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Brandon Ray Kirk

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Brandon Ray Kirk

Monthly Archives: May 2017

Cole Branch of Harts Creek, Lincoln County, WV (2017)

30 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Appalachia, Bill Brumfield, Cole and Crane Company, Cole Branch, Enoch Adkins, Eva Brumfield, Harts Creek, history, Lincoln County, Pat Kirk, photos, West Virginia

Welcome to Cole Branch

Welcome to Cole Branch of Harts Creek, Lincoln County, WV. The tributary is reportedly named for C. Crane & Company, a timber firm active locally at the turn of the century. My great-great-grandfather Bill Brumfield once lived on a farm shown at the center of this photo. My great-grandparents, Pat Kirk and Eva Brumfield, were married here in 1911. My great-great-great-uncle Enoch Adkins built the house shown to the left in the 1920s. Photo taken on 2 April 2017.

Chapmanville News 06.18.1926

30 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Creek, Chapmanville, Logan, Whirlwind

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Appalachia, appendicitis, Big Creek, Chapmanville, Dingess Run, Ferrell Addition, French Butcher, genealogy, history, Kessler-Hatfield Hospital, Lee Gore, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, N.P. Butcher, Republican Party, Robert Duty, Route 10, Squire Sol Adams, Tollie Ferrell, Walter Dingess, West Virginia, Whirlwind, William Boothe

An unknown local correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on June 18, 1926:

William Boothe, an aged citizen of Big Creek, died on Dingess Run a few days ago.

Walter Dingess, who was operated on at the Kessler-Hatfield hospital for appendicitis, is at home again.

N.P. Butcher was looking after business matters in Logan on last Monday.

The registrars here are finding Republicans where none used to be.

Miss Tollie Ferrell of Logan was visiting her home folks here Sunday.

The grading on the new road will be finished in two weeks. Better buy property here before it gets too high.

Squire Sol Adams of Whirlwind was here today on business.

French Butcher has taken the job of town thresher for his place and is doing good work.

Lee Gore is building a nice residence in the Ferrell addition. This town is glad to welcome such men as Uncle Lee.

Robert Duty was painfully hurt on last Sunday by being thrown by a horse.

District candidates are beginning to bob us here and there. Looks as though we would have a right good crop of them.

John Q. Adams Heirs v. Spencer A. Mullins and John Workman (1868)

29 Monday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Spottswood, Warren, Whirlwind

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Appalachia, crime, Dicy Adams, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, John Frock Adams, John Q. Adams, John Workman, Joseph Adams, Logan County, Spencer A. Mullins, Ticky George Adams, West Virginia

Adams Heirs vs. Spencer A. Mullins and John Workman.jpg

John Q. Adams, son of Joseph and Dicy (Mullins) Adams, died in 1863. This record is located in the Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.

Banco News 05.28.1926

29 Monday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Big Creek, Chapmanville

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Albert Chafin, Appalachia, Banco, Basil Duty, Big Creek, Carmine Hager, Cecil Hager, Chapmanville, Charles Duty, Clara Harmon, D.H. Harmon, Daisy School, education, Ella Jane Toney, Frank Chapman, Gay Pettit, genealogy, Henlawson, history, J.B. Lucas, J.M. Harmon, Jesse Justice, Johnnie Hager, Levi Duty, Logan Banner, Logan County, Marea Lucas, Peach Creek, Pearl Hager, Robert Gullet, Spring Dale, Squirrel Branch, Ted Hager, W.J. Vance, West Virginia

An unknown local correspondent from Banco in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 28, 1926:

Rev. White of Henlawson, who was the pastor of our church for some time, was back in our midst last Saturday night and Sunday, we are glad to say, and delivered three very interesting discourses. A good crowd attended with much attention.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Chafin of Chapmanville attended church at Banco last Saturday night and Sunday and were the all night guests of Mrs. Chafin’s sister, Mrs. D.H. Harmon of this place.

The Banco choir met last Saturday afternoon in the center of our town and gave a very interesting and enjoyable concert.

Mr. and Mrs. Levi Duty and children of Squirrel Branch attended church at Banco Saturday night and Sunday.

Robert Gullet of Spring Dale and some of his old pals were out joy riding last Sunday afternoon.

Charles Duty of Spring Dale was slightly injured last Tuesday while unloading some switch ties in Big Creek.

When Basil Duty of Spring Dale gets sight of a certain pretty girl of his town he can walk as lightly as the Meadow Lark can soar in the sky.

The  boy who says he can tell the girls the “sweetest story ever told” over the gate post was trying his experience last Sunday, and we believe the gate post was all there was between the girl and himself.

Jesse Justice and Frank Chapman sure do like Spring Dale these days. They stay up there six days a week and wouldn’t mind to stay the seventh. Time about is fair boys. Each one must wait for their turn to carry the swith ties out if the girls are coming.

Miss Ella Jane Toney of Chapmanville attended church at Banco Saturday night and Sunday and was the all night guest of her cousin, Miss Marea Lucas.

Among those who were out kodaking last Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Lucas, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Hager, Misses Gay Pettit, Clara Harmon, and Pearl Hager.

J.M. Harmon and W.J. Vance of Peach Creek motored to Banco last Saturday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Hager and little daughter Carmine was the all night guest of Mr. Hager’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Hager, of this place Saturday.

Wonder what has become of the sheik that we never see him in town any more?

Miss Ella Jane Toney left for her home at Chapmanville last Sunday evening accompanied by her cousin, Miss Marea Lucas of this place.

Miss Gay Pettit, teacher of the Daisy school, was the guest of Clara Harmon at this place Sunday and Monday. She will soon bid Big Creek goodbye as her school will close this week.

Wonder when there will be a circus for Banco? The parade was one day last week. The clowns went through riding the spotted pony.

John Edwin Peck Grave at Pecks Mill, WV (2017)

25 Thursday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Civil War, Logan, Pecks Mill

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Appalachia, Blacksburg, Brandon Kirk, cemeteries, civil war, Confederate Army, Edge Hill, genealogy, history, J.E. Peck, Logan, Logan County, Mary C. Peck, Peck Family Cemetery, Pecks Mill, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Virginia, West Virginia

BK at J.E. Peck grave

J.E. Peck grave, Pecks Mill, Logan County, WV (2017). Photo by Mom.

Chapmanville News 05.28.1926

25 Thursday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Chapmanville, Logan

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Appalachia, Chapmanville, Fannie Brown, genealogy, history, Homer Langdon, Inez Barker, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, sheriff, Susie Carper, Tolie Ferrell, Virginia, West Virginia

An unknown local correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 28, 1926:

Everybody seems to enjoy farming at present.

Rev. Reedy of Logan gave an interesting sermon both Sunday morning and afternoon at the Christian church. A large crowd assembled.

Rev. Dunagan who has been conducting a meeting at the Holiness church for the past week brought the meeting to a close Monday evening after delivering a sermon for men.

Miss Susie Carper seems to enjoy visiting friends at Big Creek. Wonder what the attraction is anyway?

Miss Tolie Ferrell of Logan spent Sunday here with her parents.

Inez Barker is spending this week in Chapmanville.

Prof. Snidow is leaving for Virginia Wednesday afternoon where he will spend his vacation and then return this coming school term.

There was a little excitement Sunday evening when Mr. Butcher, our sheriff, went into the crowd who were drinking too much.

Miss Fannie Brown and her new friend attended church Sunday night.

Mr. Homer Langdon of Logan spent Sunday here with his mother, Mrs. Langdon.

Brook and Bill sure were having a good time Saturday, judging from the noise.

Daily Happenings: Bias and “that straw hat;” Mabel and her milk pail; Arnold and his lonesome look; Robert and his sweater; Tom looking for Grace. Christian church.

Pauline Workman and Melvina McCloud

23 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Halcyon, Women's History

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Appalachia, Delia Workman, Floyd Workman, genealogy, Halcyon, Harts Creek, history, Jeff McCloud, Logan County, Louisa McCloud, Melvina McCloud, photos, West Virginia, Workman Fork

Pauline Workman and Melvina McCloud copyright

Pauline Workman, daughter of Floyd and Delia (Adkins) Workman, with Melvina McCloud, daughter of Jefferson and Louisa (Thompson) McCloud. Melvina was born about 1915 and Pauline was born about 1920. They were residents of the Harts Creek section, Logan County, WV.

Chapmanville News 05.21.1926

23 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Creek, Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Logan

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algebra, Appalachia, Big Creek, Buck Fork, Chapmanville, Dr. Ferrell, E.M. Oaks, Ernie Ward, genealogy, Grover Lowe, gypsies, Harts Creek, history, J.E. Peck, John Vickers, Logan Banner, Logan County, Low Gap Church, Peter Carter, Roscoe Ferrell, Stollings, W.C. Pridemore, West Virginia

An unknown local correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 21, 1926:

This Rev. E.M. Oaks of Stollings preached a very interesting sermon here Sunday at the Christian church.

Rev. Reedy will preach here next Sunday in the place of Grover Lowe, he being temporarily absent.

Peter Carter of Buck Fork was in town Monday.

J.E. Peck of Logan was looking after legal matters here Tuesday.

Prof. Snidow claims to have the best Algebra class of any place in the county.

Earnie Ward left here Monday for Detroit, Mich.

The Regular Baptists will hold their annual meeting at the Low Gap church on Big Creek Sunday June 19th.

W.C. Pridemore, the new deputy, is collecting taxes now. Cam says everybody must pay.

Quite a band of gypsies passed through town Monday. Owing to the experience of some of the boys last year, no one had their fortunes told this trip.

Daily happenings: The public asking the postmaster fool questions; John Vickers if he is a candidate; Roscoe Ferrell when the county court meets; Dr. Ferrell when will the next flu epidemic be.

Herb Adkins Residence in Harts, WV

23 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Harts

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Appalachia, Catherine Adkins, Ene Adkins, Harts, Herb Adkins, history, Lincoln County, merchant, photos, West Virginia

Herb Adkins Home Copyright.jpg

Herb Adkins residence in Harts, Lincoln County, WV. Mr. Adkins (1897-1978), a son of Floyd Enos and Catherine (Fry) Adkins, was a longtime merchant in Harts. Date of photo unknown.

Chapmanville News 05.14.1926

23 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Chapmanville, Coal, Logan

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A.L. Sansom, Appalachia, Banco, Chapmanville, coal, Democratic Party, deputy sheriff, Dryden, Dwyer Coal Company, G.C. Hoover, genealogy, history, J.H. Vickers, J.V. Lucas, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, New York, P.C. Dingess, Republican Party, W.A. McCloud, West Virginia

An unknown local correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 14, 1926:

This kid was real sick last week so that accounts for new news from this burg.

Dwyer Coal Co. is in operation again.

Quite a scramble here among the Republicans and some Democrats to see who shall be deputy sheriff.

Rev. G.C. Hoover, an evangelist of Dryden, N.Y., is holding a revival meeting at the Holiness church this week.

Both Democrats and Republicans here seem to be pleased with the candidacy of J.H. Vickers for member of the County Court.

School will close here next week and we think everybody will be happy.

W.A. McCloud was a business visitor to Logan Monday.

A.L. Sansom was laying up a few political fences at Logan Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. P.C. Dingess were shopping in this city Tuesday.

Mrs. J.V. Lucas of Banco was in town Tuesday.

The new road is going about just fine. I knew Stonie could do it.

We have some of the best whistlers here of any town in the state.

Enos Dial of Harts, WV (1926)

22 Monday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Harts

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Appalachia, Burbus Dial, Enos Dial, Fred B. Lambert, Garnett Dial, genealogy, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, history, Lincoln County, Logan County, Martha Dial, photos, teacher, The Llorrac, West Fork, West Virginia

Enos Dial copyright

Enos Dial (1897-1981), son of Burbus and Martha Jane (Fry) Dial, was a longtime educator in Lincoln County, WV. According to the 1926 edition of The Llorrac: “He was reared on a farm and followed farming as an occupation until he was eighteen years of age, when he began teaching. His first school was in Logan County. For the past eight years he has been teaching in Harts Creek District, five of his schools having been taught at the same place.” On 29 December 1928, Mr. Dial married Garnett Morris. Based on 1930 and 1940 census records, he and his family lived on the West Fork of Harts Creek.

Interview with Frank Hill of Big Creek, WV (2004) 3

22 Monday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Big Creek

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Annie Elizabeth Hill, Appalachia, Ashland, Big Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Billy Adkins, Boone County, Brandon Kirk, Chapmanville, dairy, education, Edward Hill, Ellis Fork, Frank Hill, genealogy, general store, Green McNeely, history, Kentucky, Logan, North Fork, notary public, Sandy Valley Grocery Company, tobacco, U.S. Army, West Virginia, World War II

On June 2, 2004, Billy Adkins and I visited Frank Hill. Mr. Hill, a retired farmer, bus driver, and store keeper, made his home on Ellis Fork of North Fork of Big Creek in Boone County, West Virginia. Born in 1923, he was the son of Edward W. and Annie Elizabeth (Stollings) Hill. Billy and I were interested in hearing about Mr. Hill’s Fowler ancestry and anything he wanted to share about his own life. We greatly enjoyed our visit. What follows is a partial transcript of our interview:

STORE BUSINESS

My brother started a store. There wasn’t no money in circulation when he started that store. He took a government loan for $100 and he got in touch with Sandy Valley Grocery Company in Ashland, Kentucky, and he invested that $100 and it give him enough stock to start with. Pinto beans at that time was $3.50 per hundred and he bagged them up in five pound bags and sold them for five cents. That was slow money but he made a go of it. Then he got drafted in the army and he turned it over to Mom and Dad and they took care of it for so many years. You know, my dad didn’t have a bit of education. He couldn’t even sign his name. But he clerked in that store and he could make change better than somebody with a calculator.

EARLY JOBS AND WAR

I started growing tobacco and when I was 19 I got drafted in the Army and I stayed a spell there. And the government was letting farmers that was pretty good producers go home. They needed food worse than they did soldiers at that time. That was about 1943. So I got to come home. I had an awful sick dad, too, and that was part of the reason. And I was the last one of three boys – two of them was already overseas. And all of that had a bearing on letting me out, I guess. I never went overseas. My company left about the time they released me.

Note: Electricity came about 1945.

MARRIAGE

I got married at Logan. We went in there and bought our license and the county clerk was Green McNeely. I said, “Could you tell me where there’s a preacher that would marry her and me?” He said, “Step around here behind the counter. I’m a preacher and also a clerk.”

STORE BUSINESS

We run it about fifteen years. We sold groceries. At one time, I had general merchandise. If you wanted any kind of hardware – wires, nails, anything like that – I could get it out of Huntington. People come there from Big Ugly across the mountain and carry their groceries back. That was the only store that was very close unless you went to Chapmanville or Madison.

That store was my wife’s project really. I worked away. I drove a bus 27 years, I think it was, in Boone County. I applied for a job to contract that hollow. I furnished my own bus, gas and everything. I done that for four year and a half and then they put me on the big yellow bus but I never got any credit for them four years and a half toward my pension. I thought they should have paid me for that because I met all the requirements that other drivers did and my bus had to be inspected, too.

I farmed and growed tobacco all them years. We had a dairy, too. We milked cows by hand and bottled it up and sold it in Chapmanville house by house. I’ve served as a notary public for Boone County for three terms – ten year each time under a different governor. And I’ve served on the farm committee for more than forty-seven years and I’ll not run no more as far as I know.

Ossie Dial (1929)

22 Monday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Creek, Coal, Logan, Man

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Tags

Appalachia, Big Creek, Bruce Dial, coal, genealogy, Goldie Lucas, history, Linnie Dial, Logan, Logan County, Lorado, Lundale, Ossie Dial, photos, West Virginia

Ossie Dial copyright

Ossie Dial, son of Bruce and Linnie (Conley) Dial, was born about 1909 in Big Creek, Logan County, WV. This photo was taken on 29 August 1929 at Lundale in Logan County. Mr. Dial married the next year to Goldie Lucas. He was injured in a coal mining accident on 19 September 1934 at Lorado, Logan County. He died on 11 November 1934 in Logan, WV.

Banco News 05.21.1926

22 Monday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Big Creek, Estep, Stone Branch

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Appalachia, Arkansas, Banco, Banco School, Basil Duty, Bernice Hunter, Big Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Charlotte Chapman, D.H. Harmon, Estep, genealogy, H.F. Lucas, H.T. Lucas, Hassel Vance, history, Hot Springs, J.A. Stone, Jennie Thomas, Jesse Justice, Joe Conley, John Hager, John Vance, Joseph A. Varney, Junior Vance, Kathleen Hager, L.A. Ellis, Logan Banner, Logan County, Marea Lucas, Mary Hager, Mattie Varney, measles, Nancy Duty, Needmore, Nella Varney, Ollie Varney, Peter Pinder, Slabtown, Spencer, Spring Dale, Stone Branch, Susie Thomas, Thomas' Circle, V.P. Conley, Virgil Thomas, West Virginia, Zella Chapman

An unknown local correspondent from Banco in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 21, 1926:

Hello, folks! Here we are again with a few items from our thriving little town.

Bernice Hunter returned from Hot Springs, Arkansas, last Monday and was the all night guest of his aunt, Mrs. John Hager, of Banco; then returned to his home on Big Ugly.

Mrs. V.P. Conley and little son, Joe, of Banco addition were calling on Mrs. D.H. Harmon of this place last Wednesday morning.

Hassel Vance is still driving the big team. Hauling from Spring Dale to Big Creek. Hassel doesn’t stop in Spring Dale very long even if there is some pretty girls in that town.

Wonder why Peter Pinder never calls in Banco any  more? We sure miss the great stories he used to tell us. We imagine he is telling the stories to his girl in Thomas’ Circle nowadays.

Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Vance’s small son, Junior, is still ill with measles, we are sorry to say.

Wonder when H.T. Lucas is going to make a call in Spring Dale? The roads are better to Spring Dale for joy riding, H.T., than they are to North Pole.

Mrs. Mary Hager and daughter Kathleen were calling on Mrs. D.H. Harmon last Sunday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Stone were calling on their daughter, Mrs. Jennie Thomas, at Estep last Sunday afternoon.

Miss Marea Lucas was the afternoon guest of Misses Ollie and Mattie Varney last Sunday.

Jesse Justice sure does like the little town of Estep, especially while his old girl from Slabtown is there.

Miss Susie Thomas and little brother, Virgil, of Estep have been visiting their grandparents at this place for a few days.

H.F. Lucas and his father were out trying H.F.’s Ford last Monday evening.

Mr. Joseph A. Varney and daughter Nella were business callers in Banco last Tuesday evening.

Misses Zella and Charlotte Chapman of Estep were shopping in Banco last Saturday.

Mrs. L.A. Ellis who is making her home in Needmore for a short while was visiting Mrs. Nancy Duty at Stone Branch last week.

We are sorry to say but the doll of Needmore has forsaken all the girls of their town, also the girls of Banco, as he left for Spencer, W.Va., one day last week.

Basil Duty of Spring Dale was calling in Estep last Sunday. Look out, boys. Some of you are going to lose your L.F.O. Basil means business. He’s looking for his affinity.

There will be church at the Banco school house next Saturday night and Sunday. Everybody is invited.

Corbett Brumfield Residence (1991)

21 Sunday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Harts

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Appalachia, Bob Brumfield, Corbett Brumfield, genealogy, Harts, history, Lincoln County, Nora Brumfield, photos, West Madison, West Virginia

Corbett Brumfield Home Copyright

Corbett Brumfield, son of Robert “Jaker” and Nora (Pack) Brumfield, once lived in this residence at Harts, WV. Later, he moved to West Madison, WV, where I visited him several times in the 1990s. Corbett and his wife were wonderful hosts and very helpful in providing family stories. I miss them.

Chapmanville News 05.14.1926

21 Sunday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Creek, Chapmanville

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Agnes Whitman, Appalachia, Arnold Barker, Beulah Ballard, Big Creek, Brack Walls, Carlos Ferrell, Chapmanville, Connie Bentley, Elna Cox, Garnet Jeffery, genealogy, Gracie Workman, Hazel Conley, history, Jack Conley, L.F. Price, Lillian Whitman, Logan Banner, Logan County, Lowe Hollow, M.C. Conley, Minnie Workman, Opal Johnson, Phico, Robert Carter, Rosie Price, Tom Barker, Virgil Ferrell, Walter Ferrell, Walter Workman, West Virginia

An unknown local correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 14, 1926:

We are having some nice weather at this writing.

Mrs. Rosie Price was visiting her daughter, Mrs. M.C. Conley, Sunday.

Arnold Barker and Virgil Ferrell were out walking Sunday.

Miss Opal Johnson seemed to be awful busy sewing flower seeds Saturday afternoon.

Walter and Carlos Ferrell were seen walking the lonesome road Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Munsey and Jack Conley were working on their automobile Sunday morning.

The Phico girls and boys seem to enjoy coming to Chapmanville church nowadays.

Miss Gracie Workman was out horse back riding Sunday afternoon.

Wonder why Mr. L.F. Price is visiting in Big Creek so often.

Mrs. Garnet Jeffery and children were visiting her mother Saturday and Sunday.

Wonder why Arnold Barker is looking so downhearted nowadays? Cheer up, Arnold. Maybe it is not so.

Walter Workman escorted Miss Connie Bentley home Saturday night from church.

Robert Carter was out horseback riding early Saturday morning.

Brack Walls escorted Elna Cox home from church Friday night.

We all hope Miss Beulah Ballard and Mr. Snidow will get along fine with the Diploma test this year.

Opal Johnson, Lillian and Agnes Whitman were out walking Sunday.

Misses Hazel Conley and Minnie Workman were out walking Saturday afternoon.

Tom Barker is enjoying life fine, going up Lowe Hollow nowadays.

Mouth of the Guyandotte River (2017)

20 Saturday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Guyandotte River, Huntington

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, Cabell County, Guyandotte, Guyandotte River, Huntington, Ohio River, photos, West Virginia

IMG_0838

Standing at the mouth of the Guyandotte River looking out into the Ohio River. Guyandotte, Cabell County, WV. 4 February 2017.

Interview with Frank Hill of Big Creek, WV (2004) 2

20 Saturday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Big Creek, Boone County, Ed Haley, Music

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Albert Stone, Annie Elizabeth Hill, Appalachia, Big Creek, Billy Adkins, Boone County, Brandon Kirk, California, Carlos Clark, Chapmanville High School, Church of Christ, Civilian Conservation Corps, Ed Haley, education, Edward W. Hill, Ellis Fork, fiddler, fiddling, Frank Hill, genealogy, Great Depression, guitar, Hell Among the Heffers, history, Huntington, Johnny Hager, Lloyd Ellis, Logan, Logan County, Madison, Melvin White, North Fork, Pope Dial, Pure Oil Company, Seymour Ellis, Six Mile Creek, square dances, Stone School, tobacco, Vernon Mullins, Walter Fowler, West Virginia, Whitman Creek

On June 2, 2004, Billy Adkins and I visited Frank Hill. Mr. Hill, a retired farmer, bus driver, and store keeper, made his home on Ellis Fork of North Fork of Big Creek in Boone County, West Virginia. Born in 1923, he was the son of Edward W. and Annie Elizabeth (Stollings) Hill. Billy and I were interested in hearing about Mr. Hill’s Fowler ancestry and anything he wanted to share about his own life. We greatly enjoyed our visit. What follows is a partial transcript of our interview:

FRANK HILL

I was born April 22, 1923 up the Ellis Fork Road. When I was born there, we had a four-room Jenny Lind house. It was an old-timer: double fireplace that burned coal and wood, you know. My mother had eleven children and I was the last one. When she saw me, she give up.

EDUCATION

I went to the Stone School, a one-room school just up Ellis Fork. My wife’s grandpa, Albert Stone, gave them land to build this school. It wasn’t a big lot – it might have been 300 feet square. We played ball there in the creek. We didn’t have much dry ground. Well, I went through the 8th grade around there. Arithmetic was my best subject. I had good handwriting, too. I thought I could go into the 9th at Chapmanville but they wouldn’t let me. They said I hadn’t took this test you were supposed to take as you left the 8th grade.

I walked a mile and six-tenths to school. We’d had bad teachers. They couldn’t get no control over the students. Dad got this old fellow from Madison and he said, “Now, I’ll give you ten dollars extra on the month.” I think the board paid fifty dollars a month. Back then, young men and women went to school. Twenty, twenty-five years old. They were so mean the teachers couldn’t hardly handle them. I had an older brother that was one of them. A teacher whipped a younger brother he had one day and he said, “Old man, wait till I catch you out. I’ll give you a good one.” And he meant it, too.

JOHNNY HAGER

Little Johnny Hager was a fiddle player. He was a little man, never was married. And he never had a home. All he had was a little suitcase with a few clothes in it. He’d stay with people maybe a month or two and the way he paid his keep was he whittled out lids or fed their pigs and stuff like that. He’d stay there a month or two till he felt he’d wore out his welcome then he’d go to another house. He was a well-liked little guy. Us boys, we followed him wherever he went cause he could sure play that fiddle. He played one tune called “Hell Among the Heffers”.

DEPRESSION

We had a hard time in this world. You couldn’t buy a job then. I had a brother-in-law that worked for the Pure Oil Company in Logan that was the only man that had a public job in this whole hollow. People grew tobacco to pay their taxes and bills they had accumulated. It was terrible. I remember my daddy had a little barrel of little potatoes when spring come and this old fellow lived above us, he was a musician. His name was Carlos Clark. He’d come out of the coalfields in Logan and he lost his home. His wife was a cousin of mine. He was trying to teach me to play the guitar. I’d go there and she’d lead the singing and he’d pick the guitar and I’d try to play second. He give me eleven lessons for that barrel of potatoes.

We had two or three around here that went to work in the CCC camps. Lloyd Ellis from Whitman’s Creek was one of them and Seymour Ellis was another one from Six Mile. In his last days, that was all he wanted to talk about. They went plumb into California in the CC camps. Then war broke out and they just switched them camps over to the Army. The Army operated those camps anyhow. That’s why they was so successful. They had control over boys to teach them how to do things.

DANCES

We got just as wild as any of them. Ed Haley used to come over here and play. The Barker family had a full band. Now, they could make the rafters roar. There was an old lady lived in here married to Walter Fowler who called the dances and there wasn’t a one of us really knowed how to dance but we put on a show anyhow. They had them in people’s homes. No drinking allowed but there was always a few that did. They always had a lot of good cakes.

CHURCHES

It was mostly Church of Christ around here. The main preacher up here in these parts was Pope Dial from Huntington. I’ll tell you another one that came in here that followed him sort of was Melvin White. Vernon Mullins followed up years later when he preached in here. I remember the first sermon he ever preached was around here in the one-room Stone School. He established a lot of different churches in the country but that was the first one. He’d talk about how he started here, preached his first sermon. Every funeral he conducted on this creek, he’d tell that story.

Jessie Brumfield Residence (1991)

19 Friday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Harts, Women's History

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Appalachia, Billy Adkins, Caroline Brumfield, Charley Brumfield, Harts, Harts Middle School, Jessie Brumfield, Lincoln County, Morris Harvey College, photos, Route 10, teacher, West Virginia

Jesse Brumfield House copyright

Jessie Brumfield (1902-1997) was the daughter of Charles and Caroline (Dingess) Brumfield. She was educated at Morris Harvey College and taught school for many years. This home stood across Route 10 from the new Harts Middle School in Harts, Lincoln County, WV.

Interview with Frank Hill of Big Creek, WV (2004) 1

19 Friday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Big Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Estep, Ferrellsburg, Timber

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Annie Elizabeth Hill, Annie Elizabeth Stollings, Appalachia, Big Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Billy Adkins, Boone County, Brandon Kirk, Charles Stollings, Edward Hill, Ellis Fork, Estep Branch, Ferrellsburg, Fork Creek, Frank Hill, genealogy, history, John Patrick Fowler, Jones Fowler, Lincoln County, Madison, Margery Ann Fowler, North Fork, timber, timbering, West Virginia, Willie Stollings

On June 2, 2004, Billy Adkins and I visited Frank Hill. Mr. Hill, a retired farmer, bus driver, and store keeper, made his home on Ellis Fork of North Fork of Big Creek in Boone County, West Virginia. Born in 1923, he was the son of Edward W. and Annie Elizabeth (Stollings) Hill. Billy and I were interested in hearing about Mr. Hill’s Fowler ancestry and anything he wanted to share about his own life. We greatly enjoyed our visit. What follows is a partial transcript of our interview:

JOHN PATRICK FOWLER (1827-1911)

Grandpap [John P.] Fowler lived at Ferrellsburg at one time. He was a timber specialist, I’d call him, because he always run a timber job and hired lots of men. He’d cut out all of the timber on a farm and then buy another one and cut it. They didn’t make much back then but they could get a little money together.

My grandmaw [Margery Ann Fowler] was born, I’d say, down there at Ferrellsburg. My mother lived there at Ferrellsburg when she was a teenage girl and she told me she’d plowed corn right there in Ferrellsburg Bottom before the highway or the railroad either one came up through there.

Grandpap bought a tract of timber on Big Ugly and he moved to where it was at. That was virgin timber up there. Hadn’t been cut for years. He just followed the work. He went through Big Ugly and over to Fork Creek. He sold out over there to a coal company and they just paid him so much a month. Then later he got over here on North Fork. He lived in a two-room log house just above our place.

Grandpap Fowler was well-liked. He was a pretty good sized man. My mother thought the world of him because he raised my mother. She lost her daddy [Charles Stollings] when she was ten. Her mother died of what they’d call cancer today. My mother had two sisters and a brother younger than her. The baby one was just two years old and that was Willie Stollings. Grandpap Fowler took in all four children.

My mother, she had a third grade education. She could sign her name. She met my dad when he come in that area saw-logging. His name was Edward Hill and he was a timberman. Cut timber all over this country. They’d have contests. They’d drive a stake out there and cut this tree and bet who could drive that stake on down with that tree when it falls. And he won a many a time. He was accurate. He could chop right-handed or he could chop left-handed. Anyway, there’s a record of their marriage in the courthouse down here at Madison. Preacher Ball married them, I believe.

Grandpap [John P. Fowler] had a boy named Jones that lived over on Big Ugly and he was digging coal with a pick, just enough to do tonight and tomorrow, and a rock fell in on him and killed him. And Grandpap had loaned him his pistol ‘cause him and this Johnson wasn’t getting along good. They was neighbors over there. But that was the first man got there to help get this rock off of him. But Grandpap Fowler sent my mother as soon as they buried him over there to get that pistol. She went right up here and crossed the hill and come down Estep Branch and told his wife that Grandpap had sent after that pistol. She give it to her and on her way back when she come off’n the hill here she knew that Grandpap and old man Dan Harmon wasn’t very good friends. And just for meanness, she shot five or six times and that fellow took her for a warrant. And Grandpap had to go over there to Madison Court House and pay a fine to get her out of it. She was nervy, I’ll tell you that.

Frank Hill Store

Hill Store at the mouth of Ellis Fork of North Fork of Big Creek near the Boone-Logan county line. 19 October 2013.

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