Over the years that Fred Morgan worked for the Stanly News & Press, he became known for his research and storytelling about the rich history of Stanly County. One of his more unusual stories was about David Coble and his large family. According to Morgan, Coble was born on March 28, 1814. He lived in the St. Martin’s Church area, which at the time was still a part of Montgomery County. Coble married his first wife, Penny Harwood, and when he was about 20 years old they had their first of seven children. Coble had a second wife, Elizabeth Barbee, who bore him 11 children, and a third wife, Malina Hinson, who had 14 more. Coble was about 75 years old when the last of his children was born. An account from the March 7, 1890 Concord Times says the number of children by each wife was different, but the overall story is still the same. {Lewis Bramlett – Stanly County Historical Society}