Category Archives: Big Creek

Chapmanville News 07.09.1926

19 Thursday Oct 2017

Posted by in Big Creek, Chapmanville, Ferrellsburg

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An unknown correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on July 9, 1926:

O.J. Phipps is now on his vacation.

Cap Adkins of Kentucky has been visiting his grand children on Big Creek this week.

Grading on our new road is being finished this week.

Several of our citizens motored to Big Creek Monday evening to get their part of the hot air dispensed by John (Corn) and others.

A white-robed crowd of men of mystery assembled on the Ferrell Hill last Monday night and burned a very beautiful cross and sang “America” and “The Old Rugged Cross.”

Mrs. Jim Bryant is visiting her parents at Edgwright this week.

Fisher B. Adkins of Ferrellsburg was attending the meeting of the Board of Education here Monday. Fisher is a candidate for Clerk of the County Court of Lincoln county.

John Dingess is confined to the house with Lumbago this week.

A.L. Samson is a candidate here for constable on the Republican ticket. He says he served seven years in Lincoln county and never took any one with him to arrest a man in his life. We say hurrah for Abe.

Early Coal Mines in Logan County, WV

01 Friday Sep 2017

Posted by in Battle of Blair Mountain, Big Creek, Boone County, Coal, Holden, Logan, Stone Branch

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What follows are brief notes from a forgotten source regarding early coal mines in Logan County, WV. Each of these companies and their communities have storied histories.

Gay Coal and Coke (organized in 1903)

Soon after 1900, Harry S. Gay, a mining engineer, came from Shamokin, PA, to observe the Logan coal fields. He stayed at the Buskirk Hotel. With money from friends A.D. and G.W. Robertson, he leased 800 acres from Moses Mounts of the Mounts-White Fisher Company for $20,000. G.W. Robertson was president of Gay Coal and Coke, while Gay was its secretary-treasurer. The company opened the Number One mine in the spring of 1903.

Monitor Coal Company (organized in 1904)

Monitor Coal Co. was organized in 1904 on the land of John B. Wilkinson. The accompanying town was named Wilkinson. Monitor merged with Yuma Coal and Coke Co. in 1935. In 1942, Wilkinson consisted of 166 company-owned houses. The mines eventually played out and real estate was sold through Monclo Corporation.

In 1905, seven coal companies existed in Logan County: Big Creek, Cora, Draper, Gay, Monitor, Stone Branch, and U.S. Coal and Oil Co. (Island Creek).

Island Creek Coal

Island Creek Coal also came to Logan during that time and created Holden. About 1902, William H. Coolidge and Albert F. Holden bought land from Vicie Nighbert. In early 1905, they established Island Creek Coal Sales Co. Holden was built by 1912.

Yuma Coal and Coke Company

Organized in 1905 by the same Pennsylvania interests behind Monitor Coal and Coke Co., Yuma Coal merged with Monitor in 1935.

In 1910, seventeen coal companies existed in Logan County.

Boone County Coal Company (organized in 1911)

Organized in 1911, the Boone County Coal Co. was headquartered at Clothier. William J. Clothier served as its first president. Its buildings burned and new buildings were erected at Sharples. The company held 30,000 acres just above Madison and about 2000 of it came into Logan to the top of Blair Mountain. The company had stores at Clothier, Sharples, Monclo, and Dobra.

Amherst Coal Company

In 1911, George M. Jones and his brother Herbert became interested in the Logan field. They leased 1300 acres on Buffalo Creek and organized Amherst Coal Company in January of 1912. In 1916, the company purchased the Virginia-Buffalo Company and the Huddleston Coal Company. It later purchased Buffalo Creek Coal and Coke Company.

Main Island Creek

In 1913, John Laing leased 30,000 acres in Omar from Cole and Crane Company of Peru, Illinois. Mr. Laing was the first president of the company. Later, West Virginia Coal and Coke, the Omar Mining Company, and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Coal Company mined this land.

In 1913, the Guyan Valley Coal Operators Association organized. In 1918, it became known as the Logan County Coal Operators Association. (For more on the association, follow this link: http://www.wvculture.org/history/ms90-82.html.)

In 1920, over seventy coal companies existed in Logan County (most were small and few survived).

By 1960, there were about fifty coal companies in Logan County; four coal companies accounted for about eighty percent of production. The four companies were Island Creek, Amherst, Omar, and Princess.

William Lucas, Revolutionary War Veteran of Giles County, VA

20 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by in American Revolutionary War, Big Creek, Giles County, Native American History

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William Lucas was born on 25 July 1749 to Charles and Kathleen Lucas in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He married Margaret Elizabeth Price. They lived on Sinking Creek in present-day Giles County, Virginia. Lucas served in the American Revolutionary War (see pension records below). He was my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. I descend through two of his grandsons, David Price Lucas (born c.1811) and William R. Lucas (born 1825).

***

Pension Application of William Lucas (R6507 VA)

***

Logan County November the 9th 1832

We the undersigned Justices of the peace for the County of Logan and State of Virginia, do hereby certify, that at the request of William Lucas, who from age and infirmity, is at present unable to attend at the courthouse of said County; We attended at the house of his son where he now lives; And he the said William Lucas, being duly Sworn, according to Law, made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress in favour of revolutionary soldiers, passed on the 7th day of June 1832. That he enlisted in the company of Virginia Militia commanded by Captain Abraham Trigg in
Montgomery County Virginia; (The regiment was then Commanded by Colo. [Evan] Shelby; at an early period in our revolutionary War; and served in said Company and in said Regiment under the orders of General [William] Campbell in Carolina until the end of his eighteen months tour of Service [see endnote], when he again enlisted into Captain [James] Burns Company in the Regiment commanded by Colo [William] Preston Lieutenants name Snidow [Christian Snidow, pension application S17112] for some time, when he was discharged. He also Joined with his two Brothers in Montgomery County, in hireing men as Substitute, as the Law required, and he has never received any remuneration for his services. he is now 82 years of age, very infirm & poor & certainly well entitled to his Country’s aid; for he is intirely dependent on Charity for his support. Given under our hands & seals this 7th day of September in the year eighteen hundred & thirty two.

[signed] Nath’l Mullins [and] Anthony Lawson

***

Giles County To Wit [18 Jan 1833]

We Ralph Lucas and Wm H. Snidow two of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County of Giles do hereby certify that James Johnston [S5640] & Parker Lucas [S8868] appeared personally before us in said county and each being duly sworn according to Law the said James Johnston deposeth and said that in the year 1781 he served as a private in the army of the revolutionary war under the command of Capt James Burns on a call of the militia from the county of Montgomery that the company in which he served continued in Service about two months and he further sayeth that Wm. Lucas (who he understands now resides in the county of Logan and State of Virginia) Served as a private with him in the said company commanded by Capt James Burns which tour Served by Lucas he believes was about two months and further this Deponent sayeth not

James hisXmark Johnston

***

And the said Parker Lucas doth state that William Lucas he understands and believes now resides in the County of Logan and State of Virginia Served as a Private in the Virginia Militia Company in the Revolutionary war which Company was Commanded by Capt. James Burns which tower of Service he believes was about three months and Rendered in the State of North Carolina and he states further that the said William Lucas served Three months at Culbertson’s Bottom under Capt Thomas Burk which tour of Duty the said William Lucas served with this deponent and further this Deponent sayeth not.

Parker hisXmark Lucas

***

Virginia Giles County to Wit [28 Jan 1833]
We Ralph Lucas and Wm. H Snidow two of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County of Giles do hereby Certify, That Christian Snidow Sen personally appeared before us in said county and he first being duly sworn according to Law the s’d Christian Snidow deposeth and says that in year 1776 he served as a private under the command of Capt Thomas Burke on a call of the militia from the County of montgomery that the company in which he served continued in service about three months. And he further sayeth that that Wm. Lucas (who he now understands resides in the county of Logan) and State of Virginia served as a private with him in the said company commanded By Capt Thos. Burke which tour served by Lucas he believes was about three months, and he further sayeth that he served as Lieutenant in the year 1778 under the command of Cap James Burns that the company in which he served continued in service about two months and the said Wm Lucas served as a private under the command of Capt James Burns the same period above mentioned.

***

Virginia Giles County To Wit [28 Jan 1833]
We Ralph Lucas and Wm. H Snidow two of the Justices of peace in and for the said County of giles do hereby certify that Thomas Farley [W7244] appeared personally before us in said county and being first sworn duly according to law the said Thomas Farley deposth and said that in the year 1781 he served as a private in the army of the revolutionary war under the command of Capt Beirnes [sic] on a call of the militia from the county of Montgomery, and that he belives said Tour lasted about two months, and that he also knows that the said William Lucas served a Tour of Three months under the Command of Captain Thomas Burk, and Further this deponant sayeth not

Thomas hisXmark Farley

***

State of Virginia } To Wit
Logan County }
On this 16th day of February 1833 Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid William Lucas a resident of the county of Logan and State of Virginia aged Eighty three years on the 25th day July 1832 who first being duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832 That he was drafted in the Militia service in the year 1781 by the order of Col. William Preston and that he served three Months in a company commanded by Capt Thomas Burk at Culvertsons bottom in the County of Montgomery Virginia and was then marched to Muddy fort [probably one of the forts on Muddy Creek] Greenbrier County and served their three months under the same Capt Burk against the Indians and was then ordered by Colo Wm Preston to march in the company commanded by Captain James Burns to fort Chissel [sic: Fort Chiswell in present Wythe County VA.] and then marched into North Carolina in the same company of Capt James Burns and Lieutenant Snidow and after serving two months was discharged by Colonel William Preston in North Carlina in the year 1781 – He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity (except the present) and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency in any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me. Joshua Butcher, J. Peace.

William hisXmark Lucas

***

Virginia Giles County to wit
This day Parker Lucas Se’r personally appeared before the undersigned justices of the peace in and for said County, and made oath in due form of law, that William Lucas now of the County of Logan who he understands is now applying for a Pension, that the said William Lucas was forted at McGriffs Fort in the year 1772 to the best of his recollection, for a term of something like three months, and that in the year 1773 the said Lucas was forted at Lucas’s Fort [John Lucas’s Fort on New River] For a term of about three months, and in the year 1774 the said Lucas was forted at Bargers Fort [possibly Barager’s Fort, then and now in Montgomery County] for a like term of about three months, and that in the year 1777 to the best of this affiants recollection the said Lucas was stationed at Farleys Fort [at present Crumps Bottom in Summers County WV] and that in 1778 (as he believes) the said Lucas was stationed at Woods’ fort [Wood’s Fort on Rich Creek in present Monroe County WV] for the term of three months, and that the foregoing services were rendered in defence of the white People against the Indians, and that in the year 1781 (as this affiant believes) the said Lucas served a tour of Service in the militia under the command of Captain James Burns in the State of North carolina which tour he thinks lasted for the term of three months.

Parker Lucas Sr

We do certify that the foregoing affidavit was sworn to before us in the County of Giles and State aforesaid this 18th day of April 1834

Ralph Lucas J.P. [and] Wm. H. Snidow J.P.

***

Virginia Cabell County to wit

This Day Came Hezekiah Adkins, Sen’r [R290] personally appeared before me the under signed Justice of the peace in and for said County and made oath in due form of law that William Lucas now of the County of Logan who he understands is now applying for a pension that the said William Lucas he believes was forted at Mcgriffs fort but dont recollect how long the foresaid H Adkins to the best of his recollection the said Lucas was forted at Lucas fort for a turm about Three months and that the said Lucas was forted at wood and fort for the turm about three months and that the foregoing services ware rendered in defence of the white people against indians and this affiant believes that the said Lucas served two towers and believes one of them under preston and dont recollect how Long

Hezekiah Adkins

I do certify that the said Hezekiah Adkins Senr is a or dained preacher of the gospel and do also certify that the forgoing affidavid was sworn to before me in County of Cabell and state of Virginia this 13th day of October 1834 Hezekiah Adkins Jur

***

Logan County Va. November the 1st day 1834
We the undersigned Justices of the peace for the County of Logan in the State of Virginia Do hereby certify that at the request of William Lucas who, from old age and infirmity, is unable to attend at the Courthouse of said County; We attended at the house of his son John Lucas, where he now lives, and the said William Lucas, being duely Sworn, in form of Law, made the following, declaration, in order to obtain, the benefit of an Act passed by Congress on the 7 day of June 1832. That he was drafted, in the year 1772 to go on a tour of Service; to protect the frontier of Virginia, a gainst the Indians, and also in 1773 and a gain in 1777 he was drafted, for the same Service, & was stationed at Farleys fort on New river for 3 months; and in 1778 he was Stationed at Woods fort for 3 months; He was shortly after drafted into the Virginia Militia, & served a tour of three months, in the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Shelby; in the Company of Captain Abraham Trigg, was with the army under Gen’l. Campbell in Carolina, at the end of this tour He enlisted into the regiment Commanded by his neighbour Col. Preston, and served a tour of three months, in the Company of James Burns; Lieut Snidow, when he was discharged. He also enlisted with his brothers in hiring substitutes, as the Law required; and alltho’ his brother in Giles County [Parker Lucas], in better circumstances has received a pension, he has received nothing in payment for his services, whatever; He is now 84 years of Age, and very infirm, and poor; and certainly well entitled to his Countrys aid; in the time of his great need; and utter inability to help himself–: He relinquishes every other Claim except the present, to any pension; & his name is on no pension Roll whatever in any State–

William hisXmark Lucas

Sworn to, and subscribed before us this 1st day of November 1834
[signed] Anthony Lawson J.P.  Nath’l. Mullins JP

***

The following interogatories were then put by us as are required by the War office:

Agent of pension

1. Question. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born in Pittsylvania County Va. in the year 1749.

2. Question Have you any record of your age &c?
Answer. I have no record of my age, nor do I know of any.

3. Question. Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since, and where do you now live?
Answer. I was living in Botetourt County Va. – I have lived Chiefly since in Montgomery
County; and now, & for 7 years last past in Logan County Virginia –

4. Question. How were you called into service, were you drafted, or were you a Substitute, and if a substitute for whom?
Answer. I was drafted frequently & also volunteered –

5. Question. State the names of some of the regular officers, who were with the troops where you served; such continental and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect & the general circumstances of our services.
Answer. I remember the names of Col Shelby, Col Preston; Capt Trigg, Capt [Thomas] Burke, Capt. [John] Lucas; Capt Burns; & Lieut Snidow.

6. Question. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, & if so; by whom was it given; and what has become of it?
Answer. I believe that I received a discharge from Col. Preston but have lost it many years ago–

NOTES:
A letter in the file explains that Lucas’ first declaration was questioned by the Pension Office because the claim for a militia tour of 18 months was out of the ordinary. The claim for a pension was ultimately rejected because Lucas’s later declarations were inconsistent with each other and the supporting statements. In his own pension application James Johnston did not claim to have served in 1781.

Harts News 01.14.1927

21 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by in Atenville, Big Creek, Chapmanville, Hamlin, Harts, Huntington, Logan, Whirlwind

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An unknown correspondent from Harts in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on January 14, 1927:

After all the sadness and sorrow Harts has mingled back again.

Mrs. Ward Brumfield met the county court in Hamlin Monday to be appointed Ward Brumfield’s administrator.

Mrs. Charles Brumfield is looking after business matters in Logan this week.

Miss Cora Adkins spent Saturday in Huntington.

Herbert Adkins was a business caller in Huntington Monday.

Mrs. Hollena Ferguson spent several days in Logan visiting friends.

Hawkins Perry is our new operator here this week.

Mrs. Toney Johnson from New Orleans is here visiting her mother, Mrs. Chas. Brumfield.

Wonder why Dr. Ferrell of Chapmanville is so interested in Harts now?

Mr. and Mrs. Dallas McComas spent Saturday and Sunday in Huntington.

Mrs. Beatrice Adkins from West Fork was in Harts Saturday.

Miss Jessie Brumfield is progressing nicely with her school at Atenville now.

Bill Adkins will leave here soon for Valparaiso, Indiana where he will be engaged in school for some time.

Mrs. Jeff Mullins of Big Creek spent Saturday visiting relatives here.

Robert Dingess of Whirlwind was a business caller in this town Monday.

Robert and Joe Brumfield are looking after business matters in Logan this week.

Fisher B. Adkins was in Hamlin Monday looking after his contest which will come off the March term of court.

Mrs. Herbert Adkins has purchased a fine radio.

Tom Brumfield seems to be very much pleased these days. Wonder why? Guess the wedding bells will ring soon.

Bill Adkins from Coal Branch City was in town Monday.

Chapmanville News 03.11.1921

21 Wednesday Jun 2017

Posted by in Big Creek, Cemeteries, Chapmanville

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An unknown correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on March 11, 1921:

The Chapmansville school is progressing nicely under the management of J.W. Batchel and Robert Vickers and Miss Eliza Garrette.

Some of the girls are looking to get plenty of boys in school, especially Miss Wanda Ferrell and Lola Ferrell. “Come on, Mr. Wayne,” is what Wanda says.

Mr. Steward can’t cobble shoes to do any good any more for the girls of Chapmansville.

Mr. Bob Hale bought in three fine Holstein cows from Ravenswood.

Mr. Edward Turner is swinging the girls now.

Mr. Charles Farrette of Big Creek is attending school now.

Miss Wanda Ferrell of Big Creek is going to be baptized Sunday.

Chapmansville is coming out of the kinks. She is going to organize a baseball team under the management of W.J. Bachtel.

Wayne Brown is getting sporty lately. He is sweeting the girls on candy, especially one on Big Creek.

Billy Carper and Jonnie Fry have no girls now. They visit the school house often. Cheer up.

Chapmansville is on a boost now. A soda fountain came in today for W. Conley and Hot Springs Bryant.

Six houses are being built in this village at present for Peter Ferrell.

Miss Eliza Garrett, who is teaching the primary department at Chapmansville, visited her home folks Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. Howard Barker and John Dent, who have been working at Big Creek, returned to their homes Saturday. They claim they have been exposed to measles.

Mrs. George Seagraves, who is teaching the primary department at the Barker school, says she will finish her school upstairs on account of her room being cold. She is behind three weeks. Miss Emma Stowers is principal, her term for this year closing March 9th.

Miss Emma Stowers and Bertie Barker attended church at the Lane Sunday.

Miss Bessie Barker, who has been visiting her homefolks for the past week, returned to her work at Logan Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Homer attended church at Lane Sunday.

Mrs. Ed Haner is on the sick list.

Misses Myrna Sanders and Nora Stollings attended church at the Lane Sunday.

Mr. Lacy Browning is on the sick list. The attending physician says he is threatened with fever.

The Farmers Telephone Company of this place have rebuilt their line and we hope that adjoining lines will do likewise.

Harts News 10.19.1926

18 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by in Big Creek, Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Gill, Hamlin, Harts, Logan

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An unknown correspondent from Harts in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on October 19, 1926:

Misses Pearl and Vergia Bell of Big Creek were the week end guests of Mr. and Mrs. S.H. Adkins and family.

Dr. J.T. Ferrell of Chapmanville passed through our little town Tuesday evening to see patients on Harts Creek.

Mrs. Wes Tomblin is very ill with pneumonia fever at this writing.

Ira Tomblin is very low with typhoid fever.

Miss Cora Adkins was visiting friends at Gill Sunday afternoon.

Herb Adkins, merchant of this place, made a business trip to Huntington recently.

Philip Hager of Hamlin was in Harts Tuesday.

Miss Iris Holton of Charleston is visiting relatives here.

Mrs. Nora Brumfield is ill at this writing.

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Mullins of Big Creek were visiting relatives in Harts Sunday.

Bill Hart went to Logan Saturday.

Post Offices of Logan County, WV (1926)

17 Saturday Jun 2017

Posted by in Battle of Blair Mountain, Big Creek, Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Logan, Man, Shively, Stone Branch, Whirlwind, Yantus

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65 Post Offices in Logan County LB 09.24.1926.JPG

Logan (WV) Banner, 24 September 1926.

Chapmanville District Schools (1927) 1

14 Wednesday Jun 2017

Posted by in African American History, Banco, Big Creek, Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Civil War, Guyandotte River, Holden, Native American History, Stone Branch, Timber

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Teachers identified the following schools in Chapmanville District of Logan County, WV, and offered a bit of local history in 1927:

Big Creek School, est. 1852

Edith Richardson, teacher

Big Creek School was built of logs in 1870. Crispin S. Stone taught the first free school in his kitchen in 1870. A log building was erected the next year by the people. A Baptist Church exists here as of 1906. Many soldiers of the Civil War served from here. Two are still living. George Hill of Holden served in the Spanish-American War. Sid Ferrell of Big Creek was wounded in World War I when he left the trenches ahead of his command. The first merchant started here in 1904. Prudential was the first coal mine, just below here, in 1905. The first gas well was drilled here in 1909. Big Creek was formerly named “vette.” On the left of Big Creek (stream) looking downstream is Buzzard Hill and on the right is Pigeon Mountain. Pigeon Hill was named due to the great number of pigeons resting there. Big Creek was formerly called Poplar Camp Creek from a surveyor’s camp made of logs. The town was pretty well built up since 1902.

Lane School, est. 1887

Mable Lowe, teacher

Two room frame building

Four Confederate soldiers and one Union soldier lived here during the war. Garrett Fork was named for John Garrett, an old soldier.

Under the entry for Godby Branch: Godby Branch was named for John Godby. Old settlers claim that Simon Girty who married an Indian squaw lived on Godby Branch for several years. He cut his name on a large beech tree that fell in 1890. John Godby told the story.

Chapmanville School, est. 1892

Lot W. Adams, teacher

Four rooms and two outside rooms

There is a large Indian mound in Chapmanville. French Dingess reportedly fired the first gun at Fort Sumter. The Guyandotte River was reportedly named from the Indian word meaning “narrow bottoms.” Company D, 36th Virginia Infantry, known as the Dare Devils, organized here in May 1861 with Charles I. Stone as captain. Later it combined with Co. C, 36th Virginia Volunteer Infantry and was known as the Logan Wildcats with Hugh Toney as captain. The Battle of Chapmanville Mountain was fought in the fall of 1861 here. Major Davis was wounded and captured and his original is still kept by his relatives. He charged fifty cents a month per pupil and the textbooks were free. A large beech and a large white oak plainly marked a corner trees on the Thomas Huff 850-acre survey made on June 3, 1784.

Stone Branch School (colored), est. 1902

Violet H. Agee, teacher

Kitchen School, est. 1905

Uses three one-room buildings

John Stone said there were a few straggling bands of Indians here when he came to Stone Branch in 1807 but committed no depredations after he settled. John Stone taught the first school in this district and maybe in the county at Stone Branch in 1812. The textbooks were made by him with goose quill pens.

Hugh Thompson School, est. 1916

J.G. Beymer, teacher

One room frame building

A school house erected in 1916 was blown down in a heavy storm, killing John Conley, an old citizen who had taken shelter under the floor. The house was not used for school this year but was rebuilt the following year.

Ed Stone School, est. 1919

Rosa Barker, teacher

One room frame building

One Confederate soldier lived here during the war.

Thomas School, est. 1919

Burley Stollings, teacher

One room frame building

Two Confederate soldiers lived here during the war.

Daisy School, est. 1920

Daisy Pettit, teacher

One room frame house

Source: Local History and Topography of Logan County by J.A. Vickers (Charleston, WV: George M. Ford, State Superintendent, 1927).

Big Creek News 08.13.1926

09 Friday Jun 2017

Posted by in Banco, Big Creek, Chapmanville, Estep

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Abe Martin from Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on August 13, 1926:

We are having fine weather and a lively time in Big Creek.

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Belcher of Logan motored to Big Creek where they visited Miss Harmon for a short time.

Cecil Butcher of Chapmanville and Miss Ottie Vance of this place to enjoy motoring.

Mrs. Mae Shriver was seen playing croquet at her mother-in-law’s, Mrs. A.D. Shriver, Saturday.

F.W. Saltsman, the agent, sure does his duty.

Roy Chapman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chapman, is very ill at present. We hope he will be well soon and his parents, relatives, and friends have our sympathy.

Carlos and Walter Ferrell and Misses Grace Workman and Ella Jane Toney of Chapmanville were joy riding Sunday afternoon.

Wilbur Walford of this place has been very ill for the past few weeks, but we are glad to say is some better.

Miss Princess Butcher seemed to be downhearted Sunday. Cheer up, Princess. Archie will be back soon.

Mrs. Polly Ellis has been visiting relatives at Estep and Banco. We sure do miss her in Big Creek.

Julia Thomas seemed to be blue Sunday. Cheer up, Julia. He’ll come back.

Come on Chapmanville and Manila and Banco. We know writing is hard work but the hands that work will make the world go and for pep we don’t lack. This is our motto: Work ahead and never look back.

Mr. Adams sure does believe in playing the organ. Don’t you imagine he gets tired?

Chapmanville News 06.25.1926

04 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by in Big Creek, Chapmanville

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An unknown local correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on June 25, 1926:

Master French Barker of Wilkinson is visiting his uncle, J.W. Barker, here this week.

Mrs. May Newman of Ceredo is visiting her sister, Mrs. Nettie Ballard, here this week.

The contest among the girls and boys at Sunday School here is getting very interesting.

Some of our citizens say they are looking for the King Bee most any day now.

Quite a lot of men of mystery were in town last week.

The Banner correspondent at Phico was in town Tuesday.

Mr. Smith, the county road man, was looking over some of our roads this week.

A number of people at Big Creek were discussing politics the other day and one lady of about 65 years with her arm in a sling said she didn’t know which party was the best for the country. Said she never was harmed by a Republican, but a Democrat broke her arm. Someone else remarked that the Democrats were in the habit of breaking everything they had anything to do with.

Chapmanville News 06.18.1926

30 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by in Big Creek, Chapmanville, Logan, Whirlwind

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Squire Sol Adams of Whirlwind was here today on business.

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

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

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

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

Banco News 05.28.1926

29 Monday May 2017

Posted by in Banco, Big Creek, Chapmanville

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapmanville News 05.21.1926

23 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by in Big Creek, Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Logan

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

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

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

Peter Carter of Buck Fork was in town Monday.

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

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

Earnie Ward left here Monday for Detroit, Mich.

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

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

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

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

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

22 Monday May 2017

Posted by in Banco, Big Creek

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

STORE BUSINESS

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

EARLY JOBS AND WAR

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

Note: Electricity came about 1945.

MARRIAGE

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

STORE BUSINESS

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

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

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

Ossie Dial (1929)

22 Monday May 2017

Posted by in Big Creek, Coal, Logan, Man

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Ossie Dial copyright

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

Banco News 05.21.1926

22 Monday May 2017

Posted by in Banco, Big Creek, Estep, Stone Branch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapmanville News 05.14.1926

21 Sunday May 2017

Posted by in Big Creek, Chapmanville

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

We are having some nice weather at this writing.

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

Arnold Barker and Virgil Ferrell were out walking Sunday.

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

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

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

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

Miss Gracie Workman was out horse back riding Sunday afternoon.

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

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

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

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

Robert Carter was out horseback riding early Saturday morning.

Brack Walls escorted Elna Cox home from church Friday night.

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

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

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

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

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

20 Saturday May 2017

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

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

FRANK HILL

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

EDUCATION

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

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

JOHNNY HAGER

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

DEPRESSION

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

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

DANCES

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

CHURCHES

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