Shiloh

Shiloh. . From Humble Beginnings , The community of Shiloh can be traced back to the 1820s, when it was a small enclave of free African Americans. As one of the few free black communities in North Carolina before the Civil War, Shiloh grew slowly. , As slaves were emancipated, starting in the 1860s, the community grew with new families and individuals looking to improve their lives. Industrious families and strong leaders forged an independent local economy that propelled Shiloh into the 20th century and shaped the fabric of Morrisville's history. , Agricultural Development , Like many rural North Carolina communities, Shiloh turned to tobacco as a cash crop after the Civil War. Farmers pooled resources and tools to create a co- operative (or co-op) where they sold and exchanged food. livestock and other goods. , Today, commercial and residential development has replaced farmland and agricultural. However, many descendants of the families and farmers who founded Shiloh still live in the area. , [Captions (clockwise from top right)] , . William Henry Barbee and family. One of the early founding families of Shiloh community, this photo showcases the trend of people taking pictures with their owned houses in the late 1800s. , . Shiloh farmer Frank Evans with his mules. Many farmers used mules to plow their fields before the advent of widely affordable tractors. , . Farmer's granddaughter by tobacco barn furnace used to heat tobacco. , . Farmer repairing tobacco sleds used to haul picked tobacco leaves out of the fields. , . Working the tobacco fields was a very laborious job, often taking the entire day to pick and harvest. , . Farmer removing tobacco worms. These worms could ruin an entire field of tobacco if not picked off the leaves early.