Individual Details
Jesse Caldwell FURR
(27 Mar 1861 - 23 Oct 1935)
The Many Wives of Jesse Caldwell Furr
Jesse Caldwell Furr (1861-1935) was successful in farming but not so successful in marriage. He is one of two Furrs who had six wives. He married his first wife, Jane Alice Carter, in 1882 and his last wife, Lula Bell Yow, in 1925. Three of his wives died. He divorced two. One outlived him. This is a true story about his fifth wife, Rosada Sadie McClain (1880-1957). Interestingly, Rosada’s Virginia death certificate lists her as Sadie McClain Furr, widowed. The informant was her son, Murray Basil Furr (1918-2003).
ELOPER LEMMONS LOCATED.
Jim Lemmons Who Stole Wife and Children of Mr. J. C. Furr, Located in Kentucky and Requisition Papers Will be Taken Out to Bring Them Back.
Jim Lemmons, who alienated the affections of the wife of Mr. J. C. Furr of the Pineville section several months ago, and persuaded her to leave her husband, taking with her her two children, has been located in Louisville, Ky., according to a letter received yesterday by Mr. Furr's attorney. The search for the elopers has been going on for several months and their whereabouts was learned only by paying John Jarrell of High Point, a friend of Lemmons, $10. This information was conveyed by him in a letter and immediately the chief of police of Louisville, Ky., was communicated with and the arrest was made. Requisition papers were applied for yesterday and as soon as they are received Sheriff N. W. Wallace will go to Louisville to bring Lemmons to trial for abduction and the baby back to its anxious father.
Readers of the Observer will remember the story of how Lemmons, an old friend of Mrs. Furr before her marriage, went to the farmhouse of Mr. Furr one day, a total stranger to him, and persuaded his wife to follow him. Mrs. Furr was in possession of Mr. Furr s child, and for this reason Lemmons will be indicted for abduction. It is understood he does not want his wife, but a legal course will be taken if necessary for the possession of his child.
Before her marriage to Mr. Furr, Mrs. Furr was a widow working in the mills at Kannapolis. She was 30 years old and said to be rather pretty. Jim Lemmons was giving her his attention but she turned a deaf ear to his matrimonial whispers because of his extreme poverty. All this time Mr. Furr was living alone on his broad acres and in his comfortable farm house near Pineville. His wife had died several years before and he grew lonesome for the lack of a companion. His friends referred him to the pretty widow at Kannapolis. He made a visit and another and another and in a short time they were married. Everything moved smoothly for a while and a child was born. Several months ago slight domestic trouble arose and Mrs. Furr sent for her former suitor, Jim Lemmons. Mr. Furr did not know the stranger that visited his home that day, but noticed a familiarity between him and his wife. They held secret conferences and when Mr. Furr returned from work one day his wife had eloped with Lemmons, taking the child with her. He longed and waited for her return but nothing was heard. Finally one day he came to Charlotte and consulted Mr. John L. Scales, attorney, and offered a reward for their capture. This was widely advertised by Mr. Scales and a letter came from John Jarrell of High Point saying he knew where they were and would give the information for $10. The amount was sent and the reply came saying they were in Louisville, Ky. Communication was opened with the police authorities and arrest was made of the wife and Lemmons. Requisition papers where applied for yesterday and as soon as they arrive Sheriff N. W. Wallace will bring them back.
Mr. Furr is 50 years old and a farmer of means. That his wife should forsake him for such a trifle has caused him much worry and he means to recover his child and punish his rival who coaxed his wife from home.
The Monroe Journal, August 2, 1910
Lemmons Arrested in Louisville.
Requisition papers have been issued on Governor Willson of Kentucky by Governor Kitchin of North Carolina for the return to Charlotte of Jim Lemmons, the cotton mill worker who some weeks ago alienated the affections of the wife of J. C. Furr, a Pineville township farmer, and persuaded the woman to leave this section with him, the couple taking with them the child of Furr. Lemmons has been arrested in Louisville, Ky., and will be brought back to Charlotte as soon as the requisition papers reach Sheriff Wallace, to be tried on the charge of abduction. He was located upon information given the authorities by a High Point man, for which Furr paid $10.
The Fort Mill Times, August 4, 1910
The Furrs May Be Reconciled.
Charlotte Chronicle, Friday.
Mrs. J. C. Furr and two children have gone to the home of her husband below Pineville, where they will remain until the habeas corpus proceedings instituted last week are heard before Judge B. F. Long at the September term of criminal court.
The proceedings for the possession of the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Furr were instituted by Furr, who wants the baby boy. The mother ran away with Jim Lemmons, and being found in Louisville, Ky., was returned to the city with her alleged abductor.
There was much violent talk between the husband and wife before the preliminary hearing before Magistrate C. L. Hunter and Furr instituted suit for absolute divorce from his wife.
From appearances it is believed that Furr and his wife will become reconciled, if this state of affairs has not already been brought about, and that so far as court proceedings are concerned nothing more will be heard of the couple. Jim Lemmons is being held under bond to stand trial next month, for abducting a married woman.
F. C. Furr, the injured and badly put-upon husband, has the noble record of five wives. Three of the five have died, one has been divorced and the last wife is on the ragged edge of being kicked from his comfortable farm home near the South Carolina line.
Fort Mill Times, September 1, 1910
ACTION OF FURR WAS INDIGNATION
Reiterates That He Will Go to Jail Rather Than Give Nickel to Wife.
Jesse C. Furr, father of 20 children by five wives and convicted Saturday of last week on the charge of abandoning the fifth wife and four children, ranging in age one to eleven years, and who fell in a faint of indignation when told by his attorney what the court's sentence was, will either have to serve six months on the Mecklenburg county roads or pay the $200 to support of Mrs. Furr and the four children.
On Tuesday afternoon attorney Jake F. Newell, who appeared for Furr in court, told his client that the judge ruled he would have to donate $200 to the support of his four young children and his fifth wife, he took it as marked ignominy. He was very willing to give $200 for the support of the children, he said, but could not see why he should have to pay anything to his wife, who he proposes to divorce. It appeared to grieve him greatly that his view of the matter was not the one held by the court and he announced to his attorney he intended to go down to the county jail wait on the steps for the sheriff to come and lock him up before he would pay the $200, if any part of it was to go to the mother of the children.
Furr went on away from the court house and apparently was on his way jail to await being locked up when he fell in a faint at the intersection of Poplar and West Third streets. The physician who attended him could find nothing seriously wrong with him and was said to be of the opinion that Furr fainted because of extreme indignation and the emotional strain from that fact.
The Charlotte News, January 13, 1922
Jesse Caldwell Furr (1861-1935) was successful in farming but not so successful in marriage. He is one of two Furrs who had six wives. He married his first wife, Jane Alice Carter, in 1882 and his last wife, Lula Bell Yow, in 1925. Three of his wives died. He divorced two. One outlived him. This is a true story about his fifth wife, Rosada Sadie McClain (1880-1957). Interestingly, Rosada’s Virginia death certificate lists her as Sadie McClain Furr, widowed. The informant was her son, Murray Basil Furr (1918-2003).
ELOPER LEMMONS LOCATED.
Jim Lemmons Who Stole Wife and Children of Mr. J. C. Furr, Located in Kentucky and Requisition Papers Will be Taken Out to Bring Them Back.
Jim Lemmons, who alienated the affections of the wife of Mr. J. C. Furr of the Pineville section several months ago, and persuaded her to leave her husband, taking with her her two children, has been located in Louisville, Ky., according to a letter received yesterday by Mr. Furr's attorney. The search for the elopers has been going on for several months and their whereabouts was learned only by paying John Jarrell of High Point, a friend of Lemmons, $10. This information was conveyed by him in a letter and immediately the chief of police of Louisville, Ky., was communicated with and the arrest was made. Requisition papers were applied for yesterday and as soon as they are received Sheriff N. W. Wallace will go to Louisville to bring Lemmons to trial for abduction and the baby back to its anxious father.
Readers of the Observer will remember the story of how Lemmons, an old friend of Mrs. Furr before her marriage, went to the farmhouse of Mr. Furr one day, a total stranger to him, and persuaded his wife to follow him. Mrs. Furr was in possession of Mr. Furr s child, and for this reason Lemmons will be indicted for abduction. It is understood he does not want his wife, but a legal course will be taken if necessary for the possession of his child.
Before her marriage to Mr. Furr, Mrs. Furr was a widow working in the mills at Kannapolis. She was 30 years old and said to be rather pretty. Jim Lemmons was giving her his attention but she turned a deaf ear to his matrimonial whispers because of his extreme poverty. All this time Mr. Furr was living alone on his broad acres and in his comfortable farm house near Pineville. His wife had died several years before and he grew lonesome for the lack of a companion. His friends referred him to the pretty widow at Kannapolis. He made a visit and another and another and in a short time they were married. Everything moved smoothly for a while and a child was born. Several months ago slight domestic trouble arose and Mrs. Furr sent for her former suitor, Jim Lemmons. Mr. Furr did not know the stranger that visited his home that day, but noticed a familiarity between him and his wife. They held secret conferences and when Mr. Furr returned from work one day his wife had eloped with Lemmons, taking the child with her. He longed and waited for her return but nothing was heard. Finally one day he came to Charlotte and consulted Mr. John L. Scales, attorney, and offered a reward for their capture. This was widely advertised by Mr. Scales and a letter came from John Jarrell of High Point saying he knew where they were and would give the information for $10. The amount was sent and the reply came saying they were in Louisville, Ky. Communication was opened with the police authorities and arrest was made of the wife and Lemmons. Requisition papers where applied for yesterday and as soon as they arrive Sheriff N. W. Wallace will bring them back.
Mr. Furr is 50 years old and a farmer of means. That his wife should forsake him for such a trifle has caused him much worry and he means to recover his child and punish his rival who coaxed his wife from home.
The Monroe Journal, August 2, 1910
Lemmons Arrested in Louisville.
Requisition papers have been issued on Governor Willson of Kentucky by Governor Kitchin of North Carolina for the return to Charlotte of Jim Lemmons, the cotton mill worker who some weeks ago alienated the affections of the wife of J. C. Furr, a Pineville township farmer, and persuaded the woman to leave this section with him, the couple taking with them the child of Furr. Lemmons has been arrested in Louisville, Ky., and will be brought back to Charlotte as soon as the requisition papers reach Sheriff Wallace, to be tried on the charge of abduction. He was located upon information given the authorities by a High Point man, for which Furr paid $10.
The Fort Mill Times, August 4, 1910
The Furrs May Be Reconciled.
Charlotte Chronicle, Friday.
Mrs. J. C. Furr and two children have gone to the home of her husband below Pineville, where they will remain until the habeas corpus proceedings instituted last week are heard before Judge B. F. Long at the September term of criminal court.
The proceedings for the possession of the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Furr were instituted by Furr, who wants the baby boy. The mother ran away with Jim Lemmons, and being found in Louisville, Ky., was returned to the city with her alleged abductor.
There was much violent talk between the husband and wife before the preliminary hearing before Magistrate C. L. Hunter and Furr instituted suit for absolute divorce from his wife.
From appearances it is believed that Furr and his wife will become reconciled, if this state of affairs has not already been brought about, and that so far as court proceedings are concerned nothing more will be heard of the couple. Jim Lemmons is being held under bond to stand trial next month, for abducting a married woman.
F. C. Furr, the injured and badly put-upon husband, has the noble record of five wives. Three of the five have died, one has been divorced and the last wife is on the ragged edge of being kicked from his comfortable farm home near the South Carolina line.
Fort Mill Times, September 1, 1910
ACTION OF FURR WAS INDIGNATION
Reiterates That He Will Go to Jail Rather Than Give Nickel to Wife.
Jesse C. Furr, father of 20 children by five wives and convicted Saturday of last week on the charge of abandoning the fifth wife and four children, ranging in age one to eleven years, and who fell in a faint of indignation when told by his attorney what the court's sentence was, will either have to serve six months on the Mecklenburg county roads or pay the $200 to support of Mrs. Furr and the four children.
On Tuesday afternoon attorney Jake F. Newell, who appeared for Furr in court, told his client that the judge ruled he would have to donate $200 to the support of his four young children and his fifth wife, he took it as marked ignominy. He was very willing to give $200 for the support of the children, he said, but could not see why he should have to pay anything to his wife, who he proposes to divorce. It appeared to grieve him greatly that his view of the matter was not the one held by the court and he announced to his attorney he intended to go down to the county jail wait on the steps for the sheriff to come and lock him up before he would pay the $200, if any part of it was to go to the mother of the children.
Furr went on away from the court house and apparently was on his way jail to await being locked up when he fell in a faint at the intersection of Poplar and West Third streets. The physician who attended him could find nothing seriously wrong with him and was said to be of the opinion that Furr fainted because of extreme indignation and the emotional strain from that fact.
The Charlotte News, January 13, 1922
Events
| Birth | 27 Mar 1861 | Cabarrus County, NC | |||
| Marriage | 1 Oct 1882 | Stanly County, NC - Jane Alice CARTER |  | ||
| Marriage | 6 Nov 1886 | Mecklenburg County, NC - Sara Jane BOWERS | | ||
| Marriage | 1 Dec 1901 | Cabarrus County, NC - Ella LITTLE | | ||
| Marriage | 10 Feb 1908 | Cabarrus County, NC - Lizzie TUCKER | | ||
| Marriage | 22 Mar 1909 | Concord, Cabarrus County, NC - Rosada Sadie MCCLAIN | | ||
| Occupation | 1920 | farmer - Paw Creek, Mecklenburg County, NC | |||
| Marriage | 30 Jan 1925 | Stanly County, NC - Lula Bell "Lou" YOW |  | | |
| Death | 23 Oct 1935 | Cabarrus County, NC | | ||
| Divorce | Lizzie TUCKER | ||||
| Alt name | Morris Jessie FURR | ||||
| Alt name | Jessie C. FURR | ||||
| Burial | Center Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery, Midland, Cabarrus County, NC | |
Families
| Spouse | Jane Alice CARTER (1863 - ) |
| Child | Nora Sephronia FURR (1884 - 1961) |
| Spouse | Sara Jane BOWERS (1870 - 1901) |
| Child | Dorothy Ann "Dothie" FURR (1887 - 1916) |
| Child | Albert Gamwell FURR (1889 - 1972) |
| Child | Clara Retty Belle "Rettie" FURR (1890 - 1957) |
| Child | Oliver Isadore FURR (1892 - 1978) |
| Child | Allison Weaver FURR (1894 - 1965) |
| Child | Frank Allen FURR (1895 - 1944) |
| Child | Edward C. "Ed" FURR (1897 - ) |
| Child | Tillman Lee FURR (1898 - 1978) |
| Child | Luther Cardell FURR (1900 - 1984) |
| Spouse | Ella LITTLE (1880 - ) |
| Child | Henry Lee FURR (1903 - 1986) |
| Spouse | Rosada Sadie MCCLAIN (1880 - 1957) |
| Child | Homer Winslow "Winnie" FURR (1910 - 1989) |
| Child | Marion Webster FURR (1912 - 1987) |
| Child | Bernice Mary FURR (1915 - 1917) |
| Child | Murray Basil FURR (1918 - 2003) |
| Child | Rev. Eugene Benjamin "Gene" FURR (1920 - 2006) |
| Spouse | Lizzie TUCKER (1878 - ) |
| Spouse | Lula Bell "Lou" YOW (1895 - 1964) |
| Father | Allen "Al" FURR (1820 - 1873) |
| Mother | Eva A. FINK (1823 - 1906) |
| Sibling | Mary A. Serena FURR (1842 - ) |
| Sibling | Levina FURR (1844 - 1930) |
| Sibling | Clara FURR (1846 - 1924) |
| Sibling | Hartwill S. C. FURR (1848 - 1929) |
| Sibling | Crissa Ann FURR (1850 - 1938) |
| Sibling | Frederick FURR (1852 - ) |
| Sibling | Sophia FURR (1854 - 1885) |
| Sibling | Wilson Mathias "Tice" FURR (1856 - 1944) |
| Sibling | Simon Hoke FURR (1858 - 1945) |
| Sibling | M. A. FURR (1865 - ) |
Notes
Marriage
No children with Lou Yow.Death
1930 census shows his wife, Sadie, as a widow.Endnotes
1. Helen L. Garner, transcriber, Stanly County North Carolina Marriages, Book I: 1851-1867, Book II: -1904: (Albemarle, NC: Stanly County Genealogical Society, 1987).
2. North Carolina County Marriages, 1762-1979. Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org.
3. North Carolina County Marriages, 1762-1979. Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org.
4. North Carolina County Marriages, 1762-1979. Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org.
5. North Carolina County Marriages, 1762-1979. Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org.
6. North Carolina County Marriages, 1762-1979. Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org.
7. findagrave.com.