08 Tuesday Oct 2019
Tags
Appalachia, Ella Adkins, Guyan Lumber Company, Hamlin, history, John Paul Adkins, Lincoln County, Lincoln National Bank, Midkiff, West Virignia
Promissory note to Guyan Lumber Company by John Paul Adkins and Ella Adkins of Midkiff, Lincoln County, WV (1952).
14 Sunday Jul 2019
Tags
Appalachia, assistant postmaster, Big Creek, Cabell County, Charles Spurlock, Cheat River, Cincinnati, civil engineer, civil war, doctor, genealogy, gunsmith, Hamlin, history, Jane Spurlock, John Spurlock, Lifas Spurlock, Lincoln County, Logan Banner, Logan County, Logan Post Office, Marshall Spurlock, Midkiff, Montgomery County, Omar, Pete Spurlock, preacher, Ranger, Robertson Spurlock, Seth Spurlock, Sheridan, sheriff, Spurlockville, Stephen Hart, surveyor, Union Army, Virginia, West Virginia
From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about Stephen Hart and Harts Creek in Lincoln and Logan counties, West Virginia. The story is dated April 14, 1937.
Stephen Hart Settled at Cheat River, Pete Spurlock, A Great Grandson, Reveals
P.A. (Pete) Spurlock, assistant postmaster at the Logan post office, this morning revealed the destination of Stephen Hart, who went went after he had lived for a short time at the forks of the creek in the lower end of Logan county which now bears his name.
Spurlock said that Hart went to the Cheat River and settled permanently there to hunt deer and rear a family. He said the family name of Hart is as familiar there as the name Dingess is familiar in Logan county.
A daughter of Stephen, Jane, was Spurlock’s grandmother. She lived until 1913 and told her grandson much of the early history of the family which made its home in and around Spurlocksville, Sheridan, Ranger, and Midkiff.
Charles Spurlock, the progenitor of the Spurlock family, came to what used to be the Toney farm below the mouth of Big Creek in 1805 from Montgomery county, Virginia.
“Uncle Charley was a funny old cuss,” his great grandson Pete said this morning. “The story is told that a sheriff of Cabell county was given a capias to serve on the old codger for some minor offense when he was growing old and rather stout.
“Meeting him in the road one day, the sheriff informed Uncle Charley he had a capias to serve on him.
“None abashed, the old man informed the sheriff he was a law-abiding citizen and laid down in the middle of the road and told the sheriff to take him to jail.
“The ruse worked, for the sheriff chose to look for less obstinate prisoners,” Uncle Charley’s grandson said, chuckling.
Another story about the eccentric “Uncle Charley Spurlock” which has gone down in history, whether true or not, was that he lived for a short time below Big Creek under a rock cliff (known as a rockhouse) during the early summer while he was getting his cabin in shape for winter.
The tale is out that “Uncle Charley” explained his strange dwelling place in this way to his neighbors:
“Well I took Sarah (his wife) in a good substantial frame house in Virginia and she wasn’t quite satisfied. I took her to a log house and she wasn’t satisfied. I took her to a rail pen and still she grumbled. Then I took her to a rock house built by God Almight and still she wasn’t satisfied.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with Sarah.”
Sarah evidently became accustomed to “Uncle Charley” for the couple reared four sons. They were John, Seth, Lifas and Robertson. There were no daughters.
Seth was P.A. Spurlock’s grandfather. His father, Marshall, is 78 and lives on his farm near Cincinnati.
Spurlock says “Uncle Charley” is buried on a point at Spurlocksville overlooking the haunts of his early manhood.
Robertson was a gunsmith and lived near Hamlin. Seth was a civil engineer and helped survey much of Logan county. He was a Union soldier. John was a country doctor who practiced at Ranger.
Lifas was a preacher for sixty years and lived at Sheridan.
Charles Spurlock, of Omar, is a distant cousin, the assistant postmaster said. He is the only relative that lives in this section of Logan county, Spurlock said.
Spurlock, at Omar, was born at Spurlocksville and is a grandson of one of the original “Charley’s” boys.
29 Saturday Jun 2019
Posted in Midkiff
Tags
Allen, Appalachia, B.C. Spurlock & Son, Burbus Clinton Spurlock, Donna Miller, Ella Adkins, history, Lincoln County, Midkiff, West Virginia
Courtesy of Donna (Lucas) Miller
28 Saturday Jul 2018
Posted in Gill, Guyandotte River
Tags
Alvin Franklin Watts, Appalachia, Bessie Arix, Branchland, Clyde Okra Adkins, David Keith Smith, Dennis Nathan Roy, Dorothy Beatrice Roy, Edgar Ray Midkiff, education, Ella Mae Covey, Elva Mae Adkins, Fred B. Lambert, Freda Marie McComas, Gilbert Garmon Isaac, Gill, Gilmer Odell McClellan, Glada Ellen Cyfers, Glenna Helena Midkiff, Glenna Naoma Roy, Guidna Bates, Guyan Valley High School, Guyan Valley Middle School, Helen Mary Yost, Helena Johnson, Helena Scraggs, Hilbert Harmon Isaac, history, Hubball, Huntington, Ida Lee Adkins, Irma Holton, Jennings Orlando Midkiff, Lincoln County, Mable Virginia Chapman, Marshall University, Maude Jewel Jaynes, Midkiff, Mildred Vivian Smith, Milton, Morrow Library, Olive Maude Triplett, Pleasant View, Rhoda Irene Messinger, Ruel Dial, Ruth Dewdrops Adkins, Ruth Lucas Stowers, Sarah Nelson, Sheridan, Smith, Thern Hodge, Thomas Wondel Adkins, Virginia Catherine Scites, Virginia Louise Johnson, West Hamlin, West Virginia, William Earl Bias
Fred B. Lambert, a prominent educator in the Guyandotte Valley, compiled this list of early Guyan Valley High School graduates. Guyan Valley High School was located in Pleasant View, Lincoln County, WV.
Guyan Valley High School, 1929. Photo credit unknown.
List of 1929 graduates
List of 1930 graduates
List of 1931 graduates
Guyan Valley Middle School, c.2017.
Source: Fred B. Lambert Papers, Special Collections Department, James E. Morrow Library, Marshall University, Huntington, WV.
13 Friday Oct 2017
Posted in Big Ugly Creek, Guyandotte River, Huntington, Midkiff
Tags
Appalachia, Big Ugly Creek, Burbus Clinton Spurlock, genealogy, Hamilton Fry, history, Huntington, Jefferson District, Lincoln County, merchant, Midkiff, Nancy Ann Spurlock, Nancy Fry, Nancy Spurlock, Robinson Spurlock, West Virginia
Burbus Clinton Spurlock (1851-1940), son of Robinson and Nancy (Cummings) Spurlock of Jefferson District, Lincoln County, WV. About 1876, he married Nancy Ann Fry, daughter of Hamilton and Nancy (Hunter) Fry, of Big Ugly Creek. He lived at Midkiff in Lincoln County, where he appears in 1900 and 1910 census records. He was a well-known capitalist in the Guyandotte Valley, retiring to Huntington.
01 Saturday Apr 2017
Tags
Appalachia, Arthur Evans, Bradyville, Branchland, C.C. McCoy, C.L. Wilson, Ena McCoy, genealogy, Hardin Marcum, Harold Ray Smith, Harts, Herman McCoy, history, Hubball, Jennings Smith, Jim Fulks, Lincoln County, Logan, Logan Banner, Luther Midkiff, Midkiff, Ollie Saunders, Oma Estep, Ora Clay, poetry, Ranger, Ray Fulks, Troy Adkins, West Logan, West Virginia, Williamson
An unknown local correspondent from Ranger in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 21, 1926:
Luther Midkiff and family of Branchland were seen out car riding Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Evans and families of Hubball were the Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. C.C. McCoy.
Hardin Marcum was seen out car riding Sunday. We think he was on his way to Bradyville.
Jennings Smith was seen walking the lonesome road Sunday evening. We wonder where Maggie was?
Mrs. Jim Fulks left Friday evening for Williamson where she will spend a few days with relatives.
Rev. C.C. McCoy and little son Herman attended preaching at Camp Branch Sunday.
Ora Clay was seen out car riding Sunday. We wonder where the widow was?
Sunday is our regular church meeting at this place. Everybody come.
Troy Adkins and family of Midkiff were seen in our little town Sunday evening.
We wonder when Ray Fulks will accept his position back as driving taxi from Logan to Williamson?
Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Saunders of West Logan were visiting relatives here one day last week.
Wonder what has become of Harts?
Miss Oma Estep of Hubball is visiting her sister here this week.
Pearl Hargis, who received a serious burn by starting a fire in the cooking stove with kerosene, is reported much worse, we are sorry to say.
Miss Ena McCoy who has been ill for some time is much better we are glad to say.
Ora Clay was visiting home folks at Hubball Sunday.
He met her in the meadow
When the sun was low.
They strolled along together
In the twilight after glow.
She patiently waited until
He lowered all the bars.
And her soft bright eyes
Beamed upon him as
Radiant as the stars.
Yet she neither smiled nor thanked him
For she knew not how
For he was only a farmer
And she was a jersey cow.
NOTE: I dedicate this entry to my late friend, Harold Ray Smith of Ranger.
01 Tuesday Nov 2016
Posted in Big Harts Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Ferrellsburg, Fourteen, Green Shoal, Leet, Little Harts Creek, Rector
Tags
A.H. Sanders, A.P. Sanders, Andrew J. Browning, Appalachia, Big Branch, Big Ugly Creek, Broad Branch, Brooks Summerville, Buck Lick Branch, Cassander Spurlcok, Charles Bowden Brumfield, Chloe Maynard, Climena Lucas, Clinton Spurlock, Daisy Brumfield, Ellen Ferguson, Evermont Ward Fry, F.F. Starcher, Fourteen Mile Creek, Francis Fork, G.H. Chenoweth, genealogy, George F. Miller, Giles Davis, Granville Mullins, Green Shoal Creek, Guyandotte River, Harts Creek, Henry C. Sias, Hezekiah Adkins, history, Hugh Evans, Isaac Gartin, J.H. Meeks, J.W. Breeding, J.W. Stowers, James C. Tomblin, James D. Porter, James I. Kuhn, Johnny Headley, Joseph E. Chilton, Joseph Gartin, Joseph Maynard, Julia Yantis Walker, Kiahs Creek, Koontz Realty Company, L.V. Koontz, Laurel Fork, Lena Ferrell, Leonard Lucas, Lettie Belle Fowler, Limestone Branch, Lincoln County, Lincoln Fuel Oil and Lumber Company, Mary A. Mullen, Mary Maynard, Midkiff, Nary Gartin, Nine Mile Creek, O.J. Wilkinson, Panther Branch, Patsy Ann Porter, Patterson Toney, Philip Hager, Polly Browning, Smith Ferrell, Squire Toney, Sulphur Spring Fork, Sylvanis Neace, Tucker Fry, Twelve Pole Creek, W.C. Mullen, W.L. Rector, W.L. Starcher, W.T. Gillenwater, Wallace Hager, West Virginia, William U. Stollings, Wirt Toney
The following deed index is based on Deed Book 53 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 53. Researchers who desire the most accurate version of this material are urged to consult the actual record book.
Hezikiah Adkins to Julia Y. Walker 25 acres on West Side of Guyan River 7 January 1909 Fisher B. Adkins, NP p. 40
Polly Browning to Joseph Maynard 75 acres Laurel Branch of Twelve Pole Creek 14 January 1905 Hugh Evans, JP p. 412-413
Daisy Brumfield to Charley Brumfield 68 acres Big Branch of Big Ugly 7 September 1907 p. 219-220
J.E. Chilton to Lettie B. Fowler 150 acres East Side of Guyandotte River 15 February 1883 p. 365-366
G.D. Davis to Koontz Realty Company 113 3/5 acres (mineral) 8 May 1907 p. 329
Ellen Ferguson to L.V. Koontz 79 4/5 acres on Green Shoal Creek 14 December 1906 p. 304-305
Lena Ferrell to A.H. Sanders 49 acres (oil and gas) 5 December 1906 p. 305-306
D.C. Fry to Koontz Realty Company 4 acres 8 May 1907 p. 320-321
D.C. Fry to Koontz Realty Company 90 acres Green Shoal Creek 8 May 1907 p. 322-323
Joseph and Nary Gartin to W.R. and Mary Lucas and L.C. and Climina Lucas 75 and 15 acres on Sulpher Spring Fork of Fourteen Mile Creek 8 January 1910 p. 45-46
W.T. Gillenwater to Koontz Realty Company 82 acres (mineral) 16 July 1907 p. 315-316
Philip Hager to Koontz Realty Company 136 1/2 acres 17 May 1907 p. 318-319
Wallace Hager to Smith Ferrell 158 acres Broad Branch of Big Ugly 4 April 1907 R.E. Lowe, JP p. 166-167
L.V. Koontz to Koontz Realty Company 799 2/3 acres Big Ugly Creek 24 June 1907 p. 310-311
J.I. Kuhn to Isaac G. Gartin 75 acres Little Harts Creek 1 September 1879 p. 281-284
J.I. Kuhn to Climenia Lucas et al 496 acres on Fourteen Mile Creek 6 June 1880 p. 288-291
James I. Kuhn to William Mann and Isaac Garten 1 August 1879 Francis Fork of Hezekiah Creek p. 285-288
Lincoln Fuel, Oil, and Lumber Company v. A.P. Sanders, W.C. Mullen, and Mary A. Mullen correction to deed 5 October 1910 p. 243-244
L.C. Lucas to Climena Lucas 37 acres on Fourteen Mile Creek 13 December 1909 p. 53
Chloe Maynard to Joseph Maynard 100 acres Twelve Pole Creek 10 October 1907 p. 410-411
Mary Maynard to Joseph Maynard 85 acres Twelve Pole Creek 21 October 1905 p. 409-410
George F. Miller to Koontz Realty Company 33 acres (mineral) 13 May 1907 p. 317-318
Granville Mullins to William U. Stollings 10 acres Limestone Branch 28 March 1910 p. 416
Sylvanis Neace to J.W. Breeding 75 acres on Buck Lick Branch of Guyandotte River (Laurel Hill District) 12 February 1910 p. 133-134
J.D. Porter et ux to W.L. Rector Big Ugly Creek 27 March 1902 p. 333-339
Patsy Ann Porter to Joseph Maynard Tract on Ridge Between Laurel Branch and Wiley Branch 4 August 1908 p. 414-415
W.L. Rector et ux to G.H. Chenoweth 3/16 undivided interest in tracts on Harts Creek and Big Ugly Creek 28 December 1903 p. 340-
W.L. Starcher et ux to F.F. Starcher interest in four tracts on Big Ugly Creek 27 September 1907 p. 347-349
A.H. Sanders et ux to L.V. Koontz Stowers Farm on Green Shoal 10 December 1906 p. 288-291
A.H. Sanders et ux to L.V. Koontz 49 acres on Big Ugly Creek 12 March 1907 p. 301
A.H. Sanders et al declaration of trust to A.P. Sanders 25 July 1907 p. 329
A.P. Sanders to W.C. Mullen 150 acres Big Ugly Creek 2 October 1907 p. 164-165
A.P. Sanders to A.H. Sanders 278 acres Lick Branch of Laurel Fork of Big Ugly 31 October 1907 p. 227-228
Henry C. Sias to John T. Headley 75 acres on Steer Fork of Fourteen Mile Creek 17 February 1909 p. 1-2
Cassander Spurlock et ux to A.H. Sanders 89 1/3 acres on Big Ugly Creek 5 December 1906 p. 307-308
Clinton Spurlock et ux to E.W. Fry et ux 15 acres near Nine Mile Creek on Guyandotte River 3 June 1901 p. 194
Clinton Spurlock to Clinton Spurlock and E.W. Fry 7360 square feet at Midkiff 1 January 1906 p. 195-196
J.W. Stowers et al to A.H. Sanders 144 1/3 acres 7 December 1906 p. 308-309
Brooks Summerville et ux to F.F. Starcher interest in four tracts on Big Ugly Creek 1 November 1907 p. 346-347
James C. Tomblin to Andrew J. Browning Painter Branch, Big Branch of Harts Creek 19 March 1875 Jeremiah Lambert, JP p. 170-171
Patterson Toney et ux to L.V. Koontz 437 acres on Big Ugly Creek 29 December 1906 p. 302-303
Squire Toney et ux to Koontz Realty Company 295 52/100 acres Big Ugly Creek (mineral) 27 June 1907 p. 312-314
Wirt Toney et ux to Koontz Realty Company 203 61/100 acres (mineral) 4 May 1907 p. 324-326
O.J. Wilkinson, commissioner of school lands, to J.H. Meeks, trustee 1 February 1910 Piney Fork of East Fork p. 104-105 [references Abner Vance]
NOTE: I copied all of these deeds.
28 Tuesday Apr 2015
Posted in Harts
Tags
Alderson Rutherford, Amon Ferguson, Ashland, Bill Adkins, C & O Railway, Caroline Brumfield, Clyde Rutherford, Cora Adkins, Enos Dial, Essie Adkins, Fed Adkins, Fisher B. Adkins, genealogy, Hamlin, Harriet Carey, Harts, Hazel Toney, Herb Adkins, history, Huntington, Ida McCann, Inez Adkins, James Powers, Jerry Lambert, Jessie Brumfield, Keenan Toney, Kentucky, Lillie Carey, Lincoln County, Logan, Logan Banner, Lola Adkins, Midkiff, Ora Dingess, Peach Creek, Roxie Tomblin, Ruth Adkins, Sadie Powers, Sand Creek, Saul Bowen, Verna Johnson, West Virginia, Woodrow Rutherford
An unnamed local correspondent at Harts in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on 29 May 1925:
Jerry Lambert, of Sand Creek, was in Harts, Sunday.
F.B. Adkins made a business trip to Huntington the latter part of the week.
Mrs. R.L. Powers, and little son, James, have returned from Logan where she has been by the bedside of her little niece, Miss Ruth Adkins, who is very low with fever.
F.D. Adkins was transacting business in Logan, Tuesday.
Clyde Rutherford, C. & O. conductor of Peach Creek, was the guest of F.D. Adkins and family, Sunday.
Amon Ferguson of Hamlin, was calling on Miss Ora Dingess, Sunday.
Misses Jessie Brumfield, Ora Dingess, Amon Ferguson and Enos Dial were seen out driving Saturday evening.
Miss Cora Adkins was visiting friends in Logan last week.
Miss Hazel Toney, of Huntington, was the pleasant guest of Misses Cora and Inez Adkins Saturday night.
Mrs. Toney Johnson, of Ashland, Ky., is visiting her mother, Mrs. Chas. Brumfield.
F.D. Adkins was the dinner guest of K.E. Toney, Saturday.
Bill Adkins and Harriette Carey were seen out walking Saturday evening.
Misses Lola and Essa Adkins, Lillie and Harriette Cary, and Roxie Tomblin were in Harts, Saturday.
Mrs. W.M. McCann has been visiting her daughter, Mrs. Watson Adkins.
Alderson Rutherford and little son, Woodroe, of Peach Creek, and sister, Mrs. Saul Bowen of Midkiff, were calling on friends here Sunday.
Herb Adkins made a business trip in Logan, Saturday.
19 Tuesday Aug 2014
Posted in Big Ugly Creek, Gill, Harts, Leet
Tags
Big Ugly Creek, Brad Gill, Brooks Hager, C&O Railroad, Cassie Hager, genealogy, Gill, Gill School House, Golden Hager, Hager, Harts, history, John Sperry, Lee Adkins, Lee Spears, Leet, life, Lincoln County, Lincoln Republican, measles, Midkiff, Peacha Hager, Philip Sperry, Price, Spears, Ward Spears, West Virginia, William Sperry
“Reporter,” a local correspondent from Gill in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Lincoln Republican printed on Thursday, June 21, 1923:
A large engine with six cars were wrecked on the track at Harts one day last week, but no one was injured.
John Sperry will preach at Gill, Saturday night before the third Sunday in July. Everybody is invited.
Lee Adkins of Hager, will conduct a singing school at the Gill school house beginning the first Sunday in July.
Sons, Brooks, Golden, Peacha and Cassie Hager, of Spears, John Sperry and sons of Price, Lee Spears, and Philip Sperry of Gill, attended the big Lodge celebration at Midkiff last Sunday.
Ward Spears, of this place, attended the baptizing at Leet last Sunday.
Brad Gill has purchased a new camera.
Wm. Sperry and family have recovered from the measles.
23 Monday Jun 2014
Posted in Big Ugly Creek, Gill, Holden, Rector
Tags
Albert Wall, Andrew Spurlock, Big Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Collie Fry, D.V. Hodge, Easy, Elijah Pauley, genealogy, Gill, history, Holden, J.A. Chaffin, Jeannette Stone, John E. Fry, Lincoln County, Mary Toney, Maude Toney, Midkiff, Mud River, Myrtle Toney, Nancy Jane Toney, Nora Harper, Parlee Hunter, Polly Ann Wall, Rector, Salt Rock, Tracy Baird, Walter Toney, West Virginia
“Sunshine,” a local correspondent from Rector in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Lincoln Monitor printed on Thursday, April 9, 1914:
Miss Jeannette Stone of Big Creek is the pleasant guest of her grandmother, Mrs. Squire Toney.
Mrs. Elijah Pauley of Holden is visiting relatives here this week.
Mrs. Walter Toney was shopping in Big Creek Saturday.
Mrs. M.A. Wall who has been visiting her son Albert, has returned to her home at Easy.
Miss Maude Toney who has been visiting relatives in Holden for the past two weeks, has returned and reports a very pleasant visit.
Dr. J.A. Chaffin was a pleasant visitor in Rector, Sunday.
Misses Maude Toney and Jeannette Stone spent Sunday horseback riding and were at Gill, where they dined with Miss Stone’s sister, Mrs. S.J. Harper.
Tracy Baird was a caller here Monday.
Mrs. Albert Wall, who has been ill for some time, is slowly improving.
Andrew Spurlock spent Sunday with friends at Salt Rock.
Misses Mary and Myrtle Toney are visiting their brothers on Mud this week.
Squire J.E. Fry made a flying trip to Midkiff Saturday.
D.V. Hodge made a business call to this place Saturday.
Collie Fry was a pleasant visitor in town Sunday.
Mrs. John Hunter was shopping here Saturday.
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
For Readers, Writers, and Lovers of Historical Fiction
