Estep News 04.16.1926

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

The school at this place closed last Saturday with a spelling contest and candy breaking. All reported an enjoyable day.

Ted Hager of Banco was a pleasant caller at J.W. Thomas’ of this place last Sunday.

Johnie Roberts of Mud was seen driving through this town last Monday evening with a load of furniture.

Mrs. P.D. Bradbury, who has been ill for some time, died at her home at Big Creek last Saturday at 12 noon. Her remains were brought to her old home near this place for interment. I.J. Elkins conducted the services.

Jess Wallen of Stone Branch was seen going through our town one day last week.

Mrs. Emma Baisden and daughters, Misses Almeda and Leva, of East End have returned from a visit with Mrs. Baisden’s daughter, Mrs. Hessel Workman of Big Creek.

Frank Chapman of East End was seen going through this place last Wednesday evening en route for Spring Dale where he will resume his old job as mule driver.

The post office at this place was moved about five hundred yards east of the old site last Tuesday. Don’t forget the place, boys and girls.

Come on Big Creek with your news items. The second item of your letter last week sure did impress us, for which we wish to congratulate the writer. We admire your motto: “Climb high though the rocks be rugged.”

Mrs. Amanda Justice of Banco was the all night guest of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Thomas of Estep last Sunday.

J.A. Stone of Banco was a business caller in Estep last Tuesday.

Basil Duty, the local sheik of Banco, was calling in Curry last Sunday we were informed. Wonder what the attraction is up there. Look out girls of Estep and Banco. You are going to lose Basil.

Minstrel Festival in Huntington, WV (1898)

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Minstrel Festival HuA 10.26.1898

Huntington (WV) Advertiser, 26 October 1898. Billy Kersands was the most popular black comedian of his day. For more about Mr. Kersands, follow this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Kersands 

Albert M. Adkins

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From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Albert M. Adkins, who resided at Fourteen in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

At the age of eighteen, enlisted in the late war, in 1862, and bravely did he fight for Virginia and her rights. He served in the Confederate army, was taken prisoner and held ten months. Mr. Adkins was born in what is now Lincoln county, West Virginia, August 27, 1844. His parents are Lewis and Melcina (Hunter) Adkins. In Lincoln county in 1868, Albert M. Adkins wedded Cosby J. Lambert, who was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, in 1843, and whose parents, Jeremiah and Sarah (Hedrick) Lambert, settled in Lincoln county in 1856. A.M. Adkins is one of the farming population in Laurel Hill district, dealing to some extent in lumber, and is the possessor of 400 acres of land, situated on Fourteen-mile creek. A portion of the land is cultivated, and the rest is heavily timbered with oak, poplar, pine, and walnut, and coal and iron ore are found in abundance. Any mail for Albert M. Adkins may be addressed to Fourteen, Lincoln county, West Virginia.

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

Big Creek News 04.20.1926

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An unknown local correspondent from Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 20, 1926:

Here we come again with a bit of news. Hope the waste basket’s back is turned.

Mrs. Andrew Thomas and daughter are spending a few days in Huntington.

Mrs. Howard McComas and Madge Toney made a brief trip to Logan last week.

If you want to see Myrtle Mobley and Christine Kitchen, come to the drug store any time.

Dr. Ferrell was a visitor in Big Creek Thursday.

Mr. Heckles was calling on Bob Hale Thursday night.

Mrs. Earl Gill who has been on the sick list is improving.

Miss Pearl Sanders visits the drug store every evening.

Mr. George Chaffin was in Big Creek Friday.

Miss Martha Neal was visiting Miss Sally Kitchen Sunday.

Fred Kitchen was seen letting the train by Saturday.

Combinations: Mr. Saltsman and his dirty hands; Allie and her route; Fred looking for the girls; Mr. Kennedy and his mustache; Myrtle and her No. 8; Christine and her hat; Dicy watching for Howard; Georgia going to Huntington; Nannie curling her hair; Marie crying over Kennedy; Jum and his dogs; Bill and his smiles; Fred and his freckles.

Burrell Spurlock

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From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Burrell Spurlock, who resided near Hamlin in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

Son of Eli and Mary (Cummings) Spurlock, was born in Boone county, (now) West Virginia, April 14, 1833, and in Lincoln county, January 7, 1857, he wedded Phoebe Jane, daughter of Preston and Elizabeth (Haskins) Spears. The children of this union number twelve, born as follows: Emily, December 17, 1858, died February 21, 1859; Louisa Jane, December 25, 1859; Emily Alice, October 10, 1861, died January 19, 1880; Robert, September 17, 1864; Allen and Wirt, twins, October 25, 1867; Evermont Green, born February 17, 1870; Sarah Ellen, May 20, 1873, died September 22, 1878; Victoria, February 19, 1876; Leander Filmore, June 30, 1878, died December 8, 1878; Maria, March 26, 1880; Mary Elizabeth, July 7, 1883. Mrs. Spurlock was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, June 10, 1840; she has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifteen years. A brother of Mrs. Spurlock, Thomas Preston Spears, served in teh late war in the Federal army, and died a prisoner. The subject of this sketch was in the civil war, serving in the Federal army, in Company K, 7th West Virginia Cavalry. He enlisted, March 10, 1864, participated in the battles at Floyd Mountain, New River Bridge, Lynchburg, fighting continuously from Lynchburg to Kanawha valley, and was discharged August 5, 1865. Charles Spurlock, grandfather of Burrell, was born and raised ____. The country then was inhabited mostly by Indians. Burrell Spurlock is a farmer in union district, owning 360 acres of farming land, located on Big Laurel, nine miles from Hamlin. The timber on this land consists of pine, poplar, locust, sugar, maple, beech, hickory, and oak; good orchard; superior cannel and stone coal, and iron ore. Address Mr. Spurlock at Hamlin, Lincoln county, West Virginia.

SourceThe West Virginia Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 132.

Adkins-Brumfield Family Cemetery (2017)

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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.

Rufus Stowers

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From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Rufus Stowers, who resided at Hamlin in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

Son of William Larkin and Rebecca (Lambert) Stowers, was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, January 26, 1842, and settled in Lincoln county in 1872. His father died in Tazewell county in 1857, and his mother in 1856. Mr. Stowers taught school thirteen years, but is now a farmer in Carroll district, owning about 127 acres of land on Scary creek, seven miles southeast from Hamlin. The farm is in good condition, containing a large orchard of apple, pear and peach trees, and a portion of it is heavily timbered with poplar, sugar, maple, beech, hickory, and walnut. In Tazewell county, August 16, 1859, Rufus Stowers was united in wedlock with Sarah Elizabeth Lambert. She is a daughter of Hiram H. and Priscilla E. (Lambert) Lambert, and she was born in Tazewell county, April 26, 1844. October 28, 1882, Mrs. Stowers died, leaving a husband and six children to mourn her loss. She was the mother of seven children, one deceased, who were born as follows: George Washington, September 8, 1860; Matilda Jane, March 29, 1862; Mary Priscilla, August 14, 1864; Martha Rebecca Alice, August 9, 1871; Emma Eva Christina, October 7, 1875; James Addison, March 8, 1877, died July 5, 1878; Luella Ann, April 16, 1879. Mr. Stowers is a member of the United Baptist Church; his wife was a member of the same church at the time of her death. William Stowers, father of Rufus, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Rufus Stowers was at one time constable and commissioner of revenue in Bland county, Virginia. Any mail for him may be addressed to Hamlin, Lincoln county, West Virginia.

SourceThe West Virginia Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 117.

NOTE: During the Lincoln County Feud, Paris Brumfield accidentally shot Mr. Stowers. Mr. Stowers appears in the song, “The Lincoln County Crew.”

Manns Knob Fire Tower and Residence (2017)

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West Virginia once hosted more than 70 fire towers. Today, the number is just over a dozen. For more on West Virginia fire towers, follow this link: http://www.firehouse.com/news/10508169/west-virginia-fire-towers-make-unique-tourist-attractions

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The Manns Knob Fire Tower, built during the 1930s, sits at an elevation of 1439 feet. I love the little house that is located beside of the tower. My great-uncle Lloyd Frye once lived here. 12 February 2017.

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U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) Reference Mark. For more on these, follow this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._National_Geodetic_Survey

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One view from the tower. 12 February 2017.

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Photo by Mom. 12 February 2017.

John Milton Dingess

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From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for John Milton Dingess, who resided at Hamlin in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

Son of Peter and Mary (Stone) Dingess, was born in Logan county, (now) West Virginia, November 3, 1822, and came to Lincoln county in 1853. In Logan county, December 25, 1845, John M. Dingess and Matilda, daughter of Richard and Mary (Ingram) McDonald, were united in the holy bonds of wedlock. She was born in Pulaski county, Virginia, August 3, 1823. The record of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. Dingess is: Peter Scott, born August 31, 1847, resides in Union district, Lincoln county; Mary Ann, February 4, 1851, at home; Jerusha Alice, November 12, 1852, lives in Carroll district, Lincoln county; Matilda Jane, September 25, 1856, died May 19, 1858; George Edgar, April 3, 1858, died April 29, 1858. Mrs. Dingess and her two daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John M. Dingess owns a farm of 150 acres, located on the Middle fork of Mud river, four miles east of Hamlin. There is a young orchard on the farm, and plenty of coal and iron ore to be found. Address Mr. Dingess at Hamlin, Lincoln county, West Virginia.

SourceThe West Virginia Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 111.

Congressman Edward T. England of Logan, WV

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Edward T. England

Edward T. England (1869-1934) was a prominent Republican politician in Logan, West Virginia. Mr. England settled in Logan in 1901 and was elected mayor in 1903. He served as a state senator from 1908 to 1916. In 1915, he was chosen senate president. Mr. England served as West Virginia Attorney General from 1917 to 1925. In 1923, he was chosen president of the Attorney Generals Association. From 1927 to 1929, he served as U.S. Congressman.

Chapmanville News 04.16.1926

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

Harry Edward Mullins (c.1991)

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Harry Edward Mullins, a genealogist, appears here visiting Adkins-Fry graves in Wayne County, WV. Harry was dedicated: he purchased modern headstones for several noteworthy Harts area residents, including Isaac and Elizabeth Adkins. Photo courtesy of Billy Adkins.

Joseph E. Chilton

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From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Joseph E. Chilton, who resided at Hamlin in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

Was born at the mouth of Coal river, Kanawha county, (now) West Virginia, December 6, 1855, and came to Lincoln county in 1878. He is a son of William Edwin and Mary Elizabeth (Wilson) Chilton. Joseph E. Chilton taught in the public schools of Kanawha county, West Virginia, five years, two years of which were spent in Charleston. He read law in the office of Kuna and Walls while teaching, and at the age of twenty-one was admitted to the bar. In 1880 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the counties of Lincoln and Boone, West Virginia, which office he still holds. Mr. Chilton is a regent of West Virginia University, having been appointed by Gov. Jackson in October, 1882.

SourceThe West Virginia Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 109.

NOTE: Mr. Chilton briefly appears in my book, Blood in West Virginia: Brumfield v. McCoy. For more on the very important Chilton family, follow this link: https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1167

Raven Rocks (2017)

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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.

Evermont Ward Brumfield

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From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Evermont Ward Brumfield, who resided at Hamlin in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

Is a native of Lincoln county, born July 15, 1841, and he is a son of John H. and Rachel (Haskins) Brumfield. In Lincoln county, February 14, 1867, E.W. Brumfield was joined in marriage with Laury Johnson, born in Lincoln county, October 22, 1843, and is a daughter of Perry and Irena (Gilkinson) Johnson. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brumfield are: Junea Lilly, May 14, 1868; Spicy, October 1, 1871; Maud Eske, April 24, 1881; all at home. Mr. Brumfield served in the Federal army during the Civil War, in Company G, 3rd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry. He enlisted November 15, 1863, and served until the close of the war, and was a participant in the following battles: Winchester, Piedmont, Mount Crawford, Rudes Hill, and Bunker Hill. One brother of E.W. Brumfield, William Randolph, was killed in the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Brumfield joined the Methodist Episcopal Church July 16, 1869, in which Mr. Brumfield has been class leader. His grandfathers were among the earliest settlers of Lincoln county. E.W. Brumfield owns about 105 acres of fine farming land in Sheridan district, on Bear creek, four miles northwest of Hamlin; the land is well cultivated, and has upon it a large orchard of apple, peach, plum and cherry trees. Beside tilling the soil, in Carroll district, the subject of this sketch is jailer and deputy sheriff of Lincoln county, which office he has held two years. Direct mail to Hamlin, Lincoln county, West Virginia.

SourceThe West Virginia Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 108-109.

NOTE: Paris Brumfield, brother to E.W. Brumfield, is my great-great-great-grandfather.

Billy Adkins at Cat Eye Dave Knob (1994)

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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.

Banco News 04.30.1926

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An unknown local correspondent from Banco in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 30, 1926:

Everything is quiet in Banco at present, but we don’t expect it to be so very long as we will soon hear the chimes of wedding bells and the wedding procession will throng our town.

J.W. Thomas of Estep was the all day guest of his sister, Mrs. D.H. Harmon, of this place, one day last week.

James A. Stone of this place, while out car riding one day last week, found it necessary to crank his car when he received a Ford kick which was very painful and broke one bone of his right arm.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jeffrey and children of Chapmanville were the weekend guests of Mr. Jeffrey’s mother, Mrs. Minta Jeffrey, near here.

Wonder what has become of the “dear hunter” at Estep?

Miss Maria Lucas has returned to her home at Banco after about six weeks in Chapmanville with an illness of measles and pneumonia. We sure are glad to have her back in Banco once more.

Misses Charlotte and Zella Chapman passed through Banco last Monday en route to Logan.

Victor Toney of Chapmanville was the guest of his uncle, Mr. B.B. Lucas, of Elm Street last Monday.

Miss Opal Workman of this place is visiting at Pumpkin Center this week.

Misses Ida Thomas, Pearl Hagen, and Ted Hager were calling on Miss Thomas’ parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Thomas, at Estep last Sunday.

Hassel Vance has purchased a fine pair of horses. He sure can take the girls out joyriding now.

Miss Minerva Vannatter of Dollie was shopping in Banco and Big Creek last Tuesday.

Wonder whose big car that was which went through Banco last week and attracted the attention of all the girls?

Joseph Vickers, formerly of Banco, after a long illness, died at the home of his oldest daughter, Mrs. Walton Garrett of Curry, W.Va., April 19th. His remains will be brought back to the Vickers cemetery on North Fork near his old home for interment.

Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Justice of Whitman were calling on relatives on Elm street last Sunday.

Robert Varney and little son Junior of Manbar were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Duty of Spring Dale last Sunday.

Earl Justice has obtained a new job at Whitman.

Good luck to one and all.