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Brandon Ray Kirk

Tag Archives: Smokehouse Fork

James Butcher Survey (1857)

01 Sunday May 2022

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Appalachia, Big Harts Creek, genealogy, history, James Butcher, James Lawson, Josephus Workman, Logan County, Shannon Butcher, Smokehouse Fork, surveyor, Virginia, West Virginia, William A. Dingess

James Butcher survey, 50 acres on Smoke House Fork of Big Harts Creek in Logan County, VA (1857)

Thomas Conley Survey (1840)

05 Friday Feb 2021

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Tags

Anthony Lawson, Appalachia, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Isaac Conley, John Lawson, Logan County, Robert Hensley, Robert Scott, Smokehouse Fork, Thomas Conley, Virginia, West Virginia

Thomas Conley, 59 acres, Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek, Surveyors Record Book B, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.

Garland Conley, Jr. Survey (1850)

27 Sunday Dec 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Anthony Lawson, Appalachia, Charles I. Stone, Garland Conley Jr., genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Israel Canfield, James Lawson, John Conley, John Hopkins, Logan County, Robert Hensley, Smokehouse Fork, surveyor, West Virginia, William Farley

Garland Conley, Jr. Survey (1850), 32 acres, Smoke House Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, VA. Surveyor Record Book B, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV. This land is located in present-day West Virginia.

Whirlwind News 02.16.1923

12 Friday Apr 2019

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

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Appalachia, Bud Richards, Cherry Tree, genealogy, Grover Adams, Harts Creek, Harvey Smith, history, Hoover Fork, Horatio Rush Adams, hunting, James Robert, Joe Kirk, John Fillinger, John H. Mullins, Logan County, merchant, Mollie Robinson, Mount Gay, Pete Dalton, Pusher Blair, Samuel Vance, singing schools, Smokehouse Fork, Sol Adams, Trace Fork, Twelve Pole Creek, Van Mullins, Victoria Kirk, West Virginia, Whirlwind

A correspondent named “Bluebird” from Whirlwind at Harts Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on February 16, 1923:

Quite a number of people are on the sick list in this vicinity at this time.

Grover Adams has been busily engaged in the hunting business this winter.

Sol Adams of Mount Gay has been visiting relatives on Hoover recently.

Wonder if James Robert has ever let Pusher Blair ride his grey anymore?

The singing school on Trace is progressing nicely.

Victoria and Joe Kirk were out horseback riding Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Mullins have been visiting relatives on Hart.

Mr. Samuel Vance of Twelve Pole was a business visitor to this community recently.

Mr. Pete Dalton was calling on Mrs. Mollie Robinson recently.

Harve Smith and John Fillinger have been having some fine sport fox hunting this winter.

Everybody has been wondering what has become of Ichabod Crane.

Van Mullins of this place is at Cherry Tree on the sick list. We hope that he will soon recover and return home.

Bud Richards is going into the mercantile business near the mouth of Smoke House.

Ratio. Don’t be afraid. The bull dog won’t hurt you.

Stephen Hart: Origins of Harts Creek (1896/1937)

07 Thursday Feb 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Boone County, Crawley Creek, Native American History, Roane County

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Appalachia, Boone County, Crawley Creek, Dick Johnson, Elizabeth Hart, Fred B. Lambert, genealogy, Harts Creek, Henderson Dingess, Henry Clay Ragland, history, Jacob Stollings, James Hart, John Baker, Lincoln County, Little Harts Creek, Logan Banner, Logan County, Logan County Banner, Mud River, Native Americans, Roane County, Smokehouse Fork, Stephen Hart, West Virginia

From the Logan County Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history written by amateur historian Henry Clay Ragland relating to Stephen Hart and the naming of Harts Creek in Lincoln and Logan counties, West Virginia, dated 1896:

Stephen Hart Ragland LCB 04.08.1896.JPG

Logan County (WV) Banner, 8 April 1896.

***

On 13 April 1937, the Logan Banner printed another story about Hart and his relationship to Harts Creek. This latter story was generally derived from Ragland’s 1896 history.

Harts Creek Named After Stephen Hart—A Wanderer And Famous Deer Hunter

Much has been told about Harts Creek in late years, but little is known about the first settler who built his home in the long hollow and gave it a name.

Stephen Hart built a cabin on the farm which Henderson Dingess later owned at the forks of Hart’s Creek. He cared nothing for the soil, but spent his time hunting deer and curing the meat. He didn’t stay long in one place.

Near his cabin he built a house in which to store his cured venison between his infrequent trips to the settlements down the river and was altogether self-sufficient. His neighbors knew little about the man. There is no record of a family reared by him and he told neighbors little of his past history.

His was a roaming nature. He, like the Arabs, pitched his tent where the water was clearest, the game gamest, and the soil most fertile.

To commemorate his short stay at the forks of Harts, neighbors named the creek for him after he had loaded his gun, food stores and skins on a pack mule, and started west.

His few friends heard no more about him, but they remembered him as a “quiet man, a good shot, and a good neighbor.”

Just “around the bend and over the ridge,” Jacob Stollings, John Baker, and Dick Johnson brought their families and built their homes. From descendants of this family comes much of the record of Stephen Hart who gave the creek a name.

Hart’s venison was known for miles around as the tenderest, the most delicately cured meat in the Hart’s section and Stollings, Baker, and Johnson always put in a small supply of Hart’s meat for the winter, sometimes to take an unusually large supply off the hunter’s hands but most times just because they liked the venison.

John Baker married a daughter of Jacob Stollings, and Dick Johnson married a sister of Baker’s. Both men reared large families whose names are familiar in the county’s history.

But Hart left only the name of his beloved deer hunting grounds as a reminder that he had first set foot on Hart’s Creek.

MY NOTE: Of importance, much confusion remains regarding the source for the naming of Harts Creek, essentially relating to the fact that Stephen Hart was born too late to have inspired the naming of the stream. I first attempted to unravel this story when I published a profile of Stephen Hart in a Lincoln County newspaper in 1995/6. Stephen Hart, son of James and Elizabeth Hart, was born c.1810 in North Carolina; Harts Creek appears on a map printed prior to 1824 (Hart was still quite young). In the early 1900s, amateur historian Fred B. Lambert noted that Hart’s father had been killed by Native Americans at the mouth of present-day Little Harts Creek (according to a Hart descendant). Possibly it is Mr. Hart’s father who inspired the naming of the local stream. Problematic to this possibility is the fact that, based on Stephen Hart’s estimated year of birth, his father would have been killed in 1809-1811, which is about fifteen to twenty years too late for an Indian attack in the Guyandotte Valley. Stephen Hart did settle locally. He may well have squatted on Harts Creek land, as Ragland reported in 1896. Based on documentary evidence, he acquired 50 acres on Crawley Creek in 1839. He appears in the 1840 Logan County Census and the 1850 Boone County Census. By 1860, he had settled in Roane County, where he died in 1896–the same year that Ragland published his history. He also left plenty of local descendants in the Mud River section of Lincoln County. How did Ragland garble this section of his history so badly? For those who wish to avoid sorting out this confusing tale, consider this version: at least one early account states the creek was named “hart” due to the prevalence of stags in its vicinity.

Queens Ridge News 09.03.1926

31 Tuesday Jul 2018

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

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Annie Dingess, Appalachia, Ashland, Bob Dingess, Bulwark School, Bunt Dingess, Burl Farley, Carey Dingess, Chapmanville, Charlie Harris, Cole Adams, David Dingess, deputy sheriff, Ed Brumfield, Enos Dial, Ewell Mullins, genealogy, Harts, Harts Creek, history, Howard Adams, Inez Barker, Inez Dingess, Isaac Marion Nelson, J.W. Renfroe, Jeff Baisden, Jonas Branch, Kate Baisden, Kentucky, Lewis Farley, Lincoln County, Liza Mullins, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Lucy Dingess, Mary Ann Farley, Maudie Adams, Mud Fork, Queens Ridge, Rachel Keyser, Roach, Rosa Workman, Sally Dingess, Sidney Mullins, Smokehouse Fork, Sol Adams, Trace Fork, Ula Adams, Ward Brumfield, West Virginia

An unknown correspondent from Queens Ridge (Harts Creek) in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on September 3, 1926:

We are having much rainy weather at this writing.

David Dingess made a business trip to Chapmanville Monday.

Miss Inez Barker of Chapmanville has been visiting Miss Ula Adams of Queen’s Ridge for the past week.

Sidney Mullins made a flying trip to Logan last week.

Edward Brumfield and Enos Dials of Harts were the guests of Misses Inez and Lucy Dingess Saturday and Sunday.

The people of this place enjoyed a fine meeting Saturday and Sunday when fine sermons were delivered by Rev. I.M. Nelson and Revs. J.W. Renfroe and Short from Ashland, Ky. There were a number of conversions.

Ward Brumfield, deputy sheriff of Lincoln county, attended church here Sunday.

Mrs. Rosa Workman of Mud Fork was the guest of her mother, Mrs. Sol Adams last week.

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Harris of Mud Fork were visiting relatives of Smoke House Fork, Sunday.

Miss Maudie Adams and Rachel Keyser were seen out walking Sunday.

R.L. Dingess is teaching school at Bulwark this year. We wish him much success.

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Adams are raising water melons this year.

Times are very lively on Trace now since Mr. Dials made a visit up the left fork.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dingess, a fine son, named J. Cary Dingess.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Farley made a trip to Roach last week, visiting the former’s parents.

Wonder why so many boys visit Mr. Baisden’s now?

Cole Adams looks lonely these days. Cheer up, Cole. Bessie has come back again.

Wonder who the barber is on Jonas Branch nowadays?

Some combinations: Howard and his wash bowl and pitcher; Liza and her flowered dress; Ewell going to Harts; Maudie and her powder puff; Kate and her bobbed hair; Sally and Bunt packing beans.

Albert Dingess Family Cemetery (2018)

04 Friday May 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Shively, Timber

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Albert Dingess, Albert Dingess Family Cemetery, Appalachia, cemeteries, Charleston, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, James Bryant, Logan County, Martha Ann Dingess, Minerva Adkins, Shively, Shively Post Office, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia, West Virginia State Archives, Works Progress Administration

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Albert Dingess Family Cemetery, Shively, Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. You can see the old Shively Post Office down past the trees and along the road. 28 April 2018.

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Albert Dingess Family Cemetery, Shively, Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 28 April 2018.

Albert Dingess Grave 1

Albert Dingess was an important splasher and timberman on Harts Creek in Logan County, WV. His sister, Minerva (Dingess) Adkins, is my great-great-great-grandmother. 8 March 2013.

Martha Ann Bryant Dingess Grave

Martha Ann (Bryant) Dingess was Albert’s second wife. 8 March 2013.

Albert Dingess Cemetery Map

Here’s an old WPA map of the cemetery that shows graves for Albert Dingess and his father-in-law, James Bryant. Courtesy of the WV State Archives, Charleston, WV.

Joshua Butcher Deed to John Workman (1851)

19 Thursday Apr 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Harts Creek, James Tomblin, John Workman, Joshua Butcher, Logan County, Smokehouse Fork, Virginia, W.I. Campbell, West Virginia, William Straton, Wolf Pen Hollow

Josh Butcher to John Workman 1852 1.JPG

Deed Book C, page ____, Logan County Clerk’s Office, Logan, WV.

Conley Cemetery (2018)

31 Saturday Mar 2018

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

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Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, cemeteries, Charley Conley, Conley Cemetery, Garland "Bock" Conley, Garland Bogue Conley, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Lee Conley, Logan County, Mollie Conley, photos, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia, White Oak Fork

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Heading up the mountain to the Conley Cemetery, located on a ridge between Smokehouse Fork and White Oak Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. My young guide was a Conley descendant. 26 March 2018.

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Conley Cemetery — beautiful! Several of Garland and Mollie (Farley) Conley’s children are buried here. I descend from two of Mollie’s siblings. 26 March 2018.

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Conley Cemetery. I mapped at least 74 graves. 26 March 2018.

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Conley Cemetery. “Garland Bock Conley section.” 26 March 2018.

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I first heard of Charles Conley in the early 1990s; it was great to finally locate his grave. 26 March 2018.

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I was sure to place flowers at the grave of Charles Conley. 26 March 2018.

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Lee Conley grave. 26 March 2018.

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Garland Bock Conley grave. 26 March 2018.

Bearwallow Gap at Piney Fork and Hugh Dingess Hollow (2018)

28 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Cemeteries, Halcyon, Lincoln County Feud

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Appalachia, Auglin Watts, Bearwallow Gap, Bill's Branch, Blood in West Virginia, Brandon Kirk, Bryant-Dingess Cemetery, Burl Bryant, cemeteries, French Bryant, genealogy, Harry Kirk, Harts Creek, history, Hugh Dingess Hollow, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, Mosco Dingess, photos, Piney Fork, Smokehouse Fork, West Fork, West Virginia

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Dad and I recently cleared the Bryant-Dingess cemetery at Bearwallow Gap in the head of Piney Fork and Hugh Dingess Hollow on Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. I last visited this cemetery over twenty years ago. 27 January 2018.

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The cemetery was overgrown with saplings. Four persons are buried here: French Bryant, Burl Bryant, Auglin Watts, and Mosco Dingess. 27 January 2018.

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French Bryant (1855-1938), son of Rufus Bryant, is a major character in my feud book, “Blood in West Virginia: Brumfield v. McCoy.” My Kirk family liked French. 27 January 2018

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Burl Bryant grave (lower) and Auglin Watts grave. 27 January 2018.

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Looking downhill toward cemetery. 27 January 2018.

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Up above the cemetery are these magnificent rocks. 27 January 2018.

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Looking from the rocks down into Hugh Dingess Hollow of Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek. 27 January 2018.

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The ridge above the cemetery. 27 January 2018.

 

Garland B. Conley Grave (2018)

08 Monday Jan 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Civil War

≈ 2 Comments

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129th Regiment Virginia Militia, Appalachia, Brandon Kirk, cemeteries, civil war, Confederate Army, Garland Conley Family Cemetery, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Logan County, Phyllis Kirk, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia

IMG_2654

Garland B. Conley (d.1895) was a veteran of Carter’s Company, 129th Regiment Virginia Militia. I recently revisited his grave on Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. 7 January 2018. Photo by Mom.

Harts Creek Moonshiners (1927)

22 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Crawley Creek, Shively, Spottswood

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Appalachia, Bill Bird, Buck Fork, Chapmanville, Crawley Creek, crime, deputy sheriff, Ed Hensley, Harry Butcher, Harts Creek, Henderson Maynard, Henlawson, history, Hugh Butcher, Irwin Carter, Logan Banner, Logan County, moonshine, moonshining, Mud Fork, Smokehouse Fork, Wade Rice, West Virginia, White Oak Fork

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this story about Harts Creek moonshiners dated February 1, 1927:

Raiders Find Three Stills Along Harts

Mash In Abundance is Located But Shiners Are Wary, Alert and Fleet.

Prohibition officers, federal and state, made sweeping raids along Harts Creek last Thursday. Two moonshine stills complete and part of another, together with 900 gallons of mash and 12 gallons of moonshine were seized and destroyed. Operators of the stills escaped the dragnet.

An 80-gallon copper still was found in operation by the raiding agents at the mouth of Buck Fork of Harts Creek, along with 400 gallons of mash and eleven gallons of moonshine. No one was at the still when the officers arrived, according to the latter, but later two men approached carrying sacks of half-gallon fruit jars. At sight of the officers, they turned and fled, escaping.

A 36-gallon capacity still, 300 gallons of mash, and a small quantity of liquor were found by the officers on Smoke House Fork of Harts Creek. Three men fled from the scene on approach of the agents and made good their getaway. Forty-two empty one-half gallon fruit jars were also found there and destroyed.

In the same locality the officers found the worm and other parts of another moonshine still, together with 200 gallons of mash.

Officers participating in the raids were: Federal Agents Lilly and Bill Bird and State Agents Hugh “Ridgerunner” Butcher and Harry Butcher, of Chapmanville, Irwin Carter, and Wade Rice.

These men believe they seized the still that made the liquor that was consumed by those present when ____________________ were shot to death.

***

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this story about Crawley Creek and Harts Creek moonshiners dated April 8, 1927:

‘Shiner Totes Still and Makes Escape

An all-day raid Tuesday on Crawleys and the upper reaches of Harts Creek by five officers resulted in the capture of three stills and 22 barrels of mash.

Five shiners were seen at a distance working around a still but they were able to escape and take their still with them owing to their better knowledge of the country. A couple of shots were fired at the man who carried the still but he “carried on” with a stout heart and saved his “mint.” This was on White Oak of Harts.

This raiding party was made up of Prohibition Agent Ed Hensley, Deputy Sheriff Henderson Maynard and State Policeman Rowe, Wilson, and Russell. They went to the head of Mud Fork Tuesday morning and scouted along the ridges, reaching Henlawson late in the day where a car awaited them to bring them home.

The signal system along Crawleys and Harts works so effectively, it is said, that it is nearly impossible for the officers to catch a moonshiner at his still or get hold of any of his product, although stills and mash are often found. If the officers raid the country in daylight they are seen and warnings are sent out in various ways to all concerned. If they travel at night, they must use lanterns or flashlights which are of course detected and reported.

Ben Adams

24 Tuesday Oct 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Lincoln County Feud, Spottswood, Timber, Warren

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A.J. Mullins, Annie Butcher, Appalachia, Ben Adams, Ben Adams Family Cemetery, Brandon Kirk, Cecil Butcher, Chatillon's Improved Spring Balance, Dave Fry, distiller, Emalina Baisden, feud, Garland Fly Conley, genealogy, Harts Creek, Henderson Bryant, history, Kathy Adams, Lincoln County, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, logging, Matthew Babe Dempsey, Melvin Conley, Mont Baisden, Mose Workman, Nab Smith, New York, photos, Pilgrims Rest Church, Reece Dalton, Rosabelle Fry, Smokehouse Fork, Spottswood, timber, Trace Fork, Van Butcher, Warren, West Virginia

Benjamin “Ben” Adams (1855-1910), son of Joseph and Dicy (Mullins) Adams, was a prominent logger, splasher, distiller, and tavern operator at Warren-Spottswood in Logan County, WV. He was a key participant in the Lincoln County Feud.

Ben Adams Cabin

Ben Adams residence (built 1892), located on Harts Creek between the mouth of Trace Fork and Smokehouse Fork in Logan County, WV. Photo taken c.1995.

Bell Adams well 2

Ben Adams well, Trace Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. Photo taken c.1996.

Ben Adams homeplace on Trace

Ben Adams home and still site on Trace Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. Photo taken c.1996.

Ben Adams millstone 1

Ben Adams millstone on Trace Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. Photo taken c.1996.

Ben Adams Scale 1

Ben Adams scale

Ben Adams Scale 2

Ben Adams scale

Book 1 Page 26

Ben Adams Baptism Record, Pilgrims Rest United Baptist Church Record.

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Ben Adams grave, Trace Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. October 2014. Photo by Kathy Adams.

Bert Dingess

20 Tuesday Jun 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Shively

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Albert Dingess, Appalachia, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, Logan County, photos, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia

Bert Dingess copyright

This photo is partly labeled as “…bert Dingess.” I found this photo among old Dingess photos on Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek in Logan County, WV. Perhaps this is “Albert Dingess.”

Chapmanville District Schools (1927) 2

15 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Civil War, Halcyon, Native American History, Queens Ridge, Shively, Spottswood, Stone Branch, Warren, Whirlwind, Yantus

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Albert Thornton, Alice Dingess, Alonzo, Anna Adams, Appalachia, Battle of Cloyd's Mountain, Beatrice Adams, Ben Adams, Bob Dingess, Brown's Run, Browns Run School, Buck Fork, Buck Fork School, Bud Dingess School, Bulwark School, Chapmanville District, civil war, Cole Adams, Confederate Army, Conley School, Crawley Creek, Daisy Dingess, Dalton School, Dave Dingess School, Dixie Mullins, E. Burton, East Fork, Ed Dalton, education, Edward Chapman, F.M. McKay, Fisher B. Adkins, Fisher Thompson, genealogy, George Doss, George Mullins School, Harts Creek, history, Hoover School, Howard Adams, Hugh Dingess School, Ina Dingess, Ivy Branch School, J.A. Vickers, J.L. Thomas, John Conley, John Dingess, L.D. Stollings, Lee Dingess School, Limestone Creek, Local History and Topography of Logan County, Logan County, Lower Trace School, Manor School, Marsh Fork, Melvin Plumley, Middle Fork, Native Americans, Pigeon Roost, Piney School, Reuben Conley, Road Fork, Rocky School, Sallie Dingess, Smokehouse Fork, Stephen Hart, Striker School, T. Doss, Thelma Dingess, Three Fork School, Tim's Fork, Timothy Dwight, Twelve Pole Creek, Ula Adams, Union Army, West Fork, West Virginia, White Oak School, Workman School, World War I

Teachers identified the following schools in Chapmanville District of Logan County, WV, and offered a bit of local history in 1927:

Dave Dingess School, est. 1814

Ula Adams, teacher

One room frame school

“Harts Creek derived its name from Steven Harts, said to have been killed by Indians on the creek.”

Striker School, est. about 1874

Edward Chapman, teacher

One room frame building

Three Fork School, est. 1878

One room frame building, originally a log house

Nine Confederate veterans live here: George Doss, T. Doss, L.D. Stollings, Ed Dalton, Ruben Conley, John Conley, Ben Adams, E. Burton, Melvin Plumley. A Union veteran lives here; he originated elsewhere. Three branches of Crawley Creek are Road Fork, Middle Fork, and Pigeon Roost. Alonzo is the local post office.

Bulwark School, est. 1880

Robert Dingess, teacher

One room frame building

“All fought on the Confederate side” during the Civil War. One man gained great merit from our district as a marksman with the American marines during World War I.

Lee Dingess School, est. 1891

Cole Adams, teacher

One room frame

Five local men served in the Confederate Army.

Browns Run School, est. 1892

Ina Dingess, teacher

One room frame building

“Sent several soldiers to help the South.” The fork is named for a Brown who lived at its mouth.

Buck Fork School, est. 1894

No teacher given

One room frame building

A Church of Christ exists nearby. Three local men served in the Confederate Army. One local soldier lost both hands in World War I.

Ivy Branch School, est. 1895

Anna Adams, teacher

Albert Thornton was the first teacher here. “Trace Fork received its name from the original road leading to Twelve Pole Creek.”

Hugh Dingess School, est. 1897

Sallie Dingess, teacher

One room frame building

Conley School, est. 1897

J.L. Thomas, teacher

One room frame building

The first house built on Smoke House Fork at its mouth had no chimney for quite a while and smoked badly.

Dalton School, est. 1897

Thelma Dingess, teacher

One room frame building

“This district furnished a lot of Civil War veterans and played her part.”

Bud Dingess School, est. 1904

Beatrice Adams, teacher

One room frame building

“East Fork named on account of its being the most Eastern fork of Harts Creek.” One local soldier served in the Confederate Army.

Hoover School, est. 1910

Howard Adams, teacher

One room frame building

A Christian Church exists in the vicinity. Four local men served in the Confederate ARmy. “Harts Creek named from Steven Harts murdered by Indians.” Three boys went from here and one was wounded at the battle of Argonne.

George Mullins School, est. 1910

Dixie Mullins, teacher

One room frame building

“Buck Fork named from large number of male deer on creek.”

Rocky School (no date)

Daisy Given Dingess, teacher

References an Indian mound on Pigeon Roost where tomahawks, arrowheads, etc. can be found. Indian burial ground.

Under the Tim’s Fork entry, it says that John Dingess was killed in battle at Cloyd’s farm. Tim’s Fork is named for Timothy Dwight, who lived there.

Lower Trace School, est. 1919

Alice Dingess, teacher

Two room frame building

“Sent several soldiers to help the South.” Also, “Harts Creek named from Steven Harts.”

Piney School, est. 1921

F.M. McKay, teacher

One room building

No permanent churches exist locally; people meet occasionally in one of the school houses. Four local men served in the Confederate Army. “Piney was named because of so much pine growing there.”

White Oak School, est. 1922

Fisher Thompson, teacher

One room rented frame building

Manor School, est. 1923

Located at Limestone

Workman School, est. 1924

Fisher B. Adkins, teacher

One room frame building

Marsh Fork derived its name from the marshy land near its mouth.

Source: Local History and Topography of Logan County by J.A. Vickers (Charleston, WV: George M. Ford, State Superintendent, 1927).

Henderson and Sallie Dingess graves (2017)

03 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Cemeteries, Civil War, Lincoln County Feud, Shively, Spottswood, Warren

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Appalachia, Blood in West Virginia, Brandon Kirk, cemeteries, Dingess-Brumfield Family Cemetery, genealogy, Harts Creek, Henderson Dingess, history, Kathy Adams, Lincoln County Feud, Logan County, photos, Sallie Dingess, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia

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Henderson and Sallie (Adams) Dingess are buried here on Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV. Since my last visit, a tree has pitched over onto their graves. Photo by Kathy Adams. 2 April 2017.

Stephen Hart (1896)

31 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek

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Appalachia, genealogy, Harts Creek, Henderson Dingess, Henry Clay Ragland, history, Logan, Logan County, Logan County Banner, Smokehouse Fork, Stephen Hart, West Virginia

Stephen Hart Ragland LCB 04.08.1896

Logan County Banner (Logan, WV), 8 April 1896.

Patton Thompson military record (1862-1863)

24 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Civil War

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34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, Abbotts Branch, Appalachia, Barney Carter, civil war, Confederate Army, constable, deputy sheriff, genealogy, Harts Creek, Harts Creek District, history, John B. Floyd, John C. Chapman, Lincoln County, Logan, Logan County, Patton Thompson, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia

P Thompson military record 1

Patton Thompson military record, 34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry (Company D), 1862-1863. Patton Thompson, a resident of Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek, Logan County, WV, is my great-great-great-grandfather.

P Thompson military record 2

Patton Thompson later lived at the Baisden farm on Guyandotte River just above Abbotts Branch.

P Thompson military record 3

During the early 1880s, Patton Thompson was a Lincoln County deputy sheriff and a constable in Harts Creek District.

William A. Farley Grave (2016)

14 Monday Nov 2016

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

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Appalachia, genealogy, Harts Creek, history, John Clay Farley, Logan County, photos, Sarah Headley, Smokehouse Fork, West Virginia, William A. Farley

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William A. “Bill” Farley (1830-1915) grave, located on Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek in Logan County, WV. I descend from two of Bill’s siblings: John Clay Farley and Sarah (Farley) Headley. 14 November 2016. Photo by Kathy Adams

129th Regiment Virginia Militia (Carter’s Company)

08 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Big Harts Creek, Chapmanville, Civil War, Crawley Creek, Green Shoal, Harts, Little Harts Creek

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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

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