18 Wednesday Nov 2015
Posted in Native American History
Tags
Appalachia, Burkes Garden, French and Indian War, Garden Mountain, genealogy, history, James Burke, James Patton, Native Americans, U.S. South, Virginia
I recently visited Burkes Garden, Virginia, which was explored by my ancestor, James Patton. 10 October 2015
07 Saturday Nov 2015
Posted in Lincoln County Feud
Tags
Appalachia, Bailey Log Cabin, Blood in West Virginia, Bluefield, books, Brandon Kirk, history, Lincoln County Feud, tourism, U.S. South, Virginia
When traveling, I seldom miss an opportunity to introduce my book to a log cabin. Here we are at the Bailey Log Cabin in Bluefield, VA. October 2015
07 Saturday Nov 2015
Posted in Logan
Tags
Appalachia, circuit clerk, Confederate Army, David Wilkinson, England, genealogy, Henry H. Hardesty, history, John B. Wilkinson, Logan, Logan County, Maggie Wilkinson, Mary B. Wilkinson, Nellie Wilkinson, prosecuting attorney, R.A. Brock, Rebecca Wilkinson, Richmond, U.S. South, Virginia, Virginia and Virginians, West Virginia, Wythe County
From “Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for John B. Wilkinson, who resided at Logan Court House in Logan County, West Virginia:
Prosecuting attorney, Logan C.H., W.Va., is a member of one of the oldest and most honorable families of that State. His ancestors came from England, and were among the early settlers of Virginia, where their descendants have ever been held in the highest esteem for those sterling qualities of mind and heart that have been transmitted from father to son through many generations. The subject of this sketch is a son of David and Rebecca (Chafin) Wilkinson. The father, born in Wythe county, Va., Feb. 13, 1837, was married Feb. 11, 1859, and died in his native county Nov. 25, 1862, holding rank of captain in the Confederate army, in which he had been one of the bravest officers. His wife, and the mother of John B. Wilkinson, was born in Logan county, March 29, 1838; she resides there at present. Her son, the gentleman of whom this brief record is taken, was born in Logan county, W.Va., Feb. 13, 1860, and was married there Sept. 21, 1882, to Mary B. Straton, also a native of that county. Their home has been blessed with the following offspring: Maggie, born May 3, 1884; Nellie, born Nov. 14, 1886, died Aug. 5, 1888; and John B., born Nov. 30, 1888. Mrs. John B. Wilkinson was born March 20, 1864. Mr. Wilkinson was appointed Circuit Clerk of Logan county in 1883; was an efficient officer, but resigned the same year. In 1884 he was elected prosecuting attorney for that county, and served so ably that, at the expiration of his term, he was re-elected and has held the office ever since, having never had any opposition at either election. Though young, he is one of the ablest in his profession in his State, and is a citizen well meriting the confidence and trust that have been reposed in him by his fellow citizens. With his amiable and accomplished wife and their two promising children, he resides at his beautiful residence at Logan C.H., where he has the largest and most extensive library in the county, and his law office is the handsomest in the town.
Source: Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 (Richmond, VA: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, 1888), p. 846-847.
17 Saturday Oct 2015
Posted in Big Ugly Creek, Cemeteries, Leet
Tags
Appalachia, Big Ugly Creek, Brandon Kirk, cemeteries, genealogy, Hamilton Fry, history, Lincoln County, U.S. South, West Virginia
Hamilton Fry (1815-1864) grave, located at Leet on Big Ugly Creek, Lincoln County, West Virginia. I took this photo in 2011.
17 Saturday Oct 2015
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Whirlwind
Tags
Alvie L. Thompson, Appalachia, Fred Adams, Frederick Q. Thompson, genealogy, Gladys Adams, Harts Creek, Herbert Adams, Herbert Thompson, history, Hoover Fork, Logan County, Lola Mae Adams, Mary Ann Thompson, Millard Thompson, Myrtle Thompson, Nora G. Adams, Thompson-Adams Family Cemetery, U.S. South, Vernon Lee Thompson, West Virginia, Whirlwind, Willie Thompson
The Thompson-Adams Family Cemetery, which I visited on 24 June 2014, is located 0.7 miles up Hoover Fork of Harts Creek in Logan County, WV.
Row 1
Vernon Lee Thompson (08 March 1971-10 March 1971)
Frederick Q. Thompson (26 October 1963-19 June 2004)
(gap in graves)
Mary Ann Thompson (1905-1987); d/o Richard and Emma (Keenan) Vance; m. Millard Thompson
Millard Thompson (1903-1983); s/o James and Margurette (Mullins) Thompson
Willie Thompson (17 August 1934-29 October 1976); c/o Millard and Mary A. (Vance) Thompson
Row Below (begin at foot of Willie Thompson)
What appears to be two baby graves are the legs of Mary (Vance) Thompson.
Row 2
Herbert Thompson (23 April 1897-18 June 1986); s/o James and Margurette (Mullins) Thompson
Myrtle Thompson (13 April 1901-19 January 1975); d/o Benjamin and V. Susan (Abbott) Adams
Row 3
Fred Adams (1907-1990); s/o Benjamin and V. Susan (Abbott) Adams
Lola Mae Adams (1907-1986); d/o Otto and Delilah Ann (Browning) Nichols; m. Fredrick Troy Adams
Herbert Adams (28 July 1921-11 April 1984); s/o V. Susan (Abbott) Adams
Gladys Adams (1909-1989); d/o Benjamin and V. Susan (Abbott) Adams
Nora G. Adams (18 February 1903-09 November 1934); d/o Benjamin and V. Susan (Abbott) Adams
Row 4
Alvie L. Thompson (31 March 1929-05 November 2011); s/o Herbert and Myrtle (Adams) Thompson
Little section nearby:
“Chance” (1998-2013)
“Katie”
“Chelsea”
Perhaps another marker
17 Saturday Oct 2015
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Lincoln County Feud, Warren
Tags
Appalachia, Ben Adams, Blood in West Virginia, Brandon Kirk, Harts Creek, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, photos, U.S. South, Warren, West Virginia
Ben Adams log cabin, Big Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. I took this photograph in 1995.
17 Saturday Oct 2015
Tags
Addie B. Whited, Anna Whited, Appalachia, Celia Whited, Chautauqua County, circuit clerk, civil war, Confederate Army, education, Effie Whited, genealogy, Greenbrier County, Hattie P. Whited, Henry H. Hardesty, history, Ireland, John A. Totten, Juditha Totten, Kansas, Logan, Logan County, Lynchburg, Maryland, Methodist Episcopal Church, Oakland, R.A. Brock, Randolph County, Richmond, Robert Whited, Russell County, Superintendent of Schools, Thomas C. Whited, U.S. South, Virginia, Virginia and Virginians, West Virginia, Willie G. Whited
From “Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Thomas C. Whited, who resided at Logan Court House in Logan County, West Virginia:
Of Logan C.H., was born in Russell county, Va., Nov. 25, 1854, and resided there till 1870, when he sent several years traveling in the western part of the United States; in 1877 he located at Logan C.H., and was engaged in teaching; was appointed in 1880 a member of the board of examiners for that county; this position he held until 1885, when he was elected county superintendent of public schools, which position he filled with much credit, and resigned in 1886, having been elected clerk of Circuit Court. He was married March 4, 1880, to Celia Totten. They have been blessed with the following offspring, born in order here given: Effie, born Feb. 20, 1882; Willie G., born Aug. 17, 1884; Hattie P., born Nov. 16, 1886; Addie B., born April 25, 1889. Mrs. Thomas C. Whited was born at Logan C.H., W.Va., Sept. 22, 1861. Her father, Rev. John A. Totten, a minister of the M.E. Church, was born in Oakland, Md., was married to Juditha Bonnifield in Randolph county, W.Va., and died in Greenbrier county, W.Va., in the Confederate camp, in 1861. His widow lives at Logan C.H. The subject of this sketch is a son of Robert and Anna (Meadows) Whited. The father, born near Lynchburg, Va., March 7, 1819, is now residing in Chautauqua county, Kan., where he owns extensive and valuable property, and is one of the largest stock raisers in that State. His wife, and the mother of Thomas C. Whited, was born near Lynchburg, Va., in 1821, and died in Russell county, Va., April 3, 1869. The Whited or Whitehead family came originally from Ireland to Virginia, and were among the first settlers of that State. Its branches are scattered in almost every State of the Union, and particularly in the Western States. They have always been people of influence and position, and noted for honor, industry and energy.
Source: Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 (Richmond, VA: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, 1888), p. 845-846.
09 Friday Oct 2015
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Lincoln County Feud, Spottswood
Tags
Appalachia, Ben Adams, Blood in West Virginia, Harts Creek, history, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, miller, photos, Trace Fork, West Virginia
Ben Adams millstone, which I located on Trace Fork of Harts Creek in Logan County, WV (1996)
09 Friday Oct 2015
Posted in Cemeteries, Harts
Tags
Appalachia, Cecil M. Adkins, cemeteries, Cooper Hollow, Cora E. Adkins, Cornis A. Isaacs, genealogy, Harts, history, John Fitzgerald Dingess, Lincoln County, Ruby Adkins, Shirley Jean Adkins, U.S. South, West Virginia, William Aaron Adkins, William Aaron Adkins Family Cemetery
The William Aaron Adkins Family Cemetery, which I visited on 15 February 1998, is located at Cooper Hollow 1.3 miles up Guyan River Road on the right from Harts, Lincoln County.
William A. Adkins (1872-1970); s/o Burrell and Malissa Jane (Adkins) Adkins
Cora E. Adkins (1881-19XX); d/o Gordon and Martella (Workman) Lilly; m. William Aaron Adkins; died 1974
Ruby Adkins (1923-1976); d/o Fletcher and Rachel (Messer) Workman
Cecil M. Adkins (12 May 1909-12 Dec 1953); s/o W. Aaron and Cora E. (Lilly) Adkins
unmarked grave
Cornis A. Isaacs (1934-1935); s/o Ed and Hazel (Ramey) Isaacs
Shirley Jean Adkins; died at age of about one year; d/o Cecil and Ruby (Workman) Adkins
John Fitzgerald Dingess (1970-1970); s/o Gene and Rachel (Adkins) Dingess
08 Thursday Oct 2015
Posted in Lincoln County Feud, Logan
Tags
Appalachia, Buskirk House, history, J.B. Buskirk, life, Logan, Logan County, Logan County Banner, U.S. South, West Virginia
Logan County Banner (Logan, WV), 21 November 1889
07 Wednesday Oct 2015
Posted in Battle of Blair Mountain, Coal
Tags
Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, coal, history, Lewis White, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mingo County, R.F. Farley, Roxie Starr, U.S. South, West Virginia
“Lewis White Surrenders,” Logan Banner (Logan, WV), 01 August 1924
“Lewis White Surrenders,” Logan Banner (Logan, WV), 01 August 1924
06 Tuesday Oct 2015
Posted in Ed Haley, John Hartford, Lincoln County Feud
Tags
Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, Charleston, Ed Haley, Goldenseal, John Hartford, photos, Stan Bumgardner, West Virginia, writers, writing
I recently had the opportunity to meet Stanley Bumgardner, the new editor at Goldenseal magazine. Goldenseal is West Virginia’s premier magazine of culture and history. I have written two stories for the winter issue of Goldenseal. 5 October 2015
06 Tuesday Oct 2015
Posted in Cemeteries, Ferrellsburg
Tags
Adkins-Davis Family Cemetery, Albert Jake Davis, Albert Messer, Ann Frances Davis, Anna Davis, Appalachia, Barbara Sue Burger, Bilton McNeely, cemeteries, Clarence W. May, Dollie Newsome, Douglas Branch, Ed Dingess, Ed Dingess Jr., Elzie Adkins, Emma Jane Hager, Enos "Jake" Adkins, Ethel Williamson, Ferrellsburg, genealogy, George Compton, Giles Davis, history, James Hershel Messer, Janice May, Lawson Adkins, Lettie McKibbon Adkins, Lincoln County, Lona Compton, Mary F. Watts, Mary Florence Davis, Mike Bernie George, Mike George, Milcie McNeely, Nahoma Francis Messer, Naomi Davis, Narl Davis, Pauline Davis, Polly George, Susan Alice Davis, Tom Davis, U.S. South, Warn Davis, West Virginia, Winifred Messer
The Adkins-Davis Family Cemetery, which I visited on 11 November 2011, is located on Douglas Branch in Ferrellsburg, Lincoln County, WV.
Row 1
Dollie Adkins Newsome (1916-1984); d/o William and Margie (Mullins) Adkins; m1. Albert Messer; m2. Walt Newsome
Row 2
Warn Davis (1905-1956); s/o Tom and Anna (Bryant) Davis
Ethel Davis Williamson (19 February 1908-02 April 1955); s/o Tom and Anna (Bryant) Davis
rock headstone
Giles Davis (07 January 1910-16 October 1966); s/o Tom and Anna (Bryant) Davis
Winifred Messer (20 February 1919-23 May 1969); s/o Albert and Naomi (Davis) Messer; nicknamed “Pete”
James Hershel Messer (25 August 1914-11 June 1975); s/o Albert and Naomi (Davis) Messer
Row 3
Tom Davis (1881-1974); s/o Giles and Ann F. (Adkins) Davis
Anna B. Davis (1883-1965); d/o Norvel and Melvina (Thompson) Bryant; m. Tom Davis
Albert Messer (1896-1952)
Naomi Ome Davis (1897-1930); d/o Giles and Ann F. (Adkins) Davis; m. Albert Messer
Mary F. Watts (15 November 1917-07 November 1950); d/o Albert and Naomi (Davis) Messer
Pauline Davis (15 September 1921-20 April 1944); d/o Tom and Anna (Bryant) Davis
Nahoma Francis Messer (17 September 1935-06 October 1938); d/o James H. and Geneva (Brooks) Messer
Susan Alice Davis (25 September 1947-27 September 1947); d/o James Frank and Beatrice (Watts) Davis
rock headstone
Mike Bernie George (1930-1984); s/o Mike and Polly (McColester) George, Sr.
Row 4
Enos Adkins (28 February 1830-28 February 1907); s/o Elias and Susannah (Fry) Adkins; nicknamed “Jake”
Lettie McKibbon Adkins (1835-1903); d/o James and Nancy (Gillispie) Toney; m. Enos “Jake” Adkins
Ann Frances Adkins Davis (1852-1910); this grave stone is misplaced
Giles Davis (1843-1912); s/o James and Marinda (Steele) Davis; PVT CO D 34th VA CAV
(gap in graves)
Narl Davis (27 April 1913-11 May 1915); s/o Tom and Ann (Bryant) Davis
Row 5
Ed Jr. Dingess INFANT SON; s/o Edward and Clementine (Adkins) Dingess
Mary Florence Flar Davis (1876-1927); d/o Giles and Ann F. (Adkins) Davis
rock headstone
Row 6
Ed Dingess (10 November 1869-01 November 1907); s/o Jesse Irvin and Mary Ann (Fowler) Dingess
Albert Jake Davis (___-1948); s/o Giles and Ann F. (Adkins) Davis
Row 7
Barbara Sue Burger (1949-1989)
(gap in graves)
rock headstone
rock headstone
rock headstone
Row 8
George Compton (1900-1966)
Lona Compton (1903-no date)
(gap in graves)
Elzie Adkins (1901-1940); s/o Jones and Roxie Lena (Davis) Adkins
Lawson Adkins (1932-1941); s/o Elzie and Belva (Reynolds) Adkins
Row 9
Bilton McNeely (1891-1966); s/o Lafayette and Sarah McNeely
rock headstone
W.M., aged one year 11/17 days
Milcie McNeeley (1895-1973); d/o William Hansford and Lucinda (Elkins) Adkins; m. Bilton McNeely
Janice May (12 February 1937-18 December 2000); d/o Bilton and Milcie (Adkins) McNeely; m. Clarence W. May
Clarence W. May (26 March 1930-19 October 2004); PVT 2 CL US ARMY KOREA
Row 10
Polly George (1905-1984); m. Mike George, Sr.
Mike George (1893-1958); s/o Sam George; born in Bulgaria
Row 11
Emma Jane Hager (04 October 1866-21 January 1901); d/o Philip and Elizabeth (Dalton) Hager; m. Albert G. Adkins
04 Sunday Oct 2015
Posted in Ed Haley, John Hartford, Lincoln County Feud
Tags
Appalachia, Ashland, Ashland Daily Independent, Blood in West Virginia, books, Brandon Kirk, Dave Lavender, Ed Haley, Ed Haley Memorial Fiddle Contest, Empire Books, fiddlers, fiddling, Goldenseal, Greenup, Hannibal H. Holbrook, Harts Creek, Herald-Dispatch, history, Huntington, John Hartford, Kentucky, music, Poage Landing Days, Steve Haley, The Kentucky Explorer, U.S. South, West Virginia, writing
The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington, WV, and the Ashland (KY) Daily Independent have recently provided great coverage of the book and related research projects. Many thanks to these newspapers for supporting regional history. Here are the links to the stories:
I am honored that some of my writing will appear in forthcoming issues of Goldenseal and The Kentucky Explorer, two of my absolute favorite magazines. The Winter issue of Goldenseal will feature a story about Ed Haley’s background on Harts Creek and his later visits to the community. A smaller story details John Hartford’s search for Ed Haley in the Harts Creek area. The December issue of The Kentucky Explorer will feature a story about Ed Haley’s friendship with Dr. H.H. Holbrook of Ashland and Greenup.
04 Sunday Oct 2015
Tags
Appalachia, Ashland, blind, Ed Haley, Ed Haley Memorial Fiddle Contest, fiddle, fiddler, fiddling, Kentucky, life, music, Parkersburg Landing, photos, Rounder Records
Parkersburg Landing album, Ed Haley Memorial Fiddle Contest, Ashland, Kentucky, 19 September 2015
03 Saturday Oct 2015
Posted in Lincoln County Feud, Logan
Tags
Appalachia, Blood in West Virginia, Brandon Kirk, genealogy, George Brumfield, history, Logan, photos, Sampson Brumfield, West Virginia, World War II
I recently enjoyed meeting 89-year-old George Brumfield and his family in Logan, WV. George is the great-grandson of Sampson Brumfield, a World War II veteran, and a wealth of knowledge about local history. September 2015
03 Saturday Oct 2015
Posted in Gilbert
Tags
10th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Appalachia, civil war, Confederate Army, farming, Fort Delaware, genealogy, Gilbert Creek, Henry H. Hardesty, history, John Stafford, John W. Stafford, Levisa Stafford, Logan County, Ohio, R.A. Brock, Richmond, Superintendent of Schools, U.S. South, Virginia, Virginia and Virginians, West Virginia, Zanesville
From “Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for John W. Stafford, who resided at Gilbert Creek in Logan County, West Virginia:
Son of John and Levisa (Spratt) Stafford, was born Oct. 27, 1833, in Logan county, W.Va. His father was born Feb. 10, 1810, in Tazewell county, Va., and died in Logan county on March 12, 1862, and his mother was born in Zanesville, O., on Dec. 6, 1811, dying in Logan county also on Aug. 25, 1886. John W., the subject of this sketch, enlisted in the Confederate States army in July, 1861; commissioned lieutenant of Co. H, 10th Va. V.I., serving until the close of the struggle; discharged in 1865 at Ft. Delaware prison. Mr. Stafford is now engaged in farming and merchandising, and was elected county superintendent of schools in Logan county in 1875, serving until 1877; post office address, Gilbert Creek, W.Va.
Source: Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 (Richmond, VA: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, 1888), p. 841.
03 Saturday Oct 2015
Posted in Lincoln County Feud
Tags
Appalachia, author, Blood in West Virginia, books, Brandon Kirk, Empire Books and News, feuds, genealogy, history, Huntington, John Adkins, John Brumfield, Lincoln County Feud, Pelican Publishing Company, photos, U.S. South, West Virginia
“Blood in West Virginia: Brumfield v. McCoy” is available for purchase at Empire Books & News in Huntington, WV.
18 Friday Sep 2015
Posted in Lincoln County Feud
Tags
Appalachia, Blood in West Virginia, books, Brandon Kirk, Empire Books, Huntington, Lincoln County Feud, Pelican Publishing Company, U.S. South, West Virginia, writers
Here is our recent set-up to promote “Blood in West Virginia: Brumfield v. McCoy” at Empire Books & News in Huntington, WV. 12 September 2015
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.
Writings from my travels and experiences. High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water. Mark Twain
This site is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and promotion of history and culture in Appalachia.
Genealogy and History in North Carolina and Beyond
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Brandon Ray Kirk 