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Ida Lillian
Setzer |
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Born: 25 Apr 1884, Catawba County, NC Died:
25 Dec 1964, Catawba County, NC |
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Ida Lillian
Setzer was the sixth child born of
Patrick Sylvanus Setzer
and Margaret Ann Elizabeth Witherspoon. Ida and her twin
brother Ivy Lee were born 25 Apr 1884 when Margaret was 38 and
Patrick was 40. Ivy only lived nine months and died 02 Feb
1885.
Below is a list of all of the children born to Patrick and
Margaret.
Ida’s parents
and siblings resided in Claremont, NC and attended Bethlehem
Methodist Church. Patrick & Margaret, as well as many of Ida’s
siblings, are buried in the church cemetery.
(Right) Ida as a teen-aged
girl
(Below) Chart listing the children of Patrick Sylvanus Setzer
and Margaret Ann Elizabeth Witherspoon |
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| Name |
Birth |
Death |
Spouse |
| Jacob Eli Setzer |
29 Dec 1872 |
11 Feb 1957 |
Minnie Elizabeth Connor |
| Miles Ernest Setzer |
28 May 1874 |
18 Feb 1939 |
Effie Mae Lowrance |
| Jones Garland Setzer |
23 May 1877 |
22 Jul 1889 |
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| John Marion Setzer |
08 May 1879 |
27 Apr 1946 |
Emma Leola Lowarnce |
| Sallie Ann Mae Setzer |
25 Apr 1882 |
19 Oct 1960 |
Ransom Edgar Little |
| Ida Lillian Setzer |
25 Apr 1884 |
25 Dec 1964 |
Alonzo Lester Loftin |
| Ivey Lee Setzer |
25 Apr 1884 |
02 Feb 1885 |
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| Elizabeth Pearl Setzer |
20 Apr 1887 |
12 Nov 1960 |
Emanuel Iravus Sigmon |
| Daisy McNeill Setzer |
15 Jun 1889 |
06 Nov 1985 |
Leslie Burette Sigmon |
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Two of Ida’s
brothers, Miles and John, married the sisters of
Alonzo Loftin’s first
wife Cornelia. |
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After the death
of Alonzo's first wife Cornelia, some in the Setzer family
started thinking of Ida as a possible match for him.
According to Peggy Loftin Brotherton, Alonzo first met Ida at
the Balls Creek Campground. She was wearing a blue-tiered
shiffon dress and when he saw her he said, “There goes the woman
I’m gonna marry.” Alonzo got up and pursued her. Alonzo and
Ida were married just a few months later in November 1904. He
was 28 years old and she was 20.
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The marriage was a big change for Ida. When she married
Alonzo, she became the step-mother to his 5 children: Nannie,
Lillie, Roy, Floye and Verdie Lee. All but Verdie Lee had
been living at an orphanage. |
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Within a year Alonzo and Ida
had started a family of their own and soon started to bring the
other children home from the orphanage. |
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Their first
child Charlie Roosevelt Loftin was born 22 Oct 1905.
Alonzo was a
staunch Republican and a fan of Theodore Roosevelt, so when his
second son was born, Alonzo and Ida named him Theodore Roosevelt
Loftin. Both Charlie and Theodore had Roosevelt as their
middle name. Theodore was called
“Speedo”.
In 1908, another
infant son was born to Alonzo and Ida but he didn’t live.
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Theodore Roosevelt
Loftin |
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(Left
to Right) Speedo, Allie, Charlie and Sadie Loftin |
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Children of Alonzo Lester Loftin and Ida Lillian Setzer |
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Ida had her picture taken each year at the Balls Creek
Campground and gave one to a different child each year.
Many of the photos we have today are as a result of Ida and her
children having these campground photos made. |
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While Alonzo was tending the stores he owned and operated in the
town of Catawba, NC, Ida was taking care of the children and the
farm. |
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With the Great Depression of 1929, that lasted most of the
1930s, Alonzo and Ida went through many 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 as many others had done and lost most of his
wealth as a result.
Alonzo and Ida owned a lot of property in the area of the
family home on Sherrills Foard Rd. and E. Bandys Rd. Alonzo
owned and operated Loftin’s Fish Lakes and the family would have
big “get-togethers” there. During the depression, Alonzo lost
the property to Kannie (Candes) Witherspoon Shufford.
Ida sold property she had inherited from her father Patrick
Sylvanus Setzer in Claremont in order to keep the family home on
Sherrills Ford Rd. All the kids and their spouses had to "sign"
the deed in order for her to do this, since Patrick had willed
the Claremont property to Ida and her children. |
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Ida spent most of her life taking care of the home and raising
children, but she did work for a short period of time at
Elliotts Knitting (which eventually became Betterware Hosiery)
in Catawba. In 1930, daughters Thelma, Elma and Allie were all
working at Elliotts. Frances Loftin Cook said she even worked
there when she was a Junior at Balls Creek High School. Family
was concerned that Frances wouldn’t go back to finish her
schooling, but she did and was the first of the Loftin children
to graduate from high school. Frances said that Ida also had
a cotton patch for one year. Since Frances didn’t like working
in the field, she occasionally cooked for Sam’s wife, Willie,
who would take her turn in the cotton field. |
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Ashamed at
having lost his money, business and most of his property in
Catawba County, Alonzo opened a new store in the Charlotte area. Because of the
distance from Charlotte to Catawba County, he rarely came home.
Frances said either Charlie or Speedo would drive Ida and her to
Charlotte in an old T-Model on weekends to visit him. |
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Alonzo died the
day before his 61st birthday on 04 Feb 1937. At the time of his death, Ida was
52, Charlie 31, Speedo 30, Sadie 27, Thelma & Elma 25, Allie
23, Daisy Pearl 22, Mike 20, Sam 18, Os 16 and Frances 10. |
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4
Generations: (Left to Right)
Ida with daughter Sadie Lee, and grand-daughter Joyce Murray
Setzer holding Paulette Setzer |
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Additional campground photos of Ida over the years |
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Ida with daughter-in-law, Edna - Charlie Loftin's wife |
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Each year the family would have a birthday dinner for Ida.
With 19 children, their spouses and their children - as well as
Ida's siblings and their families - the Loftin house was too
small for such an event. Fortunately it was spring so the
birthday dinner could be held outdoors.
Willie Loftin said, "Ida always wanted Sam to set the tables
up."
After Ida's death, Peggy Loftin Brotherton continued Ida's
birthday celebration and it became the Loftin Reunion.
Originally the reunion was held at the Balls Creek Campground,
but it has also been held at Center Methodist Church - the
Loftin Family home church. The Loftin Reunion is currently
held on the 3rd Sunday in May of each year at 1st Methodist
Church in Catawba.
(Left) Ida with some
of her family members - sister Daisy Sigmon (left), grandson
Davis Loftin (in front of Ida), niece Nannie Sigmon (right of
Ida), and sister Lizzie Sigmon (lady with flowered-dress) |
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Ida, Center Left. On the right side of the table are Marie
(leaning in) & Theodore "Speedo" Loftin, John Henry "Jeek" &
Elma Huffman, and Willie Goble Loftin (Sam's wife). |
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Birthday Dinner Group Photo - Ida with "most" of the Children
(Left to Right) Sadie Loftin Murray Lee, Frances Loftin Cook,
Verdie Lee Boggs,
Allie Loftin Lee, Ida, Os Loftin, Nannie Loftin Martin, Mike
Loftin,
Thelma Loftin Connor Lanier and Elma Huffman |
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Ida with "most" of the kids at another birthday dinner
(Left to Right) Elma Loftin Huffman, "Speedo" Loftin, Charlie
Loftin, Thelma Loftin Connor Lanier, Frances Loftin Cook, Roy
Loftin, Ida, Sadie Loftin Murray Lee, Verdie Lee Loftin
Boggs, Lillie Loftin, Mike Loftin and Nannie Loftin Martin |
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(Left) Ida in front of the Loftin family home
(Right) Ida in 1953
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Frances Loftin Cook (daughter of Ida & Alonzo) said that her
mother was a good cook and that she especially loved her
mother's vegetable soup. |
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Peggy Loftin Brotherton (daughter of Theodore Roosevelt Loftin)
and Lois Loftin Mundy (niece of Alonzo and daughter of Arthur
Lee Loftin) both talked about what a good cook Ida was, too.
Lois said that she especially loved to eat fish at her Aunt
Ida's house. Peggy said that Ida would fry the fish in
fatback grease from the hogs they killed - and that was what
gave them their wonderful flavor. |
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Ida would spend time with the children and grandchildren.
Elaine Lee Martin remembers her grandmother Ida would come and
spend a few days with them when her father, Glenn, was killing a
hog. Frances Loftin Cook said that Ida would even ride the
school bus with her in order to get over to Glenn and Allie’s
house during this time.
Many of Alonzo and Ida’s children smoked cigarettes.
Ida did not smoke but she
did dip snuff. |
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Ida suffered from diabetes and lived with her daughter, Frances,
during the later years of her life. |
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Ida died on Christmas day 25 Dec 1964. Alonzo and Ida are
buried at Center Methodist Church in Catawba County, NC. |
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(Above) Headstone for Alonzo & Ida
(Below) Ida's Footstone |
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(Left) Alonzo & Ida's headstone
(Center) Alonzo & Ida's footstones as well as those of the sons
who died prematurely |
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If you have additional photos or information about Ida Setzer
Loftin please
contact me. |
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A special thanks to Frances Loftin Cook, Willie
Loftin Goble and Louise Loftin Potter for the photos of Ida and
her family. |
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