Isaiah Grayson Barbee and Catherine (Kate) Brantley were married in 1828. Two years after their marriage, Isaiah met his untimely death. While returning home from a business trip to Hillsboro with quite a sum of money tucked in his saddle bags and presents for his wife and first-expected baby , three rough looking men suddenly stepped out from the bushes into the roadway with guns drawn. In the meantime his wife, Kate, was waiting at home for his return, but had become uneasy because of the lateness of the hour. Finally she heard hoof—beats and pressed her face against the window . As she saw the riderless horse come running up the steep hill toward the house she fell back in a dead faint. A servant in the house came to her aid and quickly summoned neighbors to come and investigate Isaiah's whereabouts. Retracing the horse's path, the men were not long in finding the severely wounded man lying beside the path. With his last breath he recounted the harrowing experience of the robbery and his friends took his dead body home to his wife.

Kate, as a grieving widow, went to make her home in the house of her father, Dr. William T. Brantley, and awaited the birth of her child. Her fatherless son was born in 1830 and given the name of Isaiah Grayson Barbee, in honor of the child's father and grandfather.

Kate‘s only sister, Mahala Brantley, had married William Minter Burns and this couple became substitute parents to Kate‘s young son, giving him the affectionate name of “IG” which he retained for the rest of his boyhood days. Kate re-married and her seven year old son who had already spent most of his life in the Burn's home, continued to live there. After Kate and her second husband, John Merritt Robinson had four children of their own, there was no longer any doubt that “IG” would remain permanently in the Burns household. The Burns looked upon him as their own.

On November l5, l854, at age 24, I.G. married Martha Jane Burke. They set up housekeeping in Chatham County and on December 12, l855 they welcomed their first born son and promptly named him William Minter Barbee. Their second son, Thomas, was born in 1857, and within the next three years two daughters were added and another son, George.

Just seven years after their marriage I.G. went into Pittsboro, a nearby town, to attend to some business. When he arrived there, he heard bands playing and saw a large gathering of people on the town square. He joined the throng and worked his way forward to find out what the celebration was all about.

A forceful speaker, at the center of the activity, was proclaiming the virtue of patriotism and inviting all those who loved and honored their homeland to come forward and sign their name, signifying their love of country and their willingness to fight to protect their way of life. Young I.G. was so carried away with the bands playing and the people cheering and the elocution of the speaker, that he, without thinking or realizing the full consequences of the action, put his name down on the roster of signers. When he was handed orders to report to an Army Camp in Raleigh within 30 days, the full impact of his deed was forced upon him in a profound way.

As he drove his horse homeward he had plenty of time to reflect upon his recent action. His greatest concern at the moment was how his wife, Martha, would react to what he had done. He decided it was best to get it over with as soon as possible.

When he arrived at home he walked into the house, and with his hat in hannd, he squarely faced his wife and said, "Martha, you will never believe this, but while I was in Pittsboro today I signed up with the Confederate Southern Army, and I will have to leave very soon." It has never been told what Martha replied but she did say that it was the biggest shock of her life.

I.G. served in Company E, 63rd N. C. Calvary Regiment of the Southern Confederate Army as a Supply Sergeant throughout the war. lt was in this line of duty that I.G. paid his first visit to Onslow County - in the year l862. He entered Onslow County from Jones County, driving a wagon, on through what is now Richlands and continued on to Camp Perry - located near the place where Half Moon creek flows into New River. As he travelled he was truly impressed with what he saw in Onslow County — broad, level, fertile fields, no rocks, no red clay — just beautiful crops as far as his eye could see. He knew at that moment that this was where he wanted to live. Little did he realize that he, and his descendants would someday play an important part in the political, cultural and social life of Onslow County.

In the spring of 1862 while engaged in gathering supplies for the Confederate troops, I.G. sent a message to his wife, Martha, in Chatham County, suggesting that she come down to the Camp for a visit and see for herself the lush, green fields of Onslow.

Within a few weeks Martha Burke Barbee arrived by stage for her first visit to the Rich Lands of New River in Onslow County. The Barbees soon made their intentions known, they were planning to come and bring their family as soon as the war was over.

In early spring, 1865, the war was over. I.G., sitting atop his heavy wagon, drove his team of mules back through desolation to the red clay hills of Chatham County.

Everywhere along the way he saw a sad and gloomy picture. Comfortable homes that had once stood along the roads were piles of ashes. Barns and stables were falling down from neglect. Farming tools were rusty from long idleness. Fields were overgrown with weeds. Many times he was forced to find a detour because country roads were often impassable. As he looked at the school—houses falling into ruin he thought of his family waiting at home for his return. His oldest son, William, would soon be 11, and then there was Thomas and George and little Henry — just a babe in Martha's arms. Then he thought of his daughter, Nannie, and little Kate who had lived only 1 month — and he knew he had to see that these children were educated and the family taken care of. I.G. was determined to do that. Martha was a strong-willed woman and would stand by his side.

As I.G. neared his father-in-law‘s home where his family was waiting, he confidently felt that he and Martha would have no financial problems for he had sold his holdings in Chatham County when he enlisted in the Confederate Army, and left-every dollar of that money in the safe hands of Martha's father, William Burke, to hold until he returned home from the war.

However, the pleasure of I.G.'s homecoming was completely shattered when his father-in-law informed him that the confederate money he accepted in payment for his land when he entered the service was now not worth a dime. The money was worthless. I.G. knew he must re-establish a home for his growing family. He knew time was of essence and he must act immediately, so with Martha's encouragement, they began making preparations to come to Onslow County.

In the fall of 1865, I.G. Barbee and his wife, Martha, with their children and all their worldly goods packed in a covered wagon, arrived in Onslow County to make their home. It was rough going for a while, but I.G. was still a young man, in his mid-thirties, and he had no intention of allowing his family to regret leaving the red clay hills of Chatham County. This new venture must be successful.

Before the year l866 had passed, the fifth son, Joseph Charles was added to the family, being the first to be born in Onslow County.

Shortly thereafter, I.G. purchased a farm about 3 miles above Richlands where he built a large two-storied house with two shed rooms on the back and a separate kitchen and dining room connected to the main house by an open porch.

Front view of Isaiah and Martha Jane Barbee's Home, no longer standing, was located on what is now Barbee Road

Side view of Isaiah and Martha Jane Barbee's home

The Barbee’s were blessed with six more children during the next ten years, and it was in these comfortable surroundings that I.G. and Martha raised up their family of 11 children to adulthood. (Nannie had died at age 17 and little Kate had lived for only 1 month.).