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Tag Archives: Superintendent of Schools

Early Schools of Logan County, WV (1916)

04 Tuesday Feb 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Civil War, Logan

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Appalachia, Aracoma, Athelyn Hatfield, Beatrice Taylor, Bertha Allen, Big Island, Big Rock, Bill Ellis, board of education, Brooke McComas, C&O Railroad, Charles Avis, circuit rider, civil war, Cleveland, Coal Street, Dingess Run, E.M. Ford, education, Elma Allen, F.O. Woerner, Florence Hughes, Fred Kellerman, Free School Act, G.O. Nelson, George Bryant, George T. Swain, Guyandotte Valley, Hickman White, history, Isabella Wilson, Island Creek, J.A. McCauley, J.L. Chambers, J.L. Curry, J.W. Fisher, James Lawson, Jennie Mitchell, Jim Sidebottom, Joe Perry, Joel Lee Jones, John B. Floyd, John Dingess, Kate Taylor, Kittie Virginia Clevinger, L.G. Burns, Lawnsville, Leland Hall, Leon Smith, Lettie Halstead, Lewis B. Lawson, Lillian Halstead, Logan, Logan County, Logan Democrat, Logan High School, Logan Wildcats, Lon E. Browning, Lucile Bradshaw, Maud Ryder, Maude Smartwood, Minnie Cobb, Morgantown, Ohio, Old Fork Field, Pearl Hundley, Pearl Staats, Peter Dingess, principal, R.E. Petty, Roscoe Hinchman, Sarah Dingess, Southern Methodist Church, Stollings, Superintendent of Schools, Tennessee, The Islands, typhoid fever, W.V. Vance, W.W. Hall, West Virginia

From the Logan Democrat of Logan, WV, in a story titled “Schools and School Houses of Logan” and dated September 14, 1916, comes this bit of history about early education in Logan County, courtesy of G.T. Swain:

The hardest proposition encountered by the author in the preparation of this book was securing the following information relative to the early schools of Logan. We interviewed numbers of the older inhabitants, but owing to their faulty memories we were unable to obtain anything accurate. Nor were the county school officials able to give us any information regarding the schools of the early period. In making mention of this fact to Professor W.W. Hall of Stollings, who is District Superintendent of the free schools in Logan district, he graciously offered to secure as much information as he could from an old lady by the name of Sarah Dingess, who lives near his home. Thus, when we thought that we had exhausted every effort along this line, we were surprised and doubly appreciative of the efforts of Professor Hall, who secured for us the data from which the following article was compiled:

When the first settlers of Logan left the civilization of the East and came to the fertile Guyan Valley to carve homes for themselves and their children out of the forest, they brought with them a desire for schools for their offspring. One of the first pioneers of this valley, Peter Dingess, very early in the last century, erected a pole cabin upon the ruins of the Indian village on the Big Island, for a school house. That was the first school house erected within the limits of Logan county. In that house the children of The Islands (the first name of Logan) were taught “readin’, writin’ and spankin’.” After they ceased to use that house for school purposes, the people annoyed Mr. Dingess so much, wanting to live in the building, that he had his son, John, go out at night and burn it down. Thus the first school house for the children of Logan disappeared.

After the cabin on the Big Island ceased to be used for a school house, Lewis B. Lawson erected a round log house near the mouth of Dingess Run, where W.V. Vance now resides, for a school building. In that house George Bryant taught the children of Lawnsville (the name of Logan at that time) for a number of terms. A Mrs. Graves from Tennessee, wife of a Methodist circuit rider, also taught several terms there. Her work was of high order as a few of the older citizens yet attest.

A short time after Mr. Lawson built his school house at Dingess Run his brother, James, erected a school house on his land at the forks of Island Creek in the Old Fork Field, where J.W. Fisher now resides. The Rev. Totten, a famous and popular Southern Methodist circuit rider, taught the urchins of Aracoma (the name of Logan at that time) for several terms in the early ’50s of the last century.

After the passage of the Free School Act by the General Assembly of Virginia in 1846, the people of Aracoma and Dingess Run erected a boxed building for a school house by the Big Rock in the narrows above Bill Ellis’ hollow. The county paid the tuition of poor children in that school. Rev. Totten taught for several years in that house. He was teaching there when the Civil War began, when he discontinued his school, joined the Logan Wild Cats, marched away to Dixie, and never returned. Each of the last three named houses was washed away in the great flood in the year 1861.

When the Civil War was over and the soldiers had returned to their homes, they immediately set about to erect a school house. They built a hewn log house on the lower side of Bill Ellis’ hollow. That was the first free school building erected within the present limits of the city of Logan. In that house one-armed Jim Sidebottom wielded the rod and taught the three R’s. He was strict and a good teacher in his day. That house served as an institution of learning till in 1883 the Board of Education bought about an acre on the hill where the brick school houses now stand from Hickman White. A few years later additional land was bought of John B. Floyd in order to get a haul road from Coal street opposite the residence of Joe Perry’s to the school building. The old frame building was erected on the hill in 1883, and it furnished ample room for the children for more than two decades.

After the completion of the Guyan railroad to Logan the phenomenal growth of the city began. The growth of its educational facilities has kept pace with its material progress. In 1907 a brick building of four more rooms was added. Then they thought they would never need any more room. In 1911 they built a two story frame school house. In 1914 the magnificent new High school building was erected. Today, nineteen teachers are employed in the city, and within the next few years several more teachers must be employed, while the buildings are already taxed to their capacity.

In the year 1911 the Board of Education employed W.W. Hall as district supervisor. He asked for the establishment of a high school, and the citizens strongly endorsed his recommendation. The high school was established and Mr. Hall went at his own expense to the state university at Morgantown to find a principal for the high school. He secured F.O. Woerner, and the school was organized in 1911, on August 28. The next year Miss Maude Smartwood of Cleveland, Ohio, was added to the high school teaching force. In 1913 J.A. McCauley died from typhoid fever before the school closed, and George EM. Ford was employed to finish the term. In 1914 the school offered for the first time a standard four-year high school course and was classified by the state authorities as a first class high school. Today it is regarded as one of the best high schools in the state. It has more than one hundred pupils enrolled and employs seven regular high school teachers. It has a better equipped domestic science department than any other high school in West Virginia. When the high school was organized in 1911, there were only seven pupils in eighth grade in the city school. These seven were taken and pitched bodily into the high school. Of that first class, Fred Kellerman, Leland Hall, Roscoe Hinchman, Leon Smith, Kate and Beatrice Taylor continued in school until they were graduated June 2, 1915.

The first common school diploma examination ever held in Logan county was conducted by Supt. Hall as the close of his first year’s work at the head of the Logan District schools. He also conducted the first common school graduation exercises ever held in the county, in the old Southern Methodist church, on May 28, 1912.

Logan is indeed proud of her schools, and the efforts made by the faculty and school officials toward the training and educational development of young America meets with the hearty approval and commendation of all citizens.

Those in charge of the county schools are: Lon E. Browning, county superintendent; W.W. Hall, Logan district supervisor; the Logan district board of education is composed of J.L. Curry, president; and J.L. Chambers and L.G. Burns, commissioners. Chas. Avis is secretary of the board.

The faculty consists of F.O. Woerner, Principal of the Logan High School and instructor in mathematics; Joel Lee Jones, languages; Minnie Cobb, science; Isabella Wilson, cooking and sewing; Maud Ryder, commercial subjects; Jennie Mitchell, history and civics, and Mrs. R.E. Petty, music.

Lucile Bradshaw, English, literature, and mathematics; Florence Hughes, geography, history, and physiology, of the sixth and seventh grades departmental.

The following are the teachers in the grades: G.O. Nelson, Principal; Athelyn Hatfield, Pearl Staats, Brooke McComas, Lillian Halstead, Elma Allen, Lettie Halstead, Pearl Hundley, Kittie Virginia Cleavinger and Bertha Allen.

State v. Edgar Combs (1923): Statement of E.F. Scaggs, No. 18

31 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Coal, Logan

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Appalachia, Battle of Blair Mountain, Blair Mountain, coal, E.F. Scaggs, Edgar Combs, history, Logan, Logan County, Lola Herald, Superintendent of Schools, United Mine Workers of America, West Virginia

Document 18-1Document 18-2

Trial of Don Chafin, the “Fighting Sheriff of Logan County” (1924)

05 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Huntington, Logan

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A.S. Christian, Appalachia, Barnabus, Blue Goose, crime, deputy sheriff, Don Chafin, Elliott Northcott, Emmett Scaggs, F.C. Leftwich, Frank Lewis, George W. McClintic, H.S. Walker, history, Huntington, John Browning, John Chafin, John S. Marcum, John T. Gore, Logan Banner, Logan County, Mallory, Mine Wars, Prohibition, sheriff, Simp Thompson, Superintendent of Schools, Tennis Hatfield, Volstead Act, W.F. Farley, Walter Wright, West Virginia, William Avis, William Dingess

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about the trial of Sheriff Don Chafin, dated September 26, 1924:

Trial of Don Chafin Set For Monday, October 6

Logan’s Sheriff Will Answer to Charges of Alleged Violation of Volstead Act.

Trial of Don Chafin, fighting sheriff of Logan county and a figure of national prominence, indicted by the grand jury in federal court on two counts, one charging conspiracy to violate the Volstead act and the other engaging unlawfully in the retail liquor business, will come up before Judge George W. McClintic, in United States Court at Huntington Monday October 6.

The same day was fixed by the court for the trial of John T. Gore, a deputy sheriff, and H.S. Walker, who were indicted jointly for alleged conspiracy to secure the arrest and conviction of one Frank Lewis, a negro, on a pistol toting charge because he had been a witness against another negro charged with violating the prohibition law.

Sheriff Don Chafin and Gore were given their release under bond of $5,000 each, but the court declined to admit Walker to bail, and he was remanded to the county jail, and held without bail until Wednesday at which time he was released under [error here in layout] mitted to jail Friday afternoon, after bond of $5,000. The last named was arrested and committed to jail last Friday afternoon, after he was alleged to have administered a severe whipping to William Avis, a witness before the grand jury. The alleged assault was said to have occurred when Avis returned to Logan from Huntington Tuesday.

The court at the same time continued the cases of five other Logan county officials indicted along with Sheriff Chafin, Gore, and Walker to the March term in Huntington [error in layout] in each of these cases the defendant obtained release under $3,000. They were: Emmett Scaggs, now county superintendent of schools in Logan, and the democratic nominee for sheriff, indicted for alleged illicit possession of liquor; Simp Thompson, a deputy sheriff under Chafin, indicted on a charge of alleging that for a $200 consideration he released Walter Wright, in whose possession a still and quantity of moonshine had been found; John Chafin, a relative of the sheriff and a deputy under him, indicted on a charge of having had liquor at the polls at Mallory, Logan county during the conduct of a national election; William Dingess, a deputy sheriff, indicted on a charge of selling liquor; and John Browning, a deputy sheriff, indicted for alleged possession of whisky in the basement of the court house at Logan.

Indicted jointly with Dingess on a charge of selling moonshine was Garfield Maynard. He did not appear for arraignment with the rest of the accused and the court ordered a capias issued for him.

Appearing in court with the famed fighting sheriff of Logan and the rest of the indicted persons were Colonel John S. Marcum and Judge F.C. Leftwich, engaged as defense counsel for the entire group. The formalities were brief and required but a comparatively short time of transaction. After furnishing their bonds the accused, with their bondsmen, who included W.F. Farley and A.S. Christian, left the court chamber in a body, accompanied by their counsel.

The indictments against the Logan officials were returned by the federal grand jury Friday morning, coming as the outgrowth of an exhaustive investigation of affairs in Logan county which  the government, it was said, has been conducting here for the past six months or more. According to reports, as many as 20 agents of the department of justice were at work in Logan at one time.

Tennis Hatfield, Republican nominee for the office of sheriff of Logan county, who served a jail term of eleven months and paid a fine of $1,000 for violating the prohibition law, was understood to have been the principal witness against Sheriff Don Chafin before the grand jury.

According to statements emanating from the office of United States District Attorney Elliott Northcott, Hatfield offered testimony to the effect that Chafin was his partner in the ownership and promotion of the notorious speakeasy once conducted at Barnabus in Logan county. This establishment, known as the Blue Goose, flourished from 1914 to late in 1922, when federal men closed up the place.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 26 September 1924

Recollections of McKinley Grimmett of Bruno, WV 2 (1984)

03 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Battle of Blair Mountain, Coal, Italian American History, Logan, Man

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Alva Grimmett, Appalachia, Barnabus, Blair Mountain, Bruno, Buffalo Creek, Cabin Creek, Campbell's Creek, carpenter, Charleston, Christian, coal, Democratic Party, deputy sheriff, Don Chafin, drum runner, Ed Goodman, Emmett Scaggs, George McClintock, Great Depression, Hatfield Bottom, Henderson Grimmett, history, Joe Hatfield, John Chafin, Kanawha County, Kistler, Landsville, Logan County, Mallory, Mallory Coal Company, Matilda Hatfield, McKinley Grimmett, moonshining, Nancy Grimmett, prosecuting attorney, Republican Party, Sand Lick, sheriff, Superintendent of Schools, Tennis Hatfield, Thomas Hatfield, United Mine Workers of America, West Virginia, Wild Goose Saloon

McKinley Grimmett was born on November 30, 1896 to Henderson and Nancy (Hatfield) Grimmett at Sand Lick, Logan County, WV. On May 14, 1916, Mr. Grimmett married a Ms. Plymale, who soon died, in Logan County. One child named Alva died on June 21, 1919 of whooping cough, aged fourteen months. His World War I draft registration card dated September 12, 1918 identifies him as having blue eyes and light-colored hair. He was employed by Mallory Coal Company at Mallory, WV. On November 13, 1919, he married Matilda “Tilda” Hatfield, daughter of Thomas Hatfield, in Logan County. He identified himself as a farmer in both of his marriage records. During the 1920s, he served as a deputy under Sheriff Tennis Hatfield.

The following interview of Mr. Grimmett was conducted at his home on July 17, 1984. In this part of the interview, he recalls his occupations. Coal, Don Chafin, Tennis Hatfield, unionization, and the Great Depression are featured.

***

Did you ever go to work in the mines?

Oh yeah. I’ve been… That’s what I done over here for 44 years and two months, in and around the mines.

Who hired you?

Yeah, a fellow by the name of Frazier down here at Logan. Superintendent. Not at Logan. Landsville. I stayed there four years, pretty nigh of five years. Then I quit down there and I come to Christian and I stayed up here. A fellow by the name of Harry Venebale hired me over here, the superintendent. And I stayed with him 34 years. Wouldn’t let nobody else hold a lever but me. Drum runner. I’d run as high as 35 railroad cars a day off of that hill. I’ve done it many a day.

Did you do other jobs?

Oh yeah. Days the mines didn’t work I was the carpenter boss. That is, I was overseer over ‘em all. After the union come in, why I wouldn’t take it as a boss. They just run me as a leader, you know. At that time, I’d either have to go in as a boss or get off the union, you know. And I knowed the union was the best for me and I stayed with the union.

Did you have any role in organizing the union?

Oh yeah. I had a big… They wouldn’t let us organize on their property. We had to go across an island over there in the river and have our meeting to organize.

Is it true that local men had the union organized and were waiting for Washington to allow it?

Yeah, that’s about right. We got it. No, they come from Cabin Creek and Kanawha County and Campbell’s Creek over there and tried to organize us. Don Chafin was the high sheriff. He got so much ton per coal and everything. And we couldn’t do a thing because he had every child, woman, and everything else on his side to block us every way. They come to Blair Mountain and had fights. Killed several people, too. Both sides. But I never was in it. I was running a drum and they never did ask me to go. But they paid ‘em. They did go from over there. And went from around here, too. To fight against them, you know. And there was several of them got killed up Dingess Run there. I’ve been at the place where one fellow, sink hole he was in. There was four of them got killed: deputy sheriffs. George Gore and a fellow by the name of Mitchem. I don’t know the other two. I’ve forgot ‘em now. George Gore and Mitchem. But I know where they was at and everything there.

Can you describe Don Chafin?

I’m not too familiar with him now. But he controlled Logan County all the time. Whatever he said, why they had to do or they’d get around you and beat you to death or something like that, throw you in the river, tie your hands behind you – stuff like that.

Were you a Chafin deputy?

I worked for Tennis Hatfield and Joe.

How did Tennis hire you?

Well, Emmett Scaggs run against him. And the County Court was Democratic and they give it all to Emmett. Tennis carried it up to the high court and he won it. About that time, that’s when it was, 1922 I believe it was, last part of 1922, well Emmett, he was a well-educated fellow, he had been the superintendent of schools and everything, he turns around and registers and turned to be a Republican, well then they appointed him prosecuting attorney. You understand? Give him a job. Now the Democrats didn’t do that—Tennis and all of them did. It made a full change around whenever Tennis was elected. The County Court had been Democratic all the time and it turned over, changed hands, and make a Republican County Court. Just like they’ve got now, it’s all Democratic. And a Republican couldn’t get nothing. I’ve seen John Chafin and Hi beat an Italian man. He had two ducks carrying them. Had to wade the river. They fired him over there at Christian. Had to ride horses that day and time. Didn’t have no cars. And they jumped off their horses after they overtook him and they beat him until he couldn’t walk. My dad had a store down at the mouth of the creek and he went and got him and got him up to the store and his ducks got loose. And Mother got the ducks and she raised all kinds of ducks from ‘em. But I haven’t seen that man from that day to this. He’s dead now. But they liked to beat him to death. Now Henry Allen was another one. They barred him from the union. He was a big organizer when it first started. And he got to playing crooked work and they put him out of the union. And he’d done something or other to the party. And they beat him around there at Kistler so hard – the creek was up. Buffalo was a big creek any way. They throwed him up there at Ben Gall’s store in the creek and he washed down there at Kistler and lodged up behind the middle pier at the railroad track. Some men run in and helped him out. I forget who it was. I didn’t see that go off but that’s what happened. Well, he come up here, Henry did, to where I was walking and wanted me to get him a job. Well, I told him I would talk to the boss. A fellow by the name of George Kore. George Kore give him a job working for Tony Lumber Company, helping build houses, you know. He worked about three days and why George fired him and wouldn’t have nothing more to do with him. Henry’s dead now. That’s the last I knowed of him.

Do you remember the names of any early union organizers?

I never did meet ‘em. I tell you they kept me busy all the time as a repair man and drum runner, and days that the mines didn’t run I had to do repair work on the houses and tipples and stuff. Them organizers was, one of ‘em was a fellow by the name of Hall. I’ve seen him but I forget his first name. He had an office over there in Charleston. He was president of the union then. Don Chafin went over there and aimed to tell him what to do and he shot Don. It put Don in the hospital for a long time. After he got out there, Don Chafin and Tennis Hatfield had been in to the Wild Goose business selling bootlegging moonshine whisky up at Hatfield Bottom [in Barnabus]. And they fell out. And Tennis, he goes before the federal grand jury. I forget who the judge was. I knowed him. [George McClintock] And Tennis indicted him and sent him to the pen for four years. But they never did do nothing to Hall for shooting him over there in the miners’ office. But he never did go back in it anymore.

You remember when the mines began to mechanize?

Oh, yeah. I was in there then. I worked up til ’62.

How did the mines change?

Well, they loaded by the car that day and time when they first started. Then they got conveyors in. And they cut the coal and they throwed it on them conveyors by hand. And they built belt-lines from here all across the river, just as far as you wanted to, you know. Had different offsets in it and different motors pulling the belt line. And it come out into a big tipple and dumped into a tipple and then I took it from that. I run it 2100 feet down the incline over there on two monitors on three rails. Now you figure that out. Ten tons to each monitor Now they come up there to the middle way place and they put four rails, you understand? And then one monitor passed the other one at that middle place. All the time. They had a big drum. The drum was twelve foot in diameter and fourteen foot long that way. Built out of gum. Six by six gum. Rope was inch and a quarter.

Was there much bitterness among people when mechanization started?

Oh, no. They was all for it. They was everything was settled. Whatever the union said, they had to do at that time. It was all loaded by the ton by the car. There wasn’t no weighing or nothing like that ‘til they got the union. Then they had to put scales in, you know, and weigh these cars of coal and they had to pay so much a ton. Why, there was people over there at Christian – I never will forget it. Ed Goodman was his name. He’d be broke every week. He’d never load over four or five cars. Just 35 cents a car and a car would hold about four tons, five. And they was starving him to death. He’d come in there on paydays and I’d come in. I was always the last man getting off the hill. He was wanting on dollar scrip. He’d come over and whisper to me and tell me they wouldn’t let him have a one dollar scrip. And I’d vouch for him. Sometimes I’d pull my pay envelope out—they put your money in a pay envelope, you know—and I’ve pull out my pay envelope and give him a dollar and that would do him until Monday. He had a big family. They all weren’t home at that time. He managed. And then when the union come in, they had to treat him the way they did the rest of them.

Did you maintain steady work during the Great Depression?

Yeah. I’ve always had work. I get awful good Social Security. I study all the time – they worked me too much. I actually couldn’t stand it hardly. They’d work me Sunday and every other day. But now I never got no big money at that time. I started off at four dollars a day and I ended up with two hundred and fifty dollars a month. I stayed on that way for 19 years. They wouldn’t give me a raise. I asked ‘em for more money. Miners got a raise, you know. They said no, he couldn’t give it. Was going broke. I said well if you won’t give it I’ll be leaving you first of the month. And he didn’t think I would. Day before I was supposed to quit I sent my toolbox off the hill and everything. They had a man-car there that they rode backwards and forwards that people rode up and down the hill in. That night the man said if I would stay he would split the difference with me. Give me half. Give me twenty-five dollars. I said no I won’t do it. I’ve made you a fortune here. So he wouldn’t come up to fifty dollars and I wouldn’t come off it. Next day they had a wreck. A fella was running… I was sitting here. And they wasn’t no timber around there and I could see the monitors from here. And he wrecked and I never seen such dust in all of my life. And I got in my car and went over there. And they tore one up so bad they had to buy a new one. A monitor. That cost ‘em some money, too.

NOTE: Some names may be transcribed incorrectly.

Republicans to Invade Chapmanville District (1926)

02 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in African American History, Chapmanville, Logan

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A.B. Eubanks, Appalachia, assessor, Chapmanville District, Charles Ritchie, Cole Hatfield, constable, county clerk, Democratic Party, E.R. Chapman, E.T. England, G.R. Claypool, history, Ira Hager, J.G. Hunter, James French Strother, Joe Buskirk, Johnny Pack, Lloyd P. Hager, Logan, Logan Banner, Logan County, Naaman Jackson, Noah Browning, politics, Republican Party, Superintendent of Schools, W.N. Bechtel, West Virginia

From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, we find the following story dated September 10, 1926:

Groundwork for an energetic campaign was laid at a meeting of the candidates, committeemen and other party leaders and workers at a meeting held in Republican headquarters Wednesday afternoon. For more than two hours there was a frank discussion of local political conditions. Every appeal for party harmony–and these appeals came from all quarters–was greeted with applause and called forth unreserved pledges of loyalty to the whole ticket. Those present declare that so convincing was the evidence of a general determination to lay aside past differences about candidacies and party management that during the meeting and afterward predictions were advanced that the Republicans would carry the county by not less than 2,000 and more probably by 3,000. After the general meeting, local candidates and members of the committee met to formulate plans for the campaign. As a result of these meetings, it may be announced that this year the Republican campaign will be extended into every district. For the first time in the party’s history Chapmanville district is to be considered part of the battle-ground. That old Gibraltar of the Democracy is to have an opportunity at last, it is asserted, to hear both sides.

E.T. England, former attorney general and now the Republican nominee for representative in congress from the Sixth district, opened the general meeting by a fervent appeal for harmony and a whole-hearted effort in behalf of every candidate from Congressman James French Strother to Johnny Pack, candidate for constable. Notwithstanding his own candidacy, he declared that nothing interested him more in a political way than to see Logan county definitely fixed in the Republican column. “I have no personal interest at stake here,” he said, “yet if you think I’m needed at any time in the campaign let me know and I’ll come if it is possible. But you won’t need my services. All that is necessary to do is to go to the people and tell them in detail of what a Republican county court, a Republican sheriff, and a Republican assessor and magistrates have done; and then contrast that record with the record of the Democratic machine.” Until there was a political change in the administration of affairs, General England pointed out, the casual meeting of three or more Republicans on the street was considered by the authorities as an unlawful assembly. “Remind the people of the greater measure of liberty now, accorded to every man,” he advised. “Explain so all can understand that a Republican regime has lowered taxes, in spite of a reduced valuation of property for taxation purposes. It was the first time the taxpayers’ interest had been served; in fact for many years the subject of economy was never mentioned in Logan county.”

G.R. Claypool, chairman of the county committee, presided at the meeting and called on representatives of every element and of every section to discuss the party’s problems and prospects. Each speaker was able to present some new thought concerning the situation and as the meeting progressed enthusiasm waxed steadily higher. A climax was reached near the close of the session when Ira Hager, after adverting the registration figures showing a Republican margin of about 1,800, turned to General England and said: “You need not be troubled by the situation here; Logan county will give a Republican plurality of 3,000 all along the line.” Charles Ritchie, law partner of General England and a former assistant attorney general, recalled the court battle involving title to county offices in which he participated and commended Republican officials on the basis of reports he had received as to the record they are making. “No matter how earnestly you may have differed in the primary, you should abide by the expressed will of the majority,” he admonished. Senator Naaman Jackson urged the prompt discarding of minor grievances and differences tot he end that a vigorous canvass might be waged and a substantial victory won on November 2. Rev. A.B. Eubanks, introduced as one who had been made to feel the ruthless power of the Democratic machine, told of the interest of the colored voters in the impending contest.

Among others who spoke briefly were Joe Buskirk, candidate for county clerk; Noah Browning, candidate for county superintendent of schools; County Assessor J.G. Hunter; Cole Hatfield, Lloyd P. Hager, City Treasurer Nowlan, E.R. Chapman, Mr. Claypool, and W.N. Bechtel, who said he had been a member of the county committee for 30 years.

Source: “Republicans Form Plan for Spirited Campaign This Fall: Purpose to Invade Chapmanville Dist.,” Logan (WV) Banner, 10 September 1926.

Thomas C. Whited

17 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Civil War, Logan

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Addie B. Whited, Anna Whited, Appalachia, Celia Whited, Chautauqua County, circuit clerk, civil war, Confederate Army, education, Effie Whited, genealogy, Greenbrier County, Hattie P. Whited, Henry H. Hardesty, history, Ireland, John A. Totten, Juditha Totten, Kansas, Logan, Logan County, Lynchburg, Maryland, Methodist Episcopal Church, Oakland, R.A. Brock, Randolph County, Richmond, Robert Whited, Russell County, Superintendent of Schools, Thomas C. Whited, U.S. South, Virginia, Virginia and Virginians, West Virginia, Willie G. Whited

From “Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Thomas C. Whited, who resided at Logan Court House in Logan County, West Virginia:

Of Logan C.H., was born in Russell county, Va., Nov. 25, 1854, and resided there till 1870, when he sent several years traveling in the western part of the United States; in 1877 he located at Logan C.H., and was engaged in teaching; was appointed in 1880 a member of the board of examiners for that county; this position he held until 1885, when he was elected county superintendent of public schools, which position he filled with much credit, and resigned in 1886, having been elected clerk of Circuit Court. He was married March 4, 1880, to Celia Totten. They have been blessed with the following offspring, born in order here given: Effie, born Feb. 20, 1882; Willie G., born Aug. 17, 1884; Hattie P., born Nov. 16, 1886; Addie B., born April 25, 1889. Mrs. Thomas C. Whited was born at Logan C.H., W.Va., Sept. 22, 1861. Her father, Rev. John A. Totten, a minister of the M.E. Church, was born in Oakland, Md., was married to Juditha Bonnifield in Randolph county, W.Va., and died in Greenbrier county, W.Va., in the Confederate camp, in 1861. His widow lives at Logan C.H. The subject of this sketch is a son of Robert and Anna (Meadows) Whited. The father, born near Lynchburg, Va., March 7, 1819, is now residing in Chautauqua county, Kan., where he owns extensive and valuable property, and is one of the largest stock raisers in that State. His wife, and the mother of Thomas C. Whited, was born near Lynchburg, Va., in 1821, and died in Russell county, Va., April 3, 1869. The Whited or Whitehead family came originally from Ireland to Virginia, and were among the first settlers of that State. Its branches are scattered in almost every State of the Union, and particularly in the Western States. They have always been people of influence and position, and noted for honor, industry and energy.

Source: Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 (Richmond, VA: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, 1888), p. 845-846.

John W. Stafford

03 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Gilbert

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10th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Appalachia, civil war, Confederate Army, farming, Fort Delaware, genealogy, Gilbert Creek, Henry H. Hardesty, history, John Stafford, John W. Stafford, Levisa Stafford, Logan County, Ohio, R.A. Brock, Richmond, Superintendent of Schools, U.S. South, Virginia, Virginia and Virginians, West Virginia, Zanesville

From “Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for John W. Stafford, who resided at Gilbert Creek in Logan County, West Virginia:

Son of John and Levisa (Spratt) Stafford, was born Oct. 27, 1833, in Logan county, W.Va. His father was born Feb. 10, 1810, in Tazewell county, Va., and died in Logan county on March 12, 1862, and his mother was born in Zanesville, O., on Dec. 6, 1811, dying in Logan county also on Aug. 25, 1886. John W., the subject of this sketch, enlisted in the Confederate States army in July, 1861; commissioned lieutenant of Co. H, 10th Va. V.I., serving until the close of the struggle; discharged in 1865 at Ft. Delaware prison. Mr. Stafford is now engaged in farming and merchandising, and was elected county superintendent of schools in Logan county in 1875, serving until 1877; post office address, Gilbert Creek, W.Va.

Source: Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 (Richmond, VA: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, 1888), p. 841.

Isaac B. Lester

15 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Wyoming County

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22nd Virginia Infantry, Appalachia, Christiansburg, Confederate Army, farming, genealogy, Henry H. Hardesty, history, Isaac B. Lester, Leanza F. Lester, Lewis I. Lester, Little Cub Creek, Mary E. Lester, Matilda M. Lester, North Spring, Pleasant Lester, R.A. Brock, Richmond, Superintendent of Schools, timbering, Virginia, Virginia and Virginians, West Virginia, Wyoming County

From “Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Isaac B. Lester, who resided at North Spring, West Virginia:

Is one of the most highly respected citizens of Wyoming county. Having been appointed superintendent of public schools, he served with honor and integrity that proved him well worthy of the trust; his term of office having expired, he was reappointed and continued to hold the office during five consecutive terms. When the civil war broke out he espoused the Southern cause, and enlisted in the Confederate army, Aug. 2, 1861, in Co. G, 22d Va. V.I.; during the first year was promoted to adjutant of regiment; served till the close of the war and received honorable discharge at Christiansburg, Va., 1865; had taken part in 37 pitched battles besides sieges and skirmishes. The subject of this record was born in Wyoming county, W.Va., Sept. 24, 1833, and in that county on the 5th of January, 1854, was happily married to Mary E. Godfrey, who was born in the same county June 7, 1833. Of this marriage have been born Pleasant, born Nov. 21, 1855, now married; Lewis I., Oct. 28, 1857, now married; Matilda M., born Dec. 2, 1880, died Aug. 5, 1881; Leanza F., born March 13, 1865, resides with parents. Mr. Lester is engaged in conducting his farm and in attending to his numerous interests as owner of large and valuable coal and timber lands, besides his handsome home on Little Cub Creek, where he resides with his family. His post office address is North Spring, Wyoming county, West Virginia.

Source: Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 (Richmond, VA: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, 1888), p. 834-835.

Simon S. Altizer

09 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Logan

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county clerk, Ella E. Altizer, genealogy, Guyandotte River, Henry H. Hardesty, history, James N. Altizer, Julia Y. Altizer, Logan County, Logan Court House, Mary E. Altizer, Montgomery County, Nellie G. Altizer, R.A. Brock, Roxie Altizer, Roxie E. Altizer, Simon S. Altizer, Superintendent of Schools, Virginia, Virginia and Virginians, West Virginia, William E.A. Altizer

From “Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888,” published by H.H. Hardesty, we find this entry for Simon S. Altizer, who resided at Logan Court House, West Virginia:

Present clerk of the county court, residing at Logan C.H., W.Va., is a native of Montgomery county, Va., where he was born Oct. 26, 1846. He is descended from a family that has always ranked as one of the most honorable and most highly respected of the State. The esteem in which he is held by his county people has been shown by the offices of trust to which they have frequently elected him, among others that of superintendent of public schools in Logan county, to which he was elected in 1880, and served until 1882; was for 10 years a member of the public school teachers’ examining board; was first appointed clerk of the county court in 1886, and after serving for one year was re-elected by ballot, and ever since has continued to hold this office with the same honor and integrity that has always distinguished him in all business and social relations. He owns a handsome residence in the town Logan Court House, and a large and valuable farm five miles from that place, situated on mineral lands adjacent to Guyandotte River. The records of his wife and children: Roxie Lawson, born in Logan county, W.Va., Oct. 5, 1856, married to Simon S. Altizer in same county, Sept. 7, 1870. Children: Ella E., born Dec. 7, 1872, died Sept. 21, 1886; Julia Y., born Aug. 13, 1875; Mary E., born Nov. 28, 1878; Nellie G., born Oct. 22, 1880; Roxie E., born Feb. 24, 1883; William E.A., born Aug. 4, 1885; James N., born Feb. 5, 1888; all residing with their parents.

Source: Dr. R.A. Brock, Virginia and Virginians, 1606-1888 (Richmond, VA: H.H. Hardesty, Publisher, 1888), 815.

Harts Creek District Board of Education (1905-1913)

12 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by Brandon Ray Kirk in Atenville, Big Ugly Creek, Ferrellsburg, Fourteen, Harts, Leet, Rector, Toney

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Adam Cummings, Allen, Atenville, Ben Walker, Brad Toney, Ferrellsburg, Fisher B. Adkins, Fourteen, genealogy, Harts, Harts Creek District, history, Isaac Fry, John B. Pullen, John S. Brumfield, John W. Sias, Leet, Lincoln County, Matthew C. Farley, Philip Hager, Ras Fowler, Rector, Squire Toney, Superintendent of Schools, Toney, Wallace Hager, Ward Lucas, West Virginia

Given below are Harts Creek District boards of education between 1905 to 1913:

1905-1906

J.B. Pullen of Rector, president

William E. Fowler of Ferrellsburg, secretary

John S. Brumfield of Fourteen

Squire Toney of Rector

1906-1907

Squire Toney of Rector, president

William E. Fowler of Hart, secretary

John S. Brumfield of Fourteen

Wallace Hager of Rector

1908-1909

Matthew C. Farley of Fourteen, president

Philip Hager of Leet, secretary

Adam Cummings of Leet

Ward Lucas of Toney

1909-1910

John W. Sias of Fourteen, president

Philip Hager of Leet, secretary

Adam Cummings of Allen

Bradford D. Toney of Toney

1911-1912

B.W. Walker of Ferrellsburg, president

William E. Fowler of Ferrellsburg, secretary

Isaac Fry of Toney

Bradford D. Toney of Toney

1912-1913

B.W. Walker of Ferrellsburg, president

William E. Fowler of Ferrellsburg, secretary

Isaac Fry of Atensville

Bradford D. Toney of Toney

NOTE: Fisher B. Adkins of Ferrellsburg was Lincoln County Superintendent of Schools from 1915-1919.

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?

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Feud Poll 2

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

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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)
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Ed Haley Poll 1

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

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© 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.

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Blogs I Follow

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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.

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Genealogy and History in North Carolina and Beyond

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

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