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Brandon Ray Kirk

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Brandon Ray Kirk

Monthly Archives: February 2019

Aracoma Hotel in Logan, WV (1922)

27 Wednesday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Logan

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Appalachia, Aracoma Hotel, F.R. Remlinger, history, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, West Virginia

Aracoma Hotel Ad LB 03.31.1922.JPG

Aracoma Hotel advertisement, Logan (WV) Banner, 31 March 1922.

Paw Paw Incident: Elijah Mounts Deposition (1889)

27 Wednesday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud

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Bud McCoy, crime, Doc Mayhorn, Elijah Mounts, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Joseph Davis, Kentucky, Logan County, Mate Creek, Mingo County, murder, 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 Elijah Mounts’ deposition regarding the affair:

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Elijah Mounts

Who was introduced by the [page torn] Commonwealth and state [page torn] Between the time we left [page torn] Jo Davis and before [page torn] met the Parties near the mouth of Mate [page torn] I have [page torn] Hatfield whoots who are [page torn]

X Ex

This whooting was after all [page torn] shooting was done we ___ [page torn] along down below the the [page torn] mo. of Sulphur before I ___ [page torn] the whoots. I first Saw Dock [page torn] Mayhorn, about 50 yards [page torn] up from the Mouth of Mate [page torn] __ came _____ [page torn] ___ the river and Said [page torn] to me you have got back [page torn] with my horse. I then got [page torn] down off the horse. And I then heard the noise of others coming.

The Gay Coal and Coke Company Script

27 Wednesday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Coal

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Appalachia, Gay Coal and Coke Company, history, Logan County, Mt. Gay, script, West Virginia

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The Gay Coal and Coke Company, Mt. Gay, Logan County, WV.

Huntington Safe Robbed by James Gang Taken to Henlawson, WV (1937)

27 Wednesday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Coal, Huntington, Logan

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Appalachia, Bank of Huntington, Bob Greever, Bud McDaniel, C.W. Jones, Cabell County, Frank James, Henlawson, Henry Lawson, history, Huntington, Island Creek, Jesse James, Logan, Logan County, Merrill Mines, Robert T. Oney, Tennessee, West Virginia

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about the James Gang’s robbery of a Huntington bank…and the fate of a safe:

Historic Safe In Offices Merrill Mines, Henlawson

Bank Safe Robbed by Jesse James’ Gang at Huntington in 1875 Now in Fire-proof Vault at Henlawson

Used As Storage For Old Files

The Merrill Mines at Henlawson have a safe in their payroll office which has a unique history.

The safe is being used by the company as a storage place for old records and is in a fire-proof vault.

But it was not always thus.

According to Bob Greever, payroll clerk, who became interested in the history of the safe and clipped a news story from a Huntington newspaper to support his story, the depository was once in the old Bank of Huntington on Third avenue and Twelfth street and was robbed by members of Jesse James gang, who made their getaway with $14,500 on Twelfth street to Fourth avenue, thence to Tenth street and out Tenth street to the hills, closely pursued by a hastily formed posse.

Old-timers in Logan still remember the posse which followed the gang to Logan and lost its trail at the forks of Island Creek long enough for the gang to make their escape to Tennessee.

Reports came back to Logan that the posse overtook the band in Tennessee, killed one of the gang, Bud McDaniel, and arrested another by the name of Webb or Keen. The man the police arrested was brought back to West Virginia and was sentenced to the penitentiary for 20 years. Most of the money was recovered.

An excerpt from the news article describing the bank robbery reads:

“On Monday, September 6, 1875, between the hours of 1 and 2 o’clock a group of men later discovered to have been members of the dreaded James gang, descended on the Bank of Huntington and, at the point of a pistol, forced Robert T. Oney, cashier, to open the bank’s safe in order that they might rifle the contents.

“They complimented the cashier on his courage and insisted on restoring to him an amount of money shown to be his by a credit slip on the counter.

“Reaching the outside of the bank the four men sprung into their saddles, brandished their pistols in the air and galloped away, yelling like Comanche.”

“It was definitely learned that Jesse James was not among them, but there was uncertainty as to whether or not Frank James was in the party. Colder Young was present and may have been leader of the detachment.”

C.W. Jones, general manager of the Merrill Mines, said that the old safe, which weighs every bit of two tons, was first owned by Henry Lawson, lumber operator at Henlawson.

Lawson brought the safe from Huntington by pushboat and put it in his lumber offices on the site of the Merrill Mine offices.

When the Merrill Mines opened their workings, the safe was left near its original site and a fireproof vault was built around it.

The safe is showing the ravages of nearly a century of service. The combination is broken, it squeaks on its hinges, and some of the cement which is encased between steel plates on the safe doors is beginning to crack.

However, the safe is in its final resting place, the door of the vault is too small to get the safe through.

Logan (WV) Banner, 13 May 1937

Patton Thompson et al Deed to U.G. Shipe (1909)

23 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Guyandotte River, West Hamlin

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county clerk, E.A. Lewis, Elizabeth Thompson, genealogy, Guyan Street, Guyandotte River, Helen Vinson, history, J.W. Harless, justice of the peace, Lincoln County, Maude Lewis, Patton Thompson, Robert A. Lewis, S.J. Lewis, U.G. Shipe, W.F. Tabor, West Hamlin, West Virginia, Zena C. Harless

Patton Thompson Deed 3

Deed Book __, page __, Lincoln County Clerk’s Office, Hamlin, WV. Patton Thompson (1824-1909) was my great-great-great-grandfather. He died May 22, 1909.

Patton Thompson Deed 2

Deed Book __, page __, Lincoln County Clerk’s Office, Hamlin, WV.

Chapmanville News 10.06.1922

23 Saturday Feb 2019

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

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Andrew Fowler, Appalachia, Chapmanville, Chilton Chapman, coal, Ed Turner, Elliott Bryant, Eva Barker, genealogy, Harriet Hill, Harts Creek, Henlawson, history, Kimball, L.T. Hicks, Logan Banner, Logan County, Maud McCloud, Millard Brown, Pete Ferrell, Seamon mines, Susie Hill, Ula Barker, Washington DC, Wayne Brown, West Virginia

A correspondent named “Mutt & Jeff” from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on October 6, 1922:

We are having some cool nights. Soon be time for Jack Frost.

Mrs. Dingess returned Monday after a few days visiting on Harts Creek.

We understand that Mr. Ula Barker is the proud owner of a gray mule.

Mr. Pete Ferrell is tipple boss at the Seamon mines.

Mr. and Mrs. L.T. Hicks are spending their honeymoon in Washington, D.C. We all wish them a happy life.

We see there is another new house going up in town.

Chapmanville is getting more like New York every day.

Miss Maud McCloud gets more letters than anyone else. Who is it that thinks so much of you, Maud?

Andrew Fowler wears a fifty cent smile these days. What is up, boys?

All of our boys have gone to work after a long vacation during the strike.

Mrs. Wayne Brown, Miss Harriet Hill, Chilton Chapman, and Susie Hill were out car riding Sunday. All reported a good time.

Millard Brown and his best girl were out walking Sunday.

Ed Turner and Miss Havner were seen out walking Sunday.

Eva Barker seems to get letters from Kimball real often.

Quite a number of the boys and girls of Henlawson visited Chapmanville Sunday. Come again. We are glad to have visitors.

Elliott Bryant was wearing a seventy-five cent smile Sunday. Who is she, Elliott?

Fanny, where was Cecil Sunday?

If this escapes the waste basket, will call again.

Dehue, Logan County, WV

23 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Coal

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Appalachia, coal, Dehue, history, Logan County, photos, Rum Creek, West Virginia

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Dehue, Rum Creek, Logan County, WV. Date and copyright unknown.

John Breckinridge Once Owned Logan, WV (1937)

23 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in American Revolutionary War, Logan, Native American History

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Andrew Lewis, Appalachia, Aracoma, Battle of the Island, Big Creek, Boling Baker, Coal River, Dingess Run, Elizabeth Madison, George Booth, Gilbert Creek, Guyandotte River, Hatfield Island, history, Island Creek, John Breckinridge, Kentucky, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mingo County, Montgomery County, Native American History, Native Americans, Spruce Fork, Thomas Madison, Virginia, Washington County, West Virginia

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of information about Logan’s early history printed on April 26, 1937:

Land On Which City Of Logan Now Stands First Owned by Breckinridge

The tract of land on which the city of Logan now stands and the Island–now “Hatfield’s Island”–once belonged to John Breckinridge, scion of an old Kentucky family and leader of the attacking party which broke the control of the Shawnee Indians in the Guyandotte valleys in the “Battle of the Islands.”

Princess Aracoma was killed in this battle and Boling Baker, her renegade white husband, was banished forever from the lush river valley where he had spent his days since his desertion from the English forces in Virginia.

Captain Breckenridge led the attack which made the valley safe for white settlers, and, in appreciation of his services, the new government allowed him 300 acres at the mouth of Island creek.

The land grant was made early in the 1780s along with a few others on Island Creek, Dingess Run, Gilbert Creek, Big Creek and the Spruce Fork of Cole River.

Surveying parties from Montgomery and Washington county, Virginia, braved the wilderness and apportioned the land in Guyan Valley and vicinity to early Indian fighters who had contributed their services to opening the valley for white settlement.

Included in the surveys made by deputy surveyors from Montgomery county were grants apportioning much of Island Creek, Spruce Fork, and Dingess Run to persons whose names are still remembered in the county has holders of much of this county’s land.

In these early surveys Andrew Lewis was given 3000 acres on Island Creek along with 2000 acres on Big Creek, and 3000 acres on Gilbert Creek.

Thomas Madison was given 2000 acres on Spruce Fork, 1000 acres on Dingess Run, and 2000 acres on Gilbert Creek.

Others who figured in this early allocation of land were Elizabeth Madison, who was given much of Spruce Fork; George Booth, who was awarded several thousand acres along Guyan River and on Island Creek; and George Booth [same name listed twice in this story], who received much of the land along Island Creek.

Later in the waning years of the 19th century other grants were made by the new government with the stipulation that settlement be made immediately, but these early grants were rewards for work well done in opening the valley of the Guyandotte for settlement.

Barboursville Cemetery (2015/2017)

23 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Cemeteries, Lincoln County Feud

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Anthony Shelton, Appalachia, Barboursville, Barboursville Cemetery, Brandon Kirk, Cabell County, genealogy, history, Hollena Brumfield, Lincoln County Feud, Margaret Shelton, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Randolph Moss, West Virginia, William S. Kelley

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Anthony and Margaret Shelton headstone, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 14 February 2015

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Dr. V. Randolph Moss grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. Dr. Moss was an attending physician to Hollena Brumfield after her gunshot wound to the face in September of 1889. Photo by Mom. 5 May 2017

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Dr. V. Randolph Moss grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. Photo by Mom. 5 May 2017

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Dr. V. Randolph Moss grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 5 May 2017

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William S. Kelley grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 15 February 2015

Enzelo News 09.01.1922

22 Friday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Enslow

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Albert Mullins, Almeda Baisden, Appalachia, Ben Browning, Bruce Conley, genealogy, H.L. Mullins, Harts, Harts Creek, history, James Baisden, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mount Era United Baptist Church, Pearly Ornton, Pumpkin Center, Rosie Mullins, Roxie Mullins, Van Mullins, Welthy Mullins, West Virginia

A correspondent named “For-Get-Me-Not” from Enzelo on Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on September 1, 1922:

Wonder what is wrong with Ruth?

Mr. James Baisden and Miss Pearly Ornton were out walking Sunday.

Welthy and Rosie Mullins were seen horse back riding Monday afternoon.

Misses Almeda Baisden, Roxie and Welthy Mullins went to Hearts to church Sunday morning.

Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Mullins gave an apple peeling Thursday night. All reported a good time.

What’s “Black eyes” so downhearted about?

Bruce Conley and his little brother were the guests at Roxie’s home Saturday.

The Mount Erie Sunday School will go to Pumpkin Center for the first Sunday in September on a picnic.

Roxie Mullins was Mr. and Mrs. Ben Browning’s guest recently.

Van Mullins, who has been on the sick list for some time, is recovering fast.

Albert Mullins was seen passing through here whistling.

Welthy Mullins has a new Beau. He’s rather cute, don’t you think so?

If the goat doesn’t eat this, I’ll come again.

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Feud Poll 1

If you had lived in the Harts Creek community during the 1880s, to which faction of feudists might you have given your loyalty?

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Feud Poll 2

Do you think Milt Haley and Green McCoy committed the ambush on Al and Hollene Brumfield in 1889?

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Feud Poll 3

Who do you think organized the ambush of Al and Hollene Brumfield in 1889?

Recent Posts

  • Whirlwind News 10.30.1925
  • James Toney Survey (1849)
  • Nancy E. Hatfield Memories, Part 2 (1974)

Ed Haley Poll 1

What do you think caused Ed Haley to lose his sight when he was three years old?

Top Posts & Pages

  • Nancy E. Hatfield Memories, Part 2 (1974)
  • Nancy E. Hatfield Memories, Part 1 (1974)
  • Civil War Gold Coins Hidden Near Chapmanville, WV
  • Levisa Hatfield (1927-1929)
  • Interview of Jean Hatfield at Sarah Ann, WV (2001), Part 4

Copyright

© Brandon Ray Kirk and brandonraykirk.wordpress.com, 1987-2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Brandon Ray Kirk and brandonraykirk.wordpress.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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Appalachia Ashland Big Creek Big Ugly Creek Blood in West Virginia Brandon Kirk Cabell County cemeteries Chapmanville Charleston civil war coal Confederate Army crime culture Ed Haley Ella Haley Ferrellsburg feud fiddler fiddling genealogy Green McCoy Guyandotte River Harts Harts Creek Henry H. Hardesty history Huntington John Hartford Kentucky Lawrence Haley life Lincoln County Lincoln County Feud Logan Logan Banner Logan County Milt Haley Mingo County music Ohio photos timbering U.S. South Virginia Wayne County West Virginia Whirlwind writing

Blogs I Follow

  • OtterTales
  • Our Appalachia: A Blog Created by Students of Southern West Virginia CTC
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OtterTales

Writings from my travels and experiences. High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water. Mark Twain

Our Appalachia: A Blog Created by Students of Southern West Virginia CTC

This site is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and promotion of history and culture in Appalachia.

Piedmont Trails

Genealogy and History in North Carolina and Beyond

Truman Capote

A site about one of the most beautiful, interesting, tallented, outrageous and colorful personalities of the 20th Century

Appalachian Diaspora

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