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Brandon Ray Kirk

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Brandon Ray Kirk

Category Archives: Barboursville

The C&O Shops at Peach Creek, WV (1974)

12 Monday Dec 2022

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Coal, Guyandotte River, Huntington, Logan, Peach Creek

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Appalachia, Barboursville, C.A. Coulter, Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Newsletter, coal, Empty Yard, Gay Coal and Coke Company, Guyandotte River, history, Huntington, Logan, Logan County, Mount Gay, Peach Creek, railroad, Red Onion, Slabtown, West Logan, West Virginia, World War I

From the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Newsletter (June 1974) comes this history titled “The Shops at Peach Creek” composed by C.A. Coulter. This is Part 1 of Mr. Coulter’s account.

The railroad was first built to Logan in 1904, the first train arriving on September 9 of that year. The line was started at Barboursville, West Virginia, on the main line, and ran up the Guyan River for 65 miles to Logan. By 1913, rail lines had been run to the heads of all the main branches of the Guyan River in Logan County. As soon as the rail lines reached the branches, coal mines were built, and coal immediately began to move to outside markets.

The first shop facilities were built at Slabtown, a small settlement just north of Logan. Just when the shops were built, I have no record, but it was soon after trains had begun to arrive from Huntington. A short pit track, a shed track with a shed for the freight that was handled, a wye track, and a small yard of three tracks that held about fifty cars each were constructed. This yard is still in use, and is known now as the merchandise yard. Later, another yard was built just north of this one, with about three tracks; this was used to assemble the loaded coal cars. This yard was later lengthened and more tracks were added; it is now known as the Empty Yard. A yard office building was located along the main line between the two yards.

There was also an old bunkhouse located near the pit track at Slabtown, called the “Red Onion.” I have heard my father mention this many times, as he would lay up in it when he came in from the run from Huntington. I have heard him tell of how he would have to wait until someone got out of bed so he could get in and get a few hours of rest before being called back to Huntington. This was a long, hard run with the small, hand-fired G-4s, G-6s, and G-7s that were in use at that time. The trains were much shorter than they are today. By World War I, trains were lengthened to 55 loads for a single engine and 85 loads for a doubleheader. This limit held for many years until the Mallets and Mikados arrived, then the car limit was done away with.

The first carload of coal was run out of Logan County on Thanksgiving Day, 1905. It was loaded in wagons at the Gay Coal and Coke Company mine at Mt. Gay, about one mile south of Logan, and hauled and dumped into a coal car at Logan. The old coal loading records show that for 1905 about 55 carloads of coal were mined in the county. As the years passed, coal loadings began to boom, and by 1907 15 companies were operating in the county. By 1923, 148 mines were working in the county. According to the records, this was about the peak year for the number of mines in operation.

It was not long after the first small shop facilities were built at Logan that it became evident that a much larger one had to be built. The company finally decided to build at the present site of Peach Creek. Peach Creek was an old town, having been established as a small settlement about 1806. Quite a number of houses were clustered near the mouth of the small creek that emptied into the Guyan at this point. It is said that the town got its name from a small peach orchard that stood near the mouth of the creek.

I am not sure just when construction began on the new shops. It was some little time before 1916, as the company moved the shops from Logan in 1916. The town of Peach Creek was laid out in lots and streets at about the same time, as the town of West Logan, on the west side of the Guyan River. A swinging foot bridge across the river, near the site of the present highway bridge, connected the two towns. Soon, employees of the company began to build their homes in both towns.

Scott Hill Reflects on Life as a Slave, Part 2 (1940)

08 Thursday Dec 2022

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Barboursville, Civil War, Huntington, Kitchen, Music

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Amie Dickinson, Annie Morris, Appalachia, Barboursville, Charles Morris, Charley Stone, Dyke Garrett, fiddler, fiddling, Guyandotte, Hiram Hill, history, Huntington, Jim Dingess, Kitchen, Lorenzo Dow Hill, Martha, Mary Hill, music, Ohio, Peter Hill, preacher, Scott Hill, slavery, slaves, Springfield, West Virginia

The following article, written by Frank Ball, is taken from a Huntington-area newspaper clipping. This is Part 2 of the story.

A year after the trip back from Virginia, the slaves of Lorenzo Hill were surprised and not a little dazed when he tried to convey to them the fact that they were free. They didn’t want to leave Ole Boss. They had no place to go. So they lived on with him and worked for him as usual. Uncle Scott stayed with his former owner until he was 21. And the slaves who were sold en route to Virginia returned often to visit the Hill farm.

At the age of 21, Scott Hill left the valley and went to Springfield, O. There he met and married Annie Morris, who was born the slave property of Charles Morris of Martha, near Barboursville, May 5, 1862. She remembers nothing of slave days, but remembers that she, too, lived on at the home of her former owner with her father and mother until she was 18. She often went back to visit the Morris home after she left it. In case of sickness there her services were always desired. She and her husband are the parents of 13 children, seven of whom are dead. The Hill family moved to Barboursville in 1891.

The father and mother of Scott Hill were the parents of 14 children, nine boys and five girls. All the children lived to be grown. Three are yet living. In addition to Uncle Scott there is a son, Peter Hill, and a daughter, Mrs. Amie Dickinson, of Huntington.

Mr. Hill’s father died in Huntington in 1913, and his mother in Guyandotte in 1909. Uncle Scott has long since passed his days of usefulness as a workman. He sits patiently by the bedside of his invalid wife daily, musing on the past. Friends have lately installed a radio for the aged couple by which they may hear directly from the outside world.

In his younger days, Mr. Hill pushed a cart about town selling fish to the citizens. For many years he was a familiar figure as he wheeled about the village, and his “feesh, fresh feesh” became a by-word among the youngsters. In addition he was a great hog raiser, and he made arrangements for swill from many of his neighbors who were glad to accommodate him.

He remembers well the old days and the old citizens of the valley. He likes to recall the mountain dances at Old Boss’, or across the river at Charley Stone’s or Jim Dingess’. The fiddler who sawed incessantly in the corner while others tripped the light fantastic was a stripling named Dyke Garrett. And in those early days, “Uncle Dyke” was not exactly adverse to sampling Old Boss’ brandies.

“I remember, though, when he made th’ change,” recalled Uncle Scott, “an’ I’ve follered him through a long an’ useful life. Fine feller, Uncle Dyke.”

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Poem: “Old Abraham” (1996)

05 Monday Dec 2022

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Appalachia, Barboursville, Bill Herndon, Cabell County, civil war, Huntington, Main Street, Maurice E. Beckett, Morris Harvey College, Old Abraham, poems, poet, poetry, Tanyard Branch, Union Cavalry, West Virginia, writers

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk | Filed under Barboursville, Civil War, Poetry

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Scott Hill Reflects on Life as a Slave, Part 1 (1940)

03 Saturday Dec 2022

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Barboursville, Chapmanville, Civil War, Kitchen, Tazewell County

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Appalachia, Barboursville, civil war, Frank Ball, Guyandotte Valley, Hiram Hill, history, Kitchen, Logan County, Lorenzo Dow Hill, Mary Hill, Scott Hill, slavery, slaves, Tazewell County, Union Army, Virginia, West Virginia

The following article, written by Frank Ball, is taken from a Huntington-area newspaper clipping, the first part of which is missing.

…Americans are those who remember servitude as slaves. Barboursville has one citizen, Scott Hill, who remembers rendering such service. And little work he did as a slave, for he was but six years of age when the Civil War ended.

“Uncle Scott,” as he is familiarly known, was born the property of Lorenzo Hill, prominent orchardist and farmer of the Guyandotte valley.  Lorenzo Hill, owner of several slaves, lived on a large tract of land across the river from the little mining town of Kitchen in Logan county. Here Barboursville’s “Uncle Scott,” son of Hiram and Mary Hill, was born Feb. 5, 1859. (Slaves usually took the surname of their owners.)

Mr. Hill remembers well the excitement created by the Civil War, and the frantic movements attendant thereto. His owner was a blender of the best whiskies in the valley and his home was widely visited by soldiers and citizens alike who sipped the choice brandies and exchanged the news of the day.

Hysteria in border states ran high during the war, and it was thought best by some slaveholders to move their slaves farther south for safe keeping. It was rumored that Union soldiers were taking the slaves by force and freeing them. So Lorenzo Hill, whom Uncle Scott affectionately remembers as “Ole Boss,” started with his slaves on a long journey into Virginia.

Uncle Scott’s memory of this trip and stay in Virginia is rather painful. To begin with, it meant the sacrifice of “Old Baldy,” a steer of which the slave children were exceedingly fond, to furnish meat for the journey. En route, Uncle Scott’s uncle and three of his uncle’s children were sold. Tearfully, his mother parted from her brother and her nephews and niece as the trip to Virginia was resumed.

Ole Boss left his remaining slaves with a planter in Tazewell county, and returned to Logan. A year in Virginia found Scott’s father and mother greatly overworked, and they and their children greatly underfed.

This treatment was in direct contrast to that given to them by their owner, and the mother had the nerve to “strike.” She hired herself to a neighbor slaveholder that her children might be fed. And despite the frenzied objections of the planter with whom she was left, she won out in this extraordinary action.

In the fall of 1864, wartime hysteria had subsided somewhat and Lorenzo Hill returned to Virginia for his slaves. They were overjoyed at seeing him. They were sure they would be well fed and treated kindly. In return they would work hard for Ole Boss.

Note: Mr. Scott’s true name was William Henry “Scott” Hill. His mother Mary was the daughter of her master, Lorenzo Dow Hill, and a slave named Julia.

Sam Bias Recollections of Pioneer Life

18 Monday May 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville

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Appalachia, Cabell County, Daniel Peyton, Dusenberry Dam, Elizabeth Rutherford, Fred B. Lambert, history, Holland's Creek, James Ford, Jenny Rutherford, Lafe Samuels, Milly Rutherford, Old Tuck, Polly Rutherford, Robert Rutherford, Roland Bias, Sam Bias, Thomas Rutherford

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Ms 76, Bx 6, Nbk 14: Fred B. Lambert Papers, Special Collections Department, Morrow Library, Marshall University, Huntington, WV. 

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Ms 76, Bx 6, Nbk 14: Fred B. Lambert Papers, Special Collections Department, Morrow Library, Marshall University, Huntington, WV. 

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Ms 76, Bx 6, Nbk 14: Fred B. Lambert Papers, Special Collections Department, Morrow Library, Marshall University, Huntington, WV. 

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

C&O Depot at Barboursville, WV (c.1900)

30 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville

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Appalachia, Barboursville, C&O Railroad, Cabell County, history, photos, West Virginia

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C&O Depot at Barboursville, Cabell County, WV, c.1900. Photo credit unknown.

Battle of Kanawha Gap (1861)

10 Sunday Jun 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Big Creek, Boone County, Chapmanville, Civil War, Guyandotte River, Tazewell County

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129th Regiment Virginia Militia, 1st Kentucky Infantry, 34th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 5th Virginia Regiment, Abram S. Piatt, Appalachia, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Barboursville, Battle of Kanawha Gap, Big Creek, Big Sandy River, Boone County, Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Camp Enyart, Ceredo, Chapmanville, Charleston, Chicago Daily Tribune, Cincinnati Daily Press, Cincinnati Gazette, civil war, Cleveland Morning Leader, Coal River, Confederate Army, Daily Green Mountain Freeman, David S. Enyart, Eli Thayer, Evening Star, George McClellan, Greenbrier County, Guyandotte River, H.C. Evans, Harpers Ferry, Herman Evans, history, J.V. Guthrie, J.W. Davis, Jacob D. Cox, John Dejernatt, Kanawha River, Kanawha Valley, Logan County, Logan Court House, M.H. Wood, National Republican, O.P. Evans, Ohio, Ohio River, Parkersburg, Pomeroy Weekly Telegraph, Portsmouth, Richmond Whig, Robert E. Lee, Samuel Smoot, Sewell Mountain, Southwestern Times, Staunton Spectator, T.W. Rathbone, Tazewell County, Tug Fork, Union Army, Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Wheeling, William Baisden, William Rosecrans, William S. Rosecrans, Zouaves

The following newspaper accounts describe the Battle of Kanawha Gap near present-day Chapmanville, Logan County, WV, which occurred on September 25, 1861:

Cleveland (OH) Morning Leader, 3 October 1861

GALLIPOLIS, Oct. 2.

The expedition planned by Col. J.V. Guthrie of the First Kentucky Regiment, and sent out under Lieut. Col. Enyart and Col. Piatt, has returned. They encountered the enemy at Chapmansville under Col. J. Lucien Davis, of Greenbrier, and utterly routed them. The enemy lost between fifty and sixty killed. Our loss was four killed. The expedition returned to Charleston on the 30th ult.

david s. enyart photo

Col. David S. Enyart, 1st Kentucky Infantry (Union).

Evening Star (Washington, DC), 4 October 1861

A Confederate Camp in Western Virginia Broken Up and Routed

CINCINNATI, Oct. 3 — A body of Federal troops, under Lieut. Col. Enyart, attacked a camp of rebels at Chapmansville, in Logan county, Va., near the Kentucky line, routing them, killing sixty and taking seventy prisoners. The same body of rebels were afterward intercepted in their retreat by Col. Piatt, who killed forty and made a large number prisoners.

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Col. Abram S. Piatt (1821-1908), 34th Ohio Infantry Regiment.

New York (NY) Herald, 4 October 1861

FIGHT WITH THE REBELS AT CHAPMANSVILLE

Cincinnati, Oct. 3, 1861.

The Kanawha correspondent of the Commercial of this city says that five companies of the First Kentucky regiment, four companies of the Thirty-fourth Ohio regiment and one company of the Fifty Virginia regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel Enyart, surrounded and attacked the rebels at Chapmansville, and after a short engagement completely routed them, killing sixty and taking seventy prisoners. The rebels in escaping were intercepted by Colonial Piatt, who killed forty and took a large number of prisoners. The country between Charleston and Wyandot river is now freed from secession power. This is the most effective blow given the rebels in this part of the valley.

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One section of the Kanawha Gap Battle Site, Chapmanville, Logan County, WV, 9 June 2018.

Daily Green Mountain Freeman (Montpelier, VT), 7 October 1861

Chapmansville, Va., the scene of the most recent engagement, is a small post village in Logan county, Va. Logan county is in the extreme Western portion of Virginia, the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy being the boundary line between it and the State of Kentucky. It is one of the largest, wildest and most sparsely inhabited counties in the State.

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Part of the Kanawha Gap Battle Site, Chapmanville, Logan County, WV, 9 June 2018.

National Republican (Washington, DC), 7 October 1861

THE SITUATION.

The two affairs at Chapmansville, reported three or four days since, in which the enemy lost one hundred killed and a proportionate number of wounded, will, it is supposed, restore permanent peace to the Virginia counties western of the Kanawha. Chapmansville is on the turnpike from Charleston to Logan county Court-house, and is about twenty-five miles to the south of Barboursville, the shire town of Cabell county. The secessionists in that part of Western Virginia have been numerous and pertinacious. They have once had possession of Guyandotte on the Ohio river and for a long time they threatened Ceredo (Mr. Thayer’s colony,) which lies on the river between Guyandotte and the Kentucky line. There have been two engagements with them in the rear of Ceredo, one at Barboursville, one at Logan county Court-house, one at Boone county Court-house (which town was burnt by the national troops,) and finally two at Chapmansville. The truth is, that in large portions of numerous, and, but for the early occupation of that region by the National troops, would have controlled it, not because they were the majority, but because one secessionist is, everywhere, a match for three Union men.

The secessionists are reckless, violent, and desperate, while their opponents, if not timid are at any rate remarkably pacific. We doubt, indeed, from all the information we can get, whether throwing out of the account Wheeling and Parkersburg, the terminal on the Ohio river of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, Western Virginia had more elements of Union strength than the Valley of Virginia. From Harper’s Ferry south for fifty miles, the Union men have been numerous from the first, and it is a matter of deep regret that it did not consist with the plans of military strategy adopted at the headquarters of the army here, to occupy (at least) the northern part of the Valley of Virginia. It is consoling, that a different policy was adopted in retrospect to Western Virginia. That region was promptly taken possession of, cleared of the rebel armies by Gen. McClellan, and has since been victoriously held by Gen. Rosecrans. All attempts of the enemy to affect a re-entrance into Western Virginia are promptly repulsed.

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Staunton (VA) Spectator, 8 October 1861

Status at Sewell’s Mountain.

The enemy, under Gen. Rozencrantz, and our forces under Gen. Lee, are both upon Sewell Mountain very near each other. A fight has been daily expected there for some time, but the enemy have been fortifying ever since they have been there, and there will not be a fight unless we attack them in their entrenchments. They are afraid to attack us, and it is probable that our force is too weak to risk an attack on them within their fortification. It may, therefore, be some time before an engagement will take place. We understand that we had sent a force of four regiments to their rear for the purpose of cutting off their supplies—that we succeeded in getting around them, but were compelled to return because we did not have sufficient supplies ourselves. We also learn that Col. Jas. W. Davis of Greenbrier, whilst commanding a force of militia in Logan county, attacked a part of the enemy, and was shot down at the first fire. The militia, after several rounds caught the Yankee fever which made their cowardly legs run off with their brave hearts, and they left their commander in the hands of the enemy, who, we fear, has died from his wound.

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New historical sign placed by the WV Division of Culture and History located at the 119 ramp in Chapmanville, WV. 26 April 2017.

Chicago (IL) Daily Tribune, 9 October 1861

A Splendid Achievement of the Ohio Zouaves–“Wood Up” the Battle Cry.

[The following letter is exclusively devoted to the fight which the Piatt Zouaves had with the rebels near Chapmansville, Va. It is distinct from the victorious fight which the command of Lieut. Col. Enyart had with another body of rebels, in the same vicinity. EDS. CINCINNATI COM]

CAMP ENYART, KANAWHA, Oct. 2, 1861. EDS. COM.: The Zouave Thirty-fourth Regimens, Ohio, have had a chance to show their metal. This was on Wednesday, on Kanawha Gap, near Chapmansville, Va. After marching 42 miles, they came upon the enemy, who were behind breastworks, but could not stand our boys’ steady fire, for they retreated in utter consternation, their Col. J.W. Davis, of Greenbrier, Va, (but the traitor is a native of Portsmouth, Ohio,) being mortally wounded. We killed 20, took 3 prisoners, a secesh flag, 20 feet long with FIFTEEN STARS, 4 horses, 1 wagon, 10 rifles (one of which I claim), 12 muskets, and commissary stores (very low.) We lost 3 killed, 9 wounded, one since died. The route of the enemy was complete, although they had a brave, skillful commander, and strong position, with two days’ information of our intentions. They fled the moment their commander fell. The fight lasted about 10 minutes opposite the breastworks, but a running fire was kept up previous to that, by the Bushwhackers and rebel cavalry for two hours. At every turn of the road over the mountains, they would fire upon our advance men, wheel round, and gallop away. This kind of fight was kept up till we came suddenly upon their breastworks, immediately in line of our entire column. It was made on the side of a knoll, between two mountain sides, the road running between the mountain on our left. The wily rebel commander had adroitly cut down the brush on the right, placing a force of 100 men on the mountain top on our right, who raked our column from the front to the center. This was to draw our attention from their breastworks. Our men naturally fired upon the rebels on their right, steadily advancing up the road, until within 20 feet of the enemy’s works, when the rebels suddenly opened fire, from their right, left and center. The order from Col. Piatt and Lieut. Col. Toland, to flank right and left was immediately responded to by the Zouaves with a hurrah, a Zouave yell, and a cry of “wood up” from Little Red; a dash by our boys upon the enemy’s breastworks, above which about 300 rebel heads suddenly appeared, unknown by our men till that moment. They sent a perfect storm of bullets around, over, under, and into our men. A few minutes more and our boys were inside the breastworks, chasing them over the mountains, the enemy running away like cowards as they proved to be. They left 29 dead behind. Their force was 450 infantry and 50 cavalry. Our force was 560.

We buried our three brave dead comrades that night, carried our wounded to the house wherein the rebel Colonel lay, mortally wounded, deserted by all his men but one. Our whole column finally marched into the little town of Chapmansville, formerly headquarters of the enemy, and camped for the night.

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34th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Piatt’s Zouaves, Captain Photo.

Pomeroy (OH) Weekly Telegraph, 11 October 1861

Brilliant Action in the Kanawha Valley.

CHARLESTON, Va., Sept. 30, ’61. Eds. Cin. Com.–Information having been brought to Col. J.V. Guthrie, commanding this post, that a large force of Rebels were gathered at Logan Co., Lt. Col. Enyart, of the 1st Kentucky, was at once sent to engage them. His force was composed of five companies of the 1st Kentucky, four companies of the 34th Ohio–German Regiment–under command of Col. A.S. Piatt, and one company of the 5th Virginia Regiment, under command of Maj. M.H. Wood.

Col. Enyart, with the Kentucky force, surrounded and attacked the Rebels at Chapmanville, and after a short but decisive engagement, completely routed them, killing 60 and taking 70 prisoners. The Rebels, in escaping, were intercepted by Col. Piatt, who surprised them and killed 40 men, and took a large number of prisoners.

The force of the Rebels is now completely broken up, and the country between this point and Guyandotte River is now freed from Secession power. This is the most effective blow given the Rebels in this part of the Valley.

In great haste. Further particulars by next boat.

Very respectfully,

M. CLEMENS,

Lieut. Col. 5th Va. Reg’t.

34th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Piatt's Zouaves Soldier Photo

34th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Piatt’s Zouaves, Soldier.

Evening Star (Washington, DC), 11 October 1861

THE BATTLE OF KANAWHA GAP.

The Western Virginia correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette gives the following account of the late engagement at Kanawha Gap:

There were about 1,050 troops under the command of Colonels Enyart and Piatt, who left their camp Monday morning, 30th ulto., and took up their line of march for the enemy.

The forces moved together until they reached Peytona, on Cole river, where they separated; Col. Enyart going up Cole river. Col. Enyart did not meet the enemy in force at any place but his men did meet and ford swollen rivers, and marched on short rations, and were anxious to meet with the running enemy of Old Virginia. Col. Enyart did not meet Col. Piatt until they met on the Kanawha, on their return.

Col. Piatt’s command immediately proceeded thence to Boone Court House, and camped that night one mile beyond. The next day, after proceeding some sixteen miles,t hey came up with the advance guard of the enemy, consisting of cavalry, when a brisk fire was exchanged, the cavalry retreating. After the retreat of cavalry the battalion was immediately put in order of battle. The advance guard of fifteen men was led forward by Adj’t Clarke, proceeding along the road. Scouts were sent out on either side of the road to meet and repulse the sharp-shooters of the enemy.

The force proceeded in this order for about two miles, meeting the pickets of the enemy, exchanging shots with them incessantly, and driving them back with increased confusion at each charge.

Being unable to ascertain the position of the rebels, the entire force halted for a few moments, and Col. Piatt rode in advance and took observations with his glass, but could not ascertain their force and position, as it was covered with a thick growth of underbrush. After these observations a command was issued to forward the column. The scouts moved on the rapidity and enthusiasm, the main body moving up the narrow road cautiously and firmly. The fire continued to increase, and shots were rapidly exchanged from the right and left with the enemy, until our advanced guard reached within sixty yards of their main force. The column was some eighty yards from the enemy when they received a perfect volley of fire upon their right, indicating that the rebels were in force in that direction. Company “A,” commanded by Capt. Rathbone, was ordered to deploy as skirmishers to the right, up the side of the mountain, and if possible to flank the enemy on the left. Company “C,” commanded by Capt. Miller, was ordered to the right, up a similar mountain, to flank the enemy on their left. Company “I,” commanded by Capt. Anderson, was ordered directly up the ravine, on the left. In this position he drew the concentrated fire of the rebels upon his company, who made use of the knowledge thus obtained by rapidly charging upon and destroying the enemy’s breastworks. The center moved directly up the road. With this disposition of the forces, Col. Piatt routed them from their confusion. Capt. Anderson was the first to mount their breastworks, his men following him in the face of a terrible fire without flinching or confusion.

As Capt. Anderson sealed the breastwork, Capt. Miller closed upon the left and Capt. Rathbone came in upon the right, his men crying “Zouave!” The main column moving up the road in double quick–until they were brought to a temporary halt by obstructions placed in the road by the enemy.

The rebels, terrified by the strange bravery and almost wild enthusiasm that was exhibited by each advancing column, ran in confusion, leaving their dead, wounded, clothing, guns, horses, &c., making their escape by Capt. Rathbone’s right; his company being too far up the mountain to cut off their retreat. Capt. West, commanding company F, was detailed to scour the mountain on the west, on the left of the road. Capt. O.P. Evans on the west side of the mountain, on the right side of the road. Capt. Herman Evans, commanding Company H, on the east side of the mountain, on the left of the road.

Each of these companies moved with dispatch, yet such was the knowledge of the rebels of teh by-paths in the mountains, and belonging to the “F.F.V.’s,” and having been drilled at running all summer, that but two were captured.

Among interesting objects captured was a genuine secession flag, captured by Lieut. Brown.

The enemy’s loss was thirty killed and fifty wounded.

We regret to know that four of our men were killed and eight wounded.

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34th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Piatt’s Zouaves, Soldiers. Here’s a link to Captain T.W. Rathbone’s Civil War diary: http://resources.ohiohistory.org/ohj/browse/displaypages.php?display[]=0071&display[]=33&display[]=56

Burlington (IA) Weekly Hawk-Eye, 12 October 1861

The fight at Chapmansville was a sharp and bloody affair. Five of Piatt’s Zouaves were killed. The rebels lost thirty-five killed.

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Part of the Kanawha Gap Battle Site, Chapmanville, Logan County, WV, 9 June 2018.

National Republican (Washington, DC), 17 October 1861

The thirty-fourth regiment (first Zouaves) have been actively engaged since they came to the Kanawha Valley. Since the glorious victory they won near Chapmansville where the rebel commander, Colonel Davis, was mortally wounded, the Union sentiment has advanced on the Cole River. Two companies have been organized, and are ready to go to work to defend their own homes and give the organized regiments an opportunity to advance into the heart of the enemy’s country.

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Part of the Kanawha Gap Battle Site, Chapmanville, Logan County, WV, 9 June 2018.

Cincinnati (OH) Daily Press, 22 October 1861

Captain H.C. Evans, of Piatt’s Zouave Regiment, yesterday called in our office and exhibited a Secesh flag, captured at the Chapmansville fight, on the 24th ult.

34th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Piatt's Zouaves Soldiers Photo

34th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Piatt’s Zouaves, Soldiers.

Clarksville (TN) Chronicle, 25 October 1861

The Fight in Logan County, Va.

[From the Richmond Whig of the 15th.]

We yesterday published the Yankee account of a battle in Logan county, which as usual, was manufactured out of whole cloth. The following are the facts as given by the South-western Times, (Tazewell county) of the 10th inst.:

From Samuel Smoot, Esq., of Boone county, who was in the fight, we learn the following particulars of the battle near Chapmanville, Logan county, on the 25th ult: The Yankees numbered 700, and commenced the attack upon our troops–the Logan militia–in a low gap between Guyandotte river and Big Creek, where they were engaged in raising a temporary breastwork. Our troops numbered 220, but there were only about 80 of them engaged in the fight. They were commanded by Col. J.W. Davis, of Greenbrier, a brave and gallant officer, who was severely, but not dangerously wounded, in the arm and breast. As soon as it became known that Col. Davis was wounded, the militia commenced a retreat. The commanding officer of the Lincoln troops afterwards confessed to Col. Davis, who was taken prisoner, that at the same moment a portion of the Yankees were running, and that one more round would have completely dispersed them.

The loss of the Yankees, by their own confession to Col. Davis, was 40 killed and a number wounded; among the former were four Union men, all of whom are represented by the Yankees to be most arrant thieves and cowards. Our loss was two killed and three or four wounded, besides Col. Davis, whose valuable services are at present lost to the Confederacy, being paroled by the enemy.

On the following day our scouts killed one of their pickets, and wounded another, at a point about half way between Logan Court House and Chapmanville, promising to give them particular thunder before daylight next morning. This with some news from a lady on the road, and some account of the militia of the surrounding counties, found on the person of Col. Davis, caused a hasty stampede for their headquarters, in the valley of the Kanawha. It seems that high water, bad roads, nor anything else could impede their rapid flight. They tore down a meeting house in Boone county to make rafts whereon to cross the river. They drowned two of their wounded, lost a wagon containing their entire stock of ammunition, and were fully persuaded that they were followed by two thousand cavalry, of which the Yankees in the West are about as fearful as their Eastern brothers are of masked batteries.

Upon the whole, we are much gratified at the result of this fight. It has, for the present, driven the cowardly thieves from the country, given renewed energy to the true patriots of Logan and the adjoining counties, fully convincing them that with the assistance of two or three hundred of their gallant friends in Tazewell county, they will be fully able to thrash any number that Gen. Cox or his friends shall dare to send against them.”

Note: An almost identical version of this story appeared in the Staunton (VA) Spectator on 22 October 1861.

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Record relating to the 129th Virginia Militia (Confederate), which was present at the Battle of Kanawha Gap.

Banco News 08.03.1926

01 Thursday Mar 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Barboursville, Battle of Blair Mountain, Big Creek, Boone County, Guyandotte River, Huntington

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Appalachia, B.R. Lucas, Banco, Barboursville, Basil Duty, Battle of Blair Mountain, Big Creek, Big Ugly Creek, C.C. Varney, C.E. Adkins, Charlie Duty, Clara Harmon, crime, D.H. Harmon, Danville, Ed Stone Branch, Fraud Estep, Freddie Lunsford, Gardner Baisden, genealogy, Granville Mullens, Guyandotte River, H.F. Lucas, Henlawson, history, Huntington, Ida Hager, J.A. Stone, J.P. Mullins, Jesse Justice, John Hager, Lane Church, Logan Banner, Logan County, Lon Vannatter, Marea Lucas, Nelle Varney, Pearl Hager, Ruby Sanders, Stone Brothers, Thomas' Circle, Tiny Chafin, Tom Vannatter, Trace Fork, true crime, West Virginia

An unknown correspondent from Banco on Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on August 3, 1926:

Among those who attended church at the Lane church from Banco last Sunday were: Mr. and Mrs. John Hager and daughter, Pearl, Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Adkins, Charlie Duty and son, Basil, B.R. Lucas, H.F. Lucas and Jesse Justice and Misses Marea Lucas and Clara Harmon.

J.A. Stone bid Banco adieu Tuesday and left for Blair, where he will take an interest in the Stone Bros. store.

Basil Duty is touring the meanders of Guyan river in a huckster truck this week.

J.P. Mullins of Danville and Mr. Granville Mullens of Big Creek were the dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. D.H. Harmon Saturday.

Mrs. Freddie Lunsford and Mrs. Ida Hager of Big Creek were berry picking on the Ed Stone Branch Tuesday and were the dinner guests of Mrs. John Hager.

Rev. White of Henlawson was calling in our town early last Wednesday.

A very shocking tragedy occurred on Big Ugly Sunday night when Lon Vanatter was shot and killed instantly at his home just after dark. He is survived by a wife and several children his mother and father. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Vanatter and a great many relatives.

Gardner Baisden was transferring Fraud Estep’s furniture from Estep to Banco Tuesday. Wonder if he saw his sweetie when he passed Thomas’ Circle?

Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Varney and daughter made a business trip to Big Creek last week.

Miss Nelle Varney of Thomas Circle was shopping in our town Wednesday.

Miss Ruby Sanders returned to her  home here Monday evening after several days spent in Barboursville and Huntington, accompanied by her cousin, Miss Tiny Chafin.

H.F. Lucas motored to the mouth of Trace Fork Tuesday to pick berries. Stay with it, H.F. The berries will soon be gone.

Success in one and all.

Dusenberry’s Dam (1887)

30 Thursday Nov 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Guyandotte River, Huntington, Logan

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Barboursville, Cabell County, Charleston, Dusenberry's Dam, Guyandotte River, history, Hugh Toney, Huntington, Huntington Advertiser, Logan, steamboats, West Virginia

From the Huntington (WV) Advertiser of February 5, 1887 comes this bit of history about Dusenberry’s Dam:

The dwellers along the banks of the Guyandotte River from its mouth to the headwaters, together with many others who are interested in the navigation of that stream, will be pleased to know that it is soon to be cleared of all obstructions. Major Post, the Chief Engineer, and Capt. Hugh Toney, his assistant, in charge of the Government improvement on Guyandotte River, have made a contract with the Messrs. Rodgers to clear the river of all obstructions from Barboursville up for a considerable distance. By this contract the Dusenberry mill dam, which has been the chief obstacle to the free navigation of the river and the cause of immense loss to timber dealers and others, will be removed.

After its removal, with such a stage of water as we now have, steamboats will be enabled to ascend to within a few miles of Logan C.H. This will be of immense importance to the city of Huntington, as it opens a fertile region, which has in a great measure been cut off by this dam and forced to go to Charleston. A line of steamboats will, no doubt, enter the trade between this city and Logan C.H. as soon as the river is clear.

At the point where the Dusenberry dam is located was established as one of the first grist mills in all this region of country. About the year 1818 or 1820, the Legislature of Virginia passed an act allowing a mill dam four feet high to be built across the river at that point, and since that time the obstruction has remained.

Capt. Toney has been untiring in his efforts to secure the removal of this bar to the free navigation of Guyan, but not until a few days ago was he able to effect the arrangement which will result in opening the stream.

The merchants and business men of Huntington should now be on the look out for the trade up this river and use all proper means to bring it here.

Barboursville, WV

27 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Lincoln County Feud

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Appalachia, Barboursville, Barboursville College, Blood in West Virginia, Brandon Kirk, Cabell County, Daughters of the American Revolution, Davis Creek, Eastman Community College, George A. Proffitt, ghosts, Guyandotte River, history, Hollena Brumfield, Huntington Advertiser, James I. Kuhn Presbyterian Church, James River-Kanawha Turnkpike, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County Banner, Logan Democrat, Mary G. Moss, Morris Harvey College, Old Toll House, photos, Phyllis Kirk, R.A. Alderman, Robert W. Douthat, S.V. Matthews, Virginus R. Moss, West Virginia

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Old Toll House, built 1837, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 15 February 2015. For more, follow this link: http://www.wvdar.org/Barboursville/

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Old Toll House Historical Marker. 15 February 2015. For more, follow this link: https://www.theclio.com/web/entry?id=6682

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Barboursville College, 1889. Photo by S.V. Matthews. For more, visit here: https://www.theclio.com/web/entry?id=11606

Barboursville College LCB 09.08.1892

Logan County Banner (Logan, WV), 8 September 1892.

Barboursville Ghost HuA 12.04.1899

Davis Creek Ghost, Huntington (WV) Advertiser, 4 December 1899.

Morris Harvey College LD 08.10.1911

Logan (WV) Democrat, 10 August 1911. For more, visit here: https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/276

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Dr. Virginus R. Moss treated Hollena Brumfield after she had been shot in the face during the Lincoln County Feud. 5 May 2017. Photo by Mom. For more, follow this link: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-West-Virginia-Brumfield-McCoy/dp/1455619183

BK at Kuhn Memorial

James I. Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church. 5 May 2017. Photo by Mom. For more, follow this link: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/features_entertainment/kuhn-memorial-presbyterian-church-to-celebrate-its-centennial/article_15f4d296-b5fb-505a-830d-1d6935babe87.html

Food in the Logan Coal Fields (1921)

11 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Coal, Holden, Huntington, Logan

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Appalachia, Barboursville, coal, history, Holden, Huntington, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Omar, West Virginia

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, we find this story about food conditions in the Logan coal fields, dated 9 December 1921:

Seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables brighten the menu of the Logan field miner and his family just as they do the average householder in the larger cities. Visitors have noted with surprise that this is true–that even the most isolated mining communities, cut off from civilization by rugged mountains and difficult creek beds, have their fresh strawberries in season and make quite as much of an event of the canning period as do their northern neighbors.

But what the average visitor cannot know, unless he delves with unusual energy, is the cost in money and time which it means to have such products brought to the miner’s table from the produce centers of the country.

In the first place, many of the mines in the field live five, ten, fifteen and even twenty miles from the town of Logan. The roads in many cases are almost impassible. In others, there are no roads at all. It is common occurrence to use the creek bed as a thoroughfare. A rather hazardous feat, it appears to the visitors on his first trip, but he soon grows accustomed to this. At first he is inclined to cling tight to his seat as the motor truck plows through the shallow water over well rounded stones. The drivers think nothing of fording innumerable creeks. They have lost all solicitude for their tires. In fact, many of them aver that the tires last quite as long as they do on hard-paved roads and point to examples in the form of weather-beaten casing to prove that the usual 10,000 mile guarantee is not at all impossible of achievement in this difficult territory.

Sloshing along through creeks, alternating with mud roads which would bring a rattle to the finest car built they consider the trips to the mines with foodstuffs a mere routine. That it is more than routine, however, is graphically revealed by the wrecks along the roadside–broken-down trucks and motor cars, buggies and wagons.

The road to Holden, four miles from Logan, is a mud road most of the way, featured by innumerable sharp turns. That leading to the mine town of Omar covers nine miles of the most diversified transportation. In that nine miles one single creek must be forded eleven times, and often instead of crossing directly, motor trucks are forced to plow through the water for a considerable distance.

Some sixth sense apparently tells the driver where the “water road” lies, for to the casual observer one part of the creek is as good as another. All he can see is water and, beneath, a solid bed of white boulders. Time has worn them smooth. Sliding down the mud road into the creek bed the driver unerringly picks out the right route. It is as if he carried a sextant, for never, however many times he makes the trip, does he deviate in his course a yard.

Yet despite these difficulties in transportation it is comparatively cheap to get to any mine property in the Logan field. For a dollar, any of the buses operating from Logan, meeting all trains, will carry one to Omar, nine miles of difficult driving, while others take passengers 15 and 20 miles up the creeks for a slightly higher charge. For foodstuffs the cost is proportionately low. Drivers charge 25 to 42 cents per 100 pounds for first class freight to a point within 20 miles of Logan–and take every chance in the world of a breakdown. It is this low haulage charge which enables so many independent and company stores at the mines to meet the prices of retailers in large cities, and it is the dependability of this method of motor transportation which enables them to carry fresh fruits and vegetables in season to tickle the palates of the miners and their numerous progeny. Anyone who imagines that sow-belly and beans constitute the main diet of the miner has never seen the adequate stocks of merchandise kept by mining community establishments.

If there were not enough difficulties in the path of transportation of foods to the mines, the trip from the outside to Logan would provide enough more. Logan is unfortunate in that there are no through freight rates to it. Huntington, the State’s natural distributing point by reason of railroad facilities, does not figure in the traffic to Logan. Merchandise destined for this field must be reshipped at Barboursville, a junction point near Huntington, and this adds a freight charge of from 30 to 40 cents per 100 pounds. Adding this to the cost of haulage by truck to the mines, the differential in favor of the consumers in large cities mounts up. Yet, with all these barriers, prices in the mine towns are low–the result of keen competition and of quantity buying.

Source: “Camps Have the Best of Food: Despite Shipping Obstacles Miners Have Same Food as Their City Neighbors,” Logan (WV) Banner, 9 December 1921.

Harts News 10.08.1926

17 Saturday Jun 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Chapmanville, Gill, Hamlin, Harts, Huntington, Logan, Ranger, Toney, West Hamlin

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Amherstdale, Andrew Adkins, Appalachia, Barboursville, Beatrice Adkins, Bessie Adkins, Bill Adkins, Blanche Lambert, Bob Powers, C&O Railroad, Chapmanville, Clyde Rutherford, Cora Adkins, county clerk, Dallas McComas, Democratic Party, Dr. J.T. Chafin, Dr. J.T. Ferrell, Dr. Taylor, Emerine Browning, Fed Adkins, Fisher B. Adkins, Florence Davis, genealogy, Gill, Grover Gartin, Hamlin, Harts, Herb Adkins, history, Huntington, Inez Adkins, J.M. Marcum, James Porter, Jessie Brumfield, Kessler-Hatfield Hospital, Lincoln County, Logan, Logan Banner, Mae Caines, Matthew Farley, McConnell, Nannie Fry, Nola Adkins, Nora Brumfield, O.E. Bias, Ranger, Republican Party, Rinda Adkins, Sam Adkins, Sylvia Cyfers, Thomas Watson Adkins Jr., Toney, Vergia Fry, Vina Porter, Watson Adkins, West Hamlin, West Virginia, William McCann

An unknown correspondent from Harts in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on October 8, 1926:

Rev. Grover Gartin of Amherstdale was calling on Miss Nola Adkins Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Drew Adkins and children of Logan have been visiting the latter’s sister, Mrs. R.L. Powers, of this place.

Miss Blanch Lambert of Toney has been calling on Miss Cora Adkins.

Mrs. Nora Brumfield is teaching a very successful term of school here.

F.B. Adkins, Republican nominee for county clerk, was taken to the Kessler-Hatfield hospital on Monday night with an injured arm.

Miss Sylvia Cyfers of Gill was the guest of Miss Cora Adkins Saturday.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson Adkins a fine boy named Thomas Watson, Jr.

Misses Nannie and Vergia Fry of Barboursville were the weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. S.H. Adkins and family.

Mr. and Mrs. Herb Adkins have moved into their new home which was completed only a few days ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Dallas McComas of this place were visiting home folks at West Hamlin Saturday and Sunday.

W.M. McCann of Logan was the guest of his daughter, Mrs. Watson Adkins, one day last week.

O.E. Bias, C. & O. operator of this place, is working at McConnell for a few days.

Dr. Taylor of Huntington made an eloquent speech here one day last week.

Bill Adkins and M.C. Farley made a flying trip to Ranger Wednesday.

Clyde Rutherford was seen in Harts this week.

Miss Mae Caines of this place made a trip to Logan one day last week.

Mrs. F.B. Adkins was visiting relatives in Harts Sunday.

Mrs. Fred Adkins and Florence Davis have been calling on Rev. and Mrs. Jas. Porter.

Miss Jessie Brumfield was in Harts Saturday evening.

J.M. Marcum of Ranger, Democratic nominee for county clerk, was in Harts Wednesday.

Dr. J.T. Ferrell of Chapmanville and Miss Rine Browning were seen out car riding one day last week.

Dr. J.T. Chafin of Hamlin was in Harts Wednesday.

Banco News 05.07.1926

09 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Barboursville, Big Creek, Estep, Logan

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A.S. Harmon, Amanda Justice, Appalachia, B.B. Lucas, Banco, Barboursville, Basil Duty, Big Creek, C.E. Adkins, Charles Duty, Charles Ellis, Clara Harmon, Curry, D.H. Harmon, Den Gillenwater, Elm Street, Estep, Gardner Baisden, Gay Pettit, genealogy, H.F. Lucas, Hazel Thomas, Henlawson, history, Ida Thomas, J.A. Stone, J.A. Thomas, J.B. Lucas, J.M. Hager, Jesse Justice, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Lucille Vickers, Maggie Gillam, Manila, Maria Lucas, Needmore, Nella Varney, Pearl Hager, Rosa Ellis, Spring Dale, Squirrel Branch, Ted Hager, W.W. Lucas, West Virginia, Willie Ellis

An unknown local correspondent from Banco in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 7, 1926:

Some of the girls and boys of our town have taken a notion to jump into double harness and trot along through life as calm and placid as a mud puddle.

Miss Ida Thomas of Estep and Mr. Ted Hager of this place were united in the Holy bonds of matrimony last Saturday, May 1st, at the home of Mr. Hager’s sister, Mrs. Den Gillenwater, near the mouth of Squirrel Branch. The wedding was a beautiful affair. Rev. White of Henlawson gave a nice talk after which he solemnized the wedding vows. The guests consisted mostly of the bride and groom. The table was set with a very nice diaper. White flowers being the centerpiece.

Miss Gay Pettit of Big Creek was the guest of Miss Clara Harmon at this place last Saturday night and Sunday.

Mrs. Rosa Ellis of Needmore left for Logan last Sunday where she will visit with her sons Charles and Willie Ellis for a few days.

Wonder why Jesse Justice looked so bashful last Sunday? Don’t be bashful, Jess. She was only teasing you.

Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Stone were the guests of their daughter, Mrs. J.A. Thomas, at Estep last Sunday.

Wonder how the ‘Doll’ of Needmore is getting along hauling telephone poles? Stay with it, Roy, and you’ll get done some day.

There must be some attraction around Banco and Spring Dale, as Gardner Baisden has been making regular calls. His excuse is ‘to read the Logan Banner.’ Call again, Peanut, you’re always welcome.

Among those who were calling on Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Lucas last Sunday were: Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Adkins, Misses Gay Pettit, Clara Harmon, Lucille Vickers, and Mr. Jesse Justice.

Wonder if Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Justice are having much success raising chickens?

Mrs. Amanda Justice was the Monday night guest of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Duty.

Misses Hazel Thomas and Nella Varney were callers in Banco last Saturday evening.

Basil Duty of Spring Dale made a flying trip to Curry last week. Wonder what the attraction is up there?

Mrs. B.B. Lucas and daughters Maria and ____ were calling on Mrs. Maggie Gillam last Sunday afternoon.

Mrs. J.M. Hager and Mrs. D.H. Harmon of this place were the all day guests of Mr. and Mrs. B.R. Lucas of Elm street one day last week. They had a very enjoyable day as they were entertained with good soul-stirring hymns on the piano and Victrola, after which they were served with a real good dinner.

Among those who were out kodaking last Sunday afternoon were Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Lucas, Misses Gay Pettit, Clara Harmon, Lucille Vickers, and Maria Lucas.

A.S. Harmon of Barboursville and Mr. W.W. Lucas of Big Creek were the dinner guest of Mr. and Mrs. D.H. Harmon of this place last Sunday.

Mr. H.F. Lucas of this place attended church at Manila last Sunday and listened to a wonderful sermon delivered by Rev. Reedy of Logan, after which he made a grand confession and was baptized last Sunday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Hager and Miss Pearl Hager were pleasant callers in Banco last Tuesday night.

Good luck to the dear old Banner.

Georgia and Earl Brumfield (c.1918)

06 Monday Mar 2017

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

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Appalachia, Barboursville, Cabell County, Earl Brumfield, education, genealogy, Georgia Brumfield, Harts, Hendricks Brumfield, history, Lincoln County, photos, teacher, West Virginia

Georgia Brumfield and Earl Brumfield 2

Georgia (Thompson) Brumfield, wife of Hendricks Brumfield, with son, Earl Brumfield, in Harts, Lincoln County, WV. Earl (1914-1996), who became a school teacher in Lincoln and Cabell counties, was a good friend to me. I enjoyed visiting him at his Barboursville home in 1994-95; his father was a first cousin to my great-grandmother, Eva (Brumfield) Kirk.

Guyandot Valley Railroad (c.1900)

05 Sunday Mar 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Guyandotte River

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Appalachia, Barboursville, C&O Railroad, Cabell County, Fred B. Lambert, Guyandot Valley Railroad, history, Huntington, Huntington Advertiser, Marshall University, Virgil Bostic, West Virginia

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Virgil Bostic Section Crew, GVRR. Photo from Fred B. Lambert Papers, Special Collections Department, James E. Morrow Library, Marshall University, Huntington, WV.

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“The railroad contractors have the pile driver at work above here [Barboursville] and are getting ready to construct the trestles along the line,” said the Huntington Advertiser on April 19, 1900.

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“Men are working day and night on the river above here [Barboursville] putting in coffer dams for the railroad bridge,” said the Huntington Advertiser on April 21, 1900.

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“Contractor Allen has put on a night force above here where the foundation for the piers for the Guyandot Valley Railway bridge are being constructed,” said the Huntington Advertiser on May 9, 1900. “One of the river abutments will be completed tomorrow.” On May 16, it added this: “Work on the trestle over the ‘Big Gut’ just above here [Barboursville] will commence this week. This is the first trestle on the line of the Guyandot Valley requires considerable timber.”

Beloved Colored Woman Dies in Barboursville, WV (1899)

22 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Barboursville

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Appalachia, Barboursville, Cabell County, Clarence Dean, genealogy, Gertrude Dean, Harvey Dean, history, Huntington, Huntington Advertiser, Patsy Dean, slavery, West Virginia

aunt-patsy-dean-colored-woman-dead-hua-1899

Patsy Dean Obituary, Huntington (WV) Advertiser, 29 March 1899. According to the 1870 Cabell County Census, Patsy was born about 1837. The census enumerator identified her as a mulatto. Based on the 1880 Cabell County Census, Patsy was born about 1840 and was the mother of three children: Harvey Dean (born about 1873), Gertrude Dean (born about 1875), and Clarence Dean (born about 1878). The census enumerator identified her as black.

 

Recollections of the Civil War in Cabell County, WV (1862)

13 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Civil War, Hamlin

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1st Regiment Virginia State Line, Abbs Valley, Ball Gap, Barboursville, Big Sandy River, Cabell County, civil war, Clint Lovette, Coal River, Confederate Army, G.W. Hackworth, Guyandotte, Guyandotte River, Hamlin, history, J.C. Reynolds, John B. Floyd, Kanawha River, Levisa Fork, Mud River, Mud River Bridge, Ohio, Proctorville, Thomas H. Perry, Tug Fork, Tylers Creek, Van Sanford, Virginia, West Virginia

About 1910, Rev. Thomas H. Perry reflected on his long life, most of which was spent in the vicinity of Tylers Creek in Cabell County, West Virginia. In this excerpt from his autobiography, Mr. Perry recalled the early years of the Civil War in his locale:

Immediately after our first defeat we began to plan for another exit to Dixie, as so few of our men made their escape to Dixie after being fired into at the falls of Guyan, for we knew now for a certainty that we must go south and be a soldier or go north a prisoner; for the Federals were going through the country picking up men and sending them away as far as they could. This last plan was for us to meet at Ball Gap, on Mud river, early in the morning, and a company of armed men would meet us there to guard us out to Dixie. Early that morning I met thirty or forty young men at the Ball Gap. We appointed G.W. Hackworth as our leader, and we moved on Mud river, and the young men came to us all along the way, and when we arrived six miles above Hamlin, we had from one to two hundred men in our company. From there we crossed the mountain to the Guyan valley, and then up the river and over the mountains and through the woods for ten days and nights, and we found ourselves in Aps [sic] valley, Virginia. Here we organized a military company* by electing G.W. Hackworth, captain; Van Sanford, J.C. Reynolds and Clint Lovette, lieutenants. No one knows but myself the feelings I had the day I took the oath to support the constitution of the Southern Confederate States of America and to discharge my duty as a soldier. As they swore me they handed me a bible. I remembered that this is the book that I had been preparing myself to preach, and it says: “Thou shalt not kill,” and it gave me trouble as long as I was a soldier.

We drilled at this place two or three weeks, and had eighty-four men in our company, and they generally used us as scouts, operating from the Kanawha river westward, down into Kentucky and eastern Tennessee. There would be times that we would not see our regiment for two months, and then again we would be with them every day for two months. The Federals were trying to make their way up Coal river, Guyan river, Tug river, and the Levisa fork of Big Sandy river, in Kentucky. Their idea was to destroy the New river bridge and the King salt works. General Floyd had a brigade of soldiers somewhere about the headwaters of these rivers; sometimes he would send large scouting parties down these rivers and drive out everything before them. Sometimes when we would be driving them down one river they would be moving up some other river. I have crossed the mountains between these rivers so many times and was shot at by men in the brush and suffered from hunger and cold so many times that it makes me think of war as the darkest days of my life. At one time I went three days and nights without one bite to eat; in many places we had to live on the country that we were in, and the soldiers in front would get all the citizens had to eat, and the rear guard suffered for food; we did not have battles like Lee and Grant, but to many of our poor boys the battle to them was as great as that of Gettysburg or Cold Harbor was to some of them.

At one time my company and some other company was ordered to Cabell county, and we came to Mud river bridge and went into camp for eight or ten days at this place. During our stay in this camp we had no trouble in getting food for our horses and soldiers for the Reeces and Morris and Guinns and Kilgores and others who lived in this neighborhood had an abundance of this world’s goods at that time. One morning our captain said he wanted eight volunteers who would go afoot for three or four days; he had no trouble in getting the eight men; I was one of that number; Lieutenant Lovette was in command, and at noon that day we ate dinner near Barboursville, and at night we were in Guyandotte. Several times the next day we would stand along the river front and see the Federal soldiers in Proctorville. In the middle of that afternoon we started back for Mud river bridge, and the next day our command broke camp, and we started for Dixie. Why these eight men were sent to Guyandotte I never knew, and why General Floyd sent such large scouting parties to Mason, Cabell and Wayne counties, as he did at this time, I never knew, unless it was to give protection to those who were desirous of going south with their families and chattels, which a great many did, and stayed until after the war.

Source: From Youth to Old Age by T.H. Perry, Chapter 6, p. 16-18. Note: As of 1862, Cabell County remained a part of Virginia and Lincoln County did not exist.

*Company F, 1st Regiment Virginia State Line

Recollections of the Civil War in Cabell and Lincoln Counties, WV

10 Saturday Sep 2016

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Civil War, Salt Rock, West Hamlin

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Appalachia, Barboursville, Bear Creek, Cabell County, civil war, Confederate Army, Enon Church, Falls of Guyan, genealogy, George Rogers, Guyandotte River, history, Lincoln County, Mud River, Salt Rock, South Carolina, Thomas H. Perry, Tylers Creek, Union Army, Virginia, West Virginia, William R. Brumfield

About 1910, Rev. Thomas H. Perry reflected on his long life, most of which was spent in the vicinity of Tylers Creek in Cabell County, West Virginia. In this excerpt from his autobiography, Mr. Perry recalled the early years of the Civil War in his locale:

In November, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union. That was more than a sign of war; it was a declaration of war. Soon afterwards six other southern states seceded, and a little later three other states followed suit, and last of all, in May, 1861, Virginia seceded.

My father said he had worked, prayed, voted for the Union, but he thought he owed his allegiance first to the state and then to the general government. However, he advised us boys to stay at home, as there are many things involved in this war and its hard to say what the outcome will be. One Sunday, in 1861, many of our young people were at Enon church, and at that time the union army was at Barboursville, ten miles away. While we were at church a man came on horseback in great speed with his hat off, and when he got to the church he cried out: “Get to the mountains; the Federals are on their way to Tyler’s creek, and are destroying everything before them.”

We all ran to the woods in great haste, and remained there until the next day, except the women and the children, who returned home that evening; the old men advised the women and children to stay at home, as they did not believe the soldiers would do them any harm. But several young men from this first scare, joined the Confederate army, but I stayed at home and dodged the soldiers until the spring of 1862. During this time I thought of going north and going to school, and then I would think if I went north they would force me to join the army and I would have to fight my own people, and I could not do that. I thought if I was in the south I could not go to school; they would force me in the army and I knew I could not stay at home. So I decided as there was no neutral ground for me I would go to Dixie. At this time the Federals were scouting the country in every direction which made it difficult to go, but we set a time to meet in a low gap east of Joseph Johnson’s, a half-way place between Guyan and Mud rivers. That night we filled that gap more than full of men and horses. It was a dark night and we never knew how many men we had present, but think there were two or three hundred. We were suspicious of traitors among us that night. We did our work quickly, appointed a captain and mapped out our way for that night’s march. The way was down Tyler’s creek to the Salt Rock and then up the Guyan river. About midnight our captain said: “Gentlemen, follow me,” and as we slowly moved out of that gap it was whispered, “we do not know whose hands we are in , as there are so many more here tonight than we expected, and so many strangers.”

When we came to where my father lived on Tyler’s creek, I asked George Rogers, a man of our company to wait with me until I could go to the barn and get my horse, for I had left my horse in the barn until we were ready to march. This delayed me about twenty minutes. Mr. Rogers and I thought we would soon overtake our men, but when we came to a bridle path that led to the mouth of Bear Creek, much nearer than by way of Salt Rock, it was so dark we could not see the track of a horse, and as we did not know which way our men had gone we were much perplexed and lost some time at this point, but decided to go the nearer way, and when we came within one mile and a-half of the falls of Guyan, we heard considerable shooting in our direction, and as our men were twenty-five or thirty minutes in the advance of us, the shooting must have been at our men, and as our men were not armed the shooting was all from one side and it may be that half of our men are killed. we stopped and decided that we would wait for daylight. We hitched our horses about fifty yards from the road and lay down under a beech tree that stood about twenty-five yards from the road, and we went into a doze. Suddenly, in front of us, there was a moving army and we could not tell whether they were going up or down the road until the rear guard passed, and then we knew they were going down the road. While they were passing, I said: “George, these are our  men.” George said: “Be still, say nothing.”

When morning came, Mr. Lucas, a man living in that neighborhood, said to us: “The men that have just passed down the road killed Mr. Brumfield and had fired into a body of unarmed men at the falls just before day, this morning.” We understood the rest and at noon that day we were back again at my father’s house.

Source: From Youth to Old Age by T.H. Perry, Chapter 5, p. 14-16. Note: As of 1862, Cabell County remained a part of Virginia and Lincoln County did not exist.

Dr. Virginus R. Moss grave (2015)

15 Sunday Feb 2015

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

≈ 2 Comments

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Appalachia, Barboursville, Blood in West Virginia, book, books, Cabell County, doctor, history, Lincoln County Feud, photos, physician, Virginus R. Moss, West Virginia

IMG_9238

Dr. V.R. Moss was one of two physicians who treated Hollena Brumfield after her ambush. Earlier today, I visited his grave at Barboursville Cemetery in Barboursville, WV.

 

IMG_9211

Dr. V.R. Moss was one of two physicians who treated Hollena Brumfield after her ambush. Earlier today, I visited his grave at Barboursville Cemetery in Barboursville, WV.

 

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

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

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