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.

Andrew D. Robinson

14 Tuesday Mar 2017

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

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Andrew D. Robinson, Appalachia, Benjamin F. Robinson, board of education, civil war, coal, David A. Robinson, David Robinson, Dicy Adams, Emmeline V. Robinson, farming, genealogy, Harts, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, Henry H. Hardesty, history, Jesse Robinson, John R. Robinson, Joseph Adams, Joseph Robinson, justice of the peace, Libby Prison, Lincoln County, Logan County, Margaret Browning, Margaret Robinson, Polly A. Robinson, Rhoda J. Robinson, timber, Union Army, West Virginia

From “Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, West Virginia,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Andrew D. Robinson, who resided at Harts Creek in Lincoln County, West Virginia:

Son of David and Margaret (Browning) Robinson, residents of Logan county, West Virginia, was born in that county, April 13, 1837, and came to what is now Lincoln county in 1851. He chose for a life companion Rhoda J., daughter of Joseph and Dicy (Mullins) Adams, who was born in Logan county, October 7, 1844, and in this county, in 1859 their marriage was consummated. To them nine children have been given, born as follows: David A., November 21, 1860; Emmeline V., July 5, 1863; Benjamin F., January 26, 1866; John R., September 1, 1868; Joseph, February 20, 1870; Polly A., August 7, 1873; Dicy, June 13, 1876; Margaret, June 22, 1879; Jesse, September 10, 1882. Andrew D. Robinson was elected justice of the peace in Hart Creek district in 1876, and held the office four years. He has been the secretary of the board of education, and is now postmaster. Mr. Robinson enlisted in the war between the States, in 1863, serving in the Federal army; he was captured, taken to Libby prison and there held for two months. He was deprived of the advantages of the free school, but through his energy and perseverance gained a good practical education. Mr. Robinson is tilling the soil in Hart Creek district, owning 110 acres of land on Hart creek. The timber on the land is oak, poplar, walnut, and ash; the orchard, apple, cherry, and pear; mineral, coal and iron ore, found in abundance. Andrew D. Robinson’s post office address is Hart, Lincoln county, West Virginia.

Source: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 (Richwood, WV: Jim Comstock, 1974), p. 137.

Harts Creek Area Justices of the Peace (1879-1910)

16 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Sand Creek, Warren

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A. Gill, A.A. Low, A.B. Lowe, Aaron Adkins, Abijah Workman Jr., Abner Vance, Al Brumfield, Albert Adkins, Albert G. Abbott, Allen Tomblin, Amanda McComas, Anderson Fry, Andrew D. Robinson, Andrew Elkins, Andrew Jackson Browning, Archibald Harrison, B.F. Scearcy, Ballard Lambert, Ben Walker, Bird Brumfield, Blackburn Lucas, Blackie Lucas, Cain Adkins, Caroline Brumfield, Catherine Dingess, Charles Adkins, Charles Browning, Charles Brumfield, Charles Kinser, Charles Lucas, Charles W. Mullins, Clementine Dingess, Cumberland Adkins, Cynthia Ann Mullins, David F. Smith, David Farley, Ed Dingess, Elias Vance, Elisha Vance, Elizabeth Elkins, Elizabeth Lucas, Elizabeth Mullins, Elvira Baisden, Emily Dingess, Emily Rakes, Emma Vance, Ene Adkins, Enos "Jake" Adkins, Evaline Sartin, Ezekiel K. Johnson, Farabell Vance, Floyd Rakes, Francis Vance, genealogy, George Alderson, George F. Miller, George Fry, George Shepherd, Hamlin, Harmon Stroud, Harts Creek, Henry C. Sias, Henry Workman, Hiram Lambert, history, Hugh Evans, Isaac F. Nelson, Isaac Fry, Isaac Gartin, Isaac Workman, J.B. Pullen, J.H. McComas, J.L. Caldwell, J.M. Brammer, J.S. Payne, Jake Adkins, James H. Marcum, Jefferson Lucas, Jeremiah Lambert, John B. Pullen, John H Fry, John H. Adkins, John Henry Adkins, John M. Thompson, John McCloud, John Messer, John Mullins, John Vance, John W. Sartin, Joseph Browning, Julia Alderson, justice of the peace, Lace Marcum, Laura Fry, Lewis C. Queen, Lewis Nelson, Lincoln County, Logan County, Logan County Banner, Louisa A. Wiley, Malinda Adkins, Malinda J. Vance, Malinda Nelson, Margaret Browning, Marine Spurlock, Martha J. Fry, Martha Sias, Mary A. Mullins, Mary L. Nelson, Mary Slate, Melissa Adkins, Melvin Butcher, Miles B. Browning, Minerva McCloud, Minnis W. Perry, Mitchell Browning, Moses Toney, Nancy E. Lucas, Nancy Jane Adkins, Nancy M. Workman, Olive F. Adkins, Peter M. Mullins, Peter Mullins, Pinkston Queen, Polly C. Bryant, Polly Spurlock, Rebecca Bell, Richard Adkins, Robert Fry, Robert Mullins, Rosa A. Fry, Rosa Browning, Rufus Pack, Rush Slate, Salena Vance, Sampson Brumfield, Sarah A. Perry, Sarah Ann Brumfield, Sarah B. Maynard, Sarah E. Gore, Sarah E. Thompson, Sarah E. Vance, Sarah M. Adkins, Sol Adams, Sophia Kinser, Stephen Lambert, Susan Stroud, T.R. Shepherd, Telitha Spears, Thomas H. Harvey, Thomas J. Adkins, Van Donley Lambert, Victory Thompson, Weddington Mullins, West Virginia, Wilford Fry, William Bell, William Conley, William Dingess, William Manns, William Toppins, William Workman, Wog Dalton

Between 1879 and 1910, the following men served as justices of the peace in the Harts Creek community. The primary source for this material is “Commissioner’s Record of Destroyed Title Papers 2,” which is located at the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office in Hamlin, WV. Material is arranged based on the person’s name as given in the deed, the date of the deed, and the date of the deed’s acknowledgment by a JP. I have also found JPs listed in Deed Book 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, and 60. Deed Book “S” at the Logan County Clerk’s Office as well as numerous records in the Logan County Circuit Clerk’s Office have also provided information. Many thanks to the county clerks and their employees who have always been so helpful to my research these past twenty-five years.

Stephen Lambert (Logan County) 1879, 1885-1886

State v. John Mullins (1879-1880)

NOTE: Moses Dalton stated that he was a “magistrate” in c.1885.

Deed: W.T. Butcher to Birl Farley 11 September 1885 11 September 1885

Deed: William and Emily Dingess to Polly C. Bryant 25 January 1886

Hall v. Baker 30 September 1886, 16 October 1886

NOTE: Stephen Lambert died, according to court docket files, on 21 October 1886 or 23 October 1886

A.B. Lowe was appointed justice in place of Stephen Lambert, deceased 8 November 1886

Andrew D. Robinson (Lincoln County) 1879

State v. John Mullins (1879-1880)

John McCloud (Logan County) 1881-1884, 1890-1892

Deed: Margaret Browning 01 October 1879 29 January 1881

Deed: A.A. Low to Stephen Lambert 1 June 1881 25 March 1882

Deed: Weddington Mullins 14 March 1881 18 July 1882

Deed: Charles Browning 1 June 1881 22 July 1882

Deed: Francis Vance 1 July 1882 10 March 1883

Deed: John Messer 15 September 1882 12 February 1884

Deed: Henry Workman v. Melvin Butcher 24 March 1884

Deed: Henry Workman v. Melvin Butcher 28 March 1884

Deed: Ezekiel K. Johnson 1 July 1882 30 December 1884

Workman v. Butcher 24 March 1884, 28 March 1884, 9 June 1884

Deed: Robert Mullins to Sarah E. Gore 25 November 1890 3 December 1890

Deed: Sophia Kinser 1 June 1881 12 November 1891

Deed: Farabell and John Vance to Salena Vance 11 October 1892

Jeremiah Lambert (Lincoln County) 1881-1884

Deed: John Henry Adkins 10 May 188? 3 June 1881

Deed: Archibald B. Harrison 1 July 1882 7 July 1882

Deed: John H. Fry 1 July 1882 16 August 1882

Deed: Sampson S. Brumfield 1 July 1882 17 August 1882

Deed: Minnis W. Perry 1 June 1881 13 April 1883

Deed: Enos Adkins 1 July 1882 3 June 1883

Deed: Sarah E. Thompson 23 March 1883 23 June 1883

Deed: Miles B. Browning 14 April 1881 10 August 1883

Deed: Elisha Vance 15 September 1882 10 August 1883

Deed: Moses B. Toney 21 August 1882 21 August 1883

Deed: Jeremiah and Ballard Lambert 1 July 1882 12 September 1883

Deed: Van D. Lambert 15 September 1882 30 January 1884

Deed: Albert G. Abbott 23 March 1883 14 February 1884

James H. Marcum (Lincoln County) 1881

Deed: Harmon and Susan Stroud to Louisa A. Wiley 18 November 1881

Canaan Adkins (Lincoln County) 1885-1888

Deed: Mitchell Browning and Charles Kinser 23 March 1883 5 March 1885

Deed: John and Chloe Ann Messer to Floyd Caldwell 16 March 1885 16 March 1885

Deed: Aaron and Nancy Jane Adkins to B.W. Walker 12 June 1885

Deed: John M.P. and Victory Thompson 1 July 1882 18 July 1885

Deed: Sarah E. Vance, Mary L. Nelson, and Peter M. Mullins 25 April 1883 8 August 1885

Deed: Aaron and Nancy Jane Adkins to B.W. Walker 12 June 1885 12 June 1885

Deed: Abner Vance 21 August 1882 6 October 1885

Deed: Telitha Spears to Blackburn Lucas 26 July 1886 26 July 1886

Deed: Charles Lucas to Blackburn Lucas 18 September 1886 18 September 1886

Deed: Charles Lucas to William Bird Brumfield 18 September 1886 18 September 1886

Deed: Sarah A. Perry 14 April 1881 14 February 1887

Deed: William and Jane Manns to Josephine Robinson 19 February 1887 19 February 1887

Deed: Andrew Jackson Browning 23 March 1883 17 June 1887

Deed: Elvira Baisden 1 July 1882 19 November 1887

Deed: Aaron and Nancy Jane Adkins 24 August 1887 24 August 1887/14 February 1888

Deed: Jeremiah Lambert to Van D. Lambert 30 April 1888

Deed: Floyd and Martha Caldwell to Melvin Kirk 7 July 1888 7 July 1888

A.B. Lowe (Logan County) 1886

A.B. Lowe was appointed justice in place of Stephen Lambert, deceased 8 November 1886

Hall v. Baker 18 November 1886

John B. Pullen (Lincoln County) 1888

Robert Fry to Wilford Fry, Martha J. Fry, and Rosa A. Fry 3 January 1888

Elias Vance (Lincoln County) 1889-1896

Aaron and Nancy J. Adkins to Malissia Adkins 14 August 1889 14 August 1889

Marine and Polly Spurlock to Laura Fry 6 November 1889

Polly C. Bryant to children 15 July 1891

Minerva McCloud 15 September 1882 7 November 1891

2 June 1893

Andrew and Elizabeth Elkins to Thomas J. Adkins 27 March 1894

George A. and Julia Alderson, Floyd and Emily Rakes, and C.D. and Vietta T. Haverty to J.L. Caldwell 7 December 1894

Enos Adkins et ux to Allen Brumfield 28 December 1894 14 May 1895

Charles Lucas to Sarah Brumfield 6 July 1895 6 July 1895

Samuel Workman to Melvin Kirk 29 September 1896 29 September 1896

On 26 August 1898, JP Vance was sentenced to serve two years in the state penitentiary for embezzlement.

David F. Smith (Lincoln County) 1892-1907

Richard and Olive F. Adkins to Sarah M. Adkins 18 June 1892

Peter Mullins to Jerry Lambert 12 January 1901

Lewis and Malinda Nelson to A.E. Wagner 4 December 1906

Anderson Fry to A. Gill 7 January 1907

Jefferson and Nancy E. Lucas to Cumberland Adkins 11 April 1907 12 April 1907

Hiram “Hi” Lambert (Lincoln County) 1893-1894

Deed: Farabel and John Vance to John H. Adkins 6 December 1893

Deed: Salena Vance 25 December 1893 25 December 1893

Deed: Peter M. and Mary A. Mullins et al to J.L. Caldwell 24 November 1894 29 November 1894

J.S. Payne (Lincoln County?) 1894

I.N. and Elizabeth Mullins to J.L. Caldwell 1 September 1894 7 September 1894

Sol Adams (Logan County) 1895-1897, 1899, 1907-1908

Between September and October of 1895, the Logan County Banner referenced him as Squire Sol.

Between February and September 1896, the Logan County Banner referenced him as Squire Sol.

Deed: Allen and Sarah Tomblin to William Conley 07 July 1894 09 April 1897

Cynthia Ann Mullins deposition 21 October 1899

Deed: Charles Washington Mullins to Jerry Lambert 18 June 1907

Deed: Clementine and Ed Dingess et al to Catherine Adkins 1 October 1908 16 October 1908

Deed: Clementine and Ed Dingess et al to Ann F. Davis 1 October 1908 16 October 1908

Isaac Fry (Lincoln County) 1897-1904

Richard and Spencer Adkins to D.P. Lambert 17 July 1897

Charles Adkins to Malinda Adkins 25 April 1898

Russell S. Stollings et ux to William D. Farley 24 March 1900

25 June 1900

Susan and Levi Rakes et al to J.L. Caldwell 28 July 1900 30 July 1900

28 July 1904

Jefferson Lucas (Lincoln County) 1899-1907

Isaac G. Gartin to William Manns 3 January 1899 3 January 1899

William Manns to William H. Manns 3 January 1899 3 January 1899

John P. Lucas to A.B. Staley 12 March 1907

William Bird Brumfield (Lincoln County) 1899-1904

J.H. and Amanda McComas to Blackburn Lucas 30 August 1899 30 August 1899

William and Rebecca Bell et al to Thomas H. Harvey and George F. Miller 12 January 1900

Malinda J. Vance to Emma Vance 21 July 1904 21 July 1904

George F. Frye (Lincoln County) 1901-1902

Farabell Vance to Salena Vance 7 May 1901

Enos Adkins to A.G. Adkins and F.E. Adkins 15 February 1902 15 February 1902

Rufus Pack (Lincoln County) 1903-1909

Isaac and Nancy M. Workman to Abijah Workman, Jr. 2 February 1903

Henry C. and Martha Sias to Isaac F. Nelson 17 February 1909

Charles Adkins (Lincoln County) 1905-1910

02 November 1905

Charles and Caroline Brumfield to J.M. Brammer and B.F. Scearcy 7 November 1906

Blackie Lucas to Elizabeth Lucas 15 July 1907

Asa and Rebecca Williamson to Hugh Evans 18 February 1908

William Workman to Joseph Browning 15 July 1908

Malinda Adkins to Isaiah Adkins 20 July 1908

02 January 1909

Joseph and Rosey Browning to Lace Marcum and T.R. Shepherd 1 April 1910

William Toppins (Wayne County) 1907

Deed: L.C. and Pinkston Queen to Sarah B. Maynard 18 December 1907

Hugh Evans (Lincoln County) 1908

Deed: John W. and Evaline Sartin to George Shepherd 29 July 1908

A.E. Wagner (Lincoln County) 1910

Deed: Anderson Fry to Rush and Mary Slate 14 January 1910

J.M. Brammer et ux to David Farley 11 April 1910 19 April 1910

129th Regiment Virginia Militia (Carter’s Company)

08 Thursday Oct 2015

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

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129th Regiment Virginia Militia, 34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, Aaron Adkins, Abbotts Branch, Abijah Workman, Abner Vance, Addison Vance, Admiral S. Fry, Albert Abbott, Alexander Bryant, Alford Tomblin, Allen B. Brumfield, Anderson Barker, Andrew D. Robinson, Andrew Jackson Browning, Andrew Jackson Vance, Arnold Perry, Barnett Carter, Battle of Boone Court House, Battle of Kanawha Gap, Benjamin Adams, Benjamin Barker, Big Branch, Burbus C. Toney, Calahill McCloud, Canaan Adkins, Carter's Company, Charles McCloud, Christian T. Fry, civil war, Crawley Creek, Daniel Bill Nester, David Workman, Douglas Branch, Edward Garrett, Enos "Jake" Adkins, Evermont Ward Brumfield, Fleming Fry, Fulton D. Ferrell, Garland Conley, genealogy, George Bryant, George Godby, Griffin Stollings, Guy Conley, Harts, Harts Creek, Harvey S. Dingess, Henderson Dingess, Henderson Lambert, Henry Conley, history, Hoover Fork, Ira Lucas, Isaac Adkins, Isaac G. Griffith, Jackson McCloud, James Bryant, James Dalton, James Dingess, James Mullins, James P. Ferrell, James Tomblin, Jefferson Thompson, Jeremiah Perry, Jesse W. Carter, John C. Chapman, John DeJarnett, John Dingess, John H. Adkins, John McCloud, John Quincy Adams, John R. Robinson, John W. Workman, Josiah Browning, Lewis Baisden, Lewis Jupiter Fry, Lewis Vance, Logan County, Martin Dalton, Martin Van Buren Mullins, Mastin Conley, Mathias Elkins, Moses Tomblin, Moses Workman, Obediah Workman, Oliver Conley, Peter C. Dingess, Peter Fry, Reuben Conley, Riland Baisden, Robert Bob Mullins, Robert Fry, Rufus Bryant, Russell Fry, Shade Estep, Smokehouse Fork, Spencer A. Mullins, Squire Toney, Thomas Conley, Thompson Perry, Tolbert S. Godby, Weddington Mullins, West Virginia, William A. Dingess, William C. Lambert, William D. Elkins, William S. Dingess, William T. Fowler, William Workman

The 129th Regiment Virginia Militia, commanded by Colonel John DeJarnett, consisted of men primarily from Logan County, (West) Virginia. The 129th existed to protect Logan County. Carter’s Company, captained by Barnett “Barney” Carter, consisted of many Harts Creek men, all of whom enlisted on 27 August 1861 at Logan Court House, Logan County, (West) Virginia. The 129th, including Carter’s Company, participated in the Battle of Boone Court House on 1 September 1861 and the Battle of Kanawha Gap on 25 September 1861. In 1862, Carter’s Company essentially became Company D, 34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry. (This list will be updated periodically.)

Albert Abbott*, Abbotts Branch

Benjamin Adams, Crawley Creek

John Quincy Adams, Harts Creek

Aaron Adkins

Canaan Adkins, West Fork of Harts Creek [Lincoln County Feud]

Enos “Jake” Adkins, 1st Lieutenant, Douglas Branch (Ferrellsburg)

Isaac Adkins, Jr., Harts Creek (Big Branch area)

Isaac Adkins, 2nd Sergeant, Harts Creek (Big Branch area)

John H. Adkins

Lewis Baisden

Riland Baisden

Anderson Barker

Benjamin Barker

James M. Berry

Jacob Browning

Josiah Browning, 4th Sergeant

Andrew Jackson Browning, Harts Creek

Allen B. Brumfield, Big Ugly Creek

Evermont Ward Brumfield, Big Ugly Creek

Alexander Bryant, Harts Creek

George Bryant, Harts Creek

James Bryant, Harts Creek

Rufus Bryant, Harts Creek

Ed Burchett

William F. B_____

Jesse W. Carter

Barnett Carter, Captain, Hoover Fork of Harts Creek

John C. Chapman, 1st Corporal

Garland Conley, Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek

Guy Conley, Conley Branch (Chapmanville)

Henry Conley, Conley Branch (Chapmanville)

Maston Conley, Chapmanville

Oliver Conley, Crawley Creek

Reuben Conley

Thomas Conley, Conley Branch (Chapmanville)

James Dalton, Harts Creek

Martin Dalton, Harts Creek

Harvey S. Dingess*, Crawley Creek

Henderson Dingess, Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek [Lincoln County Feud]

James Dingess, 3rd Corporal

John Dingess

Peter C. Dingess, Crawley Creek

William A. Dingess

William S. Dingess

Mathias Elkins

William D. Elkins*, 2nd Corporal

D.J. Estep

Shade Estep, 4th Corporal

Fulton D. Ferrell, 3rd Sergeant

James P. Ferrell, Big Ugly Creek

Samuel Ferrell

Isaac Fleming

William T. Fowler, West Fork/Marsh Fork of Harts Creek

Admiral S. Fry, Green Shoal

Christian T. “Jack” Fry*, Abbotts Branch

Fleming Fry

Lewis “Jupiter” Fry, Big Ugly Creek (Gill)

Peter Fry

Robert Fry

Russell Fry

Edward Garrett, 2nd Lieutenant

Isaac G. Gartin, 2nd Lieutenant, Little Harts Creek

George Godby

Tolbert S. Godby, 1st Sergeant

Isaac O. Jeffrey

Henderson Lambert, Bend of the River

William C. Lambert, Bend of the River area

Ira Lucas

Calahill McCloud, Harts Creek or Twelve Pole Creek

Charles McCloud

Jackson McCloud

John McCloud

B. McNeely

James Mullins

Martin Van Buren Mullins, Harts Creek

Robert “Bob” Mullins, Harts Creek

Spencer A. Mullins, Bridge Branch area (Atenville)

Weddington Mullins, Harts Creek

Daniel “Bill” Nester, Browns Branch

William Owens

Arnold Perry

D.H. Perry

Jeremiah Perry

Thompson Perry

Andrew Robinson, Harts Creek

John R. Robinson

Griffin Stollings

Jefferson Thompson, Thompson Branch of Harts Creek

Alford Tomblin, Sr., Harts Creek

Alford Tomblin, Jr., Harts Creek

James Tomblin

Moses Tomblin

Burbus C. Toney, Green Shoal area (Toney)

Squire Toney, Big Ugly Creek

Andrew Jackson Vance

Abner Vance, West Fork of Harts Creek

Addison Vance

Lewis Vance

James Wills

Abijah “Bige” Workman

David Workman

John W. Workman

Moses Workman

Obediah Workman

William Workman

(*) denotes my direct ancestors

Andrew D. Robinson (1867)

12 Sunday Jul 2015

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

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Andrew D. Robinson, Appalachia, Guyandotte River, Harts Creek, history, Logan County, road supervisor, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia

Andrew D. Robinson is appointed road supervisor, November 1867 (p. 49). Commissioners Record Book 1, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.

Big Harts Creek Post Offices

20 Friday Feb 2015

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

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Al Brumfield, Albert Dingess, Alice Adams, Alice Dingess, Andrew D. Robinson, Appalachia, Bill Fowler, Chapmanville District, Enzelo Post Office, Everett Dingess, Ferrellsburg, genealogy, George W. Adkins, Glen R. Dial, Halcyon Post Office, Harts, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, Harts Post Office, Henry S. Godby, Herbert Adkins, history, Hollena Brumfield, Hollena Ferguson, Ina Adams, Isham Roberts, James Mullins, John S. Butcher, Lawrence Riddle, Lewis Dempsey, Lincoln County, Logan County, Nora St. Clair, Queens Ridge Post Office, Ross Fowler, Sallie Adkins, Sallie Farley, Shively Post Office, Sol Riddell, Spottswood Post Office, Thomas H. Buckley, Ulysses S. Richards, Warren Post Office, West Virginia, Whirlwind Post Office

Big Harts Creek, located in Harts Creek District of Lincoln County, West Virginia, and Chapmanville District of Logan County, West Virginia, has hosted seven post offices: Hearts Creek/Hart’s Creek/Hart/Harts (1870-present), Warren (1884-1894), Spottswood (1901-1908), Halcyon (1906-1923), Whirlwind (1910-1950s), Enzelo (1916-1922), and Shively (1926-?). Today, one post office exists at the mouth of Harts Creek in the town of Harts.

Enzelo Post Office (1916-1922) — located in the Logan County section of Harts Creek

Ulysses S. Richards: 22 March 1916 – 15 December 1922

Post office discontinued: 15 December 1922

Halcyon Post Office (1906-1923) — located near the mouth of Marsh Fork of West Fork of Harts Creek in Logan County

Albert Dingess: 3 May 1906 – 20 April 1921

Everet Dingess: 20 April 1921 (took possession), 11 May 1921 (acting postmaster), 21 September 1921 – 14 July 1923

Post office discontinued: 14 July 1923, mail to Ferrellsburg

Hearts Creek Post Office (1870-1872) — located at the mouth of Big Harts Creek in Lincoln County

Henry S. Godby: 3 November 1870 – 20 November 1872

Post office discontinued: 20 November 1872

Hart’s Creek Post Office (1877-1880) — located at the mouth of Big Harts Creek in Lincoln County

William T. Fowler: 2 March 1877 – 9 September 1879

Andrew D. Robinson: 9 September 1879 – 2 December 1880

Post office discontinued: 2 December 1880

Hart Post Office (1881-1910) — located at the mouth of Big Harts Creek in Lincoln County

Andrew D. Robinson: 6 July 1881 – 12 November 1883

Isham Roberts: 12 November 1883 – 3 June 1884

Thomas H. Buckley: 3 June 1884 – 1 July 1884

George W. Adkins: 1 July 1884 – 25 May 1885

William E. “Ross” Fowler: 25 May 1885 – 30 October 1891

Post office discontinued: 30 October 1891, mail to Fourteen

Allen Brumfield: 19 January 1900 – 6 September 1905

Hollena Brumfield: 6 September 1905 – 25 July 1907

Hollena Ferguson: 25 July 1907 – 30 July 1910

Post office discontinued: 30 July 1910, mail to Queens Ridge

Harts Post Office (1916-present) — located at the mouth of Big Harts Creek in Lincoln County

Lewis Dempsey: 5 April 1916 – 12 April 1921

Herbert Adkins: 12 April 1921, 30 April 1921 (assumed charge) – 31 December 1953 (retired)

Glen R. Dial: 31 December 1953 (assumed charge), 22 January 1954 (acting postmaster), 8 March 1955 (confirmed) – 29 July 1966 (removed)

Shively Post Office (1923-?) — located on Smokehouse Fork of Big Harts Creek in Logan County

A. Butcher: 1923-1924

Ina E. Adams: 4 December 1925 (acting postmaster), 18 January 1926 – 2 August 1935

John S. Butcher: 2 August 1935 (assumed charge), 18 September 1935 (acting postmaster), 25 October 1935 – 1 January 1949

Mrs. Sallie Farley Adkins: 1 January 1949 (assumed charge), 10 June 1949, 1 October 1949 (assumed charge) – 22 July 1958 (resigned)

Nora St. Clair: 22 July 1958 (assumed charge) –

Spottswood Post Office (1901-1908) — located near the mouth of Trace Fork in Logan County

Alice Adams: 9 October 1901 – 4 August 1905

Alice Adams Dingess: 4 August 1905 – 31 December 1908

Post office discontinued: 31 December 1908

Warren Post Office (1884-1894) — located near the mouth of Smokehouse Fork in Lincoln County (today Logan County)

Andrew D. Robinson: 17 June 1884 – 17 January 1894

Post office discontinued: 17 January 1894

Whirlwind Post Office (1910-1950s)

L.W. Riddle: 31 March 1910 – 25 May 1911

Sol Riddell: 25 May 1911 – 30 April 1914

James Mullins: 30 April 1914 –

NOTE: For more information regarding the Whirlwind PO, see other posts at this blog.

Source: U.S. Appointments of Postmasters, 1832-1971, maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration; Polk’s West Virginia State Gazetteer & Business Directory, 1923-1924 (Detroit, MI: R.L. Polk & Company, 1923).

Hart, 1882

27 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Harts

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Andrew D. Robinson, Appalachia, Bill Fowler, blacksmith, Blood in West Virginia, distiller, genealogy, general store, Hamlin, Harts, history, Isaac Fry, Jackson Browning, James P. Mullins, Lincoln County, Lincoln County Feud, Paris Brumfield, Polk's State Gazetteer and Business Directory, postmaster, U.S. South, Wheeling

“Hart,” Polk’s West Virginia State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1882-1883.

Interview with Nellie Thompson of Wayne, WV (1996)

05 Saturday Jul 2014

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Culture of Honor, Harts, Lincoln County Feud, Twelve Pole Creek, Wayne

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Al Brumfield, Andrew D. Robinson, Beech Fork, Ben Adams, Bob Dingess, Brandon Kirk, crime, diptheria, Goble Richardson, Green McCoy, Green Shoal, Guyandotte River, Harrison McCoy, Harts, Harts Creek, history, Lincoln County Feud, Lynza John McCoy, Milt Haley, Monroe Fry, music, Paris Brumfield, Ross Fowler, Sallie Dingess, Sherman McCoy, Spicie McCoy, Warren, Wayne, Wayne County, Wayne County News, West Fork, writing

A few weeks later, Brandon called Nellie Thompson in Wayne, West Virginia. Nellie reportedly had the picture of Milt Haley and Green McCoy.

“I don’t know if I have anything like that or not,” Nellie said, “but I do have an old letter from Green McCoy.”

What?

Almost hyperventilating, he asked her to read it over the telephone.

Nellie fetched it from somewhere in the house, said it was dated May 19, 1889, then read it to him and said he was welcome to see it.

The next day, she called Brandon back and said, “I think I’ve found that picture you were looking for. It’s a little tin picture with two men in it.”

Oh god.

A few days later, Brandon drove to see Nellie about the picture and letter. Before dropping in on her, he spent a little time at the local library where he located a story about Spicie McCoy.

“As I promised last week, today we will explore the life of a lady who claimed to have a cure for diphtheria,” the story, printed in the Wayne County News (1994), began. “Spicie (Adkins) McCoy Fry was so short that if you stretched out your arm she could have walked under it. Anyone who lived in the East Lynn area knew who Spicie Fry was because she had probably been in almost every church around to sing at a revival meeting, something she loved to do. Spicie was well educated. She saw that her children went to school. Once out of grade school, Spicie’s sons took advantage of correspondence courses in music, art, and any other subject they could get thru the mail order catalog. Spicie’s son Monroe Taylor Fry was a self-taught musician.”

After a short time, Brandon drove to Nellie’s home, where she produced a small tin picture of two men sitting together. One of the men was obviously Green McCoy based on the picture we had already seen of him. The other fellow, then, was Milt.

As Brandon stared at the tintype, Nellie handed him Green’s letter. It was penned in a surprisingly nice handwriting, addressed to his brother Harrison, and was apparently never mailed. At the time of his writing, it was spring and McCoy had just moved back to Harts — probably after a short stay with his family or in-laws in Wayne County. He may’ve been there with his older brother, John, who’d married a girl almost half his age from Wayne County earlier in February.

Dear Brother. after a long delay of time I take this opertunity of droping you a few lines to let you know that I am well hoping when these lines reaches you they may find you all the same. Harrison you must excuse me for not writing sooner. the cause of me not writing is this[:] the post master here is very careless. they let people brake open the letters and read them so I will write this time to let you know where I am and where Lynza is. I have moved back to the west fork of Harts Creek and Lynza is married and living in wayne co yet on beach fork. everybody is done planting corn very near in this country. every thing looks lively in this part. tell Father and mother that I[‘m] coming out this fall after crops are laid by if I live and Lynza will come with me. tell all howdy for me. you may look for us boath. if death nor sickness don’t tak[e] place we will come. Harrison I would rather you would not write anymore this summer. people brakes open the letters and reads them so I will not write a long letter. Brumfield and me lives in 2 miles of each other and has had no more trubble but every body says that he will kill me if I don’t kill him. I look to have trouble with him so I will close this time.

On the back of the letter was written the following: “My wife sends her best respects to you all and says she would like to see you all. my boy is beginning to walk. he is a spoiled boy to[o].”

Clutching carefully onto the tintype and letter, Brandon asked Nellie what she’d heard about Milt and Green’s death. She didn’t really know much, but her brother Goble Richardson said he’d always heard that pack-peddlers who boarded with Paris Brumfield never left his home alive. These men were supposedly killed, tied to rocks, and thrown to the bottom of the Guyan River where the fish ate their rotting corpses. Soon after the “disappearance” of these pack-peddlers, Paris would be seen riding the man’s horse, while his children would be playing with his merchandise.

When Brandon arrived home he studied over Green McCoy’s letter — all the cursive strokes, the occasional misspellings, trying to extract something from it beyond what it plainly read.

Strangely, the letter didn’t reveal to which Brumfield — Al or Paris — Green referred when he wrote, “every body says that he will kill me if I don’t kill him.” It seems likely, though, based on what Daisy Ross had said, that Green referenced Paris.

Still, it was Al Brumfield who was ambushed only three months later.

What started their trouble?

And who was the careless postmaster who allowed people to “brake open the letters and read them?”

At the time of the Haley-McCoy trouble, Harts had two post offices: Harts and Warren. The postmaster at Harts — where McCoy likely received his mail — was Ross Fowler, son to the Bill Fowler who was eventually driven away from Harts by the Brumfields. Ross, though, was close with the Brumfields and even ferried the 1889 posse across the river to Green Shoal with Milt and Green as prisoners (according to Bob Dingess) in October of 1889. A little later, he worked in Al Brumfield’s store. The postmaster at Warren was Andrew D. Robinson, a former justice of the peace and brother-in-law to Ben Adams and Sallie Dingess. Robinson seems to have been a man of good credit who stayed neutral in the trouble.

In Search of Ed Haley 231

24 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Ed Haley

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Andrew D. Robinson, Ben Adams, Boney Lucas, Chloe Mullins, Ed Haley, Harts Creek, Henderson Dingess, history, Imogene Haley, Jackson Mullins, Logan County Banner, logging, McCloud & Company, Paris Brumfield, Peter Mullins, timbering, Turley Adams, Van Prince, Warren, Weddie Mullins, West Virginia, writing

Ed Haley was born in 1885 at Warren, a small post office established the previous year five miles up Harts Creek just below the mouth of Smoke House Fork. It was a place of 300 to 500 people chiefly led in its daily affairs by Henderson Dingess, Andrew Robinson, Anthony Adams, Ben Adams, and Burl Farley — all connected genealogically through the Adams family. At Warren, in 1884, the primary business was a general store called McCloud & Company. Henderson Dingess, father to Hollena and the patriarch of the clan, was a distiller and storekeeper. Ben Adams, a brother-in-law to Dingess, was a general store operator. Andrew Robinson was the local postmaster. Van Prince was a physician, perhaps assisting in Ed Haley’s birth or in the treatment of his measles.

Henderson Dingess, a prominent personality from that era, was the son of pioneer parents, born in 1829 to John and Chloe (Farley) Dingess. His wife, Sarah Adams (1833-1920), was a daughter of Joseph and Dicie (Mullins) Adams, who settled on Harts Creek from Floyd County, Kentucky, in the late 1830s. Henderson and Sarah lived in a two-story log house on land partly granted to him by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1856. There, at the mouth of Hog Pen Branch, they raised eleven children, many of whom were active in the 1889 troubles. In the late 1880s, roughly the time of Milt Haley’s murder, Henderson and Sarah owned a 93-acre tract of land on Smoke House with a building valued at $100. They also owned an additional 350 acres on main Harts Creek and a 44-acre tract on nearby Crawley Creek worth $6.00 per acre with a $20 building on it.

At that time, Harts was caught up in the regional timber boom. According to The Logan County Banner, an estimated one million dollars worth of timber went out of the area in 1889. Perhaps prompted by this capitalistic invasion of the local economy, violence became the norm in Harts. Beginning with Paris Brumfield’s murder of Boney Lucas “over logs” in the early 1880s, there were at least six area killings before the turn of the century. (The Brumfields were involved in four of them and the Dingesses in three.) It was an era when Harts lost its innocence and began to earn the rough reputation it still carries today.

More than likely, following the horrific events of 1889, little Ed Haley and his mother lived for a brief time with Jackson and Chloe Mullins on Trace Fork. This changed a little later when, in 1891, Jackson and Chloe began to deed property to their three children. On March 18, they deeded their homestead to son Peter for 25 dollars. Deed records specify the property as a 20-acre tract of land, which began somewhere around the mouth of Trace and continued up to the Jackson Mullins Branch (basically the present-day Turley Adams property). The following day, Jackson and Chloe deeded another 20-acre tract to son Weddie Mullins for 25 dollars. This tract basically included everything from Jackson Mullins Branch to Jonas Branch.

On March 19, 1891, Jackson and Chloe deeded Imogene Haley 20 acres of land on Trace Fork for 25 dollars. In the property index, Imogene’s surname was spelled as “Hauley”, while the deed referred to her as “Immagin A. Haley.” Her land began at Jonas Branch and continued on up the creek. In the original deed, it was described as follows:

Beginning at the mouth of William Jonas branch thence up the Branch with the center of the branch to a _______ tree on the right hand side of the Branch as you go up the branch near a Chestnut that ________ on the left side of said branch thence acrosf the fields to some willow bushes at the front of the hill thence up the point with the center of the point to the brow of the Mountain thence with the brow of the Mountain to Mary Mullins line thence down the mountain to a bush thence a strate line crosfing the creek to a ash thence up the hill to the back line of the parties of the first part thence down the creek with the line of the said opposite the mouth of William Jonas branch thence down the hill a strate line to the Beginning supposed to contain 20 acres more or less.

An 1891 tax book listed “Emigene Hawley’s” property as being worth $2.00 per acre and having a total worth of $40. Records do not indicate if there was a house or building located on the property. In any case, Emma died soon after: an 1892 tax book lists her property under the name of “Immogen Hailey heirs”, which would have been Ed Haley. More than likely, seven-year-old Ed remained living in the home of his grandparents, Jackson and Chloe, for several more years.

At that time, Logan County was in the middle of a timber boom, which gave employment to Ed’s family on Trace Fork. “Some of the finest timber in the State is found in Logan county,” writes The Mountain State: A Description of the Natural Resources of West Virginia (1893). “Magnificent forests of oak, poplar, ash, lynn, maples, beech, birch, pines, hickory and other varieties still cover the greater part of the county in their primitive state. For thirty years timber men have been at work, destroying the forests and still in all this time not over a fourth of the timber has been removed. As an estimate of the value of the timber still standing in Logan county, three million dollars will not be far amise.”

In Search of Ed Haley 206

29 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Ed Haley, Lincoln County Feud, Timber

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Al Brumfield, Allen Martin, Andrew D. Robinson, Andrew Robinson, Anthony Adams, Appalachia, Ben Adams, Ben Robinson, Boardtree Branch, Chloe Gore, Chloe Mullins, crime, David Robinson, Dicy Adams, Elizabeth Abbott, genealogy, general store, Greasy George Adams, Green McCoy, Harts Creek, Harvey Adams, Henderson Dingess, history, Hollena Brumfield, Hugh Dingess, Jackson Mullins, John Frock Adams, John M. Adams, John Robinson, Joseph Adams, Joseph Robinson, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, Logan County Banner, Lucinda Brumfield, May Adams, Meekin Branch, Milt Haley, Peter Carter, Rhoda Robinson, Sallie Dingess, Solomon Adams, Spicie McCoy, Susan Abbott, Ticky George Adams, timber, Trace Fork, Victoria Dingess, Viola Dingess, West Virginia, Wilson Abbott

Ben Adams — the man who supposedly hired Milt Haley and Green McCoy to assassinate Al Brumfield — was born in 1855 to Joseph and Dicy (Mullins) Adams on Big Harts Creek in Logan County, (West) Virginia. His older sister Sarah married Henderson Dingess and was the mother of Hollena Brumfield, Hugh Dingess and several others. He was a first cousin to Jackson Mullins, Milt Haley’s father-in-law, and a brother-in-law to Chloe Mullins, Milt’s mother-in-law, by her first marriage to John Adams.

In 1870, 17-year-old Ben lived at home with his mother, where he worked as a farmer. He was illiterate, according to census records. His neighbors were Andrew Robinson and Henderson Dingess, both of whom had married his sisters (Rhoda J. and Sally). In the next year, according to tradition, he fathered an illegitimate child, William Adams, who was born to Lucinda Brumfield (niece of Paris).

In 1873, Ben married Victoria Dingess. Victoria was born in 1856 and was a first cousin to Hollena Brumfield and Hugh Dingess. The marriage made for an interesting genealogical connection: Ben was already Hugh’s uncle; now he was also his brother-in-law, as Hugh was married to Victoria’s sister, Viola (his first cousin). Ben’s daughter Sally, who was named after Hollena’s mother, later married a cousin of Spicie McCoy, Green’s wife. For all practical purposes then, Ben Adams was genealogically connected to all sides of the feud — making it a true intra-family feud from his perspective.

For the first decade or so of his marriage, Ben lived with his mother on family property, although he did acquire land and open a general store business. In 1880, he was listed in the Lincoln County Census with his mother Dicy, aged 63, and family. He was 26 years old, Victory was 23, Sally was six, son Charlie was four, daughter Patsy A. was two, and son Anthony was a few months old. George Greaar, age 20, was a boarder. In 1881, he purchased 25 acres on the Meekin Branch of Trace Fork. Three years later, he was listed in a business directory as the proprietor of a general store. At that same time, his brother-in-law and neighbor Henderson Dingess was a distiller.

Later in the decade, Ben fathered three more children: George “Greasy” (1885), Harvey (1886), and May (1889). In 1889, the time of Milt Haley’s ambush of Al Brumfield, Adams owned 260 acres on the Boardtree Branch of Trace Fork valued at $1.00 per acre in Logan County.

Anthony Adams — Ben’s brother and ally in the 1889 troubles — was a prominent timberman on Harts Creek. Anthony had been born in 1849 and was the husband of Pricie Alifair Chapman, Burl Farley’s half-sister. In 1884, Adams was listed in a business directory as a blacksmith. In 1889, he owned two 50-acre tracts of land, one valued at $3.50 per acre with a $30 building on it, the other valued at $2.00 per acre. By that time, he had three sons of fighting age who may have participated in the feud: Solomon Adams (born 1869), Horatio “Rush” Adams (born 1871), and Wayne Adams (born 1874), as well as a son-in-law, Harrrison Blair (born c.1867).

A quick examination of the Adams genealogy gives a clue as to Ben’s other 1889 allies. First there was brother “Bad John” Adams. Adams was deceased at the time of the Haley-McCoy incident, but he had been married to Chloe Gore — mother of Emma Jean (Mullins) Haley. He had three sons of fighting age in 1889: Joseph Adams (born 1859), John Frock Adams (born 1861), and Ticky George Adams (born 1865)…as well as son-in-law Sampson Thomas.

Rhoda J. Robinson was a sister to the three Adams brothers. She had several children who may have allied with Ben: David Robinson (born 1860), Ben Robinson (born 1866), John R. Robinson (born 1868), and Joseph Robinson (born 1870). There was also brother Solomon Adams, who may have offered his loyalty to Ben, along with sons John M. Adams (born 1869) and Benjamin Adams (born 1867), and sons-in-law David Robinson and Peter Carter (c.1873).

As for Ben himself, he stayed busy with timber after the feud. According to an 1896 article from the Logan County Banner: “Benj. Adams, of Hart, is hauling some fine poplar from trace fork.” In 1901, he married Venila Susan Abbott, a daughter of Wilson and Elizabeth (Workman) Abbott, and had at least eight more children (born between 1901 and 1921). Not long after his remarriage, he was accused of murdering a local postman named Jim Allen Martin — and nearly went bankrupt paying for his legal defense. He died in 1910 and was buried on the hill near the mouth of Trace Fork.

In Search of Ed Haley 200

19 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Ed Haley, Harts

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Abner Vance, Andrew D. Robinson, Anthony Adams, Burl Farley, Cain Adkins, Caleb Headley, Elisha Vance, Enoch Baker, Evermont Ward Brumfield, George T. Holton, Henry H. Hardesty, Imogene Haley, Jeremiah Lambert, John H. Napier, Milt Haley, Patton Thompson, Robert Mullins, writing

Cain Adkins arrived on the West Fork of Harts Creek around 1870. During the decade, he purchased a 40-acre farm from his father-in-law, Abner Vance, situated on West Fork and valued at $2.00 (and then $4.00) per acre. In 1880, according to census records, Adkins was a farmer and neighbor to Boney Lucas (his son-in-law), Elisha Vance (his brother-in-law), Abner Vance, Overton McCloud (his brother-in-law) and Marvel Vance (his brother-in-law). In 1881, Abner Vance deed him a 25-acre tract. In that same year, he was listed in land records as owning a $50 building on the 40-acre tract. The next year, the value of his 25-acre tract increased from $1.50 per acre to $2.00 per acre. In 1884, he bought 140 more acres from A.A. Low, attorney, and E. and O. Estep. One part of this, a 40-acre tract, contained a building valued at $100. It was situated between his 25-acre tract and a 185-acre 1852 grant and an 860-acre 1856 grant to Isaiah Adkins. The other 100-acre tract of land was part of the 247-acre 1856 grant to Vance.

According to the Adkins family history, Cain was a United Baptist preacher, farmer, teacher, and justice of the peace. He taught school throughout the 1870s, according to educational records. But he was best known as a preacher; his name appears frequently in county marriage books. In 1877, he married Burl Farley (a member of the future 1889 mob) and Mary Ann Dingess, sister to Hollena Brumfield. In 1884, he married Milt Haley and Emma Mullins: “Thomas M. Hauley, age 25, born Cabell County, son of B.H. Hauley and N. Muncy, married Imogene Mullins, age 15, born Logan County, daughter of J. Mullins and C. Gore, on the 22^nd day of March 1884 by Canaane Adkins, Minister, at Logan, WV.”

Cain’s various occupations would have made him a real renaissance man in the community. First of all, as a country doctor, he would have been in contact with most local families. As a teacher, he would have taught many of the local children at his school. In those days, church congregations usually met in schoolhouses — as there were no church buildings — so Cain would have preached to many members of the community at his school. Again, this occupation would put him in close touch with many locals — preaching funerals, marrying people, and so forth. As a law officer, he would have had to deal with local criminal activity — which (in addition to his preaching) may have put him in direct conflict with Paris Brumfield.

In addition to Adkins, Roberts, Mullins and Fowler, John H. Napier, a 41-year-old physician, was a prominent resident at the mouth of Harts Creek. John had settled in Harts in 1879 with his young wife (a niece to Cain Adkins), five children and a nephew. He quickly took up business, although he never bought property. “Mr. Napier is a prosperous merchant in Hart Creek district, with business headquarters at the mouth of the creek,” Hardesty wrote.

By the mid-1880s, the local economy was humming along, spurred by the timber industry. In 1884, the same year that Milt Haley and Emma Haley were married, a new post office called Warren was established five miles up Harts Creek on the bank of its south side below the mouth of Smokehouse Fork. In that vicinity, which encompassed Milt Haley’s section of the community, Andrew D. Robinson was postmaster, Van B. Prince (a former schoolteacher) was a physician, Benjamin Adams was a general store operator and Joseph Williamson was a mason. Henderson Dingess (father to Hollena Brumfield) and Benjamin Hager were distillers, and Anthony Adams and Robert Mullins were blacksmiths. McCloud & Company was the major general store in the vicinity. The post office serviced three to five hundred people semi-weekly.

At that time, according to Hardesty, Jeremiah Lambert of the Bend of the River was a justice of the peace and Aaron Adkins of Little Harts Creek was a constable. Evermont W. Brumfield — a brother to Paris Brumfield — was the county jailer. Patton Thompson was a constable and a deputy-sheriff. Caleb Headley — a brother-in-law to Burl Farley — was a physician on Fourteen Mile Creek. There were ten public school buildings in the district with a student population of 334. George Thomas Holton of Fourteen was a local schoolteacher. Enoch Baker, a Nova Scotian, was busy in timber with a “lower dam” on Brown’s Run of Smokehouse Fork according to 1883 deed records.

In Search of Ed Haley 199

18 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Chapmanville, Civil War, Ed Haley, Green Shoal, Guyandotte River, Harts

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Admiral S. Fry, Andrew D. Robinson, Andrew Robinson, Appalachia, Big Branch, Bill Fowler, Chapmanville, Confederate Army, Dicy Roberts, Elias Adkins, Francis Fork, G.S. Fry, general store, Green Shoal, Harts, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, Henry H. Hardesty, Henry S. Godby, history, Hollena Brumfield, Isham Roberts, Jack Johnson, James P. Mullins, Joseph Workman, Marsh Fork, Martha Jane Brumfield, merchant, Milt Haley, Paris Brumfield, Sallie Dingess, Sand Lick Run, teacher, Thomas H. Buckley, timber, West Fork

The town of Harts — originally named Hart’s Creek — was established at the mouth of Big Harts Creek in the summer or fall of 1870 when Henry S. Godby, a peg-legged Confederate veteran from Chapmanville, petitioned the government for the creation of a post office called “Hart’s Creek.” At that time, Green Shoal was the most thriving spot in the Harts section of the Guyandotte River. A.S. Fry was its chief businessman and postmaster. Godby’s effort to establish Harts as a postal town was a short-lived venture. By 1876, Green Shoal still reigned supreme in local affairs. According to a business directory, it could boast a gristmill, free school and a Baptist and Methodist church. T.H. Buckley and G.S. Fry were physicians, while Joseph Workman was a clergyman.

Around that time, in 1876, Bill Fowler — a local general storekeeper — petitioned the government for the creation of a “Hearts Creek” post office and established his business headquarters at Harts. Fowler had migrated to the area in 1847 and married a daughter of Elias Adkins, an early settler. After a short stint as a schoolteacher in 1871, Fowler was by 1876 a general storekeeper and owner of some 30 acres of land on the Marsh Fork of West Fork. In March of 1877, he became postmaster of “Hearts Creek;” he was also a saloon keeper according to oral tradition. As his business interest generated profits (primarily in timber), he extended his land holdings. In 1878, he purchased 75 acres on the Guyan River from Abner Vance, valued at $5.00 per acre. The following year, he added a 90-acre tract to his estate on the west side of the Guyan River, valued at $3.25 per acre, which he purchased from brothers-in-law, Aaron and Enos Adkins.

Throughout the period, Fowler was unquestionably the chief businessman in Harts. Curiously, Andrew D. Robinson replaced him as postmaster of Hearts Creek in 1879. Robinson was a Union veteran and former township clerk, justice of the peace, and secretary of the district board of education. He was a brother-in-law to Ben Adams, as well as Sallie Dingess (Hollena Brumfield’s mother). In 1881, Robinson shortened the name of the Hearts Creek post office to “Hart.”

The Green Shoal area, meanwhile, fell into a state of decline as a local economic center. A.S. Fry gave up his postmaster position in 1878. He maintained his local business interests well into the next decade, then turned them over to his son George and left to pursue a hotel business in Guyandotte, a town situated at the mouth of the river in Cabell County. The Green Shoal post office was discontinued in 1879.

By 1880 — roughly the time that Milt Haley came to Harts from “over the mountain” — Harts reigned supreme as the hub of local business affairs. In that year, according to census records, the population of the Harts Creek District was 1,116. There were 1,095 white residents, fifteen blacks and six mulattos. 93-percent of locals were born in Virginia or West Virginia, while six percent were born in Kentucky. Most men worked at farming, although A.S. Fry and Paris Brumfield both had stores. In 1882-1883, Brumfield was listed in a state business directory as a distiller.

At that time, Bill Fowler was the undisputed kingpin of the local business scene. According to Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, published around 1884, Fowler owned 200 acres of land at the mouth of Harts Creek and 254 acres on Mud River. He also owned 200 acres on Sand Lick Run, a branch of Francis Fork, based on land records at the Lincoln County Courthouse. “That situated on Hart creek produces well,” Hardesty wrote, “and has a good orchard and a part is heavily timbered with oak, poplar and pine; coal and iron ore are quite abundant.” Fowler was the father of four small children, recently born to his second wife.

There were other notable business folks in the neighborhood, namely Isham Roberts, who operated a store near Fowler on the Guyandotte River. He was the son of Dicy Roberts and the stepson of Jack Johnson, a local farmer. In the early 1880s, he married Martha Jane Brumfield, a daughter of Paris Brumfield, and opened a store on rental property at the mouth of Harts Creek. By 1884, when Hardesty wrote his history of the county, he referred to Roberts as “a prosperous young merchant in Hart Creek district, having his headquarters on Guyan river, at the mouth of Big Hart creek. His prices are the most reasonable and the business very extensive.” Roberts was the postmaster at Harts from 1883 until 1884, when Dr. T.H. Buckley replaced him.

James P. Mullins, who operated a general store building above Roberts at Big Branch, was also a budding merchant. By 1882, Mullins was the owner of a $200 storebuilding situated on a 203-acre tract of land. Over the next few years, he added another 55 acres on lower Harts Creek and 150 acres on Francis Fork (this latter tract likely acquired for timbering purposes). Hardesty referred to Mullins as being “of good business qualifications and prosperously engaged in merchandising, with business headquarters on Hart creek, one and one-half miles from its mouth.” In that year, Mullins purchased an additional 93 acres on Harts Creek. One year later, the value of his store building increased by $100, hinting at his growing prosperity.

Brandon Ray Kirk

~ This site is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and promotion of history and culture in my section of Appalachia.

Tag Archives: Andrew D. Robinson

Harts Creek District (c.1883)

Andrew D. Robinson

Harts Creek Area Justices of the Peace (1879-1910)

129th Regiment Virginia Militia (Carter’s Company)

Andrew D. Robinson (1867)

Big Harts Creek Post Offices

Hart, 1882

Interview with Nellie Thompson of Wayne, WV (1996)

In Search of Ed Haley 231

In Search of Ed Haley 206

In Search of Ed Haley 200

In Search of Ed Haley 199