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This classic column from Glenn Chavis is being repeated for the holiday season. It first appeared in 2002.

Six months ago I found myself sitting in the Carolina Room at the High Point Public Library tired and discouraged.

It was one of those days when, after five hours of searching records, you find nothing regarding your ancestors.

For some strange reason, my mind reflected back to a census record that showed my great-grandmother as having been born in Transylvania County.

The strangest feeling came over me at this moment. I can't explain what happened, but it was as though the ghost of my ancestors began to direct me.

Suddenly, I found myself standing in a row filled with books staring at the identification sticker "Transylvania County."

There was only one book in the Transylvania County section, and it was "The Heritage of Transylvania County -- North Carolina." A strange, driving force compelled me to remove this book from the shelf and look at the name index under Kemp. I found one Kemp listed, and her name was Dora Kemp -- page 121, story 330.

It wasn't until much later that I discovered Dora Kemp was the sister of my great-grandmother, Lena Kemp.

But, that day, I found the story that referenced the name Dora Kemp so full of love and compassion that I was compelled to print that page.

I had just read a story full of love for your fellow man that occurred during America's darkest time, the Civil War era.

This story radiates true Christian values at a time when the color of one's skin and economics fueled the flames of hatred and killing.

Each time I read this story, I am left with so many questions that will never be answered.

Regardless of my questions regarding the motivations of John "Dick" Owen in the 1860s, I am left to confront the year 2002 and the question, "Where are those Christian values today that motivated Dick Owen and his family in the 1860s?"

Maybe all of us, black and white, should take a look at the path we travel and challenge the moral and ethical implications of racism.

Here is the story I found that day in the library, from "The Heritage of Transylvania County, North Carolina -- 1997, 330 Pete Owen, 1860?" Page 121:

"During the latter part of the Civil War, Lt. John 'Dick' Own was on his way home for a few days leave, from duties in the Infantry of the Confederate Army. It was a bitterly cold, very dark night, in midwinter.

"As Dick prodded his horse to go faster, he heard noise from the fence corner near the path. It was a well-known fact that many outlaws (renegades and deserters) roamed this mountain area at that time.

So drawing his Army pistol, Dick demanded to know who was there. Soon realizing it was a child, named Pete, he picked him up, wrapped him in his army overcoat and carried him home. His wife, Malinda, soon nursed the half-frozen, sick, black boy back to health.

"The only account Pete could give was that soldiers picked him up near his home somewhere in lower South Carolina or Georgia and carried him to the mountains. When the horse he was riding on started limping and he was so cold and sick, they put him off at the fence corner and rode away. Dick believed it was deserters in part uniforms that brought him there and when they thought he would die on them anyway, they just left him there.

"Pete was believed to be about 4 years old at the time and he remained on the Owen farm for over 20 years.

"When Pete was about 10 years old, a new baby boy was born to the Owen family. Pete took a great liking to this baby, right away.

"When Malinda saw how tenderly Pete watched over little Jesse, she trusted this duty to Pete. So they grew together, Pete into manhood and Jesse into a child with great thirst for knowledge.

"It was a happy, hard-working, fun-loving family and Pete was the blunt of many pranks, but he also pulled off many of his own.

"After Jesse left, in his mid-teens for school, Pete remained with Dick and Malinda. Jesse was the youngest of the Owen boys, and all the others were married.

"It was 25 miles to the nearest black settlement, and though it was very nice to have Pete with him, Dick could not see him deprived of a life of his own.

"Alfred and Tillman, the two oldest sons, had taken Pete to lower South Carolina and into Georgia seeking for a trace of where Pete might have been born or some of his people, but to no avail. So Pete returned to Dick and Malinda.

"A Mr. Deaver, a friend of Dick, owned a big farm below Brevard. Dick got a job for Pete, working on his farm.

A settlement of black people lived nearby. Soon Pete met a girl named Dora Kemp.

She was a beautiful girl, half black and half Indian. They fell in love and were married 6 January 1887.

"Soon they owned their own home and raised a fine family of three sons and four daughters.

"Pete became reasonably prosperous and was highly respected by all who knew him. He always remained close to the Owen family and they to him.

"He maintained a room in his home for his 'family' and often one or more of them spent the night. Dora was an excellent cook and always made them welcome.

"Years later when Jesse C. Owen was a well-known Baptist minister, he never forgot his black brother and often told the story of the sad day when he learned that Pete was not his real brother.

"When he was about 6 years old, he asked his mother why Pete's skin was so dark when the rest of his brothers were so light. She then told him the story of how Pete became his brother.

"Among all the people carrying the Owen name, quite a few have brought honor to our clan and among the most honest and respected we place in bold letters, PETE OWENS.

"Pete and Dora Kemp Owen are buried in the Davidson River Cemetery."

-- Submitted by: James O. Kropelnicki. Written by Winnie Owen Kropelnicki

After searching records in the Register of Deeds office in Transylvania County, I found that the Dora Kemp in this story was my great-grandmother Lena Kemp's sister.

I feel so blessed to know that my family was associated with the Dick Owen family that chose to rise above racism during America's darkest history.

Glenn Chavis, a retired account executive, was born and raised in High Point. Contact him at Storytime40@aol.com