French-Eversole Feud (2019)

03 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Culture of Honor, French-Eversole Feud

Tags

Appalachia, Bad Tom Smith, Battle of Hazard, Bill McGraw, Bobby Davis Museum and Park, Brandon Kirk, Charles Hayes, Combs-Eversole Cemetery, crime, feud, feuds, French-Eversole Feud, genealogy, Hazard, history, Kentucky, Martha Quigley, Perry County, photos

I visited Hazard to learn more about the French-Eversole Feud. To my surprise, even though most of the feud’s key events (and murders) occurred in Hazard, and even though the feud featured a Battle of Hazard, not ONE sign exists in the town to document the feud. 28 February 2019

Researching the French-Eversole Feud at the Bobby Davis Museum and Park in Hazard, KY. Martha Quigley, director of the museum, was very helpful in my learning more about the feud. 1 March 2019

Reading about Bad Tom Smith at the Bobby Davis Museum and Park in Hazard, KY. 1 March 2019

Here’s an old Eversole family heirloom, perhaps dating to the feud era. Bobby Davis Museum and Park, Hazard, Perry County, KY. 1 March 2019

Here’s an old Eversole family heirloom, perhaps dating to the feud era. Bobby Davis Museum and Park, Hazard, Perry County, KY. Photo by Martha Quigley. 1 March 2019

Partial map of French-Eversole Feud sites, drawn by Eversole descendant Bill McGraw. 1 March 2019

The Combs-Eversole Cemetery is partly located in the back yard of this residence. 28 February 2019

Joe Eversole’s grave. Mr. Eversole, a merchant and lawyer, was murdered in the feud. 28 February 2019

Joe Eversole’s grave. 28 February 2019

I placed flowers at Joe Eversole’s grave at the Combs-Eversole Cemetery in Hazard, KY. Photo by Martha Quigley. 28 February 2019

Barboursville Cemetery (2015/2017)

23 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Barboursville, Cemeteries, Lincoln County Feud

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Anthony Shelton, Appalachia, Barboursville, Barboursville Cemetery, Brandon Kirk, Cabell County, genealogy, history, Hollena Brumfield, Lincoln County Feud, Margaret Shelton, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Randolph Moss, West Virginia, William S. Kelley

Anthony and Margaret Shelton headstone, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 14 February 2015

Dr. V. Randolph Moss grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. Dr. Moss was an attending physician to Hollena Brumfield after her gunshot wound to the face in September of 1889. Photo by Mom. 5 May 2017

Dr. V. Randolph Moss grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. Photo by Mom. 5 May 2017

Dr. V. Randolph Moss grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 5 May 2017

William S. Kelley grave, Barboursville Cemetery, Barboursville, Cabell County, WV. 15 February 2015

Buskirk Cemetery at Buskirk, KY (2015)

09 Tuesday Oct 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Coal, Culture of Honor, Matewan

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Appalachia, Baldwin-Felts Agency, Brandon Kirk, Buskirk, Buskirk Cemetery, Cable Testerman, cemeteries, Ed Chambers, genealogy, history, Kentucky, Matewan, Matewan Massacre, mayor, McDowell County, Mine Wars, Phyllis Kirk, Pike County, Sid Hatfield, Welch, West Virginia

Partial view of the Buskirk Cemetery in Buskirk, Pike County, KY. 16 May 2015.

Sid Hatfield grave (left) and Cable Testerman grave (right). Note gap between the headstones.. After Cable’s death, Sid married his widow. Was the burial spot between the two men reserved for her? 16 May 2015. https://yesteryearsnews.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/married-the-man-who-killed-her-husband-and-then/

Sid Hatfield headstone, Buskirk Cemetery, Buskirk, KY. Sid was chief of police in Matewan, WV. 16 May 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnHY7HHPhCw

Sid Hatfield headstone, Buskirk Cemetery, Buskirk, KY. After his murder, labor activists fashioned a mythical Sid Hatfield. The real Sid Hatfield has been largely lost to history. 16 May 2015. https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/282

“Defender of the Rights of Working People”…? 16 May 2015.

Cable Testerman headstone, Buskirk Cemetery, Buskirk, KY. Mayor Testerman was shot and killed in the Matewan Massacre. 16 May 2015.

Ed Chambers headstone, Buskirk Cemetery, Buskirk, KY. Chambers and Hatfield were murdered at Welch, WV. 3000 people reportedly attended their funerals. 16 May 2015.

Fun day! Buskirk Cemetery, Buskirk, KY. 16 May 2015. Photo by Mom.

Confederate Statue at Union, WV (2016)

27 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Civil War, Monroe County

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, civil war, Confederacy, Confederate Army, Hinton Marble Works, history, Monroe County, Phyllis Kirk, Union, West Virginia

Visiting the Confederate statue at Union, Monroe County, WV. 6 August 2016. Photo by Mom.

Way out in the distance is the statue. 6 August 2016.

The statue. 6 August 2016. Photo by Mom.

Jackson’s Mill (2015)

27 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in American Revolutionary War, Civil War, Lincoln County Feud, Native American History

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American Legion Mountaineer Boys State, American Revolution, Appalachia, Battle of Chancellorsville, Beverly, Blake G. Woodson, Blood in West Virginia, books, Brandon Kirk, civil war, Confederate Army, Edward Jackson, First Battle of Manassas, George Conrad, Harpers Ferry, Henry McWhorter, history, Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Academy, Jackson's Mill, Jonathan Arnold, Jonathan Jackson, Julia Beckwith Neale Jackson Woodson, Laura Ann jackson, Lewis County, Lincoln County Feud, log cabin, Mary Conrad, Mexican War, Native American History, Native Americans, New Jersey, Pelican Publishing Company, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Revolutionary War, Rutherford B. Hayes, Stonewall Jackson, U.S. Military Academy, Union Army, Virginia Military Institute, West Point, West Virginia, West Virginia 4-H Camp, West Virginia University Archives, William McKinley, William Rohrbough

Years ago, I attended Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Academy (10th grade) and the American Legion Mountaineer Boys State (11th grade) here at Jackson’s Mill in Lewis County, WV. 29 August 2015. Photo by Mom.

Jackson’s Mill is the boyhood home of Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. 29 August 2015.

Jackson’s Mill. Original owned by West Virginia University Archives.

Jackson’s Mill Historic Area Map. 29 August 2015.

Mary Conrad Cabin/The General’s Store. William Rohrbough constructed the front in 1845; George Conrad constructed the back after 1855. 29 August 2015.

Mary Conrad Cabin/The General’s Store. Future U.S. presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley reportedly visited the cabin at its original location. 29 August 2015.

Mary Conrad Cabin/The General’s Store. Dove tail notching. 29 August 2015.

Mary Conrad Cabin/The General’s Store. Love the dogtrot feature! 29 August 2015.

Mary Conrad Cabin/The General’s Store. BOOK MEETS LOG CABIN. I enjoy seeing the book with logs. 29 August 2015.

McWhorter Cabin. Built after 1793 by Revolutionary War veteran Henry McWhorter of New Jersey, this 18′ X 24′ cabin offers an internal chimney as protection from attacks by Native Americans. It was used as a home, church, school, and post office. 29 August 2015.

McWhorter Cabin. Note the square notching. 29 August 2015.

McWhorter Cabin. 1793 pioneer cabin meets 1889 feud history. 29 August 2015. Photo by Mom.

Jackson’s Mill. 29 August 2015.

Jackson’s Mill, 1837. 29 August 2015.

Museum and Log Cabin at Breaks Interstate Park in Breaks, VA (2018)

17 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Civil War, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Native American History, Timber

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Appalachia, Battle of Middle Creek, Brandon Kirk, Breaks, Breaks Canyon, Breaks Interstate Park, civil war, fossils, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, James A Garfield, Kentucky, Marion, moonshine, moonshining, Native American History, Native Americans, photos, Phyllis Kirk, rafting, Saltville, Union Army, Virginia

Video showcasing regional history. 25 August 2018.

Hammerstone and Polishing Stone. 25 August 2018.

Fully Grooved Axe. 25 August 2018.

Lt. James A. Garfield, Union hero at the Battle of Middle Creek, KY. 25 August 2018.

Rafting through Breaks Canyon, c.1885. 25 August 2018.

This photo is labeled: “A Confrontation Between the Hatfields and the McCoys.”

Moonshine still. 25 August 2018.

Seed fern fossil, 305 million years old. 25 August 2018.

Native wildlife. 25 August 2018.

Log cabin. 25 August 2018.

Mom at the cabin. 25 August 2018.

Moonshine still showing cap, thumping keg, and worm. 25 August 2018.

Salt kettle cast at Marion, VA, about 1860 and buried to conceal it from Union troops at Saltville, VA, in 1864. 25 August 2018.

James P. Mullins Grave and the K.S. Colley Cemetery in Breaks, VA (2018)

11 Tuesday Sep 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Lincoln County Feud

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Appalachia, Big Branch, Big Harts Creek, Brandon Kirk, Breaks, Dickenson County, feuds, genealogy, history, James P. Mullins, K.S. Colley Cemetery, K.S. Colley Cemetery Road, King Solomon Colley, King Solomon Colley Road, Lincoln County, Lincoln County Feud, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Virginia, West Virginia

View of K.S. Colley Cemetery Road from the K.S. Colley Cemetery in Breaks, Dickenson County, VA. 25 August 2018.

K.S. Colley Cemetery. 25 August 2018.

James P. Mullins, once a merchant at Big Branch of Harts Creek in Lincoln County, WV, was involved in the Lincoln County Feud. Photo by Mom. 25 August 2018.

View of the cemetery from K.S. Colley Cemetery Road. 25 August 2018.

The K.S. Colley Cemetery is located near the Dickenson-Buchanan county line. 25 August 2018.

Greenbrier Ghost (2018)

31 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Women's History

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, Edward Shue, genealogy, ghosts, Greenbrier County, Greenbrier Ghost, history, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Sam Black Church, West Virginia, Zona Heaster Shue

Greenbrier Ghost historical marker, Sam Black Church, Greenbrier County, WV. 8 July 2018. Photo by Mom. For more about the murder, follow this link: http://www.wvculture.org/history/crime/shuearticles.html

The Greenbrier Ghost’s grave is located several miles away from the historical marker. 8 July 2018. Photo by Mom. For more about the grave, follow this link: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5015852/zona-shue

Little Sorrel (1886, 2018)

06 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Civil War

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Brandon Kirk, civil war, Confederate Army, Confederate Soldiers' Home, history, Huntington Advertiser, Lexington, Little Sorrel, Richmond, Stonewall Jackson, Virginia, VMI Museum

Huntington (WV) Advertiser, 20 March 1886.

Visiting with Little Sorrel in Lexington, VA. 9 July 2018. Photo by Mom.

Little Sorrel in Lexington, VA. 9 July 2018. For more about the VMI Museum, go here: https://www.vmi.edu/museums-and-archives/vmi-museum/

Little Sorrel in Lexington, VA. 9 July 2018. For more about Old Sorrel, go here: http://www.horseandman.com/horse-stories/stonewall-jacksons-horse-little-sorrel/11/11/2014/

Hatfield-McCoy Reunion Festival at Matewan, WV (2018)

22 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Coal, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Lincoln County Feud, Matewan

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Tags

Appalachia, art, Blood in West Virginia, Bob Hatfield, Brandon Kirk, Buskirk and Hamilton, Devil Anse Hatfield, Green McCoy, Hatfield-McCoy Reunion Festival, history, Kentucky, Lincoln County Feud, Lisha Breeding, Louisa Mullins, Matewan, Matewan Depot, Mine Wars, Mingo County, Norfolk and Southern Railroad, Phyllis Kirk, Pike County, Randy Marcum, Sid Hatfield, Thacker, West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History

On June 15-16, 2018, the town of Matewan, WV, hosted the Hatfield-McCoy Reunion Festival. Matewan Depot hosted us for a book event. THANK YOU, Matewan Depot!

Matewan Depot is a must-see destination! NOTE: For more information about the town and depot, please follow this link: http://www.historicmatewan.com/

Here is a photo of our revamped Lincoln County Feud display at the Hatfield-McCoy Reunion Festival. Green McCoy, a Pike County (Ky.) McCoy, participated in the Lincoln feud; Bob Hatfield, son of Anse, married Louisa Mullins, a Lincoln feudist. 15 June 2018.

Green McCoy’s great-niece Lisha Breeding made my day when she visited the Lincoln County Feud exhibit. 16 June 2018. Photo by Mom.

We met nice people and sold copies of the book at the Hatfield-McCoy Reunion Festival. All proceeds were donated to the depot, which I greatly SUPPORT — it’s a significant asset that promotes regional history and tourism. 16 June 2018. Photo by Randy Marcum.

The Matewan Depot features a free museum. The museum offers historical items related to town history, the Hatfield-McCoy Feud, the Norfolk & Southern Railroad, and the Mine Wars. 15 June 2018.

Sid Hatfield gun with accompanying documentation. 15 June 2018.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History showcased a Hatfield-McCoy exhibit at the Hatfield-McCoy Reunion Festival. 16 June 2018.

Some of the many artifacts located inside of the Matewan Depot. 16 June 2018.

The depot features a worthy selection of books and other items related to regional history and culture. This photo shows a sample of books: t-shirts, stickers, videos, art, and many other items can also be found here. If you visit, be sure to take a peak at my book, “Blood in West Virginia: Brumfield v. McCoy.” May 2018.

Melvin and Susan (Thompson) Kirk Homeplace (2018)

28 Monday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Halcyon, Lincoln County Feud, Timber

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, Elizabeth Kirk, Floyd Caldwell, genealogy, Halcyon, Harts Creek, history, Hog Hollow, Kentucky, Lawrence County, Lincoln County, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, Martin County, Melvin Kirk, Melvin Kirk Family Cemetery, photos, Phyllis Kirk, Piney Fork, Thomas Kirk, West Fork, West Virginia

Melvin and Susan (Thompson) Kirk Homeplace, Piney Fork of West Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 24 May 2018. Melvin and Susan are my great-great-grandparents.

Kirk Homeplace sign, Piney Fork of West Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 24 May 2018. Melvin was born in 1862 to Thomas and Elizabeth “Betty” (Maynard) Kirk and was partly raised in Lawrence (later Martin) County, KY. To see Melvin with his father in the 1870 Lawrence County, KY, Census, follow this link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D8S9-4LS?i=7&cc=1438024

Kirk Cemetery sign, Piney Fork of West Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 24 May 2018. Melvin followed his mother to Piney before 1880. To see Melvin in the 1880 Lincoln County Census, follow this link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB2-9WFZ?cc=1417683

Heading up to the cemetery. 24 May 2018. Melvin was a powerful left-handed timberman. In 1888, he bought a 35-acre farm from Floyd Caldwell.

Kirk Cemetery Statue, Kirk Cemetery, Piney Fork of West Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 24 May 2018. Melvin played an important role in the Lincoln County Feud. https://www.amazon.com/Blood-West-Virginia-Brumfield-McCoy/dp/1455619183

Melvin Kirk grave, Kirk Cemetery. 24 May 2018. Photo by Mom. Melvin’s property was assessed in Lincoln County until 1897, when it transferred to Logan County. To see Melvin in the 1900 Logan County Census, follow this link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68V3-C77?i=31&cc=1325221

Perry Cline Grave (2018)

30 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Sandy Valley, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Pikeville

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, genealogy, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Kentucky, Perry Cline, photos, Pike County, Pikeville

Perry Cline grave, Pikeville, KY. 27 April 2018.

Jack Dempsey (2018)

15 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Logan, Sports

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Appalachia, boxer, boxing, Brandon Kirk, Carol Howerton, Chicago, Cole Kripak, history, Illinois, Jack Dempsey, Logan County, photos, Sullivan's Steakhouse, West Virginia

I spotted two Jack Dempsey photos displayed at Sullivan’s Steakhouse during a recent trip to Chicago. Jack Dempsey, the heavyweight champion of the world from 1919-1926, was partly raised in Logan County, WV. Seeing these old photos made my day! Photo by Carol Howerton. 7 April 2018.

Cole Kripak, the manager of Sullivan’s Steakhouse, gave these three Jack Dempsey photos to me. Very generous! For more about the restaurant, go here: sullivanssteakhouse.com. Photo by Carol Howerton. 8 April 2018.

Hannah United Baptist Church (2018)

03 Tuesday Apr 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Whirlwind

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, Hannah Tomblin, Hannah United Baptist Church, Harts Creek, history, Logan County, photos, Tomblin Branch, West Virginia, Whirlwind

Hannah United Baptist Church is located at the mouth of Tomblin Branch of Harts Creek in Whirlwind, Logan County, WV. The church is named for Hannah (Pack) Tomblin. 29 March 2018.

Smith Cemeteries on Brier Branch of Harts Creek (2018)

31 Saturday Mar 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Civil War, Tazewell County, Whirlwind

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45th Battalion Virginia Infantry, Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, Brier Branch, cemeteries, civil war, Confederate Army, Emal Smith, Florence Smith, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, James Smith, Logan County, photos, Scott Dalton, Susie Smith, Tazewell County, Thomas Smith, Thomas Smith Family Cemetery, Virginia, West Virginia, Zernie Smith

Heading up Brier/Briar Branch of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 29 March 2018.

Up we go! 29 March 2018.

Lower Smith Cemetery. Right Hand Fork of Brier Branch. I counted six graves here. 29 March 2018.

Lower Smith Cemetery. Right Hand Fork of Brier Branch. 29 March 2018.

Upper Smith Cemetery. Some records refer to this cemetery as “Brier Branch Cemetery.” Right Hand Fork of Brier Branch at left; Sugar Camp on the right. 29 March 2018.

Thomas Smith grave. Mr. Smith, a veteran of the Confederate Army, was a native of Tazewell County, VA. 29 March 2018.

Conley Cemetery (2018)

31 Saturday Mar 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Shively

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, cemeteries, Charley Conley, Conley Cemetery, Garland "Bock" Conley, Garland Bogue Conley, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Lee Conley, Logan County, Mollie Conley, photos, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia, White Oak Fork

Heading up the mountain to the Conley Cemetery, located on a ridge between Smokehouse Fork and White Oak Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. My young guide was a Conley descendant. 26 March 2018.

Conley Cemetery — beautiful! Several of Garland and Mollie (Farley) Conley’s children are buried here. I descend from two of Mollie’s siblings. 26 March 2018.

Conley Cemetery. I mapped at least 74 graves. 26 March 2018.

Conley Cemetery. “Garland Bock Conley section.” 26 March 2018.

I first heard of Charles Conley in the early 1990s; it was great to finally locate his grave. 26 March 2018.

I was sure to place flowers at the grave of Charles Conley. 26 March 2018.

Lee Conley grave. 26 March 2018.

Garland Bock Conley grave. 26 March 2018.

Salt Rock Petroglyphs (2018)

23 Friday Mar 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Native American History, Salt Rock

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Appalachia, Billy Adkins, Brandon Kirk, Cabell County, Dave Vance, Fraulein Adkins, history, Native American History, Native Americans, petroglyphs, photos, Salt Rock Petroglyphs, West Virginia

Petroglyphs…down below! Salt Rock, Cabell County, WV. 18 March 2018. For more information about West Virginia petroglpyhs, follow this link: https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1844

Making our way down to the petroglyphs… 18 March 2018.

Billy Adkins carefully exploring the petroglyphs. 18 March 2018. For more info, follow this link: https://www.theclio.com/web/entry?id=22877

Billy Adkins looking over the petroglyphs. 18 March 2018.

“Alien” petroglyph. 18 March 2018.

Petroglyphs just below me. 18 March 2018. Photo by Fraulein Adkins.

These petroglyphs are one of the most impressive Native American sites located in southwestern West Virginia. 18 March 2018. Photo by Fraulein Adkins.