08 Tuesday Oct 2019
Tags
Appalachia, Ella Adkins, Guyan Lumber Company, Hamlin, history, John Paul Adkins, Lincoln County, Lincoln National Bank, Midkiff, West Virignia
Promissory note to Guyan Lumber Company by John Paul Adkins and Ella Adkins of Midkiff, Lincoln County, WV (1952).
14 Sunday Jul 2019
Tags
Appalachia, assistant postmaster, Big Creek, Cabell County, Charles Spurlock, Cheat River, Cincinnati, civil engineer, civil war, doctor, genealogy, gunsmith, Hamlin, history, Jane Spurlock, John Spurlock, Lifas Spurlock, Lincoln County, Logan Banner, Logan County, Logan Post Office, Marshall Spurlock, Midkiff, Montgomery County, Omar, Pete Spurlock, preacher, Ranger, Robertson Spurlock, Seth Spurlock, Sheridan, sheriff, Spurlockville, Stephen Hart, surveyor, Union Army, Virginia, West Virginia
From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about Stephen Hart and Harts Creek in Lincoln and Logan counties, West Virginia. The story is dated April 14, 1937.
Stephen Hart Settled at Cheat River, Pete Spurlock, A Great Grandson, Reveals
P.A. (Pete) Spurlock, assistant postmaster at the Logan post office, this morning revealed the destination of Stephen Hart, who went went after he had lived for a short time at the forks of the creek in the lower end of Logan county which now bears his name.
Spurlock said that Hart went to the Cheat River and settled permanently there to hunt deer and rear a family. He said the family name of Hart is as familiar there as the name Dingess is familiar in Logan county.
A daughter of Stephen, Jane, was Spurlock’s grandmother. She lived until 1913 and told her grandson much of the early history of the family which made its home in and around Spurlocksville, Sheridan, Ranger, and Midkiff.
Charles Spurlock, the progenitor of the Spurlock family, came to what used to be the Toney farm below the mouth of Big Creek in 1805 from Montgomery county, Virginia.
“Uncle Charley was a funny old cuss,” his great grandson Pete said this morning. “The story is told that a sheriff of Cabell county was given a capias to serve on the old codger for some minor offense when he was growing old and rather stout.
“Meeting him in the road one day, the sheriff informed Uncle Charley he had a capias to serve on him.
“None abashed, the old man informed the sheriff he was a law-abiding citizen and laid down in the middle of the road and told the sheriff to take him to jail.
“The ruse worked, for the sheriff chose to look for less obstinate prisoners,” Uncle Charley’s grandson said, chuckling.
Another story about the eccentric “Uncle Charley Spurlock” which has gone down in history, whether true or not, was that he lived for a short time below Big Creek under a rock cliff (known as a rockhouse) during the early summer while he was getting his cabin in shape for winter.
The tale is out that “Uncle Charley” explained his strange dwelling place in this way to his neighbors:
“Well I took Sarah (his wife) in a good substantial frame house in Virginia and she wasn’t quite satisfied. I took her to a log house and she wasn’t satisfied. I took her to a rail pen and still she grumbled. Then I took her to a rock house built by God Almight and still she wasn’t satisfied.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with Sarah.”
Sarah evidently became accustomed to “Uncle Charley” for the couple reared four sons. They were John, Seth, Lifas and Robertson. There were no daughters.
Seth was P.A. Spurlock’s grandfather. His father, Marshall, is 78 and lives on his farm near Cincinnati.
Spurlock says “Uncle Charley” is buried on a point at Spurlocksville overlooking the haunts of his early manhood.
Robertson was a gunsmith and lived near Hamlin. Seth was a civil engineer and helped survey much of Logan county. He was a Union soldier. John was a country doctor who practiced at Ranger.
Lifas was a preacher for sixty years and lived at Sheridan.
Charles Spurlock, of Omar, is a distant cousin, the assistant postmaster said. He is the only relative that lives in this section of Logan county, Spurlock said.
Spurlock, at Omar, was born at Spurlocksville and is a grandson of one of the original “Charley’s” boys.
11 Thursday Jul 2019
Posted in Big Ugly Creek, Hamlin, Huntington, Leet, Rector
Tags
Anna Fry, Appalachia, Beulah Ellen Skeens, Edith Frye, Edna Brumfield, Ernest Lucas, Ethel Frye, genealogy, H.M. Gill, Hamlin, history, Horn Skeens, Huntington, Irwin Lucas, Leona Lambert, Lillie Lucas, Linnie Brumfield, Lizzie Frye, Lonnie Lambert, Morrisville, Rector, Thanksgiving, Thelma Huffman, Wayne Brumfield, Wealtha Lambert, West Virginia, Willie Payne
A correspondent named “Baby Doll” from Leet on Big Ugly Creek in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following news, which the Logan Banner printed on November 30, 1923:
Miss Thelma Huffman, her chum, __ ___ Brumfield, have __________.
_________ visiting friends and relatives in Huntington.
Miss Wealtha Lambert gave a party Tuesday night. A nice time was reported.
Mr. Willie Payne left this afternoon for Morrisville, W.Va.
Mr. Lonnie and Leona Lambert will spend Thanksgiving in Hunitngton.
Miss Edna M. Brumfield stayed home all day Sunday. Wonder where her sweetie was?
Edith and Ethel Frye are going to school these days.
School is proceeding nicely on Lore Fork.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Horn Skeens a 11 pound baby girl, Buleauh Ellen.
Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Gill made a flying trip to Hamlin attending to personal affairs.
Miss Lillie Lucas has a case of chickenpox and is very ill.
Mr. Wayne C. Brumfield will visit home folks Saturday evening.
Ernest and Irwin Lucas attended church at Rector Sunday.
Miss Anna Fry seems to be quite ill now. Hope she will soon recover.
Miss Linnie Brumfield had lots of company Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Guy are planning to go to Huntington this week.
Mrs. Lizzie Frye entertained company Sunday evening.
11 Thursday Jul 2019
Posted in Ashland, Chapmanville, Hamlin, Harts, Queens Ridge
Tags
Appalachia, Ashland, Bob Brumfield, C&O Railroad, Caroline Brumfield, Chapmanville, Charley Brumfield, Ed Brumfield, Enos Dial, genealogy, Hamlin, Harts, Herb Adkins, history, Huntington, Ironton, Jessie Brumfield, Kentucky, Lincoln County, Lizzie Nelson, Logan Banner, Ohio, R.M. Sevin, Verna Johnson, West Virginia
An unnamed correspondent from Harts in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following news, which the Logan Banner printed on April 3, 1925:
Charles Brumfield of Harts has been transacting business in Ironton, Ohio, the past week.
Mrs. Toney Johnson, of Ashland, Ky., has been visiting her mother, Mrs. Chas. Brumfield Harts.
Herbert Adkins of Harts is prospecting business in Huntington.
Miss Jessie Brumfield is teaching a successful school at Rector. She spent the week end with homefolks at Harts and was accompanied by Miss Cora Adkins and Mrs. Herbert Adkins and Mrs. Robert Brumfield of Harts.
Mrs. Robert Brumfield of Harts was shopping in Logan Saturday.
Edward Brumfield of this place is preparing to attend school at Hamlin.
Charles Brumfield is building a fine residence costing about seven thousand dollars at Harts.
Mrs. Robert Dingess of Queen’s Ridge returned to her home after a short visit with her mother, Mrs. Charles Brumfield, of Harts.
Miss Lizzie Nelson of Harts is attending high school at Chapmanville.
R.M. Sevine, C&O brakeman of Huntington was calling on Miss Jessie Brumfield of Harts.
Enos Dials and Edward Brumfield and Miss Jessie Brumfield were seen out walking Sunday evening at Harts.
15 Wednesday May 2019
Posted in Hamlin, Little Harts Creek, Queens Ridge, Twelve Pole Creek
Tags
Appalachia, education, Eva Workman, Francis Fork, genealogy, Hamlin, history, Jim Ramey, Kiahs Creek, Lincoln County, Logan Banner, Mae Caines, Minnie Workman, Queens Ridge, Trough Fork School, W.H. Mann, Wayne County, West Virginia, Woodrow Workman
A correspondent named “Black Eyes” from Queen’s Ridge at Lincoln-Wayne counties, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on March 23, 1923:
The Trough Fork school will close on the 23rd day of this month. Everybody come.
Woodrow Workman has returned home from a two weeks vacation on Francis Creek.
Jim Ramey celebrated his sixtieth birthday last Thursday.
Miss Minnie Workman was the guest of May Caines Monday.
Miss Eva Workman was visiting the post office Friday.
W.H. Mann is attending court this week at Hamlin.
NOTE: Geographically, Queens Ridge is located entirely in Wayne County but the post office area included a section of Lincoln (and Logan) County for a certain number of years.
17 Wednesday Apr 2019
Posted in Hamlin
Tags
Appalachia, Hamlin, history, Lincoln County, photos, West Virginia
Hamlin, Lincoln County, WV. Photo credit unknown.
29 Tuesday Jan 2019
Posted in Big Ugly Creek, Cemeteries, Hamlin, Rector
Tags
Alomony Ferrell, Appalachia, Big Ugly Creek, cemeteries, genealogy, Hamlin, history, James P. Ferrell, James P. Ferrell Cemetery, Lincoln County, Mayme Ferrell, Philip Hager, Rector, Sarah Ann Hager, West Virginia
Up this way across the old James P. Ferrell homeplace on Big Ugly Creek, Lincoln County, WV. 26 January 2019
The James P. Ferrell Cemetery contains over 45 graves, most of them identified with a marker. 26 January 2019
Up this way, behind the old log cabin… 26 January 2019
James P. Ferrell’s headstone. The death date should read December 5, 1913. 26 January 2019
Sarah Ann (Ferrell) Hager was the daughter of James and Alomony (Toney) Ferrell and the wife of Sen. Philip Hager of Hamlin, WV. 26 January 2019
Here’s the grave of my late friend Mayme Ferrell, the last occupant of the old Ferrell cabin. 26 January 2019
View from the cemetery to the old cabin site. This is the location of the old Rector Post Office. 26 January 2019
06 Sunday Jan 2019
Posted in African American History, Big Creek, Coal, Hamlin, Logan
Tags
Appalachia, Bedford Queen, Big Creek, Daisy Coal Mines, Earl McComas, genealogy, Gordon Lilly, Hamlin, history, Indiana, J.E. Whitehall, Lilly's Branch, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, moonshine, section foreman, West Virginia
An unknown correspondent from Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 14, 1922:
Little Earl McComas died yesterday (Tuesday) at 5 P.M. Burial was made the following day in the family burying ground.
Dr. J.E. Whitehall has been at this home in Indiana since last Thursday on a vacation. We are looking for him to return soon.
Mrs. Stone, our boarding house keeper, who has been ill is now improving and will soon be able to attend to her duties again.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Bedford Queen Tuesday night, a fine boy baby.
The Daisy Coal Mines have resumed operations and are running daily now since a temporary shutdown.
A little son of Mr. Bledsoe, the section foreman, is reported quite ill at this writing.
Mr. Gordon Lilly, one of the pioneer settlers on Lilly’s Branch, is reported out again after a severe illness. Uncle Gordon is one of the oldest citizens in this neighborhood and is past 84 years in age.
Mr. Burgess, of Logan, has moved into the house recently occupied by Dr. Chafin who has moved to Hamlin.
Quite a little excitement prevailed here last week when a colored man and his wife engaged in a free for all and the wife was assisted by a third party. The battle raged in earnest until the arrival of an officer who was required to shoot before the trio could be subdued. Moonshine was at the bottom of the trouble and they were hauled before Squire Lowe where they were each heavily fined.
23 Sunday Dec 2018
Tags
Appalachia, board of education, Carroll High School, cattle, Columbus, dairy, Edna Hager, education, fruit, gas, Hamlin, history, Homer Stiles, Hugh Hainor, Ida Hager, Kenova, Lincoln County, Lincoln Republican, Ohio, oil, orchards, sheep, teachers, West Virginia
From the Lincoln Republican of Hamlin, WV, comes this submission by three Carroll High School students about what Lincoln County might do when oil and gas is exhausted in the future.
AFTER OIL AND GAS, THEN WHAT?
If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county what suggestions have you along the line of agriculture for keeping up and increasing the wealth of the county and maintaining the population of Hamlin?
Three Carroll High School pupils in a recent examination in Agriculture gave the following answers:
If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county, and it is supposed that it will, the people could make just as much money at other things if they would only think so. For instance, Lincoln county has been declared by the best educated men in the State to be the best fruit growing county in West Virginia. The people of Lincoln county can make as much money growing fruit as the people of Ohio, and many a farmer in Ohio has grown rich just by growing fruit. I do not mean out close to Columbus, but down near Kenova, in the hilly section. These hills of Lincoln county can be cleared and the men who are now making $2500 a year working in the oil and gas business can make that much and more growing fruit. Of course he has to go about it in the right manner. If they do it as it should be done they would be busy every day in the year.
Dairying is another thing that has been discussed by educated men for Lincoln county. They say now that we are getting the hard road we can take all our milk and butter to Huntington and receive good prices for it. Improved cattle can be turned out on these hills and if cared for in the proper way a man can make as much money working at it as he can working in the oil and gas business.
IDA HAGER.
If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county, I think dairying would help increase the wealth of the county and also help maintain the population of Hamlin. Dairying would pay in this county because so many people do not own cows and would buy all their milk and butter from the dairy. The cows could be pastured in the summer, and this would cause the people to improve their farms; and again, we are getting the hard road, and the dairy products could very easily be taken to market, if the dairy man could not sell all his products at home.
Fruit raising would also help Lincoln county. These hill-sides could be converted into profitable and beautiful fruit farms. I don’t think another town in the U.S. of its size uses so much fruit as Hamlin, and all this fruit must be shipped in from other places when it could be raised very easily at home. The people would improve their farms, and the washed and gullied hills would be made of some use, whereas they are of none. The only thing needed to make both dairying and fruit raising profitable is some one to start and boost the business.
EDNA HAGER.
If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county, I would suggest agriculture on a scientific basis to keep the population and increase the wealth. If I see right, Lincoln county has some of the best land for orchards in the eastern part of the United States. What cannot be used for orchards can be used for sheep. With the proper care, orchards of great value and producing ability can soon be started in Lincoln county. Most of the soil, or sub soil, is clay and usually is deep and well watered. The change in temperature is usually gradual and not much risk or danger would be run in loosing from frosts or freezing. Again, we can not find a better sheep raising county in the east than Lincoln county. Sheep would surely prosper in Lincoln county. The land is somewhat run down and this would soon build it back again and restore Lincoln county’s virgin soils. This is the only way I can possibly see to keep Lincoln on her feet.
HUGH HAINOR
Perhaps it is well that some people are thinking along this line. It might be dded also that one way of keeping up the population and welfare of the county is to build up at the County seat the best school possible. In doing this everyone can help. We should have a large number of county teachers in the High School for the spring months. Everyone should be interested in livening teachers up to this opportunity of better preparation. We shall be in the new building then and the new building is fine. It might be of interest to note in closing that the Board of Education and the faculty are considering the establishment of a Five Week’s Summer Training School for teachers, and are discussing the matter with State authorities and with the County Superintendent.
HOMER STILES,
Prin. Carroll High School
Source: Lincoln Republican (Hamlin, WV), 02 February 1922.
18 Tuesday Dec 2018
Posted in Atenville, Big Creek, Hamlin, Huntington
Tags
Alvie Purkey, Appalachia, appendicitis, Atenville, B.D. Toney, Big Creek, David Crockett, Earl McComas, genealogy, Hamlin, history, Howard McComas, Huntington, James B. Toney, Lincoln County, Logan Banner, Logan County, pneumonia, Rachel Spry, West Virginia
An unnamed correspondent from Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 17, 1922:
Mr. B.D. Toney and J.B. Toney, of Big Creek, have been attending circuit court at Hamlin this week.
Baby Earl, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard McComas, has been very ill since last Saturday with broncho-pneumonia.
Alvie Purkey, who had been ill with appendicitis, died Wednesday, March 29. He was operated on at a local hospital at Huntington, after which pneumonia fever developed.
A banquet was given after the lodge meeting at the K. of P. hall Wednesday night.
Mrs. Rachel Spry, of Atenville, has been very ill with pneumonia fever, but is now very much improved.
Dr. D.P. Crockett, of Big Creek, was in Logan Thursday. Dr. Crockett has been ill for several days having had an appointment at the C&O hospital at Huntington for abscess of frontal sinus.
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