Chapter Thirty Two

June 1, 1939

Green’s Grove post office was located about two miles north of Bostic on the old Lincolnton road. Mr. Joe Green was postmaster at this office, the office being located in Mr. Green’s home, which accounts for the name. Mr. Green was known as White House Joe Green. He lived in a house that was painted white. There was another Joe Green that lived about four miles from this Mr. Green and he was known as Reelfoot Joe Green, because of a deformity or peculiarity about his feet.

When I was a small boy my father received his mail at Green’s Grove post office. I remember when my brother and I would go to the post office and ride horseback. I would ride behind my brother on the same horse. We would ride up to the gate and yell “Hello,” and we would see Mr. Green look out at the a window to see who was present and then go get the mail and bring it out to the gate to us. I remember one of the papers we received regularly was the New York Tribune.

This post office was about four or five miles from our home. Many years later this post office was moved to Mr. Reuben Washburn’s store at Washburn’s Cross Roads, and the name was changed to Washburn. This office was discontinued a number of years ago.

White House Joe Green married a Harrill, the daughter of Mr. Amos Harrill, whose wife was a Baxter, one of the members of the noted Baxter family.

Mr. Amos Harrill was postmaster at Oak Springs post office. This office was located on the old Lincoln road about one and one-half miles east of Salem church. I remember going to this post office for mail when Mr. Harrill was living. I only remember seeing him one time. I went to school to two of his children, Sam and Miss Lizzie. I believe Miss Lizzie is living yet. She married a Beam.

Mr. Amos Harrill represented Rutherford county in the General Assembly of North Carolina in 1856 and his son, Dr. John Baxter Harrill, was the representative from Rutherford county in 1885, then Mr. Harrill’s grandson, Gaston Harrill, was a member of the State Senate in 1917, from the 32nd Senatorial district, which included Rutherford county. Then in 1929 another grandson of Amos Harrill. Mr. Amos Beam, of Forest City, was a member of the State Senate from the same district. Mr. Harrill, his son J. B. Harrill and both of his grandsons were elected as Democrats.

Dr. John B. Harrill lived about one mile east of his father’s farm, on the old Lincolnton road. Dr. Harrill was the only doctor in that section of the county at that time. He was considered a good doctor and was a very able man and had a large practice. He did not marry until up near middle age. He married a Mrs. Bridges, a widow woman, and she was a McFarland prior to her first marriage. Dr. Harrill did not live to be a very old man. I can’t recall now just long he has been dead.