashcraft 45, Sallie L. 36, Clegg 12, Eugene 10, Thomas 7, Clayton 5, Watt 2, Lois 6mo and servant Alfred Hamilton 32.
  • 1900 Monroe Census: Clegg Ashcraft 32 and brother Eugene 30, were boarders at a boarding house on Jefferson Street. (Baxter and Eugene had purchased the Monroe Enquirer in 1893.)
  • 1920 Monroe Census: Clegg and Mary Ashcraft were on Hayne Street with four roomers.

EUGENE ASHCRAFT

Eugene Ashcraft (1870-1936) married Sadie Millicent Bulla 16 Jan 1904 in Randolph County. Children: Sarah Henley Ashcraft (1906-1991) married Charles C. Napier, and John Bulla Ashcraft (1910-1975) married Nancy Jane Kennedy; they were the parents of Nancy Jane Ashcraft Noles.
  • 1870 Lanes Creek Township Census: farmer John B. 35, Sallie L. 26, “Clanndy” 2, Eugene 6mo., John J. Wise 6 and Franklin B. Ashcraft 21.
  • 1880 Monroe Census: farmer John B. Ashcraft 45, Sallie L. 36, Clegg 12, Eugene 10, Thomas 7, Clayton 5, Watt 2, Lois 6mo and servant Alfred Hamilton 32.
  • 1900 Monroe Census: Boarder on Jefferson. (Baxter and Eugene had purchased the Monroe Enquirer in 1893.)
  • 1910 Monroe Census: Houston Street – “Editor of Newspaper” Eugene 34, Sadie 30 and three-year-old Sarah.
  • 1920 Monroe Census: Houston Street - Eugene 45, Sadie 42, Sarah 13, Eugene 9 and sister-in-law Nellie Bullar 34.
  • 1930 Monroe Census: Church Street – Eugene 56, Sadie B. 54 and John B. 19.