Tags
Appalachia, B.A. Grady, Chapmanville, Chapmanville Coal Company, coal, history, Logan Banner, Logan County, Logan Mines Inc., Thompson Coal Company, W.M. Zurkle, West Virginia

Logan (WV) Banner, 26 August 1927
27 Friday Sep 2019
Posted Chapmanville, Coal
inTags
Appalachia, B.A. Grady, Chapmanville, Chapmanville Coal Company, coal, history, Logan Banner, Logan County, Logan Mines Inc., Thompson Coal Company, W.M. Zurkle, West Virginia
Logan (WV) Banner, 26 August 1927
27 Friday Sep 2019
Posted Big Harts Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Fourteen
inTags
A.F. Morris, Alvin Linville, Andrew J. Browning, Appalachia, Big Branch, Big Ugly Creek, C&O Railroad, C.C. Fry, C.W. Campbell, Carroll District, Charles Brumfield, coal, Cole Branch, Cora Adkins, Delana Thompson, Dick Elkins Branch, E.W. Holley, Emzy Adkins, Fourteen Mile Creek, gas, genealogy, Georgia Perry, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, history, Ike Fry Branch, Isaac Gartin, J.H. Meek, J.W. White, James M. Toney, John Adkins, John Dingess, John P. Frye, John W. Robertson, John W. Tomblin, Josephine Robinson, Keenan Toney, Laura Aldridge, Lincoln County, Mary White, O.J. Spurlock, oil, Patton Thompson, Rockhouse Fork, Roma Spears, Sarah A. Perry, Thomas Browning, Wash Dempsey, William Manns, Wilson and Sons
The following deed index is based on Deed Book 60 at the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office in Hamlin, WV, and relates to residents of the Harts Creek community. Most notations reflect Harts Creek citizens engaged in local land transactions; some reflect Harts Creek citizens engaged in land transactions outside of the community. These notes are meant to serve as a reference to Deed Book 60. Researchers who desire the most accurate version of this material are urged to consult the actual record book.
A.F. Morris, special commissioner, and E.W. Holley to John P. Fry 75 acres Fourteen Mile Creek 13 January 1900 p.72-73
Laura Aldridge to C.C. Fry 3 acres Big Ugly Creek 17 May 1909 p. 79-80
William Manns et ux to Josephine Robinson 75 acres Big Harts Creek 19 February 1887 p. 82
Georgia Perry to John W. Robertson timber Big Branch Harts Creek 23 December 1909 p. 83-84
Sarah A. Perry to Georgia Perry 19 acres Ridge Between Dick Elkins Branch and Rockhouse Fork 14 September 1906 p. 85-86
Sarah A. Perry to Georgia Perry 26 acres Big Branch Harts Creek 15 September 1906 p. 86-87
Isaac G. Gartin to James M. Toney 56 acres and 35 1/4 acres Harts Creek District 3 January 1899 p. 125-127
Patten and Delana Thompson to J.W. and Mary White 102 acres and 22 acres Carroll District 22 February 1887 p. 136-137
Alvin Linville et ux to Roma Spears et ux 32 acres Big Ugly Creek 28 January 1910 p. 213-214
A.F. Morris et ux to Romie Spears et ux 32 acres Big Ugly Creek 19 July 1910 p. 214-215
J.H. Meek, trustee, to C&O Railway Company right of way Harts Creek District 30 June 1910 p. 283-284
John W. Tomblin et ux to K.E. Toney 100 acres interest in coal, oil, cas, etc. Big Harts Creek 13 August 1910 p. 300-301
John Adkins et ux to K.E. Toney 45 acres interest in coal, oil, gas, etc. Lower Big Branch 5 July 1910 p. 301-302
Emzy Adkins et ux to Cora Adkins 40 acres Harts Creek District 4 February 1905 p. 304-305
Charles Brumfield et ux to Wilson and Sons 100 acres Ike Fry Branch 12 may 1902 T.J. Wysong, notary public p. 375-376
A.F. Morris et ux to O.J. Spurlock 100 acres Big Ugly Creek 16 November 1909 p. 412-413
Andrew J. Browning et ux to K.E. Toney 200 acres coal, oil, gas, etc. Big Harts Creek 10 August 1910 JP Charles Adkins 17 August 1910 p. 425-426
Wash Dempsey et al to Thomas Browning Big Harts Creek 24 January 1905 p. 426-427
C.W. Campbell, special commissioner, to John Dingess Coal Branch 16 August 1898 p. 442-443
Note: I copied all of these deeds.
26 Thursday Sep 2019
Posted Big Harts Creek, Twelve Pole Creek
inTags
Appalachia, Arnold Perry, Catherine Perry, genealogy, history, Hoover Fork, John McCloud, justice of the peace, Logan County, Pretty Branch, Samuel Dawson, Stephen Marcum, Twelve Pole Creek, Virginia, Wayne County, West Virginia
Deed Book C, page ___, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.
26 Thursday Sep 2019
Posted Logan
inTags
Appalachia, Charles Bennett, crime, Draper Building, Falls City Construction Company, German, history, John B. Wilkinson, Lanham's Plumbing Shop, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Logan Court House, mayor, Poole Drug Store, R. Topin, Robert Bland, West Virginia
From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, come these items of local news during the year 1913:
Logan (WV) Banner, 1 May 1913
***
The Call to Arms
Ladies of Logan, we need you, and ask your unfailing support against filth and flies. With your full assistance we expect to make the men “help the women do the work.” We want you to help us develop the pride and civic duty which promotes cleanliness. Enlist the whole household in this crusade against filth and flies–breeders of disease.
With the homes, the yards and the streets clean, screened receptacles for kitchen waste, which we will remove without expense, the free use of lime daily, our city will be respectable and commendable.
Lend us your aid and imbibe the slogan, “Cleaner, Healthier and Better Logan.”
Respectfully,
Robert Bland, Mayor
By order of the Common Council.
Logan (WV) Banner, 23 May 1913
***
Logan (WV) Banner, 20 June 1913.
***
The Latest Craze
In Logan now is PAINT–house paint and everybody’s doin’ it! The most recent ones are the Draper Bldg., Judge Wilkinson’s residence and office, Lanham’s plumbing shop, the Poole drug store, German restaurant, etc. More paint was spread in Logan this year than ever was known before, and considerable of it was “red” too. It can truly be said that nearly every building in town, of importance, has been or will be painted this year, in fact a few almost worthless old houses now look like new. A bucket of paint surely works wonders sometimes. A sign writer has also been at work the past week or two putting gold lettering on windows.”
Logan (WV) Banner, 4 July 1913
***
Logan County Prisoners Working Roads, They Like It Better Than Confinement
Two wagon-loads of prisoners were taken out of the county jail Wednesday morning, under guard, and worked on the roads in this vicinity. A 5-lb rod, about two foot long, was locked around an ankle of each prisoners. They seemed to like their outing.
Logan (WV) Banner, 12 September 1913
21 Saturday Sep 2019
Tags
A Prairie Home Companion, Appalachia, Appalachian Heritage Day, banjo, bluegrass, Bobby Osborne, Branson, Braxton County, Buddy Griffin, Charlie Sizemore, Cincinnati, David O'Dell, fiddler, fiddling, Glenville State College, Goins Brothers, guitar, Jackie Whitley, Jeff Roberts, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, Katie Laur Band, Landon Williams, Larry Sparks, Logan, Mac Wiseman, mandolin, Missouri, music, Nicholas County, photos, Robert C. Byrd, Rocky Top X-Press, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, The Hard Times, Vandalia Award, Vetco Records, West Virginia, West Virginia All-Star Bluegrass Band, Wheeling, WWVA Jamboree
Bluegrass fiddle workshop, AHD, SWVCTC, Logan, WV. Photo by Jackie Whitley. 24 August 2019
Bluegrass fiddle workshop, AHD, SWVCTC, Logan, WV. Photo by Jackie Whitley. 24 August 2019
Bluegrass fiddle workshop, AHD, SWVCTC, Logan, WV. Photo by Jackie Whitley. 24 August 2019
Bluegrass fiddle workshop, AHD, SWVCTC, Logan, WV. Photo by David O’Dell. 24 August 2019
A native of Nicholas and Braxton counties, Buddy Griffin is a master musician on several instruments and a dedicated teacher and mentor. Raised in a musical family, Buddy began performing at an early age, excelling at banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin. In 1973, he was hired in the staff band on the WWVA Jamboree in Wheeling, where he came into contact with Landon Williams, who lured him to Cincinnati to play in his band, The Hard Times. He and banjoist Jeff Roberts joined the Katie Laur Band in 1975. Buddy also played with the Goins Brothers. He later worked as an engineer at Vetco Records in Cincinnati and played in Charlie Sizemore’s band. He recorded with Mac Wiseman and has worked with Jim and Jesse, Larry Sparks, the Heckels, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, and Jesse McReynolds. He played in Branson, MO, for several years. In 1997, he returned to West Virginia and taught music at Glenville State College, where he was instrumental in developing the world’s first degree program in bluegrass music. He is a studio musician and has performed on various radio shows, including NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion.” In 2011, he was awarded the Vandalia Award, West Virginia’s highest folklife honor. In 2016, he played fiddle with Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press. He often performs with the West Virginia All-Star Bluegrass Band.
21 Saturday Sep 2019
Posted Battle of Blair Mountain, Boone County, Logan
inTags
A.C. Rouse, A.R. Browning, Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Bill Blizzard, Blair Mountain, Charleston, crime, deputy sheriff, District No. 17, Don Chafin, Ferndale, Frank Keeney, George Munsy, H.M. Miller, history, Hubert Ferrell, J.E. Wilburn, J.L. Workman, John Gore, Lens Creek, Logan, Logan Banner, Madison, Marmet, merchant, Mine Wars, Mother Jones, Savoy Holt, sheriff, T.C. Townsend, United Mine Workers of America, Warren G. Harding, West Virginia
Here is one article from the Logan Banner relating to Bill Blizzard and the Armed March on Logan County, WV, popularly remembered today as the Battle of Blair Mountain:
Blizzard Gloated at Gore’s Death, Said
“That’s fine! What’s the matter you haven’t killed any others?” William Blizzard, mine workers’ officer, was quoted as saying after he heard of the death of Deputy Sheriff John Gore and two companions at the hands of a party of union miners, according to testimony Monday at Blizzard’s trial upon an accessory to murder indictment growing out of the armed march against Logan county in 1921. Blizzard is charged with having participated in the plans that caused the death of George Munsy, one of the Logan defenders killed with Gore.
Hubert Ferrell, of Ferndale, the witness who quoted Blizzard’s words, declared the mine workers’ office made the statement in a speech to the armed miners gathered at Blair on the afternoon of the day after they had returned from Blair mountain where the Logan “defenders” were killed.
“It don’t seem like it would take any more nerve to kill Don Chafin (Logan county sheriff) and his thugs than it would a sheep-killing dog,” Ferrell testified Blizzard continued in his speech. “Right tomorrow I want you to fix up to go over the top. It don’t matter about losing a few men. I want you to go over to Logan and let the men out of jail and tear the thing down to the ground.”
Under cross-examination Ferrell added that Blizzard had told the men he wanted them to eat dinner the next day “on the jail house step.”
Ferrell, according to his testimony, failed in his first effort to visit the men who participated in the armed march when he was stopped by guards at the mouth of Lens Creek where the marchers first assembled. He denied that he had ever desired to join the march and said he went there only to see if there were any men there whom he knew. T.C. Townsend, one of the defense attorneys, cross-examined Ferrell vigorously upon that point. The witness said he was on his way to Charleston to buy clothing at the time. Later he said he went to Blair intending to go on to Logan and visit his half-brother, but was prevented by the armed men in Blair from either going on or returning and eventually returned home on a special train after federal troops took charge of the situation.
While he was at Marmet at the mouth of Lens Creek and unable to go farther up the creek because he could not give the guards the password and did not belong to a union, Ferrell said Fred Mooney, secretary treasurer of District No. 17, United Mine Workers, and a man who was said to be C. Frank Keeney, the district president, were there in an automobile. Mooney, the young man told the jury, asked the guards if any guns and ammunition had arrived and on being told he had none informed them that two truck loads had left Charleston. The man pointed out as Keeney told the men he did not believe they were sufficiently prepared and that they would do better to go home, “get prepared and then go over and get Don Chafin and his thugs.”
On the day before Gore and Munsy were killed, Ferrell said Blizzard also made a speech from the porch of the school house that served as base for the armed forces on the union side at the mountain and asked what was the matter that they were not having more success and told them they ought to go over and “get Chafin and the thugs and get it over with.”
Mrs. J.E. Wilburn, wife of the miner-preacher who was one of the principal witnesses for the state now serving a sentence of 12 years for his part in the killings on Blair mountain, testified that guns and ammunition were stored in the parlor of their home. She did not know Blizzard, she said, but men who took the arms into the house said Blizzard had brought them, she testified.
A.R. Browning, a merchant at Blair, told the court that members of the armed forces there got merchandise at his store and told him to charge it to the United Mine Workers of America. The things they got, he said, included shoes, overalls, and other clothing and also some women’s clothing, which he thought, they got for their wives and daughters.
H.M. Miller, a constable at Madison, said that just before Keeney made a speech at the ball park near there which he counselled the marchers to return to their homes, he had a conversation with the union president in which Keeney said that “if the federal troops would keep out he would take these men and go through Logan with them.”
Earlier in the day, J.L. Workman and A.C. Rouse of Marmet had testified as to the occurrence during the assembling of the men on Lens Creek. Workman told of “Mother” Jones’ efforts to get the men to go back to their homes and her declaration that she had a telegram from the President of the United States, which he said Keeney called a “fake.” Later that day both Workman and Rouse said Savoy Holt in a speech from the running board of an automobile said the union officials were their but could not address the men and that he had been instructed to tell them that the telegram was not genuine and that they were to “go on.” Rouse said Keeney and Mooney were in this automobile and that Blizzard was in another nearby. A man he did not know spoke from the running board of the automobile in which Blizzard was riding, telling the men to go on, and Blizzard’s car drove up Lens Creek followed by the armed hordes.
Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 6 July 1923
21 Saturday Sep 2019
Posted Big Harts Creek
inTags
Appalachia, Charles Adkins, Cole Branch, Elias Adkins, Elizabeth Adkins, genealogy, Harts Creek, Henry Adkins, history, Isaac Adkins, Isaac Adkins Jr., Isaiah Adkins, Lincoln County, Logan County, Lydia Eveline Mullins, Parthena Adkins, Polly Adkins, Spencer A. Mullins, Virginia, West Virginia
Deed Book ___, page 447, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. Note: This property is located in present-day Lincoln County.
Deed Book ___, page 448, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. Note: Isaiah Adkins is my great-great-great-great-grandfather.
21 Saturday Sep 2019
Posted Uncategorized
inFrom the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about U.S. teachers in 1896. The story is dated April 7, 1937.
Writer in 1896 Declared Teachers Earned No More Than Cobblers, Milliners
School teachers’ pay in 1896 assumed as prominent a place in public problems as it does today. The difference in the problem is in that the teachers of 1896 were said to receive about as much pay as milliners and cobblers while today they probably receive less.
But this is not an editorial.
A clipping from Forum in 1896 showed that teachers’ salaries ranged from $100 to $900 a year. The Forum writer wondered how the teachers could live on such a small amount. He’d be in a deeper quandary today.
The average salary for a school year amounted to approximately $318.36 for men and $262.92 for women. Duties included cleaning the schools and building the fires. The writer said these duties were not always considered hardships by the persons who took the jobs, the women having always been accustomed to such duties and the men didn’t find it hard because they could always induce students to perform the tasks for certain favors.
Nearly three times as many women teachers than men were employed in the country schools in the United States at that time. The percentage was higher in the country than in the city.
The teachers instructed their one roomful of children in all branches of learning up to grammar and algebra, the writer said.
He also said that “for what these teachers do they are quite adequately paid.” That wouldn’t apply today.
“A village schoolmaster will earn as much in the year as the cobbler; the schoolmistress will earn as much as the milliner,” the Forum scribe said.
“They do not belong as a general thing to a class better educated than the cobbler or milliner (remember, this was 1896) and they do not work any harder, the writer declared.
Here’s where he warms up a bit and applies to 1937.
“Those of them who have thought about their calling and who have ever been moved to feel that great responsibilities devolved upon them have realized that the conditions were such that they could not do next to nothing, and usually they have given over any efforts to secure a change in school administration.”
Fact for fact and condition for condition there is only a small change in the country schools left after many of them were consolidated. Consolidation was a boon to the country, but 41 years have passed and many teachers are still underpaid and have to teach under intolerable conditions.
19 Thursday Sep 2019
Posted Big Ugly Creek
inTags
Anderson Barker, Appalachia, Big Ugly Creek, county clerk, genealogy, history, justice of the peace, Levi Collins, Lincoln County, Logan County, Nancy Collins, Ralph Lucas, Virginia, W.I. Campbell, West Virginia, William Smith, William Straton
Deed Book __, page 471, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. This property is located in present-day Lincoln County.
Deed Book __, page 471, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.
19 Thursday Sep 2019
Posted Big Sandy Valley, Timber, Twelve Pole Creek
inTags
Appalachia, Big Sandy River, Bragg Creek, Fort Gay, history, Horse Creek, Kenova, logging, Mingo County, Naugatuck, Ohio River, pushboats, rafting, steamboats, timber, timbering, Tom Brown, Tug Fork, Twelve Pole Creek, Wayne County, West Virginia
The following interview excerpt of Tom Brown (born c.1909) was conducted at Fort Gay in Wayne County, WV, on December 15, 1979.
***
It was probably hard to get around back then, to go to church.
Well the only way you could get around through this country was up and down creeks or on horseback or wagon. And roads were in the creek most of the way. And where they cut timber and logs they had tram roads built back in the heads of the hollows and they had tracks–they built their track out of 2″ X 4″s–and they hauled these logs or ties from the mills back to the heads of the hollows back to the railroads. And they logged out of the mountains and they ran lots of rafts down Tug River. I’ve see high as four to five. They started the rafts running in the spring. They run them out of Mingo County and generally a lot of them was set out in Naugatuck.
That’s how they got them, they used rafts and boats?
Yes, they used rafts. Logs. They’d put these logs together… Sometimes a raft would be maybe 200 or 300 feet long.
200 or 300 feet long?
Almost as wide as the river. The man would stay on that and they’d pull the men to, I guess, Kenova and the Ohio River down here. And they would log them through the winter. The spring waters came and they started down the rivers with the rafts. The river banks were all cut clean.
That’s what I was going to ask you about. They had to be cut clean, didn’t they?
Yes, they was all cut clean. But the rafts… Well they ran logs down Twelve Pole Creek to… Back then people used to put their logs in the creek when it would raise and run them plumb out down Twelve Pole to Kenova. Heads of these creeks… And sometimes I can remember Bragg Creek and Horse Creek… They was a sawmill. There was locks in at Saltpeter and they pushed just like water to Bragg Creek. I’d say along 1916-1917. And almost the travel was boats. It went down on a little showboat. It used to come up an old paddle wheel boat.
That was in about 1917?
About 1917, ’18, ’19, along that.
Could you get a ride on that showboat if you wanted to?
No, they just pulled in and parked and had a show every night, like the picture show, the movie picture show had.
How long did that showboat go up and down the river? How many years did that last?
Well, I don’t know. It would just come up every once in a while maybe, and just stopped at certain places maybe. Places you know at that time… That was about as far as it could get up. And then things was brought up on pushboat. They loaded ties and stuff like that. I remember them loading them on the boat at the river at the mouth of Horse Creek. It was about as far as boats could come up the river.
15 Sunday Sep 2019
Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk | Filed under Big Harts Creek
15 Sunday Sep 2019
Posted Stone Branch
inTags
Appalachia, Bessie Dean, Braeholm, Chester Curtis, Cincinnati, genealogy, history, Logan Banner, Logan County, Nellie McKennzie, Nellie Stiltner, Norma Saunders, Ohio, Pearl Mobley, Rebecca McKenzie, Ross Smith, Ruby Lucas, Sadie Ferguson, Sherman Hobbs, Stone Branch, West Virginia
A correspondent named “Three Pals” from Stone Branch in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following news, which the Logan Banner printed on August 24, 1923:
We are sorry to say that Chester Curtis is on the sick list.
Mrs. McKenzie and Mrs. Smith were calling on Mrs. Williamson Sunday evening.
Mrs. Stiltner and Mrs. McComas were calling on Mrs. Stiltner Sunday.
Martha Roberts has gone to Ohio to pay her mother a visit.
Mrs. Bledsoe was calling on Mrs. Roberts Saturday.
Miss Norma Saunders and Miss Pearl Mabblie have gone to Cincinnati.
Sherman Hobbs and Ross Smith were seen going down the road Saturday.
Mr. Stiltner and Mr. Smith sure do enjoy going to lodge.
Mr. McKenzie and Mr. Marshall were seen going down the road Saturday.
Miss Nella McKenzie was calling on Miss Nellie Stiltner Saturday night.
Miss Rubie Lucas and Miss Sadie Ferguson were the dinner guests of Miss Nellie McKenzie.
Mrs. Rebecca McKenzie called on Mrs. Little Sunday evening.
Some combinations–Boyd and his slop bucket; Gracie and her bonnet; Nellie and her cretonne dress; Sadie and her wrist watch; Rebecca and her silk dress; Mrs. Smith and her milk pail; Ruben and his wagon; Nellie and her silk dress; Gracie and her hair net; Nannie and her business course; Bob Ferrell and his cat; Frank and his milk pail; Lee and his dog.
Mrs. Little was calling on Mrs. McKenzie Sunday evening.
Mrs. Bessie Dean of Braeholm was calling on Mrs. Ferguson.
11 Wednesday Sep 2019
Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk | Filed under Spurlockville
11 Wednesday Sep 2019
Posted Big Creek, Huntington, Logan, Stone Branch
inTags
Appalachia, Big Creek, Cecil Hager, Charles Harmon, genealogy, Georgia Thomas, Guyan Valley Drug Store, history, Huntington, Linnie Workman, Logan, Logan County, Nannie Lilly, Nannie Mobley, Susie Harmon, Tom Vance, Wert Ellis, West Virginia
A unknown correspondent from Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following news, which the Logan Banner printed on September 12, 1924:
Big Creek is still on the go-go-go.
A large crowd attended the basket meeting on North Fork Sunday.
One of our Big Creek boys, Mr. Tom Vance was injured badly by falling from a telephone pole Sunday.
Mrs. Linnie Workman of this place is moving to Stone Branch.
Mr. Cecil Hager and Miss Nannie Lilly attended the basket meeting Sunday.
Mr. Charles Harmon and Miss Mobley were seen talking once more.
Mrs. Nannie Mobley is purchasing her a new home in Huntington.
Mr. Cecil Hager will leave for Logan September 12, where he will take up clerking in the Guyan Valley Drug store. Won’t Nannie be lonesome.
Miss Susie Harmon left for Huntington Sunday to attend school.
Mr. Wert Ellis and Georgia Thomas were seen out car riding Sunday.
Daily happenings–Pearl S. and drug store; Bill and his keys; Oran and his straw stack; Pearl going to see Tom; Mae and her sweetie; Gladys and her traveling case; Nannie and her dust; Cecil and his Lollipop; Lucile and her slippers; Susie and her chewing gum; Nealin and the chickens; Norma and her Gray; Myrtle and her sun grins.
Writings from my travels and experiences. High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water. Mark Twain
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