18 Thursday Feb 2021
Posted in Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Huntington, Logan, Wayne
Tags
Appalachia, attorney, C.W. Campbell, Elias Hatfield, genealogy, H.K. Shumate, Hatfield-McCoy Feud, history, Huntington, J.R. Shields, John H. Holt, judge, Logan County, Thomas H. Harvey, Wayne County, West Virginia
11 Saturday Apr 2020
Posted in Battle of Blair Mountain, Coal, Huntington, Italian American History
Tags
Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Bearwallow Branch, C&O Railroad, C.W. Campbell, Camp Branch, Charleston, coal, Dingess Run, Dingess-Rum Coal Company, Don Chafin, Ethel, Ethel Hollow, Freeze Fork, history, Huntington, James L. Caldwell, John Q. Dickinson, Logan County, Mash Branch, photos, Red Campbell, Rockcamp Branch, Rockhouse Branch, Wanda, West Virginia
In the 1890s, land speculators James L. Caldwell, a banker from Huntington, C.W. Campbell, an attorney from Huntington, and John Q. Dickinson, a banker from Charleston, acquired many acres of land on Dingess Run and Rum Creek. The trio procured some of Logan County’s finest coal lands with six accessible seams of coal. They formed the Dingess-Rum Coal Company in June of 1903 to administer their lands, which totaled over 26,000 acres. They surveyed a railroad bed up Dingess Run and laid the cross-ties, leaving only the rails to be laid by the C&O Railroad, which occurred by late 1906. From there, the railroad extended up Right Fork and Left Fork (Ethel Hollow). At the juncture of the two forks, the company town of Ethel, named for the daughter or wife of an early coal operator, was established around 1907. In 1923, the town was populated by 2000 residents.
Ethel was originally located at the mouth of Left Fork (now Ethel Hollow) of Dingess Run. Today, Ethel includes Camp Branch, Freeze Fork (town and stream), Rockcamp Branch, Rockhouse Branch (now Georges Creek), Mash Branch (formerly Wanda), and Bearwallow Branch (formerly Red Campbell). It is situated at the base of Blair Mountain.
Ethel Coal Company Supply Building, constructed about 1914 by Italian stonemasons. The building served as a staging area for Don Chafin’s defensive forces in the Battle of Blair Mountain. 1 March 2020
Remnants of Ethel No. 1 Company Store, built between 1907 and 1916. 1 March 2020
27 Friday Sep 2019
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Fourteen
Tags
A.F. Morris, Alvin Linville, Andrew J. Browning, Appalachia, Big Branch, Big Ugly Creek, C&O Railroad, C.C. Fry, C.W. Campbell, Carroll District, Charles Brumfield, coal, Cole Branch, Cora Adkins, Delana Thompson, Dick Elkins Branch, E.W. Holley, Emzy Adkins, Fourteen Mile Creek, gas, genealogy, Georgia Perry, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, history, Ike Fry Branch, Isaac Gartin, J.H. Meek, J.W. White, James M. Toney, John Adkins, John Dingess, John P. Frye, John W. Robertson, John W. Tomblin, Josephine Robinson, Keenan Toney, Laura Aldridge, Lincoln County, Mary White, O.J. Spurlock, oil, Patton Thompson, Rockhouse Fork, Roma Spears, Sarah A. Perry, Thomas Browning, Wash Dempsey, William Manns, Wilson and Sons
The following deed index is based on Deed Book 60 at the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office in Hamlin, WV, and relates to residents of the Harts Creek community. Most notations reflect Harts Creek citizens engaged in local land transactions; some reflect Harts Creek citizens engaged in land transactions outside of the community. These notes are meant to serve as a reference to Deed Book 60. Researchers who desire the most accurate version of this material are urged to consult the actual record book.
A.F. Morris, special commissioner, and E.W. Holley to John P. Fry 75 acres Fourteen Mile Creek 13 January 1900 p.72-73
Laura Aldridge to C.C. Fry 3 acres Big Ugly Creek 17 May 1909 p. 79-80
William Manns et ux to Josephine Robinson 75 acres Big Harts Creek 19 February 1887 p. 82
Georgia Perry to John W. Robertson timber Big Branch Harts Creek 23 December 1909 p. 83-84
Sarah A. Perry to Georgia Perry 19 acres Ridge Between Dick Elkins Branch and Rockhouse Fork 14 September 1906 p. 85-86
Sarah A. Perry to Georgia Perry 26 acres Big Branch Harts Creek 15 September 1906 p. 86-87
Isaac G. Gartin to James M. Toney 56 acres and 35 1/4 acres Harts Creek District 3 January 1899 p. 125-127
Patten and Delana Thompson to J.W. and Mary White 102 acres and 22 acres Carroll District 22 February 1887 p. 136-137
Alvin Linville et ux to Roma Spears et ux 32 acres Big Ugly Creek 28 January 1910 p. 213-214
A.F. Morris et ux to Romie Spears et ux 32 acres Big Ugly Creek 19 July 1910 p. 214-215
J.H. Meek, trustee, to C&O Railway Company right of way Harts Creek District 30 June 1910 p. 283-284
John W. Tomblin et ux to K.E. Toney 100 acres interest in coal, oil, cas, etc. Big Harts Creek 13 August 1910 p. 300-301
John Adkins et ux to K.E. Toney 45 acres interest in coal, oil, gas, etc. Lower Big Branch 5 July 1910 p. 301-302
Emzy Adkins et ux to Cora Adkins 40 acres Harts Creek District 4 February 1905 p. 304-305
Charles Brumfield et ux to Wilson and Sons 100 acres Ike Fry Branch 12 may 1902 T.J. Wysong, notary public p. 375-376
A.F. Morris et ux to O.J. Spurlock 100 acres Big Ugly Creek 16 November 1909 p. 412-413
Andrew J. Browning et ux to K.E. Toney 200 acres coal, oil, gas, etc. Big Harts Creek 10 August 1910 JP Charles Adkins 17 August 1910 p. 425-426
Wash Dempsey et al to Thomas Browning Big Harts Creek 24 January 1905 p. 426-427
C.W. Campbell, special commissioner, to John Dingess Coal Branch 16 August 1898 p. 442-443
Note: I copied all of these deeds.
22 Friday Dec 2017
Posted in Culture of Honor, Hamlin
Tags
Andrew Chapman, Appalachia, C.C. Watts, C.W. Campbell, constable, crime, Dode Adkins, Elisha Chapman, Eustace Gibson, Frank Guthrie, genealogy, Gibson & Michie, Hamlin, history, Huntington Advertiser, Ira J. McGinnis, John Chapman, Perry Stevens, West Virginia, Wilson Branch
From the Huntington (WV) Advertiser come these stories about a Chapman fracas in Lincoln County, WV, in 1887:
Bloody Affray
One of the most desperate affrays that ever occurred in this State took place at Hamlin in the adjoining county of Lincoln, last week, between Elisha, Andrew and John Chapman, on one side, and Perry Stevens, Wilson Branch and Dode Adkins on the other. It was a family affair, all the parties being related by blood or connected by marriage. The trouble originated some weeks ago between Wilson Branch and Andrew Chapman, a woman being the cause. On the day of the trouble Branch swore out a warrant and had Andrew and Elisha Chapman arrested. The two men were brought to the Court House by a constable, and while under arrest and awaiting examination by the Justice, Dode Adkins began to abuse Andrew Chapman, which he resented, and the row began. Wilson Branch, seeing the two men about to fight, drew his revolver and began firing. Andrew Chapman was hit in the right breast and left hip and fell in the road. His brother, Elisha, dropped a moment later with a bullet in his groin. Branch then turned to shoot the remaining brother, but his pistol snapped and John sprang at him with a big knife and buried the weapon in his back. Dode Adkins then rushed at John, but was stopped by the deadly knife penetrating his right shoulder. Some fifteen shots were fired during the fracas, and when it was over four men lay on the ground desperately wounded and bleeding frightfully. Elisha Chapman and Dode Adkins are the most severely wounded, the former fatally it is thought, though he was doing well at last accounts.
Source: Huntington (WV) Advertiser, 5 March 1887.
***
The indictment against Andrew, Elisha and John Chapman, and Paris Stevens, for the shooting affray which occurred in Lincoln County between the Chapmans and the Adkinses some months ago, was tried at the present term of the Circuit Court. Andrew Chapman was fined $25.00 and each of the others $5 and the cost. Wilson Branch engaged in the same difficulty and also under indictment came into court, confessed judgment and was fined. Gibson & Michie and C.W. Campbell defended the Chapmans, and Gen. C.C. Watts [defended] Wilson Branch. Judge Frank Guthrie presided during the entire term of the court, he and Judge McGinnis having exchanged circuits temporarily.
Source: Huntington (WV) Advertiser, 25 June 1887.
03 Wednesday May 2017
Posted in Hamlin, Huntington
Tags
Appalachia, B.H. Oxley, C.M. Hall, C.W. Campbell, Cairo, Charleston, Cincinnati, Clipper Publishing Company, David Laird, Dunlow, E.S. Zeveley, Edward I. Holt, Elbert R. Hoffman, Greensboro Beacon, Hamlin, Henry Clay Ragland, Henry H. Hardesty, history, History of Logan County, History of Ritchie County, Hu Maxwell, Huntington, Huntington Advertiser, J. Jerome Haddox, Jamestown, John H. Sanborn, Joseph E. Chilton, Lincoln Citizen, Lincoln Clipper, Lincoln County, Lincoln Guidon, Lincoln News, Linnie Haddox, Logan County Banner, Minnie Kendall Lowther, newspapers, North Carolina, Parkersburg Sentinel, Pennsboro, Populist Party, R.E. Hardwicke, Republican Party, Ritchie Democrat and Beacon Light, Spencer, T.C. Miller, T.T. McDougal, The Institute Daily Lincoln News, Van Zeveley, Virgil H. Mahone, W.M. Workman, Wayne County, West Virginia, West Virginia and Its People
The following newspapers have existed in Lincoln County, WV:
Lincoln Clipper (1881-
“The publication of the Lincoln Clipper, a five column folio newspaper, was begun at Hamlin on the 15th day of September, 1881, by Messrs. C.M. Hall and T.T. McDougal, editors and proprietors. They continued it for several months, when Hall sold his interest to McDougal, by whom it was published until January, 1882, at which time he sold a half interest to Messrs. Joseph E. Chilton, C.W. Campbell and B.H. Oxley, and under the name of the Clipper Publishing Company they issued it until August, 1882, when Edward I. Holt purchased the press and office material, and by him it has been published since. Under his management it has constantly improved and enlarged. On the 18th day of October, 1883, it was made a five column quarto.” Source: Hardesty’s History of Lincoln County, WV (c.1884), p. 97.
“The Lincoln Clipper has again changed hands and is now published by the Lincoln Clipper Publishing Company. The capital stock is not given, but it is something less than $1,000,000.” Parkersburg Sentinel, 4 February 1882
Lincoln Citizen (1886-
“Mr. W.M. Workman will begin the publication of a newspaper called the Lincoln Citizen at Hamlin, Lincoln County, about the 20th inst. We presume the object of its publication is to fill the usual long-felt want, and incidentally to reap the golden reward of West Virginia journalism. We hope Mr. Workman may be successful in his enterprise.” Huntington Advertiser, 10 April 1886
“J. Jerome Haddox is again editor of the Lincoln Citizen. It is needless to say the Citizen is turned up to bold and brilliant things.” Logan County Banner, 18 September 1895
“The History of Logan County, by Hon. Henry Clay Ragland, has begun in The Logan Banner. He starts off like a true historian, and with a master pen blends romance and history together. He begins with the brave little Jamestown colony in 1607, and with a skillful pen and accurate knowledge of the footprints of colonial characteristics is bringing his readers gradually down to the settlements and formation of Logan.” Logan County Banner, 15 January 1896 (via Lincoln Citizen)
“Mr. J. Jerome Haddox, editor of the Lincoln Citizen, was married Sunday afternoon to Miss Linnie Mahone, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil H. Mahone, prominent and well-to-do people of that county. The Banner extends congratulations.” Logan County Banner, 19 February 1896
“The Lincoln Citizen is the only exchange that comes to our tables that has the gall to try to keep alive that defunct Populist party. From the look of its dress it may be surmised that the Citizen will soon sink into its predestined grave to sleep until the vision so graphically pictured by Mr. Bellamy arrives which will perhaps be realized about the year 4000 A.D. One by one the ‘pop’ organs have dropped from the ranks until now to see one is a curiosity The Citizen may aptly be styled the last rose of summer in the West Virginia Populist garden.” Huntington Advertiser, 9 May 1896 (via Southern West Virginian)
“The populist convention of Lincoln county instructed their delegates to the State district convention to vote for Jerome J. Haddox, editor of the Lincoln Citizen, for delegate to the National populist Convention at St. Louis. Mr. Haddox was here today and thinks his chances are favorable. He is accompanied by his estimable wife and they will probably remain here for several days.” Huntington Advertiser, 8 June 1896
“The Lincoln Citizen, edited by the only Jerome Haddox, came in on time last evening and was as bright and newsy as ever. Mr. Haddox’s paper always contains some rich, rare, and racy effusions which will bring smiles to the countenance of the most disconsolate.” Huntington Advertiser, 29 January 1897
“Jerome Haddox, the populist editor, of Lincoln county, who has many friends in this city, is the happy father of a nine and one-half pound boy. It was born last Wednesday and Jerome says: ‘He is a middle of the road populist possessing oratorical abilities.'” Huntington Advertiser, 16 March 1897
“Editor Jerome J. Haddox of the Lincoln Citizen has sold out his plant and good will to Elbert R. Hoffman of the Lincoln Guidon but the paper will be known in the future as the Lincoln Citizen and will be republican in politics. Mr. Haddox is one among the most interesting writers in the state and the press generally will be sorry to lose him from the profession. Mr. Hoffman was formerly a well known Charleston newspaper man and will evidently make a success in his new field.” Huntington Advertiser, 26 July 1898.
Lincoln News (1894-
“We notice in the Lincoln News that John H. Sanborn and David Laird, of Dunlow, were in Hamlin a few days ago and subscribed for the Lincoln News. Frank says the sign was the special attraction.” Logan County Banner (Logan, WV), 21 June 1894
“Editor Van Zeveley of Hamlin, is here for a day or two after looking after the interests of his paper, The Lincoln News.” Huntington Advertiser, 10 March 1898
“The Lincoln News comes out this week in new dress and greatly enlarged. We are glad to chronicle the success of Mr. Van Zeveley its editor and owner. The News is doing good for the democracy in Lincoln.” Huntington Advertiser, 15 April 1898
“Editor Van Zeveley of the Lincoln News is in the city and is accompanied by Mrs. Zeveley. They will remain in Huntington over Sunday.” Huntington Advertiser, 13 May 1898
“Van Zeveley of Lincoln who has been in the city for a few days received a telegram yesterday afternoon that his wife who had been visiting out in the interior of the state was very ill and had been taken to the hospital at Wheeling for treatment. Mr. Zeveley left this morning for her bedside. It is hoped that he will find her much improved.” Huntington Advertiser, 6 July 1898
“Van H. Zeveley, the editor of the Lincoln news, is spending a few days here in company with his wife. Van was one of the secretaries of the Spencer convention, and a good one he was too.” Huntington Advertiser, 3 September 1898
“Van Zeveley, the well known editor of the Lincoln News, came in last night from Charleston where he has been spending a few days looking after some business matters. Mr. Zeveley will return home tomorrow morning.” Huntington Advertiser, 14 March 1899
“Editor Van Zeveley of the Lincoln News arrived in the city at noon today from Hamlin, accompanied by his wife. They will remain here until tomorrow morning, when they will leave over the Ohio railroad for Ritchie county, where they will spend a few weeks. Mrs. Zeveley has been in ill health for almost a year past, but is now much improved.” Huntington Advertiser, 20 July 1899.
“Editor Van Zeveley of the Lincoln News arrived here this morning and left this afternoon on the White Collar line steamer for Cincinnati.” Huntington Advertiser, 9 August 1899
“Van Zeveley, Editor of the Lincoln News, one of the leading democratic weeklies in the state, is in the city today looking after some business matters. The many friends of Mr. Zeveley will be sorry to learn that his health has been failing for a few months past. Mr. Zeveley will remain here until the middle of the week.” Huntington Advertiser, 18 September 1899
“Editor R.E. Hardwicke of the Lincoln News and several other prominent citizens of Lincoln are here today and will remain until tomorrow, when they go to Charleston to attend the Western Davis meeting.” Huntington Advertiser, 15 August 1900
“Editor R.E. Hardwicke of the Lincoln News came in from Charleston this morning and will spend a day or so here before returning to his home at Hamlin.” Huntington Advertiser, 21 September 1900
Van Zeveley was the son of E.S. Zeveley. The elder Mr. Zeveley was born in North Carolina in 1818 and began a newspaper called the Greensboro Beacon in 1836. In 1877, he founded the Ritchie Democrat and Beacon Light at Cairo, WV. His son, Van, began a newspaper called The Walking Beam in Volcano, WV. Following the elder Zeveley’s death in 1884, the Democrat passed to his son, Van. Van operated the Beacon Light (renamed and relocated to Pennsboro) until 1893, when he moved to Lincoln County. He edited the Lincoln News for six years until his poor health forced him to retire from the newspaper business. Sources: History of Ritchie County by Minnie Kendall Lowther (1911), p. 454-455; West Virginia and Its People by T.C. Miller and Hu Maxwell (1913), p. 304.
The Institute Daily Lincoln News (1895-
“We are in receipt of several numbers of The Institute Daily Lincoln News. This is the first daily ever published in Lincoln county, and it is bright and newsy and reflects much credit upon the management of the News.” Logan County Banner, 17 July 1895
Lincoln Guidon (1895-
Note: This is a “working” entry and will be updated periodically.
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
A site about one of the most beautiful, interesting, tallented, outrageous and colorful personalities of the 20th Century
Brandon Ray Kirk 