Tag Archives: Burl Adams

Don Chafin’s Deputies (1912-1917)

28 Thursday Apr 2022

Posted by in Logan

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The following list of Don Chafin’s deputies prior to the Battle of Blair Mountain is based on Record of Bonds C and Record of Bonds D in the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV:

Don Chafin was elected sheriff on November 5, 1912 and appeared on December 28, 1912 with his bondsman U.B. Buskirk for $40,000 (Book C, p. 215)

Name, Date of Appointment, Surety, Surety Amount, Book, Page

Garland A. Adams…28 January 1913…J.W. Chambers…$5000…C…236

Joe Adams…14 October 1913…G.F. Gore, A. Dingess, David C. Dingess, Anthony Adams, Sol Adams, Sr., and Sol Adams, Jr….$5000…C…297

John Barker…5 February 1913…F.P. Hurst…$5000…C…241

J.E. Barlow…26 April 1913…S.B. Lawson…$5000…C…268

J.L. Bess…22 July 1916…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$5000…D…22

Joe Blair…28 December 1912…J.W. Chambers and Allen Mounts…$5000…C…224

John D. Browning…1 July 1914…Fidelity and Deposit Company…$5000…C…345

Bert Bush…6 January 1913…Monroe Bush…$5000…C…230

John L. Butcher…28 December 1912…Lewis Butcher, J.W. Chambers, Albert Gore…$5000…C…221

George Chafin…12 July 1915…James Toney…$5000…C…402

George Chafin…3 January 1917…J.B. Toney…$5000…D…74

J.A. Chafin…20 June 1913…J.W. Chambers and A.A. Vance…$5000…C…275

John Chafins…31 January 1913…H.H. Farley and A.J. Browning…$5000…C…240

Art Chambers…25 July 1914…Cush Avis, J.L. Chambers…$5000…C…349

Charley Conley…18 June 1914…George Butcher, Ed Chapman, William White…$5000…C…342

Nim Conley…18 July 1913…Ed Chapman and W.W. Conley…$5000…C…281

R.J. Conley…25 March 1913…Albert Gore…$5000…C…252

A.J. Dalton…26 December 1913…Fidelity and Deposit Company of MD…$5000…C…315

Riley Damron…5 July 1913…Millard Elkins and J.E. McCoy…$5000…C…278

David Dingess…3 April 1913…J.W. Chambers and George Justice…$5000…C…254

Everett Dingess…10 November 1913…John F. Dingess and Burl Adams…$5000…C…304

Vincent Dingess…7 July 1913…Georgia Dingess, William Gore, and Albert Gore…C…$5000…279

Ed Eggers…21 April 1913…Paul Hardy…$5000…C…264

Green Ellis…1 January 1917…Don Chafin…$5000…D…78

Joseph A. Ellis…30 January 1913…O.M. Conley…$5000…C…239

R.H. Ellis…undated…Elizabeth Ellis…$5000…C…233

H.H. Farley…29 January 1913…L.E. Steele…$5000…C…237

W.F. Farley…28 December 1912…Robert Bland…$5000…C…223

William Farley…13 January 1914…Wash Farley, A. Dingess, Lewis Farley, G.B. Farley…$5000…C…319

J.H. Ford…16 May 1914…P.J. Riley…$5000…C…336

Harry S. Gay, Jr….15 October 1913…S.B. Lawson…$5000…C…299

Albert Gore…28 December 1912…J.W. Chambers, G.F. Gore, Millard Elkins…$5000…C…222

C.W. Gore…2 January 1917…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$5000…D…76

John T. Gore…11 July 1916…G.F. Gore and Lewis Farley…$5000…D…18

Pete Gore…5 December 1916…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$5000…D…63

William Gore…31 December 1914…W.E. White, James Ellis…$5000…C…377

Joe Hall…23 April 1913…C.P. Donovan, Paul Hardy…$5000…C…267

A.A. Hamilton…14 June 1913…A.A. Hamilton…$5000…C…273

Paul Hardy…20 February 1913…W.F. Farley…$5000…C…244

John Harrison…19 April 1913…J.S. Miller, M. Elkins, W.E. White, and James Ellis…$5000…C…262

E.R. Hatfield…6 January 1914…$5000…H.H. Farley…C…316

Tennis Hatfield…14 June 1915…James Ellis and Lewis Chafin…$5000…C…396

William Hatfield…28 December 1912…J.S. Miller and George Justice…$5000…C…229

J.O. Hill…17 April 1913…Katie Mounts…$5000…C…261

B.J. Hiner…23 April 1913…C.P. Donovan and Paul Hardy…$5000…C…266

W.L. Honaker…8 August 1916…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$5000…D…23

Mat Jackson…13 October 1913…Albert Gore, Van Mullins, G.F. Gore, and David C. Dingess…$5000…C…296

Frank Justice…8 July 1914…America Justice…$5000…C…346

S.B. Lawson…12 April 1913…J.W. Chambers…$5000…C…256

G.W. Lax…21 April 1913…Paul Hardy…$5000…C…263

Harrison Lowe…5 March 1914…no surety [blank]…$5000…C…326

F. Middleburg…16 May 1914…D.V. Wickline…$5000…C…337

Charles H. Miller…25 November 1914…Don Chafin, W.E. White…C…368

J.M. Moore…14 May 1915…American Surety Company of NY…$5000…C…391

Allen Mounts…226

Cecil Mounts…11 June 1913…Allen Mounts…$5000…C…272

Cecil Mounts…2 January 1917…Lillie Mounts…$5000…D…79

K.F. Mounts…28 December 1912…Allen Mounts…$5000…C…225

K.F. Mounts…6 January 1917…Katie Mounts…$5000…D…72

Adrian Murphy…6 February 1917…W.H. Bias and W.E. White…$5000…D…77

John D. Neece…21 March 1914…W.E. White, R.H. Ellis, and J.S. Miller…$5000…C…330

George Robinett…17 July 1913…George Justice…$5000…C…284

Joe Scaggs…231

F.A. Sharp…28 December 1912…W.F. Farley and L.G. Burns…$5000…C…217

Clark Smith…22 December 1913…Mary Chafin…$5000…C…313

L.E. Steele…29 January 1913…H.H. Farley…$5000…C…238

Noah Steele…6 September 1913…L.E. Steele, Jr….$5000…C…290

Charley Stollings…21 July 1913…Matilda Stollings, Tom Butcher, Bettie Stollings, W.I. Campbell, and Milton Stowers…$5000…C…283

T.B. Stowe…13 January 1913…Martha J. Stowe…$5000…C…234

Elias Thompson…16 April 1913…W.I. Campbell and K.F. Mounts…$5000…C…258

George E. Thompson…17 April 1913…A.F. Gore and Willis Gore…$5000…C…260

Simp Thompson…3 October 1916…Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland…$5000…D…36

C.A. Vickers…12 January 1914…L.D. Perry and F.D. Stollings…$5000…C…318

Taylor Walsh…28 July 1914…W.E. White, Albert Gore…$5000…C…350

Moses Williamson…29 April 1913…L.H. Thompson…$5000…C…270

Clay Workman…28 December 1912…S.B. Lawson…$5000…C…228

Frank P. Hurst was elected sheriff on November 7, 1916 and appeared on November 28, 1916 with his bondsmen J. Cary Alderson, S.B. Robertson, and R.L. Shrewsbury for $100,000 (Book D, p. 54); deputies appointed after November 1916 may be Hurst–and not Chafin–deputies (a few names are duplicated for this reason, I think)

Whirlwind News 01.18.1927

25 Wednesday Oct 2017

Posted by in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Chapmanville, Logan, Queens Ridge, Whirlwind

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An unknown correspondent from Whirlwind in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on January 18, 1927:

The Trace Sunday school is progressing nicely. A large crowd attended Sunday.

Anthony Adams of Logan was visiting relatives on Harts Creek Saturday.

Viola Adams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Adams, died of appendicitis Monday. Funeral services were held at the Mullins cemetery.

Burl Adams of Chapmanville was visiting relatives on Harts Creek Sunday.

Cole Baisden made a business trip to Logan Monday.

David Dingess…

Rev. I.M. Nelson and R.G. Short are going to hold a revival at the Christian church on Trace, beginning January 16.

R.L. Dingess of Whirlwind spent Saturday with his parents at Queen’s Ridge.

Some of the daily acts: Grover and his dogs; Phillip collecting the news; Charley and his kodak; Pearly looking for Burl; Carl cold trailing and Clinton carrying the news.

Howard Adams was seen going through town Saturday. Guess he was out on business.

Elias Workman has been on the sick list for the past two weeks.

Harts Creek Area Preachers (1893-1900)

21 Thursday Jan 2016

Posted by in Big Harts Creek, Shively, Spottswood, Warren, Whirlwind

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The following list of Logan County marriages for the period of 1893 to 1900 reveals the names of preachers operating in the Harts Creek area. The source for this material is “Marriage Record 2 (1892-1913),” pages 2-146, which is located at the Logan County Clerk’s Office in Logan, WV. Many thanks to the county clerks and their employees who have always been so helpful to my research these past twenty-five years. NOTE: Marriage records for the Lincoln County section of the community are unavailable.

1893

Isaac Fry     March 1893     John H. Adkins and Caroline Nelson

W.D. Garrett     March 1893     Floyd Bryant and Mary E. Baisden

Washington Dempsey     April 1893     Spencer Mullins and Syntha A. Workman

Washington Dempsey     June 1893     Harvey Smith and Hester C. Collins

Washington Dempsey     07 July 1893     William Mullins and Mary Mullins

Washington Dempsey     14 September 1893     Henry Spry and M.J. Tomblin

Isaac Fry     14 October 1893     John Brumfield and Harriet Dingess

Washington Dempsey     09 December 1893     Robert Amburgey and Rebecca Hall

1894

None Given     February 1894     Robert Workman and Mattie Vance

W.D. Garrett     09 March 1894     John Q. Adams and Maggie Perdue

J.G. McNeely     11 April 1894     John Murphy and Matilda Dalton

Washington Dempsey     24 April 1894     Ben Adams and Polly Adams

Washington Dempsey     04 June 1894     Wayne Adams and Minerva McCloud

None Given     June 1894     Joseph Workman and A.E. Thompson

Washington Dempsey     July 1894 or 1895     James E. Farley and Darthula Dingess

None Given     05 July 1894     John B. Thompson and Julia White

P.H. Dingess     10 July 1894     James Thompson and Margret Baisden

W.D. Garrett     09 December 1894     Nasby Smith and Caroline Farley

W.D. Garrett     22 December 1894     Wash Farley and Mahala Pridemore

1895

Pyrrhus Hensley     19 January 1895     J. McNeeley and Ollie Barley

None Given     May 1895     William H. Watts and Yantie Dingess

Peter H. Dingess     July 1895     Burwell Adams and Bettie Adams

Gordon Farley     July 1895     Hugh Conley and Mary Shadrack

Peter H. Dingess     July 1895     Wash Priest and Margaret Lynch

John F. Farley     September 1895     Charley Lilly and Jane Conley

W.D. Garrett     21 September 1895     Robert Owens and Rebecca Hall

Washington Dempsey     01 November 1895     Floyd Bryant and Mary J. Smith

Washington Dempsey     December 1895     Melvin Baisden and Matilda Collins

1896

None Given     February 1896     John Workman and Mary Lambert

None Given     19 May 1896     Robert Mullins and Delphy Workman

1897

P.H. Dingess     24 January 1897     John H. Mullins and Martha Jane Burns

M.A. Robinson     22 March 1897     A.D. Robinson and Polly Aldridge

P.H. Dingess, Sr.     27 April 1897     Wedington Mullins and Margarett Jonas

1898

W.D. Garrett     03 April 1898     Charley Workman and Linnie Haner

K.H. Bevins     10 April 1898     Floyd Stollings and Ann Conley

Wash Dempsey     03 May 1898     Ralph Nelson and Caroline Browning

Jesse R. Browning     07 September 1898     Jesse Robinson and Mary A. Browning

1899

W.D. Garrett     12 April 1899     Wallace Toney and Julia Lucas

M.A. Robinson     03 August 1899     Albert G. Vance and Sarah E. Workman

M.A. Robinson     03 September 1899     John W. Workman and Lucinda Pool

Wash Dempsey     22 September 1899     William Mullins and America Mullins

Washington Dempsey     22 September 1899     S.P. Spry and Lucinda Bryant

Wash Dempsey     22 September 1899     Moses Tomblin and Rhoda Simpkins

Wash Dempsey     14 October 1899     Louis Thompson and Brazilla Collins

M.A. Robinson     27 November 1899     James B. Mullins and Emily Jane Johnson

Wash Dempsey     07 December 1899     George Spaulding and Harriet Carter

1900

H. Fry     23 February 1900    John Mans and Emily Workman

M.A. Robinson     27 February 1900     Elias Thompson and Elizabeth Dempsey

Isaac Fry     09 March 1900     Jeff McCloud and Louisa Thompson

W.D. Garrett     04 April 1900     George Thompson and Lucy Conley

Wash Dempsey     10 April 1900     Isaac Tomblin and Lucinda Collins

Wash Dempsey     17 April 1900     John A. Vance and Rhoda Browning

None Given     July 1900     Antony Bryant and Lucinda Lucas

M.A. Robinson     01 November 1900     E.B. Lilly, Jr. and Clarissa G. Riddle

P. Hensley     23 November 1900     James Tomblin and Julia Hensley

Burl Adams Family Cemetery (2007)

12 Wednesday Aug 2015

Posted by in Cemeteries, Chapmanville

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The Burl Adams Family Cemetery, which I visited in October 2007, is located at the mouth of Striker Fork of Crawley Creek in Logan County, West Virginia.

Row 1

Infant Scaggs (04 December 1960-06 December 1960)

Row 2

Lola (Adams) Pridemore (04 March 1912-29 September 2005); d/o Burl and Bettie (Adams) Adams

Claude Scaggs (19 January 1933-06 May 1957); s/o Joseph and Fannie (Adams) Scaggs

Infant Scaggs (01 December 1930-01 December 1930); c/o Joseph and Fannie (Adams) Scaggs

Lell Adams (10 January 1916-12 February 1951); named “McClellan;” s/o Burl and Bettie (Adams) Adams

Bettie Adams (07 September 1875-13 June 1949); d/o Benjamin and Sarah A. (Gore/Farley/Conley) Adams; m. Burl Adams

Burl Adams (07 January 1875-25 April 1941); s/o Anthony and Alafair (Chapman) Adams

Charley Adams (01 March 1902-11 November 1932); s/o Burl and Bettie (Adams) Adams

Rhoda A. Dingess (11 January 1914-03 April 1974); d/o Burl and Bettie (Adams) Adams

Row 3

Carl Adams (28 December 1921-19 February 1941); s/o Roy and Peggie (Dingess) Adams

Oscar Adams (07 November 1929-03 November 1932); s/o Roy and Peggie (Dingess) Adams

Peggie D. Adams (23 January 1900-17 August 1974); d/o Julius Caesar and Polly A. (Farley) Dingess; m. Roy Adams

Roy Adams (01 July 1898-13 December 1974); s/o Burl and Bettie (Adams) Adams

Nora Adams Craddock (29 March 1936-25 May 2000); d/o Roy and Peggie (Dingess) Adams; m. Scott Craddock

At headstone of Peggie: Janice Adams Hall (13 February 1943-18 May 1999); d/o Roy and Peggie (Dingess) Adams; m. Gary Hall

Row 4

Brady Bowling (16 Aril 1899-09 January 1946)

Clara Bowling (19 March 1900-09 June 1989); d/o Burl and Bettie (Adams) Adams; m. Brady Bowling

Ruby Bowling Yeager (05 September 1921, only date); d/o Brady and Clara (Adams) Bowling

Row 5

Infant Adams (20 January 1938-20 January 1938)

Ricky Adams (08 May 1955-08 May 1955)

Infant with two white rectangular markers (marble)

Jim Adams (09 June 1910-22 August 1960); s/o Burl and Bettie (Adams) Adams

Row 6

Curtis Adams (18 November 1920-22 January 1982); s/o Roy and Peggie (Dingess) Adams; S1 US NAVY WWII

Lucille W. Adams (09 March 1923-31 May 1999)

Row 7

Vinson Gene Dingess (09 March 1930-09 May 1998); CPL US ARMY

Easter A. Dingess (08 September 1927-still alive); d/o Roy and Peggie (Dingess) Adams; m. Vinson Gene Dingess

Row 8

Diana G. Workman (22 October 1949-still alive)

Brady D. “Punch” Workman (21 August 1949-06 March 1984)

In Search of Ed Haley 311

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by in Ed Haley, Harts, Lincoln County Feud

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Two months later, Brandon was still digging, but in a different way. He was knee-deep in land records at the Lincoln and Logan County court houses. He was curious — based on the economic aspect of the 1889 feud — to know about property ownership for feudists, particularly those with land around the mouth of Harts Creek.

He started with the Brumfields.

In 1889, Paris Brumfield owned 771 acres of land worth $1020, while his wife owned 367 acres worth $483. Al Brumfield had 295 acres (195 acres on Brown’s Branch and 100 acres on the Guyan River) worth $642. By combining Al’s totals to that of his parents, the Brumfields owned a total of 1433 acres of land worth $2143. A little further up Harts Creek, Henderson and Sarah Dingess owned 546 acres (five tracts) worth $1234.50 with a building valued at 100 dollars.

How did these totals compare to the land holdings of their enemies?

Well, Cain Adkins owned 205 acres worth $420 (with no buildings listed for 1889), while John Runyon owned 100 acres worth $187.50. Ben Adams owned at least 340 acres in Lincoln and Logan Counties (2 tracts) worth $380. By combining Ben’s property with that of Adkins and Runyon they owned 645 acres worth $987.50 — not even half of the Brumfield family holdings.

Based on these records, we realized that it might have been the financial superiority of the Brumfields and Dingesses which caused Adams, Runyon, and/or Adkins to act out against them (through Milt and Green).

But there was also a reason for the Brumfields to feel a little threatened themselves: John Runyon, whose 100 acres of property was situated geographically closest to them near the mouth of Harts Creek, had accumulated his estate in only three years of residence in Harts. His first tract, totaling 75 acres, was worth $1.50 and was deeded by A.S. “Major” Adkins in 1887. The other tract, totaling 25 acres and worth three dollars per acre, was deeded in 1888. Neither tract contained a building, according to land records.

Al’s 100 acres near the mouth of Harts Creek, in contrast, reflected eight years of effort.

Brumfield was likely concerned that Runyon had acquired so much land at the mouth of Harts in such a short time, especially since it was property that he wanted for himself.

It was immediately clear in looking at the feud in mild economic terms that Milt Haley and Green McCoy were pawns in a larger game between local elites. While Paris Brumfield, Al Brumfield, Cain Adkins, John Runyon, and Ben Adams were leading citizens, property owners and businessmen, Milt and Green were timber laborers and musicians who owned no property whatsoever. Based on what we’d heard from Daisy Ross, it was easy to see why Green might have took a shot at Paris, but why did he attack Al? And what was Milt’s motivation for even getting involved in the whole mess? Was he pulled into the fray because of his friendship to Green, as Daisy Ross had said? Or did he have connections to Ben Adams (a possible economic dependence on the timber-boss, his residence nearby Adams on Trace, or the fact his wife was related to Ben)?

And what did either man hope to gain from the assassination of Al Brumfield? I mean, that’s a hell of a lot to risk for a side of bacon and a few dollars. I had this nagging suspicion that they were maybe innocent of the crime, but Brandon was pretty well convinced of their guilt (as had been Lawrence Haley). He did, however, leave an opening by pointing out how Bob Adkins, Howard Dalton, Joe Adams and Lawrence Kirk had all heard that they were innocent. Bob and Joe had actually mentioned other suspects: Burl Adams, a nephew to Ben Adams, and John “Frock” Adams, a half-brother to Ed’s mother (who later shot his wife’s head off with a shotgun in his front yard). There was also the testimony of Preacher McCoy, who said Milt and Green were “as innocent as Jesus Christ on the cross.”

In Search of Ed Haley 232

27 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by in Big Harts Creek, Ed Haley, Whirlwind

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In spite of new economic developments, educational opportunities for young Ed Haley were limited. As far as can be ascertained, he received no formal education as a child. In that Victorian era of prosperity and refineries, schools (and other forms of improvement) were slow to arrive in the mountains of Appalachia. Joe Adams, whose father was Ed’s age and who was raised at the mouth of Trace Fork, summed it up this way: “All the education they got, they got theirselves.” (He had heard the old-timers speak of the McGuffey Readers.) In August of 1897, Ed got his first chance for an education when Sophia and David Kinser donated land on Trace Fork to the district board of education for the purpose of building a schoolhouse. So far as is known, this was the first school built on the branch. It was easy to picture Ed showing up to visit and entertain students with his amazing fiddle playing…and perhaps to occasionally sit in on school.

In February of 1898, as Ed approached his teen years, Weddie and Peter Mullins swapped property on Trace Fork. Weddie deeded his land to Peter’s wife Liza, who likewise sold her land to Weddie. Thereafter, Peter made his home in the spot where Lawrence Haley and I had visited in the early ’90s, while Weddie lived at the Jackson Mullins home. A few years later, after Weddie was murdered, his widow remarried to Lee Farley — brother to Burl — causing many people to refer to their home as the “old Lee Farley place” (as opposed to the Jackson Mullins place).

In May 1898, the Logan County Court appointed Henry Blair, Jr. as guardian of Ed Haley “an infant under the age of 14 years.” Blair and Albert Dingess paid the bond of 100 dollars. Haley was listed with his maternal grandparents, Jackson and Chloe Mullins, in the 1900 census.

By that time, the Emma Haley property had dropped in value to 33 dollars. Then, for reasons unknown, the value of “Emmagene Haley’s” property increased to $5.50 an acre for a total worth of $110 in 1906. Maybe Uncle Peter or Weddie had made an improvement on the property or maybe someone had appraised it for timber. In any case, Ed would’ve inherited it outright at that time as a person of legal adult age. More than likely, he had no idea of its worth.

The timber boom led directly to the creation of new towns on Harts Creek. Around 1902, a new post office was created at the mouth of Smoke House Fork called Spottswood. According to a 1904 business directory, Sol Adams was a justice at Spottswood. In 1906, Anthony Adams was the operator of a general store, as was J.M. Adams and James Thompson. Berl Adams was a blacksmith, Sewell Adams was a logger, Francis Collins was a miner, Albert Gore was a constable, David Dingess was a lawyer and Sol Riddell was a teacher. Joseph Adams dealt in walnut lumber, while Reverend John McCloud handled local religious matters. Alice Adams was the postmistress at Spottswood. A little later, Berl Adams, Albert Dingess, Alice Adams, Charles Dingess, William Farley and Thomas J. Wysong opened up general stores.

Later, other post offices opened on Harts Creek. In 1910, according to local tradition, Whirlwind Post Office opened in the head of Harts Creek. This replaced Spottswood as Ed Haley’s local post office, although he was traveling away from Harts quite a bit at that time. Whirlwind was roughly sixteen miles from Logan and nine miles from Dingess. (I had seen the remnants of Whirlwind post office on my recent visit to Harts Creek.) It served 250 people and received mail daily.

Ed Haley, meanwhile, sold the only piece of land he would ever own in March of 1911 to his first cousin Ewell Mullins for 25 dollars (1/5 of its appraisal value as per the assessor). In the deed, Jonas Branch was called Gunnel Branch and the size of the tract was given as 25 acres. The deed read as follows:

Beginning at a rock at the mouth of the Gunnel Branch on the right side of Trace creek thence up the hill to the top of the hill; thence up the ridge to opposite a ash corner on a cliff thence down the hill to the ash thence cross the creek to a plum tree thence up the hill to a beech thence a strait line to the top of the hill thence around the ridge to point on the u[p]per side of the Gunnel Branch thence down the point to a stake on the bank of branch thence down the branch and with the division between Ed Haley and Liza Mullins and crossing the creek to the beginning, containing 25 acres more or less.

Tax books first listed the property in Mullins’ name in 1912 and valued it at $140.