• About

Brandon Ray Kirk

~ This site is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and promotion of history and culture in my section of Appalachia.

Brandon Ray Kirk

Tag Archives: Peter Carter

Whirlwind News 02.23.1923

17 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Crawley Creek, Whirlwind

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Appalachia, Crawley Creek, genealogy, Golden Bumgarner, Harts Creek, Harvey Smith, history, Horatio Adams, Hubert Adams, Ina Dinges, James Bryant, Kate Baisden, Logan Banner, Logan County, Monaville, Peter Carter, Reece Mullins, Three Forks, Wayne Adams, West Virginia, Whirlwind, Wilburn Mullins

A correspondent named “Pedru” from Whirlwind at Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on February 23, 1923:

Mr. Hubert Adams of Monaville has been visiting friends and relatives on Hart this week.

Miss Katie Baisden became the bride of Mr. Golden Bumgarner on Wednesday, the ceremony being at the home of the bride’s parents. We wish the happy couple much success and joy.

Wonder why the girls enjoy riding with Wilburn Mullins so well? He surely has a good saddler.

Ratio must be thinking of matrimony. He is wearing a thinking cap.

Mr. Reece Mullins and Mr. James Bryant have been visiting the sick on Three Forks.

Some daily happenings—Wayne and his pipe; Farabel C. and her spectacles; Ina D. and her overalls; Peter Carter making toothpicks; Jim Bob inquiring about Alvis; Harve Smith and his fox hounds.

Harts Creek News 04.13.1923

10 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Spottswood, Whirlwind

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Ad Mullins, Anthony Adams, Appalachia, Cherry Tree, Daniel McCloud, Frank Adams, genealogy, Harts Creek, Harvey Smith, Herbert Thompson, history, Ichabod Green, James Baisden, Logan Banner, Logan County, Peter Carter, Roy Browning, Van Mullins, Wayne Adams, West Virginia, Wilburn Mullins

A correspondent named “Fine Sweet Kisses” from Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 13, 1923:

Here we come with a few lines and frost bites; also Herbert Thompson is mourning on the Perrite Hill.

Daniel McCloud is getting ahead of the working.

I wonder what has become of James Baisden? I haven’t heard from him in a long time.

Ichabod Green said he was as fat as a bear.

Wilburn Mullins cranked up his old crippled Fork and went to church.

Ad Mullins is coming back to Hart. He knows Will Maggard won’t let Browney alone.

Peter Carter likes to make his tooth picks.

Van Mullins is swinging his broad hoe. He swore it was summer time.

Harvey Smith is training his fox hounds.

Antha Adams is visiting relatives on Hart this week.

Roy Browning likes to win gold off the punch board.

Wonder if the Cherry Tree girls have quit asking for kisses from the Harts Creek boys?

Mrs. Frank Adams is very ill and has been for some time.

Wayne Adams is moving back to the old town.

Whirlwind News 04.05.1927

09 Saturday Sep 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Holden, Whirlwind

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Appalachia, Bernie Adams, Boyd Carter, Buck Fork, Charley Mullins, Chick Dingess, Cumberland Mountains, Ewell Mullins, Florence Adams, Fred Carter, genealogy, guitar, Harmon Carter, Harts Creek, Hendersonville, history, Holden, Hoover Fork, Horatio Adams, Howard Adams, Hubert Adams, Ireland Mullins, James Thompson, Jesse Carter, Julia Tomblin, Kentucky, Lewis Maynard, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mae Robinson, Millard Thompson, music, Peter Carter, Peter Mullins, Peter Tomblin, Sallie Bunn, Trace Fork, Twelve Pole Creek, West Virginia, Whirlwind, whooping cough

An unknown correspondent from Whirlwind in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on April 5, 1927:

The Bible school on Trace Fork is progressing nicely and is conducted by Rev. Ratio Adams and Peter Mullins.

Hubert Adams of Holden was visiting relatives on Hoover recently.

Howard Adams and Charley Mullins were visiting Peter Tomblin of Twelve Pole Saturday.

James Thompson and Miss Julia Tomblin were united in marriage on Buck Fork recently. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are planning a honeymoon trip to the Cumberland Mountains and points in Eastern Kentucky.

Millard Thompson was visiting friends on Harts Creek Monday.

Ezra Farley made a flying trip to Lewis Maynard’s Sunday.

The home of Boyd Carter at Hendersonville was destroyed by fire Monday afternoon.

Chick Dingess was a visitor to Jesse Carter last Sunday.

Ireland Mullins was calling on Miss Sallie Bunn of Hoover Sunday.

Harmon Carter of Buck Fork was calling on Miss Mae Robinson Sunday.

Things seen daily: Philip going to see Aunt Minnie; Howard going to Mollie’s; Florence and her pipe; Bernie and his guitar; Clinton and his whooping cough; Mollie and her forty four; Peter and Fred Carter making toothpicks; Wilburn and his boots; Ewell watching for a car to come up Trace.

Chapmanville News 05.21.1926

23 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Creek, Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Logan

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

algebra, Appalachia, Big Creek, Buck Fork, Chapmanville, Dr. Ferrell, E.M. Oaks, Ernie Ward, genealogy, Grover Lowe, gypsies, Harts Creek, history, J.E. Peck, John Vickers, Logan Banner, Logan County, Low Gap Church, Peter Carter, Roscoe Ferrell, Stollings, W.C. Pridemore, West Virginia

An unknown local correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on May 21, 1926:

This Rev. E.M. Oaks of Stollings preached a very interesting sermon here Sunday at the Christian church.

Rev. Reedy will preach here next Sunday in the place of Grover Lowe, he being temporarily absent.

Peter Carter of Buck Fork was in town Monday.

J.E. Peck of Logan was looking after legal matters here Tuesday.

Prof. Snidow claims to have the best Algebra class of any place in the county.

Earnie Ward left here Monday for Detroit, Mich.

The Regular Baptists will hold their annual meeting at the Low Gap church on Big Creek Sunday June 19th.

W.C. Pridemore, the new deputy, is collecting taxes now. Cam says everybody must pay.

Quite a band of gypsies passed through town Monday. Owing to the experience of some of the boys last year, no one had their fortunes told this trip.

Daily happenings: The public asking the postmaster fool questions; John Vickers if he is a candidate; Roscoe Ferrell when the county court meets; Dr. Ferrell when will the next flu epidemic be.

Harts Creek Area Preachers (1891-1892)

09 Saturday Jan 2016

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Halcyon, Harts, Shively, Spottswood, Warren

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Albert Sidebottom, Allen Ellis, Andrew Conley, Ann Dingess, Bettie Conley, Brook Hager, Charley Conley, Cora Dingess, Dorthena Gore, Elbert Dingess, Eliza Mullins, Ellen Meadows, Emery Mullins, genealogy, George W. Deskins, Gordon Farley, Harts Creek, Henry Meeks, history, Jackson Adkins, James P. Mullins, Jeff Vinson, Jeremiah Sias, John Adams, John Coburn, John Conley, John F. Dingess, Josephus Workman, Leona Williamson, Leota Hager, Logan County, Lourena Fry, Margaret Adams, Margaret McCloud, Minnis W. Perry, Moses Dempsey, Nellie Workman, Ozilla Thompson, Peter Carter, Peter Dalton, Peter Mullins, Robert L. Browning, Rosa Marcum, Roxie Dempsey, Sallie Adkins, Sally Adams, Sarah Ball, Stella Abbott, Tilda Vance, Van B. Prince, Virginia Perry, Washington Dempsey, Washington Vance, West Virginia, William Fleming

The following list of Logan County marriages for the period of 1891 to 1892 reveals the names of preachers operating in the Harts Creek area. This is a “working list” and will be updated. The source for this material is “Marriages-Births-Deaths, 1872-1892,” pages 65-69, and “Logan County Marriages, 1893-1913,” 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.

1891

Van B. Prince     __ January 1891     Peter Dalton and Evaline James

Josephus Workman     10 January 1891     Emery Mullins and Estella Abbott

Josephus Workman     05 February 1891     William Fleming and Lourena Fry

Van B. Prince     28 May 1891     Peter Carter and Margaret Adams

James P. Mullen     04 June 1891     J.D. Ellis and M.L. Berry

Van B. Prince     08 June 1891     Elbert C. Dingess and Ozilla Thompson

Gordon Farley     4 September 1891     Andrew Conley and Ellen Meadows

Van B. Prince     08 October 1891     Henry Meeks and Leota Hagar

Van B. Prince     15 November 1891     Robert L. Browning and Sarah Ball

Washington Dempsey     24? November 1891     Moses Dempsey and Sallie Adkins

Van B. Prince     23 December 1891     Jeremiah Sias and Margaret McCloud

Jackson Adkins     24 December 1891     John Cobern and Leona Williamson

Gordon Farley     31 December 1891     O.J. Simms? and Bettie Conley

1892

Van B. Prince     11 January 1892     Washington Vance and Sally Adams

Gordon Farley     26? January 1892     John Adams and Dorthena Gore

Van B. Prince     29 January 1892     Jeff Vinson and Brook Hagar

Gordon Farley     13 February 1892     Peter Mullins and Eliza Mullins

Van B. Prince     01 March 1892     John Conley and Nellie Workman

Isaac Fry     07 March 1892     Minnis W. Perry and Virginia Perry

Van B. Prince     08 March 1892     Allen Ellis and Tilda Vance

Gordon Farley     September 1892?     John F. Dingess and Ann Dingess

Gordon Farley     September 1892?     Albert Sidebottom and Cora Dingess

Wash Dempsey     October 1892     Charley Conley and Rosa Marcum

Washington Dempsey     December 1892     George W. Deskins and Roxie Dempsey

James Pig Hall Family Cemetery (2014)

04 Tuesday Aug 2015

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Arminie Hensley, Artie Hensley, Betty Carter, Brady Hensley, Brown's Run, cemeteries, Christian Jude Swims, David Hensley, Donnie Hensley, Ella Mae Tomblin, Eveline Dalton, Ferbie Farley, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, James Hensley, James Pig Hall, James Pig Hall Family Cemetery, Jessie Marie Carter, Jim Williams, Julius Farley, Logan County, Lola Booth, Lucinda Collins, Lucinda Farley, Malinda Faye Hensley, Malinda Hensley, Mollie Farmer, Monroe Hensley, Peter Carter, Richie Hensley, Sandra Faye Hensley, Sherman Carter, Shirley Hensley, Susan Hall, Terry Fitzgerald Hensley, Terry Ray Hensley, Tolbert Hensley Jr., Wanda Lou Hensley, West Virginia

The James Pig Hall Family Cemetery, which I visited on 12 July 2014, is located on Browns Run of Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia. Driving up Browns Run Road, the cemetery is located on the right behind the residence of Mr. Hensley. Permission from Mr. Hensley to visit the cemetery is recommended.

Row 1

Jim Williams (1926-1997); s/o James and Mollie (Hensley) Williamson

Mollie Farmer (22 May 1894-16 September 1981); d/o George T. and Rosa (Hall) Hensley; m1. James Williams

Sandra Faye Hensley (born and died 15 September 1972)

Terry Ray Hensley (04 June 1970-09 January 1973)

Malinda Faye Hensley (04 June 1970-09 January 1973)

Jerry Fitzgerald Hensley (22 August 1971-09 January 1973)

Row 2

Sherman Carter (04 March 1933-25 September 1993)

Peter Carter (18 June 1894-15 June 1970); s/o James and Mary Etta (Burns) Carter

Betty Carter (12 June 1900-01 June 1965); d/o George T. and Rosa (Hall) Hensley

(gap)

Tolbert Hensley, Jr. (born and died 10 June 1966)

Arminie Hensley (14 October 1973-15 October 1973)

Row 3

rock headstone and footstone — baby

rock headstone and footstone — baby

homemade headstone with indentation possibly reading “ORK” and footstone

(gap)

Brady Hensley (02 May 1957-14 December 1959)

Row 4

Elder Monroe Hensley (03 May 1909-15 October 1985); s/o David and Arminta (Collins) Hensley

Malindia Hensley (09 October 1904-24 June 2004); d/o George W. and Georgia B. (Nester) Hensley; m. Monroe Hensley

Donnie Hensley (23 July 1945-23 July 1945)

(gap)

white pointed headstone and footstone — baby

Row 5

M.C. an D.C. carved on rock headstone

small rock headstone and footstone — faint writing on footstone

(gap)

J.P.H. D Aril 12 — James Pig Hall, born March 1840/ s/o Alexander and Susan Betsy (Morgan) Hall

S.H. DC Jun 15 1909 — Susan Shuler, born April 1834

R.H. AUGUST 28, 1907

rock headstone with nice footstone — adult

rock headstone and footstone

Row 6

several metal markers placed on unmarked baby grave:

  1. John S. Butcher and Bessie Farley Butcher
  2. Vida Butcher First Born
  3. Reserved for Troy Adams Butcher

Lewis Farley at rock headstone; footstone reads “Lucinda Hall, George B. Dump Farley”

Ferry Bell and Elbert Booth at rock headstone; footstone reads Baby Booth, First Born

P.H. DC 18__ on round rock headstone with round footstone

Lucinda Hall Farley wife of George B. Dump Farley; d/o James Pig and Susan (Shuler) Hall; m. George “Dump” Farley

pointed rock headstone and flat rock footstone

rock headstone with faded writing and rock footstone

rock headstone and footstone

rock headstone and footstone

Row 7

L.R.C. (17 March 1951-20 March 1951)

Jessie Marie Carter (1998-1998)

Row 8

B.C. on tall pointed rock headstone with short square footstone

N.C. DC Feb 20, 1917 on tall square headstone with square footstone

W.M.C. DC June 17, 1912

NIN C DC ____1

little thin flat rock headstone and footstone

small rock headstone and footstone

Row 9

Eveline Hall carved on rock; on its back: “ED DC JA _O”; d/o James Pig and Susan (Shuler) Hall; m1. William Hall; m2. Sol James; m3. Peter Dalton

A.H. DC MAR 1 1917 on square rock headstone

little rounded homemade headstone with faded writing; square footstone

pointy white rock headstone and tall pointy footstone

Lucinda Cendia Collins (24 September 1903-14 July 1970); d/o John and Pricie (Hensley) Bryant; m1. James Hensley

Row 10

___ell (little white pointy headstone) — child

Howard (little white pointy headstone) — child

writing faded (little white pointy headstone) — child

CARTER (little white pointy headstone) — child

B.F. B.C. 45.8.91 D.C. MAR 22, 1924

James Hensley (07 May 1884-28 February 1958); s/o George T. and Rosa (Hall) Hensley

Row 11

rock headstone and footstone

Gracie Tomblin (17 August 1912-12 March 1988)

large pointy white headstone and footstone

Row 12

small rock headstone and footstone — baby

rock headstone and footstone

Lola Booth (10 June 1919-__ January 1920)

Artie Hensley (18 November 1927-18 November 1927)

Row 13

Ella Mae Tomblin (12 December 1954-28 January 2011)

rock headstone and footstone — baby

thin pointy white rock headstone and footstone

Row 14

Ferbie Hensley Farley (22 December 1927-07 May 2013); d/o James and Lucinda (Bryant) Hensley; m. Julius “Jude” Farley on 30 December 1953

Julius “Jude” Farley (12 June 1918-02 March 1995); s/o William and Sarah (Adams) Farley

wide pointy rock headstone and footstone — baby

wide pointy rock headstone and footstone — baby

wide pointy rock headstone and square footstone — adult

wide pointy rock headstone and pointy footstone — adult

wide pointy rock headstone and pointy footstone — adult

Row 15

Christian Jude Swims (03 February 2011-03 February 2011)

David Hensley (1886-1958)

A N N A rock sculpted round with faded letters

Row 16

Richie Hensley (11 August 1935-still alive); s/o Monroe and Malinda (Hensley) Hensley

Shirley Hensley (07 July 1937-08 January 2004); m. Richie Hensley

Row 17

Wanda Lou Hensley (26 October 1961-31 August 2002); d/o Richie and Shirley Hensley

Whirlwind 04.17.1925

06 Wednesday May 2015

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Whirlwind

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Almeda Baisden, Appalachia, Bird Bryant, Buck Fork, Bulwark, Charley Curry, Charley Tomblin, coal, Crawley Creek, genealogy, George W. Hensley, Harts Creek, Harvey Smith, history, James Mullins, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Moses Tomblin, Peter Carter, Preston Collins, Rufus Tomblin, Squire Sol Adams, timbering, Troy Vance, West Virginia, Whirlwind, Willie Tomblin, Win Bryant

An unnamed local correspondent at Whirlwind in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on 17 April 1925:

Moses and Willie Tomblin are operating a saw mill.

James Mullins is doing some building now.

Harve Smith and his little son had a great fox chase.

Wonder if Charley Tomblin is hunting any now.

Rufus Tomblin is busy farming this week.

Preston Collins is loading coal for Clyde.

Peter Carter was seen hauling meat for James Mullins.

Everet and General were business guests at Sol Adams Tuesday.

Wonder why Grover likes eggs so well?

Doke Tomblin is putting up a large string of paling.

Geo. W. Hensley and Charley Curry were on Crawley’s Creek Sunday. Wonder who they were looking for?

Troy Vance and Miss Almeda Baisden were married Monday.

Wonder why Asburn don’t come to Buck Fork now?

Win Bryant is suffering a broken shoulder by falling from a mule, Friday.

James Mullins has about completed arrangements to occupy his new store.

Bird Bryant made a trip to Whirlwind Sunday.

We had a fine singing school at Bulwark Sunday.

Charles Curry was a visitor to the singing school Sunday.

George Hensley made a business trip to Logan last week.

Spottswood Items 10.16.1903

23 Friday May 2014

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Dingess, Green Shoal, Spottswood, Timber

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Augusta Bryant, Belle Dora Adams, C.J. Plaster, Chapmanville, Dicy Adams, Dingess, Doc Turner, Enel Deskins, genealogy, George Bryant, Green Jackson, Green Shoal, Harts Creek, Henderson Dingess, history, Hugh Evans, Isaac Marion Nelson, John Workman, Kentucky, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Major Adams, Mingo County, Ollie Bryant, Peter Carter, Smokehouse Fork, Solomon Adams, Solomon Adams Sr., Spottswood, Sr., timbering, W.J. Bachtel, West Virginia, William Kelley, Zack Williams

“DeLay,” a correspondent from Spottswood in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, dated October 12, 1903, which the Logan Banner printed on Friday, October 16, 1903:

As no one wrote to The Banner from this place last week, I will write a few items this week. Some of the correspondents from this place seem to write more to throw mud in their neighbors’ faces than to give the news of the place.

Mrs. Augusta Bryant, after an illness of some weeks died last Friday night at the home of her parents at this place. The bereaved relatives have our sympathy.

Sol Adams, Sr., made a business trip to Logan Friday.

Green Jackson of Logan was visiting friends and relatives here Sunday.

Miss Belle Dora Adams spent Saturday and Sunday with her parents at this place.

Enel Deskins of Dingess was a visitor at this place Sunday.

Rev. I.M. Nelson preached a fine sermon last Sunday in memory of Henderson Dingess at the home of the deceased.

W.J. Bachtel is on the sick list.

William Kelly and another man from Kentucky passed through the ville Sunday enroute for Greenshoals.

Jesse Carter made a business trip to Logan Friday.

Major Adams while cutting timber the other day almost cut his foot off, but we are glad to announce that he is improving fast, and we hope to see him out again soon.

C.J. Plaster sold his land to Hugh Evans for $390 and went to Dingess. On awaking one morning he discovered that he had in some way been relieved of $65. He at once swore out a warrant for Zachary Williams, who was arrested and bound over to answer an indictment.

Dr. Turner of Chapmanville has the contract to build the schoolhouse at John Workman’s for $375.

Peter Carter was in Logan on business Monday.

Spottswood Items 10.02.03

16 Friday May 2014

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Spottswood

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Augusta Bryant, Belle Dora Adams, Bettie Workman, Buck Fork, Buck Fork School, Frances Baisden, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Hoover Fork, Ina Adams, Isaac Marion Nelson, John Carter, Lawrence Riddle, Logan Banner, Logan County, love, Moses Butcher, Nolan, Peter Carter, Peter Mullins, Spottswood, timbering, Weddie Mullins, West Virginia, Yantus

An unnamed local correspondent from Spottswood in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on Friday, October 2, 1903:

Some one insulted John Carter last Friday night by stealing his kraut tub.

Rev. I.M. Nelson preached a fine sermon Sunday at the Buck Fork schoolhouse in memory of Weddington Mullins. There was a large congregation.

Mrs. Sol Adams says she wants all the pumpkins there are on Hoover with which to make apple butter for they are fine for that.

Peter Mullins got mashed up by a log truck the other day, but has got so he can walk about the place again.

Peter Mullins is one of the greatest squirrel hunters on Hart’s creek. The crack of his repeating shotgun is often heard.

Miss Bell Dora Adams is struck on a young teacher who stays on the Buck Fork.

Mrs. French Bryant of Nolan, W. Va., is very low with fever at this place.

Moses Butcher of Yantus was a visitor at this place last week.

Prof. L.W. Riddle is a candidate for matrimony subject to the action of the ladies of Spottswood.

Miss Bettie Workman has resumed teaching after an illness of two weeks.

Miss Inez Adams, one of the belles of this place was making “goo goo” eyes at a young teacher while at church last Sunday.

Peter Carter says there is only one girl in the world for him and that is Miss Frances Baisden.

 

In Search of Ed Haley 206

29 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Ed Haley, Lincoln County Feud, Timber

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Al Brumfield, Allen Martin, Andrew D. Robinson, Andrew Robinson, Anthony Adams, Appalachia, Ben Adams, Ben Robinson, Boardtree Branch, Chloe Gore, Chloe Mullins, crime, David Robinson, Dicy Adams, Elizabeth Abbott, genealogy, general store, Greasy George Adams, Green McCoy, Harts Creek, Harvey Adams, Henderson Dingess, history, Hollena Brumfield, Hugh Dingess, Jackson Mullins, John Frock Adams, John M. Adams, John Robinson, Joseph Adams, Joseph Robinson, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, Logan County Banner, Lucinda Brumfield, May Adams, Meekin Branch, Milt Haley, Peter Carter, Rhoda Robinson, Sallie Dingess, Solomon Adams, Spicie McCoy, Susan Abbott, Ticky George Adams, timber, Trace Fork, Victoria Dingess, Viola Dingess, West Virginia, Wilson Abbott

Ben Adams — the man who supposedly hired Milt Haley and Green McCoy to assassinate Al Brumfield — was born in 1855 to Joseph and Dicy (Mullins) Adams on Big Harts Creek in Logan County, (West) Virginia. His older sister Sarah married Henderson Dingess and was the mother of Hollena Brumfield, Hugh Dingess and several others. He was a first cousin to Jackson Mullins, Milt Haley’s father-in-law, and a brother-in-law to Chloe Mullins, Milt’s mother-in-law, by her first marriage to John Adams.

In 1870, 17-year-old Ben lived at home with his mother, where he worked as a farmer. He was illiterate, according to census records. His neighbors were Andrew Robinson and Henderson Dingess, both of whom had married his sisters (Rhoda J. and Sally). In the next year, according to tradition, he fathered an illegitimate child, William Adams, who was born to Lucinda Brumfield (niece of Paris).

In 1873, Ben married Victoria Dingess. Victoria was born in 1856 and was a first cousin to Hollena Brumfield and Hugh Dingess. The marriage made for an interesting genealogical connection: Ben was already Hugh’s uncle; now he was also his brother-in-law, as Hugh was married to Victoria’s sister, Viola (his first cousin). Ben’s daughter Sally, who was named after Hollena’s mother, later married a cousin of Spicie McCoy, Green’s wife. For all practical purposes then, Ben Adams was genealogically connected to all sides of the feud — making it a true intra-family feud from his perspective.

For the first decade or so of his marriage, Ben lived with his mother on family property, although he did acquire land and open a general store business. In 1880, he was listed in the Lincoln County Census with his mother Dicy, aged 63, and family. He was 26 years old, Victory was 23, Sally was six, son Charlie was four, daughter Patsy A. was two, and son Anthony was a few months old. George Greaar, age 20, was a boarder. In 1881, he purchased 25 acres on the Meekin Branch of Trace Fork. Three years later, he was listed in a business directory as the proprietor of a general store. At that same time, his brother-in-law and neighbor Henderson Dingess was a distiller.

Later in the decade, Ben fathered three more children: George “Greasy” (1885), Harvey (1886), and May (1889). In 1889, the time of Milt Haley’s ambush of Al Brumfield, Adams owned 260 acres on the Boardtree Branch of Trace Fork valued at $1.00 per acre in Logan County.

Anthony Adams — Ben’s brother and ally in the 1889 troubles — was a prominent timberman on Harts Creek. Anthony had been born in 1849 and was the husband of Pricie Alifair Chapman, Burl Farley’s half-sister. In 1884, Adams was listed in a business directory as a blacksmith. In 1889, he owned two 50-acre tracts of land, one valued at $3.50 per acre with a $30 building on it, the other valued at $2.00 per acre. By that time, he had three sons of fighting age who may have participated in the feud: Solomon Adams (born 1869), Horatio “Rush” Adams (born 1871), and Wayne Adams (born 1874), as well as a son-in-law, Harrrison Blair (born c.1867).

A quick examination of the Adams genealogy gives a clue as to Ben’s other 1889 allies. First there was brother “Bad John” Adams. Adams was deceased at the time of the Haley-McCoy incident, but he had been married to Chloe Gore — mother of Emma Jean (Mullins) Haley. He had three sons of fighting age in 1889: Joseph Adams (born 1859), John Frock Adams (born 1861), and Ticky George Adams (born 1865)…as well as son-in-law Sampson Thomas.

Rhoda J. Robinson was a sister to the three Adams brothers. She had several children who may have allied with Ben: David Robinson (born 1860), Ben Robinson (born 1866), John R. Robinson (born 1868), and Joseph Robinson (born 1870). There was also brother Solomon Adams, who may have offered his loyalty to Ben, along with sons John M. Adams (born 1869) and Benjamin Adams (born 1867), and sons-in-law David Robinson and Peter Carter (c.1873).

As for Ben himself, he stayed busy with timber after the feud. According to an 1896 article from the Logan County Banner: “Benj. Adams, of Hart, is hauling some fine poplar from trace fork.” In 1901, he married Venila Susan Abbott, a daughter of Wilson and Elizabeth (Workman) Abbott, and had at least eight more children (born between 1901 and 1921). Not long after his remarriage, he was accused of murdering a local postman named Jim Allen Martin — and nearly went bankrupt paying for his legal defense. He died in 1910 and was buried on the hill near the mouth of Trace Fork.

Feud Poll 1

If you had lived in the Harts Creek community during the 1880s, to which faction of feudists might you have given your loyalty?

Categories

  • Adkins Mill
  • African American History
  • American Revolutionary War
  • Ashland
  • Atenville
  • Banco
  • Barboursville
  • Battle of Blair Mountain
  • Beech Creek
  • Big Creek
  • Big Harts Creek
  • Big Sandy Valley
  • Big Ugly Creek
  • Boone County
  • Breeden
  • Calhoun County
  • Cemeteries
  • Chapmanville
  • Civil War
  • Clay County
  • Clothier
  • Coal
  • Cove Gap
  • Crawley Creek
  • Culture of Honor
  • Dingess
  • Dollie
  • Dunlow
  • East Lynn
  • Ed Haley
  • Eden Park
  • Enslow
  • Estep
  • Ferrellsburg
  • Fourteen
  • French-Eversole Feud
  • Gilbert
  • Giles County
  • Gill
  • Green Shoal
  • Guyandotte River
  • Halcyon
  • Hamlin
  • Harts
  • Hatfield-McCoy Feud
  • Holden
  • Hungarian-American History
  • Huntington
  • Inez
  • Irish-Americans
  • Italian American History
  • Jamboree
  • Jewish History
  • John Hartford
  • Kermit
  • Kiahsville
  • Kitchen
  • Leet
  • Lincoln County Feud
  • Little Harts Creek
  • Logan
  • Man
  • Matewan
  • Meador
  • Midkiff
  • Monroe County
  • Montgomery County
  • Music
  • Native American History
  • Peach Creek
  • Pearl Adkins Diary
  • Pecks Mill
  • Peter Creek
  • Pikeville
  • Pilgrim
  • Poetry
  • Queens Ridge
  • Ranger
  • Rector
  • Roane County
  • Rowan County Feud
  • Salt Rock
  • Sand Creek
  • Shively
  • Spears
  • Sports
  • Spottswood
  • Spurlockville
  • Stiltner
  • Stone Branch
  • Tazewell County
  • Timber
  • Tom Dula
  • Toney
  • Turner-Howard Feud
  • Twelve Pole Creek
  • Uncategorized
  • Warren
  • Wayne
  • West Hamlin
  • Wewanta
  • Wharncliffe
  • Whirlwind
  • Williamson
  • Women's History
  • World War I
  • Wyoming County
  • Yantus

Feud Poll 2

Do you think Milt Haley and Green McCoy committed the ambush on Al and Hollene Brumfield in 1889?

Blogroll

  • Ancestry.com
  • Ashland (KY) Daily Independent News Article
  • Author FB page
  • Beckley (WV) Register-Herald News Article
  • Big Sandy News (KY) News Article
  • Blood in West Virginia FB
  • Blood in West Virginia order
  • Chapters TV Program
  • Facebook
  • Ghosts of Guyan
  • Herald-Dispatch News Article 1
  • Herald-Dispatch News Article 2
  • In Search of Ed Haley
  • Instagram
  • Lincoln (WV) Journal News Article
  • Lincoln (WV) Journal Thumbs Up
  • Lincoln County
  • Lincoln County Feud
  • Lincoln County Feud Lecture
  • LinkedIn
  • Logan (WV) Banner News Article
  • Lunch With Books
  • Our Overmountain Men: The Revolutionary War in Western Virginia (1775-1783)
  • Pinterest
  • Scarborough Society's Art and Lecture Series
  • Smithsonian Article
  • Spirit of Jefferson News Article
  • The Friendly Neighbor Radio Show 1
  • The Friendly Neighbor Radio Show 2
  • The Friendly Neighbor Radio Show 3
  • The Friendly Neighbor Radio Show 4
  • The New Yorker
  • The State Journal's 55 Good Things About WV
  • tumblr.
  • Twitter
  • Website
  • Weirton (WV) Daily Times Article
  • Wheeling (WV) Intelligencer News Article 1
  • Wheeling (WV) Intelligencer News Article 2
  • WOWK TV
  • Writers Can Read Open Mic Night

Feud Poll 3

Who do you think organized the ambush of Al and Hollene Brumfield in 1889?

Recent Posts

  • Sheriff Joe D. Hatfield, Son of Devil Anse (1962)
  • The C&O Shops at Peach Creek, WV (1974)
  • Map: Southwestern West Virginia (1918-1919)

Ed Haley Poll 1

What do you think caused Ed Haley to lose his sight when he was three years old?

Top Posts & Pages

  • Sheriff Joe D. Hatfield, Son of Devil Anse (1962)
  • Anthony Lawson founds Lawsonville
  • Levisa Hatfield (1927-1929)
  • Logan Memorial Park in McConnell, WV (1928, 2020)
  • Anse Hatfield Letter to Perry Cline (1886)

Copyright

© Brandon Ray Kirk and brandonraykirk.wordpress.com, 1987-2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Brandon Ray Kirk and brandonraykirk.wordpress.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Archives

  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,747 other subscribers

Tags

Appalachia Ashland Big Creek Big Ugly Creek Blood in West Virginia Brandon Kirk Cabell County cemeteries Chapmanville Charleston civil war coal Confederate Army crime culture Ed Haley Ella Haley Ferrellsburg feud fiddler fiddling genealogy Green McCoy Guyandotte River Harts Harts Creek Hatfield-McCoy Feud history Huntington John Hartford Kentucky Lawrence Haley life Lincoln County Lincoln County Feud Logan Logan Banner Logan County Milt Haley Mingo County music Ohio photos timbering U.S. South Virginia Wayne County West Virginia Whirlwind writing

Blogs I Follow

  • OtterTales
  • Our Appalachia: A Blog Created by Students of Southern West Virginia CTC
  • Piedmont Trails
  • Truman Capote
  • Appalachian Diaspora

BLOOD IN WEST VIRGINIA is now available for order at Amazon!

Blog at WordPress.com.

OtterTales

Writings from my travels and experiences. High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water. Mark Twain

Our Appalachia: A Blog Created by Students of Southern West Virginia CTC

This site is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and promotion of history and culture in Appalachia.

Piedmont Trails

Genealogy and History in North Carolina and Beyond

Truman Capote

A site about one of the most beautiful, interesting, tallented, outrageous and colorful personalities of the 20th Century

Appalachian Diaspora

  • Follow Following
    • Brandon Ray Kirk
    • Join 749 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Brandon Ray Kirk
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar