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“We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.” — Abraham Lincoln
Douglas, my e-mail is
mountain46@earthlink.net.
Send me yours.
Hello everyone, I’m trying to find out some information about the Island Creek Company Store that was in Amherstdale, WV at one time. I’ve seen this location referenced as the Amherst Coal Company Store also.
Basically I’m trying to find out where the building stood and if it still stands to this day? I can provide the links to images below. Thanks for your help.
http://www.coalcampusa.com/sowv/logan/buffalo-creek-logan-county-wv/island-creek-company-store.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/fl/cookcrab/images/jfkstore3.jpg
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17BdxZHsyRQLR0IAMbhoYVZOT3KXJWq6H/view?usp=sharing
The photo of the area that is on this web site of Shanty Town at Blackbottom..does anyone know the names of the three men and the lady thats in the foreground of the picture??? I am trying to find any history or stories of a tall light-skin man name Joe Moses that ran a beer joint in Black bottom in the 1940’s early 1950’s. I am very interested of the name of the tall light skin man with the hat on. Does anyone know his name??
Thanks for any help.
Vince Moses
My name is Vince Moses Sr. Does anyone ( ask your grandparents or great-grandparents ) Remember a tall very light-skinned black man with stringy hair that used to run a beer joint in Logan West Virginia maybe in shantytown was the nickname of the coal camp. His name was Joe Moses, around the mid 1950’s early 1960’s. He is my grandfather, just trying to complete some family Tree history. My email address is vmoses2010@hotmail.com
Vince,familysearch.org shows a
Joe Moses marrriage to Ornell Johnson
May 14,1923 in Logan,WV.
Shows him as a coal miner & living
in Holden,WV.
Bob, Thank you for that information. Yes I already have that info, Ornell Johnson is my grandmother.
They had a son Virgil Moses who would come down to Logan from Huntington to help his dad Joe Moses to help run the beer joint. Have you or anyone know the coal camp call “shantytown” in Logan..maybe someone may have a old pic of the place or him. He also may have had a pinball place in Williamson, WV in the 50’s or early 60’s on Logan Street in Williamson, WV. Thanks for the info again Bob I really appreciate it.
Vince, a shantytown wasn’t a coal mine.
The name sometimes meant a group of
wooden houses that the poor of the area
lived in. I recall as a child hearing people say
” I heard they were living in shantytown”.
On this website, there is a 1947 phonebook it
shows a Union Beer Parlor,page 71 as being in
Deskins Addition or Black Bottom.
There is a 1969 phonebook that shows a Cora
Beer Garden in Cora.
Also shows a Delbert Moses living in
Mitchell Heights on page 38.
You can also do a search online for the word
shantytown.
Does anyone have any wonderful Halloween stories to tell
when they lived or are still living in Logan County WV.?
All of you have a Safe & Happy Halloween.
I once heard that there was a yearly Rossmore reunion held at Chief Logan State Park. Does anyone know anything about this event? Is it still held? Could someone communicate with the organizers…etc?
Does anyone have photos of the
Cora Cemetery & know where in
Cora it is located?
Is there anybody out there who lived in Rossmore camp from 1950 to 1959? My name is James (Jim) Coleman and my family lived in the gray house with a rose bush fence right across the street from Fred Rushden’s store. I just recently learned that my best buddy from Rossmore, Joe Borders, had passed away a couple of years ago. I’d sure like to hear from some of the folks who lived there when we did. We’re certainly not getting any younger are we?
ThanksJim
Jim, my mother Beatrice Rice lived in Rossmore earlier than 1950. She worked at Fred’s store! My grandmother Hester Rice lived in Rossmore until her death in the 1970’s. I believe my mom was a good employee and well liked at Fred’s store. I have fond memories of walking to the store from my grandmother’s home when we would visit in the late 1960’s and 70’s. I don’t recall the names Coleman or Borders. I am related to the Dameron’s and one of my aunt’s first marriage was to Fred Steele. My mom also talked fondly about the Abraham’s. Are any of those names familiar?
Thanks Becky for sharing your memories of Rossmore! None of the people you mention ring any bells except for Fred. I did go to school with a kid named Richard Damron, He would be in his early 70’s now. I can’t remember if it was at Rossmore School in grades 1 thru 4(Teachers: Lonny Baldwin and Betty Petroff) or at Monoville grades 5 and 6. (Teachers: Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Vanoy.)
I’m going to list some of the family names that I remember, they might be ones that you’ve heard of too. They are: Borders, Fitch, Jude, Brewer, Green, Hardin, Napper (sic), Baisden, McNeely, McCloud, Pelgram, Brooks, Lane, Seise (sic), Parker, Campbell,
These are some family names that I can remember off the top of my head. It’s been 58 yrs. and I was 13 yrs. old when we left and moved to the state of Washington and settled in the small town of Morton. 22.4 miles North West of Mt. Saint Helens.
I am a retired teacher that was inspired by Ms. Petroff , Mr. Baldwin and Mrs. Hall who were there for us during the labor crisis in the mines due to automation. There were thousands of undereducated and uneducated folks whose world was turned upside down. I was able to thank my Dad before he passed away for getting us to another place with some measure of opportunity. I understand that things got really tough in the early 60’s and many did not fair as well as our family did.
Those things aside, I have many, many, many, fond memories of my pre-teen years in Rossmore. My wife and I plan to visit the area this spring.
Thanks a million for your comments and hopefully you will recognize some of the family names I’ve mentioned.
Thanks again Jim
My mom was 20 years older and in the 50s would have moved to Stollings I believe after getting maried. They owned a restaurant or drive-in in Switzer I think for a short while; I wish I would have asked more questions when they were alive.
My grandmother lived in a 4 room coal camp home; it was to the left when you go across the bridge off of Rt 44 to go into Rossmore. It is all different in that section now; mobile homes.
My parents Charlie & Beatrice Fowler came to Ohio in the mid 50s. I am related to Willard & Dorothy Dameron, Mildred & Lige McKinney, Willard & Lucille Green. I do remember mom talking about Betty Petroff. Look at the photos on this site under Monaville, there are photos of young Bates and Betty Petroff.
Other names right now that come to mind: Letha Mae Maynard was the postmaster; Mary Hardin; Lucille Gollihue, Frank Chambers.
On my dad’s side I have a step marriage relationship with Lyda Mae Mcneely who was the daughter of Andy Mcneely in Stollings.
Hi…this is Donna Borders Wooten….we lived in Rossmore until 1960…..Letha Maynard bought the house we lived in. Bates Petroff was my one of my brother, Dallas’ best friends.
Donna, thanks for the reply to me about Letha and I’m glad you had info for Jim. I hope he sees your post. Did any of the other names I listed sound familiar? My mom and her sisters are the Rice girls.
Jim, I am a first cousin to Joe Borders. His sister, Donna Sue Borders Wooten is on Facebook; along with other sisters, Darlene and Connie. My name is Joan Steele-Taber and I am very close to these cousins. Please feel free to contact me at js3taber@yahoo.com.
Hi Jim….I’m Joe’s older sister, Donna Sue. Our cousin Joan Steele Taber saw your post and told me about it. I then told sister Phoebe, who remembers you well. Said she thought you were in the band at LJH with her and Joe. She also remembered you & Joe nicknamed the three of you as Popeye (Joe), Bluto (James) and Olive Oyl. It was with great sadness when we lost Joe a couple of years ago. Joe along with Phoebe, Darlene and I all live in Lexington, KY . If you want to catch up with Phoebe, her facebook page is under Phoebe Borders Wellman. Nice to hear from you.
I’m looking for information about Dr. Thomas McClellan, b. 1876, d. 1953 in Logan, West Virginia. My email address is mamaw.debdeb@gmail.com.
Debra,familysearch.org shows
him in the 1910 census.
Wife was Lula McClellan.
Can some one show me on the Logan map where dipsy branch is.
Mike, your last name is what?
Did you try Mapquest or do
an online search?
Try looking up dempsey branch.
On Mud Fork where SWCC college is located is called Dempsey Branch. On some maps it is shown as Lower Dempsey Branch. Going on up Mud Fork about 3 miles at Shegon, there is an Upper Dempsey Branch shown on some maps. This branch is more often referred to as Orchard Branch and colloquially as Baisden Branch.
On Main Island Creek at Crystal Block there is a Lower Dempsey Branch and about 1.5 miles above Crystal Block there is an Upper Dempsey Branch; both these are on the east side of Main Island Creek.
Also, on some old maps there is shown a Dempsey Branch on the west side of upper Crawley Creek located about 1.5 miles up Main Crawley from the Corridor G exit on Crawley. This branch is sometimes referred to by locals as Workman Branch. It is worth noting that the road sign at the foot of the Corridor G ramp at the Three Forks of Crawley shows the road (RT 701/25) going up Crawley is “Eagles Roost”. This is a misnomer brought about when the 911 mapping was done. Inasmuch as 911 already had a “Pigeon Roost” road designation (an existing road off the old “Airport Road” near Highland cemetery), they arbitrarily changed the Pigeonroost Branch Crawley road to Eagle’s Roost. This misnaming of the road is doubly in error since the Pigeonroost Branch of Crawley Creek doesn’t split off main Crawley Creek until another mile or so up from the Corridor G ramp. To further compound this situation of errors, some maps erroneously label main Crawley Creek as Pigeonroost Branch above where Pigeonroost Branch splits off main Crawley Creek.
It is worth noting that going up Mud Fork the major branch between the “upper and lower” Dempsey branches is Ellis Hollow which is where Corridor G goes by the large mall. This Ellis Hollow is shown on some old maps as Cincinnatus Branch.
I need to make a correction to the first paragraph of my above post which reads in part:
“…..On Mud Fork where SWCC College is called Dempsey Branch. Going on up Mud Fork about 3 miles at Shegon there is an upper Dempsey branch shown on some maps. This branch is most often referred to as Orchard Branch and colloquially as Baisden Branch…..”
The paragraph should read:
“…..On Mud Fork where SWCC College is located is called Lower Dempsey Branch. Going on up Mud Fork about 3 miles at Shegon just above the Maryatta Church the branch where the old gas compressor plant was is shown on some maps as Upper Dempsey Branch. On some old maps it is shown as Widow Dempsey Branch. I believe the road up that branch is shown as Widow Dempsey Road (Route 5/29). This branch is also known by some as “Workman Branch”. Going up Mud Fork, Orchard Branch is the branch about halfway between Ellis Hollow and Upper Dempsey Branch. Orchard Branch is often referred to as Baisden Branch…..”
I apologize for the erroneous information in the original post.
Douglas, that’s alright,we all
make errors when doing research.
Does anyone remember Frank Hutchison from Logan West Virginia who was a musician and live in a coal camp near Logan and wrote a lot of blues and slide bar getuar songs I am his nephew and would like to know if any of you remember him. and what you can tell me about his mother which is my grandmother my name is Deskins he was also a postmaster and grocery store owner and the 20th near Logan and my family started the Deskins addition near Logan I currently live in Ohio
Here is a link to an article about him: https://loganwv.us/frank-hutchison/
I’ve researched Frank Hutchison for over twenty years. I would love to hear some family stories about him. https://brandonraykirk.wordpress.com/2017/09/14/frank-hutchinson-of-logan-county-wv-1927/
Enjoyed visiting this site and reading the various stories and comments, it’s a wealth of info and history for visitors and locals alike. Wanted to ask and make sure I haven’t missed anything, because I dident find anything on the Buffalo Creek Flood in Logan County, February 26, 1972. I may have missed it, could someone let me know for sure? If there is no info here for it, this website would be a prime place to read about it. I noticed there were other disasters mentioned. And to those who lived through it, or read about it, its hard to believe there are those in this generation that know nothing about it. It should be in our history books. Hope someone will let know, thank you so much.
Below are two articles on this website:
Buffalo Creek Disaster
Buffalo Creek Disaster – First Hand Account
Yes, I missed it, and thank you so much!!
I added it to our Featured Posts where it should have been in the first place. Thank you!
Hoping someone on this site could help me out. I recently came across a couple mentions of a serpent shaped Indian mound in Logan county. However, I can’t find any indepth information. Does anyone know anything about it, or maybe know someone who does? Thanks
Ray,maybe do an online search.
Call the Logan Banner.
There is a mound in Logan CO. Ohio.
Also contact the Chief Logan Museum,
304-792-7125.
There is also WV.Arch.org site.
Hi, Ray. I research native sites in the local area. Mostly, I find references to Indian burial sites in the old Logan Banners prior to 1930. The late Ron Moxley noted that Chapmanville had the largest number of mounds outside of the Kanawha Valley. I would be curious to know where the serpent mound is located in the county and also if you have photos of it. Thanks.
It saddens me deeply to put this on the wall. My mom Violet (Vi) Copley Johnson born in slagle went home to Heaven on March 7. She was with the class of 55 in Logan. She Will be missed deeply by her husband Frank daughters Barbara and Tammi and her grand and great grandchildren and so many other lives that my Mom touched. Her services will be tomorrow at crouse Kauber Fraley funeral home in johnstown Ohio from 1-3 service following calling hours. Barbara Johnson-shewak
http://m.legacy.com/dignity-memorial/obituary-preview.aspx?n=Violet-Johnson&lc=6747&pid=184419772&mid=7322772&locale=en_US
Sadly, since Vi has passed away, I understand that her husband Frank also has passed away. I used to receive emails from them. Barbara, I’m very saddened for your loss of both parents. Joan Steele-Taber.
yes, Dad was so very sad when she left and He went down hill fast. He was in the garage where he fell and hit his head on mom’s 67 mustang’s trailer hitch. He had several brain bleeds in which he never recovered from. He passed exactly 5 months to the day and is in her arms once again where he wanted to be. thank you for your thoughts..barbara
Anyone have information about dulcimer makers in and around Logan? Zeke Ellis (“Uncle Zeke”)?
Rebecca, familysearch.org
shows a James Ezekial Elllis,
born in 1877 & died in 1960.
He’s buried in Forest Lawn
Cemetery.Photo of him on
Memorial page at findagrave.org.
I am in search of pictures of slagel in the 40s and 50s to have a painting made for my mother who was raised there. Does anyone have anything they would be willing to share? My mother is Judith Thompson her parents were Hersel and Edith Thompson.
My reason for wanting the book is that I lived in Dehue with my grandparents until 1957 or 1958. Their names were Paul and Vanessa Rohland. Thanks again.
Are the Dehue history books still available for purchase and how much are they? Thanks!!
Thompson Family of Logan Research
John Mark Thompson – johnmarkthompson73@gmail.com
My name is John Mark Thompson and I was born in Huntington. My father is Rex Kenton Thompson born Verdunville, 1949, grandfather James Harold Thompson, Sr, born in Holden 1922, great-grandfather Wilburn Thompson, born in Verdunville 1896, great-great grandfather Leander Scott Thompson born in Logan 1873 (my son Robert Brian Thompson shares his birthday of June 6), and I believe his father to be John Evert Thompson born in Logan in 1837. I’m just getting started on my research but I am really enjoying myself. Any confirmation or correction you can provide to my efforts thus far would be greatly appreciated!
It’s possible for you to join the Logan County Genealogy Facebook page, if you haven’t already done so.
anyone know where the wv school furniture company was located in logan….early 1900s..1908-10?
It was located about where the old Guyan Machine Shops were located. The company moved to Huntington in 1912. — Admin
I am looking for Ailene Wells or any of her family from Logan County WV, My Mom was adopted from Logan in 1948 and We are looking for her birth mother or anyone related to her birth mother with the Wells name, contact me via FB message if anyone has any information! Thank you
I am searching for the grave sites of my Great Grand Parents. Their death certificates state they are buried in Pine Creek Cemetary in Logan Co. WV. They died 1943 and in 1954. Can you please help me locate this cemetary?
http://roadsidethoughts.com/wv/pine-creek-xx-logan-cemeteries.htm That shows all the ones in Pine Creek.
I’m wanting to know where the Sunbeam Cemetery and Mercy Hospital in Logan is located.
mercy hospital was on dingess st. it was the first hospital in logan.. it was later named guyan valley… the orig building was the home of c. v. white..
Getting back to the Harriss Funeral Home History………… In the 1930s, there were only two funeral homes to choose from in Logan County WV : they were Harriss, and J T Wyatt Funeral Home at Aracoma. in Boone County, Hunter Mortuary was the only morticians to serve the county back then
For Larry Hurley,looking for newspaper articles.
Try Susan Scouras,# 304-558-0230.
She is a researcher at the Archives & History
News,The Culture Center in Charleston,WV.
Also,Harless Library @ http://www.southernwv.edu.
I would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Delores Riggs Davis. We hold you all tenderly in our thoughts and prayers. ~ Carla and David Herkner
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about a Melvin Tennis White and/or Amanda White who lived in the Triadelphia District in Logan in the 20s and 30s. Amanda was married to Melvin Blackburn White, son of Andrew Wilson White , and Melvin Tennis was their oldest child, probably born around 1916. The story we have is that Amanda or “Mandy” died from childbirth in 1920 and we believe her grave to be in Earling Cemetery. Melvin T reportedly died from a gunshot wound sometime after 1930, while still in his teens. If anyone has any info , it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you – Tricia White
Tricia,findagrave shows a
Amanda O’Donald White buried
in Earling Cemetery.Death
March 12,1920.
familyseach.org shows a
Amanda White in 1920
census born in 1885.
Please check the sites.
I have found Amanda in Earling Cemetery and in the 1920 Census. We were hoping to find a birth/death record for her, but no luck. Melvin T appears as Tennis in the 1930 census and just disappears after that. We are planning to visit family there in the spring, so maybe the courthouse will have some record that is not online? Anyway, thank you for your reply!
Also check wvculture.org. I’ve had great success at finding family documents there. Birth, death, marriage. Try different spelling variations.
Bob, I also saw her listed there along with the other family members she mentioned.
Here’s what I found on WVCulture.org:
http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=2891679&Type=Death Death Record for Melvin Blackburn White
Melvin Blackburn White’s actual death cert http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=2153223&Type=Death
Do you know Amanda’s maiden name? Did she outlive Melvin? Could she have remarried? I can’t find anything for her or her son
Thank you Brenda, but I already have those documents. I believe her maiden name is O’Donald, as that ‘s what listed in Earling Cemetery records. She and Melvin T appear in a couple censuses and then nothing…no birth or death records. That ‘ s why I thought I would give it a shot posting here. Thanks so much for your efforts, I sincerely appreciate it!
does anyone know the names of these young coal miners in the picture on this site?
I would like to know the names of the two mines in Chapmanville that operated near Rt. 10 in the 1930s. The lower one was called Thompkins. The other was unknown to me. One had a trash coal fire that burned for many years. I do not believe either mine was ever sealed properly. We got our household coal from the dumps in the great depression. there was no money for coal deliveries back then, so we foraged for our own fuel. In the summer months we got our coal from the Guyandotte river with flatbottom boats.
Would anyone know where the Bad Man of Crawley Creek, Howard Conley, is buried? He happens to be my husband’s great-grandfather. A person can google, Bad Man of Crawley Creek and read the story but there is no mention of his burial. Thank-you in advance. Cathie Guinto
Howard is probably buried in the Conley Cemetery at Chapmanville. It is overlooking the Guyandotte river near the Crawley Creek road. Hundreds of people were buried there. I am thinking the Conley heirs, (Thomas & Lula ) donated the land for the cemetery.
Pending what you may have determined since 2014, I suggest that I think Howard Conley was buried at a cemetery at the mouth of Three Forks of Crawley on the point behind where the old one-room school (and church) once stood. (This point is between the Middle Fork and the South Fork of Crawley at Three Forks)
Douglas,Shelby has passed away since the post was made. If you know when Howard was born & died you might search for his record at familysearch.org & try to find his D.C. which should show you where he is buried.
Bob, I have it from other sources that Howard Conley is buried at the cemetery at Three Forks of Crawley as I stated above. The reason I was fairly sure of that information is that many years ago a teenager cousin of mine lived within a few hundred feet of the cemetery and he was punished for practicing rifle shooting by shooting into the grave marker of Howard Conley.
I have heard that at one time when Conley was on the run from the law, he hid under a rock shelf on the hillside of the Middle Fork. That rock shelf area was destroyed by Corridor G construction in the Middle Fork.
Douglas, ok but most of his
family is buried in Conley Cemetery
in Chapmanville.
Do you have a photo of the
grave marker?
Bob, I don’t have a photo of the grave marker but I saw it around 1980. Actually, there are two cemeteries there, one is slightly higher on the hill above the other. At the base of the point is where an old one-room school building was. It was used as a church also.
Bob, on another matter, in the “Black Bottom” thread, I saw a picture of Joe Piros, Sr. putting gas in a car at a Gulf station. The picture showed a bit of the Milne Pontiac dealership building in the background. I am a member of a Pontiac car club and there are some members that collect and archive pictures and memorabilia of old Pontiac dealerships. Could I get a copy of that picture to put in those records? Thanks!
To Shelby Burgess, you said you went to school with some from Harts Creek, Goldie Adams was my mother, Monroe Adams was my uncle. I would love to hear from some one who went to school with them.
Hi, Joyce;
Yes, I did attend school with Goldie Adams.This was in the 1940s. As you can guess- I am very old.i have the Tigers 1941
Yearbook. I believe Goldie is in the pic ture. Give me your US mail address, and I will send the pic to you.
Shelby B.
I am so glad you answered, sorry it took so long to get back with you. I would love to have any picture of my mom. Nice to know some one who went to school with her. Thank you very much
my home address
9274 Mill Dam Rd. Se.
Hebron, Ohio 43025
camillia joyce
My mother is Carrie Vance and is living in Worthington ,Ky.She has a sister named Goldie Vance who lives in Wilmington,Delaware.Also a sister whom is desist named Bonnie Vance .Would it be possible If u could look thru your yearbook and see if u can find any one of the three?
I am doing research on a woman named Maria E. Parker. She was from Charleston, born in 1899, but taught school in Omar. In 1926, she was convicted of murdering Rev. Edward Howard and sent to the WV State Penitentiary. If anyone happens to know anything about this case or Maria Parker, I would love to learn more: kohearnr@mail.wvu.edu. (Thanks for posting the beautiful video about women in NC.)
I have been trying to locate the cemetery that my Great grandfather Jesse Meek is buried. Jesse was a construction foreman for Island Creek Coal Company. He died of a gunshot wound in Logan County at Monitor Junction on December 14, 1919. According to the newspaper account, he was buried on Mud Fork of Island Creek. Does anyone know where he would have been buried? The records I found of the two cemeteries listed as being on Mud Fork do not indicate any burials for a Meek or Meeks. His second wife’s name was Belladora Ann “Belva” Baldwin Meek. She was Jesse’s wife when he died and I have not found any record of her burial location as well.
Steve, familysearch.org shows him as
Jesse M.Meeks,born in 1871 in KY.,
in the 1910 Logan Co.Census.
Also shows #1 wife as Belle Deskin
in 1889 & # 2 wife as BVA Baldwin
in 1895.Shows only Mud Fork as
burial.
I am a Baldwin ancestor and Historian and I live at Hewett ……..There is a Baldwin/Meeks Cemetary located at Lake WV and I do believe that is where Jesse and his 2nd wife are actually buried. I have information on Jesse if you would like to contact me.
Thanks for your information. I would like more information on Jesse Meeks. My e-mail is seeearly@embarqmail.com.
One remeberance I have as a kid was when our teacher drove us to the big White oak tree. The bottom of the tree was as large as my bedroom at home. Was this tree in Logan, or Mingo counties ? At the time, the big tree was said to be the largest White Oak in the world. Does anyone have a pic of the big tree ?
There are a couple photos of the Mingo Oak in our Holden Gallery. Here is a link to more information about it:
The West Virginia Encyclopedia – The Mingo Oak
Which governor started the farm to markets roadbuilding, back in the 1830s ? I am thinking it was Gov Kump.
Before any new roads were built from logan to Huntington & Charleston, the farmers had a dreadful time getting their farm products to any larger citys. I remember my relatives, the Bias and Vickers familys had to take their tobacco crop to Huntington in farm wagons. They had to pick a time when the stream waters were low; and take axes & saws along to clear the roadways. This was the only cash crop for many farmers.No trucks had yet been invented.
Does anyone know how Georges Creek,in the headwaters of Dingess Run, Logan co. WV, got its name ? The Post office there is Hetzel, WV Probably named for some early settler there by the name of George ; but George who ? Thanks.
sorry to see that Johnny Patrick passed away this past week , did not know he was in that bad health , I went to school with Johnny at Mill Creek and at Logan central Jr.
high , he lived right below the grade school on Mill Creek .
GOOD BY JOHNNY SEE YOU AGAIN SOMETIME ORVILLE
I grew up on Mill Creek, Went to grade school at mill creek grade school, JR. high Logan Central, now live in Michigan for the past 24 years. the last time I was in that area was labor day weekend 2010, a lot has changed don’t see anyone from Mill Creek on here. my email address is jack4310005@yahoo.com
I noticed there was no pictures of the buffalo creek disaster, very important part of logan.
Yes, I wish I could find some I could legally use. Maybe someone will contribute a few from their personal collection.
what about the stuff that was in the news papers??? can you use them….
I have a question that I hope someone can answer for me..My ex who no longer lives in Logan anymore remembers two older people (couple) in glass sitting in rocking chairs above the ground somewhere in or around Logan..he said towards Omar..Its not the Hatfields…But says he can’t remember exactly where or who it is..Can anyone else answer this for him..Thank you
I can barely remember that, but I think it was a radio station promotion for something. Seems like they called the man ” Pinky” or 1 them. I would love to find out something more also.
In the 50’s there was an advertising gimmick called “flagpole sitting”. In Logan at about that time there was a “flagpole sitter” event that went on and the fellow was named “Pinky Pinkerton”. I don’t recall any details but I seem to recall the “sitting” took place near where the boulevard bridge now crosses at Black Bottom near the power company.
I would like to take a moment to thank Dodie Browning for all her help in locating family members..Also,to all those who replied to my postings..This site,and Ancestry.com helped other members of my father’s side of the family connect..After 55 yrs..My father spoke with his brother,he never knew he had,finally saw photos of his father (for the first time ever) also his siblings,Aunts,Uncles etc..Sadly though,some of the siblings who were also searching,passed away at an early age..I wish I would have known about this site before..maybe his brother that just passed in Dec.2012..could have spoke with him or met in person…It’s never too late to search for lost loved ones..because you never know who’s searching for you too..Once again,thank you all for the help..God Bless you Dodie Browning for all your hard work and the kindness you show towards others and your love for West Virginia…My mother also thanks everyone for helping us in this research.
I just learned the sad news that Terry L. Mullins passed away March 12, 2012. Terry was born June 2, 1948 at Holden. I was trying to find him on Facebook and came across his obituary. I am sure many of you have visited his web page at:
http://www.members.tripod.com/~TerryLeeMullins/TerryLMullins.html
Thanks for the “Fuzzy Mullins site”. I knew many of the people shown
I think my heart is going to burst! It has been a long time since anything touched me so deeply as the latest video (Logan County WV USA) on the home page. I had never heard that song before and I want a copy!!! I had tears in my eyes listening to the song and watching the streets go by where I spent my childhood days. It was getting towards the end, approaching the tunnel and I was wishing there had been a picture of City View, because that is where I spent most of my life in Logan. I was suddenly amazed when right at the end, there was City View in the distance and it shows my house perched high on that hill. I could not hold back the sobs-tears of JOY! Thank you Frank, for posting that wonderful video and please tell us who put it together.
I was surfing the web today and happened upon some of my old web pages that the servers have chosen to restore, with music and all! This one is especially meaningful to me and I hope it will be to each of you. Crack up you sound and read the wonderful story about “The Builder”. You will more than likely enjoy a picture taken by my husband. It is an old Logan County Landmark that is no longer there and it was not an easy shot to get.
Thank you Ron Browning for your love of Logan County, but most of all, thank you for loving me. You (and my mother) were the Wind Beneath My Wings.
http://famsteel.tripod.com/henbridge.html
You are right. This is a wonderful story. The music ain’t half bad either. Thanks for the reminder.
Glad you enjoyed it, Kyle. God always knows best and sends us an angel when needed. He sent me several today… Have you seen the new picture (The old Chapmanville High School) on the Homepage? Frank just put it up. I found out for certain that Chapmanville High School was built in 1929.
1929 may be the year the school waa finally completed, but it took two years to erect the structure. It began in 1927. I remember the men hauling cement in wheelbarrows to the site ; slow laborious work back then; I dont remember the first Principal’s name, but the athletic director was a man named Peterson.
My uncle Henry Justice was principal for many years at Chapmanville High School. He retired in 1973. Uncle Henry shares many great memories from his days at Chapmanville High in a short biography titled THE CROOKED FINGER THAT GOT THINGS STRAIGHT (Experience of a High School Principal).
He was a great guy.
I love that needle point work. Congrats on solving a mystery. Of course then again that’s second nature to you. Re-Search, Re-Search, R-Search.
1927 was the year Chapmanville High School was built. This new school made some changes to folks who lived on Harts Creek. Buses did not operate at that time, so students had to board away from home to attend the new High School. Some families just moved away from Harts, in closer to Chapmanville. The school board finally got bus service going in the late 1930s.
Shelby, What is the source of your information regarding when Chapmanville High School was built? Swain doen’t mention it in his chapter on schools (copyrighted 1927). The older people I know from Harts Creek (some still living, including my sister), went to Jr. High at Logan and then we moved from Harts Creek. I do not know of any students from Harts Creek (Logan County) who attended High School in those days. It was much later that Harts Creek finally got decent roads and school buses started running to Harts Creek from Chapmanville. All of this is in my Book “Whirlwind In Appalachia” Chapter 5 (well researched and documented), with interviews of people who actually lived there. Here is one excerpt: (pg 32)” In an interview with Faye (Smith) Nicolas in 2001, Faye related that when she was promoted to seventh grade in 1952, they did finally have a school bus running from Harts Creek to Chapmanville, but still no decent roads. She said it sometimes took two hours or longer to get to Chapmanville, over the muddy, icy dirt roads. She recalled once when they were on the way home from school in the winter, the bus broke down just outside of Chapmanville and the children had to walk home. She said they had to walk over Smokehouse Mountain in the snow, ice and mud and they were nearly frozen when they got home about 9:30 at night. “
Dodie ;
I watched the building being erected as a small kid back then. So, I know when Chapmanville High was built.
Some of the Harts Creek boarders back then were : Monroe Adams, Goldie Adams, Custer McCann. They stayed at the home of Cora Mckinney, near the school.
For your information, Harvey Dingess also boarded and completed his education at the same High School. He went on to college,earned some degrees; and later became Logan County Superintendent of Education.
Shelby, I do not have a date for when Chapmanville High School was built. All I know is what Swain wrote in his 1927 History Of Logan County AND what I found in Public records at the WV Department Of Archives and History. Swain stated that there were 4 senior high schools in Logan County in 1927: “Logan, Man, Sharples and Aracoma, the latter being a colored school”. (Source: History of Logan County WV by G.T. Swain, Chapter XXXVI, Logan Churches And Schools, page 197).
Based on a records search in the database of WV Department Of Archives and History, Monroe Adams was born Sep 15, 1921. It is doubtful he was boarding with anyone and attending High school when he
was six or 7 years old (1927). Also, He was not from Harts In Logan County. He was from Little Harts Creek in Lincoln County and he died there at age 35 in 1957. They took him to Logan General Hospital where he was pronounced DOA (dead on arrival). His death record is shown in both counties. Goldie Adams was born about 1923. She was sister to Monore Adams. As stated, they were from Little Harts Creek in LINCOLN COUNTY.
Custer McCann’s family also lived in Lincoln County, not Logan County. Cora Mckinney, According to her death certificate, lived at Garretts Fork.
Joy Vance (a former Mayor and lifelong resident of Chapmanville) was the first school bus driver from Chapmanville to Main Harts Creek in Logan County and she told me in an interview some years ago that in was in the early 1950s that buses first went to Harts Creek (LOGAN COUNTY) to take children to school at Chapmanville.
Harvey Dingess was my cousin….
Everyone is welcome to double check my research and post your findings. As the famous poet, Alexander Pope once said, “to err is human, to forgive divine”.
Dodie;
You seem to have some events you mentioned, in differnt time decades. Those students I named went to CHS in the late 1930s. Two others I didnt name were Diamond Collins, Claude Workman, who were my classmates. They had Shively p.o. as their home mailing addresses, which is on Harts Creek. Also, I am informed by Goldie Adams’ sister that their father was a store merchant on Big Harts, not Little Harts..
Cora McKinney lived at Chapmanville nearly all her life. She died on Garretts Fork, where she was cared for by relatives.
Oops, I made one small typoo can change an entire meaning. I meant to say that Joy Vance was one of the first school bus drivers to Big Harts Creek. (I don’t know who was the first).
Not really sure of who was the first bus driver to Harts Creek. I do know a man named Lace Dingess drove the Crawley Creek bus line to pick up students to Chapmanville H. S. This was as early as 1939. I believe the bus went as far as Smokehouse Mountain road. The roads were terrible back then. Also, busses ran to the Northfork & Garrets Fork roads back then. A bus garage was finally built about 1940 to service the busses. I do not know the date when Harts Creek bus service started.
To never have made a mistake is to never have accomplished anything. Durn I’ve made every mistake in the book and still ain’t through. Thank You Dodie for your tireless work and historical research on Harts Creek and for that matter Logan and its environs. Also thank you for the Workman Family History. I’m so proud to say, “I know the Lady that did this history”.
Thank you so much, Kyle. I needed that! Most of my mistakes online are typos. (I’m the world’s worst typist) I have been on the phone most of the day, trying to find someone who actually knows when Chapmanville High School was built. It is not in the 1970s year books. You know what? Something positive always comes out of something negative. I have talked to people today that I had not heard from in years. Surely someone can document the date that the old Chapmanville school was built. I’m considering posting Chapter 5 of “Whirlwind” that tells about the schools on [BIG] Harts Creek. I can’t remember if I posted it previously? Do you have Chapter 5?
I do not have Chapter 5. But I sure would like to. Also you are so surely welcome. Having someone you trust put in print your family history is truly wonderful. Again my thanks.
Custer McCann was raised on Piney Fork of West Fork of Big Harts Creek, on the Logan County side. He boarded in Chapmanville while he finished High School there. I know he boarded with Walt and Ivy Chapman.
Dodie,
I don’t how correct the following information is but on the back cover of Uncle Henry’s book; THE CROOKED FINGER THAT GOT THINGS STRAIGHT the is a needle point picture of the old school. It is dated 1929-1993. The initials of the person that done the work is BJB. Hope this helps with determining the year the school was built.
I hope you are still on here. Goldie Adams was my mother,Monroe was my uncle. my Mom died when I was six, it would be so nice to talk to some one who went to school with her.
Hi, Shelby. The Logan Banner, issue 17 April 1935, identifies the senior class of 1935 as “the fifth class to graduate from Chapmanville High School” and notes it as being “the largest class” up to that time. The issue also identifies the graduates, including my great-uncle Wetzel “Buster” Kirk and my cousin Custer McCann. (I also have copies of the Banner articles from when the high school was planned in 1926 and erected thereafter.) Hope this helps.
Dodie ;
When James Perry did the 1850 Logan County Census, he was on Harts creek also.
His record shows Josephus Workman lived in house # 182. Some of Joesphus’ neighbors on Harts creek were : 181 (James Tombolin), 183 ( Joseph Adams),
Some of the other Workmans who lived nearby were 187 (Abijah Workman), 186 (Obed Workman), 189 John Workman. No record of Mary & Josephus ever living in Lincoln county, as you posted.
It seems to me like Workman fork, and White Oak fork were one & the same back then.
Shelby,
If we were on Harts Creek, I could take you to where each of those folks lived. Remember in 1850, just because a Census taker numbered houses to look like they were close together, they could be miles apart. White Oak does run into Smokehouse, but it has ALWAYS been White Oak. Some of the old deeds even say White Oak Fork Of Smokehouse. Everyone who lived on White Oak was my family and I have all of the land grants and deeds for same. That was Bryant (and Hensley) Country
(Abijah “Bige” Workman lived at Bulwark, Obediah lived at Henderson and Josephus (aka Joseph) age, 40 lived at Smokehouse where he had lived for a couple of years. In order to obtain a land grant, settlers had to stake a cliam and live on the the land, making improvements for at least 2 years before a grant was finalized. There is a Joseph on the 1860 Wayne County Census, but I do not know if same one. (I have the census records but can’t get to them now) If you check the 1870 Census, Harts Creek District, You will find him as Joseph (and Mary) both age 60. This is why I KNOW he lived in Lincoln County and I assume it was where Workman Fork in Lincoln County got its name.
Here is my proof of everything I just said:
Workman, Joseph. grantee.
Land grant 10 July 1834.
Location: Cabell County.
Description: 40 acres on the Trace Fork of the right fork of 12 Pole Creek.
Source: Land Office Grants No. 83, 1833-1837, p. 257 (Reel 149).
*******************************************************
Workman, Joseph. grantee.
Land grant 1 July 1850.
Location: Wayne County.
Description: 140 acres on the branch he lives on of the right hand fork of Twelve Pole.
Source: Land Office Grants No. 103, 1850, p. 317 (Reel 169).
(There were 2 men named Abijah Workman in the area The one on “Bull Work” (sic)Bulwark is my family- s/o Moses Workman Sr and bro. to my gr grandfather Mose Workman Jr.).
*****************************************************
Workman, Abijah. grantee.
Land grant 1 September 1855.
Location: Logan County.
Description: 78 acres on Hart’s Creek and the Bull Work Fork of same.
Source: Land Office Grants No. 111, 1855, p. 647 (Reel 177).
******************************************************
Workman, Obadiah. grantee.
Land grant 1 September 1854.
Location: Logan County.
Description: 44 acres on Hart’s Creek of Henderson’s Fork of same.
Source: Land Office Grants No. 110, 1854-1855, p. 466 (Reel 176).
Workman, Abijah. grantee.
Land grant 1 December 1851.
Location: Logan County.
Description: 100 acres on the Hager Branch of Cane Patch Fork of Twelve Pole.
Source: Land Office Grants No. 106, 1851-1852, p. 591 (Reel 172).
****************************************************************
1870 LINCOLN COUNTY Census Harts Creek District (This is Little Harts Creek)
Workman Joseph 60
Workman Mary 60
Workman Julia Ann 36
Workman Eliza 24
Workman Dicy 21
Workman Joseph E. 20
Workman Joseph Jr. 10
Workman William 8
Workman Tucker 3
Workman Robert E. Lee 2
Workman Rosie 5 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This was physically very hard for me and I wouldn’t do it for anyone else. All of these records are online now.
Hi Dodie; Thanks a bunch for all the hard work! I discovered the map maker omitted Workman Fork of Little Harts Creek, Lincoln Co. WV. so his works are unsatisfactory. However, we now know that Josephus Workman was a dweller on both creeks (Big Harts & Little Harts). As for the houses being close in the Logan Census, that was not possible; because farms needed large areas of land for food & grazing purposes.
Do you know how I can find land grants or transfers for Whitman (Whitman Creek?) in Logan County? My stepdad’s family lived on Whitman for many years and owned a cemetery on the side of the mountain. That’s the cemetery where Bige Workman’s stone was recently found. His stone reads B.J. Workman. A picture of his tombstone and death cert have been uploaded to FindAGrave.com’s Baisden Cemetery Whitman.
Back to my question. I really need to try to find a document that states when our family came to possess this land. I know for sure Thomas M Baisden lived in the old homestead by 1910 and his father Thomas T Baisden lived in Big Creek in late 1800s. My records show him born in Big Creek, but a census shows him born in VA (I confused) and Thomas M as having lived in Rich Creek in 1871 and was a widow at 38 yrs old and living on Whitman 1910. He ran a boarding house.
Abijah Workman? My niece just found a tombstone in our family cemetery onWhitman Creek (Baisden Cemetery). “Bige” born 1872 probably Abijah, Jr.
Hi
Would anyone know where the Pine Grove Cemetery in Mingo County is or is there such a cemetery located in Mingo County?
Hi Barb;
I believe Pine Grove cemetery is located in Cabwaylingho St. Park. Go to Dunlow,WV,Route 52 ; then enter the park road, and travel a distance of about two miles on the left side of the highway.. I have never in been the cemetery, but have passed it a number of times.
Thanx Shelby
I often gather death records from West Virginia Vital Records and on Hugh Tomblin’s death record it states that he was laid to rest at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Mingo Co., His mother was said to be laid to rest at White Oak Cemetery in Mingo Co.
On the Find A Grave cemetery listings Pine Grove is not an option but White Oak is. I was told that they were the one and the same cemetery? Would you know if this is so or not?
Hello Barb! Remember me? We met a few months before Buster passed away. I’m the daughter of Buster William Browning. Hugh was his stepfather. Millie is my grandmother. I tried to find that cemetery also.Is White Oak and Pine Grove the same place?
Is either of these cemeteries connected to the Spry Cemetery where Bass Spry was buried? Thanks
Brenda
I have a map of the 55 Counties of WV. It was published about 1990. There is no White Oak Fork of Harts Creek on the map. Where White Oak Fork is supposed to be, the map has Workman Fork. I have an ancestoral aunt I have been told, is buried on Workman Fork. Her name was Mary Burgess (1807). Her husband was Josephus Workman. I know the state renamed a lot of the places back several years ago. Too many places had the same name which was confusing.
Shelby, there is no Workman Fork at Harts Creek in Logan County unless the name has been changed. I believe Workman Fork is at Little Harts Creek in Lincoln County. Josephus Workman didn’t live at Harts Creek in Logan County, so more than likely Workman Fork in Lincoln Co was named for his family. It is very possible that the map is incorrect. I have Bryant Deeds from mid 1800s and they state White Oak Fork Of Harts Creek, Logan County. You were right about it connecting to Smokehouse Fork.
Hi, Shelby. Workman Fork is a branch of West Fork of Harts Creek. The mouth of the fork marks the boundary between Lincoln and Logan counties. For the most part, Workman Fork is located in Logan County. I visit people who live up there all of the time and have attended Workman Fork United Baptist Church near the mouth of the fork. In the old land records, you will find other Workman Forks–but this is the most commonly known Workman Fork in Harts area today. Best of luck in sorting out the names.
I just viewed a wonderful video about 3 beautiful mountain women and it made me so homesick for the mountains that I actually cried aloud. These ladies are not from Logan County, but their heritage is very similar to ours and they are from my generation. They come from 3 different races but they are one in spirit.
YouTube video – Women of These Hills
Thanks for sharing the video..I enjoyed it
Thank you! I enjoyed it very much also.
Someone wanted to know where White Oak Fk. is located on Harts Creek. It is the next fork down from Smokehouse Fk. (Shively). You can also travel the Crawley creek road to Harts Creek mountain, and then cross over the ridge to Smokehouse Fk. If you are in the Chapmanville area. The distance is about 4 miles.
White Oak is a branch of Smokehouse Fork of Harts Creek.