In 1824 Rev James Delke moved from Surry County, VA, and settled in Murfreesboro, where he entered upon his great mission of preaching the gospel with great power and success. He was an able and eloquent Baptist divine. No town in the east had abler preachers during this period than Murfreesboro. Rev. Southall, a Methodist, and Rev Delke, the Baptist, turned on the light of true Christianity with wonderful effect. In 1830 Rev. Delke, as a result of one of his protracted meetings at Meherrin Meeting House, baptized one hundred and fifty persons. He was twice married. His first wife, and mother of his children, was widow Susan Bats Kerr nee Holloway, by whom he had and reared one son, James A Delke, and one daughter, Susan.
His second wife was the wealthy widow of James Ward, who died in 1843-- the daughter of James Jones II and sister of the lawyer, James S Jones, and the mother of Ann J. Ward, the wife of Maj. John W Moore, and who was the first graduate at the C. B. F. Institute in July, 1853.
Rev. Delke, after his second marriage, drove around in a fine carriage with his blooded horses, his driver dressed in livery. But this kingly style furnished him by his wealthy wife did not abate his piety or impair his usefulness. He died December 4, 1862. His daughter married Francis Nolley, a tailor in Murfreesboro, and brother of Rev. Geo. W Nolley, a distinguished Methodist divine in the Virginia Conference. Their children were Marcellus Nolley, the soldier and scholarly salesman of Baltimore; Emmett W Nolley, who married Miss Julia Tolar of South Carolina and now an honored citizen of Fayetteville, NC. Their daughter Fannie married a Mr. Oatis of South Carolina and he died a few years ago. Susan their youngest child was a beautiful young lady and married in 1878 Samuel J Pearce, of Chowan County. The author (Winborne) and Miss Nellie H Vaughan, who afterwards became his wife were among the waiters at the wedding, which took place at the residence of the bride in Murfreesboro. It is now the home of David A Day and wife, Ruth R McDowell, the second daughter of Rev A McDowell.

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Children of James Delke and Susan Bats Holloway [Kerr]:
1. Susan J Delke ca 1819 - bef 1893
      married Francis Nolley   dec bef 1870
               a tailor in Murfreesboro, NC
       a. Marcellus James Nolley
                          enlisted in Conf. army in Hertford Co as private 22 May 1861
                          soldier and scholarly salesman of Baltimore
             married Edmonia Sturman

not identified on photo
but is placed next to picture of 
Leonard B Nolley in family photo album

                    sister of Laura and John Foxhall Sturman of "Frogtown," Lynchburg, VA
                         [see Brenda Sturman's site]
              i. Elliott Delke Nolley

 
written on back of picture
"This is my father's youngest sister's eldest child
Edmonia Sturman married Marcelious James Nolley 
of North Carolina"  photowritten on back of picture
"This is my father's youngest sister's eldest child
Edmonia Sturman married Marcelious James Nolley 
of North Carolina"  photos compliments of Brenda Sturman

              ii. Ralph Foxhall Nolley

   
note on back of photo on left 
"This was taken a year ago, I was a little uglier than now. 
Ralph Foxhall Nolley. 18 yrs- 5 mo. 28 days. How is that!" 

              iii. Leonard Bathurst Nolley

              iv.  Admonia Nolley

       b. Emmett W Nolley   Fayetteville, NC
              married Julia Tolar of SC
       c.  Frances [Fannie] Nolley ca 1849 VA -
               married Mr. Oatis
       d. Susan Nolley
             married 1878 Samuel J Pearce of Chowan Co, NC
2. James A Delke 14 Sept 1821 VA - 26 Nov 1893 SC dsp
           listed as educator on 1870 census   associated with Reynoldson 
           and Chowan 1865-80 prof of mathematics, science, belles lettres

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Death of Dr. J. A. Delke   Dr. James A. Delke died at the residence of his nephew, Mr. E. W. Nolley, at Conway, S. C., on Sunday morning, November 26th, at 9:25 o'clock. He had been in feeble health for some time. The remains arrived here Tuesday evening accompanied by Mr. Nolley. Funeral services were held at the Baptist church Wednesday afternoon and talks concerning the life of the deceased were made by Rev. C. W. Scarborough, President J. B. Brewer, Col. J. M. Wynn, Dr. W. G. Freeman, and Mr. G. W. Spencer. The interment was at the Wise burying ground.
Dr. Delke was a brother of the late Mrs. Nolley of this place, and was never married. He was born in Surry county, Va, September 14th 1821 and was therefore in his 73rd year. He graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1841 and was a teacher for more than fifty years. He was professor in the Union University at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for several years, and was principal of the Reynoldson Academy in Gates county for awhile. He moved to this place in 1862 and took charge of a male school. He afterwards accepted a position as professor in the Chowan Baptist Female Institute and held that position until the death of the president, Rev. Dr. A. McDowell in 1881. He left Murfreesboro in 1885 and accepted a position as teacher in the Thomasville Female College and followed that school when it moved to High Point. He held this position until a year or two ago when his health failed him. The title of L. L. D. was conferred upon him a few years ago. He was a consecrated, christian man and had been a member of the Baptist church from early life. He was a ripe scholar and led an upright and useful life. He was greatly admired by every one, and especially by the many men and women who received instruction from him. "Murfreesboro Index", John W. Hicks, ed., Murfreesboro, [Hertford County], N.C.
Friday, December 1, 1893 [Vol. IX, no. 15]

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? ? 3. Fannie Delke ca 1846 -
                listed as school teacher on 1870 Hertford Co census

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   02 November 2009

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