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Brandon Ray Kirk

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Brandon Ray Kirk

Monthly Archives: May 2018

Johnson Hatfield Capias and Bonds (1893-1896)

31 Thursday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Logan

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Appalachia, C.H. Gore, county clerk, deputy sheriff, Eli Gore, F.M. Kenneda, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, John B. Wilkinson, Johnson Hatfield, Logan County, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, T.C. Whited, Thomas Griffith, W.A. Johnson, W.C. Browning, West Virginia

Johnson Hatfield 1894 1

Capias for Johnson Hatfield for commission of a misdemeanor, 20 February 1894.

Johnson Hatfield 1894 2

Capias, 20 February 1894. Arrested and jailed 24 April 1894.

Johnson Hatfield 1894 3

Johnson Hatfield 1894 4

Bond for $200 by Johnson Hatfield and F.M. Kenneda, 24 April 1894.

Johnson Hatfield 1894 5

Johnson Hatfield, Jr. signature (1894). Note: This crime and arrest was most likely not related whatsoever to the Hatfield-McCoy Feud.

Johnson Hatfield 1895 1

Johnson Hatfield 1895 2

Bond for $200 by Johnson Hatfield and W.C. Browning, 5 September 1895.

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Bond executed, 9 October 1895.

Johnson Hatfield 1895 4

Johnson Hatfield 1895 5

Bond for $200 by Johnson Hatfield and F.M. Kenneda, 1 April 1896.

Johnson Hatfield 1895 6

Bond executed, 21 April 1896.

Paw Paw Incident: Ephraim Hatfield Deposition (1889)

31 Thursday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Culture of Honor, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

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Appalachia, Bud McCoy, Doc Mayhon, Ephraim Hatfield, feud, feuds, G.W. Pinson, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Jeff Whitt, Kentucky, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Plyant Mahon, Tolbert McCoy, Tug Fork, Wall Hatfield, West Virginia

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Ephraim Hatfield’s deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9724.JPG

I know Jeff Whitt. I had a conversation with Jeff Whitt the day Wall Hatfield was tried and after he had been sworn as a witness on said trial. In said conversation he said That if he swore on the trial of Wall Hatfield that Dock and Plyant Mayhone was on this side of the river where the McCoy boys were killed. He didn’t know what he was saying. That he was scared and that they were not there.

Fires in Logan, WV (1912)

31 Thursday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Logan

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Appalachia, genealogy, history, Ira P. Baer, Leppart Boarding House, Logan, Logan County, Logan Democrat, W.I. Campbell, West Virginia

Fires in Logan LD 11.28.1912

Logan (WV) Democrat, 28 November 1912.

Paw Paw Incident: W.S. Ferrell Deposition (1889)

31 Thursday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Culture of Honor, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

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Appalachia, Bud McCoy, Elias Hatfield, feud, feuds, G.W. Pinson, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Pharmer McCoy, Tolbert McCoy, W.S. Ferrell, Wall Hatfield

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is W.S. Ferrell’s deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9716

Who Says I am acquainted with Defts. and known them since they were boys. I am acquainted with their General Moral character in the neighborhood in which they live and it is good. I was summoned and brought here as a witness for the commonwealth. I was at Elias Hatfield’s house the nights the McCoy boys were killed, and was awake when the crowd came with Wall. I didn’t see Defendants there. I saw them next day at the funeral. I was around among the crowd a Good deal that nights at Elias Hatfield’s.

Guyandotte River Navigation (1927)

28 Monday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Gilbert, Guyandotte River, Logan

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Appalachia, Bernard Call, Boy Scouts, Gilbert, Guyandotte River, history, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mingo County, Tom Johnson, West Virginia

Guyan River Navigation LB 08.23.1927.JPG

Logan (WV) Banner, 23 August 1927.

Paw Paw Incident: M.A. Ferrell Deposition (1889)

28 Monday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Culture of Honor, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

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Appalachia, Bud McCoy, Doc Mayhorn, G.W. Pinson, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Logan County, M.A. Ferrell, Mingo County, Pharmer McCoy, Tolbert McCoy, West Virginia

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is M.A. Ferrell’s deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9723.JPG

I am acquainted with the Defendants, have known them, ten year. Am acquainted with their General moral character in the neighborhood in which they live and it was & is good.

Melvin and Susan (Thompson) Kirk Homeplace (2018)

28 Monday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Halcyon, Lincoln County Feud, Timber

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, Elizabeth Kirk, Floyd Caldwell, genealogy, Halcyon, Harts Creek, history, Hog Hollow, Kentucky, Lawrence County, Lincoln County, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, Martin County, Melvin Kirk, Melvin Kirk Family Cemetery, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Piney Fork, Thomas Kirk, West Fork, West Virginia

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Melvin and Susan (Thompson) Kirk Homeplace, Piney Fork of West Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 24 May 2018. Melvin and Susan are my great-great-grandparents.

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Kirk Homeplace sign, Piney Fork of West Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 24 May 2018. Melvin was born in 1862 to Thomas and Elizabeth “Betty” (Maynard) Kirk and was partly raised in Lawrence (later Martin) County, KY. To see Melvin with his father in the 1870 Lawrence County, KY, Census, follow this link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D8S9-4LS?i=7&cc=1438024 

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Kirk Cemetery sign, Piney Fork of West Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 24 May 2018. Melvin followed his mother to Piney before 1880. To see Melvin in the 1880 Lincoln County Census, follow this link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB2-9WFZ?cc=1417683 

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Heading up to the cemetery. 24 May 2018. Melvin was a powerful left-handed timberman. In 1888, he bought a 35-acre farm from Floyd Caldwell.

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Kirk Cemetery Statue, Kirk Cemetery, Piney Fork of West Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 24 May 2018. Melvin played an important role in the Lincoln County Feud. https://www.amazon.com/Blood-West-Virginia-Brumfield-McCoy/dp/1455619183 

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Melvin Kirk grave, Kirk Cemetery. 24 May 2018. Photo by Mom. Melvin’s property was assessed in Lincoln County until 1897, when it transferred to Logan County. To see Melvin in the 1900 Logan County Census, follow this link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68V3-C77?i=31&cc=1325221 

Recollections of A. Peterson Christian of Simon, WV (c.1943)

28 Monday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Creek, Gilbert, Guyandotte River, Logan, Timber, Wyoming County

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Appalachia, Betty Shoals, Big Branch Shoal, Big Creek, Big Cub Creek, Blackburn Mullins, Burrell Morgan, Byron Christian, Chapman Browning, Charley Toler, Copperas Fork, Ed Robertson, Eli Blankenship, Eli Morgan, Elk Creek, Ellis Toler, Epson Justice, Fred B. Lambert, Fred B. Lambert Papers, G. Pendleton Goode, genealogy, Gilbert, Guyandotte, Guyandotte River, H.C. Avis, Hickory Shute, history, Hugh Toney, Humphrey Cline, Huntington, James A. Nighbert, James Pine Christian, Jesse Belcher, John Buchanan, John Justice, justice of the peace, Lane Blankenship, Lark Justice, Leatherwood Shoal, Lewis Mitchell, Little Kanawha Lumber Company, Logan County, Logan Court House, logging, Marshall University, Mingo County, Morrow Library, Paren Christian, Peter Cline Jr., Peter Cline Sr., Peterson Christian, Pineville, pushboats, rafting, Raleigh County, Roughs of Guyan, Salt River Shute, Sanford Morgan, Simon, Spice Creek, Staffords Mill, West Virginia, White Oak Cliff, Wyatt Toler, Wyoming County

Recollections of A. Peterson Christian of Simon, WV, provided by G. Pendleton Goode of Pineville, WV, January 1, 1944:

I was born on Spice Creek, Logan Co., now Mingo County, West Va. on Oct. 12, 1857 — Now 86 years of age, Son of Rev. Byron Christian, and grandson of James Pine Christian (1800-1892), one of the justices who organized Logan County in 1824.

About 1867, people began what we called saw-logging. Dr. Warren from Big Creek brought the first six yoke ox team to our neighborhood, used them two years and then sold them to Chapman Browning who lived on Spice Creek. There sprang up among us, what we called timber merchants, among those were Paren Christian, Chapman Browning, Col. John Buchanan, H.C. Avis, Blackburn Mullins and Epson Justice and many others. Besides hauling and rafting their own timber, they would buy rafts of other parties and run them to Logan Court House and sell others to John and Lark Justice and afterwards to Ed Robertson and James Nighbert.

I entered the logging business in 1875, on a small scale. Lewis Mitchell and I bought some timber and made up a raft, and when the river reached rafting stage, Brother Mont Lewis and I started down the river with the raft which swung across the head of “Island 16,” but when the big July 12th freshet came it swept our raft away and we lost it. My next adventure in logging was in the spring of 1876, when Mont and I bought some timber in the bluff opposite the mouth of Elk Creek and with some loose logs in “Island 16,” we made up two rafts, but there was no rafting stage that summer, but when the ice went out the next winter, both rafts went with it and we lost them also.

Rafting down Guyandotte River from Reedy to Logan Court house was a great art during the 1870s and 80s. There were different opinions about the bad places along the stream. People at Logan Court house thought that the river from Spice down was real bad; but the river men around Spice did not mind running from there down, but said that up Copperas Fork, the Betty Shoals, Staffords Mill, and the White Oak Cliff was too bad for anybody to run a raft. The river men around about Gilbert said that the river from there down was a little rough but they didn’t mind it, but from Epson Justice’s up to Reedy was so rough that no person had any business trying it. But when you came up to Big Cub, Long Branch and Reedy and talked with the old pilots, such as Jesse Belcher, Lane Blankenship, Peter Cline Jr., Humphrey Cline and Peter Cline Sr. and numerous other persons such as oar carriers and seconds they would say something like this, “Well, the river for a few miles is pretty rough, especially at Wyatt Toler’s mill dam, the Fall Rock, near Charley Toler’s mill dam, the Hickory Shute, the Leatherwood Shoal, the Big Branch Shoal and the Salt River Shute, but if a man has good judgment about the drain and the water he will have but little trouble.” So you see all depends on whom you are talking to as to where the rough is on the Guyandotte River. The only way to find this out is to go through on a raft yourself.

I remember very well the thrill I got the first time I went through the “Roughs” on a raft. I got on at the mouth of Big Cub Creek; in a few minutes we were at the upper end of Leatherwood Shoal. We worked the raft to the proper position in the hole of water just above the shoal. We could look along the top of the water to the upper end of the shoal but there was such a fall there we could see the water until we dropped over the upper end of the shoal. The bow of the raft struck a wave and the water flew over our heads. I was carrying the oar and held the stern down on the raft while my second held my clothes to keep the oar from throwing me off. From there on to the lower end of the shoals (about ¼ mile) as soon as the raft would rise on one wave, it would plunge into another until we got through the shoal. From that time (1876), I followed running from Reedy to Guyandotte until about 1890.

It took 4 men to run a raft from Reedy or Cub to Spice. Then 2 men could take it from there to Logan C.H. Then we would latch two of those rafts together and 2 men would take those rafts through to Guyandotte.

In 1889, the Little Kanawha Lumber Co. came to Wyoming County and began logging on a big scale. The winter was warm and rainy. All goods and supplies were hauled from Prince Station on the C. and O. Ry. The roads through Raleigh were so muddy that a four-horse team could pull only 1000 or 1200 pounds, so in April Alec, Henry Blankenship and I made a push boat 50 feet long and 6 feet wide and 18 inches deep. We landed it at the mouth of Reedy Creek and started to Guyandotte with five men. I had about $95.00 in money, and the men from here to Elk sent money by me to buy flour. When I left Elk, I had about $260.00. Among the men that sent money by me to buy flour were Burrell Morgan, Ellis Toler, Eli Blankenship, Eli Morgan, Sanford Morgan and Chapman Browning and the only one alive now is Burrell Morgan. We reached Guyandotte the 3d day, where I bought 45 lbs of flour, 300 lbs of bacon and a lot of other things and after laying over at Capt. Toney’s for 2 days on account of high water, we arrived at the mouth of Spice Creek in 8 days from Guyandotte. I received $125 per 100 lbs. freight which gave me a nice profit for my trip. At that time and long before the people of Logan brought their goods up on push boats.”

Source: Fred B. Lambert Papers, Special Collections Department, Morrow Library, Marshall University, Huntington, WV.

The Virginian Hotel in Logan, WV (1913)

27 Sunday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Logan

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Appalachia, Bennett Theatre, history, L. & M. Theatrical Company, Logan, Logan County, Palace Theatre, vaudeville, Virginian Hotel, Welch Theatre, West Virginia, Wilkinson Building

The Virginian Hotel LB 08.08.1913.JPG

Logan (WV) Banner, 8 August 1913.

Paw Paw Incident: Andrew Ferrell Deposition (1889)

27 Sunday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Culture of Honor, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

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Andrew Ferrell, Appalachia, Bud McCoy, Doc Mayhorn, Elias Hatfield, feuds, G.W. Pinson, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Kentucky, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Plyant Mahorn, Tolbert McCoy

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Andrew Ferrell’s deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9715.JPG

I staid up at Elias Hatfield’s the night the McCoy boys were killed. I was awoke when Wall and others came there. Dock Mayhorn nor Plyant Mahorn was either of them there. If they were I didn’t see them. I am & have been acquainted with the General Moral character of the Defendants in the neighborhood in which they live and their character for peace is good.

For more information about this incident, follow these links:

http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/785?tour=55&index=3

http://wvpublic.org/post/three-mccoys-killed-hatfields-kentucky-august-8-1882#stream/0

http://hatfield-mccoytruth.com/2017/04/22/in-hatfield-country-blackberry-creek-in-the-1880s/

The Smoke House Restaurant in Logan, WV (1927)

27 Sunday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Logan

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Appalachia, history, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, The Smoke House, West Virginia

The Smoke House Restaurant Ad LB 02.22.1927.JPG

Logan (WV) Banner, 22 February 1927.

Paw Paw Incident: Joe Davis Deposition (1889)

27 Sunday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Culture of Honor, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Matewan

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Appalachia, Blackberry Creek, Bud McCoy, county clerk, Doc Mayhorn, Elias Hatfield, Elijah Mounts, feuds, G.W. Pinson, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Joe Davis, Kentucky, Pharmer McCoy, Pike County, Plyant Mahorn, Tolbert McCoy, Tug Fork, Wall Hatfield, West Virginia

The killing of Tolbert, Pharmer, and Bud McCoy by a Hatfield-led gang on August 8, 1882 represented one of the most sensational events of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. What follows is Joe Davis’ deposition regarding the affair:

COMMONWEALTH VS DOC MAYHORN &C

Bill of Exceptions

FILED Sept. 1889

G.W. Pinson, Clk

IMG_9709.JPG

The Commonwealth then introduced as a witness Jo Davis who Proves that he lives at the mouth of Blackberry Creek in Pike County Ky and was at home on the 9th day of August 1882. the mouth of Blackberry is about one mile above the mouth of Sulphur. knows Deft Plyant Mayhorn. saw him on Aug 9 1882 with with (sic) Wall and Elias Hatfield and Lige Mounts. Wall ask me if the little McCoy boy cut his brother. I told him he did and Wall said that was all right. it was all he wanted to know or something to that effect. They all turned and went back down the river. from the mouth Sulphur to mouth Mate Creek it is something over ½ mile. As soon as Wall and the others left him he turned and got in his skiff and sailed(?) across the river and went up first Bank(?) 8 or 10 steps and stopped and talked with Fanan(?) for about 3 or 4 minutes. walked on 10 or 12 steps to a fence. throwed his leg across it and heard guns or Pistols firing down the river. There is 3 fords in the river between Blackberry & Sulphur. Wall spoke to him in an ordinary tone of voice. Wall, Elias, Elijah Mounts and deft. Plyant Mayhorn wen(t) just opposite my house where Wall asked me about the little boy stabbing his brother. It was nearing dusk.

Written on left margin: In giving the distance from my house [corner torn] I have reference to the distance on the Ky shore [page torn]. It is nearer on the WVa side. I rowed the skiff ____ up the river about 25(0?) yds. Tug River is the boundary line between Ky & WVa and the river was low. I went down in the morning and saw the boys dead and the little one that Wall inquired about had the top of his head shot off.

For more information about this incident, follow these links:

http://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/785?tour=55&index=3

http://wvpublic.org/post/three-mccoys-killed-hatfields-kentucky-august-8-1882#stream/0

http://hatfield-mccoytruth.com/2017/04/22/in-hatfield-country-blackberry-creek-in-the-1880s/

U.B. Buskirk of Logan, WV (1893-1894)

25 Friday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Logan

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Appalachia, circuit clerk, Fannie Humphreys, genealogy, Henry Clay Ragland, history, J.B. ellison, J.W. Stowers, justice of the peace, Logan, Logan County, Mattie Buskirk, Nancy Butcher, T.C. Whited, Urias Buskirk, West Virginia

Urias Beckley Buskirk (1856-1962) was the son of a boot and shoe maker who migrated to Logan County from Pennsylvania. Urias, who became Logan’s wealthiest merchant in the 1890s, is profiled elsewhere at this blog.

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Logan County Circuit Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. The child’s name was Mattie Buskirk.

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Logan County Circuit Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. Mr. Buskirk (1856-1962), the wealthiest merchant in Logan, married to Fannie Humphreys in 1897.

Guyan Valley Coal Operators Grant Ten Percent Wage Increase (1917)

25 Friday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Coal

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Appalachia, coal, Guyan Valley Coal Operators, history, Logan, Logan Democrat, West Virginia

From the Logan Democrat of Logan, WV, comes this item about coal history dated February 15, 1917:

The Guyan Valley Operators Decide To Grant Ten Per Cent Wage Increase

Decision Reached By Men Who Control Mines Without Solicitation of Those in Their Employ–Have Treated Workmen Generously in Other Respects

The Guyan Valley operators have agreed to put in effect on March first a general advance of ten per cent in wages. This is the second advance they have given within twelve months, and both were of their own accord and without waiting for their employees to ask them.

These advances have been made because of the high cost of living, and without regard to the price of coal, for while a few of the operations in this valley have profited by the high price at which they have been able to sell their product, most of the coal mined in the field has been and is being delivered on contracts entered into at prices far below those prevailing at the present time. In fact some of the operations are engaged in filling contracts at prices considerably below the present cost of production. Some of the contracts will expire during the next month or two, but other well into midsummer. The average price received for Guyan Valley coal during the year 1916 was little if any more than ten per cent over the prices of the preceding year, when coal sold at figures a good deal less than had been known for a long period of years.

The two advances do not, however, embrace all that the Guyan operators have done for their people during the past few months. They have made a point of giving their men extra work to do, to enable them to make more money during the period of extreme car shortage. Most of the operators have also issued instructions to their store men to sell goods on a very close margin in order to help the men out during the prevalence of high prices for the necessaries of life.

These things are consonance with the general broad and liberal spirit that has characterized the actions of the men engaged in the coal business in this valley, and that has been instrumental in bringing it so rapidly to its present position of importance among the coal fields of West Virginia.

Daniel H. Fry Deed to Tolbert Ferrell and Patterson Ferrell (1854)

25 Friday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Creek

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Appalachia, Austin Survey, Big Creek, Daniel H. Fry, Elisha Fry, genealogy, George Fry, history, James Ferrell, John J. Besnoist, justice of the peace, Logan County, Lorenzo Dow Hill, Nancy Fry, Obediah Godby, Patterson Ferrell, Right Hand Fork, Tolbert Ferrell, Virginia, W.I. Campbell, West Virginia, William Godby

Daniel Fry to Tolbert Ferrell Deed 1

Deed Book C, page 420, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. This property is located in present-day West Virginia.

Daniel Fry to Tolbert Ferrell Deed 2

Deed Book C, page 421, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. Daniel’s brother Elisha Fry is my great-great-great-grandfather.

Charleston, WV: One Century Ago (1927)

25 Friday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Coal, Giles County, Native American History, Tazewell County

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Alex W. Quarrier, Andrew Donnally, Benjamin F. Morris, C&O Railroad, Cabell County, Charles Droddy, Charles Page, Charleston, Clendenin, coal, Coal River, Coalsmouth, Daniel Boone, David Ruffner, Davis Creek, Donnally's Fort, Ebenezer Oakes, Elk River, Fleming Cobb, Fort Tackett, genealogy, Giles County, Greenbrier County, Henry Ruffner, Herbert P. Gaines, history, John P. Huddleston, John Young, Josiah Hughes, Kanawha County, Kanawha Court House, Kanawha Salines, Kanawha Valley, L.H. Oakes, Leonard Morris, Logan Banner, Logan County, Malden, Marmet, Mason Campbell, Mercer Academy, Michael Newhouse, Native Americans, Owen Jarrett, Point Pleasant, Roy J. Morris, salt, South Charleston, St. Albans, Tazewell County, The Western Virginian, Walton, West Virginia, William Cobb

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, in a story titled “Conditions Century Ago: Charleston Educator Tells of Settlement of Kanawha County Which Embraced Part of What Is Now Logan–With 550 Population Charleston Was Metropolis of Kanawha Valley,” comes this bit of history for the city of Charleston dated October 14, 1927:

Josiah Hughes, principal of the South Charleston graded schools, has written a sketch of Kanawha county, telling of the activities of a century and more ago. It is of interest here, because Logan county was created in 1824 from parts of Kanawha, Cabell, Giles and Tazewell, and because some of the pioneers he names have descendants in Logan. Kanawha county was formed Oct. 5, 1789. His article in part follows.

Charleston was the largest town in the valley, and had a population of approximately 550. It had its stores, its schools, its court house, its jail, its pillory, and its whipping post.

The postoffice at Charleston was “Kanawha C.H.” established under that name in 1801, and was so called until late in 1879. Among those who received their mail here one century ago were the following: Leonard Morris (an ancestor of Roy J. Morris, who is in the local C. & O. ticket office), probably the earliest of the pioneers of the valley; Fleming Cobb, the noted Indian scout, who lies buried near the mouth of Davis Creek; John P. Huddleston, who hunted and trapped with Daniel Boone; Alex W. Quarrier, who was many years clerk of the courts of Kanawha county; Herbert P. Gaines, founder of the first newspaper in Charleston; John Young, whose father saved him and his mother from death by Indians when Fort Tackett at the mouth of Coal River was destroyed about 1789; Dr. William Cobb, the first physician in this valley and the ancestor of the Cobb family near Clendenin; Michael Newhouse, a noted pioneer of Elk river; Ebenezer Oakes, a near ancestor of our townsman, L.H. Oakes; Charles Droddy, the first settler at Walton; Owen Jarrett, noted ancestor of the Jarrett family in Kanawha county; Col. David Ruffner, the noted business man whose enterprise made possible the establishment of Mercer Academy in Charleston one hundred and ten years ago; Benjamin Morris, a noted pioneer and near ancestor of Benjamin F. Morris of Marmet; Col. Andrew Donnally, whose father built Donnally’s Fort in Greenbrier county.

During the years 1825-1829. “The Western Virginian,” as it was called, was the only newspaper published in Charleston. Mason Campbell was editor.

50 Salt Furnaces

The first great industry in the Great Kanawha Valley was the manufacturing of salt. One hundred years ago more than fifty salt furnaces were in active operation. A few years later the annual production of salt reached upwards of 3,000,000 bushels.

Kanawha Salines, now Malden, was the center of the great industrial area. The salt companies had greater stores than could be found in Charleston and many of the citizens of Charleston went to Kanawha Salines to do their trading.

One hundred years ago only a few coal mines had been opened up. Wood was the principal fuel used at the salt furnaces. Prior to 1830 but little coal was used by the salt makers. The coal industry in this valley was of comparatively small value until the opening of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad in 1873.

By 1827 three steamboats had succeeded in reaching Charleston. In 1830 the first towboat on the Kanawha reached Charleston.

Before the close of the first quarter of the nineteenth century missionaries of various churches had visited the valley and preached in the homes of the pioneers. The Protestant Episcopal church established parishes in Kanawha valley about 1821. The Rev. Charles Page was the preacher for the churches at Point Pleasant, Charleston and Coalsmouth (St. Albans). But the Presbyterian church was probably the pioneer in the valley, although small congregations of communicants of the Baptist and Methodist churches may have worshiped in the homes of some of the pioneers. Dr. Henry Ruffner organized the first Presbyterian church in Kanawha county in 1818. The church was organized in Charleston.

Good Roads for Logan County Film (1917)

19 Saturday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Logan

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Appalachia, Bennett Theatre, Chamber of Commerce, Good Roads Committee, history, Logan, Logan County, Logan Democrat, West Virginia, White Good Roads Picture

Good Roads for Logan County Movie LD 02.22.1917.JPG

Logan (WV) Democrat, 22 February 1917.

George Workman Letter to Lewis Lawson (1867)

19 Saturday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Civil War, Pecks Mill

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Appalachia, civil war, Confederate Army, genealogy, George Workman, history, Lewis Lawson, Logan County, Virginia, West Virginia, Whites Mill

The following letter was composed by George Workman of Logan County, WV, and sent to Lewis Lawson:

April the 3rd 1867

Mr. Lewis Lawson. Sir. I take the present oppotunity of informing you that I have been in formed that you claim to have a deed of trust on my land. now this seems a strange truth to me for you know that I never gave you any such a thing and I think you are a man of better sense than to forge such a thing you don’t like to work that well I give you and smoot a deed of trust on five head of cattle which the rebs took from me and when you want your pay you must make them pay me now sir if you have a trust deed on my land you had better keep it to your self for I can prove the deed was on cattle and I will prossecute you as you are a man. You must think that I am a perfect idiot that I will let you forge a trust deed sell me out say nothing to you. but I am not quite that dull now sir I dare you to do any thing with your deed and Just show you that I am not a sleep and I am not worth what the law a lows me until you rebs pays me for my property then I will pay you & c.

George Workman

Note: Mr. Lawson, born about 1810 in England, lived at Whites Mills in 1860 where the census listed him as a farmer and merchant with $4000 worth of real estate and $15,720 worth of personal property.

Camp Bellow, Logan County, WV

11 Friday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Coal

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Appalachia, Camp Bellow, coal, history, Logan County, West Virginia

Camp Bellow No. 5 Mine 4.JPG

Camp Bellow #5 Mine, Logan County, WV. Photo credit unknown.

Banco News 10.12.1926

11 Friday May 2018

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

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Appalachia, Aracoma, B.E. Ferrell, Banco, Basil Duty, Big Creek, Braxton County, Broad Branch School, C.A. Justice, Charlie Stone, Clara Harmon, Cynthiana, D.H. Harmon, Daisy, Daisy School, Dewey Miller, Earl Justice, Elm Street, Estep, Gardner Baisden, Gay Petit, genealogy, H.F. Lucas, history, Jesse Justice, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mary Hager, Mary Thomas, Mt. Sinai, Mud Fork, O.C. Justice, O.L. Harmon, Ohio, Ruby Browning, Six Mile, Stone Branch, Ted Hager, West Virginia, Whitman

An unknown correspondent from Banco on Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on October 12, 1926:

All you folks of different towns

And the travelers making rounds

Who read lots of papers

And are always getting blue

Just get The Logan Banner and read it too.

Miss Gay Petit of Braxton county, teacher of the Daisy school, and Miss Mary Thomas of Estep were the guests of Clara Harmon last Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Stone and children were out motoring last Saturday evening.

We imagine H.F.L. will soon don his furs and be off for the “North Pole.”

Gardner Baisden of Estep passed through Banco last Sunday enroute to Stone Branch. What’s the attraction around there, Peanut?

Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Justice, Mr. and Mrs. O.C. Justice, and Earl Justice motored from Whitman last Sunday and were the guests of home folks on Elm Street.

Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Hager and small daughter of Stone Branch and Mr. and Mrs. Ted Hager of Big Creek were the guests of Mrs. Mary Hager last Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Miller of Six Mile motored through Banco last Sunday evening.

O.L. Harmon of Aracoma was calling on his uncle Mr. D.H. Harmon here one evening last week.

Look out girls of Banco and Estep. You’re going to lose Basil Duty, as he is visiting Mud Fork real often. There must be some attraction up there.

H.F. Lucas of Elm Street was in Banco real early last Sunday morning. He surely was inspecting the “Candy Kitchens” of this town.

Miss Ruby Browning, teacher of the Broad Branch school, was visiting her parents at Cynthiana, Ohio, the last weekend.

Mrs. B.E. Ferrell of Mt. Sinai was a business caller in Banco one day last week.

Wonder if the “Boy” who resides on Elm Street saw the pretty girl from Daisy that was visiting in Banco last Sunday?

Jesse Justice surely will be an expert at swallowing taffy as he followed a mill all last week that ground out the goods.

Good luck to all.

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