Tags
Appalachia, Arnold Perry, Catherine Perry, genealogy, history, Hoover Fork, John McCloud, justice of the peace, Logan County, Pretty Branch, Samuel Dawson, Stephen Marcum, Twelve Pole Creek, Virginia, Wayne County, West Virginia
26 Thursday Sep 2019
Posted Big Harts Creek, Twelve Pole Creek
in21 Wednesday Jun 2017
Posted Big Harts Creek, Coal, Man, Whirlwind
inTags
Appalachia, Barney Carter, Belvia Mullins, Burlie Riddle, Canterbury, Charles Curry, Charley Mullins, coal, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Hoover Fork, J.H. Workman, James Mullins, John McCloud, Julia Mullins, Lawrence Mullins, Logan Banner, Logan County, McCloud Cemetery, Mosco Mullins, New York City, Oilville, Peter Mullins, Pink Mullins, Pond Creek, Sam Mullins, singing schools, Sol Riddell, teacher, Twelve Pole Creek, West Virginia, Whirlwind
J.M., a correspondent from Whirlwind in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on February 20, 1914:
Business is dull in this section.
S. Riddell left Thursday for New York City.
Miss Belvia Mullins is visiting friends at Canterbury this week.
Peter Mullins left Tuesday for Oilville where he will engage in the carpenter’s trade.
Singing school is progressing nicely under the skillful management of Rev. Chas. Curry.
A large crowd attended church at Hoover Sunday.
J.H. Workman has accepted a position as clerk in S. Riddell’s store at this place.
Sam Mullins returned to his work on Pond Creek Monday.
Miss Julia Mullins was shopping at Pink Mullins’ Saturday.
Charley Mullins is on the sick list this week.
Mrs. Jno. McCloud died at her home on Twelve Pole Friday and was buried in the McCloud cemetery.
Lawrence Mullins and Barney Carter are getting out a fine lot of telegraph poles at this place.
Mosco Mullins died here last Wednesday. Fits was the cause of death.
Burglars made a raid on James Mullins’ store a few nights ago; names of visitors not learned yet.
John Carter is furnishing the town with coal this winter.
Miss Burlie Riddle is teaching school on Hoover.
16 Wednesday Dec 2015
Posted Big Harts Creek, Sand Creek, Warren
inTags
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
08 Thursday Oct 2015
Posted Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Civil War, Crawley Creek, Green Shoal, Harts, Little Harts Creek
inTags
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
12 Sunday Jul 2015
Posted Chapmanville
in16 Wednesday Jul 2014
Posted Big Harts Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Ferrellsburg, Gill, Ranger, Spottswood
inTags
A.B. Workman, Addison Vance, Allen Fry, Band of Hope Church, Bartram Fork Church, Charles Workman, David Farley, David Thompson, Ed Curnutte, F.M. Merritt, Fisher B. Adkins, Fletcher Loyd, genealogy, General Assembly, George Tucker Hensley, Gill Church, Grover Gartin, Guyan Church, H.L. Stevens, Harkins Fry, history, Isaac Marion Nelson, James Chafin Brumfield, James Hensley, Jeff Lucas, John Gartin, John McCloud, John Workman, Johnny Headley, Low Gap Church, Lower Laurel Church, Mont Steel, Montana Church, Mount Era Church, P. Snow, Pilgrims Rest Church, Radnor, Radnor Church, Ranger Church, Sam Ferguson, Stephen Yank Mullins, Steward Porter, T. Parson, W.F. Adkins, Wayne County, West Virginia, Whirlwind Church, Will Farley, William Adams, William Alderson Adkins
27 Monday Jan 2014
Posted Big Harts Creek, Ed Haley, Whirlwind
inTags
Albert Dingess, Albert Gore, Alice Dingess, Anthony Adams, Burl Adams, Chloe Mullins, Dave Dingess, David Kinser, Ed Haley, Ewell Mullins, Frank Collins, genealogy, Henry Blair, history, Imogene Haley, Jackson Mullins, Joe Adams, John McCloud, Liza Mullins, Peter Mullins, Sewell Adams, Sol Adams, Sol Riddell, Spottswood, Thomas J. Wysong, Weddie Mullins, Whirlwind, writing
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.
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