Andrew Mitchell Sorrells and his wife, Sara Elvira Truelove, moved to Macon County in 1851. In 1861, their sons, William, 18 years of age, and Lewis, 21 years of age, volunteered under Tom Angel to fight in the Civil War.
Upon completion of six weeks training, the Sixteenth Regiment Company H joined the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of General Robert E. Lee. The brothers saw many battles, including Richmond, Second Manassas, Harper’s Ferry, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg.
William was wounded in his left arm at Fredericksburg. Brother Lewis went all the way with General Lee to Appomattox Courthouse, Va., the site of the Confederate surrender to the Union on April 9, 1865. Lewis was paroled the next day, after General Lee signed the surrender documents in the presence of Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Lewis then began the long journey of walking back to Macon County and his home state of North Carolina.
Attempting to put the Civil War behind him and focus on his future, Lewis married Elizabeth Miller on July 6, 1865. Six children were born to them: four girls and two boys. Their names were Hattie, Sally, Mary, Addie, Robert, and Andrew Mitchell Jr.
Lewis Sorrells lived to be 86 years old, passing away on April 25, 1925.
His son, Andrew, married Carrie Presley on New Year’s Day in 1893. He was a farmer, but also worked on public jobs. Andrew and Carrie were devout Methodists and are buried in Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Franklin. Andrew passed October 28, 1944, and Carrie passed on March 14, 1968. Their Christian values instilled in their nine children had a lasting effect. Minnie, Bell, Bertha, Myrtle, Lester, William Lewis, Henry Jackson, Fred, and Grover all grew up to maintain a strong Christian faith – with some of them choosing the role of ministering as their professions.
In fact, Fred became a minister with the Assembly of God denomination, serving and building churches. He was also a building contractor and cultivated apples in his orchards. He was considered a very loved and respected man of God.
William (Bill) Lewis also became a preacher. As a young man, he had a near-death experience but was healed. Bill went on to pastor many churches and mentor many young ministers for years in Western North Carolina.
Lester married Annie Guffey on Christmas Eve 1920; officiating the wedding was J.R. Pendergrass of the Pendergrass store (which currently houses the Macon County Historical Museum on Main Street in Franklin). Lester also became a well-known and respected minister – for the Baptist denomination. He preached at many churches in Macon County, but also in other Western North Carolina counties.
On a spring evening in 1943, Lester preached at a revival. He delivered a sermon that touched everyone in attendance; 17 people accepted Christ, and many others rededicated their faith to Christ. The revival was talked about for years.
In 1945, however, Lester died after a brief illness. He left behind his wife and 13 children. Annie died in 2003 at age 93.
All of these generations came down through Lewis Sorrells, who God protected while he fought horrible battles during the Civil War – battles that claimed thousands of lives. What an awesome family legacy passed onto descendants. May the spirit of the mountain people be kept alive.