Lillias Margaret McDaniel was born about 1838 in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC, the 2nd of 5 known surviving children (all daughters) born to Baptist minister, Rev. James McDaniel DD and his (1st) wife, Ann Eliza Smith.
She was the paternal grandchild of William Gray McDaniel Sr. & Dicey Reeves of Cumberland Co; and gr-grandchild James McDaniel Jr. & Agnes Gray of Craven, and later Bladen Co, NC. She is a direct descendant of this family's patriarch, Daniel McDaniell (c. 1690-1734) who left Glengarry, Scotland ca. 1716 for the Virginia Colonies, later settling in Bertie County, NC where he married Sarah Brown/Browne. Lillias' father had a younger brother, William Gray McDaniel, Jr. who married Thamar Andrews, and this branch of the McDaniel family changed the name to McDonald for unknown reasons.
Rev. James McDaniel was a well-known Baptist elder and preacher in the Fayetteville area, and was founder and pastor of the Baptist Church at Cross Creek for more than 25 years. Lillias and her sister, Sophia, were both well educated and were teachers by their early 20's. In 1855, their mother died and their father would remarry to Mary Trowbridge, who died in 1869, just 5 months before the Rev. James McDaniel passed in December 1869.
Lillias was 28-years old on October 11, 1865 when she became the (2nd) wife of prominent railroad businessman, William Worrell Vass, who was 44 at the nuptials. They would become parents to 3 known children: William Worrell Vass Jr. (1874-1941), Eleanor Margaret Vass (1875-1971), and Lilla May Vass (1885-1953).
The Vass' lived in Raleigh where her husband was devoted to his work with the railroad, and they both participated actively in the social and religious life of the city.
Sixteen years into their marriage, the couple built a substantial 2nd Empire Victorian home at 3 Edenton Street, near Capital Square, that was a showpiece in its time and for nearly 90 years after. The massive home remained in the family until 1971, passing down through their daughter Eleanor. Unmarried and and 96 years year old in 1971, Eleanor sold the property to the State of NC, who tore it down to make way for NC State History Museum. Ironically, on the very day that the bulldozer showed up to demolish the house, Eleanor Vass, died.
Lillias died on September 1, 1895 at age 57. Her husband of almost 29 survived her a little over a year, passing on December 6, 1896 at just 2 months shy of his 75th birthday.
As for her children, eldest son William Worrell Vass Jr. married Annie Gales Smede Root, granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Albert Smedes, clergyman and founder of St. Mary's School in Raleigh. No children were known to be born to this marriage. As already mentioned, daughter Eleanor never married and lived to nearly 100. Youngest daughter Lila May Vass married Raleigh attorney, Sylvester Brown Shepherd Sr., and had 4 children.
Of interest, Lillias' sister, Sophia McDaniel married noted naturalist, geologist, and author, Henry E. Colton (1836-1892) who had moved to Fayetteville NC as a child with his father, the Presbyterian minister, Rev. Simeon Colter. Their marriage was childless and they are believed buried in Knoxville, TN.
She was the paternal grandchild of William Gray McDaniel Sr. & Dicey Reeves of Cumberland Co; and gr-grandchild James McDaniel Jr. & Agnes Gray of Craven, and later Bladen Co, NC. She is a direct descendant of this family's patriarch, Daniel McDaniell (c. 1690-1734) who left Glengarry, Scotland ca. 1716 for the Virginia Colonies, later settling in Bertie County, NC where he married Sarah Brown/Browne. Lillias' father had a younger brother, William Gray McDaniel, Jr. who married Thamar Andrews, and this branch of the McDaniel family changed the name to McDonald for unknown reasons.
Rev. James McDaniel was a well-known Baptist elder and preacher in the Fayetteville area, and was founder and pastor of the Baptist Church at Cross Creek for more than 25 years. Lillias and her sister, Sophia, were both well educated and were teachers by their early 20's. In 1855, their mother died and their father would remarry to Mary Trowbridge, who died in 1869, just 5 months before the Rev. James McDaniel passed in December 1869.
Lillias was 28-years old on October 11, 1865 when she became the (2nd) wife of prominent railroad businessman, William Worrell Vass, who was 44 at the nuptials. They would become parents to 3 known children: William Worrell Vass Jr. (1874-1941), Eleanor Margaret Vass (1875-1971), and Lilla May Vass (1885-1953).
The Vass' lived in Raleigh where her husband was devoted to his work with the railroad, and they both participated actively in the social and religious life of the city.
Sixteen years into their marriage, the couple built a substantial 2nd Empire Victorian home at 3 Edenton Street, near Capital Square, that was a showpiece in its time and for nearly 90 years after. The massive home remained in the family until 1971, passing down through their daughter Eleanor. Unmarried and and 96 years year old in 1971, Eleanor sold the property to the State of NC, who tore it down to make way for NC State History Museum. Ironically, on the very day that the bulldozer showed up to demolish the house, Eleanor Vass, died.
Lillias died on September 1, 1895 at age 57. Her husband of almost 29 survived her a little over a year, passing on December 6, 1896 at just 2 months shy of his 75th birthday.
As for her children, eldest son William Worrell Vass Jr. married Annie Gales Smede Root, granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Albert Smedes, clergyman and founder of St. Mary's School in Raleigh. No children were known to be born to this marriage. As already mentioned, daughter Eleanor never married and lived to nearly 100. Youngest daughter Lila May Vass married Raleigh attorney, Sylvester Brown Shepherd Sr., and had 4 children.
Of interest, Lillias' sister, Sophia McDaniel married noted naturalist, geologist, and author, Henry E. Colton (1836-1892) who had moved to Fayetteville NC as a child with his father, the Presbyterian minister, Rev. Simeon Colter. Their marriage was childless and they are believed buried in Knoxville, TN.
Lillias Margaret McDaniel was born about 1838 in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC, the 2nd of 5 known surviving children (all daughters) born to Baptist minister, Rev. James McDaniel DD and his (1st) wife, Ann Eliza Smith.
She was the paternal grandchild of William Gray McDaniel Sr. & Dicey Reeves of Cumberland Co; and gr-grandchild James McDaniel Jr. & Agnes Gray of Craven, and later Bladen Co, NC. She is a direct descendant of this family's patriarch, Daniel McDaniell (c. 1690-1734) who left Glengarry, Scotland ca. 1716 for the Virginia Colonies, later settling in Bertie County, NC where he married Sarah Brown/Browne. Lillias' father had a younger brother, William Gray McDaniel, Jr. who married Thamar Andrews, and this branch of the McDaniel family changed the name to McDonald for unknown reasons.
Rev. James McDaniel was a well-known Baptist elder and preacher in the Fayetteville area, and was founder and pastor of the Baptist Church at Cross Creek for more than 25 years. Lillias and her sister, Sophia, were both well educated and were teachers by their early 20's. In 1855, their mother died and their father would remarry to Mary Trowbridge, who died in 1869, just 5 months before the Rev. James McDaniel passed in December 1869.
Lillias was 28-years old on October 11, 1865 when she became the (2nd) wife of prominent railroad businessman, William Worrell Vass, who was 44 at the nuptials. They would become parents to 3 known children: William Worrell Vass Jr. (1874-1941), Eleanor Margaret Vass (1875-1971), and Lilla May Vass (1885-1953).
The Vass' lived in Raleigh where her husband was devoted to his work with the railroad, and they both participated actively in the social and religious life of the city.
Sixteen years into their marriage, the couple built a substantial 2nd Empire Victorian home at 3 Edenton Street, near Capital Square, that was a showpiece in its time and for nearly 90 years after. The massive home remained in the family until 1971, passing down through their daughter Eleanor. Unmarried and and 96 years year old in 1971, Eleanor sold the property to the State of NC, who tore it down to make way for NC State History Museum. Ironically, on the very day that the bulldozer showed up to demolish the house, Eleanor Vass, died.
Lillias died on September 1, 1895 at age 57. Her husband of almost 29 survived her a little over a year, passing on December 6, 1896 at just 2 months shy of his 75th birthday.
As for her children, eldest son William Worrell Vass Jr. married Annie Gales Smede Root, granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Albert Smedes, clergyman and founder of St. Mary's School in Raleigh. No children were known to be born to this marriage. As already mentioned, daughter Eleanor never married and lived to nearly 100. Youngest daughter Lila May Vass married Raleigh attorney, Sylvester Brown Shepherd Sr., and had 4 children.
Of interest, Lillias' sister, Sophia McDaniel married noted naturalist, geologist, and author, Henry E. Colton (1836-1892) who had moved to Fayetteville NC as a child with his father, the Presbyterian minister, Rev. Simeon Colter. Their marriage was childless and they are believed buried in Knoxville, TN.
She was the paternal grandchild of William Gray McDaniel Sr. & Dicey Reeves of Cumberland Co; and gr-grandchild James McDaniel Jr. & Agnes Gray of Craven, and later Bladen Co, NC. She is a direct descendant of this family's patriarch, Daniel McDaniell (c. 1690-1734) who left Glengarry, Scotland ca. 1716 for the Virginia Colonies, later settling in Bertie County, NC where he married Sarah Brown/Browne. Lillias' father had a younger brother, William Gray McDaniel, Jr. who married Thamar Andrews, and this branch of the McDaniel family changed the name to McDonald for unknown reasons.
Rev. James McDaniel was a well-known Baptist elder and preacher in the Fayetteville area, and was founder and pastor of the Baptist Church at Cross Creek for more than 25 years. Lillias and her sister, Sophia, were both well educated and were teachers by their early 20's. In 1855, their mother died and their father would remarry to Mary Trowbridge, who died in 1869, just 5 months before the Rev. James McDaniel passed in December 1869.
Lillias was 28-years old on October 11, 1865 when she became the (2nd) wife of prominent railroad businessman, William Worrell Vass, who was 44 at the nuptials. They would become parents to 3 known children: William Worrell Vass Jr. (1874-1941), Eleanor Margaret Vass (1875-1971), and Lilla May Vass (1885-1953).
The Vass' lived in Raleigh where her husband was devoted to his work with the railroad, and they both participated actively in the social and religious life of the city.
Sixteen years into their marriage, the couple built a substantial 2nd Empire Victorian home at 3 Edenton Street, near Capital Square, that was a showpiece in its time and for nearly 90 years after. The massive home remained in the family until 1971, passing down through their daughter Eleanor. Unmarried and and 96 years year old in 1971, Eleanor sold the property to the State of NC, who tore it down to make way for NC State History Museum. Ironically, on the very day that the bulldozer showed up to demolish the house, Eleanor Vass, died.
Lillias died on September 1, 1895 at age 57. Her husband of almost 29 survived her a little over a year, passing on December 6, 1896 at just 2 months shy of his 75th birthday.
As for her children, eldest son William Worrell Vass Jr. married Annie Gales Smede Root, granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Albert Smedes, clergyman and founder of St. Mary's School in Raleigh. No children were known to be born to this marriage. As already mentioned, daughter Eleanor never married and lived to nearly 100. Youngest daughter Lila May Vass married Raleigh attorney, Sylvester Brown Shepherd Sr., and had 4 children.
Of interest, Lillias' sister, Sophia McDaniel married noted naturalist, geologist, and author, Henry E. Colton (1836-1892) who had moved to Fayetteville NC as a child with his father, the Presbyterian minister, Rev. Simeon Colter. Their marriage was childless and they are believed buried in Knoxville, TN.
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