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LOFTIN
GENEALOGY
LINE

The
LOFTIN
Family
Tree


Philip
Daniel
Loftin

(1978 - 20??)

Curtis
Dean
Loftin

(1953 - 20??)

Sam
William
Loftin

(1918 - 1979)

Alonzo
Lester
Loftin

(1876 - 1937)

William Alexander
Loftin

(1851 - 1939)

James
Franklin
Loftin

(1827 - 1864)

Thomas
Loftin

(1798 - 185?)

James
Loftin

(1768 - 1836)

John
Loftin

(1740 - 1793)

Cornelius
Loftin III

(1714 - 1785)

Cornelius
Loftin II

(1675 - 1735)

Cornelius
Loftin I

(1648 - 1735)

Leonard
"Laughton"
Loftin

(1610 - 1678)
_______
 

Alonzo & Ida Loftin's
Children Were:

Charlie
Roosevelt
Loftin

(1905 - 1988)

Theodore
Roosevelt
Loftin

(1906 - 1969)

Sadie
Elizabeth
Loftin

(1909 - 2007)

Willie
Thelma
Loftin

(1911 - 1977)

Callie
Elma
Loftin

(1911 - 1992)

Sallie
Allie
Loftin

(1813 - 1986)

Daisy
Pearl
Loftin

(1914 - 1994)

Michael
Whitener
Loftin

(1916 - 1949)

Sam
William
Loftin

(1918 - 1979)

Oscar
Sherrill
Loftin

(1920 - 1986)

Glennie
Frances
Loftin

(1926 - 2015)

_______

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LOFTIN:
 Beatty
 Corzine
 Cranford
 Fisher
 Givens
 Harwell
 Kaiser
 Lanier
 Lomax
 McCorkle
 Rudisill
 Sherrill
 Upright
 Washington
 Work


SETZER:
Aderholdt
Barringer
Bovey
Bushart
Deal
Heavner
Herman
Ikert
Miller
Motz
Rankin
Witherspoon

GOBLE:
Babst/Bobst
Douglas
Faber
Fink
Fulbright
Hefner
Meinhert
Miller
Muller
Pabst/Bobst
Robinson

JOHNSON:
Corzine
Fink
Hamilton
Kaiser
Leslie
Lewis
Moore
Sherrill
Upright
Wilkinson

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sam William Loftin

 

Born: 13 May 1918, Newton, Catawba County, NC
Died:  18 Sep 1979, Statesville, Iredell County, NC

 

 

                           

 

Sam William Loftin was the tenth child, out of fourteen, born to Alonzo Lester Loftin and Ida Lillian Setzer.

 

(Above) Alonzo Lester Loftin
& Ida Lillian Setzer Loftin

Alonzo married Ida after the death of his first wife, Cornelia, from pneumonia.  Cornelia left Alonzo with five children - Nannie, Roy, Lillie, Floye and Verdie Lee. 

Sam was born May 13, 1918.  According to birth records, Sam wasn’t immediately named like most of his brothers and sisters were.  Dr. Fred Long was the Doctor that "delivered" him at the family home.

(Left) Sam at about age 13 - 15

(Thanks to Loretta Huffman Hiatt for this photo of Sam)

 

This Birth Index incorrectly lists (Boy) Loftin's birth date as "5-22-18" instead of "5-13-18"

 
 

The family apparently didn't name Sam immediately.  The "Index To Vital Statistics, Catawba County, NC - Births" shows that his birth was registered on 5-22-18 and his name listed as "Loftin, (Boy)".  Most records concerning Sam have his name listed as "Sam William Loftin", but I (Curtis D. Loftin, Sam's son) seem to remember seeing his name listed as "Samuel" somewhere when I was growing up.  I asked my Mother (Willie Aleen Goble Loftin) about Sam's name and she said she couldn't remember it ever being anything but "Sam".  The only public document that I've found with his name listed as "Samuel" is the 1930 Census.

 
 

Sam’s siblings from Alonzo’s marriage to Ida were Charlie, Theodore (Speedo), Sadie, twins Thelma & Elma, Allie, twins Daisy Pearl & Daniel, Mike, Oscar, Frances and two other infant sons who died at birth.

 
 
 

According to the 1920 Catawba County Census, Alonzo owned and operated a store in the town of Catawba.  Willie Goble Loftin said the store sold fertilizer and livestock feed, as well as eggs and groceries.  Sam's age on the 1920 Census was 1 year and 3 months old.

 

1920 Catawba County Census

 
Last Name First Name Relation Age Occupation Industry
Loftin Alonzo L. Head 44 Store Feed Store
----- Ida Wife 35 None  
----- Charlie R. Son 14 Labor Home Farm
----- Theodore Son 13 Labor Home Farm
----- Sadie E. Daughter 10 None  
----- Thelma W. Daughter 8 None  
----- Callie E. Daughter 8 None  
----- Sallie A. Daughter 7 None  
----- Daisy P. Daughter 5 None  
----- Mick W. Son 3 11/12 None  
----- Sam Son 1 3/12 None  
 
 
 

According to Willie Loftin (Sam's wife), the Loftins owned three stores in Catawba.  Roy Loftin, Sam’s half-brother, owned two, and Alonzo owned the one.   Alonzo's store sold feed & fertilizer, as well as eggs and groceries, and was located about mid-way up South Main Street in Catawba - the current location of the billiards room, next to the Catawba Tavern.

 
 

Sam (below left) with sister, Daisy Pearl
(Thanks to Deanie Herman Hilton for this photo of Sam)

 
 

Sam (center) poses with brother-in-law Dewey Connor (right), Glenn Trimm (left)
 and a wonderful old car

(Thanks to Deanie Herman Hilton for this photo of Sam)

 
                             

With the Great Depression of 1929, that lasted most of the 1930s, Alonzo and his family went through some hardships. When the Depression came, many people couldn't pay Alonzo the money they owed him at the feed and fertilizer store.  He refused to declare bankruptcy, saying "he still owed his creditors, and he would pay them."  He lost most of his wealth as a result.

 
 
 
According to the 1930 Catawba County Census, Alonzo's family was living on the Sherrills Ford Road in Catawba County.  Living with Alonzo and Ida were their children Thelma, Elma, Allie, Daisy Pearl, Make, Sam, Os and Frances. 
 

1930 Catawba County Census

 
Last Name First Name Relation Age Occupation Industry
Loftin Alonzo L. Head 54 Farmer  
----- Ida Wife 45 None  
----- Thelma Daughter 18 Knitter Elliott Knitting
----- Elma Daughter 18 Knitter Elliott Knitting
----- Allie Daughter 17 Knitter Elliott Knitting
----- Daisy Pearl Daughter 15 None  
----- Mike Son 14 None  
----- Samuel Son 11 None  
----- Oscar Son 9 None  
----- Frances Daughter 3 None  
 
 
 

Alonzo died in 1937 when Sam was eighteen years old, leaving Sam on his own.  There were 3 children living in the family home with Alonzo's wife, Ida: Sam and his younger siblings Os and Frances.

 
 
Family stories are always interesting.  According to Willie (Sam's wife), about the time of Alonzo's death, rumor surfaced that Sam and Os had killed Louise Miller and had thrown her body in the old Gold Mine.  Willie, who was seven years younger than Sam (and long before she knew him), was afraid to walk by the Gold Mine with her siblings.  She laughed and said that they were afraid that Sam and Os would kill then throw them in the Gold Mine, too.
 
Willie said that Sam later told her that he and Louise Miller had indeed argued at the Gold Mine and that he had slapped her.  When he did, she fell backward and rolled down the embankment and almost did fall into the Gold Mine but was caught by a small tree growing on the side of the embankment.  Fortunately, he was able to pull her out without her being harmed.
 

Sam William Loftin

 
                             
 
                             

In 1940, at the age of 22,
Sam was involved in the Civilian Conservation Corps.

    

 

The CCC was created in 1933 “for the relief of unemployment through the performance of useful public work, and for other purposes.” One of the most successful New Deal programs of the Great Depression, it existed less than ten years, but left a legacy of strong, handsome roads, bridges, and buildings throughout the United States. 

The 4,000 temporary and permanent camps scattered across the nation were run military-style by the War Department, though the recruits carried picks and shovels rather than rifles. The earliest enrollees wore surplus uniforms from World War I. The CCC boys worked 40 hours a week and had their evenings and weekends free. Each camp had a recreation building, education building and infirmary. The men lived in barracks and ate in a mess hall.



Sam was trained as a cook, and gained the distinction of First Cook, from the School of Bakers & Cooks in Winnsboro, South Carolina.

 

 
    

After his time in the School for Bakers and Cooks, Sam returned home and worked in his brother Speedo’s store.

                             
 

According to Willie, Sam was very good-looking when he was young and very popular with the girls.  Even Willie’s sister, Lib, wanted to date him.

 

 

When asked how she first met Sam, Willie said she had gone to Speedo’s store (just down the road from where the Martin Goble family lived on Alley Rd.) to buy some candy and Sam was working there. Speed's first store was at the intersection of Sherrills Ford, Bandy's Cross Roads & Mathis Chapel Church Rd.   She said, “He gave me a LOT of candy for the money.  He told a neighbor, Ms. Trimm, that he was “gonna date that girl, Willie” … that she was pretty.  Willie always said Sam was the best looking man she had ever met. 

                             
 
 
The  1940 Census reveals some additional information about Alonzo & Ida's family.  Alonzo had died in 1937, but the family continued to live in their home in Catawba County and the home was "Owned" and valued at $500.  Ida's age was 55, Sam was 21, Oscar (Os) was 19, and Frances was 13.
 
The highest level of education completed by Sam was H1 - the 1st year of High School.
 
The 1940 Census also shows employment information for Sam for 1939 and 1940.  In 1939, Sam had worked 26 weeks - earning $351 - indicating that he probably made about $2.70 per day.  The census shows that for the week of March 24 - 30 of 1940, Sam had worked 40 hours as a "Knitter" at a "Hosiery Mill".  This was more than likely Elliott Knitting where Thelma, Elma and Allie had been working (according to the 1930 Census) as "Knitters".
 

1940 Catawba County Census

 
Home
Value
Last Name First Name Relation Sex Age Wd
Md
S
*
Sch
Birth **
Hrs
Wkd
Occup. Industry Wks
Wkd
1939
Wages
for
1939
$500 Loftin Ida S. Head F 55 Wd 7 NC          
  ----- Sam Son M 21 S H1 NC 40 Knitter Hosiery
Mill
26 $351
  ----- Oscar Son M 19 S H1 NC 60 Laborer Saw Mill 28 $252
  ----- Frances Daughter F 13 S 6 NC          
* Highest Grade of School Completed: H1 is 1st year of High School
** The Number of Hours Worked during the week of March 24 - 30, 1940
 
 
 
Sam married Willie Aleen Goble on March 21, 1942.  Sam was 23 and Willie was 16.  Both lied about their age, Sam saying he was 24 and Willie 18.
                             

Sam & Willie's Marriage License

                             
                             

Most of Alonzo & Ida’s children lived in the little two-room house on the corner of E. Bandys Rd and Sherrills Ford Rd when they were first married - including Sam and Willie.  They were very poor when they first got married, but Sam did buy Willie a bedroom suite for the little two-room house.  He built the table for the kitchen, and bought a used wood stove and cabinet for the dishes.

                             

Sam (left) with a friend

 

Like many of the other young men in his day, when WWII broke out, Sam left Willie at his sister Allie’s house and went to enlist.  During his physical exam, however, it was discovered that he had a hernia and he was turned down.

Eventually Sam would buy 40 acres of property on Dexter Path, just off of Shiloh Church Rd. from Fred Gibson’s father.  Sam purchased the property, then cut and sold the timber there to pay for the property.  Sam had started working at Russ Campbell’s sawmill.  He used Russ’ horses to pull the logs that he had cut off of the property.  He also used some of the timber to build a house for him & Willie.

                             

During their marriage, Sam built Willie three new homes - each one a little nicer.  The first was on Dexter Path, just off Shiloh Church Rd, the second on E. Bandys Rd, and the last on Hwy. 10 one mile from the town of Catawba. Sam also originally owned Sugar Farm in the Bandy's High School area (about 35 acres) before selling it to Lloyal Deal.

 

 

Children of Sam William Loftin and Willie Aleen Goble
Name Birth Date Death Date Spouse
William "Billy" Ray Loftin 26 Dec 1943 19 Aug 2005 Mattie Diane Self
Curtis Dean Loftin 8 May 1953   Carolyn Janet Weeks
                             
 
Sam & Willie with Billy Ray in 1944
                             
                             
    
(Left) 2006 Photo of Willie at their first house on Dexter Path, off of Shiloh Church Rd.
(Right) The house on E. Bandys Rd.
                             
 

(Left) The building that was originally built as Sam's beer-joint, then grocery store
(Right) The house Sam built on Hwy. 10 in Catawba, NC, in 1954

 
 
 
Sam & Willie's 1954 Home

 
 
 
During Sam’s life, he was involved in a number of trades.  He worked at…a sawmill…and trained as a cook.
Sam owned and ran ...

                              ...a beer-joint
                              …a grocery store 
                              ...a café  & restaurant
                              ...a jewelry store
                              ...a dry cleaners 
                              ...a tire-recapping business 
                              ...a clothing store.
                             
Sam owned a beer joint at the same time as Speedo and Mike.  He even sold boot-leg whiskey for his brother, Mike, from the 2-room house and also at the beer joint.  For a season Sam had slot-machines in the beer joint that belonged to Boots Cabin who had the local authorities in his back pocket.  Eventually Sam got his own slot-machines, and when Boots would leave Sam’s beer joint with his earnings, Sam would put away Boots’ machines and put out his own. 
                             
Sam felt “the call” and was a preacher for several years.  After attending Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Henderson, NC, Sam preached in several small churches, but mainly in homes in the mid-1950s.  Average attendance was around 30 – 40.
 
 

Ministry Certificates and Revival Flyer

   
Deacon Certificate Ministry License Revival Flyer
                             
I remember having meetings in our home on Hwy 10 in Catawba when I was a very small child (3 to 5 years-old).  Sam even built some slatted benches that were moved into the family den to accommodate the crowd when there were home meetings.
 
Sam also preached in the homes of some of the families associated with Mathis Chapel - including Fred & Emma Mathis (for whom the church was named), Martin & Zanie Abernathy, as well as Floyd & Dorothy Kirksey.
 
 

Sam, Willie & Billy Ray at Mathis Chapel Baptist Church

 
 
                             
 

(Back Row, Left to Right)
Bob Wilson, William Guins, T. A. Potter, Vic Kirksey

(Front Row, Left to Right)
Sam Loftin & Floyd Kirksey


Rev. Tommy Taylor encouraged Sam with his preaching, but there were those at Mathis Chapel who became jealous of the crowd that Sam was having at his meetings, and he was asked to stop his preaching in homes.  So he did.
                             

Sam & Willie with other charter members of Mathis Chapel Baptist Church in 1953

Willie (middle left) holding Curtis with Billy Ray in front of them.
Sam (standing center, 3rd from left) beside of Pastor Tommy Taylor.


 

Others in the photo include (Left to Right)
(Last Row) Unknown Man, Unknown Woman, Ken & Edna Guins Warren, Unknown Man
(3rd Row) Kenneth Sigmon holding Darris, Etta Wilson, Sam Loftin, Tommy Taylor, Bob Wilson, Unknowns
(2nd Row) Willie holding Curtis, Viola Kirksey, Helen & Floyd & Harry Sigmon, Vic Kirksey, Zannie Abernathy
(Front Row) Billy Ray Loftin, Ray Sigmon, William Guins, Marie (Unknown), Martin Abernathy

 
 
 

(Left) Sam
(Right) Martin Goble, Sam Loftin holding Curtis, and Fred Isenhour,
all celebrate May birthdays, when Martin & Nessi Goble lived in the
old Lowrance House on Lowrance Rd. in Catawba.

  
                             
Sam eventually built a block building beside of his home on Hwy. 10 and established Loftin’s Tire Service in the building.  Ralph Dwiggins, who ran a local used-car lot, was a silent partner.
                             

                             
                             
Sam sold new and re-capped tires.  He’d take the tires off of the cars, use the grinder to grind off the surface of the tire, spray adhesive glue on the surface, and apply some new rubber from a large roll.  The tires would be placed in a mold and baked for a period of time and eventually a “practically new” tire was produced.
                             
Sam stayed in this business for a long period of time, but as he got older he looked for an easier line of work.  He purchased 10 acres on Hot Rot Rd, about a mile from his home on Hwy. 10 with plans to build a rest home for the elderly.  He had a well bored, building blueprints drawn up, basement dug, and foundation laid.  He and Willie had begun purchasing supplies they planned to use in the rest home, when he discovered the property had an unknown second mortgage.  Sam paid off the second mortgage, but became discouraged about the entire building process.  Eventually the foundation was pushed into the basement, and he used the property to raise cattle, pigs, horses and ponies.
                             
Sam eventually converted the Loftin’s Tire Service building into a clothing outlet.  He built tables and purchased supplies to make the business successful.  He sold men & boys’ suits, women’s dresses, blouses, skirts, shoes and many other clothing items.
                             
Sam loved campmeeting.  His family had roots at the Balls Creek Campground.  Because of the size of Alonzo’s family, they actually had to have two tents for the entire family.  The original family tents were located at 69 & 70, the same tent used later by Sam’s sister, Frances Cook & her husband, Alvin.
                             
Sam & Willie built a tent on the side of the campground close to the "Shack" when they were first married but eventually sold it.  In the 1960s, Sam built a tent for his family on the last row - tent number 298.  His brother, Os, built the tent next door, 297. 
                             

1966 photo of Sam's tent; Martin Goble (left) with (front row)
Beverly & Billy Loftin and (back row) Terry Lee & Frankie Edwards

 
2006 photo of the tent Sam built in the mid-1960s
 
 

1966: Sam and Willie with their oldest grandchildren, Beverly and Billy Loftin

 
 
Sam and Willie celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a surprise party sponsored by their children.
 

                             
 

(Left) Sam & Willie cut their 25th Anniversary cake while Billy Ray & Curtis watch

  

(Right) Sam & Willie with just a few of the Loftin Family that attended,
(left to right) Ruel & Daisy Peal Herman, Dewey & Thelma Lanier
and grandchildren Billy & Beverly Loftin, Willie, Sam & Curtis

                             
                             
 

(Left) Sam with Martin Goble, March 1967
(Right) Sam & Willie in October 1969

 
 

Sam & Willie with their son Billy Ray, his wife Diane and their four children - January 1971

(Children left to right) Billy, Crystal, Eric and Beverly

 
 
 

1971 - Sam & Willie with their children and grandchildren at Mathis Chapel Baptist Church

 
 

Sam & Willie, Spring 1971

 
 

Sam's Signature

 
 
 
                             
During the later part of his life, Sam was frequently ill.  Willie quit her job at Betterware Hosiery to stay home with him and even learned to drive when she was in her 50s in order to drive him to the Doctor and hospital.  Sam suffered from emphysema as a result of many years of smoking cigarettes, and had urinary bladder cancer in 1977. 

Sam died on September 18, 1979.   Cause of death was listed as “cardio respiratory failure” - a term which is used to describe the cause of death when no specific cause is known.
 
 
 

Sam's Death Certificate

 
 
 

Sam's Obituaries

  
 
 

Sam is buried at Mathis Chapel Baptist Church in Catawba County, NC.

 
 
 
 
 

Willie adds flowers to Sam's grave in March 2013

Willie's age at the time was 87

 
 
Sam's wife, Willie Aleen Goble Loftin, passed away on 06 Feb 2018 in Lincolnton, NC. She was buried in the cemetery at Mathis Chapel Baptist Church in Catawba, NC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

TIMELINE

Sam William Loftin - (1918 - 1979)

Date Age Event Place Source Notes
1918 0 BIRTH Catawba, NC Index to Cat.Co. Vital Statistics - Births 13 May 1918 - Born at home - Dr. Fred Long
1920 1 Residence Catawba, NC 1920 Census 1920 Census (14 Jan 1920)
1930 11 Residence Catawba, NC 1930 Census 1930 Census (21 Apr 1930)
Name listed as "Samuel"
1937 17 Death
Father
Charlotte, NC 1937 Death Certificate 04 Feb 1937 - Alonzo Lester Loftin died at the age of 61
1939 20 Occupation
Hosiery
Catawba, NC 1940 Census Hosiery Mill; worked 26 weeks in 1939 earning $350
1940 21 Residence Catawba, NC 1940 Census 1940 Census (Apr 1940); living with Ida, Os & Frances
1940 22 Occupation
Cook
Winnsboro, SC CCC Certificate Civilian Conservation Corps; School of Bakers & Cooks; Certificate of Proficiency;
29 Nov 1940
1942 23 Marriage York, SC Marriage License 21 Mar 1942; Married Willie Aleen Goble
1943 25 Birth: Son Catawba, NC Headstone 26 Dec 1943; Son, William Ray Loftin
1944 25 1st Home Catawba, NC Word of Mouth
Willie G. Loftin
Dexter Path on Shiloh Church Rd, Catawba
1948 30 2nd Home Catawba, NC Word of Mouth
Willie G. Loftin
E. Bandys Road, Catawba, NC
House & Beer Joint
1948 30 Miscarriage Catawba, NC Word of Mouth
Willie G. Loftin
Sam's wife Willie miscarried while pushing a car in the snow
1953 34 Birth: Son Newton, NC Birth Certificate Curtis Dean Loftin
1954 36 3rd Home Catawba, NC Word of Mouth
Willie G. Loftin
Rt. 1, Box 11, Catawba, NC; Eventually
became 5151 E. NC 10 Hwy, Catawba, NC
1955 36 Church Deacon Catawba, NC License 13 Mar 1955; Deacon at Mathis Chapel Baptist Church; Pastor Tommy Taylor
1955 37 Occupation
Minister
Catawba, NC License 02 Jul 1955; Licensed through Mathis Chapel Baptist Church; Tommy Taylor
1963 45 Occupation
Tire Repair
Catawba, NC Word of Mouth
Willie G. Loftin
Loftin Tire Service; Repair, Recapped & New Tires
1963 45 Built Tent Catawba, NC Family History Sam built Tent # 298 for the family
at Balls Creek Campground
1967 49 25th Anniversary Catawba, NC Newspaper 25th Anniversary Celebration at their home in Catawba; 55 family & friend guests
1970 51 Occupation
Clothier
Catawba, NC Family History Loftin's Clothing Outlet in the tire building as Sam began to get older
1977 59 Illness   Family History Bladder Cancer
1979 61 Death Davis Hospital
Statesville, NC
Death Certificate 18 Sep 1979; no specific cause
           
           
           
           
           
 
 
 
 
SOURCES
 

A special thanks to Willie Goble Loftin, Brenda Isenhour Schronce, Loretta Huffman Hiatt and Deanie Herman Hilton
for the photos of Sam.

 
 
 
 
 
 
                             
If you have additional information or photos of Sam Loftin or his family please contact Curtis D. Loftin