Ferguson in Wilkes County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Thomas C. Dula
1844-1868
Erected 1987 by NC Division of Archives and History. (Marker Number M-48.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Entertainment • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list.
Location. 36° 5.14′ N, 81° 21.96′ W. Marker is in Ferguson, North Carolina, in Wilkes County. Marker is at the intersection of State Highway 268 and Tom Dula Road, on the right when traveling west on State Highway 268. Located at the east end of the Yadkin River bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ferguson NC 28624, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Boone Homesteads (approx. 1.7 miles away); Laura Foster (approx. 5.2 miles away); Fort Hamby (approx. 6 miles away); Montfort Stokes (approx. 10.2 miles away); Collett Leventhorpe (approx. 10.4 miles away); James Wellborn (approx. 10.7 miles away); James Larkin Pearson (approx. 11.2 miles away); E. B. Jeffress Park (approx. 12.2 miles away).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Click to map Tom Dola’s whereabouts when he was captured by the posse.
Also see . . .
1. Find a Grave page (with photo). (Submitted on July 7, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.)
2. Wikipedia Entry for Tom Dula. “Thomas C. "Tom" Dula (1845–1868) was a former Confederate soldier who was convicted of murdering Laura Foster. National publicity from newspapers such as The New York Times, turned Dula’s story into a folk legend. Although Laura was murdered in Wilkes County, North Carolina, Dula was tried, convicted, and hanged in Statesville. Considerable controversy surrounded the case. In subsequent years, a folk song was written (entitled ‘Tom Dooley,’ based on the pronunciation in the local dialect), and many oral traditions were passed down, regarding the sensational occurrences surrounding Laura Foster’s murder and Dula’s subsequent execution.” (Submitted on June 12, 2017.)
3. The Ballad of Tom Dooley performed by David Summerford. 2010 YouTube video. David Summerford plays the mountain dulcimer and other accompanying instruments singing the classic ballad that details the hanging of Tom Dula (Dooley). Various historic facts and pictures accompany the song about the killing of Laura Foster.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,074 times since then and 89 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week June 18, 2017. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 7, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 5. submitted on October 20, 2016, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 6. submitted on June 12, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.