In 1924 Jim Monroe Underwood and his wife Allie Gertrude purchased a 100 acre tract of land in Wake County, North Carolina. They had 11 children and farmed, raising tobacco, soybeans, corn, wheat and food for their family with mule and plow. Each child was given about 10 acres of land. Stamey Bright (known his entire life as Scoop) Underwood was born in 1918. He left school in the 4th grade because he was needed to work on the family farm. The farm land was divided when his mother died. Scoop was given a 10 acre tract of land. After serving over 4 years as a blacksmith in the US Army Calvary in World War II, Scoop returned to Wake County. He married Dorothy Carroll and bought 10 additional acres from his sister. Scoop and Dorothy built a small store with a apartment in the back. There they ran SB Underwood Grocery also known as Cedar Grove Grocery until 1976. In 1955 Scoop built "the big house" across the creek. Design, Construction, Electricity, Plumbing all were by his hands. Scoop was a brilliant man who, while had little formal academic training, was self taught in many fields. He was a passionate outdoorsman, a steward of the land and wildlife. He rebuild 1961 Cadillac cars, having always several for parts. He constructed a passive perpetual water system fed from the pond to all livestock areas on the farm and to the garden irrigation where produce was grown year round for the family. In the store he sold household staples to families who farmed "on charge" until they sold their harvest at the end of the year. He leased land near the pond for agriculture equipment storage to fully utilize his land assets. The pond originates from a natural spring. In the late 40's it was dug out to form the pond we see it today. In the 1950's the pond was used by the American Red Cross to conduct swimming and diving lessons. Scoop constructed the pier and dive tower, which still stands today. A "minnow pond" was constructed in the 50's to breed and grow minnows to sell as fishing bait. It is still visible in the back right of the pond.
Dorothy and Scoop were active and dedicated to Piney Grove Baptist Church for over 50 years serving as teachers and in the choir. Dorothy was a teacher's assistant in the Wake County School System for over 30 years. A lifelong learner she received a degree in Divinity and studied daily. She played piano like Scott Joplin and play bass guitar with a Gospel Group all over NC. Scoop enjoyed Coon hunting, spending many days in competitions with his award winning Treeing Walker coonhounds and many nights listening to the bay of dogs in the deep woods. When he could not walk well he would go with young hunters and sit in a chair just to listen to the dogs and enjoy the solitude of the forest.
The Underwood Land has been in our family for almost 100 years. Our forefathers, by the sweat of their brow and work of their backs, kept this land to pass on to the generations. We are earthly keepers of this land. Stewards of the wildlife, the marshes, banks, and waters and by sharing the beauty of this place with you, hopefully will be able to do the same for generations to come.
