31 Tuesday Oct 2017
Posted in African American History, Holden
Tags
Appalachia, baseball, boxing, Cuban Tigers, Emancipation Celebration, Fairmont, history, Holden, Holden Giants, Logan Banner, Logan County, Roanoke, Virginia, Walter Brown, West Virginia, William Jones, William Smith
Logan (WV) Banner, 28 March 1913.
11 Monday Sep 2017
Posted in Barboursville, Coal, Holden, Huntington, Logan
Tags
Appalachia, Barboursville, coal, history, Holden, Huntington, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Omar, West Virginia
From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, we find this story about food conditions in the Logan coal fields, dated 9 December 1921:
Seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables brighten the menu of the Logan field miner and his family just as they do the average householder in the larger cities. Visitors have noted with surprise that this is true–that even the most isolated mining communities, cut off from civilization by rugged mountains and difficult creek beds, have their fresh strawberries in season and make quite as much of an event of the canning period as do their northern neighbors.
But what the average visitor cannot know, unless he delves with unusual energy, is the cost in money and time which it means to have such products brought to the miner’s table from the produce centers of the country.
In the first place, many of the mines in the field live five, ten, fifteen and even twenty miles from the town of Logan. The roads in many cases are almost impassible. In others, there are no roads at all. It is common occurrence to use the creek bed as a thoroughfare. A rather hazardous feat, it appears to the visitors on his first trip, but he soon grows accustomed to this. At first he is inclined to cling tight to his seat as the motor truck plows through the shallow water over well rounded stones. The drivers think nothing of fording innumerable creeks. They have lost all solicitude for their tires. In fact, many of them aver that the tires last quite as long as they do on hard-paved roads and point to examples in the form of weather-beaten casing to prove that the usual 10,000 mile guarantee is not at all impossible of achievement in this difficult territory.
Sloshing along through creeks, alternating with mud roads which would bring a rattle to the finest car built they consider the trips to the mines with foodstuffs a mere routine. That it is more than routine, however, is graphically revealed by the wrecks along the roadside–broken-down trucks and motor cars, buggies and wagons.
The road to Holden, four miles from Logan, is a mud road most of the way, featured by innumerable sharp turns. That leading to the mine town of Omar covers nine miles of the most diversified transportation. In that nine miles one single creek must be forded eleven times, and often instead of crossing directly, motor trucks are forced to plow through the water for a considerable distance.
Some sixth sense apparently tells the driver where the “water road” lies, for to the casual observer one part of the creek is as good as another. All he can see is water and, beneath, a solid bed of white boulders. Time has worn them smooth. Sliding down the mud road into the creek bed the driver unerringly picks out the right route. It is as if he carried a sextant, for never, however many times he makes the trip, does he deviate in his course a yard.
Yet despite these difficulties in transportation it is comparatively cheap to get to any mine property in the Logan field. For a dollar, any of the buses operating from Logan, meeting all trains, will carry one to Omar, nine miles of difficult driving, while others take passengers 15 and 20 miles up the creeks for a slightly higher charge. For foodstuffs the cost is proportionately low. Drivers charge 25 to 42 cents per 100 pounds for first class freight to a point within 20 miles of Logan–and take every chance in the world of a breakdown. It is this low haulage charge which enables so many independent and company stores at the mines to meet the prices of retailers in large cities, and it is the dependability of this method of motor transportation which enables them to carry fresh fruits and vegetables in season to tickle the palates of the miners and their numerous progeny. Anyone who imagines that sow-belly and beans constitute the main diet of the miner has never seen the adequate stocks of merchandise kept by mining community establishments.
If there were not enough difficulties in the path of transportation of foods to the mines, the trip from the outside to Logan would provide enough more. Logan is unfortunate in that there are no through freight rates to it. Huntington, the State’s natural distributing point by reason of railroad facilities, does not figure in the traffic to Logan. Merchandise destined for this field must be reshipped at Barboursville, a junction point near Huntington, and this adds a freight charge of from 30 to 40 cents per 100 pounds. Adding this to the cost of haulage by truck to the mines, the differential in favor of the consumers in large cities mounts up. Yet, with all these barriers, prices in the mine towns are low–the result of keen competition and of quantity buying.
Source: “Camps Have the Best of Food: Despite Shipping Obstacles Miners Have Same Food as Their City Neighbors,” Logan (WV) Banner, 9 December 1921.
09 Saturday Sep 2017
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Holden, Whirlwind
Tags
Appalachia, Bernie Adams, Boyd Carter, Buck Fork, Charley Mullins, Chick Dingess, Cumberland Mountains, Ewell Mullins, Florence Adams, Fred Carter, genealogy, guitar, Harmon Carter, Harts Creek, Hendersonville, history, Holden, Hoover Fork, Horatio Adams, Howard Adams, Hubert Adams, Ireland Mullins, James Thompson, Jesse Carter, Julia Tomblin, Kentucky, Lewis Maynard, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mae Robinson, Millard Thompson, music, Peter Carter, Peter Mullins, Peter Tomblin, Sallie Bunn, Trace Fork, Twelve Pole Creek, West Virginia, Whirlwind, whooping cough
An unknown correspondent from Whirlwind in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 5, 1927:
The Bible school on Trace Fork is progressing nicely and is conducted by Rev. Ratio Adams and Peter Mullins.
Hubert Adams of Holden was visiting relatives on Hoover recently.
Howard Adams and Charley Mullins were visiting Peter Tomblin of Twelve Pole Saturday.
James Thompson and Miss Julia Tomblin were united in marriage on Buck Fork recently. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are planning a honeymoon trip to the Cumberland Mountains and points in Eastern Kentucky.
Millard Thompson was visiting friends on Harts Creek Monday.
Ezra Farley made a flying trip to Lewis Maynard’s Sunday.
The home of Boyd Carter at Hendersonville was destroyed by fire Monday afternoon.
Chick Dingess was a visitor to Jesse Carter last Sunday.
Ireland Mullins was calling on Miss Sallie Bunn of Hoover Sunday.
Harmon Carter of Buck Fork was calling on Miss Mae Robinson Sunday.
Things seen daily: Philip going to see Aunt Minnie; Howard going to Mollie’s; Florence and her pipe; Bernie and his guitar; Clinton and his whooping cough; Mollie and her forty four; Peter and Fred Carter making toothpicks; Wilburn and his boots; Ewell watching for a car to come up Trace.
07 Thursday Sep 2017
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Holden, Whirlwind
Tags
Anthony Blair, Appalachia, Bob Dingess, Burl Mullins, Carl Adams, Charley Mullins, Emmett Dingess, Frank McCloud, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Holden, Hoover Fork, Howard Adams, Jane Adams, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mary M. Adams, Monaville, Moses Vance, Mud Fork, Twelve Pole Creek, West Virginia, Whirlwind
An unknown correspondent from Whirlwind in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on February 25, 1927:
After so much rain and snow we are having some beautiful weather.
Emmett Dingess, little son of Robert Dingess, is very low at this writing.
Frank McCloud of Monaville is visiting his friends of Harts this week.
___ is attending school at Mud Fork.
Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Moses Vance of Twelvepole, a fine boy, Tuesday.
Mrs. Jane Adams was out joy riding Thursday.
Wonder why Charley Mullins never visits Hoover any more? Charley, it wasn’t so.
Wonder why Burl Mullins never visits D. McCloud’s any more?
Mrs. Mary M. Adams and children of Holden have been visiting her mother-in-law of Hoover for the past week.
Howard Adams is taking his vacation this week.
Wonder why Carl Adams looks so blue these days? Cheer up, Carl. She’s not mad.
Anthony Blair was transacting business on Harts Thursday.
Some combinations: Mandie looking for Charley; Lenville going to school; Grandma and her cane; Hattie and her baby; Curtis swinging; Frank wearing Carl’s ring; Howard teaching school; Howard and his pipe; Dixie going to Lawrence; Wilburn and his red sweater; Lucille and her Lee order; Clinton and his lamp; Wilburn and his dogs; Lucy going down the road.
01 Friday Sep 2017
Posted in Battle of Blair Mountain, Big Creek, Boone County, Coal, Holden, Logan, Stone Branch
Tags
A.D. Robertson, Albert F. Holden, Amherst Coal Company, Appalachia, Big Creek Coal Company, Blair Mountain, Boone County Coal Company, Buffalo Creek, Buffalo Creek Coal and Coke Company, Buskirk Hotel, Clothier, coal, Cole and Crane Company, Cora Coal Company, Dobra, Draper Coal Company, engineer, G.W. Robertson, Gay Coal and Coke Company, Gay Coal Company, George M. Jones, Guyan Valley Coal Operators Association, Harry S. Gay, Herbert Jones, history, Holden, Huddleston Coal Company, Illinois, Island Creek Coal Company, John B. Wilkinson, John Laing, Logan County, Logan County Coal Operators Association, Madison, Main Island Creek Coal Company, Monclo Corporation, Monitor Coal Company, Moses Mounts, Mounts-White Fisher Company, Omar, Omar Mining Company, Pennsylvania, Peru, Princess Coal Company, Shamokin, Sharples, Stone Branch Coal Company, U.S. Coal and Oil Company, Vicie Nighbert, Virginia-Buffalo Company, West Virginia, West Virginia Coal and Coke, Wheeling-Pittsburgh Coal Company, Wilkinson, William H. Coolidge, William J. Clothier, Yuma Coal and Coke Company
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.
19 Wednesday Jul 2017
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Holden, Whirlwind
Tags
Appalachia, Charles Curry, cholera, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Holden, Isaac Fry, Joe Blaine, John Workman, Logan Banner, Logan County, Luke Curry, McCloud School, miller, Rum Creek, Sol Riddle, Vinson Collins, West Virginia, Whirlwind, Will Farley
An unknown correspondent from Whirlwind in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on December 18, 1914:
We are glad to note that our people are busy, happy and peaceful in these parts.
Will Farley has added a new industry to our town, a gasoline grist mill.
Our drummer, Sol Riddle, has just returned from a trip through his territory.
Revs. Adams and Fry preached at Head of Heart last Sunday.
Mrs. Vinson Collins is very ill at this writing.
Joe Blaine has moved from this place to Holden.
Forest fires are very frequent here of late.
Rev. Charley Curry was elected pastor of the church at McCloud school house recently.
Revs. Border and Vance will preach at McCloud school house the second Sunday.
Luke Curry has returned home from Rum, where he has been working for some time.
Cholera has been raging among the hogs in this vicinity. Several people have lost hogs.
John Workman will move back to his farm in the spring, he says.
Good luck to The Banner and a happy Xmas to its readers.
17 Monday Jul 2017
Tags
Alex Johnson, Amos Jones, Appalachia, Charles Stovall, D.C. Dean, Daughters of Pocahontas, Fayetteville, H.N. Saunders, history, Holden, Independent Order of Red Men, J.M. Ellis, James Carey, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mitchell Jackson, T.T. Page, Tallahassee Tribe No. 48, West Virginia, William Jones
Logan (WV) Banner, 26 June 1914.
14 Wednesday Jun 2017
Tags
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).
06 Saturday May 2017
Posted in Holden
Tags
Appalachia, Fred B. Lambert, genealogy, history, Holden, Huntington, Island Creek, log cabin, Logan County, Marshall University, photos, West Virginia
Island Creek residence (present-day Holden), Logan County, WV, 1902-1903. Courtesy of Fred B. Lambert Papers, Special Collections Department, Morrow Library, Marshall University, Huntington, WV.
06 Monday Mar 2017
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Holden, Queens Ridge
Tags
Annie Dingess, Appalachia, Bob Dingess, Cecil Brumfield, Charley Brumfield, Charley Evans, Dixie Adams, farming, genealogy, Gillis Adams, Harts Creek, history, Holden, Hoover Fork, Howard Adams, Inez Dingess, Isom Glover, Jake Workman, Logan Banner, Lucy Dingess, Mag Brumfield, Monaville, Mud Fork, Queens Ridge, Roxie Workman, Thompson Branch, Ula Adams, Wayne County, West Virginia
An unknown local correspondent from Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 21, 1926:
How do you do, old Banner? Glad to see you again.
We are having some rainy weather at this writing.
Jake Workman, of Holden, is visiting his parents of this place this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Isom Glover of Mud Fork were visiting homefolks Sunday of Thompson Branch.
Gillis Adams of Monaville spent the weekend with homefolks of Hoover.
Charley Evans of Mud Fork attended church here Sunday.
Chas. Brumfield passed through our vicinity last week attending business affairs.
Robert Dingess made a flying trip… [cropped]
[cropped]… ill for the past week or so but is able to be out again.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Brumfield, a baby girl.
Mrs. Roxie Workman of Holden has returned home from a visit with her parents of Queen’s Ridge.
Misses Inez and Lucy Dingess were… [cropped]
[cropped]…downhearted Sunday? Cheer up, Freda, maybe it’s not so.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dingess was out car riding Sunday.
Jake Workman was calling on Miss Ula Adams Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Adams are very busy farming this year.
Note: Queens Ridge P.O., located in Wayne County, served Harts Creek in Lincoln and Logan counties. The above news is for Harts Creek area, not Wayne County.
28 Wednesday Sep 2016
Tags
Appalachia, C&O Railroad, Craneco, Dingess Run, George T. Swain, history, Holden, Island Creek, Logan, Logan County, Logan Democrat, Omar, West Virginia
Logan–Now and What It Will Be When Its Destiny Is Fulfilled
by G.T. Swain
Situated here among the “Hills of West Virginia” on the banks of the beautiful Guyan lies the little city of Logan–our home. Time was when a few years ago Logan was a struggling little village trying to pull herself out of the mud and how well she succeeded is left to you, gentle reader, to judge. We now have nicely paved streets, solid and substantial sidewalks, large and commodious business buildings and beautiful homes. Lots that were formerly occupied with frame buildings have been raised and have given way for substantial brick and stone buildings and more going up as fast as can be built with more to come in the future. Our people are liberal, energetic and hospitable and a glad hand and hearty welcome is extended to all newcomers, while the passing stranger is always welcome within our gates. Logan is situated in the very heart of the famous Guyan Valley coalfields and is surrounded with the natural advantages to become sometime in the near future a second Pittsburg. With branch roads leading in every direction, reaching a large number of mines from which pour forth every day an enormous of the famous “Black Diamond” which afford employment to a large army of laborers and positions for many more, with different kinds of business houses in the city requiring the services of a large number of skilled laborers we find our little city progressive in the fullest sense of the word and what Logan is at the present time will be nothing in comparison of the city in the near future. At the present time we boast of three wholesale houses, a great many department stores to supply your every want, and many handsome churches to look after your spiritual needs, a large number of efficient lawyers to look after your legal affairs, quite a few experienced physicians and surgeons to attend your physical ailments and a large, commodious high school building and a large public school building to look after the education of your children and while we admit that “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” we have for your amusement two elegant and comfortable moving picture theatres at which you view the best pictures obtainable while we extend you an invitation to visit our park where you will be entertained with athletic sports. We take time during the strenuous hustle and activity to eat occasionally and we invite you to patronize our large and first class hotels, restaurants and boarding houses where you will be furnished the best food the market affords. If you have any surplus change that is too heavy to carry around in your pocket we have, for your convenience, two large and perfectly safe banks who will gladly receive your deposit or extend any other accommodation consistent with good sound banking.
Take a little time and sit down and rest while we furnish you with the Daily Courier and permit you to digest the very latest news fresh over the wires of the Associated Press. In fact call on us for any favor and we will do our utmost to supply your every need and should you unfortunately get in the way of any of our numerous “jitney buses” we will tenderly convey you to our new, fine hospital, just completed at a cost of $40,000 where your injuries will be treated while you wait.
Logan–Ten Years Hence–Or A Peep Into The Future
My–but can this be Logan? We stand in the cupola of the magnificent stone Court house and gaze up Island creek and as far as the eye can see we see numerous buildings of all description and we are told that they too extend up Main Island creek. We turn and gaze up Dingess Run and we find the same, while we are informed that all the way up the Guyan the buildings are too numerous to count. We look toward Huntington and find that the town has extended down the river while all the vacant lots that formerly specked the town are all now covered with handsome and elegant homes. On every hand we find new coal operations and the hum of the machinery dulls the sound of the hustle and bustle of the street traffic below. Wires leading from the large and power electric station situated on the banks of the river cover the county like giant cobwebs, carrying to various points the giant current for lighting and operating purposes. Coal trains loaded to doubled track road of the C. & O. capacity are moving West while empty cars are coming East. Electric cars are passing and branching off up into the hollows transporting their load of passengers and freight to all the operations while those that desire are accommodated by motor vehicles over the fine macadamized roads leading in all directions but in the end pointing the way back to Logan, the hub of all this activity. We look down to where the C. & O. formerly had a coop called a station and we find a large magnificent passenger station in keeping with the balance of the town. We hear that the former little ramshackle affair called the water system has given way to the march of progress and we learn that a short distance back in the mountain Logan has an enormous storage dam from which her people are supplied with water from the pure mountain streams and the water pressure is sufficient for all purposes. We look below and we find the streets patrolled by uniform police. We see the Logan Band pass by playing a patriotic air. The “newsies” are crying aloud the latest news that has been flashed over the wires and published in an extra edition of the Daily Courier. The mail is being delivered to the doors of all citizens by uniformed carriers at the expense of Uncle Sam. Many of the large number of visitors to the city are taking the cars of the incline railway for a trip to the beautiful fraternal home that crowns the crest of the reservoir mountain, while listen–down the street at full speed comes the organized fire department in charge of the very latest fire fighting apparatus. Surely this is the “Miracle Land.”
‘Tis said that Holden and Omar are only suburbs while Craneco is clamoring for annexation.
–What? Yes–why–sure climbing to the cupola of the Court house and enjoying the balmy breeze of pure mountain air, shaded from the rays of the noon-day sun I fell asleep and being espied by the janitor who being afraid my presence would molest the workings of the town clock has climbed up here and shaking me from my pleasant day-dream has invited me to plant my cute little “tootsies” on terra firma. Some dream. Believe me.
Source: Logan (WV) Democrat, 22 June 1916.
18 Friday Sep 2015
Posted in Big Ugly Creek, Holden, Leet
Tags
Appalachia, Belva Reynolds, Big Ugly Creek, Brode Gill, Bruce Hatfield, Clarence Lambert, Dollie, Edna Lambert, Elza Adkins, Hazel Toney, history, Holden, Huntington, Irvin Lucas, Leet, Lincoln County, Logan Banner, Pearl Brumfield, Rector, Thelma Huffman, Toney, U.S. South, Virgie Brumfield, Wayne C. Brumfield, Wealthy Hatfield, West Virginia
An unknown local correspondent from Leet in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on June 6, 1924:
We are having some beautiful weather at this writing.
Most everybody who attended decoration at Rector, W.Va., Sunday, reported a nice time.
Mrs. Edna Lambert made a flying trip visiting the home folks Sunday.
Misses Pearl and Virgie Brumfield, both of Toney, W.Va., went picnicking Sunday at Holden, W.Va., and had a nice time.
Mr. Wayne C. Brumfield was calling on Miss Thelma Huffman Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Hatfield has just returned from Huntington, W.Va.
Mrs. Lambert and family from Huntington was visiting on Ugly this past week.
Mr. Clarence Lambert and Irvin Lucas have gone back to their old job at Holden, W.Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Brode Gill were out riding on a hay wagon Sunday.
Miss Hazel Toney and her grandma were out car riding.
____ Toney made a quick trip to Dollie Sunday.
Elza Adkins and Belva Reynolds were out walking Sunday.
02 Saturday May 2015
Tags
Amon Ferguson, Annie Dingess, Appalachia, Ashland, Battle of Blair Mountain, Beatrice Adkins, Big Creek, Bill Porter, Bob Dingess, Camden Park, Charles Brumfield, Charleston, Fisher B. Adkins, genealogy, Harts, Hendricks Brumfield, Herbert Adkins, history, Holden, Howard Brumfield, Huntington, Ina Dingess, James Auxier Newman, Jessie Brumfield, John Beamins, John McEldowney, Kentucky, Lincoln County, Logan Banner, Mae Caines, Mae Dingess, Nora Brumfield, Ora Dingess, Rosco Dingess, Sand Creek, Shirley McEldowney, Sylvia Shelton, Wayne, West Virginia
An unnamed local correspondent at Harts in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on 3 July 1925:
Mr. and Mrs. Rosco Dingess, of Blair, spent the week end visiting friends and relatives at Harts.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dingess, of Logan, and sister, Miss Ina Dingess were visiting relatives at Harts, Sunday.
Miss Jessie Brumfield, of Harts was shopping in Logan, Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher B. Adkins, of Harts, spent Sunday at Camden Park in Huntington.
Mr. and Mrs. John McEldowney returned to their home at Charleston, Sunday after a few weeks visit with friends and relatives at Harts.
Mrs. John Beamins, of Holden, was the guest of Mrs. Robert Brumfield, at Harts, Sunday.
Miss Sylvia Shelton, of Sand Creek passed through our town Sunday.
Mr. Amon Ferguson, of Huntington, was calling on Miss Ora Dingess at Harts Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. Chas. Brumfield and little son, Howard were visiting relatives in Huntington and Ashland, Ky. this week.
Mr. James Auxier Newman, of Huntington, was calling on friends at this place, Monday, while enroute to Big Creek.
People at this place were glad to see Hendrix Brumfield on our streets again.
Rev. Gartin is teaching a successful singing school at Harts. Everybody is invited to come.
Miss May Caines, of Wayne, was calling on Miss Jessie Brumfield, at Harts, Sunday.
Herbert Adkins was transacting business in Logan, Saturday.
It was a great shock to the people of this place to hear of the death of Bill Porter, for he had a wide circle of friends at Harts.
30 Thursday Apr 2015
Tags
Alva Koontz, Bessie Adkins, Big Creek, Bob Brumfield, Burl Farley, C&O Railway, Caroline Brumfield, Charles Brumfield, Charles C. Brumfield, Charleston, circuit clerk, Cora Adkins, Elliot Fleur, Ethel Brumfield, Fisher B. Adkins, genealogy, Gill, Grant Cremeans, Hamlin, Hardin Marcum, Harts, Herhert Adkins, history, Holden, Huntington, James Auxier Newman, James Porter, Jessie Brumfield, John McEldowney, Lincoln County, Logan, Logan Banner, Mary Ann Farley, Mattie Gill, Ranger, Salt Rock, Shirley McEldowney, studebaker, Sylvia Cyfers, Vesta Cyfers, West Virginia
An unnamed local correspondent at Harts in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on 19 June 1925:
Mr. Chas. C. Brumfield, of this place are visiting friends and relatives at Logan and Holden this week.
Alva Koontz and James Auxier Newman, of Huntington were seen to pass through this town enroute to Big Creek, today.
Mr. and Mrs. Burl Farley, of Salt Rock, were guests of Mrs. Chas. Brumfield at Harts Sunday.
Hardin Marcum and Elliot Fleur, C. & O. operators of Ranger, were calling on Miss Jessie Brumfield Saturday evening at Harts.
Robert Brumfield, of this place has purchased a fine new Studebaker car this week.
Mr. and Mrs. John McEldowney and children of Charleston are visiting relatives at this place.
Rev. Porter, Minister of the Baptist church preached an able sermon here Sunday which was largely attended.
Fisher Adkins, of Harts made a flying trip to Huntington Sunday.
Misses Jessie Brumfield and Cora Adkins were guests of Sylvia and Vesta Ciphers and Miss Mattie Gill, of Gill, Sunday and reported a fine time.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Adkins of Harts and Miss Ethel Brumfield were visiting friends at Hamlin, Sunday.
Hon. Grant Cremeans the Circuit Clerk, and family of Hamlin were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Brumfield, Friday.
27 Saturday Dec 2014
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Holden, Whirlwind
Tags
Appalachia, Dingess, Emma Riddle, Ewell Mullins, genealogy, Gordon Farley, Harts Creek, Hattie Riddle, history, Holden, Ida Martin, James Baisden, Jeff Baisden, Lincoln County, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mettie Raines, Mingo County, Tom Mullins, U.S. South, West Virginia, Whirlwind, Willis Dingess
“J.M.,” a local correspondent at Whirlwind on Big Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on Friday, March 12, 1912:
James Baisden, of Dingess, was a Whirlwind visitor Friday.
Mrs. F.F. Riddle and daughter Miss Hattie, were shopping Friday.
Gordon Farley was here on business one day recently.
Miss Ida Martin has returned home at this place after visiting friends in Lincoln County.
Miss Mettie Raines is teaching a successful school at this place.
Willis Dingess is very low at the present writing.
M. Tomblin and Allen ______ killed a fine fox, Friday.
The infant child of Tom Mullins was badly burned one day the past week.
Jeff Baisden and Ewell Mullins passed here for Holden Saturday.
Miss Ida Martin was shopping Friday.
24 Wednesday Dec 2014
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Halcyon, Holden, Logan, Yantus
Tags
Anna Dingess, Chapmanville, Crawley Creek, Eva Thompson, French Gore, genealogy, Green Jackson, Guy Gore, Halcyon, Harts Creek, history, Holden, Isaac Marion Nelson, J.H. Vickers, Leander Cary, Lee A. Dingess, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Low Gap Church, Scott Thompson, Simon Dingess, Striker Fork, Venila Dingess, West Fork, West Virginia, Yantus
An unnamed correspondent at Halcyon on the West Fork of Harts Creek and Yantus on the Striker Fork of Crawley Creek, Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on Friday, December 8, 1911:
The Sunday school on Crawley is increasing.
Mr. Simon Dingess was at Crawley to Sunday school last Sunday.
Mr. French Gore, of Halcyon, killed a fine hog a few days ago. He said it weighed about twenty pounds.
Mr. Scott Thompson killed a fine hog last week.
Mr. Lee A. Dingess, of Halcyon, visited Logan last week.
Mr. Guy Gore was a visitor to Chapmanville last Saturday.
Leander Cary visited home last Sunday.
Marian Nelson preaches at the Low Gap church on next Sunday.
Eva Thompson, of Holden, was a visitor on last Sunday.
Green Jackson, who has been sick, is improving.
To buy cheap goods go to J.H. Vickers, Chapmanville.
Miss Anna Dingess spent last Sunday with her mother at Halcyon.
22 Monday Dec 2014
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Dingess, Harts, Holden, Shively, Whirlwind
Tags
Appalachia, Boyd Kinser, Bulwark, Charles W. Mullins, Conley Cemetery, Dingess, Dode Tomblin, Francis M. Collins, Fred F. Riddle, genealogy, Gordon Farley, Guy Gore, Halcyon, Harts, Harts Creek, Harve Smith, history, Holden, Huntington Hospital, Jackson Conley, James Mullins, Logan Banner, Logan County, Luke Curry, Martha Kinser, McCloud, Mose Tomblin, Mullins & Riddle, Peter Workman, Pollie Adams, Pollie Workman, Shively, Sol Riddle, Twelve Pole Creek, W.J. Bachtel, West Virginia, Whirlwind, William H. Workman
“J.M.,” a local correspondent at Whirlwind in Upper Hart, Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on Friday, November 24, 1911:
Success to the Banner.
F.F. Riddle was here Tuesday.
Prof. J. Mullins was on 12 Pole Monday.
Mrs. Pollie Adams was shopping Thursday.
Mose Tomblin is hauling corn for W.J. Bachtel at this writing.
Harve Smith, of this place, has moved to Bulwark, W.Va.
James Mullins attended church on Twelve Pole Sunday.
Peter Workman is still our special mail carrier from Whirlwind to Dingess.
F.M. Collins, of McCloud, was here on business Thursday.
C.W. Mullins was visiting Mullins & Riddle Thursday.
W.H. Workman made a business trip to Holden Wednesday.
Boyd Kinser is the champion horse dealer of Whirlwind.
Rev. Gordon Farley transacted business here one day since.
Mrs. Martha Kinser was calling on Wednesday.
Dode Tomblin, of Dingess, visited Whirlwind Thursday.
S. Riddle was down to Hart on business one day recently.
Guy Gore, of Halcyon, transacted business at this place Thursday.
Mrs. Pollie Workman died with consumption at her home near this place, on the 11th inst.
Luke Curry was out on business the _____ of the freight, by which they were to be shipped.
Jackson Conley, of Shively, died in the Huntington Hospital one day last week and was buried at the Conley Cemetery, Monday, the 13th.
21 Sunday Dec 2014
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Holden, Timber, Whirlwind
Tags
Albert Gore, Amanda Riddell, Brown's Run, Carter Workman, Crockett Farley, Dalton School, Dicey Bush, Elias Workman, Emma Riddell, George Mullins, Georgia Lowe, Gordon Farley, Harts Creek, Holden, J.I. Johnson, James Mullins, Jerry Sias, Kentucky, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mollie Dalton, Moses Tomblin, Mullins & Riddell, Pattie Riddell, Pike County, Roane County, Sol Riddell, Thomas Carter, Thomas J. Wysong, timbering, West Virginia, Whirlwind, Will Dingess
“J.M.,” a local correspondent at Whirlwind in Upper Hart, Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items on October 13, which the Logan Banner printed on Friday, November 10, 1911:
We are having plenty of rain in this section.
Jerry Sias was here on business Thursday.
S. Riddell made a business trip to Logan Thursday.
Mrs. Mollie Dalton was out shopping Wednesday.
Moses Tomblin returned to his work at Holden Sunday.
Miss Willson, of Roane county, is teaching the Dalton school this term.
Mrs. F.F. Riddell and daughter, Miss Pattie, were calling on Mrs. S. Riddell, of this place, Thursday.
A. F. Gore and Will Dingess passed this place on their way to Holden on Thursday.
George Mullins was calling on friends recently.
James Mullins was calling on his best girl Thursday.
Deputy Sheriff T.J. Wysong was around serving court papers Monday.
Thomas Carter, of Brown’s Run, was calling on Mullins & Riddell one day recently.
Mrs. Dicey Bush was shopping at Whirlwind Tuesday.
Miss Georgia Lowe was visiting Mullins & Riddell’s store Tuesday.
Crockett Farley transacted business here Wednesday.
Carter Workman passed through the city Thursday.
Elias Workman left Monday for Pike county, Ky., where he will take charge of a large timber job for J.I. Johnson.
Gordon Farley, the leading cross-tie man of Whirlwind, was in the city one day recently.
16 Tuesday Dec 2014
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Holden, Whirlwind
Tags
Amanda Riddell, Ann Eliza Smith, Appalachia, Dr. William D. Ratcliff, Effie Mullins, Emma B. Riddell, Fort Gay, genealogy, Harold Riddell, Harts Creek, history, Holden, Hoover School, Logan Banner, Logan County, Margaret Sias, McCloud, Moses J. Tomblin, Mullins & Riddell, Murlie Riddell, Naomi Collins, Oma Workman, Sallie Mullins, Sol Riddell, typhoid fever, Wayne County, Wes Smith, West Virginia, Whirlwind
An unnamed local correspondent at Whirlwind in Upper Hart, Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on Friday, October 13, 1911:
Wes Smith was in this vicinity Thursday.
Misses Sallie and Effie Mullins were shopping at Whirlwind, Thursday.
Miss Oma Workman is very low with typhoid fever at this writing, but it is hoped that she will soon recover.
The new school house on Hoover will soon be completed.
Moses J. Tomblin was here from Holden, Sunday.
Mrs. Margaret Sias, of McCloud, was calling at Whirlwind, Wednesday.
S. Riddell is teaching a successful school at McCloud, this fall.
Mrs. F.F. Riddell is staying with Mrs. S. Riddell, of this place, at this time.
Dr. Wm. D. Ratcliff left for his home at Ft. Gay, Wayne county, Tuesday.
Miss Naomi Collins has been visiting at this place for a few days.
Born — To Mrs. S. Riddell, a fine boy.
Miss Murlie Riddell was shopping at Whirlwind, Wednesday.
Mullins & Riddell are prepared to give you top prices for country produce. Call and be convinced.
Mrs. Thomas Smith was calling Thursday.
12 Friday Dec 2014
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Ferrellsburg, Halcyon, Holden, Whirlwind
Tags
Bascum Nelson, Charles Spry, Charles W. Mullins, Crawley Creek, Elias Workman, Essie Adams, Ferrellsburg, genealogy, Gordon Farley, Halcyon, Harts Creek, history, Holden, John Carter, Josiah Tomblin, L.W. Mullins, Logan Banner, Logan County, Michael Kinser, Minnie Jonas, Peter Jonas, Peter M. Mullins, Sarah Gore, Sol Riddle, Solomon Adams Sr., Stephen Yank Mullins, Tema Adams, Thomas Carter, Thomas Smith, Toney Brothers, West Virginia, Whirlwind, White Sansom, whooping cough, William Dingess, William H. Workman
“Red Eagle,” a local correspondent at Whirlwind in Upper Hart, Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on Friday, July 14, 1911:
(Last week’s letter.)
Crops looking fine.
Uncle Tom Smith was at this place recently.
Mike Kinser was a business visitor this week.
Dr. Si Tomblin made a brief visit to Holden this week.
C.W. Mullins made a brief visit to this place Tuesday.
White Sansom, of Crawley, was here looking after cattle.
Peter Mullins, of Hoover, was here on business recently.
Sol Adams, Sr. transacted business at Whirlwind Thursday.
Misses Tema and Essie Adams were shopping here this week.
Chas. Spry and Gordon Farley passed here Monday with a fine drove of hogs, en route to Holden.
Mrs. A.F. Gore and Mrs. Wm. Dingess, of Halcyon, were shopping here this week.
The infant of John Carter has been very ill for a few days but is slowly recovering.
The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Jonas died of the whooping cough Tuesday July 4.
L.W. and Steve Mullins are hauling ties from this place to Ferrellsburg for Toney Bros.
Mrs. Bascum Nelson, of Holden visited her parents Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Workman last week.
Elias Workman and Thos. Carter have completed a fine chicken lot for S. Riddle, who, it is said, will go into the chicken business on a large scale.
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