Lawrence Alexander Huneycutt

Ambrose Ervin Huneycutt married Jane Elizabeth Hinson and they had a son named,
...William Eli Huneycutt (my direct ancestor), but they also had another son named Alvin S. Huneycutt aka "Alvie" who married Mary Ellen Stafford and they had a son named,
.........Lawrence Alexander Huneycutt who married Daisy McSwain and they had a son named,
............. Elbert Neal Huneycutt

This story is about Lawrence Alexander Huneycutt. He and his son, Elbert, were killed in a coal mine explosion. But we will get to that momentarily.
Lawrence Alexander Huneycutt was born 1/31/1890 or 1/31/1889 in Stanly County, NC or Iredell County, NC to Alvin Huneycutt "Alvie" (DOB: 11/11/1861 in Stanly County, NC; DOD: 11/22/1907 in Wadesboro, Anson County, NC when his wagon was struck by a train) and Mary Ellen Stafford (DOB: 9/16/1871 in South Carolina; DOD: 12/26/1954 in Stanly County, NC). He is aka Larnce A. Honeycutt, Larnce A. Hunnicut, Launce A. Hunycutt, Lawrence A. Honeycutt, and Lawrence Alex Honeycutt, L.A. Huneycutt, Lawrence A. Hunnicutt

1900 U.S. Census of Tyson,  Stanly County,  North Carolina; Roll:  T623_ 1218; Page:  10A; Enumeration District:  128, Lines 38-45, "Alden Honeycutt" (sic, should be Alvie Huneycutt but Ancestry.com has him indexed as Alden Honeycutt)
Alden Honeycutt, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Sept, 1861, 38 yrs old, Married 12 yrs, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Farmer, rents farm, Can read and write
Mary E. Honeycutt, Wife, W, F, Born Sept, 1871, 28 yrs old, Married 12 yrs, 10 children with 6 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Larnce A. Honeycutt (sic), Son, W, M, Born Jan, 1890, 10 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Farm Laborer
Vance A. Honeycutt, Son, W, M, Born Sept, 1891, 8 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Mannie Honeycutt (sic, should be Minnie Huneycutt), Daughter, W, F, Born Jan, 1893, 7 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Iler P. Honeycutt, Daughter, W, F, Born Dec, 1894, 5 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Olley L. Honeycutt, Daughter, W, F, Born Feb, 1896, 4 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Marshel R. Honeycutt (sic), Son, W, M, Born Dec, 1898, 2 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC

Lawrence A. Huneycutt first married Daisy McSwain (DOB: 4/21/1887 in Stanly County, NC to William A. McSwain and Lucy Lee; DOD: 7/12/1922 in Montgomery County, NC). She is aka Darcey Hunycutt, Daisey Huneycutt, Daisy Honeycutt.

1910 U.S. Census of Winfield Rd., Tyson,  Stanly County,  North Carolina; Roll:  T624_1125; Page:  4A; Enumeration District:  0125; Image:  531; FHL Number:  1375138, Lines 12-18, "Hunley Cuntwill E." (sic, should be Huneycutt, Will E. but because of the way the census taker wrote Huney cutt with a space between the first and second syllables and his messy handwriting)
Cuntwill E. Hunley, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 33 yrs old (DOB 1876), First marriage, Married 12 yrs (DOM 1898), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Farmer of home farm
Lendy Hunley (sic, should be Malinda), Wife, F, W, 33 yrs old (DOB 1876), First marriage, Married 12 yrs, 6 children with 5 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Laborer on home farm
Oscar A. Hunley, Son, M, W, 11 yrs old (DOB 1899), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Laborer on home farm
Allie Hunley, Daughter, F, W, 6 yrs old (DOB 1904), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Dellie Hunley (sic, should be Dallie), Daughter, F, W, 6 yrs old (DOB 1904), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Grover Hunley, Son, M, W, 4 yrs old (DOB 1906), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Emmia Hunley (sic, should be Vernia), Daughter, F, W, 1 yrs 7/12 mos old (DOB 1908), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Bud and Bessy Floyd
Felt J. and Fannie Linger
Harry and Mary Crump
Crett Mary E. Hurrey (sic, should be Mary E. Huneycutt), Head, F, W, 38 yrs old (DOB 1872), Married 19 yrs now Widowed, 10 children with 9 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Farmer on home farm (widow of Alexander McKinley Huneycutt, brother of William Eli Huneycutt)
Nance Hurrey (sic), Son, M, W, 18 yrs old (DOB 1892), Son, M, W, Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Laborer on home farm
Minnie Hurrey, Daughter, F, W, 17 yrs old (DOB 1893), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
I. Loe Hurrey (sic), Daughter, F, W, 15 yrs old (DOB 1895), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Olla Hurrey (sic), Daughter, F, W, 14 yrs old (DOB 1896), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Marshall Hurrey, Son, M, W, 11 yrs old (DOB 1899), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Jenenia Hurrey (sic), Daughter, F, W, 7 yrs old (DOB 1903), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Johnnie Hurrey, Son, M, W, 6 yrs old (DOB 1904), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Leaured Hurrey, Son, M, W, 4 yrs old (DOB 1906), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Launce A. Hunycutt (sic, should be Lawrence A. Huneycutt), Head, M, W, 20 yrs old (DOB 1890), First marriage, Married 1 yr, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Farmer of home farm (son of Alvin and Mary Huneycutt)
Daisey Hunycutt (sic), Wife, F, W, 22 yrs old (DOB 1888), First marriage, Married 1 yr, 1 child with 1 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Lucy Hunycutt, Daughter, F, W, 7/12 mos old (1909), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC


WWI Draft Registration
FHL Roll Number: 1765691, DraftBoard: 0, Handwritten at top #602, No. 21, Lawrence A. Honeycutt, 27 yrs old, DOB: 1/31/1890 in Iredell County, NC
Address: Capelsie, NC
Occupation: Laborer in cotton mill for Capelsie Cotton Mill, Capelsie, Montgomery County, NC
Dependents: Wife and 4 children
Married, Caucasian
"Wife and 4 children to support"
32-1-35-A
Medium Height, Stout Build, Brown Hair, Black Eyes
Signed by Lawrence A. Honeycutt on 6/5/1917 in Troy, Montgomery County, NC


1920 U.S. Census of Troy, Montgomery County, North Carolina; Roll: T625_1311; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 81; Image: 889, Lines 39-44, "Larnce Hunnicut" (sic)
Larnce Hunnicut, Head, Rents home, M(ale), W(hite), 32 yrs old (DOB 1888), Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Laborer in cotton mill
Daisy Hunnicut, Wife, F, W, 33 yrs old (DOB 1887), Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Laborer in cotton mill
Lucy Hunnicut, Daughter, F, W, 10 yrs old (DOB 1910), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Loise Hunnicut, Daughter, F, W, 8 yrs old (DOB 1912), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Elber Hunnicut (sic), Son, M, W, 5 yrs old (DOB 1915), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Ceacil Hunnicut (sic), Son, M, W, 3 yrs 4/12 mos old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC

Lawrence Alexander Huneycutt and Daisy McSwain had 6 children:
1) Lucy Huneycutt (DOB: 1909-1910 in Stanly County, NC)
2) Lois Huneycutt (DOB: 1912 in Stanly County, NC)
3) Elbert Neal Huneycutt (DOB: 1/26/1914 in NC; DOD: 3/28/1931 in Chatham County, NC)
4) Cecil W. Huneycutt (DOB: 1917 in NC)
5) Paul A. Huneycutt (DOB 1920 in NC)
6) Unnamed Boy Huneycutt (DOB: 6/21/1922 in Troy, Montgomery County, NC; DOD: 6/21/1922 in Troy, Montgomery County, NC)

Daisy accidentally fell and the baby died in utero. Unfortunately, she didn't give birth for a few days and by then she had peritonitis and she died 7/12/1922.


NC Death Certificate #142, Registration District #62-5830, Certificate #14, Darcey Hunycutt (sic), DOD: 7/12/1922 in Troy, Montgomery County, NC
Female, White, Married to L.A. Huneycutt, DOB: 4/21/1887 in Stanly County, NC, 34 yrs, 2 mos, 21 days old
Occupation: Domestic
Father: W.A. McSwain, born in Stanly County, NC
Mother: Lucy Lee, born in Anson County, NC
Informant: L.A. Huneycutt, Capelsie, NC
DOD: 7/12/1922 at 7pm
Cause of death: Peritonitis general due to injury during childbirth
Burial: 7/13/1922 at Cottonville, NC



NC Death Certificate #582, Registration District #62-5830, Certificate #7, Unnamed Huneycutt, DOD: 6/21/1922 in Troy, Montgomery County, NC
Male, White, DOB: 6/21/1922 in Montgomery County, NC, "Born dead"
Father: L.A. Huneycutt, born in Idle County, NC (sic)
Mother: Daisy McSwain, born in Stanly County, NC
Informant: L.A. Huneycutt, Cander, NC (sic)
DOD: 6/21/1922
Cause of death: "Born dead. Had been dead in utero for few days"
Contributory Cause: "Mother sustaining a fall"
Burial: Laurel Hill Cemetery, NC on 6/21/1922
No undertaker


Lawrence then married Daisy's sister, Bertha Emaline McSwain (DOB: 9/11/1896 in NC to William A. McSwain and Lucy Lee; DOD: 8/22/1971 in Onslow, Jackson County, NC).

Lawrence and Bertha Huneycutt had 3 known children:
1) Sam L. Huneycutt (DOB: 1923 in NC)
2) L.A. Huneycutt (DOB: 1926 in NC)
3) Frances G. Huneycutt (DOB: 1927 in NC)


1930 U.S. Census of New Hope, Chatham County, North Carolina; Roll: 1681; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 23; Image: 169.0, Lines 40-47, "Lawrence A. Hunnicutt"
Lawrence A. Hunnicutt, Head, Rents home $12/mos, No radio set, M(ale), W(hite), 40 yrs old (DOB 1890), Married at age 19 yrs old, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in SC, Miner at coal mines
Bertha Hunnicutt, Wife, F, W, 38 yrs old (DOB 1892), Married at age 18 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Cecil W. Hunnicutt, Son, M, W, 13 yrs old (DOB 1917), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Paul A. Hunnicutt, Son, M, W, 10 yrs old (DOB 1920), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Sam L. Hunnicutt, Son, M, W, 7 yrs old (DOB 1923), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
L. A. Hunnicutt, Son, M, W, 4 yrs old (DOB 1926), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Frances G. Hunnicutt, Daughter, F, W, 2 yrs old (DOB 1928), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Elma Thomas, Stepdaughter, F, W, 10 yrs old (DOB 1920), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC


Lawrence and Bertha moved to Oakland, Chatham County, NC where he worked in the coal mines. He and his son, Elbert, were killed in a mine explosion. There is a short summary history of the coal mines further down.

NC Death Certificate #176, Registration District #19-2243, Registrar's Certificate #5, Lawrence Alex Huneycutt, DOD: 3/28/1931 in Oakland, Chatham County, NC
Male, White, Married to Bertha Huneycutt, DOB: 1/31/1889 in NC, 40 yrs old
Occupation: Coal mines
Father: Alvin Huneycutt, born in "don't know"
Mother: Mary Stafford, born in "don't know"
Informant: Mrs. L.A. Huneycutt, Route 4, Sanford, NC
DOD: 3/28/1931
Burial: 3/31/1931 at Cottonville
If death was due to external causes (violence) fill in also the following:
Accident, Suicide, Homicide? "Accident", Date of Injury: 3/28/1931
Where did injury occur? "Chatham County, NC"
Specify whether injury occurred in industry, in home, in public place:
"In coal mines"
Manner of injury? "Killed from glass explosion" (sic, his son was killed at the same time and his death certificate says "killed from gas explosion")
Nature of injury? "Body burned"
Was disease or injury in any way related to occupation of deceased? "Yes"
If so, specify? "Was looking after pump in mine "
George Brooks, Coroner, Pittsboro, NC



NC Death Certificate #177, Regisrtation District #92-43, Certificate #6, Elbert Neal Huneycutt, DOD: 3/28/1931 in Oakland, Chatham County, NC
Male, White, Single, DOB: 1/26/1914 (sic) , in Stanly County, NC, 17 yrs old (sic)
Occupation: "Coal mines"
Father: Lawrence N. Huneycutt (sic), born in Stanly County, NC
Mother: Daisy McSwain, born in Stanly County, NC
Informant: Mrs. L.A. Huneycutt, RFD #4, Sanford, NC
DOD: 3/28/1931
Burial: 3/31/1931 in Cottonville
If death was due to external causes (violence) fill in also the following:
Accident, Suicide, Homicide? "Accident", Date of Injury: 3/28/1931
Where did injury occur? "Chatham County, NC"
Specify whether injury occurred in industry, in home, in public place:
"In coal mines"
Manner of injury? "Killed from gas explosion"
Nature of injury? "Body burned"
Was disease or injury in any way related to occupation of deceased? "Yes"
If so, specify? "Was looking after cump in m______ " (illegible, according to his father's death certificate this probably should have read "Was looking after pump in mine".)



The Coal Glen-Farmville Mine Disaster was the worst industrial accident in North Carolina history. Lawrence A. Honeycutt was killed in 1931, 6 years after the 1925 Coal Glen Mine Disaster. But according to the article below, he may have been hired just to watch the pumps that pumped the flood waters out and that pump may have exploded. He may not have been working the coal, per se.

The State Magazine
June 1987 Issue
The Coal Demon
Of Deep River
Tragedy and failure have plagued miners' efforts for 200 years, but men are ready once again to try their luck.
By MICHAEL HETZER
... In 1921 one of the most important events that ever occurred on the Deep River Coal Bed took place. The Carolina Coal Company was formed with the intention of developing a mine near Farmville across the river from the Egypt Mine. The mining town that would arise was to be called Coal Glen. The Carolina Mine is often called the Coal Glen Mine, or the Farmville Mine.
The Carolina Mine was the most ambitious mining operation ever begun on the Deep River Coal Bed. In 1923, its first year of full-scale operation, its output more than doubled the best of the Old Egypt Mine. Once again the future looked bright for a mine on the Deep River - Coal Bed. But the profits never came. In 1925 the demon dealt its most vicious blow ever.
At seven in the morning on May 25, the morning shift, numbering seventy-four miners, descended into the dark of the Carolina Mine. Two and a half hours later the first of three terrific explosions tore through the mine. Its vibrations were felt as far as a mile away. Families and company officials rushed to the mine entrance Poisonous, yellow gas billowed from the mine entrance, making rescue impossible. It took five days to pull all the bodies from the mine. The story made front page news all across the country.
Fifty-three men died that morning.
The Carolina Mine closed four years later.  Ironically, it was not a mine explosion that closed the mine, but water and human carelessness. Rains swelled the Deep River in 1929 and the mine began to flood through an air shaft.  The water was pumped free, but no precautions were taken against subsequent flooding. The mine flooded again in 1930 putting an end to the Carolina Mine, after less than mine years of operation. The flood waters, the prohibitive cost of transportation, the accidents, and the market crash of 1929 had conspired to bankrupt the Carolina Coal Company. Another Deep River mine had closed in failure.
The Carolina Mine was opened again between 1947 and 1951 but failed to turn a profit and was allowed to reflood. It has not been opened since...
Coal Glen Mining Disaster
History of Cumnock Coal Mine
Chatham County, NC


Bertha Emaline McSwain Huneycutt died in Jackson County, NC.
NC Death Certificate #28780, Registration District #6780, Local # , Bertha Emaline Honeycutt, DOD: 8/22/1971 in Onslow Memorial Hospital, Onslow, Jackson County, NC
Female, White, DOB: 9/11/1896 in NC, 74 yrs old
Usual Residence: Church St., Saxapahaw, Alamance County, NC
SS#: 241-09-5130
Occupation: Textile worker in textile mill
Father: William A. McSwain, Mother: Lucy Lee, Informant: Mrs. Crayton Hardin, Saxapahaw, NC
DOD: 8/22/1971 at 12:35pm
Cause of death: Cardio pulmonary due to cerebral infraction and cerebral vascular disease
Burial: 8/24/1971 at Moore's Chapel, Alamance County, NC