The King of Saddletree

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.”

—Matthew 6:19, NKJV

I own the house in which my father was born in the Saddletree community of North Carolina. The house sits on ten acres of the family farm from which my ancestors derived their living, going back before the federal census of 1850. On a recent visit, I walked through the church cemetery and found a grave marker which read, “The King of Saddletree.” Interestingly, I can’t find anyone who knew there was a king of Saddletree. 

Uncle John

My grandparents got the farm from “Uncle John.” He had said, if they took care of him, he would give them the farm when he died.  He was true to his word.

My dad was Uncle John’s favorite. Though he was only five years old when Uncle John died, my dad had fond memories of him. Listening to him talk about Uncle John, I often wondered how he could have such strong memories about a man who died when my father was so young. After I had grandkids, I didn’t wonder any longer. My grandson, Shiloh, is five and I spoil him every chance I get. I’m confident that we are making memories that he will never forget.

Henry Berry Lowry

Uncle John was not The King of Saddletree, but he was a local hero as one of nine notable members of the Lowry Gang.  Henry Berry Lowry was the most famous member of the Lumbee Indian Tribe. We celebrated him annually during the Lumbee Tribal Homecoming.

Henry Berry lived during the American Civil War. During that war, the Home Guard hunted down Native Americans and forced them to work in slave labor camps, building forts for the Confederacy. So, Henry Berry and many other young Native Americans started hiding out in the swamps, in which they were familiar. As a young man, Henry Berry hid in the bushes and watched helplessly as the Home Guard forced his father and brother William to dig their own graves. They then shot and killed both of them. Henry Berry vowed to avenge their deaths.  

Wanted, Dead or Alive

The exploits of the Lowry Gang are a great source of pride among members of the Lumbee Tribe. Even the youngest children can recite these stories in detail. Such as the time Henry Berry’s wife, Rhoda, baked a gun in a cake which she delivered to the jail, allowing Henry Berry to escape. After the Civil War, Federal troops offered a reward of $12,000 for the capture of Henry Berry, dead or alive. He had become so famous that the outlaw Jesse James started telling people he robbed in Missouri that they had been robbed by Henry Berry Lowry

As a final act of insult to the sheriff, members of the gang stole the safe from the sheriff’s office and robbed the bank. In total, they escaped with $28,000. The last time Henry Berry was seen was on February 21, 1872 standing in the doorway of his cabin.  He then disappeared. No trace was ever found of him or the $28,000. Uncle John would have been 21 years old.

Buried Treasure

Over the years, many have searched Uncle John’s property for buried Lowry Gang treasure. My father would laugh when people came with metal detectors asking for permission to search. Rumors abound about where the gang buried the money, in the horse barn, under the pecan tree, or in the well. I often asked my dad where he would search. He would tell me with certainty where it was buried, but his stories changed each time.  

Uncle John may not have been the King of Saddletree. Still, it is an honor to own his house and a tribute to the bond between my father and Uncle John. It is true the $28,000 could be worth a lot if it were gold or silver coins, or it could be worth nothing if it were Confederate currency. Either way, it is a good reminder of the words of Jesus to not lay-up treasures on earth.

Who do you want to be the king of your life? The King of Saddletree or Jesus? Everyone gets a choice and I choose Jesus.

Copyright © 2020 Chuck Locklear

Also, see What Is Your Legacy?