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Brandon Ray Kirk

Category Archives: Big Harts Creek

Chapmanville District Schools (1927) 2

15 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Civil War, Halcyon, Native American History, Queens Ridge, Shively, Spottswood, Stone Branch, Warren, Whirlwind, Yantus

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Albert Thornton, Alice Dingess, Alonzo, Anna Adams, Appalachia, Battle of Cloyd's Mountain, Beatrice Adams, Ben Adams, Bob Dingess, Brown's Run, Browns Run School, Buck Fork, Buck Fork School, Bud Dingess School, Bulwark School, Chapmanville District, civil war, Cole Adams, Confederate Army, Conley School, Crawley Creek, Daisy Dingess, Dalton School, Dave Dingess School, Dixie Mullins, E. Burton, East Fork, Ed Dalton, education, Edward Chapman, F.M. McKay, Fisher B. Adkins, Fisher Thompson, genealogy, George Doss, George Mullins School, Harts Creek, history, Hoover School, Howard Adams, Hugh Dingess School, Ina Dingess, Ivy Branch School, J.A. Vickers, J.L. Thomas, John Conley, John Dingess, L.D. Stollings, Lee Dingess School, Limestone Creek, Local History and Topography of Logan County, Logan County, Lower Trace School, Manor School, Marsh Fork, Melvin Plumley, Middle Fork, Native Americans, Pigeon Roost, Piney School, Reuben Conley, Road Fork, Rocky School, Sallie Dingess, Smokehouse Fork, Stephen Hart, Striker School, T. Doss, Thelma Dingess, Three Fork School, Tim's Fork, Timothy Dwight, Twelve Pole Creek, Ula Adams, Union Army, West Fork, West Virginia, White Oak School, Workman School, World War I

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

Dave Dingess School, est. 1814

Ula Adams, teacher

One room frame school

“Harts Creek derived its name from Steven Harts, said to have been killed by Indians on the creek.”

Striker School, est. about 1874

Edward Chapman, teacher

One room frame building

Three Fork School, est. 1878

One room frame building, originally a log house

Nine Confederate veterans live here: George Doss, T. Doss, L.D. Stollings, Ed Dalton, Ruben Conley, John Conley, Ben Adams, E. Burton, Melvin Plumley. A Union veteran lives here; he originated elsewhere. Three branches of Crawley Creek are Road Fork, Middle Fork, and Pigeon Roost. Alonzo is the local post office.

Bulwark School, est. 1880

Robert Dingess, teacher

One room frame building

“All fought on the Confederate side” during the Civil War. One man gained great merit from our district as a marksman with the American marines during World War I.

Lee Dingess School, est. 1891

Cole Adams, teacher

One room frame

Five local men served in the Confederate Army.

Browns Run School, est. 1892

Ina Dingess, teacher

One room frame building

“Sent several soldiers to help the South.” The fork is named for a Brown who lived at its mouth.

Buck Fork School, est. 1894

No teacher given

One room frame building

A Church of Christ exists nearby. Three local men served in the Confederate Army. One local soldier lost both hands in World War I.

Ivy Branch School, est. 1895

Anna Adams, teacher

Albert Thornton was the first teacher here. “Trace Fork received its name from the original road leading to Twelve Pole Creek.”

Hugh Dingess School, est. 1897

Sallie Dingess, teacher

One room frame building

Conley School, est. 1897

J.L. Thomas, teacher

One room frame building

The first house built on Smoke House Fork at its mouth had no chimney for quite a while and smoked badly.

Dalton School, est. 1897

Thelma Dingess, teacher

One room frame building

“This district furnished a lot of Civil War veterans and played her part.”

Bud Dingess School, est. 1904

Beatrice Adams, teacher

One room frame building

“East Fork named on account of its being the most Eastern fork of Harts Creek.” One local soldier served in the Confederate Army.

Hoover School, est. 1910

Howard Adams, teacher

One room frame building

A Christian Church exists in the vicinity. Four local men served in the Confederate ARmy. “Harts Creek named from Steven Harts murdered by Indians.” Three boys went from here and one was wounded at the battle of Argonne.

George Mullins School, est. 1910

Dixie Mullins, teacher

One room frame building

“Buck Fork named from large number of male deer on creek.”

Rocky School (no date)

Daisy Given Dingess, teacher

References an Indian mound on Pigeon Roost where tomahawks, arrowheads, etc. can be found. Indian burial ground.

Under the Tim’s Fork entry, it says that John Dingess was killed in battle at Cloyd’s farm. Tim’s Fork is named for Timothy Dwight, who lived there.

Lower Trace School, est. 1919

Alice Dingess, teacher

Two room frame building

“Sent several soldiers to help the South.” Also, “Harts Creek named from Steven Harts.”

Piney School, est. 1921

F.M. McKay, teacher

One room building

No permanent churches exist locally; people meet occasionally in one of the school houses. Four local men served in the Confederate Army. “Piney was named because of so much pine growing there.”

White Oak School, est. 1922

Fisher Thompson, teacher

One room rented frame building

Manor School, est. 1923

Located at Limestone

Workman School, est. 1924

Fisher B. Adkins, teacher

One room frame building

Marsh Fork derived its name from the marshy land near its mouth.

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

Harts Creek Moonshiners (1926)

14 Wednesday Jun 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Shively

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Appalachia, crime, genealogy, Golden Butcher, Harts Creek, Henderson Dingess, Henderson Farris, history, John Butcher, John Shadd, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Marshal Reynolds, moonshine, moonshining, West Virginia

Harts Creek Men Arrested for Still LB 07.30.1926.JPG

Logan (WV) Banner, 30 July 1926.

Chapmanville District Schools (1927) 1

14 Wednesday Jun 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk 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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36th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, African-Americans, Appalachia, Battle of Kanawha Gap, Big Creek, Big Creek School, Burley Stollings, Buzzard Hill, Chapmanville District, Chapmanville School, Charles I. Stone, civil war, Confederate Army, Crispin Stone, Daisy Pettit, Daisy School, Dare Devils, Ed Stone School, Edith Richardson, education, Fort Sumter, French Dingess, Garrett Fork, genealogy, George Hill, Godby Branch, Guyandotte River, history, Holden, Hugh Thompson School, Hugh Toney, J.A. Vickers, J.G. Beymer, John Conley, John Garrett, John Godby, John stone, Kitchen School, Lane School, Local History and Topography of Logan County, Logan County, Lot W. Adams, Mabel Lowe, Native American History, Native Americans, Pigeon Mountain, Poplar Camp Creek, Prudential Coal Mine, Rosa Barker, Sid Ferrell, Simon Girty, Spanish-American War, Stone Branch, Stone Branch School, Thomas Huff, Thomas School, Union Army, Vette, Violet H. Agee, West Virginia, World War I

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).

Samp Davis Sawmill

12 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Harts, Timber

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Appalachia, Harts, Harts Creek, history, Lincoln County, logging, photos, Samp Davis, timber, West Fork, West Virginia

Samp Davis Sawmill.jpg

Samp Davis’ sawmill, most likely on West Fork of Harts Creek, Lincoln County, WV.

Harts Creek District Educational Directory, 1914-1929

12 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Banco, Big Harts Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Dollie, Ferrellsburg, Fourteen, Harts, Queens Ridge, Rector, Sand Creek, Toney

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Appalachia, Banco, Ben Walker, board of education, Bob Brumfield, Brad Toney, education, Ferrellsburg, genealogy, Harts, Harts Creek District, history, James B. Toney, Jim Brumfield, Joe Maynard, John Hager, Lee Toney, Lewis Dempsey, Lincoln County, M.F. McComas, Matthew Farley, Milt Ferrell, Queens Ridge, Ralph Nelson, Rector, Robert Martin, Sand Creek, Toney, Ward Brumfield, Watson Adkins, West Virginia

The following persons served as members of the Harts Creek District Board of Education in Lincoln County, WV:

1914-1915

B.W. Walker, president, Ferrellsburg

Lewis Dempsey, commissioner, Ferrellsburg

B.D. Toney, commissioner, Toney

Ward Brumfield, secretary, Queens Ridge

1915-1916

J.B. Toney, president, Queens Ridge

Lee Toney, commissioner, Rector

B.D. Toney, commissioner, Toney

Ward Brumfield, secretary, Ferrellsburg

1916-1917

J.B. Toney, president, Queens Ridge

Lee Toney, commissioner, Rector

B.D. Toney, commissioner, Toney

Ward Brumfield, secretary, Harts

1917-1918

J.B. Toney, president, Queens Ridge

Lee Toney, commissioner, Rector

John Hager, commissioner, Rector

Ward Brumfield, secretary, Harts

1918-1919

J.B. Toney, president, Queens Ridge

Lee Toney, commissioner, Rector

John Hager, commissioner, Rector

Ward Brumfield, secretary, Harts

1919-1920

M.F. McComas, president, Banco

Ralph Nelson, commissioner, Queens Ridge

John M. Hager, commissioner, Rector

Watson Adkins, secretary, Sand Creek

1920-1921

M.F. McComas, president, Banco

Ralph Nelson, commissioner, Queens Ridge

John M. Hager, commissioner, Rector

Lewis Dempsey, secretary, Harts

1921-1922

No board members listed

1922-1923

J.M. Ferrell, president, Dollie

Watson Adkins, secretary, Harts

1923-1924

Robert Brumfield, president, Harts

Ward Brumfield, secretary, Harts

1924-1925

Robert Brumfield, president, Harts

James Brumfield, commissioner, Ferrellsburg

J.M. Ferrell, commissioner, Rector

Ward Brumfield, secretary, Harts

1925-1926

No board members listed

1926-1927

Robert Brumfield, president, Harts

Milton Ferrell, commissioner, Rector

James Brumfield, commissioner, Toney

Robert Martin, secretary, Queens Ridge

1928-1929

M.C. Farley, president, Fourteen

Gilbert Toppings, commissioner, Queens Ridge

Joe Maynard, commissioner, no address given

R.L. Martin, secretary, Queens Ridge

NOTE: In 1928-1929, Harts Creek District had 24 one-room schools with a total enrollment of 574.

Cole Branch of Harts Creek, Lincoln County, WV (2017)

30 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Appalachia, Bill Brumfield, Cole and Crane Company, Cole Branch, Enoch Adkins, Eva Brumfield, Harts Creek, history, Lincoln County, Pat Kirk, photos, West Virginia

Welcome to Cole Branch

Welcome to Cole Branch of Harts Creek, Lincoln County, WV. The tributary is reportedly named for C. Crane & Company, a timber firm active locally at the turn of the century. My great-great-grandfather Bill Brumfield once lived on a farm shown at the center of this photo. My great-grandparents, Pat Kirk and Eva Brumfield, were married here in 1911. My great-great-great-uncle Enoch Adkins built the house shown to the left in the 1920s. Photo taken on 2 April 2017.

John Q. Adams Heirs v. Spencer A. Mullins and John Workman (1868)

29 Monday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Spottswood, Warren, Whirlwind

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Appalachia, crime, Dicy Adams, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, John Frock Adams, John Q. Adams, John Workman, Joseph Adams, Logan County, Spencer A. Mullins, Ticky George Adams, West Virginia

Adams Heirs vs. Spencer A. Mullins and John Workman.jpg

John Q. Adams, son of Joseph and Dicy (Mullins) Adams, died in 1863. This record is located in the Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.

Pauline Workman and Melvina McCloud

23 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Halcyon, Women's History

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Appalachia, Delia Workman, Floyd Workman, genealogy, Halcyon, Harts Creek, history, Jeff McCloud, Logan County, Louisa McCloud, Melvina McCloud, photos, West Virginia, Workman Fork

Pauline Workman and Melvina McCloud copyright

Pauline Workman, daughter of Floyd and Delia (Adkins) Workman, with Melvina McCloud, daughter of Jefferson and Louisa (Thompson) McCloud. Melvina was born about 1915 and Pauline was born about 1920. They were residents of the Harts Creek section, Logan County, WV.

Chapmanville News 05.21.1926

23 Tuesday May 2017

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

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algebra, Appalachia, Big Creek, Buck Fork, Chapmanville, Dr. Ferrell, E.M. Oaks, Ernie Ward, genealogy, Grover Lowe, gypsies, Harts Creek, history, J.E. Peck, John Vickers, Logan Banner, Logan County, Low Gap Church, Peter Carter, Roscoe Ferrell, Stollings, W.C. Pridemore, West Virginia

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.

Ed Haley Guardianship (1898)

19 Friday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Ed Haley, Spottswood

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Albert Dingess, Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, Ed Haley, fiddler, genealogy, Harry Blair Jr., history, Logan, Logan County, music, West Virginia

IMG_1926

On May 9, 1898, Harry Blair, Jr. was appointed guardian of Ed Haley. Record of Bonds Book B (1892-1907), Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. 31 March 2017. Photo by Mom. 

Adkins-Brumfield Family Cemetery (2017)

18 Tuesday Apr 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Harts

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Adkins-Brumfield Family Cemetery, Appalachia, Caney Branch, cemeteries, Charles Adkins, genealogy, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, history, Isaiah Adkins, justice of the peace, Lincoln County, Mary Jane Adkins, miller, Minerva Adkins, photos, West Virginia

IMG_1980

This cemetery is occupied by the family of Charles and Minerva (Dingess) Adkins. Charles Adkins (1850-1919), a resident of Caney Branch of Harts Creek, was a miller and justice of the peace in Harts Creek District, Lincoln County, WV. He is my great-great-great-grandfather. In recent weeks, we have been busily restoring this cemetery.

Charles Adkins copyright

Charles Adkins (1850-1919), son of Isaiah and Mary Jane (Toney) Adkins.

Chapmanville News 04.16.1926

11 Tuesday Apr 2017

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

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Appalachia, Chapmanville, Dump Farley, Dwyer Coal Company, genealogy, history, J.D. Price, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mud Fork Quartet, pleurisy, preacher, Shively, singing school., Tucker Hensley, West Virginia

An unknown local correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 16, 1926:

Dwyer Coal Co. has suspended operation temporarily.

Some of our population doesn’t believe there are any birds. They never get up in time to hear them sing in the mornings.

If our singing school keeps on it will not be long until we have a choir equal to the Mud Fork quartet.

Everything seems to be unusually quiet here just now. Even the registrar of vital statistics had neither births nor deaths to report for March.

Dump Farley of Shively was in town one day last week getting his seng hoe sharpened.

Dump said he anticipates a fine May apple crop this season.

Rev. Tucker Hensley was expounding the scripture here Tuesday evening.

Strange as it may seem there are great big children here that have never saw their father in Sunday School.

The rural population have been coming into town the last few days. They have been isolated all winter. One man said if it stayed good weather ’til he came back he would have his hair cut.

J.D. Price is very ill with pleurisy. 

Raven Rocks (2017)

09 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Warren

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Appalachia, Camel Rocks, Hall Point, Harts Creek, Indian Rocks, Lincoln County, Myrtle Kirk, nature, photos, Raven Rocks, rocks, Thompson Branch, West Virginia

IMG_2092

These rocks are visible from Thompson Branch and Hall Point on Harts Creek, Lincoln County, WV. Most locals today know them as the Raven Rocks. Myrtle (Farley) Kirk, born in 1909, remembered them as the Camel Rocks; she played on them as a young girl. Yet another possible name is “Indian Rocks.” 2 April 2017.

Billy Adkins at Cat Eye Dave Knob (1994)

08 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Appalachia, Billy Adkins, Bob Leete, Cat Eye Dave Knob, Curry Branch, Dave Thompson, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Jenks Knob, Jenks Thompson, Lincoln County, photos, Thompson Branch, West Virginia

IMG_2206

Here’s a photo of Billy Adkins, my genealogy mentor, at the old Jenks Thompson/Dave Thompson homestead. Jenks, great-grandfather to Billy, once lived at this site; later, Dave (son of Jenks, nicknamed “Cat Eye Dave”) lived here. Jenks Knob/Cat Eye Dave Knob is located between Thompson Branch and Curry Branch of Harts Creek in Lincoln County, WV. Photo by Bob Leete. Spring 1994.

Harts Creek District (c.1883)

08 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Fourteen, Green Shoal, Guyandotte River, Harts, Leet, Little Harts Creek, Timber, Warren, Wewanta

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Adam Lambert, Andrew D. Robinson, Appalachia, B.C. Curry, Big Ugly Creek, Boone County, Burbus Toney, Charles Spurlock, constable, Edley Elkins, education, Fourteen Mile Creek, genealogy, Guyandotte River, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, Henry H. Hardesty, Hezekiah Adkins, history, Isaac Elkins, James White, Jefferson District, Jeremiah Lambert, Jesse Gartin, John Fry, John H. Brumfield, John Lucas, justice of the peace, Kiahs Creek, Laurel Hill District, Lewis Queen, Lincoln County, Little Harts Creek, Little Ugly Creek, Logan County, Methodist, miller, Rhoda Elkins, Richard Adkins, Richard Elkins, Sarah Elkins, Squire Toney, timber, timbering, Wayne County, West Virginia, William Lucas, William West

From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Harts Creek District in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

This is the most southern subdivision of the county. It derives its name from Harts creek, a tributary of the Guyandotte river. On the north is Laurel Hill district, on the northeast is Jefferson, east Boone county, on the south Logan, and on the west Wayne. Guyandotte river flows northwest and divides the district into two nearly equal parts. There are several small streams, among which are Little and Big Harts creeks, Little and Big Ugly creeks, Kiahs creek, and Fourteen Mile creek.

The first settler was Richard Elkins, who reared his cabin in the month of September, 1807. Here he removed his family, and here Charles Spurlock became his first neighbor. Other early settlers were: Esquire Toney, John Lucas, Edley Elkins, John Fry, Hezekiah Adkins, John Brumfield, and Richard Adkins. Rhoda, a daughter of Edley and Sarah Elkins, was the first white child born in the district. The first grist mill was built  by James White about the year 1821. It was a small tub-wheel mill, water being the propelling power. Isaac Elkins built the first saw mill in 1847 or 1848. It was constructed on the old sash-saw plan, and had a capacity for cutting from 800 to 1,000 feet per day.

The first school was taught in a log cabin one mile above the mouth of Big Harts creek about the year 1832, but who the teacher was cannot now be ascertained. The date, however, is remembered by an old resident, because it was the year in which he first visited this section. The first house for educational purposes was built near the mouth of Big Harts creek in 1834. It was a five-cornered building, one side being occupied by the ever-present huge fire place. There are now ten public school houses in the district, “some of which,” says an informant, “are in bad condition, but will soon be replaced by frames;” 334 boys and girls attend school in this district.

The first sermon was preached here in the year 1823 by a Methodist minister named William West, and here the same year he gathered a little church, one of the first ever formed in the valley of the Guyandotte river; but of its history or who composed its membership, nothing is known. When the writer asked of an old settler the question: “Who were the first members?” his reply was: “The register is gone, and no one living can tell.” When asked who organized the first Sabbath school, he replied: “There never was one in the district.”

The first township officers were as follows: Supervisor, Burbus Toney; justice of the peace, Jeremiah Lambert; constable, Jesse Gartin; clerk, Andrew Robinson; treasurer, B.C. Curry; school commissioners, Adam Lambert, William Lucas, and Lewis Queen. According to the census of 1880, the population was 1,116.

Source: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 106-107.

NOTE: I descend from Richard Elkins, John Fry, John H. Brumfield, and Jeremiah Lambert.

Henderson and Sallie Dingess graves (2017)

03 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Civil War, Lincoln County Feud, Shively, Spottswood, Warren

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Appalachia, Blood in West Virginia, Brandon Kirk, cemeteries, Dingess-Brumfield Family Cemetery, genealogy, Harts Creek, Henderson Dingess, history, Kathy Adams, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, photos, Sallie Dingess, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia

IMG_2005

Henderson and Sallie (Adams) Dingess are buried here on Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. Since my last visit, a tree has pitched over onto their graves. Photo by Kathy Adams. 2 April 2017.

Stephen Hart (1896)

31 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Appalachia, genealogy, Harts Creek, Henderson Dingess, Henry Clay Ragland, history, Logan, Logan County, Logan County Banner, Smokehouse Fork, Stephen Hart, West Virginia

Stephen Hart Ragland LCB 04.08.1896

Logan County Banner (Logan, WV), 8 April 1896.

Harts Creek Moonshine Stills (1925)

29 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Appalachia, Harts Creek, history, Logan Banner, Logan County, moonshine, moonshining, West Virginia

Harts Creek stills destroyed LB 06.19.1925

Logan Banner (Logan, WV), 19 June 1925.

Patton Thompson military record (1862-1863)

24 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Civil War

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34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, Abbotts Branch, Appalachia, Barney Carter, civil war, Confederate Army, constable, deputy sheriff, genealogy, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, history, John B. Floyd, John C. Chapman, Lincoln County, Logan, Logan County, Patton Thompson, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia

P Thompson military record 1

Patton Thompson military record, 34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry (Company D), 1862-1863. Patton Thompson, a resident of Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV, is my great-great-great-grandfather.

P Thompson military record 2

Patton Thompson later lived at the Baisden farm on Guyandotte River just above Abbotts Branch.

P Thompson military record 3

During the early 1880s, Patton Thompson was a Lincoln County deputy sheriff and a constable in Harts Creek District.

Patton Thompson

24 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Civil War, Green Shoal

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34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, Abbotts Branch, Appalachia, Branson Tomblin, Chloe Thompson, constable, David Thompson, Delana Thompson, deputy sheriff, Feriba Tomblin, genealogy, Green Shoal, Guyandotte River, Harts, Harts Creek, Henry H. Hardesty, history, Jenks Thompson, John F. Thompson, Lincoln County, Logan County, Margaret Thompson, Martha J. Thompson, Mary A. Thompson, North Carolina, Patsy Thompson, Patton Thompson, Susan Kirk, Susan Thompson, Tazewell County, Virginia, West Virginia, William Thompson

From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Patton Thompson, who resided near Green Shoal in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

Patton Thompson and Delana Tomblin were united in the holy bonds of matrimony in Logan county, (now) West Virginia, October 1, 1845, and they have been blessed with nine children, born as follows: William, August 24, 1846; John F., March 11, 1849, died in 1858; Martha J., September 3, 1851; Chloe, January 24, 1854, died in 1864; Margaret, July 27, 1856; David, December 4, 1858; Albert G., September 10, 1861; Mary A., May 15, 1864; Susan, June 15, 1868. Mrs. Thompson was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, in 1826, and her parents are Branson and Feriba (Lewis) Tomblin, natives of North Carolina. Patton Thompson is a native of Logan county, born May 28, 1834, and his parents, William and Patsy (Wilkins) Thompson, came to this county in 1823. Mr. Thompson owns 100 acres of farming land on Guyan river, and 300 acres in Logan county on Hart creek. The land produces well and is highly cultivated. Patton Thompson is deputy sheriff of Lincoln county, and is also constable of Hart Creek district. He is a man of considerable means and ability, is tilling the soil in this district, and receives his mail at Hart, Lincoln county, West Virginia.

Source: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 138.

NOTE: Most likely, when this history was compiled about 1883, Patton Thompson lived at what has been called “the Baisden farm” on the Guyandotte River above present-day Abbotts Branch near the Logan County line.

NOTE: Patton Thompson, a veteran of Company D, 34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, is my great-great-great-grandfather. I descend from his daughter, Susan (Thompson) Kirk.

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Feud Poll 1

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

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Feud Poll 2

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

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

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