Name: Benjamin Morris d. 6/29/1925 age 77

Benjamin operated a Durham grocery while his son peddled. The life of a peddler could be dangerous, and the traveling peddler was often out of touch with his family. In 1901, The Durham Sun reported that Benjamin's son was murdered on Whitetop Mountain in Ashe County. Jewish historian Leonard Rogoff summarizes the newspaper report: "The body was buried on the mountain with $150 in a shoe and a horse was found dragging the wagon." The victim's brother and a [friend] took a railroad and then hiked 60 miles across the mountain to retrieve the body. Climbing a mountain road, they found the young Morris riding toward them totally unaware of his demise. "Grief is turned to joy," the Durham headline proclaimed the following day.